You Stole My Husband, So I Seduced Your Son - Chapter 46

“No, it can’t be!” Madam Ma exclaimed, hardly believing her ears.

Min Rongxue continued, “Fortunately, we discovered this in time. They’ve likely only been together a few times at the temple. We must quickly arrange for a woman for the Young Master to correct his ways, or it will be much harder to change him later.”

Min Rongxue didn’t voice her most terrifying suspicion: knowing Xia Yongyan had a wife, she believed he naturally preferred women. Ji Moyang’s homosexual tendencies were likely a corrupting influence from Xia Yongyan.

Madam Ma, perhaps thinking along similar lines, nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes! I’ll make arrangements today. I’ll put the most beautiful girl in the Young Master’s bed tonight.”

Ji Moyang remained completely unaware of these machinations. That evening, he returned from the temple to the annex as usual to retire for the night.

During dinner, he noticed Min Rongxue’s ashen complexion and couldn’t help but ask, “Mother, are you feeling unwell? Should I fetch a doctor from the city tomorrow?”

Min Rongxue gripped her chopsticks tightly, forcing a smile. “It’s nothing, Moyang. I just had a dream about your grandfather last night, and it’s unsettled me all day. A good night’s sleep will fix it.”

Ji Moyang nodded. He remembered hearing that Min Rongxue had often fallen ill after her demotion, but her health had gradually improved as she adapted to their impoverished life.

In recent years, Min Rongxue had rarely complained of any ailments, suggesting her current condition wasn’t serious.

It was likely she was worried about his upcoming imperial examination. He wanted to reassure her, “Mother, rest assured, I will pass this time.”

But fearing she would accuse him of arrogance, he swallowed the words along with his dinner.

The evening meal passed quietly. After bowing respectfully to Min Rongxue, Ji Moyang retreated to his own room.

With the Autumn Provincial Exam drawing near, it was impossible to remain calm. To maintain his composure, Ji Moyang practiced calligraphy every evening, calming his mind before studying.

He usually studied until the end of Hai Hour (10:00 PM), but tonight, barely halfway through Hai Hour, he found himself unable to focus.

His mind swirled with thoughts of his burdensome lineage and uncertain future, his mother’s fervent hopes, all coalescing into the sweet smiles of Song Xuwan.

Unlike other women who adhered to the strict etiquette of never showing their teeth when smiling or moving their skirts while walking, Song Xuwan was impeccably proper in public. Yet before Ji Moyang, she was as lively and vibrant as a figure stepping out of a painting.

Touching the sash around his waist, Ji Moyang realized it was almost time for their secret rendezvous. With that thought, he could no longer concentrate on his studies.

He picked up his brush, intending to practice calligraphy to clear his mind, but Song Xuwan’s image persisted. A moment’s distraction nearly caused ink to stain the paper, so he simply removed his robes and went to bed early.

As August approached, the mountain air remained warm during the day but gradually cooled at night. Ji Moyang fell asleep shortly after lying down.

Unsurprisingly, he dreamed of Song Xuwan again. Unlike previous dreams where he waited for her in the courtyard, this time Song Xuwan was waiting for him.

As he entered the inner chamber, he saw Song Xuwan, clad in a pale pink bodice and a sheer veil, removing her hairpins. She glanced back at him with a hint of reproach.

“Young Master has kept me waiting.”

Ji Moyang, at a loss for words, hurried forward and said suggestively, “Let me help you undress.”

Song Xuwan removed the last golden hairpin, letting her raven-black hair cascade down, filling the room with a delicate fragrance.

The sight stirred Ji Moyang’s senses. He gently wrapped his arm around her slender waist, lifted a strand of her hair, and inhaled deeply. “What is this scent?”

Song Xuwan squirmed in his embrace, feebly pushing against him with boneless hands, deliberately brushing her hair across his cheek.

“Didn’t I tell you what my favorite scent is? How could you forget?”

Seeing the beauty’s almond eyes widen slightly, Ji Moyang was immediately captivated. “It’s rose fragrance. How could I forget?”

But the scent of roses today was different from usual. He was about to pick up the flower for another sniff when Song Xuwan reached out.

“Young Master, please undress quickly.”

So proactive today?

Ji Moyang nearly lost his composure, swallowing hard. He watched as Song Xuwan unbuttoned the first two buttons of his robe.

He took her hand, puzzled. “Why are your hands so rough today?”

As he studied Song Xuwan’s face more closely, he suddenly realized she looked different. Alarmed, he pushed her away. “Who are you?”

“Young Master, I am the woman Madam arranged for you. Are you defying your mother’s wishes?”

What does she mean? Did I get married?

This couldn’t be happening. He wanted no one but Song Xuwan. A wife? Min Rongxue can’t just arrange this without my consent!

Seeing the woman trying to cling to him, Ji Moyang retreated in terror, shouting, “Get away! Don’t touch me! Get out!”

A sudden shout jolted Ji Moyang awake. A cool breeze swept through the window, and he realized it had all been a dream.

Just as he was about to drift back to sleep, he noticed a woman lying beside him on the bed, her clothes disheveled, her tear-streaked face gazing at him.

Ji Moyang recoiled in terror, tumbling off the bed in his haste.

As he stood up, the moonlight revealed the girl to be a maid from the Annex. Overwhelmed by shock and fury, he demanded, “Who told you to come in here? Do you know that climbing into a young master’s bed without permission is punishable by being sold out of the estate?”

The maid scrambled to her feet, her head bowed as she began to sob.

Earlier that afternoon, Madam Ma had summoned her. She had declared that the Young Master was certain to pass the Imperial Examinations and would have a brilliant future. The Madam hinted at her intention to take a concubine for him.

Madam Ma had held the maid’s hand with unusual tenderness, praising her as the most beautiful girl in the Annex and the one most likely to catch the Young Master’s eye.

However, Madam Ma cautioned that Madam Min’s future approval was uncertain, urging her to act quickly if she had any aspirations.

“Strike while the iron is hot,” Madam Ma had advised, “before someone else seizes the opportunity.” Thus, the maid had appeared in Ji Moyang’s room that very night.

At this point, she couldn’t possibly claim Madam Ma had orchestrated this. She had no evidence, and if Madam Ma denied it, she would lose all credibility.

She simply continued to weep…

The night wind gradually calmed Ji Moyang. Looking down, he saw only two buttons of his shirt were undone, and since everything had happened while he was asleep, nothing untoward had likely occurred.

He said coldly, “Get out. Don’t tell anyone about tonight. Pretend it never happened. Otherwise…”

Otherwise, he would take no responsibility whatsoever.

The maid understood the threat. She knew that if she made a scene, her reputation would be ruined for climbing into his bed without permission, making it impossible for her to continue serving Ji Moyang. Leaving now, as if nothing had happened, would still allow her to find an honest man to marry later.

She dressed quickly, wiped her tears, and slipped out into the courtyard, showing no signs of distress.

Inside the room, Min Rongxue, who had been anxiously waiting, kept urging Madam Ma, “Did you see? Any movement?”