Eirian waited up for Chenzhou and Mingzhe that night. Pacing in front of the fire as she thought back over her meeting with Lord Yin. She didn't disagree with his belief that the court was meant to keep the head of the estate in check. The court in Aontacht sometimes functioned that way for the throne. But the fact that they were going so far on their own was concerning. Lord Yin's inability to see that even more so.
The problem was, Eirian couldn't see a way to stop them without looking like a corrupt tyrant. If they stopped the court by force and didn't find evidence that completely exonerated Mingzhe, there would be no stopping new rumors that they were usurping the law for their own benefit. Someone would rise up, probably multiple someones, and even though Eric could support them enough to keep them there, they would be underseige everyday for the rest of their lives.
It was not a pleasant thought, and it wouldn't be a pleasant life.
The only way to stop the court without starting a war was to find the evidence that proved Mingzhe had nothing to do with the ambush, but she'd been expecting to find it before now. So far, all she'd found was opinions and coincidence, and she was growing frustrated. There were some, like the Valients, that were trying to help, but others, like the Wens and the Darrows, were causing more problems with their actions.
The soldiers of Crimson Army had yet to get involved, and Eirian wanted to keep it that way. She needed to talk to Chenzhou, but how to do that without tainting the investigation?
Was it even possible?
It was strange; she wanted desperately to talk to him about everything, but she couldn't. She'd never been in this situation before. She didn't trust Philip with certain- most things, and she could always tell Eric anything.
Chenzhou arrived first, brimming with energy.
Before he said anything, he pulled Eirian into a kiss. Wrapping his arms around her and pulling her against his chest. It was a lovely greeting, the warmth of him, the strength, and the softness. Eirian let herself get lost in it for several minutes before they finally separated.
Chenzhou was flushed, a little wide-eyed, but pleased.
Eirian smiled and raised an eyebrow. "You had a good day, I see?"
His flush deepened, and he glanced down shyly. "Perhaps. I think Henri and I found proof that someone in the Camelia was communicating with the Bandri."
Eirian's heart rate picked up in hope. "Oh? Who?"
"I don't know, but Mingzhe was with us pretty much every minute during the days the communications would have gone out. We would have seen something."
Hope dwindled. "That's not enough."
"No," Chenzhou agreed. "But it's a start. And it puts to bed any question that the ambush was purely the work of the tribes."
"That's not necessarily a comforting thought." He took a seat in front of the fire, and Eirian made herself comfortable in his arms. "But it would explain why the court is being so bold. Whoever is behind it is probably encouraging them in the shadows."
Chenzhou sighed. "I don't suppose you happened to solve the whole thing today?"
"No," Eirian drawled, rucking a runaway strand of hair behind his ear. "Unfortunately not, but I did have an enlightening conversation with Lord Yin."
Chenzhou's expression darkened. "That seems to be going around. He was the last person I expected to be acting this way. Do you think…"
"I don't know. He believes very strongly that the role of the court is to keep you truthful, to ensure that you follow the law despite your position."
"My position is to uphold the law," Chenzhou muttered.
Eirian nodded in agreement. "The Yins seem very proud of their common roots, and they don't seem to celebrate their nobility."
"They've always been like that." Chenzhou lapsed into silence, staring into the fire. "It always struck me as strange that they were so close to the Yangs."
"I haven't spoken to the Yangs yet," Eirian murmured thoughtfully.
"You'll be hard-pressed to get them to admit there was ever a time when they were nobility or serving in the Crimson Army."
"Really? She mentioned it on the way to Tira-Lian." Eirian thought back to the conversation with Lord Yin. "Briefly, but still. Something about coming from the east after a kingdom collapsed."
Chenzhou's brow furrowed as he tried to recall the same conversation, but before either of them could, the door opened, and Mingzhe entered.
Pale and carrying an air of exhaustion, he closed the door behind him and headed straight for the couch and the two of them.
Eirian and Chenzhou shared a worried look.
"Mingzhe?" Chenzhou's voice was gentle, trying not to overwhelm.
"I'm fine." Mingzhe didn't sound fine. He threw himself down next to them, and his entire body tilted over, lying against them. Eirian shifted so all three of them could get comfortable on the couch. Mingzhe's eyes closed, and he didn't say anything else. Eirian and Chenzhou stayed quiet, too worried to continue their conversation. Neither of them had seen Mingzhe like this before. He was clearly upset and tired and something else they couldn't put their fingers on.
They let the silence settle instead, let Mingzhe relax, craddled between them, with the only sound the crackle of the fire. The heat of their bodies, the steady rise and fall of their breathing, and the warmth of the fire lulled all three of them into sleepy contentment, and it wasn't long before Mingzhe realized Chenzhou and Eirian had fallen asleep.
He debated getting up and leaving, but he couldn't bear to pull himself away. He couldn't sleep either, mind racing with what he'd discovered earlier in the day, when Lady Yang had caught and confronted him.
How did he tell them he knew who was behind everything, but that there was no hope of saving him?
~ tbc