Chapter 95: Poisoned Wine (1) [VIP]

"With no one to play chess with, Your Majesty must be feeling lonely sitting alone on the high platform." As if unconcerned, the young master remained calm and replied, "Let's wait and see what happens. We'll take things as they come."

Feeling slightly uneasy, she lowered her brows and pondered, "But...but I still feel uneasy. Sir, please be more careful."

There seemed to be a chill spreading on the neck, and then some white spots fell in front of the eyes. Chu Qingluo looked up and saw snowflakes fluttering down and gathering into a heavy snow all over the sky, making the eaves and tiles covered in silver and the ground covered with silver frost.

A smile crossed her brows as she reached out to catch the jade flakes, letting them fall onto her hair. "Look, sir! It's snowing."

"Are you cold?" Qu Hanjin had already draped the cloak over her shoulders very skillfully. He took it lightly, his expression still stern, but he gently embraced this pretty girl in his arms.

Leaning quietly against Qing Huai, with only her head exposed, she murmured softly, a flicker of joy in her eyes: "This winter is much warmer than the ones I experienced in previous years."

She unconsciously admired the snow again, her eyes trembling slightly. "If I could watch the snow with you every year in the future, just hearing about it would make me feel happy..."

This wish seemed to have come to her mind when she first entered this small courtyard. If she could live a comfortable life with her husband, it seemed to be what she wanted in her heart.

"Of course I will accompany you. Do you want another young master to accompany you?" He frowned slightly when he heard the voice, and hugged her waist tighter.

A hint of teasing inadvertently flashed in her eyes. Chu Qingluo curled her lips slightly and said in a serious tone, "That's hard to say. I've met thousands of young masters, and there are many who are better than you, sir."

"Qingluo..." She listened to her husband's soft call, with a lot of resentment in his voice, "Don't make fun of me."

Only then did she contentedly return the embrace, her brows smiling as she replied after a while, "Mr. in this world is meant to be teased..."

If there are naughty students, the teachers in the school will always be teased... and she is no exception.

It was a cold moonless night, with the white snow still drifting beneath the silent sky. A cold wind blew through the forest, hitting the leaves, and the sound was piercing the ears, disturbing people's melancholy.

The fire in Guangcheng Hall was brightly lit, reflecting the majestic figure. The figure on the dragon throne was so awe-inspiring that no palace servant beside him dared to look him in the eye.

Soon, two figures came walking on the snow along the palace road. The palace lanterns under the eaves cast a faint light of beauty, then a touch of coldness, and then everything melted into the snow.

Seeing Mr. Qu coming with a woman, but this woman was not from the palace, the palace guards wanted to stop them, but they watched Eunuch Tao walk out slowly.

"Miss Chu was also summoned by His Majesty. Let her enter the palace."

After dismissing the guards on both sides, Eunuch Tao slowly spread out his sleeves and motioned her to enter the Guangcheng Hall.

After walking up the steps to the palace and lightly walking around the screen, she saw the current emperor sitting beside the desk. Chu Qingluo quietly retreated to the side, bowed her head and waited for His Majesty to speak.

Eunuch Tao calmly reported and slowly withdrew: "Your Majesty, Mr. Qu has arrived."

Without looking at the people entering the hall, Emperor Xuanlong Chu Zhan looked intently at the chessboard on the table, which was filled with black and white chess pieces.

The black and white chess pieces intersected and seemed to be at a stalemate.

"Please, my dear," Chu Zhan waved his dragon sleeve and ordered Qingying beside him to come forward to watch the chess game. He hesitated to put down the chess piece in his hand. "I am halfway through this game, but I don't know where to place my move. I need your advice."

Following the order, he walked closer and watched the chess game quietly. He realized that His Majesty was troubled by the situation on the chessboard. After thinking about it for a moment, Qu Hanjin understood what was going on.

He took a step back humbly, observing the proper etiquette between monarch and subject flawlessly. "This game may seem difficult to solve, but in fact, it only requires two moves to turn defeat into victory."

Chu Zhan slowly raised his eyebrows and looked at him: "Oh? In your opinion, where should I make my move?"

"Although this corner is surrounded, it's more dangerous than safe. Giving it up will lead to defeat," Qu Hanjin replied slowly, raised his sleeve and pointed to a certain spot on the chessboard, and said calmly, "But if we head into that dangerous area, perhaps we can achieve a situation where both of us survive."

"My dear minister, what you said is absolutely right. How long have I been able to figure it out..."

His tense expression relaxed, and Emperor Xuanlong suddenly realized something. He sighed, "My dear, your careful observation is more valuable than my half-day contemplation of the chess game. It seems I am really getting old."

Everyone in the palace knows that His Majesty is most afraid of being too successful and threatening the emperor, or having second thoughts. Although these words sounded casual, they made people tremble with fear.

No one present here knows what your Majesty meant...

He also sensed the danger lurking around him. He remained silent for a moment, then bowed respectfully again: "Your Majesty, why do you need to say this? I only know a little bit about chess, how can I compare with Your Majesty?"

"I have been thinking recently that if a talented person like Lord Qu were to be used by others..." He suddenly paused, and Chu Zhan brought a jade cup from the side, speaking with a deeper meaning.

"The consequences may be disastrous..."

Thinking that His Majesty might have listened to the Ninth Prince, or perhaps been provoked by someone else, Qu Hanjin hurriedly responded in a solemn voice, each word delivered with conviction: "My loyalty is witnessed by heaven and earth, and by the sun and moon. Your Majesty, please do not listen to slanderous words."

"I drank the tea naturally, lowered my eyes and put the teacup down, my gaze gradually becoming cold as I looked at Li.

"But I have heard that Miss Chu has bewitched you, and I am afraid that this may have caused you to lose your ability to serve the country and to be selfless."

Upon hearing this, Chu Qingluo froze in place, her eyes filled with confusion. She didn't know how she had offended His Majesty to cause him such an eyesore...

“

As the conversation continued, Chu Zhan softly gave an order, which turned out to be, "Give Miss Chu a cup of poisoned wine."

A complex stream of thoughts filled her mind. When she heard His Majesty's words clearly, she stood there motionless with her eyes lowered, and for a moment she even forgot to answer.

The uneasiness that lingered in my heart this afternoon finally found a place to go.

Your Majesty summoned her to the palace deliberately, intending to...give her a cup of poisoned wine.

She closed her eyes and thought for a long time. Apart from the Ninth Prince, she really couldn't think of any omissions.

What had gone wrong to make me a thorn in the side of Emperor Xuanlong...

The beautiful figure beside him said nothing, but expressed her sadness silently. Qu Hanjin looked back in shock, and suddenly felt a violent shock in his heart.

There was no doubt that every part of his body was filled with extreme cold, and he was almost unconscious from the cold.

Completely disregarding etiquette, he suddenly looked at His Majesty again, his hands hanging down trembling uncontrollably, his eyes slightly filled with surprise: "Your humble servant does not understand. She is just a zither girl. She has never disobeyed Your Majesty. What crime has she committed?"

Chu Zhan did not answer, but continued to look at the Minister of Music of the Ministry of Rites in front of him, his mind unpredictable. He said sternly, "If you can speak up for her again, I will grant you the throne as well."

"Your Majesty..." He called out pleadingly, but saw that the woman in front of him had made up her mind and he could not persuade her any more.

His originally relaxed face was tinged with anger. Chu Zhan suddenly shouted, unwilling to listen to him say a word: "If you dare to stop me, I will feel that you have long harbored the intention of rebellion!"

He froze immediately, knowing full well that he must not lose his composure over this, but...

A cup filled with wine was held in front of her. Chu Qingluo looked at the wine in the cup quietly, her pretty face looking unusually calm.

No matter how much he planned, he never expected that he would be sentenced to death by Emperor Daning...

"Miss Chu, the emperor's will cannot be disobeyed. Please." Eunuch Tao reminded her and ordered her to take it quickly.

Her jade fingers lightly touched the wine cup, which felt particularly cold. She stared at the ripples of the wine, and inexplicably felt bitterness and unwillingness in her heart.

It's only one step away, only a few days until the birthday party...

She suddenly raised her eyes, wanting to ask Emperor Xuanlong about the cause and effect: "I have never done anything against heaven and earth, nor have I ever offended Your Majesty. I would like to know why Your Majesty..."

"I want to sentence someone to death, and I need to listen to her arguments?"

Chu Zhan waved his hand lightly, seemingly disdainful of her. His face was still angry, but he had already lost his patience. "I told you to drink, so just drink it."

Eunuch Tao hurriedly urged, his eyes turning cold: "If you don't drink it yourself, don't blame me for forcing you."

"I drink..."

Her heart felt like a stone tumbling into a cold pond. She softly glanced at the gaunt figure a few steps away and suddenly asked, "Sir, you are innocent. Your Majesty, please don't blame me?"

Who would have thought that after letting go of hatred, she would only have one wish left in this world.

She wished him happiness forever, a carefree old age, year after year, and that he would not be sad because of her...

"Are you ordering me to do something?" Chu Zhan frowned and became furious when he heard this.

In the current situation, there was no time for hesitation. She still answered respectfully, fearing that she would bring trouble to the master: "I dare not, I... obey your command."

She decisively raised her glass and drank it all in one gulp.

The poisonous wine went down my throat, bringing with it a hint of coolness.

Then, she caught a glimpse of her husband's red eyes from the corner of her eye. She raised her lips and smiled, waiting for the moment of death.

Drinking the poisoned wine would result in death, so it shouldn't be too painful. She was not afraid of losing her life, but she felt sorry that she had no way to avenge the hatred of the thousands of Long State soldiers.

But she was unwilling to die so easily before the birthday banquet...

However, after a few moments, she did not feel any discomfort, which made her feel puzzled. The next moment, she heard Emperor Xuanlong's laughter echoing in the hall.

“Hahahahahaha…”

Chu Zhan smiled broadly, patting the armrest of the dragon throne. Seeing that the figure was frightened, he spoke leisurely, "This wine is not poisonous. My dear, you are frightened, right?"

This wine is non-toxic...

She is still alive...

Seeing the gentleman standing there in a daze, his frightened look gradually easing, Chu Qingluo smiled instantly.

Fearing that His Majesty might notice something, she quickly averted her gaze and turned her expression solemn and respectful.

It turned out to be a false alarm and nothing serious happened.

She seemed to have...escaped the disaster.

Chu Zhan, seemingly letting down his guard against Mr. Qu, leisurely sipped his tea again and asked gently, "Could you really watch Miss Chu drink the poisoned wine without stopping her?"

"Your Majesty, I dare not disobey you." Qu Hanjin bowed and replied in a very low voice, knowing that he was choking with sobs.

The sternness between his eyebrows faded a lot. Chu Zhan asked again with great interest: "Even if the person I order to be executed is your beloved?"

He answered firmly, his every word expressing his loyalty: "Your Majesty's words are above all else, and I will never betray you."

So far, your Majesty's doubts and suspicions seem to have disappeared, and he will no longer be suspicious of the Ministry of Rites and Music.

And she survived this temptation safely.