You Stole My Husband, So I Seduced Your Son - Chapter 17

“Just like that?”

Ji Moyang hadn’t expected Song Xuwan to let him leave so easily. He figured that after such an incident, pretending nothing had happened would naturally be the best outcome.

He never imagined the woman before him—so delicate, beautiful, and kind—would already be married. Ji Moyang felt a pang of regret. How could someone like her be taken?

“Hurry, leave now,” Song Xuwan urged. “If you don’t go, someone will find you.”

Get out quickly. A crowd of scholars and young monks had already gathered outside the courtyard. As soon as Ji Moyang fled in a panic, she would slip out through the back gate, replace herself with the courtesan she had arranged, and have the woman come forward to weep about being dishonored by Ji Moyang, presenting fabricated evidence.

Ji Moyang wouldn’t recognize the courtesan and would vehemently deny the accusations, inevitably destroying his reputation.

Meanwhile, Song Xuwan would rush to the Flowing Cloud Annex at the foot of the mountain to inform Min Rongxue of the scandal.

“Your son’s reputation will be utterly ruined. You’ll never suspect that it was I who slept with him, while everyone else remains in the dark. You’ll know the truth, yet have no proof.”

“This is the price for seducing my husband!”

A surge of vengeful satisfaction coursed through Song Xuwan’s chest. Seeing Ji Moyang still frozen in shock, she snapped, “Go! Do you want to be discovered and ruin my reputation too?”

A single word jolted Ji Moyang awake. Now was not the time to explain himself; he needed to leave immediately and find another opportunity to apologize to the Madam.

He hastily gathered his clothes from the floor and fled the room, glancing back every few steps.

Song Xuwan followed suit, hurrying out the back door before circling around to the front entrance. She wanted to witness Ji Moyang being besieged by the crowd.

She deliberately slowed her pace, timing her arrival for the peak of the commotion. But when she reached the courtyard gate, it was utterly deserted.

Where was everyone?

Where was the crowd of onlookers Lu Yuan and Baizhi had arranged?

Had her passionate encounter with Ji Moyang been nothing more than a dream?

Her legs still ached from their lovemaking, yet Ji Moyang had escaped unscathed?

“Baizhi!” Song Xuwan snapped, her anger rising.

The courtyard gate creaked open, and Baizhi emerged, her head bowed in deference. Sensing Song Xuwan’s displeasure, she immediately explained.

“This servant arranged for the woman we invited and gathered a crowd outside the gate. But as soon as Young Master Ji left the room, he jumped over the wall instead of using the main entrance.”

“What?”

Wasn’t Ji Moyang supposed to be a gentleman? How could he possibly jump over such a high wall? He was just a scholar—how did he manage to scale it?

The records said Ji Moyang’s mind was filled only with the Four Books and Five Classics, that he knew nothing of practical matters or social etiquette.

How, then, had he so cleverly jumped over the wall to escape after such an incident?

Song Xuwan wanted to cry but had no tears left. Her carefully laid plans had crumbled to dust after days of scheming.

And to add insult to injury, Ji Moyang had taken advantage of her.

Why did her plans always fall apart when dealing with Ji Moyang?

Furious, Song Xuwan kicked the courtyard gate hard, grinding her teeth as she spat, “Let’s go home.”

Meanwhile, Ji Moyang, after leaving the room, was instantly sobered by the scorching sun beating down on him.

He had committed a grave error. He couldn’t allow the Madam inside to bear any further risk. Without hesitation, he decided to jump over the wall and flee.

He ran wildly until he was clear of the temple grounds, finally catching his breath.

He looked around blankly, his steps unsteady, unsure where to go. When he regained full consciousness, he found himself lying in his own room at the Flowing Cloud Annex.

Was it all just a dream? He, a man of impeccable moral character who had never harbored impure thoughts, had actually done such a thing today.

And with a married woman, no less!

A beast! he cursed inwardly, overwhelmed by guilt and self-reproach.

Fortunately, no one had discovered him. Otherwise, even dying a hundred times wouldn’t have been enough to atone for the mistake he had made today.

“Mo’er!”

Min Rongxue’s voice suddenly rang out from outside the door. Ji Moyang startled awake, sat up, took a deep breath, and rose to open the door.

“Mother,” Ji Moyang greeted, bowing respectfully.

Min Rongxue stood outside in plain cloth robes, her silver hairpin glinting in the sunlight. Her face was cold and stern as she immediately demanded, “Why aren’t you studying in broad daylight? What are you doing back here sleeping?”

“It’s my cousin’s birthday today, Mother. I had a few extra cups of wine and came back to change my clothes. I’ll return to the temple to study right away.”

“I knew it,” Min Rongxue’s expression grew even colder.

“I forbade you from drinking in the Annex precisely to warn you against it. Yet you dare bring wine to the temple? How absurd!”

“You’ve always been obedient. How could you become so reckless after just half a month of associating with those boys?”

“The Autumn Provincial Exam is in August, and it’s already nearly July. You have barely over a month left. Do you realize that ten years of hard study hinges on this one exam?”

“Remember your status. You are the son of Prince Guangyang, a descendant of the High Ancestor. At such a critical moment, you’re indulging in frivolous pursuits!”

Ji Moyang had heard these words countless times since childhood. Normally, he would have knelt to beg forgiveness and plead with Min Rongxue not to be angry.

But today, he suddenly felt weary. He stood tall and motionless, silently enduring Min Rongxue’s scolding.

After lecturing him for a long while, Min Rongxue noticed Ji Moyang’s complete lack of reaction and that his Daoist robes seemed a bit short.

She suddenly realized her son had grown up. Before coming to the Capital, he hadn’t been taller than her, but now he stood half a head taller.

A grown son no longer listens to his mother, she thought, a pang of bitterness striking her heart.

“Enough. You’re grown now and don’t care for these lectures.”

With that, Min Rongxue turned and left.

Ji Moyang remained rooted to the spot, staring at his feet. He suddenly noticed a flash of yellow peeking from his trouser leg. He pulled it out—it was the silk handkerchief.

In an instant, memories flooded his mind, more vivid and sensual than any erotic painting. Xia Yongyan had been right: after experiencing it firsthand, looking at those paintings would never be the same.

His face flushed crimson as he tucked the handkerchief into his chest. After taking a deep breath, he resolved to return to Fuyun Temple to continue his studies.

As he reached the courtyard gate, he saw Min Liyue pacing back and forth.

“Brother, did Mother scold you again? Don’t take it to heart. Just focus on the Autumn Provincial Exam. If you pass, Mother will be happy.”

Ji Moyang reached out and gently stroked his younger sister’s hair, forcing a smile. “Your brother knows. Take good care of yourself.”

Back at the temple, Zu Hongyuan and the others had already finished their wine. Seeing Ji Moyang looking completely refreshed, without a trace of drunkenness, they couldn’t help but marvel. “Brother Ji, you’re truly disciplined. You don’t even allow yourself to get drunk for once.”

“No way! A man as fine as you can’t be wasted on someone else. I have a younger sister—she’s going to marry you!”

“I have a younger sister too,” Xia Yongyan muttered. “And my sister is prettier than his.”

Lu Zhengwen, supporting one of the drunken men on each side, looked at Ji Moyang with a helpless expression. “They’re completely wasted.”

“Nonsense! That’s barely any wine. I could climb a tree without slipping even after drinking that much.”

“Alright, alright.”

To find a windy spot to sober up, Ji Moyang and Lu Zhengwen helped the two drunken men to the third floor of the Library Pavilion.

Xia Yongyan leaned over the railing, gazing down. “The view’s much better up here,” he exclaimed. “You can see young ladies everywhere!”

“When we were downstairs, I was too embarrassed to look because of etiquette. But now I can stare as much as I want!”

“Look at that one’s hair! And that one’s fair skin! And that one…”

Following Xia Yongyan’s pointing finger, Ji Moyang suddenly spotted Song Xuwan. She was being helped into a carriage by her maid.