The decision to talk to Mingzhe wasn't a hard one, but it wasn't necessarily a good one either.
Chenzhou wasn't even really sure when he made it, other than when Eirian swept into his office and declared she was going to.
"The trial is over, we're allowed to now." She said, stubborn, with her arms crossed, looking like she was ready to fight the whole world over her decision.
Chenzhou wasn't going to try to stop her. Eirian didn't think he was, but the emotion of the moment and everything that had happened left her a bit louder than she'd intended.
It didn't seem to bother Chenzhou, though. The only times he'd been worried about her during the trial were when she'd been quiet.
"I would like to talk to him too," Chenzhou admitted quietly. "Before I…" He still had a decision to make.
Not that there was really much choice to it. Mingzhe's confession had left Chenzhou with only one legal recourse, despite Kai Low's kind attempt to help.
He'd had some effect too. Each member of the court had submitted a recommendation, and Kai Low had turned nearly half of them with his argument. Even Counsel Margrave had been sympathetic.
It shook Chenzhou to realize how long Mingzhe and the Yangs had been acting in the shadows while he had no idea. "Did you ever imagine…"
"No." Eirian's face fell, and she walked over, leaning against his desk close enough for him to lean against her. She smelled like fire and fresh flowers, and Chenzhou took a deep breath, letting it settle into his lungs and calm him. "It seems impossible that it went on for so long… and none of us noticed."
She said us, and it made something in Chenzhou a little giddy despite everything.
He groaned, resting his head on her thighs. Her hand made its way to his hair, scratching his scalp lightly.
Chenzhou had known Mingzhe since they were children, even if they hadn't been that close then. It seemed mad that he'd missed something so big for so long. Especially when they'd become so close. Nothing in Mingzhe's behavior had suggested anything suspicious. He'd disagreed with Chenzhou frequently and openly and without fear.
But why would he confess if he hadn't done anything?
So Chenzhou and Eirian must have missed it.
"Maybe he was wavering," Eirian suggested quietly. "Maybe things had changed." She stroked his hair, enjoying the softness between her fingers. "People are always changing."
Chenzhou nodded, rubbing his face against the silk covering her thighs. "We need to talk to him."
"So let's go now." Eirian urged.
***
Mingzhe's cell was in the most secure part of the prison. Chenzhou shivered as they descended another set of stairs. Li had shown up to escort them personally, after Counsel Margrave had approved their request without much argument.
"I've been overseeing security myself," Li explained. "To make sure there are no mistakes." He still sounded bitter, which was understandable.
"Have there been any…" Chenzhou wasn't sure he wanted to finish the thought. Beside him, Eirian stiffened.
Li shook his head. "No. Thankfully." He continued quietly. "I think most of the estate is still in shock from everything."
"Understandable," Eirian muttered.
"No one else has requested to visit him either." Li paused before they came within hearing distance of Mingzhe's cell. "The day I brought him here, he asked me to tell his family not to come. They weren't happy, but they agreed not to."
"I can't imagine Lady Zhao was pleased," Chenzhou muttered, slightly afraid of the former First Eye. "I haven't heard anything from her."
Li frowned. "I would expect to soon. I imagine she's been working desperately to find a way to save him."
Chenzhou sighed. "I don't think…"
Li patted him on the shoulder, trying to offer some kind of comfort.
Mingzhe's cell was at the end of his block, and the other cells were somehow empty. The weak light from the few windows cast them all in damp shadows.
Mingzhe must have heard their approach because he was standing in the center of his cell, eyes tired, but his back straight.
He didn't look surprised.
Chenzhou's steps faltered when he stepped into view. Eirian remained steady, a guiding hand on Chenzhou's back.
Li stepped back far enough to give them privacy as they stared at each other.
Then, Mingzhe's eyes softened. "You shouldn't have come down here."
Chenzhou swallowed around a painful lump in his throat.
Eirian took a deep breath. "We wanted to talk to you." Her brow furrowed. "About your confession."
Mingzhe smiled, but it was a small, brittle thing. "I cannot take it back." He sounded apologetic, but firm.
"Then tell us why." Chenzhou pleaded. "You never- you didn't seem that unhappy? Maybe I didn't know what to look for, but I thought you would have said something?"
"This started long before we became close."
~ tbc