A Tale of Loyalty and Desire

Chapter 6 - Venomous Bloom

Xiang Ru made his way to the secluded halls of the Physician’s Palace, his steps swift yet steady. He had come to check on the poison test conducted by Kang Ying, though word had already reached him that Pan Zhiqiang had received a preliminary report. However, the details were still incomplete—Kang Ying was still deep in his research.

Unlike the grand and bustling chambers of the palace, the physicians’ quarters were eerily quiet, almost forgotten by the outside world. The air was thick with the scent of medicinal herbs, their bitter fragrance mingling with the cool dampness of stone walls. It was no ordinary place—its secrecy was intentional. To prevent misuse of the rare and potent herbs stored within, entry was strictly forbidden without explicit permission from the Emperor or the warlords. Even among the palace elite, few had the privilege to walk these shadowed corridors.

"Kang Ying," Xiang Ru called as he stepped into the dimly lit chamber.

The scent of crushed herbs and burning incense filled the air, but Kang Ying barely noticed. His focus was entirely on the delicate silver needle in his grasp, his hands steady as he worked.

Xiang Ru leaned in slightly, his sharp gaze locking onto the needle’s tip. "Shadowbane Bloom," he murmured, his voice calm but certain. "Extremely toxic. Consuming it would wreak havoc on the heart and nervous system."

Kang Ying's hand stilled. Slowly, he shifted his eyes from the needle to Xiang Ru, his expression unreadable. "I've studied herbs for years," he said, his tone edged with curiosity. "So how is it that you seem to know more than I do?"

Xiang Ru folded his arms, his expression unreadable. "It’s not that I know more than you," he said evenly. "It’s simply that my focus is on studying and creating poison, while yours is on making medicine."

Kang Ying exhaled, rubbing his temple before setting the needle aside. He had expected this conversation. He knew why Xiang Ru had come. But the truth was, he still didn’t have the answer Xiang Ru was looking for.

"I still haven’t identified the base ingredient of the poison found on His Majesty’s clothing," Kang Ying admitted, his brows knitting together. "I’ve tested several poisonous herbs, but none of them match the exact reaction we saw." His voice grew heavier. "If His Majesty had been pricked by it… I doubt even I could have saved him easily."

Xiang Ru tapped his fingers lightly against his arm, deep in thought. "Have you tried mixing Netherworld Cedar with charcoal powder?" he finally asked.

Kang Ying scoffed at first. "What kind of rubbish are you—" His words caught in his throat as realization struck. His sharp mind pieced it together in an instant. Without another word, he swiftly turned back to his workstation, grabbing the ingredients.

His hands moved with precision, grinding the charcoal into a fine powder before carefully blending it with the rare, toxic Netherworld Cedar. The process took mere moments, but the anticipation made it feel longer. As soon as the mixture was ready, he dipped the silver needle into it.

The reaction was immediate. The substance clung to the needle’s surface, darkening it into the same ominous shade they had seen on the Emperor’s clothing.

Kang Ying's eyes widened in astonishment. He had been searching for this answer for days, yet Xiang Ru had handed it to him in mere seconds.

A slow grin spread across his face, filled with the kind of excitement only discovery could bring. He turned to Xiang Ru, looking like a child who had just found his favorite toy. "You—" He let out a breathless chuckle. "You're dangerous, you know that?"

Xiang Ru’s lips curled into a slight smile as he raised an eyebrow. "Worth being called the Most Poisonous Flower in the Empire?" he asked, his voice laced with teasing amusement.