You Stole My Husband, So I Seduced Your Son - Chapter 34

“I don’t want it!” Ji Moyang shook it off with a cold expression, as if it were something dirty.

“Exactly,” Xia Yongyan chimed in. “Once Moyang passes the Autumn Provincial Exam, he’ll be highly ranked. Suitors will line up to propose. He won’t lack for a fiancée. Don’t cause him any trouble.”

The group fell into a lively discussion about what kind of fiancée Ji Moyang would eventually have. Meanwhile, Ji Moyang’s mind was completely occupied by Song Xuwan. If only she could be my fiancée, he thought.

It seems what’s in your heart follows you everywhere.

The next day, after spending a night resting at home to recover some strength, Song Xuwan was confronted by Zhou Minghai, who stormed in, his face flushed with anger.

He strode in, pulled up a chair, and, before catching his breath, demanded, “What did you do at the Annex? Did you say something offensive? Do something you shouldn’t have?”

Song Xuwan was bewildered. Suddenly, she wondered if Zhou Minghai had discovered her affair. A flicker of excitement stirred within her. Feigning ignorance, she replied, “During my stay at the Annex, I was unwell and confined to bed. I saw no one and spoke to no one. Master knows this, doesn’t he?”

Recalling every time he had seen Song Xuwan, Zhou Minghai realized she truly hadn’t left her room. He suddenly felt his anger was excessive.

But if Song Xuwan hadn’t done something, why would Min Rongxue write such a letter?

Seeing Zhou Minghai lost in thought, Song Xuwan, unsure how things had progressed, cautiously probed, “Master is in quite a temper. Shouldn’t you tell me why?”

Her words reignited Zhou Minghai’s barely suppressed fury. He threw the letter at her head, roaring, “Read it yourself!”

Song Xuwan suppressed her excitement, eager to see Min Rongxue’s reaction to discovering her son’s affair—the woman’s utter despair.

But the letter disappointed her. Min Rongxue merely expressed her gratitude for the Zhou family’s care during their stay, stating that she and her two children were deeply grateful. However, the Zhou family’s excessive hospitality had made them feel uneasy and overwhelmed.

Enclosed with the letter were many of the lavish clothes and gold and silver jewelry Song Xuwan had gifted them, all returned except for a few plain garments, which Min Rongxue insisted were sufficient.

Song Xuwan had originally sent those brightly colored clothes to disgust Min Rongxue, who was in mourning and naturally couldn’t wear them. It was only natural for them to be returned. Zhou Minghai’s sudden outburst of anger was baffling.

“What’s wrong?” Song Xuwan asked. “I didn’t see anything problematic in Sister Min’s letter. We helped them, they wrote to express their gratitude—what’s the issue?”

What’s the issue? Zhou Minghai was so furious his beard bristled and his eyes glared. He had been supporting Min Rongxue and her son for years, and she had never once returned anything.

Returning these gifts was clearly meant to distance them.

He had painstakingly sheltered Min Rongxue and her son under his wing, allowing them to meet frequently and slowly rebuild their relationship to what it once was.

But ever since Song Xuwan appeared, she had repeatedly driven a wedge between him and Min Rongxue, causing their relationship to plummet again and again.

The thought of those gaudy items being returned sent him into a rage. “Look at what you sent! Brocade, silk, gold, silver, jade—were you deliberately trying to disgust Madam Min by flaunting such extravagant things she’s never seen before?”

“Master, you’re being unreasonable,” Song Xuwan retorted sharply. “She’s a guest. Would you have me dress in gold and silver while offering her coarse linen? Is that proper hospitality? You may have the gall, but I certainly don’t!”

Zhou Minghai, stung by her words, sprang to his feet, his voice rising. “You know you’re dripping in gold and silver! Have you ever seen a noble lady like you, practically burying herself in jewels? Every garment you wear could feed an ordinary family for a year! You flaunt your extravagance without a shred of self-reflection, and then you parade it before Madam Min!”

“She was once a noble lady herself, the Primary Consort to a Commandery Prince. Your ostentatious display—wearing everything you own at once—would likely disgust her. She wouldn’t feel inferior just because you’re draped in glittering gold!”

Song Xuwan nearly laughed in exasperation. She calmly sipped her tea before replying, “Since you acknowledge Madam Min’s former wealth, she must have met countless noble ladies in her time. Why would she interpret my attire as boasting? This is simply the proper attire for a noble lady. Why would Madam Min feel ashamed?”

“If I deliberately dressed poorly, that would be a condescending charade—pretending to empathize with her poverty!”

Zhou Minghai was utterly silenced. If Min Rongxue was uncomfortable with a Madam’s normal attire, that was her own petty-mindedness. There was no reason everyone else should have to live in austerity just because she was feeling down.

Perhaps Min Rongxue hadn’t written about the clothes at all. Maybe the Zhou family had simply done too much, and she was genuinely worried about being unable to repay them, feeling anxious about the future?

But Zhou Minghai wanted Min Rongxue to be unable to repay him. If she started rejecting his help, how could he continue to provide for the Min family with such righteous justification?

Wouldn’t their relationship gradually drift apart?

The thought of Song Xuwan in her lavish silks while Min Rongxue wore coarse hemp clothing gnawed at Zhou Minghai’s heart.

“That’s because you were being inconsiderate,” Song Xuwan said coldly. “She cares nothing for such superficial things. We should simply fulfill our duty to support her family. Sending all those extravagant gifts was clearly meant to make her feel like she’d never seen anything so fine, so she’d be overwhelmed with gratitude and kowtow to repay you, wasn’t it?”

“You know exactly what you were trying to achieve!”

Song Xuwan glared at Zhou Minghai, convinced his heart belonged entirely to Min Rongxue. Whenever Min Rongxue was unhappy, he came to pick a fight with her. Arguing further was pointless.

Even if she had intended to annoy Min Rongxue, sending gifts wasn’t a major offense. If Min Rongxue didn’t want the colorful clothes, she could simply save them for Ji Liyue. What was the big deal?

She sneered, her voice languid. “Master’s reprimand is well-taken. From now on, all clothing sent to the Annex will be coarse linen. Anyone who dares send fine silk will have their legs broken.”

“And tell the Annex that Madam Min is devoted to Buddhism. From now on, only vegetables and tofu will be served. Anyone who prepares meat or fish will be immediately expelled from the estate.”

Zhou Minghai panicked. If Song Xuwan’s orders were carried out, he would lose all face with Min Rongxue.

His tone immediately softened, and he forced a smile. “Madam was just speaking of hospitality. How can this be considered hospitality? I was merely reminding you to manage the household frugally. Why are you so angry?”

“Does Master think I’m not managing the household frugally enough?” Song Xuwan retorted, counting on her fingers. “When we separated from the Main Branch, Master received only a single residence, two estates, a tiny shop, and less than a thousand taels of silver.”

“And now? We own three to five residences in and around the Capital, at least eight estates if not ten, and no fewer than five or six thriving shops in the city. If I weren’t managing the household frugally, did all these things simply fall from the sky?”