Chapter 23: Let Me Teach You How to Be a Decent Person

"Who let her out?! Didn't I say she was not to leave the residence?" Baili Yuan questioned the servants sternly.

"Madam, didn't you say it would start from tomorrow?"

Baili Yuan fell silent.

...

At this moment, Ji Yin had already taken Shuang'er and hurried to the most renowned restaurant in the Chiyu Imperial Capital—Hundred Flavors Pavilion.

The place was so popular that there was a queue every day. Only the wealthy and powerful could afford to dine here.

"Young Master Ji Qi, please wait a moment. There’s a line inside," the attendant informed them.

"How long will it take?" Ji Yin peered inside, immediately noticing the throng of people.

"Well... I’m not quite sure. Business is especially brisk today, and there are even more guests than usual. I’m afraid you’ll have to wait, Young Master."

"Young Master, why don’t we try somewhere else?" Shuang'er suggested.

"I’m starving. Let’s wait a bit longer."

Upstairs, behind a screen, a figure emerged, idly turning a white jade pendant in his hand as he gazed down at the bustling crowd below. Suddenly, his eyes landed on Ji Yin amid the throng, and his gaze instantly sharpened with venom.

So it’s true—enemies are bound to cross paths. No matter where I go, I run into that useless Ji Yin.

"Chu Ming, what are you looking at?" came a playful young woman’s voice.

She was a girl of thirteen or fourteen, her dress a soft, goose-yellow gauze.

"Ninth Princess, pay her no mind. Please, have some more," Chu Yu said, eagerly serving the princess more food.

"The flavors here are quite good—just as fine as those in the palace."

"If the Ninth Princess enjoys it, I’ll bring you here often in the future."

"That would be too much trouble for you. My mother, the Empress Dowager, isn’t keen on me leaving the palace so often."

"Her Majesty only worries for your safety outside the palace. With me here to protect you, she can be at ease."

Chu Ming continued to watch Ji Yin below, a strange satisfaction swelling in his chest as he recalled Ji Yin’s recent humiliation. Suddenly, he shouted down, "Who’s that? Isn’t that the useless one from the Ji family?"

Ji Yin looked up at the second floor. "Oh! Shuang’er, look, isn’t that the pig that pulls the palace carriage?"

At those words, laughter erupted all around them.

Chu Ming’s face turned the color of pig’s liver. "Ji Yin, looks like you’ll have to wait in line for ages! Come on, let me treat you!"

"I don’t eat pig slop. You go ahead and enjoy it yourself."

Chu Ming was nearly apoplectic with rage. He grabbed a steamed bun and hurled it in Ji Yin’s direction.

The bun struck Ji Yin on the shoulder, leaving a greasy stain.

"Isn’t there a saying about throwing meat buns at dogs and never getting them back? I don’t want this bun, so consider it a reward!"

Ji Yin looked at the bun on the ground, picked it up, and flung it at Chu Ming’s face with all her strength.

"Ah!" Chu Ming screamed.

That wasn’t just a bun—it felt like a rock, hard as iron!

Unable to keep his balance, Chu Ming staggered backward, knocking over the screen, which then crashed into the table. The Ninth Princess was so startled her face went pale, and the entire table of dishes was ruined.

Chu Yu reacted swiftly, pulling the Ninth Princess to safety, his eyes flashing with murderous intent as he looked toward Ji Yin.

He knew no one from the Ji family would arrive in time. Today, he would make sure Ji Yin learned a lesson.

Offending the Ninth Princess was the perfect excuse. With a single leap, Chu Yu landed in front of Ji Y