0p0 Chapter 204 Ling Huan breaks the rumor to secure favor
Chapter 204 Ling Huan breaks the rumor to secure favor
Hua Fei came over and said with a smile: "Well, now we can finally have peace. We sisters should support each other in the future!"
Zhen Huan and An Lingrong smiled at each other. Zhen Huan said, "Sister Hua Fei is right. This palace is full of twists and turns. With you here, we feel much more at ease."
An Lingrong also nodded: "Yes, I hope there will be no more trouble from now on."
However, a few days later, a mysterious palace maid quietly spread rumors in the harem, saying that Zhen Huan and An Lingrong were ominous people who had brought many disasters since entering the palace. This rumor was like wings, quickly setting off new waves in the harem.
Zhen Huan frowned upon hearing this: "Who is behind this? Lingrong, we can't just sit back and watch."
An Lingrong's face showed worry: "Huan'er, this rumor is completely groundless, but if everyone believes it, it will be difficult for us to gain a foothold in the palace!"
Zhen Huan thought calmly for a moment and said, "Let's go talk to Concubine Hua first. She has a lot of experience in the palace and may have a solution."
The two arrived at Concubine Hua's residence. Upon hearing this, Concubine Hua raised her eyebrows and said, "How can this be! How dare someone slander you like this! I will not let you off easily!"
Zhen Huan said softly, "Sister, the most urgent task now is to quell the rumors. If we start a war, it will only backfire."
Hua Fei angrily asked, "What do you think? Are we just going to let this rumor continue to spread?"
An Lingrong hesitated and said, "Sister, we want to find the source of this rumor first, perhaps starting with that mysterious palace maid. But there are so many palace maids in this palace, and finding her is like looking for a needle in a haystack."
Hua Fei paced the hall for a moment and said, "I have a plan. We can spread the word that the Emperor has learned of the rumor, is extremely angry, and wants to investigate the matter thoroughly. If the person behind this is guilty, they might reveal their true intentions."
Zhen Huan's eyes lit up: "Sister, this is a brilliant plan. However, we still need to be careful and not give anyone a handle on us."
So the three of them acted according to the plan. When the news spread, everyone in the harem was in a panic.
Zhen Huan and An Lingrong pretended to be calm in the palace, but secretly paid attention to everyone's reactions.
One day, Zhen Huan was walking in the imperial garden and accidentally heard two young palace maids whispering.
Palace Maid A: "Have you heard? The story about Zhen Huan and An Lingrong is causing a stir right now, and I don't know if it's true or not."
Palace Maid B: "I don't know either, but I heard that this rumor seems to have spread from Concubine Li's palace."
Zhen Huan's heart moved, and she left quietly and hurried to find An Lingrong and Hua Fei.
When Zhen Huan saw them, she hurriedly said, "Lingrong, Sister Hua Fei, I just heard the news in the Imperial Garden. It seems that this rumor came from Concubine Li's palace."
Concubine Hua sneered, "Humph! I knew that Concubine Li loves to gossip. She must be behind this!"
An Lingrong was a little worried: "But we have no evidence. If we go directly to Concubine Li, she will definitely not admit it."
Zhen Huan pondered, "We can find a way to make her reveal her flaws. Sister Hua Fei, do you and Lipin have any interactions on a daily basis?"
Hua Fei thought for a moment and said, "I often meet her at palace banquets. She has always been jealous of my favor. Perhaps we can take advantage of this."
Zhen Huan nodded. "Sister, why not bring up this rumor in front of Concubine Li at the next banquet and tell her that the Emperor has cast suspicion on her? Let's see how she reacts."
Hua Fei replied, "Okay, I'll do as you say."
On the day of the palace banquet, Concubine Hua attended in her best attire and deliberately sat next to Concubine Li.
After three rounds of drinks, Concubine Hua pretended to be casual and said, "Sister Lipin, have you heard about the rumors in the palace recently?"
Lipin's expression changed slightly: "Sister, of course I heard about it. Such rumors are really abominable."
Concubine Hua sneered, "Humph! That's right. But, sister, do you know that when the Emperor heard that this rumor came from a certain concubine in the palace, he was extremely angry and I'm afraid he will punish you severely!"
Lipin almost dropped the wine glass in her hand and said with forced composure, "Sister, this...what does this have to do with me?"
Hua Fei stared at her and said slowly, "Sister, don't panic. If it has nothing to do with you, that's all the best. If it's discovered..."
Lipin had cold sweat on her forehead and stammered, "Sister, I...I really don't know."
Zhen Huan observed Lipin's reaction from the side, and became more and more certain that this matter was related to her.
After the banquet, Zhen Huan said to An Lingrong and Hua Fei, "Lingrong, sister, I see Concubine Li is so panicked. This rumor must be hers. Let's go tell the emperor now and let him make the decision."
An Lingrong hesitated a bit: "Huan'er, isn't this too risky? What if Concubine Li bites back..."
Zhen Huan said firmly, "We have what we saw and heard at the banquet. If she dares to quibble, the Emperor will understand."
So the three of them asked to see the emperor together.
When the emperor heard this, his face darkened: "Is this really true? Tell Concubine Li!"
When Concubine Li was brought before the emperor, she was shocked to see Zhen Huan, An Lingrong and Concubine Hua beside her.
The emperor glared at Lipin and said, "Lipin, were you the one who spread this rumor?"
Lipin fell to her knees and cried, "Your Majesty, this is unjust! I only heard the palace maids talking about it privately, and I didn't spread it!"
Concubine Hua said coldly, "Princess Li, how do you explain why you were so flustered at the banquet?"
Lipin babbled incoherently: "I...I'm just afraid of being implicated. Your Majesty, please understand!"
Zhen Huan said from the side: "Your Majesty, Lingrong and I have always been conscientious in fulfilling our duties in the palace. If this rumor is not stopped, I am afraid it will disturb the peace of the harem."
The emperor pondered for a moment and said, "I will investigate thoroughly. Lipin, you will be temporarily confined to the palace until I find out the truth, and then I will make my own decision."
Concubine Li was taken away crying.
Zhen Huan, An Lingrong and Concubine Hua walked out of the Yangxin Palace.
An Lingrong breathed a sigh of relief: "Finally, the situation has been temporarily stabilized, but the impact of this rumor has not been eliminated. We still need to work hard."
Zhen Huan nodded: "That's right, we should do more good deeds in the palace, win the favor of everyone, and make these rumors self-defeating."
Hua Fei said, "Well, I will instruct my servants to pay more attention to what is happening in the palace. If anyone dares to stir up trouble again, I will not let them off lightly!"
After that, Zhen Huan and An Lingrong often gave porridge to poor palace maids and eunuchs, and cared for the sick. Their good deeds gradually became known to everyone, and the palace's views on them gradually changed.
Will the person behind the rumors really give up? What new challenges will Zhen Huan and An Lingrong face? Everything is quietly brewing in this unfathomable harem.