amaotonovel Chapter 220 Ling Huan takes a break to wait for the storm
Chapter 220 Ling Huan takes a break to wait for the storm
After Zhen Huan and the others left the Emperor's palace, An Lingrong said softly, "Huan'er, although we didn't completely overthrow the Empress this time, we did vent our anger and make her restrain herself."
Zhen Huan nodded slightly. "Well, with the Queen under house arrest, the harem will surely be at peace for a while. But we still can't let our guard down. Who knows if she'll be plotting something else during this time of confinement?"
Concubine Hua said, "What are you afraid of? She's under house arrest now. Even if she wants to stir up trouble, she'll need the ability. Let's just have a few days of peace and quiet."
A few days later, the palace was silent, and the concubines in each palace behaved themselves. The intrigues of the past seemed to be covered up by this tranquility.
Zhen Huan was chatting with An Lingrong in her palace. An Lingrong looked out the window and sighed, "Huan'er, this kind of tranquility is really hard to get used to."
Zhen Huan smiled faintly and said, "Perhaps it's because we've been fighting too much before, so this moment of peace seems so precious. But even within this peace, I always feel a little uneasy."
An Lingrong asked, "Huan'er, why do you feel this way? Have you discovered something?"
Zhen Huan shook her head. "I didn't find anything specific, it was just a hunch. Perhaps it's because I've been in this harem for so long that I've become sensitive to anything unusual."
One day, Zhen Huan and An Lingrong were strolling in the Imperial Garden when they ran into Concubine Chun. Concubine Chun came over, skipping and jumping: "Empress Xi, Empress An, you are here too!"
Zhen Huan smiled and said, "Chun'er, where are you going?"
Chun Changzai said, "I wanted to go to the kitchen to see if there was anything delicious. The palace has been peaceful these past few days, and I've been feeling a bit greedy."
An Lingrong joked, "Chun'er only knows how to eat. Be careful not to become a little fat girl. Then the emperor will dislike you."
Chun Changzai pouted and said, "No way! The emperor said I'm cute."
Everyone was laughing when they suddenly heard a melodious flute sound. Chun Changzai said curiously, "Where does this flute sound come from? It's so beautiful."
Zhen Huan looked in the direction of the flute sound and saw what seemed to be a figure in the pavilion in the distance. She said, "Let's go and take a look."
The three approached the pavilion and saw a young man playing the flute. Noticing someone coming, the young man stopped and bowed, saying, "Greetings, ladies."
Zhen Huan asked, "Who are you? Why are you playing the flute in the palace?"
The young master replied, "I am a newly promoted musician named Xiao Jin. I came here today to practice a new piece of music. I did not mean to disturb the ladies. I hope you will forgive me."
An Lingrong looked at Xiao Jin, her heart stirring: "You play this piece very beautifully, did you compose it yourself?"
Xiao Jin said modestly, "Your Majesty, it was done by this humble servant."
Chun Changzai said excitedly, "You're amazing! Can you play another song for us?"
Xiao Jin looked at Zhen Huan, who nodded slightly. Then Xiao Jin played another tune.
Zhen Huan listened from the side, but was thinking in her heart. Xiao Jin suddenly appeared in the palace, and at this seemingly peaceful time, could he have some other purpose?
After Xiao Jin finished playing, Zhen Huan said, "Your music is indeed good. Please leave now. I will play it back to you if needed in the future."
Xiao Jin bowed again and left.
Chun Changzai was still savoring the music: "This Xiao Jin is truly a talented person. I am completely intoxicated by this music."
An Lingrong said to Zhen Huan, "Huan'er, I think Xiao Jin's appearance is a little strange. Do you think he was sent here by the Queen during her house arrest to cause trouble?"
Zhen Huan pondered for a moment and said, "That's possible. Let's send someone to investigate his background and find out who he is and why he came to the palace to become a musician."
After Concubine Hua learned about this, she also came to Zhen Huan's palace. "I heard that some musician who can play the flute has come and has fascinated you all?"
Zhen Huan told Concubine Hua what had happened. Concubine Hua said disdainfully, "I think this is probably someone who is restless and wants to stir up trouble in this peaceful harem. Regardless of whether it is the Queen's order or not, we cannot let him succeed."
A few days later, the person sent to investigate returned with a report: "Your Majesty, this Xiao Jin's background appears to be innocent. He was a musician selected from the common people, and his family has no special background. However, before entering the palace, he had contact with some mysterious people, but whose identity is still unknown."
Zhen Huan frowned. "It seems there's something fishy about Xiao Jin. We must be careful and not let him take advantage of us."
An Lingrong said, "Huan'er, I think we can start with his music and see if we can find out something. Perhaps he will convey some message through his music."
Zhen Huan agreed, "Lingrong is right. We can find an opportunity to have him perform in front of everyone and carefully observe his every move."
So, Zhen Huan arranged a small banquet, invited concubines from all palaces, and asked Xiao Jin to play music at the banquet.
At the banquet, Xiao Jin played the flute again. Zhen Huan and the others stared at him closely, but found nothing unusual.
After the performance, everyone applauded. But Zhen Huan suddenly asked, "Master Xiao, your piece is called 'You Meng'. Does it have any deep meaning?"
Xiao Jin calmly replied, "Your Majesty, this song was just something I sang on impulse. It has no special meaning."
Zhen Huan asked again, "Then why did you come into contact with those mysterious people before entering the palace?"
Xiao Jin's expression changed slightly. "Your Majesty, that was just me exchanging music with some music friends. There's nothing wrong with that."
An Lingrong said from the side: "Don't lie. If you tell even a single untruth, it will be a crime of deceiving the emperor."
Xiao Jin fell to his knees and said, "Your Majesty, I am innocent! I am just a music lover and have no ill intentions."
Zhen Huan looked at him, thinking. At this time, Concubine Hua said, "Hmph! I don't think you are a good person. Come, take him away, lock him up in the Ministry of Punishment, and interrogate him!"
Zhen Huan stopped Concubine Hua and said, "Sister, wait a minute. We don't have any solid evidence. If we rashly imprison him in the Ministry of Punishment, it might cause unnecessary trouble."
An Lingrong said, "Huan'er, what should we do? We can't just let him go like this, right?"
Zhen Huan said, "Let's put him under house arrest first and send someone to keep an eye on him to see what he does next. Perhaps the people behind him will take action because he's under house arrest, and then we'll have evidence."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Xiao Jin's appearance stirred a ripple in the peaceful harem. Under this seemingly calm surface, Zhen Huan and the others continued to explore unknown dangers, safeguarding their own peaceful existence within the harem.