Chapter 436 Consort Yang's Downfall

The Imperial Palace.

Li Shimin listened to the reports coming from his subordinates and rubbed his temples in annoyance.

"Step back..."

After dismissing his guards, Li Shimin pondered for a moment before rising from his throne.

"Prepare the carriage and proceed to the Yeting Palace."

Taiji Palace is located in the central northern part of the Imperial City. To the east is the East Palace, where the Crown Prince resides, and to the west is the Yeting Palace, where the concubines reside.

"His Majesty has arrived."

As soon as the eunuch's voice rang out, Consort Yang hurriedly put down her embroidery.

He then got up and went to the door to greet them.

"Your Majesty, I have come to pay my respects."

As Li Shimin appeared, Consort Yang half-knelt and bowed.

"Consort Yang, how have you been lately?"

Li Shimin revealed a slight smile.

"It's rare that Your Majesty, so busy with state affairs, still remembers your concubine," Consort Yang said with a smile.

"Um."

Li Shimin walked to the table and sat cross-legged.

Consort Yang knelt beside the prayer mat and poured tea for Li Shimin.

The sound of tea being poured into cups echoed throughout the hall...

"Consort Yang, how do you think I have treated you?" Li Shimin suddenly asked.

"Your Majesty treats me very well."

After pouring the water, Consort Yang naturally handed the teacup to Li Shimin.

"yes."

Li Shimin took the drink without drinking it, saying, "But how did you treat me?"

"What does Your Majesty mean? I don't understand." Consort Yang raised her head, her eyes revealing confusion.

"Did you send someone to assassinate the Emperor Emeritus again today?" Li Shimin asked.

"Where did Your Majesty hear this rumor?"

Consort Yang covered her mouth and laughed, "I have been in the palace for many years and have never seen many people. How could I possibly send someone to assassinate the Emperor Emeritus?"

Bang.

Li Shimin slammed the teacup on the table: "Still dare to argue?"

"Are you aware that your place is now under complete surveillance?"

Consort Yang's expression remained unchanged.

Without evidence, Li Shimin could do nothing to him.

"Your Majesty, you must investigate this thoroughly."

Consort Yang smiled and explained, "Your Majesty, including my maids, have not left the palace these past few days."

"Even if you want to assassinate the retired emperor, you should at least get the news out first, right?"

Li Shimin remained silent.

He simply stared straight at Consort Yang.

His eyes held a hint of regret.

"Bring it in."

After a long silence, Li Shimin suddenly spoke.

Splash...

A group of soldiers escorted in eunuchs and palace maids, numbering more than a dozen!

As soon as they entered, they knelt on the ground and begged Li Shimin to spare them.

“Your maid did not leave the palace, but she went to the Guanglu Temple to fetch food.”

"First, use coded messages and secret codes to communicate with the people in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, then pass them on to other eunuchs and palace maids, passing them down layer by layer. Those involved include Guanyinbi's palace maids, and even my own eunuchs..."

As Li Shimin recounted his story, those who were being escorted seemed to understand something.

The pleas for mercy turned into a torrent of abuse...

"Consort Yang, why did you harm us?"

"Consort Yang, how vicious you are! You actually used us."

"Your Majesty is wise; we truly had no idea what was going on."

Little did they know, their fate was already sealed.

Royal scandals must never be leaked.

"Drag him away and execute him!"

Li Shimin coldly and ruthlessly issued the order.

"With so many people coming and going from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices every day, why does Your Majesty suspect me?"

Consort Yang remained composed.

But Li Shimin's words instantly changed her expression...

"Because I personally oversaw this!"

Li Shimin personally oversaw and confirmed the situation.

Evidence is no longer important.

In the imperial harem, losing the emperor's favor is equivalent to losing everything!

"Consort Yang, I originally did not intend to take action against my family," Li Shimin began to recount.

Even when Chang Le was attacked, I did not investigate it too deeply.

"I hope you will all repent!"

"But my tolerance has only resulted in you taking an inch and a mile!"

Li Shimin grew increasingly angry as he spoke.

The shadows of Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji still linger.

He genuinely didn't want to kill his family.

But what Consort Yang did really crossed his bottom line.

"His Majesty……"

Consort Yang sobbed, covering her face with a handkerchief and weeping: "Are you certain that I did it?"

"Didn't you do it?"

Li Shimin looked at Consort Yang and asked, "Do you think I'm unaware of the things you did with Princess Hailing and Zheng Guanyin?"

"I didn't want to bother with those trivial matters in the past, and I was too lazy to bother with them!"

"But you colluded with Xueyantuo and killed Jieli."

"This is inviting a wolf into the house, disregarding the fate of the Tang Dynasty!"

Li Shimin didn't care about the collusion with Ling Jing.

Li Shimin didn't care about cooperating with Songtsen Gampo.

Consort Yang's goal was to get Li Ke to stay.

Li Shimin didn't care that Liu Shuyi was involved in the assassination attempt on the retired emperor.

At that time, his relationship with Li Yuan was very cold, and Yang Fei was just doing it on a whim, so Li Shimin could overlook it.

Li Shimin didn't care about many things; what he cared about was the big picture!

Killing Jieli...will cause a war!

War means huge sums of money and huge casualties!

Li Shimin would never start a war because of a woman!

"Your Majesty, it really wasn't me who did it..."

Consort Yang's tears fell in a steady stream.

Li Shimin, however, showed no mercy.

"I know you did this for Ke'er."

Li Shimin continued, "If you want to make plans for Ke'er, I won't blame you."

Everyone has selfish motives.

"But for your own selfish reasons, you let the wolf into the house..."

"Even if Ke'er really ascends the throne, do you think he can hold onto it securely?"

Ke'er.

Consort Yang's body trembled.

When Li Shimin mentioned Li Ke, he was already using Li Ke to threaten her.

But she knew she absolutely could not admit it.

Once he admits it, Li Ke is truly finished!

"Your Majesty, is it possible that the Wei family father and son have framed me?"

Consort Yang panicked and guessed, "They have a rift with Ke'er, Your Majesty must not trust them so easily."

Bang.

Li Shimin smashed the tea set on the ground.

"How dare you say that..."

"The Wei family is loyal to the Tang Dynasty. Even if they point their fingers at me and curse me, I would not be willing to kill them."

"You're something else... trying to kill them time and time again."

"I'm just wondering, what exactly are you trying to achieve by keeping such a close eye on the Wei family?"

Consort Yang remained silent.

With Wei Zheng around, Li Ke shouldn't even think about anything.

The more she targeted them, the more enthusiastically the Wei family became.

As Wei Shuyu's official position rose higher and higher, she was to claim absolute credit for his achievements.

If it weren't for her colluding with Ling Jing...

Wei Shuyu wouldn't have entered officialdom so early.

"Your Majesty, the secret guards request an audience."

Just then, Wang De quietly stepped forward and said.

"Announce it," Li Shimin replied.

"Your Majesty."

The guards entered and clasped their hands in greeting, saying, "Yang Yu trained assassins to kill the Emperor Emeritus, but they have all been executed."

"Is the Emperor Emeritus alright?" Li Shimin asked.

"The Emperor Emeritus was unharmed, but..." The guard hesitated to speak.

"What is it?"

Li Shimin frowned, his face showing slight impatience.

"They just kept cursing Your Majesty..."

"..."

Li Shimin's eye twitched, and he quickly stopped him, saying, "Alright, stop talking, you can leave now."

"promise."

As the guards withdrew, Li Shimin looked at Consort Yang.

"Do you have anything else to say?" Li Shimin asked.

Consort Yang was speechless.

Li Shimin was convinced that she was the one who did it, and no amount of explanation would change anything.

And Yang Yu.

Yang Yu came from the Yang clan of Huayin, Hongnong.

Emperor Yang of Sui also came from the Yang clan of Huayin, Hongnong; she was his daughter.

She can't escape the blame now.

"Considering that you have given me two princes, you may stay here and recuperate in peace."

After saying this, Li Shimin got up and left.

"His Majesty!"

Consort Yang tried to take Li Shimin's arm, but Li Shimin ruthlessly shook her off.

Li Shimin has left...

Throughout the entire ordeal, Consort Yang never confessed to her crime.

Li Shimin did not need her to confess.

Even if she confessed, Li Shimin would not kill her.

As I said before...

Royal scandals are never made public.

"Du Junchuo!"

Upon exiting the palace, Li Shimin shouted loudly.

"Your subject is here!"

Du Junzhuo hurriedly stepped forward.

"The Yang family of Huayin, Hongnong, assassinated the Emperor Emeritus, and all those involved have been arrested!"

Li Shimin's voice was filled with murderous intent.

When he first ascended the throne, his power base was unstable.

We need to be mindful of the attitude of the veteran officials from the Sui Dynasty.

But now...

He has completely taken control of the court.

Only after resolving internal troubles can the Tang Dynasty focus on external development!