There was a certain way of doing things among the ruling class of the Land of Sorrow. A set of steps you followed to make your way through the established levels and proper procedures. Their government, despite its changing kings and queens, had endured for hundreds of years in its current form.
And it had managed to resist almost any change during that time.
It wasn't going to change now.
There were steps, and Lady Yang was one of those strong proponents of protecting that system. She would never insult it or weaken it by going around or ignoring it.
Which meant that she was going to go to Lord Ye's office and tell him to his face what she was about to do.
As the highest-ranked person in the estate, Lord Ye oversaw the High Court adjuncts that resided there, and he would be the judge in any trial that included a member of the nobility and any cases involving common folk or soldiers and significant crimes.
It didn't happen often, because Lord Ye had never been in the best of health when any had happened. Those kinds of trials took months sometimes, long days, and endless debate. Even the fittest soldiers struggled to hold on to the end.
It was tradition to inform Lord Ye personally of any charges being laid before going to the High Court adjuncts.
So Lady Yang put on her best robes. Red and black silk of the highest count and gold embroidery. She put on her great-grandmother's golden crane crown, the one with rubies from the mines in the Land of Song and snow, that her family had carried with them on their banishment. She even painted her face and eyes, something she hadn't done in many years. Since she'd grown old enough to recognize that her value had nothing to do with her looks anymore.
She took a carriage. A rare indulgence that she knew would be noticed, but she'd be noticed walking across the bridge in forty pounds of silk and jewels, too.
This was a historic moment, so she might as well go all the way.
It only took a few moments in the carriage, but she had no doubt someone had spotted her and warned Lord Ye she was coming.
Not that it mattered; he would never guess why she was coming.
He was still too inexperienced, too naive to the ways of the world and the ways of power and humans.
The poor boy wasn't even thirty. He still had years before he got there.
It almost felt unfair. To match wits with someone so young, but that was life sometimes.
It wasn't always fair, and Lady Yang would not endanger this estate and its people just to try to make life fair for one person.
She climbed out carefully and lifted her shirt as she made her way up the steps. She ignored the startled eyes that stopped their work to stare as she made her way inside. She left her guards in the main hall, told them they could wander off to the kitchens if they were hungry, but she wouldn't be more than an hour, and then followed the Butler to Lord Ye's office. She knew the way by memory, but again, ceremony mattered.
She even let the Butler knock on the door for her, then open it when Lord Ye allowed entry. The Butler bowed and left without going inside, and Lady Yang maneuvered her robes through the doorway.
Lord Ye stood in front of his desk, his age showing as he made an abortive move to help her but stopped himself at the last second. He did step around her to close the door before standing still long enough for her to bow in greeting.
"Lady Yang, welcome." There was a question in his eyes, but he had always been one of the younger generation who valued tradition. That was one thing about him that Lady Yang couldn't find fault with. "Please sit."
He was quiet as she did and took the seat next to her. A little familiar for her tastes, but not something worth dwelling on.
She studied him. His discomfort was obvious alongside his confusion, but he waited for her to start.
Another sign of weakness.
She smiled. "I'm afraid I don't come with good news."
At least he didn't seem surprised. "Please don't be offended, but I wasn't expecting it."
Such an apologetic little thing, she thought bitterly. Perhaps if his parents had lived longer, they could have raised him stronger. "I know you are aware of everything that is happening in the Camelia."
Lord Ye nodded, the waryness in his eyes growing. "This is a challenging time, but I believe we'll get through it."
"You think so?" She tried to sound just curious, but she knew she couldn't keep some of the disbelief out of her voice. "I don't think we have been in such a challenging position before. It feels like we are eating ourselves from the inside out."
"There is no challenge in this life that someone else has not already dealt with in another."
Such a philosopher this young lord was. But philosophy, as beautiful as it could be, had little to do with real life. "I have watched you grow all these years." She mused. "For a great many of them, I didn't think you'd survive to the next one."
Lord Ye offered a weak smile.
"What luck your choice of bride was."
His smile got a bit stronger, a bit brighter. "Yes. Probably the best choice I will ever make."
She let his smile linger for a moment. "I want you to understand that what I am doing is in the best interest of the Camelia. It is not personal in any way."
His smile slipped.
"I am laying charges against Zhao Mingzhe for treason. Once I leave here, I am going straight to the High Court's offices. This has gone on long enough, Lord Ye. I cannot be allowed to weaken us any further."
His smile disappeared.
~ tbc