Song Qingshu hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not go out to stop Xiao Feng from drinking. After all, he was not a completely unprincipled do-gooder. There were many things he had to consider as a whole now; he had to take responsibility for the women who followed him and for his subordinates, and safeguard their interests. Of course, the main reason was that he knew this poisoned wine was not the kind that killed at once. It would merely seal Xiao Feng's martial arts for the time being. If Yelü Hongji truly wanted Xiao Feng dead, he would still step in to stop him.
Having been granted a marriage, Xiao Feng and A Zhu were overjoyed. How could they possibly have remained on guard? They raised their wine cups and drank.
After the two sides chatted for a while longer, the smile on Yelü Hongji's face grew increasingly cryptic. Just as Xiao Feng was finding it exceedingly strange, he suddenly felt as though ten thousand needles were piercing his heart. His expression changed drastically, and he jerked his head up to glare at Yelü Hongji. "Why?"
Yelü Hongji put away his smile as well and snorted coldly. "I ordered you to capture the traitors Yelü Qi and Xiao Banhe's clansmen, yet the finest cavalry of our dynasty could not catch up to a group dragging their families along. Do you take me for a three-year-old child?"
"The enemy was exceedingly cunning. I had already reported the details of the pursuit to Your Majesty..." Xiao Feng endured the agony within his body as he hurriedly explained. Had he been alone today, it would have been one thing, but A Zhu was beside him. He could only do his best to clear himself, though he knew the hope was infinitesimal.