After a broken heart, I traveled through time and space and became an abandoned concubine. My fate i

After listening to Eunuch Wang's report, the emperor's face suddenly became as gloomy as the thick, inky clouds before a storm. An oppressive atmosphere spread, making people almost suffocate.

Eunuch Wang fell to his knees with a thud, his body trembling uncontrollably, his forehead pressed against the ground, as if he wanted to embed himself into the cold, hard tiles.

The palace was eerily silent, as if time had stood still. During this long silence, the emperor declared, "Investigate! Get to the bottom of this matter and report it to me faithfully!" Eunuch Wang kowtowed furiously, his voice trembling like a leaf in the wind. "Your Majesty, please calm down. Even if it costs me my life, I will investigate this thoroughly." With that, he rose, trembling, and stumbled out of the palace, his back filled with fear.

In the harem, the situation is unpredictable.

Concubine He Shu was furious at Cuizhi, the maid who had delivered the message to the Minister of Justice, for her incompetence. Her brows furrowed, her beautiful face twisted with anger, but a chilling sneer played at the corner of her mouth. She sternly demanded, "If you're disloyal to me, what's the use of keeping you? Little Stool, go to the back garden and bury this slave!" With that, she swung the handkerchief fiercely, sending it slicing through the air in a sharp arc. "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me!" Cuizhi knelt and kowtowed repeatedly, blood streaming from her forehead as she pleaded for mercy at the top of her lungs. "Slow down!" Concubine He Shu commanded, and a glimmer of hope instantly ignited in Cuizhi's eyes. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for sparing my life!" Cuizhi cried out in a trembling voice. But Concubine He Shu said, "I want him alive!" "Your Majesty, please spare me! Your Majesty, please spare me! Your Majesty, please spare me..." The mournful cries for mercy cut through the sky and gradually faded away. The servants were so scared that they turned pale. Some of them had weak legs and collapsed to the ground, shaking all over, not daring to breathe.

On the side of the Minister of Justice, there was no progress in the interrogation of Xiao Taozi.

The person newly sent by Concubine He said coldly: "Your Excellency, Concubine He is very concerned about your young master. She has been unable to sleep or eat all day, fearing that Ping'an Street will be in danger of peace!" Eunuch Wang also came anxiously, bowed, frowned, and said worriedly: "Your Excellency, the emperor attaches great importance to this matter. Don't let him down!" The Minister of Justice had a sad face and paced back and forth in the study like a headless fly, muttering to himself: "What should I do? What should I do!" His steps were messy and beads of sweat were on his forehead.

Eunuch Wang came to the Heavenly Prison to visit Concubine Su again. At this time, Xiao Taozi was still being interrogated, and there were only the two of them in the cell.

Eunuch Wang's face was filled with worry, his brows furrowed like a deep "川" (a character for "川"), and he lowered his voice and said, "Your Majesty, the current situation is becoming increasingly difficult. You must hold on." Concubine Su's face remained calm as she softly said, "Thank you for your concern, Eunuch."

After being severely interrogated by the Ministry of Justice, Xiao Taozi returned to prison in a daze, with dull eyes and lifeless expression, like a puppet without a soul.

Her lips trembled, and she couldn't utter a complete word for a long time, just shivering constantly. Concubine Su held her in her arms with heartache, gently stroking her hair, her eyes full of pity and guilt, her voice gentle but with a trembling: "Child, you have suffered so much. It is all my fault that you have been implicated." Xiao Taozi just shook her head mechanically, tears welling up in her eyes, but she never dared to let them fall, and a faint whimpering sound came from her throat. Concubine Su made up her mind, gritted her teeth and said: "Forget it, forget it, I will plead guilty."

Eunuch Wang hurried back to the palace to report to the emperor: "Your Majesty, Concubine Su...she has confessed her guilt."

After the interrogation by the Ministry of Justice was over, Concubine Su was basically sentenced to death in the autumn, and her supervision became increasingly strict.

Upon hearing this, Concubine Su Xian was nearly mentally broken, her hair disheveled like withered grass. She pointed at Xiao Taozi and cursed, "It's all your fault, bitch! I'm proficient in the art of witchcraft. Anyone who dares to compete with me for my favor will be killed within a month after I cast witchcraft on them!"

Xiao Taozi was shocked and angry, her eyes wide open, and she shouted hysterically: "Don't scare me. The truth will be revealed once we find your broken doll. I will report it to the emperor right away!"

Rumors spread throughout the harem and everyone felt insecure.

Liu Changzai found the doll in the drawer of her dressing table in her bedroom. She was so frightened that her face turned pale. She covered her mouth tightly with her hands and almost screamed.

Her face turned pale instantly, and she hurriedly fixed her makeup, then ran anxiously to report to His Majesty. Her steps were so hurried that the hem of her skirt was torn.

The young concubine Yingyue saw the doll in the corner of the wardrobe in the bedroom and ran out in a panic. One of her shoes fell off, and she shouted as she ran: "Your Majesty, something bad has happened, something bad has happened!" Her voice was sharp and piercing, breaking the tranquility of the palace.

Concubine Xian Wanru found the doll under the bed in the bedroom. She was so scared that she collapsed on the ground. It took her a long time to come to her senses. She hurried into the palace to report to the emperor.

Her hands were shaking so much that she couldn't even walk steadily.

When Concubine He Shu heard the news, her face was filled with shock and tears welled up in her eyes, as if they would burst out at any moment.

She entered the palace with tears in her eyes and said, "Your Majesty, I find it hard to believe how Concubine Su could do such a heinous thing. I hope Your Majesty can see clearly." Her voice was filled with tears and her body was trembling slightly.

When Concubine He Shufei's maid was cleaning the bedroom, she found a doll in the secret compartment of the dressing table. She screamed in fright and the broom in her hand fell to the ground with a "bang".

Her face was pale and she sat down on the ground, not recovering for a long time.

Concubine He Shu still wanted to plead for Concubine Su Xian. In the pavilion of the Imperial Garden, she knelt before the Emperor, weeping bitterly, her shoulders twitching constantly, and she choked with sobs and said:

"Your Majesty, although Concubine Su has committed a serious crime, I still hope Your Majesty will show mercy, even if it means granting her three feet of white silk, to at least allow her some dignity."

The concubines also echoed this. Some lowered their heads and wiped their tears, with sad faces, and their handkerchiefs were soaked with tears; some had anxious faces, asking the emperor for an explanation, their eyes full of panic.

Some of the concubines who did not find the dolls were secretly glad, their lips couldn't help but rise slightly, with a barely perceptible smugness flashing in their eyes; others were watching from the sidelines, their eyes flickering, each with their own thoughts.

Concubine He Shu looked tearful, unable to bear to see Concubine Su pass away. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, which was soaked with tears. If it were not for that fleeting cold look, no one would have used the word "vicious" to describe such a delicate and beautiful woman.

Eunuch Wang was ordered to find wizards and craftsmen.

The doll was carefully handed to the craftsman. He took it, his brow furrowed, his gaze focused and serious. He meticulously examined it over and over, his fingers gently tracing every detail. After a long moment, he stroked his chin and said slowly, "Judging from the marks and techniques of the craftsmanship, it must have been made within the past month."

The wizard then stepped forward, took the doll, and examined it carefully. A hint of doubt and caution crossed his eyes. After a moment, he offered his verdict: "Although it appears to be a malicious sorcery, the ritual is disorganized and lacks any coherence. It's clearly the work of an amateur."

The trial of Concubine Su was solemn and dignified. As the matter concerned the harem, many concubines were present to listen.

The Minister of Justice sat in the hall with a serious expression. He slammed the gavel and shouted sternly, "Concubine Su, do you understand your guilt?"

Despite her haggard appearance, Concubine Su Xian maintained a naturally dignified and polite demeanor. She softly retorted, "Thanks to Your Majesty's grace, I have been pardoned from my undead sins and allowed to reside in Canxin Palace for self-reflection. Your Majesty has shown such kindness that he has stationed guards there, effectively preventing me from having any contact with the outside world. Recently, I have been confined to this prison, so how could I possibly communicate with the outside world? How could I possibly harm you, my sisters?"

During the interrogation at the Ministry of Justice, the Emperor remained silent while overseeing the proceedings, his face so gloomy it looked as if water could drip out. His gaze swept across everyone like a sharp sword, terrifying everyone.

The concubines were all thinking differently, especially those who had found the puppet. They glared at Concubine Su Xian with fury. They accused her, "You are such a vicious person! You have done such a wicked thing, and yet you still dare to speak so sweetly here! Now that the evidence is irrefutable, you can't deny it!"

Concubine Su Xian was undaunted, her gaze sweeping over the concubines who had attacked her one by one. Her gaze was sharp as a knife, her words were piercing, and she responded to their questions one by one. Then, she turned to Concubine Liu and asked eagerly, "Sister Concubine Liu, tell me, when did you find this doll? And how did you find it?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Chang's face turned pale, her eyes evasive, and she hesitantly replied, "To... To Concubine Su, I discovered it by chance while tidying up my dressing table. I felt something prickly in the drawer, and when I opened it, I saw it was this doll."

Concubine Su Xian looked at the young concubine Yingyue again and asked sternly, "Sister Yingyue, what about you?"

The young concubine Yingyue was so frightened by the fierce gaze that she trembled all over and stammered, "Your Majesty, I... I saw it in the corner while I was tidying up the wardrobe. I only felt a dark shadow there. When I looked closer, I realized it was the doll. I was so scared that I almost lost my soul."

Concubine Su then looked at Concubine Wanru, glaring at her, and demanded, "Sister Wanru, it's your turn!"

Xian Fei Wanru bit her lip and said in a trembling voice, "I found it under the bed. The Japanese princess felt the bed was shaking a little, so she ordered someone to check, and found the doll underneath. I don't remember exactly when."

Concubine Su Xian glared at everyone and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Your Majesty, please investigate how this doll was found! I demand justice!"

Her hands were waving non-stop, she was extremely excited and almost out of control.

Concubine Su lost control of her emotions, gesticulating and asking questions non-stop. The scene was extremely chaotic for a while.

The Minister of Justice shouted angrily, "Silence! No roaring in the court!"

After saying that, he looked at the emperor cautiously. His forehead was covered with cold sweat, which kept sliding down his cheeks.

The emperor's face was as dark as ink, his eyes were as sharp as torches. He looked at the concubines who had found the dolls and said coldly, "Today, I want to hear your explanation!"