Shi Su knew the moment he received the order that he was to be sacrificed, his life and the lives of his subordinates exchanged for that of Pei Qin. Only with his death and the death of those beneath him could the evidence be traced to someone else, allowing Prince He Qing to be exonerated.
Clutching the medicine bag, Shi Su took a deep breath and sneered. To be accompanied in death by the legendary deity general Pei Qin made his demise worthwhile!
At the banquet, a continuous stream of exquisite dishes were served, along with chilled bowls of iced milk curd and fine wine from the foreign country.
Emperor Chu Wen specially bestowed a small flask to Pei Qin, "You still have residual poison, but you may have a little of this grape wine."
Pei Qin obliged with thanks and sat down.
Shi Su personally brought the wine over and personally poured it for Pei Qin.