The Legend of Zhen Huan: Rebirth of An Lingrong: Counterattack to Become the Queen Mother

Chapter 231: Dangerous Pregnancy

After Zhen Huan and Concubine Hua thanked the Emperor and waited for him to leave, Zhen Huan said solemnly to An Lingrong and Concubine Hua, "This tranquility may be an illusion. Those forces must be secretly plotting to attack Lingrong during her birth."

An Lingrong stroked her belly and said worriedly, "Huan'er, I'm so worried. How on earth are they going to harm my child?"

Hua Fei's eyebrows shot up, and she shouted angrily, "Why bother with him! If they dare to come, I will make sure they never return! But now the enemy is in the dark and we are in the light, which is really annoying."

Zhen Huan pondered for a moment and said, "We must first send more people to guard Lingrong day and night. Sister, are the guards in your palace reliable?"

Concubine Hua nodded: "Of course they are reliable. I will transfer some over here."

Zhen Huan continued, "Lingrong, have you noticed any unusual people or things around you recently?"

An Lingrong shook her head: "I stayed in bed all day, and I felt that the palace maids and eunuchs were very cautious and didn't notice anything wrong."

Zhen Huan advised, "Just rest assured and take care of your pregnancy. My sister and I will get to the bottom of this matter."

A few days later, Zhen Huan's personal maid Huanbi hurried in to report: "Your Majesty, I discovered that the clothes newly delivered by the Imperial Household Department have a strange smell on them. It seems that someone has tampered with them."

Zhen Huan's heart tightened. She quickly took the clothes and sniffed them carefully, frowning and saying, "This smell is very suspicious. Someone must be trying to harm Ling Rong secretly."

Concubine Hua rushed over after hearing the news, sniffed the clothes, and sneered, "These people are really haunting! They actually want to make a fuss about the clothes."

Zhen Huan said to Huanbi, "Huanbi, go to the Imperial Household Department immediately and quietly find out who is in charge of these clothes and whether there is any unusual behavior."

Huanbi obeyed the order and left. An Lingrong, lying on the bed, said anxiously, "Huan'er, could it be that that force has bribed someone in the Imperial Household Department?"

Zhen Huan comforted her, "Don't worry, Lingrong. We'll know the outcome when Huanbi comes back."

Soon, Huanbi returned with a report: "Your Majesty, a eunuch named Xiao Shunzi, who is in charge of clothing, has been meeting with a mysterious person in a secluded corner of the Imperial Garden recently, and his behavior is suspicious."

Concubine Hua was furious: "Go and capture that little Shunzi for me!"

Zhen Huan stopped her and said, "Sister, wait a minute. If we arrest him directly, the people behind him might become alert. Let's set a trap first and lure him in."

Concubine Hua asked doubtfully, "A trap? Huan'er, what's your plan?"

Zhen Huan whispered a few words into Hua Fei's ear. After hearing this, Hua Fei smiled and said, "Huan'er, this is a brilliant plan!"

So, Zhen Huan and Concubine Hua acted according to the plan. They deliberately spread the news that An Lingrong had been unwell recently and needed a new batch of special nourishing clothes to be made and dyed with precious spices.

Xiao Shunzi was indeed tempted when he heard this, thinking that this was another opportunity to take action. He secretly discussed with the mysterious man and planned to tamper with the spices.

When Xiao Shunzi sneaked into the room where spices were stored, Zhen Huan and Concubine Hua had already ambushed there with their men.

"Xiao Shunzi, you are so brave!" Zhen Huan scolded.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Xiao Shunzi fell to his knees and said, "My queen, please spare my life! I was forced into this situation."

Hua Fei said sternly: "Tell me! Who ordered you to do this?"

Xiao Shunzi trembled and said, "Yes...it was a master outside the palace. He gave me a lot of money and asked me to tamper with Concubine An's clothes and spices. He said that if I could make Concubine An miscarry, I would be rewarded handsomely in the future."

Zhen Huan pressed on, "Who is that master? What does he look like?"

Xiao Shunzi cried, "I only saw him once. He had his face covered and his voice was deep. I really don't know who he is."

An Lingrong listened from the side, feeling both fearful and angry. "Huan'er, what should we do? We don't even know who it is."

Zhen Huan said calmly, "It's okay. Since Xiao Shunzi can contact him, there must be a way to find him. Let's keep Xiao Shunzi under guard first and find clues from him."

Concubine Hua nodded: "Let's do it. I want to see who is behind this."

However, just as they were interrogating Xiao Shunzi, An Lingrong suddenly felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. The palace maids were frightened and cried out, "Madam, what's wrong with you?"

Zhen Huan and Concubine Hua hurried to the bedside, only to see An Lingrong pale and covered in cold sweat.

"Go and call the imperial physician!" Zhen Huan shouted anxiously.

The crisis surrounding An Lingrong's child suddenly hit like a surging wave, dragging them into an unknown storm, leaving their lives uncertain and the future worrying.