Thornsbane

The air hummed with the delicate murmur of voices. Long Dahai, Luo Li, and Gu Yunzhi huddled closely around the table, its surface adorned with scrolls, meticulous notes, and ink-stained brushes poised for action.

Gu Yunzhi's lips curved into a worried smile as he spoke, "So, you're telling me they causally carry poison? In their mouths? At all times?"

Placing a stack of reports onto the table's expanse, Luo Li tapped the lines of his neatly organized notes. "It's a method they find efficient," he explained, his eyes narrowing in concentration. "A concealed capsule bitten down upon capture, erasing all traces. A clean ending"

A shiver coursed through Gu Yunzhi, his vibrant curiosity dampened by the chill of mortality. "That's deeply unsettlingly."

"The suicide method is all too common, and the token is untraceable as of yet." Long Dahai's voice dropped to a low murmur. "Which is why I asked about the only traceable clue—the poison."

The only reason they could get this far was simply due to a strike of luck that caused the flaw in the assassin's plan. As they cleared the dungeon, they found a fragment of the poison capsule the assassin used to commit suicide.

He handed Gu Yunzhi the report. "It's not a common concoction, is it?"

Gu Yunzhi comes from the respectable lineage of a talented imperial physician. His playful face concealed a formidable knowledge of medicine, having earned recognition as one of the youngest physicians to excel in the imperial medical test.

He scanned the documents with a critical gaze, his fingers brushing over the parchment as if absorbing the information through touch alone.

"No, it's not." Glancing up, his expression grew serious. "The analysis indicates that the composition is complex, with ingredients that are not commonly found."

Gu Yunzhi deftly sifted through the stack of notes until he retrieved a blank paper. With purposeful movements, he sketched a messy inked drawing of a plant, his hands moving gracefully, contrasting the chaotic lines forming on the paper. He placed the illustration atop the report at the center of the table. "This, my friends, is the Thornsbane."

The paper rustled softly as it settled, the crude image starkly deviating from the otherwise meticulous notes.

"It's a squiggle," Long Dahai deadpanned, staring blankly at the rather abstract depiction on the paper.

"Use your imagination."

"It's a squiggle with my imagination."

Biting the inside of his cheek to stifle a laugh, a good-natured grin formed on his lips. "Try harder!" he huffed, his tone mockingly exasperated.

"A composition of toxic substances resides within its crimson thorns," Gu Yunzhi continued, his tone taking on the cadence of an educator imparting knowledge.

He tapped the illustration for emphasis, his touch gentle yet deliberate, as if coaxing the squiggle to come to life and form a coherent image. "Ingesting it triggers a cascade of reactions, leading to the inflammation of internal organs. This internal swelling can result in severe discomfort, as well as compromising vital systems such as the digestive tract and circulatory system. The effects may vary in intensity depending on the amount ingested, but the overall outcome is only distressing and rarely fatal."

Luo Li and Long Dahai exchanged subtle glances, their brows lifting slightly as they registered Gu Yunzhi's explanation. 

"This sounds like an average poisonous plant, I hear you say" Gu Yunzhi cleared his throat, "However when successfully mixed with other poisonous plants, they have the capacity to shut down one's body in an instant."

"How readily available is such a poison?"

Gu Yunzhi traced the parchment, almost as if he could feel the delicate throne of the Thornebane under his touch. "Rather hard. It's like trying to tame a wild beast—you need to know its quirks, its tendencies, but even then, it might turn on you."

While Thornsbane is only a level 3 rare poison plant in terms of cultivation, successful preparation of this plant remains severely limited. This is thanks to its strained compatibility with other herbs, making it a notoriously finicky addition to poison concoctions. When combined with other ingredients, Thornsbane's toxic properties often lead to unintended consequences. It has a tendency to either turn the concoction fatally potent or, paradoxically, cancel out the toxicity altogether. This unpredictability makes Thornsbane a less-than-ideal choice for poison concoctions and adds an additional layer of complexity to the already challenging task of working with this temperamental plant. As a result, Thornsbane's reputation as a moderately toxic and unpredictable poison plant further deters most poisoners from attempting to harness its essence effectively.

"Honestly," Gu Yunzhi continued, a blend of awe and incredulity weaving through his tone. "Having a fussy poison easily accessible without harming the user—is rather impressive. Whoever these assassins serve, they undoubtedly have a skilled toxicologist guiding their actions."

"Physician Gu," curiosity lightened Luo Li's expression, "I underestimated your knowledge."

His lips curled into a cryptic smile, holding Luo Li's shoulder. "Xiao Li, haven't you heard what they say about me? I am the keeper of secrets, a weaver of connections."

He punctuated his words with a subtle lift of his brows, a self-assuredness in his talent.

"Frequenter of Hidden Market," Long Dahai mused, a wry grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"What do you know," Gu Yunzhi retorted, his grin turning into a playful smirk, "It's not a hidden market; it's a realm of insights for the curious and prudent."

Long Dahai haphazardly acknowledged with a nod. He always benefited from Gu Yunzhi's resourcefulness, so he wouldn't pick a fight with him.

Luo Li's gaze lifted from the autopsy report, the puzzle pieces slowly fitting in his mind. "It implies a resourceful network supporting them."

"Could it be tied to the alliance negotiations?" Gu Yunzhi instinctively crossed his arms, hugging himself to ward off the unsettling realization. "The chaos resulting from killing a prince and kidnapping the royal bride—could destabilize the region and disrupt the negotiations entirely."

Long Dahai nodded; his gaze drifted beyond the meticulously organized notes, delving into the heart of the matter.

The consequences would undoubtedly be catastrophic.

But what is their end goal? Why would they go to such elaborate lengths to kidnap Han Aeng?

Perhaps they aim to exploit the situation. By blaming her for his death, they could sow discord between Shangwei and Jeontu, potentially creating an irreparable rift.

However, there's a flaw in that theory. If their intention was to manipulate perceptions and drive a wedge between nations, a more straightforward approach would have sufficed—dispatching the experienced assassin to kill Long Dahai directly and leaving the novice to kidnap Han Aeng. The current setup suggests a more complex motive.

The method, the poison, the elaborate scheme—it all points to a level of intricacy that goes beyond simple political manipulation. There must be more to this. Something they want at all costs.

"What if causing chaos is a byproduct," Long Dahai pinched the bridge of his nose, suddenly entertaining an idea. "And their primary motive lies elsewhere."

Long Dahai's gaze met Luo Li's, and an unspoken understanding flowed between them. The puzzle pieces rearranged themselves, suggesting a new perspective.

Their initial conclusion was the assassin's intent centered around preventing Long Dahai's marriage to Han Aeng, possibly as part of a larger scheme to disrupt an alliance or political balance.

The marriage was proposed as a strategy to gain military support and shift the balance of power in the southern region.

It's within the realm of possibility that a faction was trying to maintain the status quo. Preventing the alliance with Han Aeng's family from coming to fruition would achieve the objective of weakening the imperial family's influence.

Perhaps they had misinterpreted the assassin's dying words. Simply put, his life would be in danger because everything centered around Han Aeng - not the other way around!

"Wangye, you mean to say this wasn't just a simple assassination and kidnap attempt but a diversionary tactic; it's a cover-up, a veil thrown over something much larger."

Gu Yunzhi's eyes widened as realization dawned on him; he slouched back onto the chair, his voice dejected. "They want to silence sister-in-law. Whatever she knows or represents, it's worth eliminating any chance of her revealing it."

Long Dahai's fingers tapped a thoughtful rhythm against the table's edge as the three fell into a contemplative silence.

Gu Yunzhi leaned back slightly, his gaze distant as he considered the possibilities. His voice took on a reflective tone as he continued, "To uncover the motive, we must examine her from all angles."

Luo Li nodded in agreement. "Since we know Wangfei is the target, we must delve into her activities, connections, and potential rivalries or conflicts."

Glossed over the various notes, Long Dahai's lips forming a thin line. "We need to trace the origins of this poison and the token. Any whispers of either's existence could lead us to the puppet master behind this scheme."

"I can discreetly inquire within medical circles and the market," Gu Yunzhi offered. "See if any information surfaces about creating or distributing such a poison."

"I'll gather our best informants and discreetly inquire among our contacts for the token."

Long Dahai's fingers resumed rhythmic tapping, a silent testament to his contemplation. "Finding the rat might speed up things."