Chenzhou was starting to feel like he had before.
When he'd still been ill from the poison and exhausted all the time, but he could never sleep enough to help. There was a constant ache in his bones and a throbbing behind his eyes that wouldn't go away, no matter what he took or what Eirian did. But somehow, he slept like the dead next to Eirian and woke up hours later with no memory or rest.
Eirian was the same, and similarly to how she seemed when she used her magic, she showed the lack of rest dramatically. Paler than normal, dark circles under her eyes, sunken cheeks.
And a temper that had everyone simultaneously sympathetic and walking on flower petals. She'd tried to continue her investigation at first, but it had quickly become clear that any chance of discovering anything new themselves was gone. Eirian could barely leave the main castle without being mobbed, and Chenzhou didn't even bother trying.
Yuze was bound by the law not to tell them anything that he learned, but based on what was coming out during the trail he wasn't having much luck. The trail was so public that everyone in the Camelia knew what was happening now, and it was all anyone wanted to talk about.
Chenzhou had to draw a firm line with a few of the court members who'd tried to approach him, as startled by their boldness as he was by their lack of awareness.
Eirian had moved her desk into his office so they could at least spend time together while they were working. Or trying to. A day couldn't go by without some kind of interruption related ot the trail, and the trail itself took up all their mornings once it started.
The High Court had the power to speak to anyone they wished about the trail and they had been questioning Chenzhou multiple times a day about everything on the Rock in the beginning.
The one bright spot was that Teyla and Mela had been successful in ferreting out the High Court members bought by the Yangs. At least, Chenzhou assumed that was why half of the High Court members had suddenly been dismissed and disappeared from the Camelia. If there was any real justice, they were back in the capital to face their own trials, but it had all happened so quietly, he didn't know for sure.
Eirian had written to Eric to make sure they faced punishment, but hadn't heard anything back yet. Eric's marriage to Yunli would be happening any day now, and Eirian was beside herself that she couldn't attend. Eric's last letter had included a promise to visit the Camelia as the first stop on their honeymoon, trial or not, but that was still weeks away, and part of Chenzhou was starting to worry it would be too late.
The trial was approaching its end, the High Court had laid out everything they'd promised, and aside from a few course corrections, it had stayed mostly true to its original goal.
Mingzhe looked guilty, and Chenzhou looked incompetent.
Neither had been proven beyond doubt, thank the Rock. The High Court's corruption had been obvious in the way different members had contradicted themselves during the first few weeks. It had weakened the High Court's case, and Chenzhou was pathetically grateful. Members of the court were already starting to push back against him, sensing weakness and doing their best to take advantage. Teyla and Mela had thrown the official support of the Vermeer family behind him, and while he appreciated it, he was also upset it was even necessary.
He'd served the Camelia his entire life, and they forgot that the moment he showed a single sign of weakness.
"Am I really that bad a leader?" He wondered.
Eirian's head snapped up from her own papers. "What?"
Chenzhou grimaced. He hadn't meant to say that out loud.
"Is that what you're worried about?" Eirian demanded, setting her quill down. "You know this isn't actually about your ability."
Chenzhou sighed. "I know that. I do, but…" He trailed off. He knew Eirian was right, but he didn't feel like it was, and he didn't know how to articulate the complicated mess of feelings.
It would have been different if they'd lost the war. If Chenzhou had led them over the cliff's edge.
But he hadn't.
The Camelia had been on solid ground and then tracking upward after Eirian's arrival. Chenzhou may not have been like the leaders of old, but this was not olden times. Change was coming, a natural part of life, and blaming Chenzhou for it was ridiculous, even if he could understand the underlying fear that was at the heart of it.
A knock on the door interrupted before Eirian could tell him the same thing.
"Come in."
Counsel Margrave stepped inside, and Chenzhou and Eirian straightened. "I apologize for the interruption, Princess Soliel, Lord Ye. I need to speak with you.
The older Counsel was always polite and to the point. Despite everything, both Chenzhou and Eirian liked her.
Chenzhou waved her to a chair. "Please."
"Thank you." The grave expression on her face was worrying, but Chenzhou managed to restrain himself until she spoke. "This discussion is a courtesy. I have to say that first."
Chenzhou and Eirian shared a worried look and nodded. "We understand."
"Lord Zhao has been taken into custody."
Cold dread washed over Chenzhou. Eirian's chair screeched as she stood. "What?"
Counsel Margrave sighed. "He was taken into custody an hour ago. Captain Li was called to do so himself, to ensure Lord Zhao would be safe until the Imperial Army could be summoned."
"Why?" Eirian demanded at the same time Chenzhou said, "I don't understand."
"Lord Zhao confessed." And she almost sounded apologetic as she said it. "He walked into our offices this morning and explained everything."
"Explained…what?" Eirian sqwacked. "He didn't do anything."
"I understand it is hard to accept, but the confession is real. He offered a staggering amount of detail, all of which supports things we have already suspected."
Eirian collapsed into her chair.
"Lord Zhao's trial is now over."
"We don't get a chance to argue?" Chenzhou reached, desperate.
"I would advise against it. Based on Lord Zhao's confession, there is much work ahead. We are opening an investigation into the Yang family for treason, murder, bribery, theft, and, quite frankly, a long list of lesser charges."
~ tbc