Chapter 11: Little One, In Need of Discipline

Xuan Yuanji shook his head lightly.

The Ji family had spared no effort to protect Ji Yin’s identity; if this truth were ever discovered by him…

No wonder she was so unruly. The entire Ji family indulged this little one far too much. In his eyes, she was sorely lacking in discipline!

Looking up wordlessly, he happened to catch the faint upward curve of his young master’s lips.

Why was the young master smiling? Was it because of that most incorrigible little young master of the Ji family?

And why hadn’t he mentioned to the Ji family that young master Ji had been here? That would at least allow Ji Yun a chance to properly discipline that little troublemaker!

…

Ji Yin sat in her chair, surrounded by a lively group of people.

“It’s all third brother’s fault, I completely forgot about you.”

“Come, let sixth brother have a look at you.”

“Third brother, you really are something. Just as bad-tempered as Father—always the one to lock little Seven in the dark room.”

“Fifth brother, you’re blaming me unfairly. It was Father who…”

Ji Yun sat off to the side, barely containing his simmering anger. All six sons were so well-behaved, yet this daughter, who ought to have been the most worry-free, was instead fearless and reckless, stirring up trouble wherever she went!

“Little Seven, are you hungry? Mother will have something brought for you to eat.” Bai Li Yuan reached out to stroke Ji Yin’s head.

Ji Yin instinctively dodged; she was still unaccustomed to such intimate contact.

Back on the star of Liu Sha, she had been abandoned by her own parents at birth because of an omen in the heavens.

“Must you all indulge her until she’s utterly lawless? It was merely a night in the dark room, just one missed meal—could that possibly ruin her?” Ji Yun could stand it no longer. He stood up and pushed the people crowding around Ji Yin aside.

“You!” Ji Yun pointed at Ji Yin. “You actually dared to enter a brothel, to compete with those good-for-nothing young men for the title of Queen of the Flowers! And you rode a pig all over town! You’ve completely disgraced me!”

Ji Yin: …

Bai Li Yuan promptly shoved Ji Yun aside. “You’re scaring little Seven!” She took Ji Yin by the hand and led her away. “Come, little Seven, have your meal first. Look at you, all dirty—later Shuang’er will help you bathe and change. Go to bed early and rest.”

Ji Yin sat at the table, gazing at the delicious dishes laid out before her, her stomach grumbling audibly.

“Here, have a drumstick!”

“No, no, she’s been hungry for so long—let her have some soup to warm her stomach first.”

“Try some velvet antler.”

“Little Seven loves this dish best.”

Staring at the mountain of food before her, Ji Yin felt a strange sensation stirring in her heart. She lifted her eyes to take in each face around her, finally resting her gaze on Bai Li Yuan. Was this what a mother’s warmth felt like? Her hand was so soft and warm.

Looking at Ji Yin, Bai Li Yuan’s eyes filled with pain. She turned and thumped her husband again. “That’s what you get for being so fierce! Now little Seven is too scared to eat!”

Ji Yun: …

Bai Li Yuan quickly moved to Ji Yin’s side and picked up a bowl. “Come now, be good and let Mother feed you.”

Ji Yin lowered her head and took a sip of soup.

“Is it good?” Bai Li Yuan gently stroked her head.

This time, Ji Yin did not pull away.

“It’s delicious!” Ji Yin took the bowl and drank the whole thing in one go.

“Here, here, little Seven, eat this!”

“Try a bit of this!”

Ji Yin accepted every morsel that was offered, until she was so full she very nearly made herself sick.

“Madam, it’s getting late. Let’s return and rest. I have court early in the morning—let Shuang’er take good care of her,” Ji Yun said, his patience nearly spent.

“Master, Madam, young masters, rest assured, Shuang’er will look after seventh young mistress,” Shuang’er immediately stepped forward and curtsied.

If they fed her any more, she truly feared her mistress might burst!