Lan Zhan and Wei Ying are stopped by Lan Qiren, just outside the doors of the banqueting hall.
"Are you both alright?" He asks them quickly, checking them over for any injuries.
The whole tense and horrible situation has taken its toll on both of them, and big fat tears roll down their round cheeks. Lan Qiren does not hesitate to pick them up and hold them close, before marching inside the room with a grim expression on his face.
Wen Ruohan is standing up and announcing that this appears to be a private matter that can be dealt with while everyone not directly involved can continue on to participate in the afternoon archery contests.
"Da-Ge, perhaps it would be better if everyone were present seeing as this matter is something serious between two major clans." Wen Tang Changpu jumps in with her opinion as soon as Wen Ruohan stops speaking. "We don't want anyone to accuse you of favouritism towards one party or another." What she does not say is that his final judgement cannot be biased in front of so many witnesses; in short, Wen Ruohan will have to do the right thing whether he likes it or not, because otherwise he risks mutiny from the rest of the clans.
Thankfully, Wen Ruohan takes her words at face value, and nods wisely as if it was his own decision.
"Very well, prepare the hall for our guests."
Wen Tang Changpu bows and immediately leaves to make arrangements, catching Lan Qiren's eyes as she walks past. She winks because Wen Ruohan can't see her doing that.
Lan Qiren is just grateful for having friends in unexpected places. If Wen Tang Changpu hadn't interfered, he would have been walking into a room with two unfriendly factions, even if he was in the right.
**************
It takes another half hour to prepare the hall, and when it's opened to the cultivators, they see the numerous tables spread out on either side of the Chief Cultivator's seat, with two tables specifically set up on side by side in front of him so that the Lans and the Jiangs can talk to him face to face.
"State your case," Wen Ruohan tells Jiang Fengmian, asking him instead of his incendiary wife who would no doubt be tediously emotional about whatever happened.
"I was taking a walk outside in your magnificent peony garden when I saw my daughter with my son, walking along with the second Lan heir and Wei WuXian. Since I believed the latter to be the son of my former servant, I stopped to speak with them."
"Oh, really?" Madam Yu's tone drips with sarcasm. "Are you sure that's all it was?"
Wen Ruohan sighs. "And why do you think otherwise, Madam?"
"I heard him trying to get that child to come and visit Lotus Pier! As if any spawn of that Hellion would be welcome!" Madam Yu spews out, glaring at her husband first and then looking over to where Wei Ying is sitting, mostly hidden from her by Lan Qiren and now by Lan Zhan as he shifts in his seat. "And that other Lan brat had the nerve to bite me!" She holds up her now bandaged hand.
Wen Ruohan splutters and chokes back a laugh, preventing it from fully leaving his mouth.
"Let me get this straight," he says, after regaining control over himself. "You were upset when your husband extolled the virtues of YOUR home to a child, and somehow managed to upset the other child enough that he resorted to biting you?"
"That is correct from what my disciple informed me," Lan Qiren replies, when it looks like Madam Yu refuses to answer him.
"Hmm. And then what happened? Any direct witnesses?" Wen Ruohan looks over both sides, deciding to forego asking Jiang YanLi because she's still a minor, and instead, focusing on Lan Bobo, who has his hand raised as well. He nods at the young man, who is clearly nervous about addressing the Chief Cultivator in front of all these people. "Stand up and tell everyone what you saw."
