Chapter 205: Femme fatale

After Mrs. Yang Guozhong's birthday, a few more days passed. The matters discussed that night were like a gorgeous bubble, broken without a trace. Yang Guozhong did not take this matter to heart, and was busy with his prime minister. King Qing Li Cong lost 10,000 yuan of money and 10,000 acres of land. He had to smile bitterly and just treat it as a filial piety to Mrs. Guo. Unexpectedly, on the afternoon of the fifth day, Yang Huahua sent her confidant maid to send a secret letter to Li Cong.

A luxurious carriage slowly stopped in front of Yang Huahua's mansion. Two maids helped an old Hu woman down from the carriage. Her hair was tied into dozens of braids, covered with various amber gems. She had a hooked nose that was rare among Han women, and her cold eyes flashed with a cunning gaze. The old woman was named Wen Bobo, a Kang native. She lived in the Tang Dynasty for decades and was a well-known Sogdian witch. She combined Kang's crystal witchcraft and Han people's disgust and had a very market among the powerful people in Chang'an.

The old witch entered Yang Huahua's mansion and was taken to the inner hall. Yang Huahua's usual living place, although the old witch was knowledgeable, she was still shocked by the luxury of the inner hall. This inner hall is called Baiyutang. As the name suggests, the entire inner hall is paved with large pieces of fine white jade, and the middle is inlaid with various dazzling gems, making people feel as if they enter a dream world.

Yang Huahua was wearing a fiery red floor-dragging dress, which looked particularly eye-catching in the white jade hall. The old witch knelt down and bowed devoutly: "See Madam!"

"Are you Wen Bobo?" Yang Huahua glanced at the witch with her peach blossoms, but her tone was particularly cold.

"That's the old woman!"

"Thirty years ago, you should have been named Lu Moduo, right?"

Wen Bobo was suddenly panicked, as if he was suddenly pushed into the scorching sun from the cold darkness. Her old lady was exposed suddenly. Yang Huahua seemed to have not noticed her panic and said calmly: "Thirty years ago, you were witches in Luoyang, cheated He Changsi's 2,000 guan of money from Luoyang Order He Changsi, and caused the death of He Changsi's wife and daughter. You changed your name and abscond, right?"

Yang Huahua's charming peach blossom eyes became as sharp as a knife, staring at her coldly. Wen Bobo was so scared that he trembled all over. The secret that had been hidden for thirty years was suddenly revealed. Yang Huahua slowly walked up to her and her tone calmed down, "But don't worry, since I invited you to my mansion, I have no intention of exposing you."

Wen Bobo was stunned for a moment and hurriedly said, "I'm willing to serve my wife!"

Yang Huahua glanced at her and asked again: "How old are you this year?"

"The old woman is eighty-one years old this year."

"At the age of 81, my hair is still black. I am worthy of being a witch. And you have a 30-year-old illegitimate child who hides in Jinzhou to do business. I'm right!"

Wen Bobo saw Yang Huahua investigate her old truth clearly, and couldn't help but be frightened. What exactly did she want to do?

Seeing that the fire was almost done, Yang Huahua squatted down and stared at her and said, "I will make a deal with you. As long as you agree, I will immediately give your son 10,000 guan and 10,000 acres of land. If you don't agree..."

Yang Hua narrowed her eyes and said coldly: "Neither you nor your son can survive!"

At dusk, more than a dozen palace guards guarded another carriage to Yanghuahua's mansion. The car door opened. Cui Ningbi, dressed in a noble lady, walked out of the carriage. She had been married for a month, but her face did not have the unique bride's light, but she showed a hint of sadness. Her wide long skirt did not fit well, which made her thin body look even more lonely. On the steps, Yanghuahua had been waiting for a long time. Seeing her niece getting off the carriage, she hurriedly came up and looked her up and down, frowned and said, "Ningbi, why are you thinner than last time?"

"Sanniang!" Tears surged out from Cui Ningbi's eyes.

"Don't cry! Don't cry! Tell Sanniang if you have any grievances, Sanniang will make the decision for you!"

Yang Huahua led Cui Ningbi into her inner hall, asked her to sit down, and carefully wiped away his tears. The care of his relatives made Cui Ningbi even more sad. She even choked and cried out.

"He didn't treat me as his wife at all. Since he got married, he has only been forced to have sex with me three times, and he has never touched me at all. He has been with the concubine at the other time!" While crying, Cui Ningbi told her aunt about her unfortunate experience.

Yang Huahua listened patiently, her eyes were filled with sympathy. After waiting for Cui Ningbi to calm down a little, Yang Huahua sighed: "At the beginning, I had a kind intention to marry you to the emperor's eldest grandson, but unexpectedly it hurt you. I have the responsibility!"

"Sanniang, what should I do now!" Cui Ningbi started crying again.

"Ningbi, don't cry, let Sanniang think of a way for you!"

Yang Huahua walked a few steps behind her back, and she suddenly made up her mind and said, "It seems that she can only use extraordinary means!"

"Extraordinary means?" Cui Ningbi looked at Sanniang in confusion, with tears in her eyes.

"Yes, it's very trick!" Yang Huahua suddenly turned around, "Since he doesn't like you, you have to use etiquette to force him to like you."

Cui Ningbi is even more confused. What kind of etiquette method is used to make?

"It's very simple. If you want to become the main concubine. Once you become the main concubine and have the backer of the Yang family, he will not dare not to spoil you. If you give birth to a son for him in the future, your status will be unshakable. Ningbi, do you understand? If you want to be the crown princess, you must be the queen!"

Cui Ningbi seemed to understand but didn't understand, and asked timidly: "The concubine is Shen Zhenzhu. Can I replace her?"

"Yes! As long as you listen to your aunt, I promise you will become the official concubine soon."

Cui Ningbi was a little moved. If she became the official concubine, her husband had to live with her. This was the etiquette system. She asked in a low voice: "What should I do?"

Yang Huahua carefully observed her eyes and saw that she was already very moved, so she said, "You can listen to your aunt's arrangement!"

Yang Huahua said a few words in Cui Ningbi's ear. Cui Ningbi's eyes widened and showed a look of fear, "Auntie, it would be amazing if he knew about it."

"How did he know? As long as you insist that it has nothing to do with you, your fourth aunt is a concubine. With the power of the Yang family, what can he do to you? The key is that you must not admit it. And I know this, not even your mother, so that you can be foolproof."

Cui Ningbi's face showed a contradictory look, but in the end she made up her mind, "Okay! Sanniang, I'll listen to you."

Yang Huahua's face showed a look of pride. She clapped her hands and walked out of the room next to her. Yang Huahua pointed at Cui Ningbi and said, "This is my niece, Cui Ningbi, the concubine of Prince Guangping."

The next night, Cui Ningbi suddenly fell ill, cried and made a fuss, cut all the bedding skirts, shouting that there was a ghost to kill her, and rolled on the ground with his head, then he twitched all over, foamed at the mouth, and jumped up suddenly, and killed people everywhere with scissors. The two palace maids who served her ran a little slower, their arms were pierced, and they were almost killed by her. The people in the palace were panic, and they all said that the concubine was possessed by evil spirits. Prince Guangping Li Chu was so scared that he ordered people to tie her up to prevent her from hurting others. He also asked a monk to exorcise evil spirits. He was still unable to stop Cui Ningbi's madness. Because of the very identity of Concubine Cui, the eunuchs from Prince Guangping's mansion rushed to Xingqing Palace to report to the imperial concubine and the emperor.

In Xingqing Palace, Li Longji was playing with Yang Yuhuan and Yang Huahua. Yang Guozhong, the Minister of War, personally scored points. Suddenly, he received a report: The concubine Cui, the emperor's eldest grandson, was caught in an evil spirit. Li Longji was stunned and said anxiously: "Are you asking the Taoist priest to fight against the evil spirit?"

"Report to Your Majesty, you have asked the monk to exorcise evil spirits, but it's useless."

"Nonsense, I'm talking about Taoist priests, and of course the royal family should ask Taoist priests to fight against evil!" Li Longji was a little angry.

The eunuch was so scared that he was about to leave, but Yang Huahua shouted: "Wait a minute!"

She quickly bowed to Li Longji and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to say."

"Sanniang, please tell me!"

Yang Huahua pointed at Yang Yuhuan and said, "Yuhuan also encountered this when she was young. It was caused by a stolen girl who was driven out of the mansion. Later, ghosts were found from her room. Your Majesty, I suspect that Ningbi had encountered such a thing."

Li Longji looked at Yang Yuhuan curiously, "I have never heard you talk about this?"

Yang Yuhuan did encounter this when she was young, so she nodded and said, "I was still young at that time and I couldn't remember it."

Yang Huahua continued: "Your Majesty, you should go and search Ningbi's room to see if there is any such thing."

A word reminded Li Longji, and he immediately ordered: "Go! Search the room of Concubine Cui immediately."

When this happened, Li Longji and Yang Yuhuan had no intention of playing with the pipa. At Yang Huahua's suggestion, everyone went to the Guangping Prince's Mansion together. Li Longji's saint had just arrived at the Guangping Prince's Mansion. The search results had already come out. Sure enough, a villain with a needle was found under the bed of Concubine Cui. At this time, the prince Li Heng also arrived. When he saw the villain found, his face changed color and said in a trembling voice: "How could this happen!"

Li Longji was as gloomy as water, and he immediately ordered, "Search the Guangping Palace and search for me thoroughly!"

Five hundred Yulin soldiers rushed into the palace and searched the earth. In less than a quarter of an hour, the soldiers found another paper villain with Cui Ningbi's name written on it and a needle inserted in the room of the concubine Shen Zhenzhu. Shen Zhenzhu was so scared that she was scattered and shouted for injustice. Prince Li Chu of Guangping also kowtowed in front of Emperor Taizu, trying to protect his wife's innocentness. At this time, the Korean lady also rushed over and hugged her crazy daughter and cried endlessly. Even the imperial concubine Yang Yuhuan remained silent. On one side, Shen Zhenzhu shouted for injustice, on the other side, the Yang family cried bitterly, and on the other side, the villain with conclusive evidence. Li Longji, who has always hated this witchcraft the most, waved his hand and said, "Diet!"

Li Chu was like five thunders. He opened his mouth and burst into tears. Prince Li Heng couldn't bear it and hurried forward to plead: "Father, Zhenzhu is young and ignorant, so let her go!"

Yang Yuhuan also felt unbearable and pleaded: "Your Majesty, you have not figured out the matter yet, so I will kill the pearl. This is not very good for Shi'er. Please spare her life for the time being!"

Li Longji really liked this virtuous eldest grandson wife, and he didn't really believe it was Zhenzhu's doing it, but this kind of witchcraft was his taboo, and due to the Yang family's face, he had to kill her. Now that the imperial concubine pleaded with her, Li Longji was determined to spare Zhenzhu's life. At this time, Yang Huahua said with a calm face: "Our Yang family will not frame good people, but they will not be bullied. Whose witchcraft is used by it must be investigated strictly to the end."

She turned around and said to Yang Guozhong: "Third brother, you are Jingzhao Yin. This is your responsibility. I don't want you to favor the Yang family. As long as you can find out the real murderer, I will give Ningbi an explanation."

After saying something reasonable, Li Heng also expressed his opinion: "My son agrees with the third wife's suggestion."

Yang Huahua glanced at him, and a trace of imperceptible mockery flashed in her eyes. Li Longji nodded and said to Yang Guozhong: "You are Jingzhao Yin and the royal relative. I will leave this matter to you and talk to me with the facts."

"I obey the order!"

Li Longji waved his hand, and the brigade of guards surrounded the dragon chariot and returned to Xingqing Palace in a mighty manner.

In the middle of the night, Li Longji was suddenly awakened by the eunuch who was serving him, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

"What's up?"

"Your Majesty, Shangshu Yang urgently asked for a meeting and said that there was a big deal to report!"

"Well! Let him wait in the outer hall."

Li Longji turned over and sat up, Yang Yuhuan was also awakened and asked, "Sanlang, what's the matter?"

"Yang Guozhong asked for a meeting. I guess he found something. It's cold outside, so don't get up."

"Sanlang, don't forget to promise me."

"Don't worry! I promised you that I won't kill Shen Zhenzhu."

Li Longji put on an outer robe and walked slowly to the outer hall of the bedroom. He saw Yang Guozhong and Jingzhao Shaoyin Li Yan standing outside the hall waiting. When the emperor came out, they immediately stepped forward and bowed and bowed: "I am disturbing Your Majesty's rest, and I deserve to die!"

"No need to be too polite. I know there is no urgent matter, so you dare not come. Let me tell you! What did you find out?"

Yang Guozhong and Li Yan looked at each other, and Yang Guozhong said, "Your Majesty, I searched overnight and finally found out that the person who was witchcraft was a famous witch in the capital, named Wen Bobo. He has been detained at present. She confessed that Concubine Chen's personal maid had found her."

"Well! It's done well, kill this witch."

Yang Guozhong hesitated for a moment, and suddenly knelt down and kowtowed twice, "Your Majesty, I have found another thing, I dare not say it!"

Li Longji glared and said, "Say!"

"The witch told me that the shopkeeper of a silk shop in Dongcheng City had bought a Gu from her a month ago. I went to investigate the silk shop, but unexpectedly found that the shopkeeper was Ma Yingjun, the eunuch who had served the prince."

Li Longji sat up straight, and asked word by word: "What you said is true?"

"I dare not deceive the monarch! There is a confession of a witch here, and Ma Yingjun was also captured by me, just outside the palace, but he refused to admit to buying a witch."

As he said that, he handed a confession on his hands. Li Longji's face was extremely gloomy. He had already vaguely guessed that the prince had been involved in the witch. He took the confession and looked at it. There was a witch's picture on it, as well as the signatures of Yang Guozhong and Li Yan. He looked at Li Yan again.

Li Yan is a royal family, fair and strict person, and has always been trusted by Li Longji. He nodded and said that the situation was true. Li Longji was furious and shouted: "Bring Ma Yingjun up."

After a moment, several guards, like wolves and tigers, lifted Ma Yingjun up, and threw it on the ground. Ma Yingjun kowtowed and pounded garlic, begging: "Your Majesty, it is the prince who arranged for the slave to sell cloth in the East Market. The slave just followed the order."

"What did he arrange for you to sell cloth?" Li Longji asked with his eyes narrowed.

"He was inconvenient to contact with the outside of the East Palace, so he arranged for the slave to open a shop in the East City to contact the important officials for him."

A fire of rage rose in Li Longji's heart. He picked up the white jade lion on the imperial desk and suddenly smashed it to the ground. But he did not fall down in the end, but slowly put the white jade lion down. He restrained his anger and asked slowly, "Is it he who arranged for you to buy the witchcraft?"

"No, the slave has never bought the magic witchcraft."

"Nonsense!" Yang Guozhong shouted angrily: "That witch describes your appearance as if she is the same. She has never known you, and has no grudges or grudges. Will she still frame you?"

"Your Majesty, there is really no slave..."

"Enough!"
To be continued...