It's Lady Yang who brings it up first. Something Henri wasn't expecting. He doubts Chenzhou, Mingzhe, or Eirian were either. Lady Yang had always been supportive, even when she disagreed with their choices. Her soldiers were some of the few who weren't sharing the rumors about the ambush of Mingzhe's forces.
And in all fairness, she brings up with something like regret, because she's smart enough to know it won't end well for anyone, but that it has to be done. It will be even worse if it doesn't happen, and Lady Yang, first and foremost, will always do what's best for the Camelia above all else.
"Perhaps it would be best if we attended to the most concerning first." Lady Yang's voice rang out even though it was perfectly mild and at an acceptable volume. The other members of the court fell silent at her words, a few shifting with nerves or anger. Not everyone was repeating the rumors in an attempt to damage Mingzhe; some of them were furious with the fact that the rumors existed at all. The Zhao's were an old, respected family with their own strong alliances in the court. There were members of the court who were furious that someone would target them in such a way.
And all of them were scared of being targeted the same way.
"If the court feels that would be best," Chenzhou allowed.
Henri watched the lords and ladies settle into their seats, and a concerning itch flared to life between his shoulder blades. Some of them seemed a bit too relaxed, too in sync. He shouldn't be surprised that the alliances were already showing, but it was a bit surprising how fast they'd moved. Some of them must have started within days of the ambushes, while the war effort was still ongoing.
So much for prioritizing the Camelia and Sorrow, he thought bitterly.
Lady Yang straightened her robes and stood. It wasn't required, but many of the older members of the court liked the gravitas of looking down at everyone else who was seated while they spoke.
"The purpose of this estate is the defense of our land, our people, and our king. We have been charged with it since the first stones were laid, and we have carried out our tasks with the utmost dedication since that day." More than a few puffed up at her words, and even Henri couldn't deny the stirring of pride. Sorrow had never lost an inch of ground on their eastern border since the inception of the Camelia and the Crimson Army in all its long history, and it never would. "Our loyalty and service have never been questioned. And they never will." She stated firmly. "We have shed more blood for our land and our king than anyone else, and we have done so once again. This war was not supposed to happen. Not after we spent a decade fighting the last one, and now we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was not even the doing of the tribes that started this latest fight. It was the Land of Song and Snow, our oldest enemy. Despite what seemed to be decades of peace, they were only ever biding their time."
"Two-faced." Someone muttered.
"Treasonous snakes," someone else hissed.
"No one in this room is at fault for any decision made or action taken by the Land of Song and Snow." She looked directly at Lord Zhao as she said it, and much of the room nodded along with her in agreement.
It made Henri scoff internally. He knew for a fact that several of those who had nodded would jump at any chance to bring the Zhao's or the Ye's down a few pegs, regardless of the truth of things. Power must always be checked, his own father had often said. To remind it that there is more than one power out there.
Henri understood the underlying meaning, its importance, and had taken it to heart, but it didn't change the fact that at times it was also simply a waste or an excuse for personal vendetta.
"No one in this room's loyalty to this estate is in doubt." Lady Yang continued, but fewer nodded along this time. "Everything that has happened has likely been treachery at the hands of the kingdoms of Song and Snow. They have had their plans underway far longer than we even now suspect, and there is no doubt they found some way to penetrate our walls."
Chenzhou frowned then, minutely, but enough that Henri caught it from the corner of his eye. Eirian's hand landed on Chenzhou's and squeezed.
Lady Yang seemed aware of far more than Henri had thought. Especially for a house that historically had few ties to the intelligence branch of the Crimson Army. He'd thought Chenzhou was still keeping much of what happened with Fox and Lord Rong's other spies quiet, but Lady Yang seemed to be hinting rather strongly at just that.
"We must learn how they managed to get inside our walls. We must learn why they chose to do so and why they chose to target the outposts in the north before all the others." She turned to Kai Low then, the Ambassador from the tribes and a Bandri himself. "To prevent such a thing from ever happening again and to put to rest any questions about our honor. Our new King must be given no reason to doubt us."
Eirian shifted at the mention of her cousin. How close was she to the new king, Henri wondered? Close enough to protect the Camelia if it came to such a thing? Or so distant that she would go down with it? The arrival of her younger brother at the order of the king seemed fortuitous, but it could also have been a maneuver to remove another challenger to the throne. Eirian or her brother was the next logical choice to take the throne if something should happen to King Eric, as their father was nearly elderly and there seemed little point to putting him on the throne only to have him die within a few years. Eirian and her brother were either here for their protection or the King's, and Henri had probably heard more than most about how Eirian and Chenzhou's marriage had come to be.
"I call for an official investigation by the court into the sanctity of our walls and the events prior to, during, and following the ambushes of Lord Zhao's outposts."
Lord Wen immediately climbed to his feet, "Seconded."
Lord Yin raised a hand, "I will support this, but I insist the investigative body be from multiple houses. It cannot just be one investigating the others."
Chenzhou's entire table seemed to let out a breath of relief. Whether Lord Yin was friend or foe, he had at least ensured that there would be some chance of fairness.
Chenzhou pushed his chair back and stood. He was required by law of the Camelia to make an immediate response, to ensure everything was handled in a timely manner, but also to ensure there were fewer chances of someone buying his decision behind closed doors. Lady Yang and Lord Wen both nodded respectfully and returned to their seats. "I hear your concerns, Lady Yang. And I agree." Chenzhou sounded tired as he said it. "Much has happened that needs to be thoroughly understood if it is to be prevented in the future."
Lady Yang smiled, pleased, and bowed her head again.
"But there is no doubt that any investigative body that includes a noble house of the Camelia will be in question. If not by us, then by the High Court in the capital. We are far too entangled."
"There are not many other options." Lord Crusoe muttered.
Chenzhou nodded grimly. "There are not. We could request a representative from the capital," disastified mutters rose. No one wanted someone sent by the king poking their nose into everyone's private business. "Or, we can take advantage of the one option we do have."
All he got in response were perplexed looks, including one from Henri himself. Eirian's eyes were narrowed, calculating.
Was Chenzhou referring to her? Because of her lack of connection to anyone but him?
But Chenzhou didn't turn to his wife; he turned to the newly elected Ambassador from the tribes, Kai Low of the Bandri.
In all fairness, the young ambassador looked just as shocked as the rest of the room.
"Kai Low of the Bandri, Ambassador of the Tribes of the Borderlands." Chenzhou's voice was firm; he'd already made his decision, and they could all hear it. "Will you lead the investigation?"
~ tbc