amaotonovel Chapter 202 Ling Huan is in trouble and seeks the truth
Chapter 202 Ling Huan is in trouble and seeks the truth
Zhen Huan comforted her, "Lingrong, don't worry. Let's first find out who did it, and then find a way to solve it. There are too many people in this palace who want to do bad things, we have to be careful!"
An Lingrong sighed helplessly, "Huan'er, I know, but where do I even begin to investigate? This palace is a mess, with so many people and so many different opinions. It's like a tangled mess."
Zhen Huan pondered for a moment and said, "Let's start with the source of the spices. Do you remember who has been responsible for purchasing and bringing spices into the palace recently?"
An Lingrong thought for a moment and replied, "It's Xiao Fuzi, the young eunuch from the Imperial Household Department. But he's always been honest. Could it be him?"
Zhen Huan shook her head slightly: "Don't judge a person by appearance. Let's find him and ask him first. It's better than having no clue at all."
Afterwards, the two summoned Xiao Fuzi. As soon as Xiao Fuzi came in, she knelt down and said tremblingly, "My two young masters, I don't know why you summoned me. I am innocent!"
Zhen Huan asked softly, "Xiao Fuzi, don't panic. We just want to ask you, have you seen any unusual people or things with the spices entering the palace these days?"
Xiao Fuzi trembled and said, "My Lady Zhen Huan, I really didn't notice anything unusual. It's just... it's just that when the spices were delivered that day, I saw one of Lord Li's staff members sneaking around the palace gate, but I'm not sure if it's related to the spices."
An Lingrong's eyes lit up: "Master Li? He must be behind this!"
Zhen Huan said, "Don't jump to conclusions yet. Xiao Fuzi, please leave now. Don't tell anyone about this."
Xiao Fuzi was as if pardoned, and crawled out.
Zhen Huan said to An Lingrong, "Lingrong, although Lord Li is a suspect, it's difficult to convict him based solely on Xiao Fuzi's one-sided statement. We need more evidence."
An Lingrong said anxiously, "What should we do? I can't just sit there and watch the spice shop's reputation get ruined. It will be difficult for me to stay in the palace!"
Zhen Huan held her hand and said, "No. Let's go to the Emperor and tell him about this. But don't directly say it was Lord Li's fault. Just say there was a problem with the spices and ask the Emperor to send someone to investigate thoroughly."
An Lingrong hesitated: "Will the Emperor pay any attention to us? He's been busy with state affairs these days. What if he thinks we're making a big deal out of nothing..."
Zhen Huan said firmly: "This concerns the palace expenses and our innocence. The emperor will definitely take it seriously!"
So the two of them went to the Yangxin Palace to ask to see the emperor.
After hearing their purpose, the Emperor asked, "Hanhuan, Lingrong, is this spice matter really so serious?"
Zhen Huan said respectfully, "Your Majesty, spices are indispensable to the palace. Now that such raw materials have been swapped, if we don't investigate, it will affect the peace of the palace. Moreover, my concubine and my sister Lingrong may be framed and it will be difficult to prove our innocence."
The emperor thought for a moment and said, "I will send Su Peisheng to investigate. You should go back first and don't panic."
After expressing their gratitude, Zhen Huan and An Lingrong left the Yangxin Palace.
An Lingrong said anxiously, "Huan'er, can Eunuch Su find out the truth? I'm still feeling very nervous."
Zhen Huan comforted him, "Eunuch Su has always been effective. We should wait patiently. During this time, we must not be idle either. We must pay close attention to what is happening in the palace."
A few days later, Su Peisheng came to report: "Your Majesty, I have investigated the matter of the spices and discovered that they were once stored in a warehouse outside the palace before entering the palace. This warehouse is the property of Lord Li."
The emperor's face darkened. "Lord Li? Why would he do this?"
Zhen Huan took the opportunity to say, "Your Majesty, I have heard that Lord Li is colluding with many officials in the court. Perhaps he wants to use this to suppress me and Sister Lingrong in order to achieve his ulterior motives."
Upon hearing this, Lord Li hurried into the palace to defend himself, "Your Majesty, I am innocent! Although the warehouse was under my name, I knew nothing about it. Someone must have deliberately framed me and put the blame on me!"
The emperor looked at him and said angrily, "You said someone framed you, do you have any evidence?"
Lord Li hesitated and was speechless.
The emperor snorted coldly: "You step aside for now, I will investigate further!"
After Lord Li left, Zhen Huan said to An Lingrong, "Lingrong, it seems Lord Li is about to collapse, but we still have to be careful that he may become desperate."
An Lingrong nodded. "Huan'er, I understand. I'll have my mother and Concubine Xiao keep an eye outside the palace, just in case."
However, that very night, An Lingrong's residence suddenly caught fire. An Lingrong fled the house in panic, shouting, "Help! Help!"
Upon hearing the news, Zhen Huan rushed over: "Lingrong, are you okay?"
An Lingrong threw herself into Zhen Huan's arms and cried, "Huan'er, it must have been Lord Li who did it. He wanted to kill me and silence me!"
Zhen Huan hugged her tightly, her eyes filled with anger: "If he dares to do this, he will definitely not end well! Let's go to a safe place first, and then ask the emperor for the decision!"
The two came to Zhen Huan's residence, and Zhen Huan comforted An Lingrong while thinking about countermeasures.
Zhen Huan said, "Lingrong, we can't just sit there and wait for death this time. We must take the initiative and present everything we know about Lord Li, including the previous incidents with the banknotes and the spices, to the Emperor so that he can see his true colors!"
An Lingrong wiped her tears and said, "Okay, Huan'er, I'll listen to you. This time, he must be punished!"
Zhen Huan and An Lingrong then worked late into the night in their residence, compiling evidence. Their final showdown with Lord Li was about to begin, and their success remained uncertain. All they knew was that their path to the palace would become increasingly difficult and arduous.