At dinner time, Lan Qiren makes sure to put three tables together so that everyone can comfortably sit and eat together in the guest house where Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze live. He has a plan that involves talking to the children and needing them not to suspect anything beforehand. It isn't because he thinks they will lie to him since his mind immediately dismisses that as an option. He knows them too well for that. It is so that they can have an honest discussion because he suspects more to be going on than whatever he can see at surface level.
Once everyone finishes eating and the dishes are returned to the kitchens, and everyone is chatting casually about different things, he clears his throat loudly.
It has the required effect immediately. The room is suddenly so quiet that he can hear his own heart beating in his chest.
"Is there something wrong with the food you've been eating these past few days?" He asks nonchalantly, looking specifically at the children.
They shake their heads mutely and then make the mistake of glancing at one another guiltily. Lan Qiren looks up when Cangse Sanren snorts, unable to stop her own amusement. But he's not going to let them off so easily.
"It's just that yesterday, A-Yang had a bathroom break that seemed to take ages, and then Nie MingJue and Wen Qing, you both had to use the bathroom today for a long while. Isn't that right?" Lan Qiren continues, in his most serious tone.
All three nod quietly.
"But what I find interesting is that A-Ying also needed to go, and he took a long time, AND he got lost."
No one says anything.
"A-Ying, who knows exactly where the bathroom is. A-Ying, who knows his way around Cloud Recesses by now...got lost."
The silence is deep, heavy, and incriminating.
"Do you think I'm stupid? Or incompetent? Or blind?"
Protests ring out immediately from all the shocked kids, and Lan Huan rises to throw his arms around Lan Qiren's neck. All of them look guilty, even Xue Yang, who won't make eye contact.
"So if I'm none of those things, then I want an explanation."
They all start talking so loudly that Lan Qiren has to hold his hands up after extricating himself from his nephew, who was impersonating an octopus.
"A-Huan. Start talking. Only A-Huan." Lan Qiren clarifies.
So the truth comes out, and the children's plan is exposed.
When it gets to the part of Wei Ying's rescue attempt, Lan Qiren understands everything.
"While it's commendable that you thrive by thinking on your feet," he tells Wei Ying, "you do realise that you could have caused a huge argument, and given that it was Meishan Yu sect's guest quarters you were searching, it would have escalated into a Diplomatic disaster the likes of which haven't been seen since Jin GuangShan became Sect Leader and had an org-, ahem, party, had you been discovered? From now on, none of you are to attempt acting out like this!"
"We only wanted to help," Wei Ying says in a small voice.
"I understand that," Lan Qiren gently says, "and you got away with it today. But tomorrow, you might not be so lucky. Or the next day. And I cannot in good conscience, let you continue with this foolish plan. Besides, do you think us adults have been twiddling our thumbs while you've been putting yourselves in danger? No. We have a solid plan in place to catch the traitor, and by the time the conference comes to an end, we will have caught them. You must trust in us."
"Yes, Shifu," they chorus, thoroughly chastised.
"I want more details," Cangse Sanren pipes up, staring at her son with a knowing smile.
