#ximperia

ximperia

thestoicguanyu

thedivinearmageddon

divinedestroyer

son-ken

poetryinharmony

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That was allowed, wasn't it?  There had been an agreement.  No weapons.  And Sima Shi trusted anyone from Shu to keep their end of the deal, for they were... benevolent.  Anyone could see that Jiang Wei had strayed from that chosen path, but what did it matter?  The base for it was still there, buried beneath the leaflitter of war.  Jiang Wei would keep his word, whatever he felt for Shi.  

So of course, he was more than a little surprised at the flavor that passed his lips through the cup.  This was a formal meeting, and alcohol was always present.  But this... this was different.  He realized right away that it wasn't straight alcohol, and he would have reacted faster, had the poison not begun to take its toll already.  Was Shu really so quick to throw away its honor?  

No... they weren't in Shu.  This was the Wei city that had been serving as Shi's "home base."  This was his own men's doing.  They had sought to break a peace vow, and see what it cost them.  See what it cost them all.

The future was lost at a formal meeting.  

"...Leave," he wheezed to Wei, his skin already draining colour, his breath coming in short, labored rasps.  He set his drink down on the table between them, his hands shaking violently.  "This meeting is over.. and I fear for your safety."

Despite himself, his strength was already drained, and he collapsed without another word.

The cup for him had already graced the elder Sima's lips, plaguing his aid in peaceful negotiation. But, this... This? This was not good. The past came back, the time he spent in Wei, and his traitorous acts now would cost both sides everything.

AND THAT COULD NOT HAPPEN.

"..." Poison. In his cup... "Forgive me... I will leave..."

With regret and guilt in his eyes, squeezing tightly, the strategist of Shu sprinted off, the traitorous soliders beginning to brandish their weapons at him, beginning to silence each person of Shu that came to the peace talk.

yes