Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame
Chapter 79

Chapter 79: Chapter 79

The chamber, once filled with quiet conversation and warmth, now crackled with tension. The scent of poisoned wine lingered in the air, mixing with the faint, burned smell of the withered plant. The young servant trembled, his back pressed against the wooden screen, his face pale as the moon.

"You almost hurt Sister!" Mo Tianze hissed, golden pupils narrowing into razor-thin slits. His tail bristled, his entire body coiled as if ready to pounce. The sheer intensity of his anger caused the atmosphere to tremble, an invisible force pressing down on the room.

Feng Jiao Xue, startled, glanced at him from the corner of her eye. His reaction was uncharacteristic, almost instinctive. But what truly caught her attention was the brief flash of ancient energy that had surged within him before vanishing. She was not familiar with it but... the energy, it was potent.

Her gaze shifted slightly, if she could cultivate him well, train him, he could become...

Feng Jiao Xue stopped that train of thought, despising herself. To use an allie in a common goal, that she can do. To use a stranger for her plans, she can still stomach but, if she raises Mo Tianze to be her weapon... disgust coiled at her core. ’What different would she be with those that have used them?’

Silently, she appologized to Mo Tianze in her heart.

The emperor observed the scene, his expression calm, yet his gaze sharp. Meanwhile, Huang Jin De who was watching inside the ring smirk behind his sleeve, "Not bad, little fox. Looks like this kitten has claws after all’’

Mo Tianze’s aggressive stance was the perfect opportunity.

"How brazen!" A voice suddenly rang out, carrying authority and disbelief. It was none other than a high-ranking noble from the imperial court. "To bare your fangs and claws in the presence of His Majesty? Do you mean to say that a mere demi-beast dares act out before the Son of Heaven?"

Others murmured in agreement, a ripple of discontent spreading among the gathered officials and guests.

"Indeed," another elder chimed in. "What kind of beast dares to behave so wildly? If he cannot control himself, then what guarantee do we have that he will not attack another in the future?"

The official who spoke first took a step forward, a look of grave concern on his face. "Your Majesty, this is precisely why demi-beasts require proper restraint. He wears no collar, and now, we see the consequences. How dare a wild beast be left untettered?! would he have struck down another person without a second thought?"

His words stirred uncertainty among the court. Murmurs grew louder, and some nodded in reluctant agreement. The sight of Mo Tianze’s momentary outburst had already planted a seed of doubt.

Feng Jiao Xue’s gaze swept across the room, her expression unchanging.

So that’s their play. They want to make Mo Tianze seem dangerous, to force the emperor’s hand into restraining or removing him altogether.

She let out a quiet sigh, brushing nonexistent dust off her sleeve before turning to face them. "So, let me understand this correctly." Her voice was soft, yet each syllable carried unmistakable weight. "You are all accusing Mo Tianze of being a threat because he reacted to someone attempting to harm others?"

Some nobles hesitated. The official, however, remained undeterred. "No one is denying his loyalty to you, Lady Feng," he said smoothly. "However, his reaction was far too extreme. It is in his nature as a demi-beast. What happens if he loses control? Surely you see the danger in that."

Feng Jiao Xue tilted her head slightly, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Danger, you say?" She took a step forward, her cold gaze settling on the cowering servant. "And yet, you say nothing about this man who tried to poison my grandfather and His Majesty?"

The room fell silent.

’Idiot’ Feng Jiao Xue mused as her eyes coldly regarded the first speaker.

Another noble spoke up, gaze riddled with distain towards Mo Tianze, sensing the shift, quickly responded, "That is a separate matter. The servant will be questioned and judged accordingly. But right now, we are discussing the demi-beast’s conduct."

Feng Jiao Xue let out a soft chuckle. "Ah, I see now. You find Mo Tianze’s reaction alarming, but not the fact that someone was about to assassinate the emperor?"

A few nobles visibly flinched at her words.

She walked past Mo Tianze, placing a hand lightly on his head. "Let’s examine this logically, shall we? A servant poisons the emperor’s cup. Mo Tianze, who has served and lived with me for so long" Feng Jiao Xue purposely left out how long "reacts instinctively to protect me. That is the situation we have witnessed."

She turned her gaze back to the nobles. "Now, tell me, if it were your loyal hounds, or perhaps your well-trained guards, would they not have reacted the same way upon seeing an attempt on my life?"

The murmurs began to change tone.

"Lady Feng raises a fair point..." one of the older ministers mumbled.

Feng Jiao Xue did not stop. "A dog that does not bark when its master is in danger is either dead or disloyal. What you saw was not a wild beast lashing out, it was a sworn protector defending his own. And yet, you seek to punish him for it?"

The official clenched his fists, realizing the shift in perception. He had underestimated how quickly Feng Jiao Xue could dismantle an argument.

The emperor finally let out a low chuckle. "Well reasoned." His gaze shifted toward the servant, who had turned deathly pale. "Let us not be so quick to redirect blame. The true matter at hand is the poisoned wine."

Feng Zhenhai smirked, satisfied by his granddaughter’s handling of the situation. "Indeed," he said, his voice carrying an undertone of menace. "This servant, who is he, and who sent him?"

The trembling young man fell to his knees, his forehead hitting the floor. "Y-Your Majesty! I was only following orders!"

The emperor’s gaze darkened. "Then speak. Who gave you those orders?"

The servant swallowed, sweat dripping down his face. His lips trembled, but no words came out.

The servant, still kneeling and trembling, licked his lips before raising his head. His voice wavered, but he forced himself to speak. "I... I only did as I was told! The poison- It was Mo Tianze who passed me the order!"

Gasps rippled through the gathered nobles. Murmurs erupted like crackling flames, some filled with shock, others with barely concealed satisfaction.

Mo Tianze stiffened. His golden eyes flashed with fury and fear, he looked at Feng Jiao Xue silently pleading not to believe him but before he could utter a word, another servant stepped forward, his hands shaking as he held out a small bundle wrapped in silk.

"I... I can prove it!" the second servant declared, unwrapping the fabric. Within was a thin tuft of snow white -gold fur rested on his palm. "This was found near the wine. A fox’s fur! If that’s not proof of Mo Tianze’s involvement, then what is?"

A few officials nodded, their expressions grave.

"To leave such a trace behind... He must be reckless."

"What did you expect from a demi-beast"

"But feng Jiao Xue is its master..."

Feng Jiao Xue’s gaze sharpened a cold smile plastered in her lips befor Liang Feng could step up and speak for her,

She stepped forward slowly her presence sending a ripple of unease through the accusers. Her voice was cold, yet laced with amusement.

"So, let me get this straight." She folded her arms, her silver eyes narrowing. "You saw Mo Tianze putting the poison in the wine, got close enough to even take his fur..." She paused, letting her words sink in. Then, her voice turned cutting. "Yet you did nothing to stop him?"

The second servant flinched. "I-I was scared-"

"Scared?" Feng Jiao Xue tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "Scared enough to stay silent, yet bold enough to take a piece of his fur as evidence?"

A ripple of uncertainty spread through the court. The officials who had been so eager to condemn Mo Tianze hesitated. None of them where stupid. And from what Feng Jiao Xue could guess, they where too compacent in the properties of the poison to even make sure they didn’t get caught. It was foolish and their ploy, riddled with flaws. Who came up with this ridiculous set-up? It’s like a child trying to manipulate grown ups!

The emperor leaned forward, his expression unreadable.

Feng Jiao Xue, however, already knew the truth. So that’s why they focused so much on his aggression earlier. They wanted to paint him as nothing more than a wild beast. An unstable, dangerous creature that needed to be ’controlled.’

The second servant stuttered, sweat beading on his brow. "I-It all happened so fast-"

"I’ve heard enough," the emperor’s voice cut through the room like a blade. His gaze darkened as he turned to the guards. "Arrest them both. They will be interrogated thoroughly."

The servants paled. The first one’s hands twitched. Feng Jiao Xue’s eyes caught the subtle movement a second too late.

Feng Jiao Xue observed him carefully. Something wasn’t right. His fear was genuine, but there was a strange rigidity to him, as if...

Before she could complete the thought, the servant suddenly convulsed, his body seizing violently. He clutched his throat, his breathing turning ragged as froth formed at the corners of his lips.

"Poison!" someone shouted.

A second poisoning. But this time, to silence him.

Mo Tianze, still standing close, immediately moved, his hand glowing with faint golden energy. He pressed two fingers against the servant’s neck, attempting to force the poison out. However, the moment his energy made contact, the servant’s veins blackened at an alarming rate.

"Too late" Mo Tianze muttered grimly.

The body hit the floor with a dull thud.

A hushed silence filled the room, only broken by the emperor exhaling slowly. He stared at the corpse before shifting his gaze to first. "It seems we have a far larger issue than a supposed ’unruly beast.’ Wouldn’t you agree, Minister Huang?"

Huang Jin De bowed deeply, his face carefully neutral. "Of course, Your Majesty."

Feng Jiao Xue withdrew her hand from Mo Tianze’s head and turned to the emperor. "This attack was planned. And if there was one assassin, there will be more. I request permission to investigate this matter personally."

The emperor studied her for a long moment before nodding. "Permission granted."

Feng Jiao Xue smiled slightly. "Good." Her gaze swept across the room, lingering briefly on those who had accused Mo Tianze earlier. "I won’t fail your majesty" She muses coldly as her gaze flickered to the crowd. "After all, every herb leaves a trace, it’s just a matter on how it can be searched"

As she walked away, she briefly stopped near Liang Feng and whisphered something in his ear discreetly.