This is terrible.  Why can't everyone just talk without needing to draw their swords.  

That's a fantastic question. The answer is probably that Wen Chao is very stupid.

She puts an arm out, pulling Wen Ning behind her.

He goes, a little dizzily. His head hurts enough to be distracting, but he remains pretty sure that this is exactly what happened - what, three years ago? He doesn't remember precisely how long, but he's sure about the memory. No one got hurt, so Wen Ning doesn't have to feel bad about huddling behind his sister.

He is not drawing his sword, because the Cloud Recesses are burning and bleeding all around him and if he draws Bichen then he knows he's going to kill someone with it.

Stay calm, stay calm, no one gets hurt. Control yourself.

(Wei Ying is using his sword. It hurts as much as it's a relief. Here it's so easy, so natural for him, not even a question of whether it should fly to his hand. Wangji doesn't know what went wrong. Wangji doesn't know how he failed to convince Wei Ying to go back to Suibian, when he had once held it as naturally as breathing.)

Deep Sigh.

Xichen twirls his xiao in his grip and puts it to his lips. Eyes still peacefully shut, he begins to play. His playing is very powerful; he's very powerful. All the drawn swords begin to quiver and twitch, following the suggestion of Xichen's music instead of the spiritual power of their own owners. 

The swords all plunge upwards at once and soar into the air.

Wow.

The music is really nice. He feels a lot more solid than he did a moment ago.

The swords turn in the air and plunge back to the ground abruptly, digging themselves upright into the wooden floor. Wen Chao has to hop back slightly to dodge his.

It is amazing how gracefully Lan Xichen managed to take control of the entire room.  He's hardly going to draw attention by applauding.  Meng Yao is right within whisper distance, though. 

"Lan Xichen sure does deserve his excellent reputation." 

He has wanted very few things as much as he wants that man and everything he embodies.

Lan Xichen finishes playing.

He walks very slowly down from the dais once again, and stands before Wen Chao. He's extremely calm, radiating unhurried composure as he faces him down. He smiles slightly, eyes cool.

"Young Master Wen," he says, pleasant but very firm. "Today is the Ceremony Day of Cloud Recesses. I hope you can restrain yourself."

Wen Chao has the distinct look of someone who is not going to restrain himself, but Wen Qing intervenes before he can do more than scowl.

Wen Qing bows properly to Lan Xichen, and then to Lan Qiren. She introduces herself and her brother. "We are new to Gusu, and not yet familiar with the rules of your clan. We hope that Grand Master and Clan Leader Lan can forgive us."

For all that he doesn't trust any of them, Xichen immediately likes her. Someone else willing and able to diffuse the situation; there aren't many of those in the room. And she's smart about it, giving him the opening to forgive her and her brother who have clearly done no wrong, without exonerating Wen Chao and his disrespect.

A tribute gift is offered from one of the soldiers in a large, mahogany box. Xichen looks at it and hesitates.

Behind him, his uncle rises to his feet. "If what she says is true," says Lan Qiren slowly, "Then we will accept it."

Xichen takes the box from Wen Qing. He informs Wen Chao that the Saluting Ceremony is over. Wen Chao should go rest. Please be on time to attend the lecture in the morning.

He scoffs but says nothing. He yanks his sword up from the ground and sheathes it before turning on his heal. The other Wens all file out after him.

"Young Master Jiang, I apologize for that interruption. You may continue presenting your tribute, if you wish."

He still mostly remembers the speech, and can offer his tribute.

It will be accepted, and then the ceremony will actually end.

The lecture will begin at eight tomorrow morning, everyone please be on time. All the students are dismissed.

"Wow. That was a lot more exciting than I'd expected! Why do you think the Wens are here so suddenly, Jiang Cheng?"

Looking for Yin Iron.  Though, he can't actually say that.  

"Spying, probably," he says instead.

There is something unifying about having Wen Chao around as a mutual subject of hatred.  That, and he's fairly certain at this point that Wei Wuxian is not responsible for whatever happened.  He used his sword.  Jiang Cheng isn't sure why the Wei Wuxian of the future stopped, but it had been a major symptom of whatever was going wrong with him.  As long as he doesn't pick up any flutes...

His brother is alive.

His brother is alive! Here he is, slinging an arm over his shoulder.

"What do you think they're spying on? I bet we can beat them to it, if we try. Nie-xiong, what do you think?" He flaps his hand conspiratorially at Bird Boy.

"Oh, maybe.  I wouldn't know where to start looking."

He'd never learned the exact location of the Yin Iron, only the understanding that it had been found somewhere in the Cloud Recesses.  There were also some obscure books which ought to be hunted down and removed somewhere around here.  

They can start filtering out of the room with all the other disciples, out into the courtyard. "Well, we have to start now. The Wens have the advantage, since they already know what information they're looking for. How unfair. Maybe we should ask - oh, Ji-xiong! Wangji-xiong! Over here!"

He was trying to make a quiet and dignified escape through the courtyard.

He is now forced to take a break from escaping and instead stare at Wei Ying as though he'd just gutted him with a knife.

But he's acknowledging him! That's very encouraging!

"Ji-xiong, we were just going to go try and out-spy the Wen disciples, since we think they're probably spies. You know Cloud Recesses best, do you want to help? What do you think they might be spying for?"