You Stole My Husband, So I Seduced Your Son - Chapter 13

“Impossible!”

Zu Hongyuan, eager to prove he wasn’t a country bumpkin, quickly produced several pouches and emptied their contents for Xia Yongyan to see.

“I’ve picked up quite a few of these pouches in the past few days. I always thought these young ladies threw them because they contained fragrant herbs, but when I opened one by chance, I found these inside.”

Curious, Xia Yongyan took the pouches and examined each item, clicking his tongue in amazement.

“The young ladies of the Capital are truly talented. Their love poems are so beautifully written, and some even included their portraits for Ji Moyang to see. What a pity—Ji Moyang probably wouldn’t even glance at these pouches.”

Both men knew perfectly well that these pouches had been thrown to Ji Moyang, and they couldn’t help but lament the young ladies’ misplaced affections.

“Why don’t we show them to Moyang? Who knows, he might take a fancy to one and spark a romance?”

No sooner said than done. After lunch, Xia Yongyan and Zu Hongyuan gathered Ji Moyang and Lu Zhengwen, found a secluded spot, and laid out all the items.

Under their persistent encouragement, Ji Moyang reluctantly read a few love poems and glanced at the portraits, his expression rather speechless.

“I have no interest in such matters. You don’t need to show me these again. These young ladies’ reputations are at stake—we should burn them.”

“See? I told you Moyang was heartless. Poor young ladies, their affections were misplaced.”

After a dramatic sigh, Xia Yongyan leaned in conspiratorially. “Moyang, you’re not a boy anymore. You should know something about men and women. Otherwise, your wife will think she married a scholar after the wedding.”

“Come, come, I’ll show you something good. I guarantee it will ensure marital harmony and two children within three years!”

With that, Xia Yongyan unfurled a scroll of erotic illustrations right in front of Ji Moyang. Ji Moyang glanced at it, then abruptly stood up, his face darkening as he turned and stalked away.

He was fifteen now, not entirely ignorant of such matters. This wasn’t the first time he’d seen such illustrations.

When he was twelve, after writing that acclaimed essay that made him a local prodigy, people had tried to lure him away from his studies—inviting him to drink or gamble. Though young, he recognized their ill intentions and firmly refused each offer.

Later, such illustrations began appearing in his book bag. At the time, he didn’t understand what they were, only noticing one titled Jade Maiden Heart Sutra.

He wondered why Buddhist scriptures were filled with images of men and women, but reasoned that such texts must contain hidden mysteries. His mother, a devout Buddhist, would surely be able to explain.

When he returned home, he proudly presented the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra to his mother like a precious treasure. Her face instantly turned ashen, and she stared at him as if she didn’t recognize him.

He received a brutal beating, personally administered by his mother with a rattan cane. Had Feng Shi not intervened, he might have lost his life that night.

From that moment on, he knew this was no ordinary object.

At the Zhou Residence on Academy Lane, Song Xuwan had ordered the servants to scatter various provocative items around the house, hoping to stir Ji Moyang’s desires and pave the way for her next move.

Listening to Baizhi’s report on Zhou Minghai’s activities, Song Xuwan suddenly wondered if he, too, was plotting to seduce Min Rongxue.

Though Min Rongxue currently maintained a cold and aloof demeanor, Song Xuwan couldn’t rule out the possibility that even the most virtuous woman might eventually succumb to persistent advances. She had no intention of allowing any illegitimate children to threaten her position.

She resolved to secretly administer contraceptive herbs to Min Rongxue as a precaution.

The Zhou Residence had been remarkably peaceful in recent years, leaving Song Xuwan with no opportunity to employ her usual domestic schemes. She didn’t even have a proper contraceptive decoction on hand.

Suddenly, she felt insecure again. What if Zhou Minghai, after sleeping with Min Rongxue, became insatiable and slept with the maids as well? She couldn’t possibly give everyone contraceptive soup in advance.

It would be best to make Zhou Minghai infertile, ensuring no illegitimate children would be born.

“Let’s go home,” she said.

Baizhi immediately understood that Madam intended to visit her maternal home and quickly arranged the carriage.

Upon arriving at the Song Residence, Song Xuwan exchanged pleasantries with Old Madam Song before finally revealing her true purpose.

“Mother, do you have any medicine that can render a man infertile?”

Old Madam Song’s heart skipped a beat. She gripped Song Xuwan’s hand, her voice filled with concern. “My dear, is Zhou Minghai planning to take a concubine?”

Afraid of alarming her mother, Song Xuwan quickly reassured her. “That’s not it at all. I just don’t want to risk an accidental pregnancy. We already have children, so I thought giving my husband an infertility drug would be a good precaution.”

Only then did Old Madam Song relax. Gazing at her radiant and beautiful daughter, she wondered if her son-in-law’s excessive marital intimacy had frightened her.

She gently stroked Song Xuwan’s hand and smiled. “When you gave birth to Ningning, the doctor said your constitution was cold and that without proper care, conceiving again would be difficult. Ningning is already seven or eight years old, and you and your husband have been fine all these years. I don’t think Zhou Minghai needs any medicine. You won’t have a third child.”

Song Xuwan hesitated to explain the situation clearly, asking instead, “Just tell me if such a medicine exists.”

“No, I’ve only heard of medicines to prevent women from conceiving. I’ve never heard of anything that could make a man infertile.”

This was troublesome, and Song Xuwan felt a wave of discouragement.

Seeing her daughter’s gloomy mood, Old Madam Song worried that something was amiss at home that Song Xuwan was reluctant to share.

She reassured her, “Don’t worry. Zhou Minghai is just a minor official in the Ministry of Works, a fifth-rank junior secretary. Either of your brothers could crush him with a flick of their fingers. He wouldn’t dare cause trouble, not even if he had a hundred lives.”

“You used to complain that your brothers weren’t promoting Zhou Minghai. Let me be blunt: ‘Regret teaching your husband to seek titles and honors.’ If your husband rises too high, our household will become a hotbed of intrigue, and you’ll be the one suffering in the end.”

“Things are fine as they are. With your brothers keeping him in check, he’ll never climb past the third rank, even if he works himself to death. Don’t fret about not becoming a third-rank Madam. Your brothers will surely promote your nephew in the future. Xinglin is a diligent student; he’ll definitely earn a third-rank title for his mother someday.”

Seeing Song Xuwan still frowning, she teased, “I can tell you’re destined for good fortune. You’ll surely become a second-rank Madam, no, perhaps even a first-rank one!”

Song Xuwan finally chuckled, embarrassed. “Xinglin isn’t as remarkable as you make him out to be. If he can retire as a third-rank official, I’ll die without regrets.”

At Fuyun Temple, Lu Zhengwen, the eldest scholar, had always treated the younger students like his brothers. Now, in the Capital, the four of them were all they had, and he didn’t want Ji Moyang to develop any resentment toward the others over a mere erotic scroll.

One day, Lu Zhengwen found Ji Moyang and began to reason with him. “Moyang, Yongyan and Hongyuan aren’t trying to corrupt you. They’re just…”

“I know,” Ji Moyang interrupted, cutting him off.

If Xia Yongyan and Zu Hongyuan had truly intended to corrupt him, they wouldn’t have waited until they reached the Capital to show him such things. They would have started tempting him back at the academy.

Moreover, Ji Moyang had seen through their characters: one was genuinely lustful, the other genuinely curious and ignorant. Neither seemed to be deliberately trying to corrupt him.

That day, he had simply been reminded of past events, and his emotions had momentarily overwhelmed him.

Seeing Ji Moyang’s reluctance to discuss the matter further, Lu Zhengwen feared he might be harboring resentment. He decided it was best to clear the air.

“I’m a few years older than you, so allow me to presume the title of ‘elder brother.’ Consider these words as coming from my heart.”