It seemed like it should have been impossible, but as Mingzhe sat through six weeks of the High Court's trial and investigation, he watched everything Hikari had predicted come true.
And he watched Eirian reach a level of fury that he'd never seen before, silent and still and somehow projecting more malice and power than she ever had before.
Chenzhou had also fallen silent, but withdrawn and sad. His face drawn and his eyes shadowed. It reminded Mingzhe of the days when he'd been sick and struggling to hide how horrid he actually felt.
In contrast to Eirian and Chenzhou, Yuze couldn't stop moving. Whenever Mingzhe saw him in the hallways or when he was giving testimony in the trial, some part of him was in motion. His foot tapping on the floor, his fingers tapping the arm of his chair. It was out of character for the spy, but a clear sign of how terrible things were going to be for Mingzhe.
Kai Low was the surprise. Almost as surprising as the fact that he'd been appointed to the jury panel at all. It wasn't common to have a foreigner on it, even one who counted as noble by their standards, but the High Court had nominated him as the only non-Camelia resident who still had some idea of what happened within its walls. It had seemed to cause a bit of a disagreement between the High Court members themselves, as well as the court, but once Kai Low had agreed and Chenzhou had confirmed him, the dissenting voices had fallen silent.
Hikari had confided in Yuze that they hadn't been expecting it, but after discussion, had decided that Kai Low alone wasn't a threat. It was unlikely he actually cared about the trial, anyway, and would likely simply vote with the majority.
Mingzhe was careful to keep that belief going and not to point out that, clearly, none of them had actually met Kai Low. Whom Mingzhe suspected would vote against the majority just because he found it amusing. Or that he was close enough to Yuze to vote whichever way Yuze told him.
Hopefully, that was the secret plan that Mingzhe wasn't in on. It had been torture, having to stay away from them for all these weeks. He'd even started sleeping back in his old room in the Zhao Manor, letting his family fuss and plan elaborate revenge schemes that his mother was suspiciously silent about. Mingzhe had begged her not to do anything until they were sure the trial wasn't going to go in his favor; he didn't want her burning the place down unless there really was no other choice.
And a part of him didn't want her burning it down at all.
The Camelia was not worth Minghze's life. It had an important duty that it could still fulfill if Mingzhe wasn't there, as much as it would hurt to leave, but he'd had plenty of time these last six weeks to think on his situation and the possible outcomes.
There was a chance he could be found guilty and not sentenced to death, but it would be up to Chenzhou to argue with the High Court recommendation, and that could put him in a dangerous position. That was the last thing Mingzhe wanted.
Yunli had written several letters from the capital, her wedding with Eric was supposed to happen any day now, and Zhuli and Marabell had travelled to the capital to stand as her family, since their parents didn't want to leave Mingzhe while the trial was still happening. Yunli had tried her hardest to get the wedding to happen before the trial, as Eric had assured him, but Mingzhe knew it wouldn't have made a difference. Eric and Yunli were bound by the same trouble as Chenzhou if they interfered without clear evidence that Mingzhe was being framed.
And the Yangs had made sure not to leave any behind. Mingzhe had stayed close to Hikari the entire time, hoping to find something, some moment where they'd slipped up, but so far he'd had no luck.
It was impressive how well they planned it all, and Mingzhe hated that he felt that way, but even as the target, he had to admit they had great skill.
More than Mingzhe, it seemed.
Lady Yang had been silent for most of the trial. In the privacy of his office, Hikari had bragged about his mother's skill at manipulation, telling him how a few people had approached her about her choice and how she'd managed to convince each one of them she was only doing what she thought was right.
Mingzhe had never really hated someone before in his life, but he hates her.
Even though the trial has begun to focus on the larger failings in the Camelia as opposed to his supposed treason, Mingzhe had still been relegated to the fringes of the population. Only his family and those who serve them still talk to him, and as much as he wants to talk to Chenzhou and Eirian, he doesn't dare. Tainting the two of them is the only thing he can think of that's worse than his current situation.
They're approaching the pivotal point now, too. The Yangs have managed to stay in control now, but they weren't openly targeting Chenzhou, just Mingzhe. According to Hikari, their plan is to shift the blame onto Chenzhou, but it's a delicate process. For all that he has faults, Chenzhou was well-liked, even more so after he'd started to heal and refocused on the Camelia.
And Eirian is practically beloved by the Crimson Army after her leadership at the Battle of the River Forks and purging the miasma.
If Eirian had never arrived and Chenzhou had never been healed, the situation would be different, but two vibrant, healthy young leaders with no scandals to their name were hard to unseat.
Even the Yangs, according to Hikari, had no illusions about touching Eirian. Eric would sweep her back to the capital in a heartbeat if it looked like she was truly in danger, but removing Chenzhou might drive her back there of her own accord.
Mingzhe didn't think so, not after witnessing how much Chenzhou wanted her to take leadership of the estate and how charmed Eirian had been by his faith.
Something else he neglected to mention to Hikari when they talked.
~ tbc