You Stole My Husband, So I Seduced Your Son - Chapter 18

The scenes from the side chamber flashed through Ji Moyang’s mind again. Her hair wasn’t just beautiful, her skin was fair, and her waist was so slender…

As he continued to dwell on these thoughts, Ji Moyang’s face flushed crimson.

Zu Hongyuan, noticing his friend’s strange behavior, asked curiously, “Why are you blushing? Are you in love? Have you set your sights on some young lady? I’ll go deliver a token of your affection right now.”

“Don’t worry,” Zu Hongyuan continued, “with your reputation as the great scholar Ji Moyang, any young lady you court will have her family knocking on your door tomorrow to arrange a marriage.”

Ji Moyang felt a pang of bitterness. He had indeed fallen for a young lady, but she was already spoken for. What a pity, a true pity!

As he lamented inwardly, his eyes remained fixed on Song Xuwan’s retreating figure, as if trying to burn her image into his heart and imprison her there, never letting her go.

Xia Yongyan followed Ji Moyang’s gaze and saw only a chaotic crowd. “You’re really smitten?” he asked, puzzled. “Which one is she? If you like her, find out her family name and propose tomorrow. You can get married on the day the results are announced—double happiness: a golden ranking on the imperial examination list and a wedding night!”

Hearing their drunken nonsense, Lu Zhengwen grew worried that Ji Moyang might be led astray. He said earnestly, “They’re drunk. Don’t listen to their nonsense.”

“Marriage is a matter decided by parents,” he cautioned. “Never exchange tokens of affection with young ladies. If both families approve, all is well. But if one family objects after you’ve exchanged tokens, her reputation will be ruined. You’re a man—it’ll just be another scandalous affair for you. But for her, it could be devastating.”

He sighed, his voice tinged with melancholy. “Every year, there are always a few women forced to hang themselves to preserve their family’s honor. Love between men and women is a delicate matter. One wrong move, and a woman’s life could be forfeit!”

The romantic thoughts that had been swirling in Ji Moyang’s mind vanished instantly, replaced by a cold sweat of fear. He was safe, but what about the young lady?

What if they were discovered? How would her husband’s family react? Would she be forced to take her own life?

Ji Moyang regretted leaving so abruptly. He should have asked her name.

But what good would knowing her name do? What power did he have to protect her?

The rest of the day passed in a daze, Ji Moyang lost in a fog of confusion.

Min Rongxue, who had been fuming all afternoon, saw Ji Moyang return from Fuyun Temple without even offering an apology. She slammed her door shut and threw herself onto the bed, her anger intensifying.

Zhou Minghai, who had been brooding at home for days after being met with cold indifference by Song Xuwan, grew increasingly restless.

He reasoned that enough time had passed. It was time to show his face at the Flowing Cloud Annex and rekindle his affair with Min Rongxue.

Min Rongxue disliked his frequent visits. Since he hadn’t been there for several days, she hoped she wouldn’t be subtly turned away again.

The next day, Zhou Minghai left the office early and hurried to Flowing Cloud Annex outside the city. When he learned Min Rongxue was praying to Buddha, he waited outside the door for a full two hours.

As the sun began to set, he realized he needed to return to the city before the gates closed.

“Rongxue,” he called out, “your health is delicate. The length of your prayers doesn’t matter; what matters is your sincerity.”

Inside her room, Min Rongxue had been fuming all day after her encounter with Ji Moyang. When she heard Zhou Minghai had come, she wanted nothing to do with him.

However, since she was staying at his annex, she couldn’t afford to be too aloof. Hearing his words, she opened the door and stepped out.

“When did you arrive? Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

Zhou Minghai smiled wryly. He had waited in the reception hall for a while, and the maid had said she would inform Min Rongxue. When she didn’t appear after a long wait, he finally came to her door.

Could it be that she was so focused on her prayers that she didn’t hear the maid’s announcement?

“There was nothing urgent, so I didn’t want to disturb you. Is everything alright here? Is there anything I can do for you?”

“Everything is fine. Thank you,” Min Rongxue replied coolly.

Finding himself at a loss for words, Zhou Minghai glanced at the darkening sky and reluctantly took his leave.

Song Xuwan was disgusted to hear that Zhou Minghai had waited humbly outside Min Rongxue’s door for an hour, only to exchange a few words with her.

Despite this initial setback, she refused to give up. She would continue to seduce Ji Moyang, aiming to sleep with him at the Annex this time. She wanted Min Rongxue to vomit uncontrollably at the mere thought of the place.

However, to prevent Ji Moyang, a man of upright character, from refusing to touch her once he learned she was Zhou Minghai’s wife, she first needed to drive him to the point of insatiable desire before luring him to the Annex.

That night, many slept restlessly, especially Ji Moyang. He was plagued by a series of erotic dreams. In these visions, he saw not only the woman’s face but also the faint furrow of her brow and the crimson mole on her chest with perfect clarity.

It was the young woman he had encountered at Fuyun Temple—the one who had burrowed into his mind and refused to leave.

This woman was more captivating than any he had ever met, more alluring than any figure in his erotic paintings. She could assume any pose from those paintings, yielding to his tender affections. How could he ever forget her?

Early the next morning, Ji Moyang glanced at his undergarments and silently cursed himself as a beast. After changing, he left for Fuyun Temple with a cold expression, skipping breakfast.

Throughout the morning, whether from hunger or some other reason, Ji Moyang couldn’t focus on a single word of his studies.

Before he knew it, he found himself back at the same side room.

In a daze, he saw a woman inside.

He rushed in, and Song Xuwan reappeared before Ji Moyang’s eyes.

She wore a floor-length gown of lychee-red silk, its delicate waist cinched with a pale turquoise sash, so slender it could be spanned by a single hand.

Ruby earrings dangled from her earlobes like tempting pomegranate seeds, swaying with each movement and making Ji Moyang’s mouth dry.

“I… I’m looking for my lost handkerchief,” Song Xuwan said nervously, her face flushed.

Ah, that handkerchief, Ji Moyang remembered. He had been wearing it tied around his forearm, constantly stroking it.

Hearing Song Xuwan mention the handkerchief, he should immediately return it, apologize for what happened that day, and see if there was any way to make amends.

Finally, he should bid farewell and leave, pretending nothing had happened.

But his heart was torn!

“I accidentally took it home that day. Here, I’ll give it back.”

As he spoke, Ji Moyang untied the handkerchief from his forearm and held it in his hand, reluctant to part with it.

“Did… did your family give you any trouble?”

This was his greatest fear, that his foolish act might have cost this young woman her life.

Song Xuwan shook her head, the red pomegranate earrings bouncing with each movement, making Ji Moyang swallow nervously.

“It was all my fault that day. Is there… is there anything I can do for you?”

You could do so much, Song Xuwan thought. Maintain this fearful, remorseful attitude. Let the memory of that day distract you from your studies, then lose control in the Annex and spend a night of passion with me. When Min Rongxue discovers it, give up on yourself and return to your hometown, wasting your life while she weeps every day.

But she couldn’t say any of this aloud. Song Xuwan shook her head again. “That day was an accident. I mistook you for my husband. It wasn’t entirely your fault, Young Master. Fortunately, no one found out. If we both pretend nothing happened, it will be as if it never existed.”

Seeing that Ji Moyang still hesitated to return the handkerchief, Song Xuwan reached out to take it.

Carefully avoiding touching him, she grasped a corner of the handkerchief and gently tugged it free.