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

Chapter 1568: The witchcraft was created by His Majesty to curse the Queen of Heaven

In Qianyang Palace, all the ministers' eyes were on Pei Yan.

Empress Wu's words "regent" left Pei Yan no room to retreat.

For a moment, Pei Yan's face was full of hesitation.

The ministers couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, fortunately this decision would not fall on them.

What Empress Wu said makes sense. If the emperor was not afraid or guilty, why didn't he dare to let Concubine Yang enter the palace?

But what the emperor said was even more grand and majestic.

This is a place for grand court sessions, not a place for trials.

Why should a guilty concubine be allowed into the palace?

What's more, all the ministers heard every detail of the confrontation between the emperor and Empress Wu clearly.

Empress Wu has been hinting openly and covertly that the emperor was involved in the witchcraft case, but the emperor directly refuted it. What if Concubine Yang framed him?
Everyone knows that although the emperor is now the ruler of the world, the empress is above the emperor.

Yang Bin framed someone, and who did she frame? Of course, she framed the emperor.

The only person who could make Concubine Yang frame the emperor was Empress Wu.

At this point, the rift and struggle between mother and son had already clearly emerged before the ministers' eyes.

Many people couldn't even figure out who was right and who was wrong for a while.

But now, the responsibility of figuring out what is right and what is wrong falls on Pei Yan.

Pei Yan was extremely hesitant for a moment. He heard Empress Wu's words very clearly. The witchcraft case was actually related to the emperor. This was indeed unprecedented since ancient times.

But what Li Xian said also made sense. Concubine Yang had been out of the emperor's control for some time. It was absolutely possible that someone instigated Concubine Yang to frame the emperor.

And this person is most likely Empress Wu.

After all, it was Empress Wu's people who started this matter.

In fact, he suspected from the very beginning that Empress Wu was planning to cause trouble, and now it only confirmed his previous guess.

After calming down, Pei Yan thought seriously.

Based on his understanding of the emperor, he would definitely not do anything that could be considered a frame-up.

The emperor has the same temperament as Empress Wu.

There is only one possibility for this matter, that is, Empress Wu was framing the emperor.

After thinking about this clearly, Pei Yan immediately understood the cause and effect.

Today is May 15th, and the day after tomorrow is May 17th.

On May 17, the coffin of the late emperor returned to Chang'an.

Starting from tomorrow, no, starting from today, everyone in the government and the country must make final preparations to return to Chang'an.

No one has the mind to care about anything else.

Once returning to Chang'an, the emperor's power will be greatly increased.

In a place like Chang'an where there are many powerful people from Longxi, Empress Wu's power will be greatly reduced.

In this situation, if Empress Wu wanted to prevent the power from slipping away, there was only one way, which was to delay returning to Chang'an, or even directly seize power from the emperor.

Just like it is now.

……

After figuring everything out, Pei Yan stood up solemnly, bowed to the golden steps and said, "Your Majesty, Queen of Heaven, Yang Shuren is a sinner, and his crime has been determined.

If there is any repetition, it is just sophistry.

According to court regulations, the eunuchs are responsible for the detention of prisoners. If there is any investigation, they should report it to the emperor. Today's court session is over. If there is anything, please report it to the emperor privately."

After a short pause, Pei Yan turned sideways to look at the ministers and said, "The matter of witchcraft involves many secrets of the royal family. If the emperor feels that the ministers need to know, he can summon the ministers. If the emperor thinks that the ministers do not need to know, he can deal with it himself. He is just a criminal. His life or death is up to him."

The ministers in the hall looked at Pei Yan in surprise, and their expressions unconsciously became solemn.

Pei Yan's words revealed several meanings.

First of all, Concubine Yang had been demoted to a commoner and imprisoned in the palace by imperial decree. Even though the imperial decree had just been issued, she was not qualified to enter the Qianyang Palace to meet the emperor.

Secondly, the matter of witchcraft has basically been resolved, and the emperor can deal with it on his own without the court officials knowing about it. Moreover, it is not a good thing to know too much about such things.

In the end, a sinner, even if he has any secrets, no matter who he is involved in, will be dead if he dies.

For example, Queen Wang was eventually killed in the palace by Empress Wu, and no one in the court really cared about her.

In other words, who dares to really care.

Pei Yan's words made even the courtiers who had some concerns in their minds quickly retract the half foot they had taken.

Pei Yan was the regent minister. Since he had made the decision, half of the court officials in the hall nodded their heads in approval.

"Good!" Li Xian nodded with satisfaction and raised his hand and said, "Retreat..."

When Empress Wu heard this, her eyes became fierce and she raised her right hand slightly.

The next moment, a figure rushed in from outside, wailing miserably, "Your Majesty!"

Li Xian was stunned, and all the ministers were stunned.

Yang Concubine, who was dressed in a black chest-length skirt and looked disheveled, rushed in from the side hall door. The guards standing there let her in without any obstruction.

A hint of sneer flashed across Empress Wu's eyes.

The court system and rules are just tricks she plays when she needs them. When she doesn't need them, there is no need to play these tricks.

"Your Majesty!" Concubine Yang fell to the ground in a somewhat embarrassed manner, stretched out her hand to grab Li Xian, with a pleading look on her face.

Li Xian finally reacted. Looking at the guards around him who were still not moving, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Li Xian waved his hand slightly and said, "My beloved concubine, please stand up and tidy yourself up. Don't look so ugly."

Yang Concubine was slightly startled, and looked down. Not to mention the mess she was in, even her collar was...

Concubine Yang quickly packed her clothes, suppressed her sad expression, and then smiled a little embarrassedly.

Li Xian said calmly, "My beloved, yesterday you told me, Prime Minister Pei, and Empress Wu that you knew nothing about the matter at Jixian Palace. Today, have you remembered anything?"

Yang Concubine was stunned, and her expression immediately turned ugly, but she still bowed seriously and said, "May I ask Your Majesty, are you going to demote me to a commoner and then exile my father and brother?"

Li Xian's face darkened slightly, then he smiled softly and said, "It seems that someone told the imperial edict to my beloved concubine. It was so fast!"

The expressions of the ministers in the hall changed slightly. They were all veterans in the political arena, and many of them had served as local county magistrates and provincial governors. They were naturally familiar with the art of criminal law.

Especially since there were officials from the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice in the hall, they could see it more clearly.

It was nothing more than that someone met with Concubine Yang in private at the same time as the emperor issued the imperial edict, told her the content of the imperial edict, and asked her to think of something to say in order to save herself.

Many people's eyes have fallen on Qiu Huan.

In the past, when the Empress Dowager was in power, Qiu Huan would always serve by her side, but today, strangely, he did not do so.

Originally, the ministers' attention was attracted by the matter of witchcraft, but now it was obvious that the old dog Qiu Huan was stirring up trouble.

Li Xian then looked at Yang Concubine and said gently, "I have discussed your matter with Prime Minister Pei and the others. I believe you are innocent, and I also believe that someone must have framed you..."

"Your Majesty!" Empress Wu suddenly interrupted Li Xian and said in a cold tone: "Should we listen to what Concubine Yang has to say?"

Li Xian smiled lightly and said sideways: "Mother, I believe that if I don't say this, Yangpin will not say a word."

The pearl curtain swayed, and Empress Wu looked at Li Xian deeply. She finally realized that she had underestimated her son.

He was far more savvy than he had originally thought.

"Even if you finish speaking, what can it do? She will still be demoted to a commoner and imprisoned in another courtyard." Empress Wu sneered.

Yang Bin's expression couldn't help but change slightly at this moment.

Li Xian shook his head and said bluntly, "Your Majesty, I'm afraid you have forgotten that when Queen Wang and Concubine Xiao were deposed, even if they were living in separate courtyards, they still had the opportunity to see your father again and regain his favor. Now I know that she is wronged, and I am only wronging her temporarily. One day I will clear her grievances and let her return to the harem."

"Li Xian!" Empress Wu looked at Li Xian with great anger.

She didn't hear what Li Xian said later. When Li Xian mentioned Queen Wang and Concubine Xiao, Empress Wu exploded.

Even Empress Wu did not expect that Li Xian would fall out with her to this extent.

Li Xian looked at Empress Wu without fear.

Empress Wu attacked him again and again today with only one purpose, which was to seize power.

Concubine Yang was a chess piece in Empress Wu's hands. If Li Xian did not show an attitude of confronting Empress Wu head-on, how could he make Concubine Yang change her mind?

Empress Wu suppressed her anger, turned her head and looked at Yang Concubine, looked at her coldly and said: "Yang, tell me what you said to Qiu Huan before. As long as you tell me now, I will immediately pardon you and your father and brother will not have to be exiled anymore."

With a "whoosh", Empress Wu finished her words, and before Concubine Yang did anything, the ministers were already in chaos.

Empress Wu revealed everything. It was she who made other promises to Concubine Yang, which made Concubine Yang ready to speak.

Yang Pin was already hesitant at this time. The emperor had promised her that he would help her clear her grievances in the future. With his words, Yang Pin would not be sad even if she stayed in the palace in the future.

Is it necessary for her to frame the emperor now?
"Mother, Fanzhou is not considered exile." Li Xian saw through it calmly, turned sideways to look at Yangpin, and said, "With my uncle in Fanzhou, I can serve the court even if I am in white clothes."

Li Xian said this, Yang Concubine no longer hesitated, immediately knelt down, and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I am innocent."

At this point, Concubine Yang couldn't help but burst into tears.

"I know you are innocent." Li Xian sighed and said, "I also know that you were framed, but you also know about my concubines. The Queen and Concubine Zheng are pregnant. They can't hide from such things. Concubine Gao is arrogant and doesn't even bother to touch these things. Who else in the palace framed you? It can't be..."

"Hate the eunuchs!" Empress Wu interrupted Li Xian directly. She couldn't let Li Xian continue speaking.

Qiu Huan immediately stood up, took out a confession from his bosom, and said, "This old servant has a confession from Yang Concubine herself, with her signature and seal.

Yang Concubine confessed that the witchcraft in Jixian Palace was created by Your Majesty, and its intention was to curse the Queen of Heaven and become the Queen. "

After Qiu Huan finished speaking, the entire Qianyang Palace fell completely silent.

What? What’s going on? The emperor cursed the empress dowager?
How come it became the Emperor cursing the Empress Dowager? Wasn’t it Concubine Yang who cursed the Queen?

All the ministers were stunned for a moment.

Empress Wu waved her hand slightly, and the next moment, two eunuchs quickly walked in from outside carrying a black box, and finally carried the box directly into the hall.

The box was opened directly, and a strange rag doll wearing a black 翟衣 and a phoenix crown was lying flat in the box.

There was a piece of paper stuck on the doll, with no words on it.

I couldn't tell clearly whether it was the appearance of the Queen or Empress Wu.

So it could be the Queen or Empress Wu.

(End of this chapter)