It takes three days and nights for all those involved in the destruction of the Yin Iron pieces to make a full recovery. Except for two small bodies.
An investigation is launched into the conduct of Wen Zhang, and the resulting information uncovered leaves Lan Qiren speechless.
They found out that Wen Zhang had taken control of their prisoner a while back, way before the last day of the Cultivation conference when he was caught outside the Mingshi. Wen Zhang had been administering a highly addictive drug straight into his bloodstream, first with smaller doses, just to get him dependent on it, and then later attaching a small device to his neck that let him be dosed automatically at even intervals. He only started losing his sanity when the drug ran out. It was Healer Fei who discovered the device, and by that time, the drug was already being flushed out of his system.
That's when the young man begged forgiveness and told them everything. He said that Wen Zhang had snuck into Cloud Recesses a few days before Lan Qiren had activated the lock down, by hiding in the carts that brought grain and other supplies into the kitchens, correctly guessing that the Lans would implement safety measures.
He also told them that as Head Disciple, it was easy for him to organise searching the rooms of the main family and the Lan guest quarters, because not only was Wen Zhang against this new direction that Wen Tang Changpu was determined to lead her people towards, but he had paid far more attention to Wen Ruohan when it mattered, secretly learning whatever he could about his master's intentions and openly supporting him. Wen Zhang went as far as to sow discord among those who were loyal to Wen Tang Changpu, urging them to rethink where and what their expectations were about the Wen Clan and its future. Prior to his attack on the array and his planned disturbance, Wen Zhang was also central to instigating an outright coup, something that greatly upset Wen Tang Changpu.
She's sitting in Lan Qiren's office now, calmly drinking tea that she's poured out for both of them.
"Not that I want to see any hysteria, but may I ask why you are taking the news so well? I would have thought you'd be more upset," Lan Qiren asks her, with much surprise.
She taps the side of her cup thoughtfully, her nail making a chink-chink sound.
"I'm thinking about stepping down from being the leader," she admits, still in a tranquil voice.
"WHAT?" Lan Qiren nearly drops his cup, and she snickers.
"I didn't mean to startle you." Her smile says otherwise. "I should explain myself."
"Please." Lan Qiren tries not to look annoyed.
"I can hear your thoughts, A-Ren. You're not being subtle in the slightest with all that glaring. Just hear me out." She waits for him to nod. "I can see you comparing us both, and you shouldn't. I know neither of us wants the job of being a leader, and we're lumbered with it, but the difference between the two of us is that the GusuLan Clan is still highly respected. You have a legacy of musical cultivation to teach new disciples, while the Wen speciality depends on a bloodline used to manipulate fire. It's not exactly a teachable skill, more hereditary. That's strike one against the Wens. Secondly, my dearest brother all but killed any goodwill we might have received by terrorising the city itself and its inhabitants, and by creating the fierce corpses with the intention of making an army solely to defeat the other clans, well, suffice to say, we're not going to win many popularity contests anytime soon.
"On top of all that, you know my interests have always been towards saving lives. I still find it fascinating that some of the plants we take for granted, even going so far as to plant them in our gardens, are more lethal to humans than a hired assassin. My husband also hates the fact that my new job kept me away from his side, and frankly, I miss my kids. I'm not going to get this time with them again, and I already feel cheated with A-Qing, not really being eight years old. But then I have to remind myself that if your A-Ying had never created the time-travel array in the first place, I'd be dead, along with my dear husband, and I still wouldn't get to live my life as it is right now. So there are plenty of blessings to count." She pours more tea for both of them.
