He bared his back and carried a switch of thorns to Lin Hsiang-ju's house to beg for punishment. After that, the two became best friends. The expression "bearing thorns and begging for punishment" is now used to describe a sincere, heartfelt apology.
從此倆人成了以生命相換也在所不惜的好朋友，廉頗背荊請罪，後人引申成「負荊請罪」。