You Stole My Husband, So I Seduced Your Son - Chapter 11

The girl was thin and pale, her face bearing the sickly pallor of someone who had endured hardship on her journey to the Capital.

When Prince Guangyang took his own life, Min Rongxue was already pregnant with her second child. This child, born posthumously in her father’s ancestral home, was premature and had always been frail.

Though the girl appeared timid, her demeanor was surprisingly poised and graceful.

Hearing Eldest Madam Min’s question, she stepped forward obediently and curtsied. “Greetings, Aunt.”

She then bowed to the two young ladies flanking Eldest Madam Min. “Greetings, Elder Cousins.”

Seeing the girl in her simple pale blue dress, without even a silver hairpin to adorn her hair, Eldest Madam Min felt a pang of pity. But she quickly scolded herself for being soft-hearted and suppressed her compassion.

She looked at Ji Liyue with maternal affection and smiled. “Good child, this is your Elder Cousin Min Shunyun, and this is your Second Cousin Min Zhitao. It’s rare for cousins to meet, so go play together. I need to have a private word with your mother.”

She doesn’t even plan to give a greeting gift!

Min Rongxue turned away with a mocking smile, gracefully inviting Eldest Madam Min inside for tea.

By the third cup, Eldest Madam Min realized Min Rongxue wanted her to leave. She had no intention of staying for dinner anyway.

However, she still needed to clarify the matter of the children’s marriage arrangements to prevent Min Rongxue from harboring unrealistic fantasies.

“Shunyun has a natural affinity with you,” Eldest Madam Min said. “Why not let her stay and keep Liyue company?”

Years ago, Eldest Master Min had been invited to Prince Guangyang’s Residence for drinks. He stayed the night in a drunken stupor, and three months later, Min Rongxue’s personal maid arrived at their doorstep, her belly swollen with child.

When Eldest Madam Min learned of this, she nearly fainted from shock. How could a sister offer her own brother’s bed to another woman?

If she hadn’t already had two legitimate sons at the time, making the addition of an illegitimate son insignificant, she would never have tolerated Shunyun’s mother.

Fortunately, Eldest Master Min retained some sense and never showed particular favor toward Shunyun’s mother. The woman, in turn, wisely gave birth to a daughter and, even more wisely, left the household immediately after the child’s birth.

Otherwise, Eldest Madam Min would never have treated Shunyun as her own daughter all these years.

Since Min Rongxue wanted to forge a marriage alliance between their families, she might as well let Shunyun stay and become her daughter-in-law. With her own former personal maid as her future mother-in-law, that would truly be a marriage of close ties.

Min Rongxue could no longer maintain her composed facade, her brow furrowing in displeasure.

Over the years, countless matchmakers had come to her door, but even as commoners, she and Prince Guangyang’s son were not suitable matches for just anyone.

This Shunyun was merely the daughter of a lowly maid—a maid who had secretly climbed into her master’s bed, no less. Her character was base and contemptible; how could she possibly be worthy of her exceptional son?

Min Zhitao, as a direct descendant of the Min Family, was at least not a disgrace to Ji Moyang’s status.

“I find Zhitao quite pleasing,” Min Rongxue said. “She seems to get along well with Liyue. Why not have her stay with me for a few days?”

Dream on!

Eldest Madam Min was so furious she wanted to smash her teacup in Min Rongxue’s face. She regretted not storming Prince Guangyang’s Residence years ago to berate Min Rongxue, which had led to years of resentment.

Now that Min Rongxue was no longer a royal consort, she still dared to try to manipulate her. It was truly laughable.

“Zhitao is already betrothed to my cousin’s son,” Eldest Madam Min replied. “It wouldn’t be proper for her to stay out overnight.”

“Is that so?”

Min Rongxue felt no regret. Her son deserved better, and Eldest Madam Min would have plenty of time to regret her decision later.

There was no point in continuing the conversation. Eldest Madam Min signaled for her attendants to escort the two young ladies back to the Min Family estate.

Meanwhile, at the Zhou Residence on Academy Lane, Song Xuwan instructed Baizhi, “Make sure Master returns home early today.”

If Zhou Minghai went to the Flowing Cloud Annex and saw Eldest Madam Min’s carriage broken down, he might offer her his own. That would ruin her carefully laid plans.

Today, no matter what, I must keep Eldest Madam Min and her family at the Annex.

By the time Zhou Minghai was reluctantly escorted home, Song Xuwan was waiting for him with a smile, holding the account books.

“Master, I’ve noticed you’ve withdrawn a considerable sum from the accounts this month, yet I haven’t seen you bring anything back.”

The usually blustering Zhou Minghai deflated instantly, nervously explaining, “A colleague passed away from illness, and his family had to return to their hometown for mourning. I felt so sorry for them that I sent 200 taels as a funeral gift.”

Song Xuwan nodded, signaling him to continue fabricating.

As expected, Zhou Minghai’s imagination kicked into high gear. “The Autumn Provincial Exam is approaching, and a fellow graduate asked me to look after his son. I sent 80 taels to the boy and have been taking him around the Capital to broaden his horizons, which is why I’ve been returning late.”

“The other day, I bought a jade fan pendant for 10 taels, but I accidentally dropped and broke it before I even got home…”

If Song Xuwan hadn’t known the true destination of this money, she would never have imagined Zhou Minghai capable of such elaborate lies. Truly, you can know a person’s face but never their heart.

“Even though the fan pendant is broken, Husband, please don’t throw it away. If you polish it, we can make earrings or something for Ningning.”

Under Song Xuwan’s unwavering gaze, Zhou Minghai’s forehead broke into a cold sweat, terrified she might suspect something.

“Madam is right. I didn’t throw it away. It’s in the study. I’ll go get it now.”

“Send a servant.”

“The servants wouldn’t know where it is. I’d better go myself.”

Zhou Minghai fled to the study, rummaging through drawers and cabinets until he finally found a jade fan pendant. He steeled himself to smash it, but then hesitated. If he broke it too finely, there wouldn’t be enough material for earrings.

After studying it for a while, he found the perfect angle and carefully shattered the jade into two nearly equal halves. Only then did he confidently hand the pieces to Song Xuwan.

Song Xuwan held them up, smiling for a long time. “This pendant broke so perfectly—just right for a pair of earrings!”

“Husband, don’t be upset. Just think of it as spending ten taels to buy Ningning a pair of earrings.”

“Madam is absolutely right.”

Zhou Minghai’s back was already drenched in sweat from fear.

When he collapsed back into his study, he had already forgotten that the Flowing Cloud Annex even existed.

After dinner, Song Xuwan excitedly instructed Baizhi, “We’ll go to Fuyun Temple tomorrow and see how Ji Moyang’s scandal has spread.”

“Madam, the situation is… not good.”

Seeing Baizhi’s expression, Song Xuwan knew something was wrong.

“Did the people at the Annex fail to damage the carriage?”

“They did damage it, but Eldest Madam Min insisted on walking home.”

“What?!”

Song Xuwan jumped up in shock, then collapsed heavily back onto the soft couch.

This Eldest Madam Min is a ruthless woman! The Annex was at least half an hour’s journey from the Capital. How could a refined lady walk all that way? Her feet must be blistered raw!

Even with the carriage broken, she refused to stay another night with Min Rongxue. The sisters-in-law must have had a major falling out; they probably won’t visit again.

Now Ji Moyang would miss his chance to sleep with his aunt and her family.

His family didn’t seem to have any other relatives. Ji Moyang’s tutor wasn’t in the Capital, and she didn’t know if the tutor had a daughter or how old his wife was.