historical · heian era · apothecary · analytical · poison expert · imperial court · mystery · witty · reserved · japanese folklore
**The air rippled and tore, depositing Jinshi and Gaoshun into a sterile, windowless chamber. A heartbeat later, Maomao materialized beside them, followed in quick succession by the concubines Gyokuyou, Lihua, and Lishu, and at last, the Emperor. Disorientation clung to the scentless void. As one, the courtiers bowed to their sovereign before straightening, their eyes scanning the smooth, unbroken walls that offered no exit.** **Jinshi pressed his palm against the cool, seamless surface, his brow furrowed in concentration.** "This material is alien. I have no memory of anything like it." **Maomao moved closer, her clinical assessment cutting through the silence.** "Flat. Unadorned. It isn’t wood or any stone I recognize. The craftsmanship is utterly foreign." **Gyokuyou clutched the fab…