A fog had descended over the Camelia.
Or at least those informed of Mingzhe's confession by Counsel Margrave. She had allowed Chenzhou to summon Yuze, but not Kai Low, because he was appointed to the jury for the trial.
"They will be informed of everything in tomorrow morning's session."
"You're not informing them now?" Eirian demanded.
Counsel Margrave shook her head. "There is much to confirm before then, and it would be best to have the evidence in hand before this kind of thing is presented in court."
Yuze nodded, numb. He'd been as shocked as Chenzhou and Eirian when he'd arrived and been told what happened. "The murder charge… is that for Finn Vermeer?"
Counsel Margrave nodded. "One of them. I suspect there will be a dozen or so by the end of it, but two more will be announced tomorrow. For," she checked her notes. "Lord Zhao called them Emmy and Patrick and was insistent that you be told as soon as possible that their bodies are located in the Zhao manor."
The room fell silent.
Eirian's magic erupted, startling Counsel Margrave out of her chair as the flames manifested around her. "They-"
"Are you sure it's them?" Yuze asked quietly.
"I have not confirmed myself, but Lord Zhao was certain. He said the reason he chose to confess now, aside from realizing the Yangs are leaving him to take the fall, was a concern that the evidence connecting them to the deaths of those two will be gone soon."
"How soon?" Eirian asked immediately. Yuze and Chenzhou leaned in.
"Within days. I cannot tell you more than that."
"And you've taken steps to ensure it's preserved?" Yuze's knuckles went white. Emmy and Patrick were his responsibility. Ridiculously, he'd been holding out hope that they would still find them alive, but it seemed they'd gotten all three killed instead.
Counsel Margrave's eyes were locked on Eirian's flames, though to her credit, she managed to look more intrigued than terrified. "Lord Zhao said he took precautions, but was still worried. Captain Li will join a detachment of the Crimson Army to secure it. As well as the manor itself. They should be on their way by now."
"Where is Mingzhe being held?" The prison in the Camelia wasn't a pleasant place, not that any prison was, and there was danger in placing Mingzhe inside when there were plenty of people who would jump at the chance to hurt him. There were probably more than a few that had been put in there by Mingzhe himself. Even if they put him in the least serious section of the prison, where those who showed up drunk, skipped out on duties, or took unauthorized leave one too many times, they couldn't guarantee his safety.
"Lord Zhao will be placed in solitary confinement." Counsel Margrave finally looked away from Eirian. "With additional guards to ensure his safety. He will be allowed a limited number of visitors for the duration of his stay, and all visits will be supervised."
It was standard practice.
"It is likely the Yangs will make some attempt to silence him, given his importance to the case against him."
"When will that be announced?" Chenzhou asked. He was going to have to pull more units from the Crimson Army to help with crowd control and security. Li's guards had been stretched thin when the trial started, and were even more so now that a good chunk of them were under investigation.
Li was furious. He'd been too busy to brief Chenzhou personally, but Marian had managed to have a few meals with him and passed on his frustrations and apologies. There was embarrassment there, too, Marian had confided. That he'd failed to realize the problem with his own guards. He was working hard to correct that, Marian had said. So hard that he'd already imprisoned more than a few.
Another reason to worry about Mingzhe being placed in prison.
"As soon as I leave this room." Counsel Margrave answered. "It is of the utmost importance that the High Court moves as quickly as possible. Allowing a family as resourceful as the Yangs time to react does not end well."
"Can we talk to Mingzhe?" Eirian sounded strangely small as she asked. It probably wasn't smart, but the High Court had investigated all the rumors about Mingzhe, including his relationship with Chenzhou and Eirian, and both of them had been awkwardly honest when they'd spoken to the Counsels. Granted, the ones who had interviewed Chenzhou and Eirian were gone now.
Counsel Margrave's face softened, just a fraction, but enough to reveal she clearly knew what they'd told her former counterparts. "Once the trial is over… Though I don't need to explain that it will be a… short window."
Chenzhou froze. Eirian's sharp inhale was a distant sound as blood thundered in his ears.
Counsel Margrave stayed silent for a moment, letting them settle into the realization that Mingzhe had confessed to crimes that carried a death sentence.
~ tbc