Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame
Chapter 96

Chapter 96: Chapter 96

The heavy air in the imperial hall thickened as the great doors creaked open. The murmurs of officials and nobles quieted, all heads turning toward the entrance.

A figure stepped inside, draped in dark robes embroidered with silver, the shimmering threads catching the dim candlelight. She walked with measured grace, neither hurried nor hesitant, her gaze steady as it swept across the gathered court.

The moment she crossed the threshold, the Emperor’s sharp eyes flickered with recognition. The Third Prince’s smirk froze for a fraction of a second before he quickly masked it with a polite expression. Liang Feng, standing alone at the center of it all, let out the faintest breath of relief.

Yet, it was the older ministers who reacted first, those who had served the court long enough to recall a certain noble lineage. Some shifted in their seats, exchanging uncertain glances.

It was the Feng Clan’s youngest young miss.

Feng Jiao Xue came to a stop before the imperial dais and, with deliberate precision, withdrew a jade sigil from within her sleeve. The deep green stone gleamed under the hall’s light, its surface engraved with the unmistakable emblem of the Feng Clan’s patriarch.

The weight of her presence shifted in an instant.

She wasn’t just some rogue cultivator interfering in court affairs. She stood before them as an official representative of the Feng Clan. one of the most influential noble houses in the empire.

Seated among the court, her second uncle stiffened. His fingers curled slightly against the armrest of his chair, his carefully maintained expression betraying a flicker of unease. Complicated emotions churned beneath his gaze, though he said nothing.

Feng Jiao Xue bowed gracefully, lowering her head just enough to acknowledge the formalities but not enough to suggest submission.

"Your Majesty" her voice was calm, unwavering, "I come representing the Feng Clan."

A ripple of murmurs spread through the court.

"The Feng Clan?" The Third Prince was the first to speak, his tone laced with feigned surprise. "What interest does the mighty Feng Clan have in today’s proceedings?"

Feng Jiao Xue lifted her head, her expression unreadable. "A fair question, Your Highness. My presence is not without cause." She held the sigil slightly higher, making sure all could see it. "The Feng Clan does not lightly send its authority into court matters." Though friends, the Feng Clan really does not involve itself that deeply into politics. Some are interested, like her second uncle, while most just focus on cultivation and magic.

Some ministers straightened, their expressions turning wary. Others whispered amongst themselves, calculating the implications of the Feng Clan’s sudden involvement.

The Third Prince narrowed his eyes, but his lips still held the ghost of a smirk. "And what might this ’involvement’ entail?"

Feng Jiao Xue met his gaze evenly.

"A reminder" she said smoothly. "That the Feng Clan does not forget its debts nor neglect its responsibilities. That justice does not wane. We may not involve ourselves normally but that does not meean we dont care for the sake of the empire."

The Third Prince’s smirk faltered ever so slightly.

Silence stretched in the hall.

Then Liang Feng finally spoke, stepping forward with quiet authority. "It would seem the court has gained an unexpected observer." His voice was calm, but beneath it lay something firm, something unwavering. He turned his gaze to her. "You arrived just in time." He whisphered.

Feng Jiao Xue’s lips curved slightly, though the smile did not quite reach her eyes. "Naturally" she murmured. "It wouldn’t do to be late for something so important."

The hall remained deathly still, but the shift had already begun.

The game had changed.

The grand hall, already tense from Feng Jiao Xue’s arrival, was plunged into further confusion as the doors burst open once more.

All eyes turned to the entrance as the sound of a scuffle echoed against the polished floors. The guards, unsure whether to intervene, hesitated as a disheveled figure was dragged forward, his protests muffled beneath the weight of a firm grip.

Tian Heng strode into the hall, his expression unreadable, his grasp unrelenting as he hauled Tian Hao forward.

"Let me go! Do you have any idea what you’re doing?!" Tian Hao struggled, his usually well-groomed appearance now disheveled, his clothes wrinkled from resistance. His voice, sharp with indignation, only grew louder when he saw the gathered officials and the third prince at the head of them. "You! You dare to humiliate me like this?!"

Tian Heng didn’t respond. He merely tightened his grip, forcing Tian Hao to stumble forward until they stood before the emperor and the gathered nobles.

The third prince’s gaze darkened, though he quickly schooled his expression into one of mild surprise. "What is the meaning of this?" His voice was smooth, controlled, yet those who knew him well could detect the irritation beneath his polite tone.

Tian Heng finally spoke, his voice steady. "This man has information vital to this court session. Whether he likes it or not, he will speak."

Tian Hao clenched his jaw, sending a glare toward his older brother. "You fool," he spat. "Do you even realize what you’ve done?"

Feng Jiao Xue, who had remained still up until now, finally stepped forward, her gaze piercing as it settled on Tian Hao. "If you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to fear," she said simply. "But if your conscience is heavy, perhaps you should start praying."

The court murmured, shifting uneasily as Tian Hao’s face twitched.

The emperor watched the scene unfold, his sharp gaze assessing everything. "Enough with the theatrics," he said at last. "If there is a reason for this interruption, let it be made clear now."

Feng Jiao Xue nodded and turned to Tian Heng. "Go on," she said, her voice smooth yet firm. "Tell them why you brought him here."

Tian Heng inhaled deeply before answering, his voice carrying across the hall.

"He has been acting as the eyes and ears of the third princ" he said. "And he knows exactly how the crown prince’s downfall was orchestrated."

The hall erupted into hushed whispers.

Tian Hao’s face paled. "You!"

Before he could spew more venom, Feng Jiao Xue smiled. "You are welcome to deny it," she said lightly. "Of course, lying before the emperor would be a grave crime, but if you’re willing to take that risk, by all means, proceed."

Tian Hao swallowed hard, sweat beading at his temple. He shot a desperate glance toward the third prince, whose face remained unreadable.

For the first time, true fear flickered in Tian Hao’s eyes.

And just like that, the tide of the court session shifted.

The court was thick with tension, the weight of unspoken accusations pressing upon the gathered nobles. Tian Hao, still kneeling before the emperor, trembled as all eyes bore into him.

Before the silence could stretch too far, one of the third prince’s supporters stepped forward. Minister Zhang, a long-time ally of the third prince, scoffed and shook his head.

"This is absurd" he declared, his voice laced with controlled indignation. "Dragging a man into court like a common criminal? A brave witness at that. And on what grounds? A mere claim with no evidence?" He turned to the emperor, his expression carefully measured. "Your Majesty, are we truly to entertain baseless accusations without proof? This..." he gestured to Tian Hao, "...this is nothing but a desperate ploy to delay what must be done."

Several other nobles nodded in agreement, murmuring among themselves.

"Indeed" another minister chimed in. "If we allow such reckless claims, then what’s next? Shall any man with a grudge be permitted to sully the court with personal disputes? Your Majesty, we must not let this session be derailed by the theatrics of a fallen prince’s supporters."

The third prince himself finally stepped forward, his expression calm, though his eyes gleamed with calculation. "I am, of course, always willing to listen to my esteemed brother’s defense," he said smoothly. "But this..." he gestured toward the spectacle before them, ’feels less like a pursuit of truth and more like an attempt to buy time. We all know where the tide is turning. The empire cannot afford uncertainty any longer. Your Majesty, for the sake of stability, I urge you to proceed with what must be done."

The murmurs grew louder, rippling across the court like waves crashing against the shore. The third prince’s allies were rallying, fanning the flames of doubt, trying to drown out the presence of Tian Hao’s trembling figure at the center of it all.

Feng Jiao Xue, standing with quiet composure, let them speak. She did not interrupt, nor did she react to their provocations. Instead, she let their confidence build. Let them believe that they were steering the conversation.

And then, when the moment was right, she finally smiled.

"Proof?" she repeated, her voice ringing clear through the chamber. "You ask for proof?"

Her gaze slid toward Tian Hao, who was still shaking, sweat beading at his brow.

"Then," she said, her voice dropping to a near-whisper, "why is it that the accused looks as though he already knows what the answer will be?"

The murmurs died instantly.

Tian Hao flinched.

The third prince’s allies stilled, their momentum faltering.

And just like that, the tides of the court shifted once more.

"Let’s cut to the chase shall we?" Feng Jiao Xue looked at the emperor. "Your Majesty, I request that the truth spell be cast again" She requested with a smirk.

She had observed Tian Hao long enough to know. The fool is smart, street smart, in fact, he could be a valuable asset should he have been hers.

But he is not to the point that his mind is strong enough to break the truth spell. Which means, he must have had a well hidden artifact lend to him when he made those statements.

Artifacts too valuable to just stay in the hands of a pawn.

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