noffsinger Chapter 224 Ling Huan and Concubine Hua escape danger together
Chapter 224 Ling Huan and Concubine Hua escape danger together
Zhen Huan leaned weakly on the bed and said to An Lingrong and Hua Fei, "My two sisters, I'm suddenly feeling unwell this time. I'm afraid the person behind this is plotting again. We must not panic."
An Lingrong said distressedly, "Huan'er, you should rest and recuperate. Sister Hua Fei and I will take care of the investigation."
Concubine Hua nodded: "Huanhuan is right, we can't lose our composure. I have sent people to check Zhenhuan's food and drink to see if someone secretly poisoned it."
At this time, the imperial physician arrived to take her pulse. After the examination, the physician respectfully said, "Your Highness, Imperial Concubine Xi has been poisoned by a chronic poison. Fortunately, it was discovered in time. I will prescribe the medicine immediately. However, the poison will require gradual recuperation to be eliminated."
An Lingrong angrily asked, "Who on earth could be so cruel! How dare they do such a cruel thing to Huan'er?"
Hua Fei's eyes were sharp: "It must be the person who wants to stir up trouble in the harem. When I find him, I will make him wish he were dead!"
Zhen Huan said softly, "Sisters, please don't be impulsive. Let's start by investigating Xiao Jin's case. Perhaps we can find a connection."
An Lingrong pondered for a moment: "Huan'er, I think Xiao Jin has been too quiet since being placed under house arrest. Could he have accomplices secretly helping him?"
Concubine Hua said, "Humph! No matter how many accomplices he has, I will uncover them all. I will go and re-examine Xiao Jin and see how long he can keep his stubbornness."
Concubine Hua arrived at the place where Xiao Jin was imprisoned. Xiao Jin was frightened by the sight of Concubine Hua coming at him aggressively. Concubine Hua scolded him, "Xiao Jin, if you don't tell the truth, I will make you suffer a fate worse than death today!"
Xiao Jin trembled and said, "Empress Hua, I am truly wronged. I know nothing."
Concubine Hua sneered, "How dare you quibble! If it weren't for you, how could Huanhuan be poisoned? You must be a pawn of the person behind this."
Xiao Jin kowtowed quickly: "Your Majesty, I am truly just a musician. I have never intended to harm Your Majesty."
Hua Fei was impatient: "Come here, torture him! I want to see how long he can keep his stubbornness."
Just as the guards were about to attack, An Lingrong rushed over to stop them, "Sister Hua Fei, wait a minute. If we torture him to extract a confession, he might make random accusations and mislead us."
Hua Fei snorted, "Then what do you think?"
An Lingrong looked at Xiao Jin and said, "Xiao Jin, if you want to live, tell me everything you know. Don't think that the people behind the scenes can protect you. The Empress is under house arrest, Nian Gengyao's property has been confiscated, and the situation in the harem is no longer what it used to be."
Xiao Jin hesitated for a moment, then spoke slowly, "Your Majesty, I was indeed forced into the palace. That person threatened my family, telling me to keep an eye on Concubine Xi and Concubine An in the palace, and to pass on any unusual activity. However, I truly do not know who intended to harm Concubine Xi, and I never poisoned her."
An Lingrong pressed on, "Then how do you usually pass on messages?"
Xiao Jin said, "I will write the message on a piece of paper and hide it under a tree in the corner of the Imperial Garden. Someone will naturally come to get it."
Concubine Hua immediately ordered the guards: "Go check under the tree in the Imperial Garden!"
Not long after the guard left, he returned and reported, "Your Majesty, no note was found under the tree."
An Lingrong wondered, "Could it be that someone found out first and took the note away?"
Concubine Hua gnashed her teeth and said, "There must be a traitor in the harem, leaking information to us."
After hearing about this in the palace, Zhen Huan said to Jin Xi, who was beside her, "Jin Xi, go get me the list of palace maids and eunuchs. I want to check it carefully."
After Jinxi brought the list, Zhen Huan, An Lingrong, and Concubine Hua examined it together. Zhen Huan suddenly pointed to a name and said, "Look at this little maid, Cui Yu, who is in charge of sweeping the Imperial Garden. She's been hanging around that tree in the Imperial Garden lately. Could it be her?"
Hua Fei said: "Call her to me!"
Cuiyu was brought before the three men, her face pale with fear. Concubine Hua sternly asked, "Cuiyu, do you admit your guilt?"
Cui Yu fell to her knees and said, "My Lady, I don't know how I have offended you."
An Lingrong said, "Cui Yu, were you passing on information for someone else? If you tell the truth, perhaps you can get a lighter sentence."
Cui Yu initially denied it, but under the pressure of the three people, she finally broke down: "Your Majesty, I was forced into this. It was Eunuch Wang from the Imperial Household Department who threatened me, asking me to do something for him. If I didn't obey, he would expel me from the palace."
Zhen Huan asked, "What did Eunuch Wang ask you to do?"
Cui Yu said, "Eunuch Wang asked me to retrieve the note from Master Xiao after he hid it. That's all I know. I don't know anything about poisoning."
Concubine Hua immediately said, "Go and capture that eunuch!"
When Eunuch Wang was brought in, he saw that the situation was not good and begged for mercy: "My Lady, please spare my life. I am only following your orders."
An Lingrong asked, "On whose orders?"
Eunuch Wang hesitated, not daring to speak. Concubine Hua angrily said, "If you don't tell me, today will be your death!"
Eunuch Wang said tremblingly, "It was...it was Concubine Li. Concubine Li was dissatisfied with Concubine Xi's favor and was also jealous of Concubine An's intelligence, so she wanted to secretly frame the two concubines. Xiao Jin was also arranged by Concubine Li to enter the palace."
Zhen Huan and the others were shocked when they heard this. Zhen Huan said, "I didn't expect it to be Concubine Li."
Concubine Hua sneered, "This Lipin usually looks well-behaved, but she is so cruel."
An Lingrong said, "Then what should we do with her now?"
Zhen Huan thought for a moment and said, "Let's report this matter to the Emperor first, and he will make the final decision."
Hua Fei agreed: "Okay, let the emperor see the ugly face of Lipin."
The three of them brought Eunuch Wang to the Emperor and reported everything. The Emperor was furious: "I treated her well, yet she dared to act so recklessly!"
When Concubine Li was brought before the Emperor, she tried to argue: "Your Majesty, I am innocent. They are the ones who slandered me."
But with the testimony of Eunuch Wang and Cui Yu, Concubine Li had no way to deny it. The Emperor finally issued an order: "Burial Concubine Li is to be banished to the cold palace and forbidden to leave it for the rest of her life!"
Zhen Huan and the others successfully uncovered Concubine Li's conspiracy, and peace returned to the harem temporarily. However, they knew that this peace was only temporary. In this bottomless harem, there were always unknown dangers lurking. Only by continuing to support each other could they survive in this perilous harem, continue to move forward towards their goal of becoming the harem mistress, and write their own legendary chapter.