The poison, once Han had properly examined the compound sample preserved from Jian's wound, turned out to carry a signature considerably more specific than any of them had hoped for.
"It's rare," Han said, studying the small vial with a magnifying lens, his expression troubled in a way that immediately set Yuan's nerves on edge. "Not the kind of thing a rebel apothecary in the southern provinces simply happens to have on hand. The base compound requires a particular root that only grows in the royal gardens' restricted section, cultivated specifically for medicinal use under strict palace oversight."
Lei leaned forward, sharp attention fixing on the vial. "You're saying this poison originated here. In the palace itself."
