Emperor of the Red Chamber

Chapter 13 Regicide
The weather is getting colder, and so is the wind at night.

The Xinuang Pavilion in Yanbo Haomiaozhai is warm as spring and brightly lit with several lamps burning.

Despite this, Emperor Jing'an still wore a pair of glasses so that he could see clearly the black and white chess pieces distributed on the chessboard.

There are not many people with myopia in this era, and the proportion of people with myopia is not much higher than in Yuan Qingbai's previous life.

In this era, there are no TVs, computers, mobile phones and the like, and the proportion of scholars is not high. The cost of burning lamps is not cheap, and people generally go to bed early and get up early.

Even if they are scholars, many do not stay up late at night to read.

Emperor Jing'an was short-sighted and had no choice. Wanting to be a good emperor was actually a very tiring task, requiring hard work and often working at night. After decades of this, it's no wonder that his eyes are not bad.

The hard-working third prince is also short-sighted and wears glasses.

"Qing Bai, you are a versatile person, and your chess skills are not bad at all."

Emperor Jing'an raised his head and glanced at Yuan Qingbai, who was playing chess with him, and Chunfeng said kindly.

Yuan Qingbai could not play Go in his previous life. Fortunately, although the original owner in this life did not like to study and practice martial arts, he liked to play chess and had good chess skills. He has inherited this memory.

Yuan Qingbai raised his head and looked at Emperor Jing'an, and said with a smile: "Compared with the emperor's grandfather, he is so far behind. After this game of chess, my grandson will lose miserably."

"It's just that my grandson is not thick-skinned enough. He should have asked the imperial grandfather to give up some money from the beginning. In this way, even if the result is bound to be a loss, at least he will lose a little better."

"Fortunately, the emperor's grandfather did not let his grandson harvest it. If that were the case, I would probably lose all my clothes and shoes tonight and go out naked."

After a period of contact, he has determined that the emperor's grandpa likes his flattery, and also likes his courage to let go, rather than being very reserved.

No, Emperor Jing'an laughed when he heard this: "After all, you are still young and versatile. It is good to have such chess skills now. Besides, playing chess is just an elegant thing after all and cannot be regarded as your physical and mental quality. .”

Yuan Qingbai lowered his head: "My grandson will remember the words of the imperial grandfather."

The grandfather and grandson just played chess and joked at the same time, sometimes with Emperor Jing'an's teachings derived from playing chess.

Time flies like an arrow, and an hour passes quickly. It is already midnight at night, but Emperor Jing'an still has more to say and continues to play chess with Yuan Qingbai.

At this time, Emperor Jing'an looked at a young concubine standing in the Xinuan Pavilion: "Cuixiang, please go back. You don't need to serve me tonight."

This young concubine named Cuixiang is slender and beautiful. Although she is not even a concubine, she is covered with silk, gold, silver and jewels.

Cuixiang became Emperor Jing'an's concubine the year before last and was so favored by Emperor Jing'an that Emperor Jing'an took her with him this time.

Emperor Jing'an originally wanted her to sleep with him tonight, but now he has no intention of doing so.

Cuixiang couldn't help but change her face, but she immediately smiled: "Your Majesty, you have leisure time tonight and stay up late playing chess. This servant is also happy for Your Majesty."

"I just ask you not to send me away. No matter how long your majesty lasts, I will be happy to accompany you."

Emperor Jing'an said: "No need, you can go."

Cuixiang paused and said: "Since the Lord is determined to do this, I will leave. Before I leave, please allow me to pour a cup of tea for the Lord and Brother Bai."

Emperor Jing'an nodded, Cuixiang turned and walked towards a round table.

Emperor Jing'an was staring at the chessboard, thinking about how to make the current move.

Yuan Qingbai looked at Cuixiang who was standing at the round table.

He noticed that something suddenly fell from Cuixiang to the ground. Cuixiang hurriedly bent down to pick it up. At the same time, she turned her head and glanced at him, appearing nervous. Cuixiang glanced at him furtively while pouring tea. look.

In addition, tonight he played chess with Emperor Jing'an. Cuixiang had been staying in Yanbo Haomiaozhai. As time passed, Cuixiang became anxious. Emperor Jing'an sent her away, but her expression changed. After being refused to stay, Cuixiang became anxious. He said he wanted to pour tea.

"Is it poisoning?"

Yuan Qingbai speculated in his mind.

From his observation of Cuixiang, this concubine seemed to be poisoned. However, although there have been some regicides since ancient times, regicide by concubines in the harem is still rare.

Did Cuixiang, the concubine, want to poison Emperor Jing'an who had been the emperor for decades?
Don't be afraid of ten thousand, just be afraid of the eventuality.

Yuan Qingbai still made a decisive decision.

At this time, Cuixiang came over holding a lacquered tea tray with two small clocks on it.

She took the lead in handing a small clock to Emperor Jing'an.

As soon as Emperor Jing'an took over the small clock, Yuan Qingbai smiled and said: "Grandfather, my grandson is brave. For the sake of safety, please ask someone to test the poison on this cup of tea first."

Yuan Qingbai thought about it, if Cuixiang was really poisoned, he would probably behave after hearing his words. If he didn't behave and did not poison, he also showed his filial piety by doing so, and Emperor Jing'an would probably not be disgusted.

After saying this, he immediately glanced at Cuixiang and found a nervous look on Cuixiang's face.

"Is it really poisoning?"

Yuan Qingbai became more and more suspicious.

Emperor Jing'an was stunned for a moment, narrowed his eyes slightly, and looked at Cuixiang. He also noticed Cuixiang's nervous look, so he put the little clock down and said, "You might as well try poison."

Cuixiang couldn't help it anymore and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, this tea was poured by this slave. Could it be that this slave will harm you? Where did I get such courage and where did I get the poison? There is no need to test the poison. .”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Jing'an's face darkened, and he shouted outside: "Come here!"

Cuixiang was immediately anxious and wanted to grab the small clock. She wanted to drink the tea and commit suicide, but Yuan Qingbai, who reacted quickly, stepped forward to stop her.

Yuan Qingbai quickly grabbed Cuixiang and stuffed Cuixiang's mouth with a handkerchief to prevent her from biting her tongue.

After doing this, Yuan Qingbai respectfully said to Emperor Jing'an: "Grandfather, in a hurry, I forgive my grandson for being rude."

In any case, Cuixiang is the concubine of Emperor Jing'an after all.

Emperor Jing'an said with appreciation: "It should be so."

At this time, three eunuchs quickly entered Xinuang Pavilion. The leading eunuch was Tao Quan, a close confidant of Emperor Jing'an.

Emperor Jing'an pointed to the small bell in front of him and said to Tao Quan: "Test the poison."

Tao Quan understood. He had rich experience in poison testing. He was mainly responsible for Emperor Jing'an's dietary poison testing.

Soon Tao Quan got the result, his heart trembled and his face turned pale.

Oh my god, something big has happened. A concubine actually poisoned Emperor Jing'an!

And Tao Quan immediately surmised that this matter was probably instigated by someone...

Tao Quan swallowed his saliva and said to Emperor Jing'an tremblingly: "Your Majesty, the tea... the tea is poisonous!"

When Emperor Jing'an heard this, he looked at Cuixiang and came to his senses.

Cuixiang's face was as white as wax, and she was trembling with coldness. Now it was useless for her to regret it, and she could not even seek death.

When Emperor Jing'an came back to his senses, he straightened his body, as if he had changed from the amiable grandfather when he played chess with Yuan Qingbai to a majestic and inviolable emperor.

Many guards officers and soldiers were mobilized...

The entire summer resort was in turmoil...

Even the Ganniu Garden where the third prince lived was in turmoil...

(End of this chapter)