You Stole My Husband, So I Seduced Your Son - Chapter 58

Upon arriving at the temple, Feng Shi immediately inquired about Ji Moyang’s whereabouts. Lu Zhengwen and the others were also anxious about Ji Moyang’s delayed return, but they maintained a relaxed demeanor in front of the frantic Feng Shi.

“He’ll be back today, no need to worry,” Lu Zhengwen assured him.

“Did the Young Master send another message?” Feng Shi pressed.

Lu Zhengwen chuckled awkwardly. The last time he’d relayed a message, Ji Moyang had sent him a note asking for a favor, but even then, Lu Zhengwen had no idea where Ji Moyang had gone.

“No, but I’m heading into town today. I’m bound to run into him, and I’ll bring him back myself.”

Despite his words, Lu Zhengwen remained worried. He and Xia Yongyan had already planned to search for Ji Moyang together that day.

Seeing that Lu Zhengwen had no news, Feng Shi stopped asking and produced a bundle of clothing, handing it to Xia Yongyan.

“Young Master Xia, thank you for lending the Young Master your clothes when his were soiled last time. Here they are, returned.”

Xia Yongyan stared at the unfamiliar bundle, his eyes widening like copper bells. When had he ever lent Ji Moyang his clothes? He looked up and smiled. “We’re classmates. No need for such formalities.”

“Oh, and we’ll take good care of your horse too.”

“Ah, this?” Xia Yongyan chuckled. “Thank you for your trouble.”

As soon as Feng Shi left, Zu Hongyuan jumped up and demanded, “What clothes? What horse? How much is Ji Moyang hiding? What is he really up to?”

“Keep your voice down,” Xia Yongyan said with a smile. “What could he possibly be doing? Just sneaking off to meet some young lady, I imagine.”

On the official road, the carriage was about to enter the city gate when a servant finally caught up and reported to Zhou Minghai, “Master, Madam isn’t at the annex.”

Not there? Zhou Minghai thought. She must have returned home early. Unconcerned, he dismounted to exchange a few words with his colleagues before preparing to head home.

“Gentlemen, our mission has been successful. Let’s bid farewell here.”

Zhou Minghai had barely finished speaking when Lord Li waved his hand dismissively. “You’re such a bore! After days of hard work on the road, you’re just going straight home? Come on, let’s grab a meal at the Star-Plucking Pavilion first.”

“I…” Zhou Minghai hesitated, disliking dining with his colleagues. Their conversations always devolved into boasting and lewd talk about women—utterly vulgar.

Before he could decline, Lord Wang chimed in, “Exactly! It’s almost lunchtime anyway. Let’s have a drink before we part.”

“Come, Lord Zhou, weren’t you looking for Master Four Seasons’ commentary on the Four Books? I happen to have an old friend who owns a copy. Let’s go have a drink, and I’ll send a servant to borrow it for you.”

Hearing that the book he had been longing for might finally be within reach, Zhou Minghai immediately brightened and clasped his hands in a bow to his colleagues. “In that case, I shall humbly accept your invitation.”

The group quickly made their way to a private room on the third floor of the Star-Plucking Pavilion. Though it was already August, the midday heat remained stifling. Lord Li hadn’t even sat down before he pushed open the window to let in some air.

As he gazed out, he remarked, “The location of this Star-Plucking Pavilion is truly excellent. The view from here is unobstructed and breathtaking.”

“Hmm, what’s that?”

Lord Tian, who had just finished ordering the dishes, leaned over to look. He burst into laughter. “No wonder the Star-Plucking Pavilion is so popular! They really know how to attract customers—staging a live erotic performance for us in broad daylight!”

At this, Lord Wang immediately pulled Zhou Minghai, who had just settled into his seat, over to the window, shoving Lord Li and Lord Tian aside.

“Let me see! It’s indeed a pair of wild mandarin ducks entwined neck to neck. A pity they’re too far away to see clearly.”

Zhou Minghai glanced at the scene and immediately felt it was a disgrace to decency and a corruption of morals. He opened his mouth to scold them, but seeing his colleagues watching with rapt attention, he feared offending them.

He retreated to his seat, irritably sipping his tea.

Lord Li, still watching, speculated, “I bet she’s not a respectable woman. Otherwise, she wouldn’t agree to be manhandled in the courtyard.”

“They’re acting as if heaven and earth mean nothing!”

Lord Wang disagreed. “Why assume she’s not respectable? They’re just a young couple having some fun in their own courtyard. The gate’s closed—how could they know we’re watching from the opposite bank?”

Lord Tian, listening to the back-and-forth between Lord Wang and Lord Li, chuckled, fanning himself with his folding fan. “If you ask me, she’s definitely not respectable.”

“Oh? Why do you say that?” Lord Li asked.

“Look at that pose. How many respectable women could pull that off? She must be a trained courtesan from a pleasure house to coordinate so perfectly.”

Lord Li immediately saw the logic in this and clapped his hands. “You’re right, Brother Tian! Your insight is unparalleled. Since we returned to the capital a day early, why don’t we spend the night at a pleasure house and head home tomorrow?”

“Why not try this position too, just for fun?”

Lord Tian, who had been critiquing the scene with such expertise moments ago, waved his hands frantically. “Absolutely not! I’m too old for such acrobatics. I need to take care of my health.”

“Look at that vigorous young man downstairs,” he added. “He can’t be more than twenty, in the prime of his life.”

Lord Li quickly interjected, “There are plenty of other positions in the brothel, my lord. If this one doesn’t suit you, just ask the girls to change it. Why fuss over such a trivial matter? Don’t you agree, Lord Zhou?”

Zhou Minghai, who had been sipping tea, spat it out when he heard his name mentioned. He hastily declined, “I need to go home. I’ve already sent word to my wife.”

“That won’t do,” Lord Wang said, his face darkening. “We’re on official business together. If you’re the only one going home, what will we tell our wives when they gather? No, we’re all going.”

Seeing Zhou Minghai still hesitating, Lord Wang threatened, “Do you still want that annotated copy of the Four Books?”

When Zhou Minghai remained conflicted, Lord Wang grabbed him by the arm, dragged him to the window, and teased, “You’re still young. Is your body failing you already? Is that why you’re afraid to enter a brothel?”

Below, in the Small Residence across the river, a fierce struggle raged. Song Xuwan sat precariously on a long table, inwardly cursing Baizhi for replacing the soft couch with this uncomfortable piece of furniture.

Ji Moyang, like a ravenous wolf with bloodshot eyes, relentlessly pursued Song Xuwan, refusing to let her go.

“Just endure a little longer,” he urged. “It’ll be over soon.”

“You said that half an incense stick ago!” Song Xuwan sobbed.

Ji Moyang felt a pang of guilt, but his desire quickly overwhelmed him.

Song Xuwan, dressed in a rose-red gown, had her inner garments torn to shreds. Her outer robe, despite her frantic attempts to keep it in place against Ji Moyang’s aggressive advances, kept slipping.

From the upper floor, the onlookers watched as the beauty’s rose-red robe slid inch by inch, revealing her fragrant shoulders and sending strands of her hair flying, creating a scene of breathtaking allure.

“A pity we can’t see her face,” Lord Wang sighed. “I wonder how utterly captivating she must be.”

He turned to Zhou Minghai, whose eyes were fixed in a daze. “What do you say, Lord Zhou? Feeling a bit stirred?”

Zhou Minghai’s mind was reeling. The woman below—her figure… it looked so much like Song Xuwan. And what’s more, Song Xuwan happened to own a rose-red gown.