Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame
Chapter 86: Chaoter 86

Chapter 86: Chaoter 86

Feng Jiao Xue paced back and forth in her courtyard, her thoughts a whirlwind of frustration. The smooth stone tiles beneath her feet were cool, but her mind burned with unanswered questions. The air was thick with the scent of magnolia blossoms, their sweet fragrance doing little to soothe the storm brewing inside her.

She hated this feeling, this helplessness. Liang Feng was confined to his palace, accused of a crime that could ruin him, and despite her efforts, she still lacked the full picture. Who was this so-called ’witness’ that had suddenly surfaced? Why now, when the political situation was already unstable? And worst of all, why was she still standing here instead of getting answers?

A heavy sigh broke through the silence.

"You’re going to wear a trench into the stone at this rate"Huang Jin De remarked from his perch on the pavilion railing. His fiery red eyes flickered with amusement as he lazily leaned against the wooden post, arms crossed. "If walking in circles solved problems, I imagine the empire would be a much more peaceful place."

Feng Jiao Xue shot him a glare but didn’t stop.

Huang Jin De watched her for a moment before stretching his arms behind his head. "Your grandfather is back."

She halted mid-step. "What?"

"I can sense his presence," Huabg Jin De said lazily. "He returned not too long ago."

Feng Jiao Xue didn’t waste another second. Without another word, she strode toward the manor’s main hall, her steps quick and purposeful. Mo Tianze trailed behind her while Huang Jin Fe puffed away. his usual calm demeanor unchanged, though his eyes remained sharp with curiosity.

The corridors were dimly lit by lanterns, casting long, flickering shadows along the wooden walls. The guards stationed outside her grandfather’s study stiffened upon seeing her approach. They exchanged a glance before one of them gave a respectful nod and pushed open the heavy wooden doors.

Inside, the familiar scent of ink and aged parchment mixed with the faint aroma of medicinal herbs. Feng Zhenhai, her grandfather, sat behind his grand desk, his sharp eyes scanning a series of scrolls. Despite the years, his presence remained formidable, a relic of his days as a revered general.

At the sound of her approach, he set down his brush and looked up.

"Jiao Xue" he greeted, his voice even but knowing. "I take it you’ve come for answers."

Feng Jiao Xue didn’t waste time with pleasantries. "Who is the witness?"

Feng Zhenhai studied her, his expression unreadable. After a long pause, he leaned back slightly, fingers tapping against the polished wood of his desk. "You shouldn’t get involved in this." Her grandfather regarded her silently for a long moment. Then, he leaned back slightly, fingers tapping against the polished wood when Feng Jiao Xue just stubbornly stared back at him. With a sigh, he said again, "This is not your battle to fight."

Feng Jiao Xue’s jaw clenched. "Not my battle? Grandfather, Liang Feng is being accused of a crime that could strip him of everything. If they succeed in removing him, the empire’s entire balance will shift. I need to know the truth. Gransfather, his also my friend."

Her grandfather’s lips pressed into a thin line. "The imperial court is not a place for reckless heroics. This matter is bigger than you realize. Jiao Xue, you shouldn’t get involve in this matter. You will only be be swept in their turmoil."

Feng Jiao Xue exhaled sharply. She had expected this.

"Grandfather," she began, adjusting her tone, making it softer, coaxing. "You’ve always protected me, haven’t you?"

His brow twitched. "Don’t start."

"But Grandfather~" she leaned forward slightly, resting her hands on his desk, her lips curving into a rare pout. "I just want to understand. If I know the truth, I can make better decisions."

Feng Zhenhai sighed through his nose, muttering something under his breath. Finally, after a long pause, he reached for a sealed scroll. He tapped it against the desk, his expression grim.

"The witness is a palace attendant," he admitted. "A low-ranking servant who testified under a truth potion."

Feng Jiao Xue’s gaze sharpened. "And their testimony?"

"They claimed that Liang Feng was directly involved in the incident."

A scoff left her lips. "That’s absurd. Liang Feng had no reason to do such a thing."

"True or not, the testimony was given under a truth potion," Feng Zhenhai said darkly. "And that means the court sees it as irrefutable evidence."

Her fingers curled into fists. "Someone orchestrated this."

"Of course," her grandfather said, his tone unreadable. "Nothing in the imperial court happens without reason."

Feng Jiao Xue straightened. "Where is the witness now?"

Feng Zhenhai hesitated. A telling pause.

"They requested to leave the capital," he finally admitted. "For their own safety, they asked to stay with their family."

Her eyes narrowed. "Where?"

Her grandfather remained silent for a moment before answering. "I made sure I didn’t know."

Feng Jiao Xue’s lips parted slightly. "...What?"

Feng Zhenhai leaned forward, his gaze heavier now. "The moment I know their location, I become a liability. If I don’t know, no one can force it out of me." He looked at her pointedly when he said "no one"

Silence stretched between them.

Finally, she exhaled, shoulders stiff with frustration. "That means someone powerful ensured this witness was kept far from reach, protected, or worse, silenced."

Feng Zhenhai’s face remained impassive. "Possibly."

Her grip on the edge of his desk tightened. She needed that witness.

The imperial court wouldn’t listen to mere words, they needed solid evidence. And if the witness had been allowed to leave the capital, that meant someone believed they were a threat.

"I need to find them" she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.

"You will do no such thing," her grandfather’s voice cut through her thoughts, firm and unwavering.

Feng Jiao Xue’s gaze snapped to him. "Grandfather-" Feng Zhenhai shaked his head cutting her off.

"This is not a matter you should entangle yourself with" Feng Zhenhai stated. "Your position is precarious enough as it is. If you move carelessly, you may find yourself in the crosshairs next."

She inhaled sharply. "And if I do nothing, Liang Feng will lose everything."

Her grandfather’s jaw tightened. For the first time that night, the weight of his concern was evident in his eyes. But he said nothing.

Feng Jiao Xue pushed back from the desk, straightening to her full height. "I won’t sit back and watch while someone I care about is framed. If I don’t act, who will?"

Her grandfather watched her for a long moment before exhaling, rubbing a hand over his temple. "You are as stubborn as your mother."

She smiled slightly. "That’s the best compliment you could give me."

Feng Zhenhai sighed. "You will be careful."

"Always."

Feng Zhenhai sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Stubborn brat" he murmured before handing her a scroll. "That thing contains everything the palace has on the investigation."

Feng Jiao Xue’s eyes brightened up at that.

Feng Zhenhai didn’t lie. He didn’t try to know wherethe witness was hopping that would stop Feng Jiao Xue but just in case, he wasn’t about to make things hard for his granddaughter and compiled whatever could help her in that scroll.

"I asked his majesty to give you something time. You have about two weeks before he makes a decision" Feng Zhenhai told her gravely making Feng Jiao Xue nodded in response.

With a small smile, Feng Jiao Xue moved to kiss him on the cheek. "Thank you, grandpa!"

She turned on her heel and strode toward the doors, determination burning in her eyes. Mo Tianze, who had been silent the entire exchange, pushed off the wall and followed her out.

As they stepped into the moonlit courtyard, he chuckled. "Sister, you really do have a way with people, don’t you?" He stated with admiration sparkling in his eyes.

"Better learn from me then" she ruffled his hair before moving forward.

She had a witness to find.

"Can I come with you then?" Mo Tianze asked meekly, eyes on his feet while his tail flickered nervously, hesitantly, expecting to be rejected.

Feng Jiao Xue paused for a bit before nodding. "You may but we will be traveling far-"

"It’s okay!" He beamed, his ears flicking up while his tail excitedly wagged behind him.

"Cute" Feng Jiao Xue thought to herself.

"Wellthen let’s go pack up" She grinned slightly, taking his hand as they went to pack their things.

"Isn’t this too troublesome?" Huang JinDe chimed in while she was packing her clothes neatly to be put in the storage ring later.

"He still has his uses" She simply replied while Huang Jin De frowned in dissaproval as she should be using this time to cultivate,to be stronger instead of getting involved in politics.

"He may have his used but with Feng Zhenhai as your back up, you have the entire Feng Clan as your supporters. No matter who becomes the crown prince, the deep history and prestige of this clan cannot be easily diminished. Your only wasting your time!"

Feng Jiao ue remained silent as she packed because Huang Jin De made sense, if it was the old her, she wouldn’t have cared and discarded Liang Feng as one of her cards but... a part of her, that, part of her, is reluctant to do so.

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