Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame
Chapter 46

Chapter 46: Chapter 46

The entire Azure Dragon Empire was abuzz. The Feng Clan have alwasy been a mighty towering mountain, one of the power houses that civilians could only look up to.

So, many where anticipating to watch the drama unfold.

The latest stint in the clan immediately spread through the empire as people talk in entertainmnt about how the Fourth Master of the clan turned the entire place upside down in fury upon his return.

How the second aunt is now under house arrest for ’poisoning’ Feng Jiao Xue.

"Did you hear? The Feng Clan’s Second Madam is under house arrest! They say she tried to poison her niece the waste of the family!" a fruit seller said, leaning conspiratorially on top of the counter..

"I heard she was caught red-handed! Feng Haoyang, himself stormed into the estate like a raging tiger and uncovered the truth."

"Red-handed? Bah!" The fishmonger nearby scoffed, wiping his hands on his apron. "My cousin’s wife’s first aunt works as a maid for the Fengs. She says they found a vial of poison in the young lady’s room, but who knows if the Second Madam really put it there? It could’ve been anyone."

"Anyone?" A buyer cut in. "She’s always been jealous of the third madam. Why, I even personally saw her pursuit over Feng Jiao Xue’s father back in the day. I’m telling you, she only settled with the second brother. The Second Madam has every reason to try and get rid of her."

Even in a cozy teahouse just off the main road, a group of scholars discussed the matter with more restraint, though no less interest.

"It’s disgraceful," said one, a young man in flowing robes. "To think someone of the Feng Clan would stoop so low as to poison a family member. What does this say about their integrity?"

"Do not be so quick to judge," an older scholar interjected, stroking his beard. "We have only heard rumors. The truth is likely more complex than it appears. For all we know, this could be a power struggle within the family."

"Power struggle or not," a third scholar chimed in, "the Feng Clan has shown its cracks. No matter how they resolve this, their reputation will suffer."

Even the street children, who had little understanding of the intricacies of clan politics, found themselves swept up in the tale.

"They say the Second Madam is locked up in her room," one boy exclaimed, his eyes wide with excitement as he spoke to a small group. "Guards everywhere! She can’t even leave to get water."

"Do you think they’ll throw her in the dungeons?" a girl asked, clutching her basket of flowers.

The boy shrugged dramatically. "Maybe! Or worse, maybe the Fourth Master will challenge her to a duel! He’s supposed to be really strong, you know."

"Well, I heared that the madam is very powerful too!"

"Can you imagine if they fight?! It would be so amazing!"

The children giggled and whispered among themselves, their imaginations running wild with fantastical scenarios.

As the gossip spread, so too did embellishments. By the time the story reached the farthest corners of the empire, it had transformed into something almost unrecognizable.

In a small village near the empire’s borders, a blacksmith told his customers, "They say the Second Madam tried to poison the entire family during a banquet! She wanted her son to inherit everything."

His wife, overhearing from the kitchen, added, "And the young lady, Feng Jiao Xue, barely survived! She’s bedridden and can’t even speak!"

"Bedridden?" another villager asked, wide-eyed. "I heard she’s already dead! The Feng Clan is covering it up to avoid a scandal."

"Nonsense!" the blacksmith retorted. "The Fourth Master returned just in time to save her. He fought off assassins sent by the Second Madam herself!"

The villagers listened with rapt attention, each new detail more thrilling than the last. The truth had long since been drowned in the sea of speculation, but that mattered little to those who delighted in the drama.

From the rich to the poor, from nobles to civilians. The story grew rampant and various versions already becoming wider and wider.

"...And as you expected, the civilians sympathized with you more while the nobles are on a fence, some thinks it’s another ploy or scheme to try to take the Head of the clan down." Huang Jin De relayed everything to Feng Jiao Xue.

Mo Tianze listened silently as he peeled her some grapes by her bedside.Even if the poison Feng Jiao Xue took only has the affect of the poison and not the real damage, to make it reaslistic it did, in fact, weaken her muscle for a certain amount of time. Or, at least until she takes the medicine.

"And my uncle?" She wonders since he had barely left her side ever since she was poisoned.

In the grand halls of the Feng main building, a loud crash of a glass shattering made the servants outisde flinched as raised voices has been coming out from the hall since early morning. Servants scurried in nervous haste to clean the bloodied pieces of glass on the floor, their heads bowed as they passed the furious Fourth Master.

"You dare to do this to my niece?" Feng Haoyang’s voice thundered, his presence like a sharp blade cutting through the air as he glared furiously at the elders.

"So what if she is unable to cultivate or wield magic?! She is still the flesh and blood of my brother! The young mistress of the Feng Household!"

The elders of the clan glanced at him apathetically, seated in their ornate chairs, exchanged uneasy glances.

Feng Haoyang stood in the center of the room, his face a mask of barely contained rage. In his hand, he clutched a porcelain vial, its contents damning evidence of the crime he was accusing someone of.

"Feng Haoyang, calm yourself," Feng Haotian spoke up. His calm tone betrayed a hint of exasperation. "We must investigate this matter thoroughly before making accusations."

"Investigate?" Feng Haoyang’s laugh was bitter and sharp. "What is there to investigate? This vial contains poison found in niece’s body. And do you know who’s placed it was in? None other than your wife!"

Gasps filled the room, and the gathered members erupted into murmurs. Feng Mei Lian, the second aunt, was a woman known for her cunning nature. To think she would stoop so low as to poison Feng Jiao Xue, the daughter of her husband’s younger brother, was unthinkable to some, but to others, it was entirely within her character.

"Watch your mouth little brother" Feng Haotian warned his voice getting colder, his Qi pressing on Feng Haoyang threateningly.

"Watch my mouth? Why don’t you watch your wretched wife?" Feng Haoyang glared even more releasing his own pressure to counter Haotian.

"Both of you, calm down" Feng haoran frowned trying to settle his little brothers down. "Arguing like this won’t solve the problem. Your both adults for goodness sake, start acting like it"

"Oh no, don’t you act high and might on me" Feng Haoyang’s eyes snapped on Feng Haoran furious and indignant.

"I’m no-" Feng Haoyang snarled before Feng Haoran could even start defending himself.

"Act like an adult? Then what the freak where you doing while Feng Jiao Xue was being hurt huh?! I am not blameless even if I wasn’t here. Yeah, I get it. I’m partly to blame but you? What’s your excuse?! You where here! She was only a mountain peak away! How could you have let my little peach end up this way?!" It was clear that Feng Haoyang was beyond furious to be reasoned by this point. He had been yelling at them since he arrived, venting his frustration, his anger and guilt.

One of his hand was bloodied from the glass of water he managed to crush with his bare hand in anger. Eyed as red as blood, like that of a vengeful ghost.

Gone was his cheerful, unrestraint expression. Crazed, furious eyes glaring everyone in the rood, blood dripping from his clenched hand, his robe ruffled as he paced on the ground, his chair knocked down behind him.

"Haoyang, i know that your distress. I’m also Jiao Xue’s uncle. I’m also worried about her" Feng Haotian tried to appease, appearing amiable and kind yet with his shoulder slumped, the weight of the state his niece is currently in burdening him down. As if he really had no idea what Feng Jiao Xue had been expiriencing through the years. "What do you think we, Haoran and I, feel about this" He sighed forlornly on his chair.

"This is my fault. I’m the Head of our clan" He subtly reminded his status. "I should have cheked on her more but Jiao Xue always wanted to be left alone. I thought I was giving her peace." Sadly, he looks guilt ridden.

"I trusted the servants to take care of her and I was the one who told Big brother to not bother Feng Jiao Xue because I worried that it would make her uncomfortable" Feng Haoran snapped his head to Feng Haotian. Assuringly, he smiled as if to say, ’It’s alright, I’m willing to take the blame. Let Haoyang be mad at me only’ making Feng Haoran have a glimpse of appreciation for his little brother.

Feng Haotian walked towards Feng Haoyang tiredly and patted his shoulder, giving him a firm squeeze. "I will investigate this matter. I won’t letan outsider cause a rift between our families. Whoever is scheming behind the scene, will pay" Caringky, he pulled his brother for a hug.

Disgusted, Feng Haoyang sneered and pushed his brother away in recoil.

"Don’t pile me with the fools that you can easily manipulated. I know you, Feng Haotian. And if I find out that this is your doing, I will compensate third brother by making you pay." Feng Haoyang coldly glared. "For your sake, I hope your not involved with what my little peach has been through." Feng Haoyang stalked away after saying his piece.