0p0 Chapter 268 Ling Zhen is surrounded by dangers to find the truth
Chapter 268 Ling Zhen is surrounded by dangers to find the truth
Zhen Huan's eyes were determined as she spoke softly, "This time, we must root out the mastermind behind this and not allow him to stir up trouble again. Lingrong, has there been any unusual activity in your spice shop lately?"
An Lingrong frowned slightly, "Huan'er, although nothing serious has happened in the shop for now, I still feel like there's a pair of eyes watching me from the shadows. It's unsettling."
Concubine Hua's beautiful eyes were filled with fear. "What are you afraid of? With me here, they won't dare to do anything. Let's first find the person who colluded with the clerk in the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
Zhen Huan nodded. "Sister Hua Fei is right. I've asked Xiao Yunzi to keep an eye on the Imperial Household Department and report back if there's any movement."
As she was speaking, Xiao Yunzi hurried over, knelt down and reported, "Your Majesty, that clerk from the Ministry of Internal Affairs was meeting secretly with a maid, and the maid seemed to be handing him something."
Zhen Huan's eyes glared, "Do you know which concubine it is?"
Xiao Yunzi said, "It's Concubine Kang."
An Lingrong was surprised and asked, "This Concubine Kang usually keeps a low profile, so how could she be involved in this?"
Concubine Hua sneered, "Humph! No matter what she does in her daily life, if she dares to go against us, she will definitely suffer the consequences."
Zhen Huan thought for a moment and said, "Let's not alert the enemy yet. Let's pretend we don't know and wait and see what she does next."
A few days later, the palace held a flower viewing banquet. Concubine Kang also came to the banquet, looking a little flustered.
Zhen Huan deliberately walked to Concubine Kang's side and said with a smile: "Concubine Kang, are the flowers beautiful today?"
Kang Changzai forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty, this flower is truly beautiful."
An Lingrong also came over and said casually, "Mrs. Kang, I heard that you've been getting close to people from the Imperial Household Department recently. What's going on?"
Kang Changzai's expression changed: "Noble Concubine An, please don't believe the rumors. I just happened to say a few words to them."
Concubine Hua snorted, "Coincidence? I don't think it's that simple."
Kang Changzai's forehead was covered in cold sweat, but she still said stubbornly: "Empress Hua, please don't wrongly accuse me."
Zhen Huan glanced at An Lingrong and said, "Mrs. Kang, if you really have any difficulties, please tell us. We sisters may be able to help you. It would be bad if you were taken advantage of by others."
Kang Changzai's eyes flickered and he seemed to be hesitant to speak.
After the flower viewing banquet, Zhen Huan, An Lingrong and Concubine Hua gathered together.
An Lingrong said, "Huan'er, I think Concubine Kang must know something, but she just doesn't dare to say it."
Hua Fei said: "The Queen must have promised her some favor, so that she could frame us."
Zhen Huan pondered, "I have a plan to make her reveal the truth. We can pretend to spread the news in the palace that the Queen is about to be deposed. If she is in cahoots with the Queen, she will definitely be restless."
An Lingrong praised: "Huan'er, this plan is very brilliant."
Rumors began to spread quietly in the palace that the queen had lost power and would be deposed. Upon hearing this, Consort Kang was indeed panicked.
She secretly came to Zhen Huan's palace and asked to see Zhen Huan.
When Zhen Huan met her alone, Kang Changzai knelt down with a thud and said, "Noble Consort Xi, I know I was wrong. It was the Empress who threatened me, saying that if I didn't help her frame you and Noble Consort An, she would find an excuse to punish my family."
Zhen Huan helped her up: "Kang Changzai, please tell me in detail, what did the Queen ask you to do?"
Kang Changzai cried, "The Queen told me to secretly place a package of something in Noble Consort An's spice shop and spread rumors that it was contraband spices. She also told me to contact the clerks in the Imperial Household Department and arrange for people to spy around the spice shop."
Zhen Huan asked, "What's that package?"
Kang Changzai said: "I don't know, I just know it's a small package, it looks insignificant."
Zhen Huan asked, "Do you know what other plots the Queen has?"
Kang Changzai shook her head: "This is all I know. The Queen didn't tell me everything."
Zhen Huan said, "Mrs. Kang, if you want to atone for your sins, please do us a favor."
Kang Changzai hurriedly said, "As long as I can do it, I will never refuse even if it means death."
Zhen Huan whispered a few words in Kang Changzai's ear, Kang Changzai nodded, and then left.
An Lingrong and Concubine Hua came out from the inner room.
Concubine Hua asked, "Huan'er, do you believe what she said?"
Zhen Huan said, "I'm half-believing and half-doubting. But let her do it first, and we'll observe secretly."
An Lingrong said, "I hope this will lead to more conspiracy from the Queen."
Meanwhile, the Queen was confined to her palace, plotting her next move. She sneered, "Zhen Huan, An Lingrong, do you think you can bring me down like this? I have another trick up my sleeve."