You Stole My Husband, So I Seduced Your Son - Chapter 42

Ji Moyang felt a pang of shame; he hadn’t realized he was giving off that impression.

“Your son has grown arrogant,” he admitted.

To his surprise, Min Rongxue pressed on, her voice sharp with anger. “You’re still young. Do you really think you’re the best in the world just because a few people praised you? You solved a few riddles today and now you think you’re guaranteed to pass the imperial exams? Remember, arrogance leads to ruin.”

“Your son acknowledges his mistake!” Ji Moyang mechanically apologized, but Min Rongxue’s frustration lingered, finding no outlet.

“You come from a small town. You need to understand that there are always greater talents and higher realms beyond your limited experience.”

“Mother’s words are wise.”

“Remember, ten years of hard study culminate in this one crucial moment!”

“Your son understands.”

The evening meal finally ended, punctuated by Min Rongxue’s scolding and Ji Moyang’s dutiful apologies.

Back in his room, Ji Moyang shook his head and collapsed into bed. He didn’t feel like studying tonight. He had already memorized all his texts backward and forward; his relentless diligence was merely to prevent complacency. But now, he suddenly felt utterly exhausted.

At this moment, the only thing he looked forward to was his meeting in three days.

After three anxious days of waiting, Ji Moyang rushed to the small courtyard at dawn, only to find Song Xuwan arriving fashionably late when the sun was high in the sky.

Ji Moyang’s expression was naturally sour, but Song Xuwan, mindful of her own schemes, acted demure.

After a period of playful antics, Baizhi unexpectedly prepared hot water. Song Xuwan felt awkward letting Baizhi serve her, and even more awkward letting Ji Moyang do so.

As she shakily walked to wash up, her legs suddenly gave way, spilling the entire basin of water and drenching both of their clothes.

“It’s fine,” Ji Moyang said nonchalantly. “The weather’s hot; they’ll dry quickly outside.”

He strode over, scooped up the dazed Song Xuwan, and teased, “Have your maid bring another basin of hot water. I’ll serve you myself.”

“Absolutely not!”

Song Xuwan called Baizhi over and pointed to the soaked clothes on the floor. “They’re soaked and covered in dust. I doubt they’re wearable anymore. Go buy new ones.”

Ji Moyang was about to say it wasn’t necessary, but then he remembered Song Xuwan was a delicate young lady who undoubtedly valued cleanliness. So he agreed to go with her.

This was the perfect opportunity to do something else while Baizhi was out.

Outside the courtyard gate, Baizhi closed the door and hurried toward the clothing shop.

“Shopkeeper, I need a set of men’s clothing and a set of women’s clothing. The undergarments for both sets should be made of the same fabric—they’re for a married couple.”

The shopkeeper immediately understood and selected the garments, handing them to Baizhi with a knowing smile. “I guarantee you and your husband will be satisfied.”

Baizhi left, her face flushed.

When the bundle of clothes appeared before Ji Moyang, he frowned slightly. The undergarments were pure white, but they had subtle bamboo patterns woven into the fabric. He had never worn such fine material before. Would it be discovered if he wore them back?

Sensing his hesitation, Song Xuwan blushed and shook out her own clothes, complaining to Baizhi, “Why did you buy clothes in the same style and fabric as the Young Master’s? How embarrassing!”

Only then did Ji Moyang realize they were wearing matching outfits. His lingering doubts vanished, and he pulled Song Xuwan closer, saying, “Your maid is efficient. You should reward her.”

Baizhi felt a pang of guilt, even more confused about her mistress’s intentions. Why would Madam want to wear matching clothes with Young Master Ji? Could she have truly fallen in love with him?

Is Madam planning to divorce her husband and marry Young Master Ji? How would the Young Master and Young Miss ever face society again?

Baizhi quickly shook the water from her head. She reasoned that Madam must have already considered these consequences. Her duty was simply to obey.

After dressing, Song Xuwan left first, followed by Ji Moyang, who reluctantly returned to his own courtyard.

The next morning, Madam Ma tidied Ji Moyang’s room and prepared to wash his discarded clothes. When she picked up a pair of soft underpants embroidered with subtle bamboo patterns, her heart began to race.

These aren’t the Young Master’s underpants. How did they end up in his room? Or how did he even acquire such underpants?

She spent the morning in growing unease, until Min Rongxue noticed her distracted state.

“What’s wrong with you today? You look like you’ve lost your soul.”

Madam Ma could no longer bear the weight of her secret. Trembling, she blurted out, “Young Master… every morning, his… you know… his bed and undergarments are soiled. I thought it was normal for boys his age, but today I found an inner robe in his room that I’d never seen before. This…”

That was enough to spark Min Rongxue’s imagination. She knew that in aristocratic families, young masters often had concubines by the age of twelve or thirteen. Ji Moyang was already fifteen, yet due to his humble origins, he rarely even had the chance to exchange a few words with girls.

A sudden thought struck her. “Mo’er only goes to the temple or the Zhou Residence. Neither place has girls his age who would meet him in private. Could it be someone in this annex causing trouble?”

Madam Ma nodded vigorously. “There are five girls in their teens in this annex. One is a dark-skinned, plump girl who works in the kitchen—Young Master wouldn’t be interested in her. The other four are attendants to Madam and the Young Miss, two for each.”

Min Rongxue turned her prayer beads. The two attendants by her side had been under her watchful eye, and with her constant vigilance, the girls had never had a chance to be alone with Ji Moyang.

Only Liyue’s two maids, who had learned to read alongside her, seemed to have grasped the allure of a talented young man. The way they looked at Ji Moyang gradually began to change, becoming unsettling.

Could one of those maids have secretly started seeing Mo’er, engaging in… such activities?

This was absolutely unacceptable. Once a man loses his vital essence and experiences carnal knowledge, he might never be able to focus on his studies again.

There were countless men who had squandered half their lives, lost in the throes of lust.

Her son must never become one of them—especially not before the Autumn Provincial Exam.

If Ji Moyang passed the exam with honors, she might consider buying him a maid. A man should understand such matters, after all. As for the maids in the Annex, they weren’t even fit to bring Mo’er his foot-washing water, let alone warm his bed.

She nearly snapped the string of her prayer beads as she ordered Madam Ma, “Bring me the two maids from Liyue’s room. Since they can read, one will copy scriptures for me, and the other will recite them.”

She intended to keep every potential female influence in the Annex under her watchful eye. Until her son passed the Autumn Provincial Exam with honors, not a single misstep could be tolerated.

Madam Ma took her orders and went to find Liyue. Smiling, she said, “Young Miss, Madam’s eyesight is failing, so she wants two of your maids to come. One will help copy scriptures, and the other will read them aloud.”

Liyue, ever innocent, replied, “But they’ve only just begun their studies. Their handwriting is terrible—Mother would never approve. Besides, the characters in Buddhist scriptures are so obscure; they wouldn’t be able to read them properly.”

Madam Ma couldn’t speak plainly, so she forced an awkward smile. “These are Madam’s orders.”

In an instant, Liyue understood. It must be her longing for the Coral Bracelet that had made her mother think she was becoming vain and extravagant.

After all, back in their ancestral home, only Feng Shi and his wife, Madam Ma, had served the family. Liyue had always had to do everything herself, never ordering around any maids.

It wasn’t until they moved to the Annex that she began to rely on others, with two maids attending to her every need.

Her mother must think she was growing too extravagant, putting on airs as the Eldest Miss, and wanted to teach her a lesson.

Liyue let out a bitter laugh. “Very well, I understand. Take them away.”