You Stole My Husband, So I Seduced Your Son - Chapter 56

A pampered young miss like her, who would whine for ages even after a mosquito bite, enduring his rough handling like this must mean she truly loved him.

He knew Song Xuwan admired him, but he never imagined her affection had reached such depths.

His hands unconsciously softened as he murmured, “Does your body hurt? Why didn’t you say anything?”

Song Xuwan leaned weakly against Ji Moyang, letting him gently massage her. “Didn’t I?” she protested. “My throat is hoarse from shouting. You just didn’t hear me.”

He realized she was right, feeling a pang of guilt. Quickly changing the subject, he asked, “Are you hungry? I bought some food, including your favorite jujube paste cake.”

When did she start liking jujube paste cake? Ji Moyang must have gotten his information from somewhere, but it was clearly wrong.

Lifting her head, Song Xuwan leaned close to Ji Moyang’s ear and shouted, “Let’s pretend I love jujube paste cake today. Starting tomorrow, my favorite is cloud cake, okay?”

“Okay,” Ji Moyang replied, digging at his ear with amusement. “I heard you. From now on, I’ll remember everything you say. No more teasing, alright?”

“I’ll trust you one more time.”

After dinner, Ji Moyang wrapped one arm around Song Xuwan while continuing to read his book with the other.

Bored, Song Xuwan gently blocked the candlelight with her hand and complained, “The moonlight is so beautiful tonight. Young Master, won’t you take me out to admire it?”

Beautiful moonlight on the fifth night of the eighth lunar month? Ji Moyang was skeptical, but seeing Song Xuwan in such high spirits, he quickly blew out the candle and carried her outside.

As they reached the doorway, Song Xuwan began to struggle to get down. Exhausted, they settled on the stone slab in front of the door, gazing blankly at the shimmering river.

On the pitch-black banks, occasional figures strolled by, perhaps wild mandarin ducks like themselves, whispering sweet nothings under the cover of night.

Leaning against Ji Moyang’s shoulder, Song Xuwan drifted into a drowsy state in the midsummer evening breeze. Strands of her hair brushed his face, which he gently tucked back into place.

“When did you start to love me?” she finally asked, still seeking the truth.

Song Xuwan nuzzled against Ji Moyang’s neck, mumbling, “I don’t love you. You always bully me.”

Seeing her reluctance to answer, Ji Moyang thought, Perhaps love truly springs from nowhere, taking root deep within the heart.

“So you haven’t fallen for me yet? Clearly, I haven’t done enough to satisfy Madam.”

With that, Ji Moyang reached to slip his hand under Song Xuwan’s knees, intending to lift her up and carry her back to their room. Terrified, Song Xuwan quickly wrapped her arms around his neck and begged for mercy.

“I like being outside with Young Master. Let’s enjoy the moonlight properly. Weren’t you going to teach me about the stars? Where are they?”

Ji Moyang had only meant to tease her. Seeing her flustered state, he chuckled and pulled her into his arms, soothingly saying, “They’re in the sky. Just look up.”

He raised Song Xuwan’s hand and slowly pointed it toward the heavens, immediately reminding her of their previous encounter in the forest, when he had made her raise her hand to look at the trees—and the embarrassing events that followed.

Startled, she quickly withdrew her hand and clung tightly to Ji Moyang’s waist, afraid to move.

“What’s wrong?”

After waiting in vain for Song Xuwan’s reply, Ji Moyang fell silent. The two sat quietly by the riverbank, letting the breeze wash over them.

Across the river lay a bustling market district, its streets lined with taverns and inns. Even at night, the area glowed with a sea of lights.

After a long silence, Song Xuwan slowly raised her head and pointed to the tallest and grandest tavern. “Look at that tavern,” she said. “It’s called Star-Plucking Pavilion. Young Master, when you become rich and powerful, you must buy it for me.”

“Alright,” Ji Moyang replied with a smile, wondering why Song Xuwan had suddenly taken an interest in taverns, as if he could actually make such a thing happen one day.

“What else do you like? A ruby hairpin?”

Ji Moyang remembered how Song Xuwan always dressed dazzlingly whenever she went out, always wearing at least one piece of jewelry adorned with rubies. He knew she loved them, but he was currently penniless. If he had the means, he would have presented her with the largest and most brilliant ruby he could find.

He turned to look at the woman leaning against his shoulder. Her crimson robes, though still vibrant, appeared muted under the moonlight. Without Baizhi to attend to her, she hadn’t even bothered to comb her hair, letting it fall loosely around her shoulders.

A warm breeze occasionally swept across the river, causing strands of her hair to dance playfully across Ji Moyang’s face, tickling his skin and stirring a restless longing in his heart.

They sat there like this, as if they were a married couple, taking advantage of the quiet evening to share the day’s thoughts and worries.

“I love gold, silver, pearls, and fine silks, but rubies are my absolute favorite,” Song Xuwan said with utmost seriousness, as if failing to obtain them would be a lifelong regret. “However, the most important thing, Young Master, is for you to help me acquire the restaurant across the street.”

Ji Moyang, curious, asked, “Do you fancy the chef there? We could just poach him.”

Song Xuwan shook her head, grumbling, “You don’t understand. That restaurant is owned by the Minister of Justice’s nephew. My restaurant, Prosperity Tower, is right next door. Because I’m merely the Censor-in-Chief’s sister, his restaurant has always overshadowed mine. I can’t rest until I settle this score.”

So that was it. He’d imagined some deep-seated grudge.

Ji Moyang shook his head with a wry smile. The Minister of Justice’s nephew and the Censor-in-Chief’s sister were locked in a feud, yet they were entrusting a mere Provincial Graduate with no official rank to decide the outcome. They certainly held him in high regard.

It was rare for Song Xuwan to act like a wife whispering sweet nothings in her husband’s ear. His spirits soared, as if he’d suddenly gained boundless ambition.

“Alright,” he declared boldly. “Just point out any shop you want, and I’ll seize it for you.”

Stunned by his bravado, Song Xuwan looked up at Ji Moyang with earnest eyes before suddenly throwing herself into his arms, becoming playfully coy. “I also want a silver shop, one with lots of pearl jewelry, and a silk emporium…”

“Fine, they’re all yours.”

“Whatever you desire, I’ll fulfill it. I’ll make the world bow at your feet.”

As Song Xuwan’s demands grew, Ji Moyang felt increasingly like he held absolute power, capable of achieving anything with a mere wave of his hand. This sensation was intoxicating.

Watching Ji Moyang’s excitement swell, Song Xuwan’s smile widened. Young men needed such boundless ambition, especially the son of Prince Guangyang.

If Ji Moyang hadn’t been implicated in the Palace Coup years ago, she wondered if he might have imagined Prince Guangyang as the current Emperor, with himself as the legitimate Crown Prince.

Once such ambition takes root in the hearts of imperial descendants, it’s bound to sprout and eventually grow into a towering tree.

By then, even a single misstep by Ji Moyang could send his entire family to join Prince Guangyang in the afterlife.

Thus, she humbled herself further, treating Ji Moyang with the reverence due an Emperor. He, in turn, lived up to her expectations, gradually growing more heroic and magnanimous.

This newfound grandeur was entirely foreign to Ji Moyang. Min Rongxue had always taught him to be cautious, modest, and never to overreach.

So this was what youthful recklessness felt like—the ability to fulfill any request from the one you loved, to act with impunity, and to never suffer the slightest grievance.