You Stole My Husband, So I Seduced Your Son - Chapter 43

What does it matter? Liyue thought. I’ll just have to fetch my own water for washing and cleaning my room. I’m used to doing these things anyway; I’ll adapt just fine.

She wasn’t some pampered Eldest Miss, after all. She could do everything herself. Not having to cook was already a vast improvement over her life back home.

Wiping away her tears, Liyue took out a handkerchief and began to embroider.

At the Zhou Residence on Academy Lane, Song Xuwan learned that Min Rongxue had discovered the undergarments and immediately transferred Liyue’s maid away. Song Xuwan knew Min Rongxue had completely misunderstood the situation.

Perplexed, she asked Baizhi, “How much did you pay for those clothes? Could a maid from the Annex even afford such fine materials?”

Baizhi lowered her head. “This servant chose the most expensive fabrics. Normally, maids from the Annex couldn’t afford such luxuries.”

“But Madam, you are generous and dress lavishly. Even the maids who serve you wear finer clothes than most young ladies. Madam Min and Madam Ma might assume our maids are wealthy enough to afford expensive materials.”

Speechless for what felt like the hundredth time, Song Xuwan collapsed onto her couch, remaining listless for a long while before suddenly sitting up straight.

At least Min Rongxue is starting to suspect something, she thought. She’s just looking in the wrong direction. I just need to keep pushing.

Several days of July had already passed, and the Autumn Provincial Exam was fast approaching in August.

With only a few days left, it was crucial to expose Ji Moyang’s secret before the exam. Only then would he be so overwhelmed with shame and indignation that he would abandon his path in the Imperial Examinations.

That evening, when Ji Moyang returned to his room, he discovered his clothes were missing. Startled awake, he summoned Madam Ma and demanded, “Where are the clothes I changed out of this morning?”

Madam Ma’s heart pounded wildly. How should I answer? If the Young Master finds out everyone knows about his affair, will he be too ashamed to face anyone?

She stammered, “W-washed… they’re being washed.”

Realizing her reaction seemed excessive, Ji Moyang casually replied, “Oh, just be careful not to damage them. They were borrowed from Young Master Xia Yongyan.”

Madam Ma’s heart instantly settled back into her chest. She smiled and asked, “Young Master, why would you wear someone else’s clothes?”

“Well, we were having tea together, and I accidentally spilled some on my clothes. Since we were at the temple, I had to borrow a set from Xia Yongyan, who’s about my size.”

It sounded perfectly reasonable, and Madam Ma accepted it without question.

Though the returned clothes didn’t look like they’d been stained with tea, if the Young Master said so, it must be true.

She cheerfully went to find Min Rongxue and explained the situation thoroughly. “I told you, Young Master isn’t the type to have secret rendezvous with women. You’ve watched him grow up—how could you not know? He barely speaks to women! Normally, he’s either at the temple or the Zhou Residence. Where would he even meet a young lady who could catch his eye?”

Min Rongxue nodded, but inwardly she wondered, If his clothes were just wet, why did he change his underpants too?

Oh well, she thought. My son’s character is impeccable. It’s probably just Young Master Xia being polite, and Moyang couldn’t refuse his hospitality.

Seeing the two maids’ eyes watering from copying Buddhist scriptures, Min Rongxue decided to keep them around, just in case.

Once Ji Moyang passed the imperial examinations, she would immediately take the children to rent a house in the city, far away from these seductive women.

If a suitable match arose, it would be time to arrange a marriage for Moyang.

What if he fails…?

There is no “what if”!

Five days later, another sensual scene unfolded in the courtyard. After the passion subsided, Song Xuwan produced a sash and wrapped it around Ji Moyang’s muscular abdomen.

“You made this?” Ji Moyang asked, stroking the sash with obvious affection.

“I wouldn’t know how to do that myself. I had a maid do it.”

After saying this, Song Xuwan leaned closer to Ji Moyang’s ear and whispered, her face flushed with shyness, “I sewed the silk bodice I wore last time into the lining of your sash. Young Master wears the sash every day, just as I wish to be wrapped around your waist every day.”

Ji Moyang’s arms tightened around Song Xuwan, his breathing growing heavy once more. “I’ll never take it off, not even when I sleep.”

Song Xuwan smiled coquettishly. A scholar who had always worn plain, straight-cut robes suddenly sporting a sash? Wouldn’t Min Rongxue want to investigate? The moment Min Rongxue touched the sash, she’d discover the hidden secret within.

A woman’s sheer silk bodice—how scandalous! By simply following Ji Moyang, she could easily uncover his secret rendezvous.

The previous plan had failed to arouse Min Rongxue’s suspicion, but Song Xuwan was certain this time there would be no mistakes. Once Min Rongxue found the bodice, Ji Moyang couldn’t possibly claim it was a gift from a classmate, could he?

After parting ways, Ji Moyang kept his hand on the sash, never letting it out of his sight.

Even when he went to Fuyun Temple to study, his hand lingered near his waist.

Xia Yongyan found this peculiar. “It’s been a while since we last met, and I see your smile has grown even more lewd. We haven’t found any erotic paintings lately, have we?”

Zu Hongyuan shook his head. “It’s been ages since we found any. What a shame.”

The two turned back to Ji Moyang, grinning mischievously. “Did you snatch them all and hide them away for yourself?”

Ji Moyang remained silent, pushing them away with one hand while keeping the other firmly at his waist. “Stop talking nonsense.”

Xia Yongyan finally noticed Ji Moyang’s odd behavior. “Hey, Moyang, is your hand sewn to your waist? Why is it always there?”

Hearing this, Zu Hongyuan reached out to tug at Ji Moyang. In the ensuing jostling, he discovered something around Ji Moyang’s waist—a belt.

“Everyone wears their belt on the outside,” Zu Hongyuan exclaimed in surprise. “Why are you wearing yours inside your Daoist robe? Who’s going to see you’re even wearing one?”

Ji Moyang had deliberately worn the belt inside his robe to avoid detection, never imagining his classmates would notice. His expression turned awkward as he mumbled, “I just like it this way. What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing’s wrong, it’s just… odd,” Zu Hongyuan replied.

Unable to strip Ji Moyang’s clothes off, he could only steal frequent glances at the suspicious bulge.

At that moment, Xia Yongyan suddenly exclaimed, “I get it! These past few weeks, Moyang has been going to town every few days to borrow books, but he always returns distracted, lost in thought. I bet he’s not borrowing books at all—he’s been secretly meeting some young lady!”

“Which family? Which family? Was it someone who threw a purse at you at the temple?” Zu Hongyuan asked anxiously.

“That’s not true,” Ji Moyang denied, his face calm and his heart steady. After all, no one had thrown a purse at him at the temple.

But Xia Yongyan didn’t believe him. Pointing at Ji Moyang, he said to Zu Hongyuan, “Guess why he’s wearing that belt inside his robes. It must be a gift from that young lady, who told Young Master Ji not to take it off. Our Young Master Ji couldn’t refuse, but he’s too embarrassed to wear it openly, so he’s hiding it inside.”

Xia Yongyan had guessed correctly. Ji Moyang’s face flushed crimson, and Xia Yongyan’s laughter grew wilder. Even Lu Zhengwen couldn’t focus on his book anymore.

He said earnestly, “Moyang, a belt is a personal item. If a young lady gave you this, it means she’s truly fond of you. The Autumn Provincial Exam is coming up, so we’ll set this aside for now. But after the exam, you must propose marriage as soon as possible to avoid any scandalous rumors.”

When Ji Moyang heard that Song Xuwan’s gift meant she was fond of him, his heart leaped with joy. But the mention of marriage proposals plunged him into despair. He knew he would never have the chance to propose.

And this belt… did it really mean Song Xuwan was fond of him?