0p0 Chapter 165 Ling Huan's Cleverness Breaks Through the Palace Dangers
Chapter 165 Ling Huan's Cleverness Breaks Through the Palace Dangers
Zhen Huan sipped her tea and spoke slowly, "Lingrong, although Concubine Jing has been temporarily suppressed after this incident, the peace in the harem will not last long. There will definitely be further disturbances."
An Lingrong nodded slightly. "Huan'er is absolutely right. I have a feeling that there's a force stirring in the shadows, seemingly plotting something bigger."
At this time, Zhen Huan's personal maid, Jin Xi, came in and bowed before saying, "Your Majesty, I heard that several new doctors have come to the palace recently. One of them, Doctor Jiang, is highly regarded by the Emperor and has already examined the pulses of several ladies."
Zhen Huan frowned slightly. "A new imperial physician? This sudden change of imperial physician must be a conspiracy. Lingrong, what do you think?"
An Lingrong pondered for a moment: "Huan'er, this matter of the imperial physician concerns the safety of everyone in the harem and their offspring, so it cannot be underestimated. Perhaps we should find an opportunity to investigate the background of this imperial physician Jiang."
As they were talking, Chun Changzai came bounding in. "Sister Huanhuan, Sister Lingrong, what are you talking about? Chun'er heard that there's a new imperial physician in the palace. Is that true?"
Zhen Huan smiled and pulled Concubine Chun over. "Chun'er is well-informed. There is a new imperial physician, but I don't know how skilled he is."
Chun Changzai blinked her eyes and said, "Chun'er feels that with Sister Huanhuan and Sister Lingrong here, no matter what kind of imperial physician they are, they won't dare to mess around!"
An Lingrong was amused: "What Chun Chang said here makes sense, but we can't take it lightly."
A few days later, Zhen Huan was strolling in the Imperial Garden when she ran into Imperial Physician Jiang. She bowed, "I'm honored to meet you, Imperial Physician Jiang. I've heard that Imperial Physician Jiang is an excellent doctor, and he's been highly praised in the palace lately."
Imperial Physician Jiang bowed hurriedly, "Your Majesty, Concubine Xi, thank you for your kind words. I am only a humble doctor, and I am only doing my duty."
Zhen Huan smiled slightly. "Doctor Jiang is too modest. I'd like to ask if Doctor Jiang has any research on the integration of spices and pharmacology. I haven't been sleeping well lately. If spices could help with my sleep, perhaps it would be better."
Doctor Jiang replied, "Your Majesty, the combination of spices and pharmacology is indeed very important. However, I believe that if Your Majesty is having trouble sleeping, you should focus on regulating your internal organs, and spices can only serve as a supplement."
After Zhen Huan had a few words with Imperial Physician Jiang, she returned to the palace and told An Lingrong about the incident: "Lingrong, Imperial Physician Jiang is very tight-lipped. It's hard for me to tell his true colors."
An Lingrong said, "Huan'er, it's alright. I have a plan, let's try it out."
An Lingrong asked Baoque to prepare a special spice that was harmless to the human body but had a unique smell. She brought the spice to the Imperial Hospital where Doctor Jiang was working.
An Lingrong walked into the Imperial Hospital and bowed, saying, "Doctor Jiang, I'm sorry to bother you. I recently made a spice and would like to have Doctor Jiang taste it and see if there's anything wrong with it."
Doctor Jiang took the spice and sniffed it. "My Lady An, this spice has a unique scent. I find it hard to pinpoint it. But why did you suddenly create this spice?"
An Lingrong smiled softly, "Doctor Jiang, this spice is a new creation of mine. I wanted to present it to the Emperor, but I was worried there might be something wrong, so I asked the Imperial Physician to take a look."
Doctor Jiang examined the spices carefully. "My lady is very attentive. However, the ingredients in these spices are complex, so I will need some time to study them."
An Lingrong nodded: "Then I'll have to trouble Imperial Doctor Jiang."
A few days later, Imperial Physician Jiang came to reply, "My Lady An, although these spices are not harmful, the mixture of several of them may cause some discomfort to those with weak constitutions. If you wish to present them to the Emperor, you must consider carefully."
An Lingrong's heart moved: "Imperial Physician Jiang is indeed very skilled. Thank you for the reminder."
An Lingrong returned to the palace to discuss with Zhen Huan: "Huan'er, this Imperial Physician Jiang is indeed knowledgeable about spices. But he is overly cautious. I still find him somewhat suspicious."
Zhen Huan said, "Then we should keep an eye on him. Lately, the ladies in the palace seem to have great trust in Doctor Jiang and have been asking him to take their pulses."
Some time later, a palace maid suddenly fainted. Imperial Physician Jiang examined her and prescribed medicine. However, the maid's condition did not improve, but instead worsened.
The sister, Concubine Li, came to Zhen Huan and cried, "Empress Xi, you must make a decision for me! After being treated by Imperial Physician Jiang, my sister's illness is getting worse. What should I do?"
Zhen Huan comforted her, "Don't worry, Concubine Li. I will definitely get to the bottom of this matter."
Zhen Huan and An Lingrong went to check on the condition of the maid. An Lingrong carefully sniffed the scent in the maid's room and checked the prescription of Doctor Jiang, and she had a plan in mind.
An Lingrong winked at Zhen Huan, and the two of them went to the outer room. An Lingrong whispered, "Huan'er, there's always a strange smell in this room. I suspect someone has tampered with the spices or medicine. Doctor Jiang's prescription may seem sound, but if combined with that strange smell, it will become toxic."
Zhen Huan's expression changed: "Then how do we find the real culprit?"
An Lingrong said, "Let's start by checking the palace maids and eunuchs who are always around us to see if anyone is behaving unusually."
After some investigation, they discovered that a young eunuch who was always around was acting suspiciously. Zhen Huan and An Lingrong took the young eunuch to a secluded corner.
Zhen Huan said sternly, "You little eunuch, I've noticed you've been behaving strangely lately. Tell me, have you tampered with your master's spices or medicine?"
The young eunuch slumped to his knees and said, "Your Majesty, it wasn't me. It was... the maidservant beside Concubine Jing who ordered me to do it. She gave me a packet of medicinal powder and told me to sprinkle it in the master's spice box when no one was paying attention. She also said that if I succeeded, she would give me a large sum of money and let me leave the palace."
Zhen Huan angrily said, "It's Concubine Jing again! She has framed me and Lingrong time and time again. How despicable!"
An Lingrong sneered, "Jing Fei thinks she can succeed like this. We will not let her off easily this time."
Zhen Huan and An Lingrong brought the young eunuch and evidence to Concubine Jing's palace.
Zhen Huan threw the evidence in front of Concubine Jing: "Concubine Jing, what else do you have to say?"
Concubine Jing turned pale when she saw the evidence, but she still pretended to be calm: "Zhen Huan, An Lingrong, you are framing me. How can you believe the words of this little eunuch?"
An Lingrong took out the packet of medicine powder and said, "Jing Fei, do you recognize this medicine powder? I found it in the young eunuch's quarters. You ordered the young eunuch to put the medicine in the spices used by the concubine, causing her to become seriously ill. How can you be so cruel?"
Concubine Jing was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Zhen Huan, An Lingrong, do you think you can be favored forever? In this harem, it is the law of the jungle. I am only trying to survive."
Zhen Huan scolded, "Jing Fei, you may compete for favor, but you should not use such despicable means to harm innocent people. Your actions have violated palace rules. We will report this to the Emperor and let him make the final decision."
Concubine Jing snorted disdainfully, "Then go and report it. I want to see how the emperor will deal with me."
Zhen Huan and An Lingrong came out of Concubine Jing's palace. Zhen Huan sighed, "Why are there so many conspiracies and intrigues in this harem?"
An Lingrong held Zhen Huan's hand and said, "Huan'er, don't be afraid. As long as we sisters work together, we will be able to crush these conspiracies one by one."
Unbeknownst to them, a greater crisis lies ahead. A mysterious woman quietly enters the palace. She appears to have some connection to Concubine Jing, and her target appears to be Zhen Huan and An Lingrong. Who is this mysterious woman? And what challenges will she bring to Zhen Huan and An Lingrong?