Magistrate Xue watched him drink the wine, the corners of his mouth curling almost imperceptibly.
"Fine wine!"
Chen Sanshi turned his wine cup upside down, signaling that he had drained it. "Magistrate Xue, such fine wine—won't you have a cup yourself?"
"That would not do."
Magistrate Xue took half a step back. "This was bestowed by His Majesty. Outsiders are not permitted to enjoy it."
"What a pity. Such fine wine can only be enjoyed by me alone."
Chen Sanshi drank another cup and asked, "I am a crude man. According to the rules, do I need to drink it all?"
"That will not be necessary." Magistrate Xue shook his head. "Lord Chen may take the rest back to treasure."
"If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave first?"
Chen Sanshi made to leave.
"Lord Chen, wait."
Magistrate Xue said, "This official still has something to say."
He had said nothing before, waiting until Chen Sanshi drank the poisoned wine before speaking.
It seemed his guess had been correct.
Drink the poisoned wine, and so long as he obeyed, he would be worth using.
Refuse to drink, and it would be defying the imperial decree. Even if he was not executed on the spot, his life and death would be difficult to predict afterward.
Chen Sanshi wanted to see just what secret that old emperor had which could not bear the light of day.
"Lord Chen."
Xue Yuping said softly, "Do you know why we came here?"
Chen Sanshi played dumb. "Naturally, to serve as magistrate."
"That is naturally so, but besides that, this official also bears another decree."
Xue Yuping said worriedly, "During Lord Chen's time at the Thousand Household Office, have you heard of the matter of an 'immortal treasure'?"
Chen Sanshi shook his head blankly.