The Legend of Zhen Huan: Rebirth of An Lingrong: Counterattack to Become the Queen Mother

Chapter 167 Lingrong Huan'er breaks the witchcraft

Zhen Huan looked at the rag doll, her face pale and her voice trembling, "Lingrong, what...what does this mean? Why would someone be so cruel as to use this witchcraft to harm me?"

An Lingrong held Zhen Huan's hand tightly and comforted her, "Huan'er, don't be afraid! This must be a deliberate frame-up. We can't lose our composure."

At this time, Chun Changzai also hurried over. Seeing the rag doll, she screamed, "Sister Huanhuan, this... this is terrible! Who is so evil?"

An Lingrong said calmly, "Chun Changzai, don't panic. We must first find out who threw this rag doll into the well."

Zhen Huan took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. "Lingrong is right. There are many people in the harem who want to harm me, but who could use such a vicious method?"

An Lingrong thought for a moment and said, "Huan'er, let's start by investigating the origins of this doll. Judging from the material and workmanship, it doesn't seem like something commonly seen in the palace."

Zhen Huan nodded: "Then let's order the maids and eunuchs to quietly inquire in the palace to see if anyone has seen this doll, or seen anyone holding something similar."

A few days later, the maid reported back, "Your Majesty, I heard that I saw Concubine Jing's maid Cuiyu hurriedly carrying a package towards the well."

Zhen Huan's eyes turned cold: "It's Concubine Jing again! She still won't give up?"

An Lingrong frowned and said, "Huan'er, don't jump to conclusions yet. Although someone saw Cuiyu going to the well, we can't be sure that she threw the rag doll. We need to confront Cuiyu face to face."

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong brought people to Concubine Jing's palace and saw Cui Yu. Zhen Huan said sternly, "Cui Yu, someone saw you carrying a package to the well. Did you throw this rag doll into the well?"

Cuiyu fell to her knees with a plop, shaking her head repeatedly: "My Lady, it wasn't me! I went to the well to fetch water, I didn't throw any dolls away."

An Lingrong squatted down and looked into Cuiyu's eyes: "Cuiyu, if you tell the truth, perhaps you can get a lighter sentence. If you dare to lie, I will not forgive you."

Cui Yu cried and said, "My lady An, I really didn't do anything. I just followed the orders of Concubine Jing to fetch water. I didn't do anything else."

Zhen Huan looked at Concubine Jing: "Concubine Jing, what do you have to say about this?"

Concubine Jing's expression was calm: "Zhen Huan, An Lingrong, isn't it too hasty to try to convict someone in my palace based on just one person's words?"

An Lingrong stood up and said, "Jing Fei, we are not convicting someone based on a single statement. But this matter of the rag doll is of great importance. If it is really related to someone in your palace, you are also not free from responsibility."

Concubine Jing sneered, "Then investigate carefully. I want to see what you can find out."

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong emerged from Concubine Jing's palace. Zhen Huan was somewhat discouraged. "Lingrong, we've reached a deadlock again. If it's not Cuiyu, then who could it be?"

An Lingrong said, "Huan'er, don't worry. Let's start from the source of this witchcraft. I've heard that there's a secluded corner in the palace where the maids and eunuchs often secretly discuss some strange things. Perhaps we can find a clue there."

The two men came to that secluded corner and hid aside to eavesdrop on the conversation of the palace maids and eunuchs.

A young eunuch whispered, "Have you heard? It seems a mysterious nanny is behind the doll incident."

A maid asked, "What nanny? Do you know who this is?"

The young eunuch shook his head. "I'm not sure. I only know that the nanny was very generous and gave a lot of silver. She told us to throw the doll into the well and said she would make Concubine Xi restless."

Zhen Huan and An Lingrong exchanged a glance, and An Lingrong whispered, "It seems there's someone else behind this. We have to find this mysterious nanny."

After some investigation, it was discovered that this mysterious nanny was related to a disgraced concubine named Li. Zhen Huan and An Lingrong arrived at Li's palace.

Zhen Huan asked directly, "Princess Li, why did you instruct the maid to use witchcraft to frame me?"

Lipin's face changed, but she still pretended to be calm: "Zhen Huan, please don't slander me! I have never done this."

An Lingrong produced the evidence and waved it in front of Lipin. "Lipin, this is the correspondence between that nanny and the palace maids around you. It clearly describes your conspiracy. Do you still dare to quibble?"

After seeing the evidence, Concubine Li collapsed in her chair. After a moment's silence, she said, "Zhen Huan, I just can't bear to be upstaged by you. I have no favors and no children in this harem, so I can only think of this method, hoping to bring you down."

Zhen Huan scolded, "Princess Li, your use of such sinister means is truly despicable. Your actions have violated palace rules. We will report this to the Emperor for his final decision."

An Lingrong said, "Princess Li, if you had behaved yourself earlier, perhaps you wouldn't have ended up like this."

Coming out of Lipin's palace, Zhen Huan sighed, "In this harem, people are so unscrupulous in order to win favor."

An Lingrong said, "Huan'er, although we have once again averted a crisis, we must not let our guard down. The struggles in the harem will only become more dangerous."

However, just as this incident was over, new troubles arose. A zither player from outside the palace attracted the attention of many concubines with his superb skills. However, he seemed to have other intentions towards Zhen Huan and An Lingrong. What kind of challenges will this bring to them?