𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿𝘀. . . nishimura riki ✔

𝟬𝟯𝟲; poison

ONE HUNDRED YEARS BEFORE THE BIRTH OF JIEUN AND JUNGWON, HOUSE YANG HAD RULED THE WORLD. Their kingdom was vast and prosperous, stretching from the western coast to the mountains in the east. Their armies were feared, their wealth unparalleled, and their rulers were respected throughout the land.

But their reign came to a sudden and violent end when House Nishimura, a family from the far west, invaded and overthrew them. It was said that the Nishimuras were jealous of the Yangs' power and sought to claim it for themselves.

The Yangs fought valiantly, but they were outnumbered and outmatched. House Nishimura showed no mercy, slaughtering the entire royal family and burning their palace to the ground. The bodies of the Yangs were sent back to the Sast, a gruesome reminder of the Nishimuras' victory.

Corpses, mutilated, came back in a cloth with the sigil of a panther.

The King during that time, King Ilsung, turned to rage once he saw the body of his sister and her Lord husband cut up, wrapped in Nishimura cloth. And their children, King Ilsung's sweet nieces, girls at the age of one-and-ten, and nine were gone. They had died, yes, but House Yang never got to give them a proper burial. They got thrown into the soil of the West, not of the East where their home was.

Almost walking into a servant, Jieun was quick to snap out of her thoughts. She bowed her, an apologetic gesture, towards the servant. 'My apologises,' she said before making her way to the physician and master's quarters.

As Princess Jieun walked towards the physicians' quarters, she could not help but notice the intricate designs carved into the wooden doors. They were unlike any other doors in the palace, adorned with detailed depictions of medicinal herbs and plants. The air around her carried the distinct scent of dried herbs and incense, mixed with the musty smell of old tomes.

She entered and laid eyes on bedchambers lining the hallway, their doors tightly shut. But what caught her attention was the library at the end of the hall. The shelves were stacked with books and scrolls of every size and colour, some with faded spines and others with gold leaf lettering that glinted in the dim light. Jieun had always been fascinated by books, and she felt a sudden urge to explore the rows of knowledge before her.

But she had a purpose for coming there. She continued down the hall, ignoring the temptation of the books, and finally reached the physicians' chambers. She knocked on the door, and after a few moments, it creaked open to reveal a hunched-over old man, his wrinkled face illuminated by the soft glow of a candle. By the corner stood a man, no less the same age, yet his face showed crow's feet and certainly more wrinkles. Although, they were not wrinkles of a frown, but rather a smile.

'Grand Physician Chen,' she greeted with a firm nod and closed the door behind her. 'Master Zhong.'

'Princess, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?' The older man replied.

'If I may borrow you and Master Zhong for a moment. . ?'

Grand Physician Chen and Master Zhong exchanged a quick glance before nodding and motioning for Jieun to follow them into a smaller room adjacent to the library.

'You have both served my family for years before my birth, and years after,' she began, hands clasped together. 'That is why I ask you to speak the truth to me, for I feel it has been concealed from me for years. I remember both of you were there when mother and Jiho died. You two told me it was a simple Spring's Fever, deadly, but common. However. . . the symptoms my father has are awfully alike the Spring's Fever they had, and he was poisoned.'

Grand Physician Chen sighed heavily before looking at Jieun with a sad expression. 'Your Grace, we did not lie to you. At the time, we thought it was best to keep the truth from you, for you were too young to understand the magnitude of what had happened.'

'Your mother and brother died from poisoning, and we did all we could to save them, but unfortunately, it was too late.' Master Zhong nodded in agreement.

'And the poison that killed them, is it the same as the one that my father has been afflicted with?' Jieun's heart sank at the confirmation. She had suspected it all along, but hearing it out loud still made her feel sick to her stomach.

Grand Physician Chen and Master Zhong exchanged a knowing glance before nodding. 'Yes, Your Grave. The symptoms are quite similar, and it's highly likely that your father has been poisoned as well.'

'And the poison, it comes from the Western Blushing Rose, does it not?'

'Yes, the Western Blushing Rose. It's a rare flower that can only be found in the western territories. Its petals contain a potent poison that can be lethal if ingested,' Master Zhong replied.

Jieun frowned. 'But how did the poison get to my father? We don't have any contacts in the west, and it's not something you can just purchase in the market.'

Grand Physician Chen spoke up. 'It's possible that the poison was smuggled in secretly. We'll have to investigate further to find out who might be responsible for this.'

'And the poison. . .' Jieun trailed off, unsure how to word her question. 'It is untreatable, is it not?'

This seemed to stun both men.

A good moment passed before Master Zhong choked a few words out. 'Yes. . . yes it is.'

'And my father will die soon. . ?'

'We are afraid so,' Grand Physician Chen answered.

Jieun nodded, trying to conceal the way her heart ached, by keeping her face passive. 'I understand. Thank you for your time.'

Without another word, Jieun left the room, striding past the many people with a shaky breath.

It was time to prepare Jungwon for the crown.