Is “Framed by Li Ji with poisoned wine and meat” true?
Records of the Grand Historian, Hereditary House of Jin records that Li Ji poisoned the sacrificial meat, and Duke Xian offered it to the earth, which swelled up; testing it on a dog and a minor official, both died, after which Shen Sheng hanged himself in the new city (The crown prince then sacrificed to his mother Qi Jiang in Quwo, and presented the sacrificial meat to Duke Xian. Duke Xian was out hunting at the time, so the meat was placed in the palace. Li Ji had poison placed in the meat. Two days later, when Duke Xian returned from hunting, the cook presented the meat to him, and he wished to partake. Li Ji stopped him from the side, saying, The meat has come from afar; it should be tested. Offered to the earth, the earth swelled; given to a dog, the dog died; given to a minor official, the minor official died. Source: Hereditary House of Jin.txt). The novel, while retaining the framework of poisoned meat, adds the plot of You Shi participating in the conspiracy, and exaggerates the horrific symptoms of poisoning, claiming that the young eunuch was forced to eat the meat and died with blood flowing from seven orifices, which constitutes literary embellishment and rewriting of historical details.
The crown prince of Duke Xian of Jin was framed by Li Ji and died.
Other claims about Shensheng
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