amaotonovel Chapter 219 Ling Huan's Outsmarting the Queen
Chapter 219 Ling Huan's Outsmarting the Queen
An Lingrong nodded and said, "Huan'er is right. The Queen is very thoughtful. We must not take it lightly."
Concubine Hua sneered, "Hmph! This time, the Queen will be exposed for all her past evil deeds."
Zhen Huan whispered, "Let's start with the maids and eunuchs around the Queen. Perhaps we can find some clues. Lingrong, you are good with perfumes. Can you make a fragrance that can relax people's vigilance and make them more likely to reveal the truth?"
An Lingrong thought for a moment and said, "I can try, but this incense requires some special ingredients, so I have to ask someone to find them first."
Hua Fei said, "Then I will arrange for someone to keep an eye on the Queen's Palace to see who comes in and out, and if there are any unusual behaviors."
A few days later, An Lingrong finished making the incense and said to Zhen Huan, "Huan'er, the incense is ready, but I haven't fully tested its effects yet. You must be careful when using it."
Zhen Huan said, "That's fine. Let's find an opportunity to try it out. I heard the Queen is going to the Buddhist temple to pray for blessings soon. We can set up a trap near the temple to allow the incense to slowly disperse."
An Lingrong was a little worried: "If the Queen finds out, it will be terrible."
Zhen Huan soothed her, "Don't be afraid, Lingrong. We will make all the arrangements. Sister Hua Fei has already arranged for our people to be stationed around the Buddhist temple, pretending to be cleaning chores. This will not arouse suspicion."
On the day when the Queen prayed for blessings, Zhen Huan and others made preparations early.
When the queen entered the Buddhist temple, the aroma of the special spices slowly drifted away. The queen did not notice it at first, but after a while, she gradually felt a little dazed.
At this time, Zhen Huan brought An Lingrong into the Buddhist temple. Zhen Huan said softly, "Your Majesty, you look a little tired today."
The Queen managed to hold on and said, "I am fine. I've just been a little tired from all the busy palace affairs lately."
An Lingrong said, "Your Majesty, please take care of yourself. I heard that Your Majesty had some dealings with that mysterious person outside the palace. Is that true?"
The Queen's expression changed: "Don't talk nonsense! How could I have a private relationship with someone outside the palace?"
Zhen Huan continued, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. We just overheard it. If it's a misunderstanding, please explain it to us."
The Queen's eyes flickered: "I don't need to explain, please don't slander me here."
Zhen Huan and An Lingrong looked at each other. Although they did not get a definitive confession, judging from the Queen's reaction, there must be something fishy.
As she was speaking, Concubine Hua also walked in: "Hey, what's going on? The Queen doesn't look well."
The Queen angrily said, "Hua Fei, why are you joining in the fun?"
Hua Fei smiled and said, "I am just concerned about Your Majesty. After all, if something happens in the harem, no one can escape responsibility."
The queen snorted coldly: "I have something else to do, so I'll leave first." After that, she hurriedly left the Buddhist temple.
Zhen Huan looked at the Queen's back and said, "The Queen is so flustered, there must be something wrong. We need to speed up and find evidence."
An Lingrong said, "I think we can start with the Queen's brother. I heard that he has made many small moves in the court, and perhaps it is related to the affairs of the harem."
Zhen Huan nodded: "That makes sense. I'll ask my brother to check it out. But we must not alert the enemy in the process."
Hua Fei said, "Humph! If they find any evidence against the Queen's brother, let's see how she can still act tyrannically in the harem."
Some time later, Zhen Yuandao sent a message: "Huan'er, the Queen's brother is corrupt and accepting bribes, and is colluding with some underworld forces. He seems to be planning something big, but the specific connection with the harem is still unclear."
Zhen Huan frowned, "It seems this matter is not simple. We must find a way to make the Queen's brother reveal his true intentions."
An Lingrong suddenly had an idea: "Huan'er, we can set up a trap. We can pretend that the palace is purchasing a large number of precious items. We can trick the Queen's brother into thinking there's something to gain and he'll take the bait."
Zhen Huan thought for a moment: "This plan is feasible. But the item must be rare and difficult to detect."
Hua Fei said, "Let's choose the rare jewels that were sent as tribute from the Western Regions. They are priceless, and the Queen brother will definitely not let them go."
So, Zhen Huan and others acted according to the plan and spread the news that the palace was going to purchase a large amount of Western jewelry.
The Queen's brother was indeed tempted after hearing this. He secretly contacted some people, hoping to make huge profits from this deal.
But he didn't know that all this was under the surveillance of Zhen Huan and others.
When the Queen's brother was dealing with those people, Zhen Huan suddenly appeared with her guards: "Sir, what are you doing?"
The Queen's brother was horrified: "Noble Concubine Xi, this... this is a misunderstanding."
Zhen Huan sneered, "Misunderstanding? You secretly traded with others with the intention of gaining possession of the palace's wealth. This is a serious crime."
The Queen's brother argued, "I was just doing a favor for a friend, not for myself."
Zhen Huan said, "Really? Then what are these letters?" As she spoke, she took out a stack of letters, which clearly recorded the crimes of the Queen's brother and his secret conspiracy with the Queen.
When the Queen's brother saw the letter, he collapsed to the ground: "Where...where did this come from?"
Zhen Huan said, "This is the evil you sowed. Now, come with me to see the Emperor."
Zhen Huan brought the Queen's brother to the Emperor and told him everything.
The emperor was furious: "I have such great trust in you and the Queen's family, yet you dare to act so recklessly!"
When the Queen heard about this, she rushed to plead for mercy: "Your Majesty, I am innocent. I had no idea what my brother had done."
Zhen Huan asked, "Your Majesty, are you still trying to quibble? The evidence is irrefutable. How do you explain the frequent correspondence between you and your brother?"
The Emperor glared at the Empress and berated her, "Empress, your brother has committed such a grave offense, and you are to blame! I will not depose you for the time being, as you have commanded the harem for many years. However, from today on, you will be confined to the palace to reflect on your mistakes. If you make any more mistakes, I will not forgive you!"
The queen's face was pale, but she could only express her gratitude: "Your Majesty, I obey your command and thank you for your grace."
Although Zhen Huan and the others did not completely overthrow the Queen, they successfully limited her power and made her position in the harem precarious. They knew that this struggle was only a temporary respite, and in the days to come, they still needed to be vigilant to protect themselves and the peace of the harem.