This courtyard had evidently long since become lodging for the servants of the official residence. Several rooms held communal sleeping platforms. Only the room Ji Yuan had once borrowed was locked up—perhaps because of Ji Yuan, perhaps for some other unknown reason—and it had remained locked for seven and a half years.
At this moment, when they saw Ji Yuan open the door and emerge, all the residence servants playing and watching chess outside turned to look at him.
"Why is there someone in that room?" "No way, hasn't that room been locked for years?"
"I heard it's been locked for seven years. Could it be a ghost?"
"Come on, where would a ghost come from in broad daylight? Don't talk nonsense!"
After whispering among themselves for a few moments, one of the servants finally stepped forward to speak.
"Who are you? How did you come out of that room? This is an official residence belonging to Lord Li, the Minister of Rites. Outsiders who trespass will be convicted!"
Ji Yuan looked at the seven servants in the courtyard. They were all unfamiliar faces, but seeing their nervous expressions, he still smiled and explained.
"My surname is Ji. I once stayed in that room. If Lord Li returns, please trouble yourselves to pass on a message: Ji has left."
After speaking, Ji Yuan stepped out of the room. Once he had turned back and shut the door, he nodded to the stunned crowd and left the small courtyard. In one corner of the yard, the damaged courtyard wall had finally been repaired.
"Hey, wait! You can't just leave like that! Hey, did you hear me?"
Someone shouted after him, but Ji Yuan did not slow his pace. By the time those servants chased out of the courtyard, Ji Yuan was