hiː ˈoʊnli stˈɑːpt ˈæftɚ hɪz ɐtˈɛndənts ɹᵻmˈaɪndᵻd hˌɪm ðæt ɪf hiː pˈɔɪzənd ˈɛmpɹɛs dˈaʊɪdʒɚ wˈæŋɡ, hiː wʊdhˌævtʊ əbzˈɜːv ɐ mˈoːɹnɪŋ pˈiəɹɪəd ʌv θɹˈiː jˈɪɹz ænd wʊd nˌɑːt biː ˈeɪbəl tə spˈɛnd tˈaɪm ˌɔn fˈʌn ænd ɡˈeɪmz.
He only stopped after his attendants reminded him that if he poisoned Empress Dowager Wang, he would have to observe a mourning period of three years and would not be able to spend time on fun and games.