The Legend of Zhen Huan Reborn: Overthrowing Zhen Huan to Become the Queen Mother

Zhen Huan's eyelashes trembled slightly. "Nothing, I just wanted to get some fresh air. Pei'er, what did you just pick up?"

"This is peach flour," Pei'er regained her energy. "This was given to me by Jing Niang. I couldn't refuse, so I took it back. I, a laborer, have no use for this. My wife is so beautiful, it would be a pity if she didn't dress up a little."

Cui Jinxi glanced at Zhen Huan's expression and said nothing.

Zhen Huan laughed and didn't ask what Pei'er was doing with Jing Niang. "If you didn't need it, Jing Niang wouldn't have given it to you. Take it. Don't forget to use it next time you go back."

Cui Jinxi agreed, "Yes, otherwise, not to mention Madam Jing and Brother Erhu, they would also be disappointed."

"Ah," Pei'er was stunned and blushed instantly, "Oh, why are you teasing me~"

After sending Pei'er out, Cui Jinxi was about to speak to comfort her, but Zhen Huan stopped her.

"Prince Guo hasn't been here for a while."

Cui Jinxi was secretly delighted and decided to report the news as soon as she got back. She continued, "Prince Guo is a prince after all, so he always has things to do."

Zhen Huan said "Oh" and lowered her eyes in thought.

A few days later, Prince Guo came to Lingyun Peak as usual.

The moment Zhen Huan saw him, it was like she had grabbed a life-saving straw. She took a few steps forward, her voice tinged with tears, "Prince!"

Prince Guo saw that the corners of her eyes were red, her face was no longer as dull as before, and she had put on some powder.

Zhen Huan pursed her lips, but still asked, "Yun Li, do you know anything about my father's affairs?"

Prince Guo was slightly startled, his eyes filled with guilt. He lowered his head and was silent for a moment before saying softly, "It's my fault for not being able to protect Uncle Zhen. Healing Uncle Zhen's injuries is easy, but the person behind this will probably not let it go."

Zhen Huan felt dizzy and her body swayed, almost falling down.

Seeing this, Prince Guo hurriedly reached out to support her. Zhen Huan stared at the falling leaves, her heart ablaze with hatred. The wailing autumn wind only added to her despair and helplessness.

Zhen Huan gathered herself and took a deep breath. The tears in her eyes instantly turned into a cold gleam. She gritted her teeth and said, "Yun Li, my father has always been upright and has impeached many people. But to be so petty and cruel, I'm afraid it must be someone I offended in the harem in the past. How can I swallow this?"

Prince Guo looked at Zhen Huan's resolute expression, his face full of pity.

The wind in the mountains grew stronger and stronger, rustling the surrounding pines and cypresses.

Zhen Huan clenched her fists but ultimately felt powerless to release them. She slowly said, "My father was wrongly accused to begin with, and now he has to endure this calamity. How can I seek justice for him from Lingyun Peak?"

Upon hearing this, Prince Guo's expression tightened, and he hurriedly advised, "Huan'er, the palace is full of dangers. You've finally found a bit of peace here. Don't dwell on these things."

Zhen Huan interrupted him and smiled sadly, "Peace? My father is suffering in prison now, how can I be at peace? Yunli, I..."

"Alas." Prince Guo sighed, "Huan'er, why are you doing this? I can't just sit back and watch you do this."

At this moment, a lone goose flew overhead, making a shrill cry, piercing the autumn sky.

Zhen Huan was pleasantly surprised when she heard this, "Yun Li, can you really help me?"

Prince Guo nodded and stepped forward to shake Zhen Huan's hand. Zhen Huan moved her fingers, but ultimately did not break free.

Feeling the warmth on her hand, Zhen Huan's chest rose and fell slightly. "By the way, my maidservant Huanbi is still in the palace. I haven't heard from her for a while. Can you please, Your Highness..."

"Huanbi?"

"Does the prince know?" Zhen Huan asked curiously.

"I know. I will always pay more attention to the people around you." Prince Guo smiled. "After all, my mother has been in the palace for many years. She must have some old friends. I will help you find channels to contact them."

"Well," Zhen Huan added, "Huanbi is an orphan my father picked up, so she would definitely be willing to contact the concubines I used to have a good relationship with for me."

Prince Guo's eyes gleamed, "I went to the palace a while ago to mourn for the Empress Dowager, and I vaguely saw a maid who looked somewhat like you, more like Huanbi. Judging from the dense patterns on her clothes, she seemed to be one of the imperial maids."

Zhen Huan's heart was empty, "Huanbi..."

Imperial maid...

Every word Huanbi said with red eyes and determination was still ringing in her ears. Zhen Huan felt empty inside and said sadly, "It's her good fortune to be a maid in front of the emperor. I just hope she is truly happy."

Prince Guo smiled slightly.

The golden wheat in the fields drooped its head and swayed in the north wind. Amid the whistling wind, carriages carrying young, adult, and elderly women gathered in Kyoto from all directions.

The sun's shadows were mottled, and the towering palaces of the Forbidden City were solemn and majestic in the sunlight.

The Cining Palace Garden is decorated in a solemn and elegant manner.

The empress sat upright on a phoenix chair, clad in a phoenix robe embroidered with golden phoenixes circling her body, a phoenix crown and bridal robe, and swaying pearls and jade. Her expression was calm, her gaze shone with scrutiny and majesty as she surveyed the crowd below the stage who had come to apply for the position of female tutor.

The crowd was bustling, and as the female official sang and chanted, a person walked out. It was Meng Jingxian.

Upstairs in the Baoxiang Tower, Xinpin and Wenpin were with the two princesses, while Gongding sat alone to one side, watching quietly and thoughtfully. Lou Yong'er in the corner had a gloomy look in her eyes. She was the princess's biological mother, and no one could stop her from coming.

When Meng Jingxian's name was announced, Xinpin and Xinpin whispered to each other. Gongding's expression remained unchanged, but he was actually listening attentively.

Meng Jingxian wore a long, light blue brocade gown embroidered with matching roses. Her figure was slender and her steps steady. Her dark hair was tied atop her head, adorned only by a pair of jade hairpins. Her face was beautiful, her skin white as snow, and her eyes held a charming charm, yet also a subtle hint of perseverance and tenacity.

Meng Jingxian said in a clear voice: "Your humble servant Meng Jingxian greets the Empress. I have been studying poetry and literature since childhood, and have dabbled in the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I have come here to apply for the position, hoping to do my best to serve the Princess."

The Empress raised her eyebrows slightly, her eyes surveying Meng Jingxian, a faint smile playing on her lips. The story of Meng Jingxian's unrequited love for Prince Guo was a hot topic among the aristocratic circles in the capital. With such a reputation, the Emperor naturally wouldn't show any favor to her. Because of this, the Empress was completely confident in her.

"In that case, let's show it to you," said the Queen.

Meng Jingxian stood up and moved to her desk, where brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were already prepared. She raised her hand slightly, twisted her wrist, and dipped the brush into ink. The tip of her pen moved like a dragon and a snake. In a moment, a Tang Dynasty poem appeared on the page, its handwriting graceful yet vigorous, its brushwork unparalleled.

Afterwards, she came to the zither table, lightly stroked the strings with her jade fingers, and played the piece "High Mountains and Flowing Water". The music was melodious, sometimes like the gurgling brook, sometimes like the surging river, which showed her profound attainments.