jdhmnovel Chapter 307 Ling Huan is in danger of encountering the enchanting fragrance
Chapter 307 Ling Huan is in danger of encountering the enchanting fragrance
Zhen Huan's eyes were calm as she spoke softly, "Although we have taken precautions, there seems to be an undercurrent surging in this palace. I always feel uneasy."
An Lingrong nodded slightly. "Huan'er, I feel the same way. The spices in my palace have been inexplicably scarce lately. My maid said there seems to be a strange fragrance wafting through the air at night, but I can't find the source."
Concubine Hua frowned, "Could it be that someone is plotting something bad again? Using spices to plot secretly, this method is really despicable!"
Chun'er tilted her head and asked, "Sisters, could it be that the person who wanted to take over Sister Lingrong's spice shop has come up with a new trick?"
Zhen Huan thought for a moment and said, "It's possible. Lingrong, you are well versed in spices. You can start your investigation from this scent."
An Lingrong replied, "I've been mixing spices and testing them, trying to find a matching scent, but this fragrance is extremely strange, like a mixture of many rare spices. I haven't figured it out yet."
A few days later, An Lingrong said solemnly to Zhen Huan and Concubine Hua, "Huan'er, sister, I've found that the fragrance seems to contain a mixture of aphrodisiac incense from the Western Regions and dream grass from southern Xinjiang. The combination of these two spices can cause hallucinations and mental confusion."
Concubine Hua's eyes widened in anger: "How could they be so vicious! They want us to embarrass ourselves in the palace, or even lose our lives!"
Zhen Huan said in a deep voice, "It seems that the person behind this is trying to harm us without anyone noticing. We must first find the person who applied the perfume."
An Lingrong said, "I've been keeping watch in my palace day and night. Last night, I finally spotted a young eunuch sneaking around a corner. I shouted at him, but he suddenly fell to the ground, convulsing all over, as if he'd been silenced."
Zhen Huan frowned, "He must have known some secrets, and was murdered by the mastermind. Did he leave any clues?"
An Lingrong shook her head. "I only found a torn piece of clothing in his hand. It looked like the fabric for a palace maid's costume."
Hua Fei asked, "Who is this maid? There are so many maids in this palace. Finding her is like looking for a needle in a haystack."
Zhen Huan said, "Don't worry. We can first check the clothes of the palace maids to see if anyone has a torn corner."
So the three of them split up and went to each palace to check.
Zhen Huan arrived at Concubine Qi's palace. Upon seeing Zhen Huan, Concubine Qi hurriedly bowed and said, "Empress Xi, how come you have time to come to my place today?"
Zhen Huan smiled and said, "Sister Qi Fei, there seems to be someone causing trouble in the palace recently, using aphrodisiac incense to harm people. We are investigating and have come to see if there is anything unusual in your palace."
Concubine Qi said nervously, "Your Majesty, everything is fine in my palace. I haven't found anything wrong."
Zhen Huan's eyes wandered over the palace maids. Suddenly, she saw one of them looking away. Zhen Huan approached her and said, "Look up."
The maid raised her head tremblingly. Zhen Huan saw that the corner of her clothes seemed to have been repaired, and she was moved: "Why is the corner of your clothes damaged?"
The maid stammered, "My Lady, it was...I was accidentally scratched by a branch."
Zhen Huan sneered, "Really? But I don't think so. Come with me."
The maid fell to her knees with a plop: "Your Majesty, I am wronged!"
Concubine Qi shouted, "Don't try to quibble. If there is really a problem, I will not forgive you!"
Zhen Huan brought the palace maids back to her palace, where Concubine Hua and An Lingrong were already waiting.
When An Lingrong saw the palace maid coming, she took out the piece of clothing for comparison. Although it had been repaired, it was obvious that it was the same piece.
An Lingrong shouted, "Tell me! Who ordered you to release the aphrodisiac in my palace?"
The maid wept, "Noble Consort An, it's...it's Consort Ning. She gave me a large sum of money and told me to put the mixed spices in a corner of your palace. She also said that if the matter was exposed, I would be killed."
Everyone was shocked.
Zhen Huan asked, "Concubine Ning? Why would she do this?"
The maid shook her head: "I don't know, I only know that she seems to have a grudge against the ladies."
Hua Fei angrily said: "This Ningpin, who usually keeps quiet, is so cruel!"
An Lingrong said, "We can't just rely on this maid's words. We have to confront Concubine Ning face to face."
Zhen Huan nodded: "That makes sense. Let's go to Concubine Ning's palace now."
When we arrived at Ningpin's palace, she was leisurely enjoying the flowers.
Zhen Huan asked, "Concubine Ning, do you know why we are here?"
Concubine Ning glanced at them and said, "I don't know, could it be that the ladies are here to cause trouble again?"
Concubine Hua shouted, "Stop pretending to be ignorant! You ordered the palace maids to release aphrodisiac in Lingrong's palace with ill intentions, and yet you still dare to make excuses!"
Concubine Ning sneered: "My Lady Hua, please don't slander me. Do you have any evidence?"
An Lingrong took out the scrap of clothing and the maid's testimony: "This is the evidence. What else do you have to say?"
When Concubine Ning saw the evidence, her expression changed slightly, but she still pretended to be calm: "What does this mean? Maybe someone deliberately framed me."
Zhen Huan said, "Ningpin, if you tell the truth, there might be a chance of recovery. If you persist in your delusion, the Emperor will know about this and he will definitely not let you off easily."
Concubine Ning was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. "Haha, that's right, I did it. I just can't stand you guys showing off in the palace. Why are you able to be favored and have so many honors, while I can only live a lonely life in this palace!"
Hua Fei angrily said, "You are jealous! You want to harm us for this ridiculous reason!"
An Lingrong said, "Ningpin, your thoughts are truly terrifying. But we won't bother with you. We will report this matter to the Emperor, and he will make the final decision."
Zhen Huan and the others returned to the palace. Zhen Huan sighed, "When will the jealousy and resentment in this palace end?"
An Lingrong said, "As long as we stay true to our original intentions and don't let ourselves be consumed by this darkness, we will be able to live safely in this palace."
Concubine Hua said, "Hmph! No matter who it is, if they dare to attack me again, I will make them regret being born into this world!"