People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 1566 Empress Wu's Hidden Murderous Intentions

The inner hall of Jixian Palace.

Empress Wu walked in front with a calm expression, and Li Xian lagged behind half a step.

Pei Yan and Wang Dezhen followed behind with serious expressions.

Qiu Huan and Fan Yunxian were carrying a black wooden box, which was locked tightly.

Walking out of the inner hall, looking at the more than 20 palace maids and eunuchs kneeling in the courtyard, Empress Wu turned sideways and said, "Qiu Huan, Fan Yunxian."

"Your servants are here." Qiu Huan and Fan Yunxian put down the boxes and bowed solemnly.

"I order the two of you to each try half of the case. I want to know the result before sunset." Queen Wu looked at the two with a cold expression.

Qiu Huan and Fan Yunxian bowed solemnly at the same time: "Yes!"

Empress Wu turned to look at Li Xian, her expression softened, and she said softly, "Emperor, I will handle the matter here later.

There are too many shady things going on in the palace, and no one knows what will come out of the question, so it’s better for you not to get involved.”

"Your son obeys your command." Li Xian bowed solemnly, then turned and left without any hesitation.

He really didn't want to get involved in the secret affairs of the palace.

Li Xian knew what happened to Queen Wang and Concubine Xiao.

You have to know that the incident caused a big stir back then, and even many years later, there were still people attacking Empress Wu because of it.

Some people said that the royal family was dissatisfied, but Li Xian knew that the royal family had no objection at all to the change of emperor.

The ones who really disagree are the aristocratic families headed by Changsun Wuji, who suffered losses as a result.

Only aristocratic families have the ability to spread such rumors throughout the world and frame them on the royal family.

His thoughts were instantly withdrawn, and Li Xian calmed down. He had already walked out of the Jixian Palace.

Standing at the gate of the outer palace, Li Xian saw at a glance the pitiful Concubine Yang surrounded by several tall eunuchs, and surrounded by four palace guards holding long swords.

Several people were several feet away from the palace gate.

Li Xian nodded gently to Concubine Yang, and Concubine Yang immediately relaxed.

Li Xian turned sideways to look at Wei and said softly, "Empress, something happened to Concubine Yang. I'm afraid it will take some time to clean up. You should gather everyone else in the Zhuangjing Palace. Don't come out if there's nothing wrong."

"I obey your command." Wei knew vaguely what was happening. Without any hesitation, she directly called on everyone else to go to Zhuangjing Palace. Even Princess Taiping did not dare to say anything more at this time.

After the queen and her party left, Li Xian looked at Li Yi and said, "Li Qing, take your people back and guard the Zhulong Gate. No one is allowed to walk around the harem and the front court at will."

"Yes!" Li Yi turned and left without any hesitation.

Li Xian turned to look at Li Lingwen, waved his hand, and said, "Take the person to Zhenguan Hall."

"Yes!" Li Lingwen bowed, then looked at Yangpin: "Your Highness, please!"

Yang Concubine looked at Li Xian with a pitiful face. Li Xian smiled and said, "You go first. I will be there soon."

"Yes!" Concubine Yang then breathed a sigh of relief and headed towards the Zhenguan Palace.

Seeing Yangpin walking in front, Li Xian glanced at Jixian Hall. There were faint cries coming from the hall. Li Xian then said to Pei Yan and Wang Dezhen, "Let's go, let's go to Zhenguan Hall too."

"Yes!" Pei Yan and Wang Dezhen bowed at the same time.

……

In front of the Zhenguan Hall, Li Lingwen stood at the door with a solemn expression.

Deep inside the palace, Concubine Yang was already kneeling heavily in the hall.

Li Xian did not go in, but looked in the direction of Jixian Palace with a little worry.

"Your Majesty!" Pei Yan called out in a low voice.

Li Xian came back to his senses, looked at Pei Yan with some concern, and asked, "Pei Qing, what do you think will happen today?"

Pei Yan hesitated for a moment, then asked carefully, "May I ask your Majesty, what is the relationship between your Majesty and Concubine Yang?"

"It's fine." Li Xian nodded and said helplessly: "These days, I have to visit each concubine's palace every day, and then go to the Queen's bedroom to rest.

Pei Qing knows the current situation. No matter what, the internal fighting in the palace will not reach this level."

Pei Yan couldn't help but nodded.

Now the coffin of the late emperor is still in the Xuanzheng Hall, and the emperor will never have anything to do with other concubines.

If the Queen was not pregnant now, the Emperor would probably not go to the Queen's bedroom to avoid suspicion.

The emperor's caution even exceeded Pei Yan's expectations.

He originally thought that the emperor would inevitably be arrogant and domineering after ascending the throne, but in fact, that was not the case at all.

The emperor's understanding of the court and the world exceeded Pei Yan's expectations.

This overall view ensures that the emperor can at least be a qualified emperor.

It also made Pei Yan feel relieved.

While helping Li Xian, Pei Yan gradually focused his attention on state affairs and was on guard against Empress Wu.

Thinking of this, Pei Yan said cautiously: "Your Majesty, do you mean that Yang Fei was framed?"

Li Xian nodded slightly and said, "I understand Yangpin. She can't even hold a needle, so how can she make a doll? She doesn't understand witchcraft at all, and she doesn't hold any grudges."

Pei Yan bowed slightly, then asked, "Then who do you think is framing Yangpin?"

Li Xian looked back at Yang Fei who was kneeling in the Zhenguan Hall, shook his head and said, "There are only a few people in my harem. The Queen and Concubine Zheng are pregnant, so they won't do such a thing that will damage their moral integrity. As for Gao, she is arrogant and I'm afraid she won't even look at such a thing."

Pei Yan fell silent. By the time Li Xian had finished speaking, everything was clear. "And it can't be the Princess Taiping and Xiang Wangfei." Li Xian sneered, denying the last possibility.

Pei Yan didn't dare to speak at this time.

"At this moment, the most worrying thing is that it's not just Concubine Yang who is framed." Li Xian snorted coldly.

Pei Yan immediately raised his head and looked at Li Xian in surprise.

Pei Yan bowed quickly and said, "Your Majesty, it doesn't have to be this serious. Although there are cases of witchcraft in the palace and many people have been implicated, they are all matters outside the palace and rarely involve the palace.

Especially for imperial concubines, one is enough."

Li Xian nodded slightly and sighed, "I still want to do my best to protect Concubine Yang, but my mother doesn't seem to have this intention. Pei Qing, now that this has happened, the Yang family will still have to take action."

"Yes!" Pei Yan bowed slightly, but his brows couldn't help but frowned. He didn't quite understand what the emperor meant.

Li Xian sighed and said, "Please draft an order now and have the Dali Temple Minister personally lead the troops to surround Yang's mansion and all the related families in Luoyang."

After a short pause, Li Xian said, "I still have some friendship. The masters of the houses must not act rashly, but the servants can communicate."

Pei Yan raised his eyebrows slightly. He already understood what the emperor meant.

Li Xian smiled, and then continued: "I think the handling of the matter will be announced at the court tomorrow. Tell the Yang family and ask them to find a solution as soon as possible."

"Yes!" Pei Yan breathed a sigh of relief, then bowed and was about to leave. At this time, Li Xian spoke again: "Wait a moment."

"Yes!" Pei Yan turned around and stopped.

Li Xian hesitated for a moment, but still spoke: "It seems that Right Jinwu General Yang Xuanjian is also among them. So, let Right Jinwu General Li Dazhi take charge of his subordinates. If there are any close relatives, put them in jail."

Pei Yan looked at Li Xian in surprise. Li Xian calmly waved his hand and said, "Go and get busy."

"Yes!" Pei Yan bowed, then turned around and left quickly.

Pei Yan's face looked terrible and ugly. He now finally understood that their emperor was never a simple person.

Li Xian turned to look at Wang Dezhen and said softly, "Wang Qing, please ask Yao Qing to draft two edicts: one to strip Yang Concubine of all her titles and imprison her in the imperial court, and to dismiss her father and brother from all official positions and exile them to Fanzhou; the other to sentence Yang Concubine to death, her father and brother to death, and the three males to be dismissed from all official positions and exiled to Qianzhou."

Wang Dezhen calmly bowed and said, "I accept your order."

"Go ahead." Li Xian smiled gently. He liked Wang Dezhen's attitude very much.

Watching Wang Dezheng turn around and leave, Li Xian looked deeply in the direction of Jixian Hall, then turned around and went straight into Zhenguan Hall.

If we want to find out what happened today, the best person to do so is Concubine Yang.

……

In the Zhenguan Hall, Li Xian calmly watched Yangpin being brought into the east side hall, then turned to look at Empress Wu, bowed earnestly and said, "Mother, how is the investigation going?"

Empress Wu hesitated for a moment, looked at Pei Yan and Wang Dezhen who were waiting solemnly, sighed softly, looked up at Qiu Huan, and said, "Why do you ask?"

Qiu Huan bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I and Fan Shaojian have interrogated all the maids and eunuchs in the Jixian Palace. We finally learned that not long ago, because Yang Concubine's father did not receive any special rewards, Yang Concubine had complaints against Your Majesty, the Queen, Gao Concubine, and Zheng Concubine."

Empress Wu frowned, looked at Qiu Huan and said, "Tell me the truth with solid evidence."

"Yes!" Qiu Huan bowed and said, "The fabrics used for the puppets found in Jixian Palace all came from Yangpin's bedroom. There are records in the palace to check."

Li Xian looked up at Qiu Huan and frowned, "Who sewed that puppet? Hasn't anyone found out? Concubine Yang doesn't have any needlework skills?"

Qiu Huan lowered his head slightly and said, "No one confessed at first, but after torture, three people confessed that they did it, but that was the result of torture."

Li Xian looked up at Empress Wu and said with disappointment, "Mother, if I can't say anything conclusive, I'm afraid people outside the palace won't accept it, especially Hongnong Yang.

There are countless people from the imperial court and the nobility who have married into their clans, and even many of the royal family members are Yang’s grandchildren.”

“If you really want to investigate further, you should ask Concubine Yang.” Empress Wu raised her head and looked towards the side hall.

Li Xian couldn't help but frown, then shook his head and said, "Forget it. With something like that appearing in the Jixian Palace, Yang Concubine was already responsible for not keeping a close watch on her. Under severe punishment, who knows what she will say. All of Yang Concubine's status as a palace concubine will be revoked immediately. She will be sent to the palace and will never be allowed to leave again. Her father and brother will be dismissed from office and exiled to Fanzhou. What do you think, mother?"

Empress Wu fell silent, then sighed and said, "I know that Concubine Yang may be innocent and framed, but if we really investigate now, it may be detrimental to the overall situation. However, there are some things that we must understand in our hearts."

After a short pause, Empress Wu looked up and said, "The concubines in the palace are not the type to cause trouble, so it's not them. But there are outsiders in the palace besides them, and the imperial guards are only a stone's throw away!"

In one sentence, Li Xian, Pei Yan, and Wang Dezhen all looked at Empress Wu in surprise.

Empress Wu's target was actually the Imperial Guard.

Empress Wu turned to look at Pei Yan and Wang Dezhen and said, "Tonight, Prime Minister Pei and Prime Minister Wang will be in charge of guarding the Daye Gate and Xuanwu Gate. After the court session tomorrow, we will temporarily replace the guards."

Li Xian hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, I'll do as my mother says."

Pei Yan and Wang Dezhen lowered their heads with serious expressions.

……

It was dark at night, and four fast horses galloped out from Luoyang in the southeast, northwest, and northeast directions respectively.

Just when they rushed to a place ten miles outside Luoyang city, countless crossbow arrows flew up from the side of the road and shot them all down in an instant, and no one escaped.

Blood flowed all over the ground.

……

In the early morning, Luoyang City was brightly lit.

Outside the Duanmen Gate, hundreds of officials stood solemnly outside the palace gate.

Quietly waiting for the last grand ceremony before the coffin of the late emperor returns to Chang'an.

At the same time, everyone is quietly waiting to see what the outcome of the second major witchcraft case in the Tang Empire will be.

(End of this chapter)