People in the Tang Dynasty, Jian'an style

She was already feeling guilty and suddenly became panicked. The smile on her face disappeared and her face turned pale.

"Sister Changsun, what's wrong with you? What did my sister do to make you so angry? It must be some servant who is trying to stir up trouble between us again. Sister, you must be vigilant and don't be fooled by those servants!"

Seeing her guilty look, Changsun Wugou's original suspicion increased to seven points.

"I told you to kneel down, did you hear me? Are you deaf?"

She shouted again and glanced at the two maids standing beside her.

These two maids were big and strong, and weighed at least 200 pounds, just like men.

Seeing the look Changsun Wugou gave them, the two maids stepped forward and kicked Concubine Yang behind the knee.

Yang Fei only felt a huge force coming, her body leaned forward, and she knelt on the ground involuntarily.

"Yang Fei, do you admit your guilt?" Changsun Wugou's voice came from above, without any warmth.

Yang Fei's mind raced, and she knew that the most likely scenario was that her use of the curse technique had been exposed.

But she knew that she must never admit such a thing - if she fought to the end, there might be a way to survive.

But if she really confessed and was given a lenient sentence, no one would stand up for her even if she was beaten to death by Changsun Wugou right now.

Maybe in the end she would even be given the nickname "evil concubine", and then covered with a quilt, stuffed with bran in her mouth, put into a coffin, and buried hastily.

You can't confess. Even if you are beaten to death, you have to deny it with gritted teeth.

Having made up her mind, Concubine Yang immediately put on an expression of grief and indignation, and shouted, "My queen, what crime have I committed? Please tell me. Even if you want me to die, can't you let me be a fool?"

"Hmph, since you asked, I will do as you wish." Changsun Wugou snorted, "I'm telling you clearly that someone reported to me that you buried talisman paper and puppets under the window, with my name, the prince's name, and Qingque's name written on them. Do you admit this?"

"It's pure nonsense, Your Majesty!" Concubine Yang was shocked, but she didn't show it on her face. Instead, she acted as if she had been wronged. "Since I married the prince, I have always been a good wife and never overstepped the boundaries. And I treat my sister with respect as if she were my own sister."

As she spoke, she burst into tears: "I never thought that I would be slandered by villains for doing this all along. Madam, you must clear my name."

Concubine Yang's behavior only confirmed Zhangsun Wugou's suspicion of her. Concubine Yang had always been quite proud because her father was the former Emperor Yang of Sui and her mother was from a noble family.

Although the Changsun family was also from an aristocratic family, it was not a first-rate wealthy family, so Concubine Yang was not as respectful to Changsun Wugou as she said.

Even on a daily basis, Changsun Wugou heard a lot of gossip, saying that if Concubine Yang could become Li Shimin's principal wife, she might have a better chance of becoming the crown prince.

Because the Tang Dynasty nominally succeeded the Sui Dynasty, this statement was once very popular.

However, Changsun Wugou was not a soft-hearted person. After severely punishing a group of servants who liked to gossip, he stopped the gossip abruptly.

Without giving it much thought, she knew who was deliberately spreading these words, but she just had no evidence.

Now, new and old grudges came to her mind at the same time, filling Changsun Wugou's heart with hatred. No matter how much Concubine Yang explained, she would not believe it.

"Hmph, Yang Jier, I can give you a chance now. As long as you honestly admit it and hand over the talisman paper and puppet used for the curse to me, I can forgive you this time." Zhang Sun Wu Gou was extremely angry, but he calmed down instead. "No one will even discuss this matter anymore, and the prince will not know about it."

Seeing Concubine Yang looking up in astonishment, she smiled and continued, "After all, family disgrace should not be made public. When something like this happened, I, the palace, should also bear some responsibility for not managing the household properly. What do you think, Sister Concubine Yang, please think about it carefully."

Yang Jier, who had been her "sister" for many years, knew that although the princess looked weak, she would never show mercy at critical moments.

So she gritted her teeth and said, "My Lady, I really don't know what to admit. As for the curse you mentioned, I really don't know anything about it."

"Clap clap clap..."

Zhangsun Wugou clapped his hands and said, "Sister Ji'er, this is the first time I know that you are so stubborn. Anyway, I have sent someone to inform the prince. When the prince comes back, we will search your room. Don't worry, I have sent someone to control your courtyard. No one will take the opportunity to frame you."

Concubine Yang's body began to shiver involuntarily. She knew that if she searched, the talisman papers and cinnabar in her room would be gone, not to mention the talisman papers and puppets buried under the window.

But at this point, it was useless for her to regret. She could only take a deep breath, close her eyes and wait for the judgment of fate.

After an unknown amount of time, hurried footsteps were heard outside the door, and Li Shimin's voice rang out: "My beloved concubine, why are you so anxious to call me back? Hey, Concubine Yang is here too? Why are you..."

"Your Highness..." Zhangsun Wugou stood up, walked quickly to Li Shimin, and knelt down with a plop. "Your Highness, please make the decision for us mother and son."

Li Shimin, who had just returned home and had no idea what had happened, was a little confused - Jier was kneeling, and now Guanyinbi was also kneeling, and she kept saying that she wanted to make the decision for them mother and son?

I just left the house this morning. What on earth has happened in the palace during this half day?

At this time, Li Tai, who had been listless on the side, could no longer bear it, and came to Li Shimin in two steps: "Father, Qingque is dying, please save me. It's her, it's her, it's her! It's this woman who cursed me and my mother with talismans and puppets. Father, you must punish her severely!"

When Li Shimin heard the words talisman paper, puppet, and curse, his expression changed suddenly.

No matter which dynasty or era, the art of curse is an absolute taboo - you can use it to curse others today, and use it to curse yourself tomorrow.

There is no one who is not afraid of this.

Li Shimin was no exception.

Chapter 40 Something is wrong

Li Shimin asked Zhangsun Wugou in disbelief: "My beloved, is it really..."

"Your Highness, you still don't want to believe it?" Changsun Wugou shouted indignantly, "Qingque's chief attendant heard it from Yang Fei's sister's personal maid."

When Li Shimin just came back, his face was still sunny, but now it is covered with dark clouds and his face is so gloomy as if water could drip out.

"Yang Jier, is what the princess and Qingque said true?"

With the identification from his wife and son, Li Shimin was actually 70% to 80% convinced.

Faced with Li Shimin's questioning, Yang Jier's heart trembled and he almost answered it directly.

But when she saw Li Tai, she thought of her son Li Ke - if she was executed because of the curse, Li Ke would not only become an orphan without a mother, but would also be despised by Li Shimin and Zhangsun Wugou, and even...

Even worse than that Li Wenbin!

Whether he can grow up safely is an unknown. What is more likely is that he will suddenly die one day for no apparent reason.

Concubine Yang never dared to underestimate the methods of the Changsun family, so she could only gamble.

Bet on that one in a million chance.

"Your Highness, Ji'er is innocent. Ji'er has no idea what curses, talismans, and puppets the princess and the King of Wei were talking about. Besides, how could my personal maid go and tell the King of Wei's attendant about these things? Your Highness, don't you think this is too much of a coincidence?"

After hearing this, Li Shimin hesitated again - it was indeed as Concubine Yang said, this incident was too coincidental, as if everything was deliberately arranged.

But now that things have come to this, there is no point in just talking.

Li Shimin took a deep breath and said, "The truth of right and wrong will be clear if we can find the talisman paper and puppets."

As he spoke, he went straight to Concubine Yang's courtyard, and Changsun Wugou followed closely behind, pulling Li Tai.

Seeing Concubine Yang getting up with difficulty and wanting to follow, she looked back and saw those sturdy maids immediately following behind Concubine Yang and watching her.

The group came to Concubine Yang's courtyard in a mighty manner. The place had long been surrounded by the palace's guards. All the maids and eunuchs, including Han Qiao, were controlled and were kneeling beside the road.

Most people were trembling, not knowing what was going on. Only Han Qiao understood.

She kept telling herself that she must not show any sign of abnormality.

Otherwise, your life will be in danger!

Li Shimin and his entourage came hurriedly, and suddenly stopped when passing by Han Qiao.

Li Shimin glanced at her and asked, "Are you Han Qiao?"

Han Qiao quickly responded: "I am Han Qiao."

"Let me ask you, you told the King of Wei's attendant today that you saw a lot of talisman paper and cinnabar in Concubine Yang's room, and she also buried puppets under the window, intending to use the art of curse to curse and harm the Princess, the Crown Prince, and the King of Wei?"

Han Qiao looked up in horror: "My Lord, how could this be possible? How could a maid say this?"

Li Shimin: "?"

Changsun Wugou: “?”

Ergou: “?”

That’s not what you said before!

Seeing Li Shimin and Zhangsun Wugou's eyes on him, Ergou quickly jumped out, knelt on the ground and said, "Your Highness, Princess, please understand. Han Qiao came to see me this morning and said this to me. I felt that something was wrong, so I quickly reported it to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wei."

Han Qiao also shouted loudly: "Prince, Princess! He is lying. I never said such a thing. Don't believe him... Ah, I understand. He must have been unable to please me, so he was resentful and deliberately made up such a lie to frame me."

Li Shimin was confused by what he heard, but Zhangsun Wugou already felt that something was wrong.

The one who felt something was wrong was Yang Fei - she was like a person who was about to drown and suddenly saw a wooden stick being handed to her.

The hope of life appeared before her eyes again.

"Nonsense, nonsense. How could I possibly like you?" Ergou was anxious and shouted without thinking.

"Hmm? Then tell me, who do you like?" Li Shimin keenly sensed the question in his words and asked with a frown.

Ergou also remembered that what he said was also courting death, so he knelt on the ground and kowtowed like crazy: "Your Highness, this is not what I meant. It was really because Han Qiao lied to you, Your Highness, that I..."

"That's enough. Shut up."

Li Shimin was already upset by this trouble and didn't intend to listen to his explanation anymore.

"Come here, search the courtyard where Concubine Yang lives carefully. If there are any suspicious items, bring them to me without missing a single one."

"promise!"

A group of family guards rushed into the courtyard like wolves and tigers and began to search the ground three feet deep.

"Your Highness..." Zhangsun Wugou wanted to say something, but Li Shimin turned his back and didn't even look at her.

She knew that Li Shimin was taking his anger out on her.

If the story of Concubine Yang's curse is true, then Changsun Wugou, the princess who is in charge of the household, cannot escape blame - at the very least, she cannot escape the responsibility of not managing the household well.

If it's fake...

Zhang Sun Wu Gou is even more unimaginable.

Will the prince suspect that I am jealous and deliberately making up lies to frame Concubine Yang?

If this is true, what should I do in the future?

Changsun Wugou didn't dare to think further.

Soon, the family soldiers in charge of the search came back one by one to report that nothing was found.

Not even any talisman paper or cinnabar was found.

Now even Han Qiao felt a little strange - she remembered that she had deliberately left the talisman paper and cinnabar behind and did not take them away.

But what’s going on now? I can’t find it.

Han Qiao thought about it and only thought of one possibility.

That is, Li Wenbin took all those things away at some point when no one was paying attention.

Although she didn't know why he did this, Han Qiao felt that since Li Wenbin did this, he must have his reasons!

As more and more family generals came back to report that nothing was found, Li Shimin and Zhangsun Wugou's faces became more and more ugly.

Ergou's face looked like a dead man - before, he thought that endless wealth was beckoning towards him, but how come it suddenly became like this?

What exactly is wrong?

Although Concubine Yang was confused, she did not dare to show any abnormality. She just lowered her head, fearing that she would be noticed.

At the same time, she felt strange and didn't understand what was going on.

Who is it, who is helping her?

Chapter 41 By then, you will understand everything (Happy New Year to everyone)

Changsun Wugou's mood is now very conflicted - on the one hand, she is worried that Concubine Yang really used the curse to harm her, Li Chengqian and Li Tai, but now she can't find any evidence, and she begins to worry about how this matter will end.

She suddenly shouted, "Impossible, this is impossible! You must have missed something."

As she spoke, Changsun Wugou rushed into the yard angrily, lifting her skirt. Li Shimin was stunned for a moment and hurriedly chased after her.

The others looked and followed in.

At this time, the courtyard where Concubine Yang lived had been dug up with pits everywhere, truly carrying out Li Shimin's order to dig three feet deep.

Not only her room, but even the rooms where the servants lived were searched inside and out several times, and the floor was littered with women's bellybands, undergarments and panties.

Concubine Yang saw with her own eyes that several of her favorite bellybands made of Shu brocade were thrown on the ground and covered with footprints.

She looked at the crazy Changsun Wugou, her teeth almost broken - Bitch, I will make you pay the price today!

Otherwise, I am not worthy of the birth of a former Sui princess!

Changsun Wugou snatched a shovel from the hand of a family guard and started digging randomly in the open space.