The Mad Ҡìղց

Facts

Jiang Fengmian stood, signaling the end of the meeting. "This matter is far from resolved," he said, his tone grave. "Until we find the truth, let no one act out of turn. Lives have already been lost. Let's not add to that number."

As the gathering dispersed, Ayana lingered, her thoughts racing. She felt a hand on her arm and turned to see Lan Xichen.

"Thank you," he said quietly. "For standing up for our brother."

She nodded, her resolve unwavering. "Family protects family. No matter what."

Lan Xichen's lips curved into a faint smile. "Indeed."

Wei Ying and Lan Wanji walked ahead, their steps in sync as they left the hall. Ayana watched them go, a pang of sadness tugging at her heart. Despite their strength, she could see the toll this was taking on both of them.

As she turned to leave, she noticed Madam Yu watching her from across the room, her gaze piercing. Ayana met her stare, refusing to back down.

This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

Ayana's chest heaved with frustration as she stormed down the corridor. The echo of her boots against the wooden floor reverberated like thunder in her ears. She could hear Niobe's hurried steps behind her, but she didn't slow down.

"His hands grabbed hers, halting her pace. She spun to face him, her glare sharp enough to cut through steel.

But Niobe didn't say a word. He simply gestured to his throat, then shook his head, his lips pressed into a frustrated line.

"You can't speak?" she whispered, almost afraid of the answer.

Niobe nods, his dark eyes meeting hers with a flash of desperation. He nodded slowly, pointing to his throat, then gesturing toward the hall where her parents had been.

"You can't speak?" Ayana asked again her voice laced with confusion and disbelief.

Niobe nodded, his expression pleading. He made a motion with his fingers, mimicking a spell being cast.

Realization dawned on Ayana's face. "A silencing spell..." she muttered, her mind racing. Only the Lan possessed such rare, potent magic. But why? And who? She looked down at the intricate patterns on the floor, trying to focus, trying to think.

She studied Niobe, his eyes burning with urgency and anger, yet his silence made him seem fragile, almost vulnerable. Ayana sighed, her anger giving way to concern.

"We'll fix this," she said firmly, gripping his hand tighter. "I'll find out who did it."

Niobe's shoulders relaxed slightly, his lips curving into the faintest shadow of a smile. Together, they walked toward their chamber, their footsteps echoing like a quiet rebellion. But Ayana's mind churned. Who among her family would have used the silencing spell against her husband—and why?

The silence in Wanji's chamber was comforting. Wei Ying lay motionless on the bed, his gaze soft yet distant as he stared at nothing. Wanji rested his head gently on Wei Ying's chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat grounding them both. They didn't need words. In the stillness, their emotions intertwined—grief, love, and a shared resilience. It was a language they spoke without sound, a connection deeper than the chaos swirling outside.

Meanwhile, Lan Xichen strode through the corridors, his face a mask of calm authority. His relentless questioning of the household had yielded nothing. No one had seen anything, a fact that disturbed him more than he cared to admit. The strangeness of it all gnawed at his resolve, but he pressed on, determined to uncover the truth.