amaotonovel Chapter 260: Palace Changes and Disasters
Chapter 260: Palace Changes and Disasters
Zhen Huan hurried to the place where the unconscious palace maids and eunuchs were. With a solemn expression, she reached out and felt someone's breath. Turning to An Lingrong and Hua Fei, she said, "Lingrong, sister, these people are breathing steadily, but they are unconscious and talking nonsense. It's very strange. It must be the Shadow Cult using their magic again!"
An Lingrong frowned and squatted down to examine them carefully. "Huan'er, look, their eyes are hazy, as if their minds are possessed by something. What kind of evil magic does this Shadow Cult use?"
Concubine Hua raised her eyebrows and shouted angrily, "Who cares what kind of evil magic he uses! If they dare to act wildly on my territory, I will make them pay the price!"
Zhen Huan stood up and pondered for a moment. "The most urgent thing is to find out the reason for their coma and break this evil spell. Lingrong, you are quite knowledgeable about spices. Have you heard of any spices that can cause this symptom?"
An Lingrong shook her head. "Although I'm familiar with many spices, I can't think of any that could have such an effect. But I'll carefully search through ancient texts to see if I can find any clues."
Concubine Hua paced back and forth. "We can't just rely on the spices. I think this matter must be related to some recent unusual movements in the palace. For example, the foreigners who inexplicably appeared a few days ago."
Zhen Huan's eyes lit up. "Sister, you're right. The appearance of that foreigner is strange. Perhaps he's an accomplice of the Shadow Cult, or someone they hired to cast a spell."
An Lingrong said, "If that's the case, we have to start by investigating the identities of these foreigners. But there are so many people in the palace, how easy is it to find them?"
Zhen Huan thought for a moment and said, "We can first ask the guards in charge of guarding the palace gates to see if there are any records of foreigners entering or leaving."
The three of them hurried to where the guards were on duty. Zhen Huan asked, "Have any foreigners entered or left the palace recently?"
The guard commander saluted and replied, "Her Majesty, there are indeed a few foreigners who claim to be merchants offering treasures and have been staying at the palace inn for several days."
Concubine Hua snorted coldly: "Presenting treasures? I think you are here to cause trouble!"
Zhen Huan asked again, "Have they been anywhere? Have they behaved in any unusual way?"
The guard leader said, "They often walk around, claiming to be admiring the palace scenery, but I've noticed they seem to be particularly interested in some secluded corners."
An Lingrong's mind raced: "A remote corner? Maybe they've set up a formation there or hidden some magical artifact."
Zhen Huan nodded: "Without further delay, let's go to those remote corners and check them out."
When they came to a remote palace, they found some strange symbols painted on the ground and a faint strange smell around.
Concubine Hua covered her mouth and nose: "What's that smell? It's so awful!"
An Lingrong squatted down and sniffed carefully. "This smell is like a mixture of several spices, but one of them is something I've never smelled before. It's quite peculiar."
Zhen Huan looked around warily: "Everyone be careful, there must be something strange here."
Suddenly, a group of men in black emerged from all directions. The leader sneered, "Ladies, you've truly walked into a trap!"
Concubine Hua shouted angrily: "Who are you? How dare you play tricks here!"
The leader of the men in black said, "We are messengers from the Shadow Cult, ordered to disrupt this harem. If you know what's good for you, surrender obediently, or don't blame us for being ruthless!"
Zhen Huan said calmly, "Do you think we are afraid of you? How can we allow you to do whatever you want in this harem?"
After that, the two sides immediately engaged in a fierce battle. Although Zhen Huan, An Lingrong, and Concubine Hua fought hard, the martial arts of these men in black were too powerful to win for a while.
An Lingrong shouted as she fought, "Huan'er, this is not a solution. We have to find a way to break out!"
Zhen Huan looked around and found a low wall on one side of the palace garden. She shouted, "Retreat over there! Let's leave here first and make plans later!"
The three of them tried their best to rush towards the low wall. With the help of the guards, they finally got rid of the pursuit of the men in black.
Back at Zhen Huan's palace, everyone was panting. Concubine Hua angrily said, "These Shadow Cult members are so despicable! We can't just let this go!"
Zhen Huan said, "Don't worry, sister. Although we have escaped temporarily, we have not yet solved the mystery of the coma of those palace maids and eunuchs, nor have we found the mastermind behind the Shadow Cult."
An Lingrong said, "Just now during the fight, I found a scent sachet dropped from the black-clad leader. Perhaps the spices in the sachet can give us some clues."
As she spoke, An Lingrong took out the sachet and examined it carefully. Zhen Huan and Concubine Hua also came over.
Zhen Huan said, "The fragrance in this sachet is indeed unique. Lingrong, have you discovered anything?"
An Lingrong sniffed carefully, then poured out some of the spices and twirled them in her hands. "One of these spices is a kind of bewitching incense from the Western Regions, which can cause people to lose their minds. But I don't know the uses of the other spices. I need to research them further."
Hua Fei said, "Then you should study it quickly. I can't wait too long. I must wipe out the Shadow Cult as soon as possible!"
An Lingrong nodded and hurried to the side to study the spices. Zhen Huan paced around the palace, thinking about everything that had happened today.
"Huan'er, what are you thinking about?" asked Concubine Hua.
Zhen Huan paused. "Sister, I'm wondering why the Shadow Cult is disrupting the harem at this moment? Is their goal simply to create chaos? Or is there a larger conspiracy?"
Concubine Hua frowned: "No matter what conspiracy they have, I will not let them succeed!"
Zhen Huan said, "I'm worried that they want to use this harem chaos to implicate the previous dynasty and thus shake the emperor's foundation."
Hua Fei's eyes widened: "They are so bold!"
At this moment, An Lingrong hurried over: "Huan'er, Sister Hua Fei, I've discovered something! The mixture of these spices requires a special formation to activate their effectiveness, and the strange symbols in the palace are part of this formation."
Zhen Huan asked anxiously, "Then how do we break this formation?"
An Lingrong said, "I still need to consult some ancient books, but I think that as long as we destroy the key point of the formation, we may be able to cure the coma of those palace maids and eunuchs, and stop the Shadow Cult from continuing to perform its magic."
Zhen Huan nodded. "Alright, Lingrong, go quickly then. Concubine Hua and I will go check around the palace to see if we can find the key to the formation."
So, An Lingrong continued to study ancient books, while Zhen Huan and Hua Fei went to that remote palace again.
As soon as they reached the palace, they heard a low incantation. Zhen Huan whispered, "Sister, be careful! They might be casting a spell again."
Hua Fei clenched her fists: "This time, we must not let them succeed!"
The two of them approached quietly and saw several people from the Shadow Cult sitting in the middle of the formation, muttering to themselves.
Zhen Huan observed for a moment and said, "Sister, look at the stone in the middle of the formation. It seems different from the surrounding ones. Could it be the key point?"
Hua Fei said: "No matter whether it is real or not, smash it first!"
As she spoke, Concubine Hua rushed forward, picked up a stone beside her, and smashed it towards the stone in the middle.
"Stop!" the Shadow Cult people shouted.
But it was too late. Concubine Hua had already smashed the stone to pieces. Instantly, the light of the strange symbols around them dimmed, and the unconscious palace maids and eunuchs gradually showed signs of waking up.
Zhen Huan was overjoyed: "Sister, you did it!"
Concubine Hua said proudly: "Humph! I knew these people were nothing special!"
However, the Shadow Cult members refused to give up. The leader of the men in black shouted angrily, "You have ruined our plan! Today is the day you die!"
After that, more men in black rushed in from all directions. Zhen Huan and Concubine Hua looked at each other, knowing that a fierce battle was inevitable...