"The reason why we asked you here is because you cared Miss Rose."  Doctor Gu said getting right to the point.  "We were just wondering who taught you how to diagnose the Crimson Heart Poison and how to cure it?"  

"My Master taught me."  Hongmo told them without hesitating.  Even though she was lying through her teeth, she had to pretend that the Silver Tongue elixir was working.  

"Who is your Master?"  Sano asked.  

"My Master is someone who likes to keep her identity a secret.  She is someone who doesn't like to involve herself with the world affairs and prefers to live in solitude."  Hongmo tells them.  "She is someone who prefers the company of plants rather than humans."  

"How did you become her disciple?"  Doctor Gu asked.  

"I was left in the forest as a baby.  My parents didn't want me or they couldn't afford to raise me.  My Master found me and raised me as her daughter and taught me everything I know."  Hongmo told them, mixing some truths with lies.  "When I was old enough, she let me explore the world. To find my own path in life."  

The tree of them sat in silence as they processed her words.  

"Can you tell us what your Master's name is?"  Sano asked.  But when he asked, he put some of his qi into his voice, making it a command.  As if to influence her decision.  

Hongmo pretend to struggle with her answer before telling them no.  "My Master prefers to remain unnoticed and hidden away from world affairs."  

Sano looked at Doctor Gu quickly before both of them frowned.  Had Hongmo not kept her eyes on the two older men, she wouldn't have caught the look they gave each other.  Asano also caught them signaling each other, but he kept his thoughts to himself as he watched how the meeting progress.  

"Then I guess there is nothing more we can say about this matter."  Doctor Gu said as he turned to Sano." Master Teacher Sano.  I heard from your head butler that you received another batch of spring tea from the mountains of Kamiza.  I would like to try some, if you permit it." 

"Haha!  Another tea lover!  Of course! Of course! Let us taste the new tea!"  Sano said as his servants went into action to bring out the new tea and change their teacups into new ones.  As they waited for the tea to brew, Doctor Gu kept the conversation going.  

"What else do you know about poisons?"  Doctor Gu asked.  

"About as much as everyone here and then some more."  Hongmo said.  "Why do you ask?  Are you asking me to poison someone?"  

"Haha!"  Sano laughed awkwardly.  "No. No.  Don't misunderstand us!  We only ask to see where your talents lie!  We would never ask you to poison someone for us!"  

"Good.  For I wouldn't do it for you even if you gave me your house as payment." Hongmo said as she drank the freshly brew tea.  It too was laced with the same bitter taste.  This time, she knew it was laced with the Silver Tongue elixir.  

Asano sat uncomfortably as he watched his Teacher's question Hongmo.  He felt something was wrong, but didn't know exactly what.  

"Do you know other rare poisons and how to cure them?"  Doctor Gu asked.  

"Some."  Hongmo answered.  

"One reason why we asked you to come here is to help us."  Sano finally told her.  He had to give her some information to have her trust him so she in turn can reveal more information about herself.  "There is someone who needs your help.  He is the son of General Hugh.  His name is Henry and he has been poisoned with a rare poison that Doctor Gu does not know how to treat.  We were wondering if you could take a look at Henry and if you could, treat him."  

"Can you tell me a little more about General Hugh and Henry?  Like when he was poisoned.  How he was poisoned?  His symptoms?"  Hongmo asked.  

"General Hugh and Henry are in charge of protecting our boarders from those Yukah dogs that want to suppress us!"  Doctor Gu spat out his hatred towards the Yukah soldiers.  "During a skirmish, Henry was careless and was injured by an arrow.   The arrow was poisoned and he soon fell ill.  It has been 6 months since the poisoning.  I have tried my best to slow down the poison and keep young Henry alive, but his body cannot withstand the poison any longer.  We asked for this meeting to see if you can help cure him."  

"What do I get in return?"  Hongmo asked.  "If I cure him, what do I get in return?"  

"What do you want?"  Doctor Gu asked.  "Money?  Jewelry? Medicinal Plants?" 

"A favor."  Hongmo tells them.  "I do not care for materialistic things in life.  Growing up I never had them and now I still, do not care to have them.  I collect favors, not money." 

Doctor Gu looked at Sano.  A favor was a high price to pay.  What ever Hongmo asks for, they would have to pay up, no matter what she asks for.  

"It would be up to General Hugh if he is willing to grant you this favor."  Sano said as he stood up.  "Let us go to his residence and talk to him to see what he says."  

The rest of them stood up as Sano led the way.  

"Are you okay?"  Asano asked Hongmo with a worried look as he held her wrist.  

Hongmo ripped her arm away from Asano's grasp as she pulled away from him.  She snorted and glared at him in disbelief as if he didn't know that his Teacher put a truth telling elixir in her drink.  

"I'll be fine."  Hongmo tells him.  "Let's get this over with shall we?"  

Hongmo stepped around him and caught up to Sano and Doctor Gu.  Sano's large carriage was brought to the gates as Hongmo entered after Doctor Gu with Asano following afterwards.  

"Is everything alright?"  Doctor Gu asked.  He had seen Hongmo pull away from Prince Asano, but didn't want to interfere. However seeing the two of them avoid one another as they stare at the open window closest to them as the carriage move, made the carriage cold and unfeeling.  

"Everything's fine."  Asano answered harshly and authority for them, making Doctor Gu look at Sano with a raised eye brow.  

Sano coughed before asking more questions about Hongmo and her background before the Silver Tongue wears off.  

"So how was it growing up in the forest?  Didn't you feel lonely, just you and your Master at all times?"  

"There was a lot of things to explore in the forest.  It was never a dull moment."  Hongmo tells them.  "Besides, there was a lot of things my Master had to teach me. What is there to miss, if I didn't know if something existed?" 

"True, but didn't you wonder why it was just your Master and you?"  Sano asked.  

"No.  My Master was all I needed while growing up."  

"Why---" Sano began to ask, but was cut off by Asano.  

"Enough questions!"  Asano said sternly.  His frown deepened as he glared at them. "You know the answers you needed to know to decide that Hongmo is a kind person who does not use her knowledge of poison to poison and kill others.  She only uses that knowledge to cure those inflicted with poison.  What is all this need to know about her past and dig it up?  She has already stated that her Master is someone who wishes her identity  to remain unknown along with her whereabouts.  Please respect her wishes and stop asking Hongmo about it." 

Sano and Doctor Gu's couldn't hide their surprise look on their face.  Prince Asano never raised his voice at them before, but to have him do so now, must mean that he is more mad than he is showing at the moment.  

"Yes, Prince Asano.  We shall stop our inquiry."  Sano said as he bowed his head.  They only did what they did to protect Prince Asano.  They only wanted to figure out Hongmo's past and her character so it wouldn't harm Prince Asano in the future.  They wanted to know if she could be trusted enough to be apart of his team to ensure his successful rise on to the throne.