Royalty, a 2 Moons story.

Strange Encounters

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Five years later.

General Pov.

"You could have stayed in the palace."

"What for? It doesn't change anything whether I am present or not."

"Considering the fact your father and your grandmother are choosing your Crown Princess or your Prince Consort, it would be logical if you tried to see their faces and assist them."

"I don't care. Those who are not suitable for the position will be sent to the harem, so I will see them later...or never." Forth says with a smirk.

"You are so cruel!" Ming chuckles. "Did you hear the rumours about the spies from the Hokkan Kingdom?"

"Yes, they are targeting people from the red-light district."

"What?"

Forth snickered lightly at the shocked expression on his friend's face.

"Stop laughing, I love this place!" Ming whined going as far as to punch Forth.

"Don't worry, they are only targeting prostitutes. Ruo Wang and his physicians are experimenting with new poisons on them."

"How many people died thus far?" Ming asked, not quite reassured by the prince's words.

"None. There is a new physician who has managed to find a cure. I want to find whoever is responsible."

"Do you think it is your step-brother?"

"Phana has been exiled. He won't risk his little brother's safety when his life lies in my hands."

The other man kept silent, knowing it was pointless to needle the other one on the subject, unless he wants to make Forth's angry.

"What do you plan to do with that physician?"

"I will offer him a proposition he can't refuse, and it would be a great opportunity to catch Ruo Wang's Poison Master."

They were standing in front of the wooden gate marking the entrance of red district. Red intricate lanterns adorn the entrance, and each brothel had a set of them hanging from their door frame.

The two men entered the district, ignoring the calls from the prostitutes and avoiding drunk patrons. They slipped into an alleyway which was lit up by blue lanterns differentiating the physicians' area from the rest of the red-light district. The physicians' area in the centre of the red-light district was surrounded by brothels. The physicians were seen as the pride of the district because of how efficiently they heal any disease. It wasn't always like this. The owner of red light decided to make those changes three years ago, and the red district became the most famous section in the capital. Its old architecture reminiscent of the fallen empire of Gusu Lan, with striking features that would attract anyone who stepped into the capital for the first time.

"My spy told me there are ten great physicians, and each one of their disciples opened a medical practice." Forth explained to his friend.

"Which means we have to talk to fifty medical practitioners...you don't do anything simple do you?" Ming wondered looking at one of the practices where dozens of physicians were working diligently. "And did you think of the apothecaries? The spy is probably hiding among them."

"It is a lead we should explore considering apothecaries are working with medical practices and their members don't come from the royal academy. " Forth explained while watching a prostitute buy some herbs from a nearby apothecary. "Let's split up so we can cover more grounds."