Hikari couldn't stop smiling as he left Mingzhe to his work and returned home. Mingzhe was still tentative, but the fact that he'd promised to think about it and promised not to tell Chenzhou was all the proof Hikari needed.
Mingzhe was on their side. He might not be ready to say it out loud, but he would be there when they needed him. Once the idea had settled, Mingzhe liked to think things through several times over. Mingzhe would be ready to support them in public, and then Chenzhou would be done.
His mother was going to be so pleased when he told her, and he went straight to her office once he reached the manor.
He knocked, because everyone knew better than to enter without doing so. His mother didn't tolerate anyone breaking that rule, and Hikari, as much as he loved, was also a tiny bit afraid of her.
"Enter."
He opened the door and poked his head in. "I have good news, mother."
She glanced up from her paperwork, her mouth set in a hard line. "I do not."
Hikari blinked, his elation from earlier deflating at her tone of voice. He stepped inside and closed the door. "What happened?"
She waved him forward and handed him the invitation once he reached the ornate desk she'd inherited from her own father.
Hikari read it quickly, then looked at his mother, stunned. "Marriage? She's only been there a week. How-"
"Obviously, it was arranged by Princess Soliel."
"Mingzhe didn't say anything…" Hikari trailed off.
Lady Yang frowned at him. "You already spoke with him?"
Hikari nodded. "I just came from his office."
She leaned back and gestured for him to continue.
Some of Hikari's earlier happiness returned. "He is with us."
Lady Yang blinked, surprised. "He said this?"
"Well," She sighed, and Hikari rushed to explain. "He didn't say that, but he didn't refuse to join us. He said he would think about it and that he wouldn't tell Lord Ye or anyone else what we talked about."
She didn't look completely convinced, but she didn't soften a bit. As much as she ever did. "I suppose that's better than I was expecting. Do you think he knew about the wedding?"
Hikari shook his head. "He is close with Yunli; he would not have been able to hide it from me."
Lady Yang nodded, thoughtful. She drummed her fingers on the top of the desk. She was not totally risk-averse, but as a general in the Crimson Army and the daughter of soldiers and miners, her risks were always calculated. Careful. Any other day, allowing Mingzhe to remain free with this knowledge would be too much to accept. "We'll have to watch carefully to see if this changes things for him."
Hikari looked confused. Her oldest was many things, but sometimes he was a little slow. "Does that mean you're okay with Mingzhe?"
"For now." She conceded. "But you will keep a close eye on him. If at any time it seems like he is moving in the opposite direction, you will tell me immediately, and we will handle it. We are too close to throw it all away now."
Hikari nodded frantically, a smile tearing across his face.
"Say it out loud, Hikari." Because her boys definitely tended to nod before actually stopping to think if they actually knew what they were agreeing to.
"I understand, mother. We will watch Mingzhe, and I will let you know if he says or does anything concerning." Hikari was the smartest of her boys, though, and she relaxed a fraction.
She waved him out and tried not to notice that he was so happy he was practically dancing on his way out. As a mother, she was pleased for him, knowing how much he loved and valued Mingzhe as a friend. As a commander, she was less happy and more wary. Mingzhe was a polarizing figure at the moment, for the rest of the Camelia and their little alliance. She had a hard time believing he would simply forgive them when he found out that they were the ones responsible for setting up the ambush and destroying his reputation.
She wanted Hikari to get everything he wanted as his mother, but as a leader, she couldn't risk letting someone so dangerous run free.
She would summon one of her most trusted spies and have them watch Mingzhe as well, and when the time came, he could strike and save Hikari the pain of having to do it himself.
And maybe…she needed to speed things up even more.
***
Something had gone wrong with Eirian's investigation. Mingzhe could tell from the way she stabbed her dinner like it was still breathing, and she was trying to put it out of its misery.
On her other side, Chenzhou looked just as wary as Mingzhe felt, but none of them seemed willing to break the heavy silence. They were all lost in their own dark thoughts, and even the pleasure of the company around the table wasn't enough to stave them off.
As much as he wanted to talk to them about what was happening, Mingzhe didn't dare risk it. Chenzhou and Eirian had to remain completely unassailable if this ever went to the High Court.
Eirian, for her part, was upset she couldn't confide her frustration about the stolen evidence, but she doubted even if she could tell them, she would. How heartbroken and defeated they'd both be if they realized they'd lost the only evidence they'd had.
Chenzhou wanted desperately to take care of both of them, but he didn't want to force them to talk about things that would put them in danger. He didn't want to add to their worries either, so he didn't dare confide any of his own.
It left the three of them in an awkward existence of wanting desperately to connect but unwilling to risk it.
It was the most fractured they'd felt since they'd come together.
~ tbc