Chapter 4

A few of the Jun Family youngsters were following close behind. Realizing they had been spotted, they swaggered out into the open.

"We didn't mean to! We were just trying to shoot some birds, but our aim was off and we missed..."

Jun Qingshan wore a grim expression, not believing their excuses for a second.

At that moment, the leader, Jun Zelin, poked his head out, his gaze darting over Jun Jiuqi's family as he deliberately provoked them, "Fourth Uncle, are they that bunch of bumpkins from the sticks? Is that buck-toothed little brat supposed to be my so-called sister? She doesn't look like much, does she?"

Jun Jiuqi raised a delicate eyebrow and smiled.

"Jun Zelin!" Jun Qingshan rebuked angrily. "Is that any way to speak? Come over here and apologize to Jiujiu!"

Jun Zelin stiffened his neck. "I won't apologize! They are bumpkins! Why on earth did Grandfather insist on bringing them back?"

The others chimed in immediately as well.

"That's right! Look at them, fat as pigs! Such a little fatty, and still needing someone to carry her—aren't you ashamed?!"

"I bet they were just scared shitless by the Jun Family's grand display! Typical country folk who've never seen the world..."

...

Chapter 9: A Show of Force

"Jun Zechuan! Jun Zelin!"

Jun Qingshan's face darkened completely. He put down Chiyun and stepped forward to discipline them.

Jun Zechuan and Jun Zelin didn't take Jun Qingshan seriously in the slightest. Ignoring him altogether, they made ugly faces in Jun Jiuqi's direction, turned on their heels, and bolted!

The other children scattered in all directions as well, paying no heed to Jun Qingshan's shouted command to "stop right there."

Jun Qingshan's face was livid with anger. "Those little brats!"

Jun Jiuqi watched the scene unfold with complete indifference. Ever since she decided to return to the Jun Family, she had fully anticipated this kind of harassment.

"Jiujiu..."

Once his feet touched the ground, Chiyun stealthily crept up to Jun Jiuqi's side.

Jun Jiuqi lowered her gaze and glanced down.

She saw Chiyun wearing a sly expression as he shoved a small pebble into her hand, then assumed a gloating look of eager anticipation, waiting for a good show.

Without hesitation, Jun Jiuqi flicked her wrist. The moment the pebble touched her palm, she casually tossed it away.

The tiny pebble flew without stirring the slightest ripple of attention, unnoticed by anyone.

It flew straight toward Jun Zelin and struck the back of his knee.

And so, everyone present witnessed the following scene.

Jun Zelin, who was already running away, suddenly looked as though something had tripped him. His knees buckled, and he lunged straight forward.

At that exact moment, Jun Zechuan happened to be running right in front of Jun Zelin...

Jun Zelin crashed directly into Jun Zechuan's back, and the two of them tumbled into a tangled heap, looking utterly wretched.

Both Jun Zelin and Jun Zechuan were stunned by the sudden fall.

"Jun Zelin, are you walking blind or what?!"

Once they recovered their wits, Jun Zechuan pointed at Jun Zechuan and began cursing furiously.

"I didn't mean to, why are so angry... Can't I just apologize to you?" Jun Zelin muttered, feeling too guilty to argue back aggressively.

After all, because he had used Jun Zechuan as a human shield during the fall, he hadn't hurt himself too badly.

Jun Zechuan glared viciously at Jun Zelin, then climbed up from the ground, gritting his teeth.

He knew this wasn't the time for a fight.

Clearly, their plan today was to teach those country bumpkins a lesson, to let them know that the Jun Family threshold wasn't so easy to cross.

Just a moment ago, everything had been going smoothly. Who would have thought that he and Jun Zelin would end up tripping over each other right on their way back—and right in front of those very bumpkins, no less!

They had lost every shred of face.

Neither Jun Zelin nor Jun Zechuan wanted to stay and be laughed at by Jun Jiuqi's family. Once back on their feet, they scurried off in disgrace, completely stripped of their initial arrogance.

Jun Jiuqi and Chiyun watched the entire comedy play out with cheerful amusement.

As for the others, their expressions were rather indescribable.

Jun Qingfeng gave Jun Jiuqi a meaningful look, the corners of his mouth twitching upward involuntarily.

Had he not noticed Chiyun's little expression earlier, he might almost have thought that fall was a genuine accident.

His daughter certainly had clever methods.

That settled it—he no longer needed to worry about his daughter being bullied in the Jun Family.

Jun Qingshan tried to smooth things over with an awkward expression, "Third Brother, these little brats are too spoiled nowadays, especially Zechuan and Zelin... They're Big Brother's kids, I'll definitely make Big Brother teach them a lesson later!"

Jun Jiuqi rolled her eyes in speechlessness. Her fourth uncle was simply too straightforward.

What good did it do to run to the parents every time unruly kids caused trouble?

Since Jun Zelin and Jun Zechuan were the children of the current family head, who knew if their behavior today had been instigated by Jun Qingya in the first place?

Still, Jun Jiuqi knew she couldn't blame Jun Qingshan.

Jun Qingshan's mother was merely a concubine of Jun Ting, so he had very little say in the Jun Family. Jun Qingya's mother, on the other hand, was Jun Ting's legally wedded principal wife. As the eldest legitimate son and the one who had secured the position of family head, Jun Qingya towered over Jun Qingshan in the family hierarchy.

As for Jun Qingfeng, his background in the Jun Family carried a certain twist.

He had been born when Jun Ting was traveling away from home, the child of a jianghu woman who died in childbirth. Afterward, Jun Ting brought the infant Jun Qingfeng back to the Jun Family alone.

None of the other family members had ever laid eyes on Jun Qingfeng's mother, so growing up, Jun Qingfeng was constantly subjected to gossip about his origins and branded an "illegitimate son."

Unaware of Jun Jiuqi's expression, Jun Qingshan eagerly changed the subject. "Let's not dwell on that. We should go get settled in our quarters first. Big Brother has specially arranged a banquet tonight to welcome you back."

With that, Jun Qingshan led the group toward the direction of Changfeng Courtyard.

Changfeng Courtyard was the place where Jun Qingfeng had lived before leaving the Jun Family.

Steward He, who had come to receive them, noticed the route Jun Qingshan was taking. With a troubled expression on his face, he stepped forward to block their path. "Fourth Master, Third Master has been away from home for over a decade. As you should know, Changfeng Courtyard is currently occupied by the Second Young Miss, and she is unwilling to vacate it. Therefore, the Family Head has arranged for Third Master to stay in Yuelai Courtyard instead..."

"Yuelai Courtyard?" Jun Qingshan's brow furrowed deeply.

Yuelai Courtyard was where guests of the Jun Family were put up. While its conditions weren't terrible, arranging for Jun Qingfeng to stay there was nothing less than a blatant show of force.

"Fourth Master, Third Master is only staying in Yuelai Courtyard temporarily," Steward He emphasized with an ingratiating smile. "The Family Head said that the Old Family Head has always missed Third Master dearly, so the accommodations must not be sloppy in the least. It's just that the family couldn't free up a suitable courtyard all at once, which is why Third Master was assigned to Yuelai Courtyard."

His words sounded high-minded and grandiose, but his actual demeanor practically screamed, "Take it or leave it."

A fire raged in Jun Qingshan's chest, but he knew that Jun Qingya was dead set on humiliating Jun Qingfeng's family, and no other courtyard would magically become available in the Jun Family today.

"Third Brother..." Jun Qingshan didn't even know how to face Jun Qingfeng. The more he thought about it, the more bitter it tasted. Gritting his teeth, he made a decision. "Third Brother, why don't you all stay in my courtyard instead? I'm usually away at the martial arts academy and rarely come back anyway. Plus, my courtyard is quiet and very close to the garden. Jiuer and little Chiyun can go play in the garden often."

"Don't worry about it, there's no need for such trouble!" Jun Qingfeng laughed magnanimously, reaching out to pat Jun Qingshan's shoulder. "A place is just a place to sleep; Yuelai Courtyard is fine."

Jun Qingfeng didn't care at all about where he stayed. What he hadn't expected, however, was that even after becoming the family head, Jun Qingya was still just as petty-minded as ever.

Back in the day, when Jun Qingfeng was a rare genius among the younger generation of the Jun Family, Jun Qingya had already viewed him with deep wariness, tripping him up countless times both overtly and covertly.

Later on, when he was poisoned, Jun Qingya had been one of the primary suspects.

Standing quietly to one side, Steward He felt a twinge of disappointment at how quickly Jun Qingfeng had accepted reality.

He would have much preferred to see this Third Master flare up with anger and resentment.

Chapter 10: Leisurely Cottage

Everywhere is the same, eh?

A sneer crossed the steward's mind. Yuelai Courtyard was his territory, and he had plenty of ways to make life miserable for this family that the Family Head despised!

The Jun Family wasn't a place the Third Master could just walk away from whenever he pleased and return to whenever he liked!

Steward He had already conjured up countless ways to discipline Jun Qingfeng's family. In the span of a few moments, his mind was already picturing the Family Head praising his efficiency and promoting him to new heights within the Jun Family.

"Third Young Master, you've finally returned."

A voice shattered Steward He's pleasant daydream.

An old man in a green robe walked over. He had a square face, a goat-like beard, and a straight, upright posture that showed no signs of age.

"Chief Steward Xu, why are you here?"

The moment Steward He spotted the newcomer, he gave a start and hurried forward to greet him.

The man was Xu Hai, the head steward in attendance on Jun Ting. Having followed Jun Ting through the years, he had previously overseen all affairs of the entire Jun Family and remained Jun Ting's most trusted subordinate.

"I have come on the orders of the Old Family Head to check on things."

Xu Hai's gaze shifted, landing on Jun Qingfeng and his entourage.

Jun Qingfeng looked at the newcomer, his eyes flashing slightly.

Jun Qingfeng's upbringing in the Jun Family had not been pleasant, but in his memory, Uncle Hai had always been kind to him, even holding him and playing with him when he was little.When he left the Jun Family, Uncle Hai had always been the head steward of the household. Back when he had a falling out with his father, Uncle Hai had tried his utmost to dissuade him. It was safe to say that aside from his fourth brother, Jun Qingshan, Uncle Hai was the person he missed and thought of most often within the entire Jun Family. Xu Hai was somewhat emotional. "Third Young Master, you've finally returned." It was "Third Young Master," not "Third Master." Uncle Hai still regarded Jun Qingfeng as the little boy he used to carry on his shoulders. "Uncle Hai, it's been a long time." "Indeed. Fifteen years have passed. The Third Young Master has grown sturdier and a bit more tanned." Xu Hai's eyes grew slightly red. He looked toward Lv Xiuer at the side. "Is this Madam?" "Are these Jiuer Miss and the Young Master? Let this old servant have a look." "Jiuer, Chiyun, greet Grandpa Hai." "Hello, Grandpa Hai!" "Grandpa Hai!" The sight of the two children, one older and one younger, obediently calling him grandfather was simply enough to melt anyone's heart. "Good, good. This old servant has finally seen the Third Young Master's children, and my wish of so many years is finally fulfilled." Uncle Hai wiped his eyes. "Uncle Hai, why did you come at this time? Doesn't Father need you to look after him over there?" Jun Qingshan asked, puzzled. He had previously heard Steward He mention that the Elder Master was in poor health and needed absolute rest, and that no one should disturb him during this period. "This old servant came precisely on the Family Master's orders. The Leisurely Cottage beside Gusong Hall is currently vacant, and the Family Master has already ordered people to tidy and prepare it. Third Young Master, you should move in there with Madam and the children." As soon as these words were spoken, both Jun Qingshan and Steward He beside them were stunned. Although the Leisurely Cottage was not large, it was the closest residence to Gusong Hall. Furthermore, its courtyard was landscaped with serene elegance, having been personally arranged by Jun Ting himself. Back then, the mother of Jun Qingya and Jun Qingbo—the former First Madam—had asked to move into the Leisurely Cottage on several occasions, but Jun Ting had never relented. Over the years, everyone in the Jun Family had realized that the Leisurely Cottage held a special place in Jun Ting's heart. Though they could not understand why he cared so much for an empty courtyard, no one dared to ask too many questions. Yet, a place with such special meaning in the Jun Family was ultimately given to Jun Qingfeng to live in... The expression on Steward He's face instantly turned as if he had swallowed a fly. The Elder Master's arrangement was practically a direct slap to the Family Master's face. As a lowly steward, he could only obediently follow orders, though he deeply regretted losing such a golden opportunity. "That's wonderful! To think Father had already made arrangements!" Jun Qingshan nearly burst out laughing. Seeing his eldest brother get the upper hand swept away all the stifled frustration he had been harboring. In truth, Jun Qingfeng was not all that willing to live in the Leisurely Cottage. His relationship with his father had been at a standstill for over a decade; living so close wouldn't that mean bumping into each other constantly? Sensing Jun Qingfeng's hesitation, Uncle Hai said, "Third Young Master, the Leisurely Cottage has already been fully prepared and is ready for immediate occupancy. This old servant will lead you and Madam over to rest." Knowing he could not refuse, Jun Qingfeng had no choice but to agree to stay at the Leisurely Cottage. Beaming with joy and completely ignoring Steward He, Uncle Hai led Jun Qingfeng's family away. *** Jun Qingfeng's family settled into the Leisurely Cottage. As expected, the environment here was serene and elegant, with a lake just outside where a gentle breeze blew and ripples danced across the water. The lake water was so clear that fish could faintly be seen swimming beneath the surface. Gusong Hall lay just to the east, separated from the Leisurely Cottage by a single wall. That evening, Jun Qingya hosted a banquet to welcome Jun Qingfeng back and wash away the dust of his journey. The venue was set in the Banquet Hall, and he made a grand spectacle of inviting everyone in the Jun Family, even alarming the Elders' Hall. As for the younger generation, not a single one was allowed to be absent; everyone had to attend. In the evening, Lv Xiuer dressed up Jun Jiuqi and Chiyun. "There, come let Mother have a look." Tonight, Jun Jiuqi was wearing a cherry-pink jacket, her neck encircled by a ring of snow-white fox fur that made her delicate and pretty little face look like carved jade, exuding an indescribable aura of nobility. Chiyun beside her had also been changed into aqua-blue garments, looking adorable and tiger-cub cute. "Our Jiujiu is so pretty." Lv Xiuer could not help exclaiming in admiration as she looked at Jun Jiuqi before her. Their little Jiujiu was indeed blessed with breathtaking looks. In the past, they lacked the conditions, and she wore coarse, old clothes every day yet still managed to capture everyone's gaze. Now, with a little dressing up, she looked unimaginably stunning. That temperament and appearance seemed to surpass even the young masters and misses of the mystic clans. Perhaps it was simply because she was her own child, but Lv Xiuer just felt that her daughter was the prettiest—prettier than any other child. To be so exquisite at such a tender age, there was no telling how breathtaking she would become when she grew up. "Alright, you two wait here. Once Mother changes her clothes, we'll go to the banquet." Jun Jiuqi waved at her mother. "Mother, dress a bit prettier..." Chiyun imitated her and waved his hand as well. "Prettier, what are you saying, child?" Lv Xiuer smiled and went into the inner chamber. "Jiujiu, wearing so many clothes is really uncomfortable." Chiyun fiddled with the layers upon layers of garments on his body, looking thoroughly awkward. He much preferred wearing nothing at all—that was much more comfortable. Jun Jiuqi put on a straight face and reminded him, "You must remember, you are a human now, not a spirit beast. Also, during our time in the Jun Family, you must properly conceal your identity, understand?" Jun Jiuqi did not yet plan to expose Chiyun's identity. Ordinary spirit beasts required at least five thousand years to take on human form, yet Chiyun had successfully transformed at a mere three thousand years of age. Perhaps it was because he possessed the bloodline of the Qiu Niu divine beast, making him more powerful than ordinary spirit beasts, that he was able to transform so early. Chiyun was Jun Jiuqi's trump card; she would not expose him to others unless absolutely necessary. Fortunately, Jun Jiuqi had once practiced the "Breath-Shifting Technique," which could alter the aura of humans or spirit beasts. However, because her current strength was vastly diminished, any powerhouse above the Ninth Rank would be able to see through her little trick. Jun Jiuqi had previously inquired with Jun Qingshan that there were no powerhouses above the Ninth Rank in Liucheng. The highest was merely an Eighth Rank, and that person was the head of the Tang Family. This also bought Jun Jiuqi time to retrieve her scattered physical bodies from various locations as quickly as possible. Once she did, her strength would recover somewhat, giving her a greater grasp on handling whatever lay ahead. While pondering these matters, Jun Jiuqi held Curly in her arms, her hand stroking its back in a rhythmic motion. Ever since returning that day, Curly had been in a deep sleep, seeming utterly exhausted. She had no idea where the little fellow had run off to during those days when he was away... Jun Jiuqi sighed. This unhomely little thing—it seemed she couldn't let it run around freely anymore. After all, this place was different from their past days in Sijia Village. While Jun Jiuqi was lost in thought, Chiyun, sitting beside her, stared fixedly at Curly in her arms. Why was Jiujiu paying so much attention to this dirty little smelly thing picked up from goodness knows where? So what if its fur was a bit soft, its paws a bit pink, and its eyes a bit big and round... was there any need to make such a fuss? Feeling somewhat jealous, Chiyun scooted closer with a wiggle of his bottom, thrusting his dark head forward and blinking cutely at Jiujiu with an expression that practically screamed: "Come pet me!" Jun Jiuqi gave Chiyun's head a very perfunctory pat, her mind occupied with when she could acquire some medicinal herbs to refine an antidote and cure the poison in her father's body as soon as possible. After all, the longer the poison lingered, the greater the toll on his health. Chiyun rubbed his head against Jun Jiuqi to act spoiled, while quietly raising his chubby little leg beneath her gaze. With a single kick, he landed square on Curly's bottom! Slap! The dozing Curly was nearly kicked flying, but fortunately, Jun Jiuqi instinctively scooped him back into her arms. He didn't wake up. Curly merely shifted his little body, tilted his head, and fell sound asleep once again. Jun Jiuqi glanced at Chiyun, who instantly put on an obedient and innocent expression, indicating that he was definitely not doing it on purpose. Ignoring him, Jun Jiuqi returned to her serious thoughts. Chiyun gnashed his teeth in hatred as he glared at Curly in Jun Jiuqi's arms. He would absolutely not allow this little thing to hog Jiujiu's embrace! Feigning innocence, Chiyun nudged forward with his head, wrapped his lotus-root-like arms around Jiujiu's neck, and then gave a mighty shove with his bottom! Boom! Curly was squeezed right out of Jun Jiuqi's arms by Chiyun. His tiny body traced a graceful arc through the air before landing flat on the ground with a resounding "thud." At this, Curly finally woke up. Having expended a great deal of energy from traveling too far away previously, Mo Xiao had spent the past few days recovering his stamina through heavy sleeping. Never had he expected to be jolted awake in his slumber by a violent impact. When he opened his eyes, his head had bumped against the floor, and a lump seemed to have formed. Stretching out his paws to scramble on the ground, Mo Xiao finally snapped fully awake. When Mo Xiao saw the little brat's arms and the little imp currently looking at him with a smug expression—combining his current disheveled state with the hazy sensation of having been struck... He had roughly guessed the cause of the matter. Heh. Very well. A tiger in distress gets bullied by dogs. It was one thing for him, a dignified Emperor Lord, to be bullied by an unrefined little girl, but now even a stupid ox dared to climb onto his head?