Chapter 10: This Grudge, I Fear, Must Be Added to the List Once More

A soundless message was conveyed.

"Young Master, it's someone from the Ji family. They've realized the young master is missing and have tracked him here."

...

An incense stick's time earlier.

Ji Yun was holding his lovely wife in his arms, murmuring sweet nothings. "Yuan'er, you worked hard today, entertaining Lord Ji. Thank you."

"My dear Ji, I can't help but feel like something's missing," Bai Li Yuan leaned against her husband's chest, her delicate brows slightly knitted. Once the most beautiful woman in Chiyu, even after bearing seven children, her youthful bloom was gone, yet her beauty remained breathtaking and undiminished.

"Missing something? Are you lacking a bit of my affection?"

"Wasn't there someone absent from the banquet today?"

"Don't think about it anymore, it's late. Time to rest." Ji Yun scooped his delicate wife into his arms and walked towards the gauzy bed curtains.

"Xiao Qi!" Bai Li Yuan suddenly remembered. "Xiao Qi is still locked up and hasn't even had dinner!"

Ji Yun was momentarily stunned as well.

It was as if the entire Ji family shared a tacit understanding, for they all gathered at the door of the dark room at once. Collectively, they had forgotten about Ji Yin, who had been locked behind the secret door!

Of the six young masters, some had already gone to bed, not even bothering with their outer robes, but all looked towards the hidden chamber.

"Xiao Qi has been locked up so long, he must be starving!"

"Why has it been so quiet today? No shouting or fussing at all."

"Hurry and open the door!" Bai Li Yuan urged anxiously.

Ji Shaochen quickly went forward and unlocked the door, only to find the dark room empty.

"Xiao Qi!"

"Xiao Qi!"

"Where has he gone?"

"Shuang'er, has Xiao Qi returned to his own quarters?" Bai Li Yuan immediately questioned Ji Yin's maid.

"Madam, the seventh young master hasn't come back. I just came from his courtyard," the maid replied.

"It's so late, where could the child have gone?"

"Don't worry, madam, he probably just ran off to play and is hiding somewhere," Ji Yun said, gently comforting his wife with an arm around her shoulders.

"Then why aren't you sending people to look for him!"

"Lord Ji!" Ji Shaochen suddenly thought of someone.

"Xiao Qi is with Lord Ji?" Ji Shaohua was startled. She quickly accepted an outer robe from an attendant and slipped it on. "That little scoundrel better not have caused trouble for Lord Ji!"

...

Xuan Yuanji glanced at Ji Yin once more and suddenly hoisted her out of the bath, tossing her straight out the window.

Ji Yin: ...

Damn it! Her body flew out of her control, landing squarely in the largest tree of her own courtyard!

Hanging from the tree, Ji Yin was inwardly cursing fate.

Watching from the window, Xuan Yuanji's smile deepened.

This grudge, it seemed, would have to be tallied anew.

"Wuyan."

Wuyan appeared at once, walked over to the clothes rack, and took down Xuan Yuanji's ceremonial robes. As he helped Xuan Yuanji dress, he stole a glance at the bath.

A moment ago, he'd been outside and couldn't see what had happened. Now, surveying the chaos in the room, he was at a loss for words.

Xuan Yuanji walked to the door just as the Ji family arrived.

"Forgive us for disturbing you at this late hour," Ji Yun stepped forward, cupping his fists in salute to Xuan Yuanji. "We only just learned from my third son that the seventh child may have offended you earlier today. We came to apologize—my son is mischievous. I hope he hasn't disturbed you."

"He hasn't," Xuan Yuanji answered quietly.

Wuyan: ...He hasn't?

The Ji family collectively let out a sigh of relief. "That's good. We won't trouble you further. Good night."

"Master, madam, we've found the seventh young master!"

"Where is he?"

"I didn't see clearly at first, but... he's hanging from the big tree in his own courtyard."

Ji Yun managed an embarrassed smile, bowed again to Xuan Yuanji, and said, "My son is unruly. Please forgive us for the spectacle."

The Ji family hurriedly took their leave, rushing toward Ji Yin's courtyard.