You Stole My Husband, So I Seduced Your Son - Chapter 59

The memory of a servant from the Exquisite Pavilion once betraying him made his heart pound relentlessly. Surely not, he thought. Song Xuwan wouldn’t do such a thing, would she?

He scrutinized the man before him. The man’s upper body was powerfully built, his arms thick and muscular, as if never satisfied. But his face remained obscured by strands of hair, making it impossible to discern his features.

Unable to endure another moment, Zhou Minghai stumbled toward the stairs, desperate to flee. He had to go home and see for himself. Song Xuwan wouldn’t do this, she couldn’t.

“Hey, Lord Zhou, where are you going? Lord Zhou, don’t run!” Lord Li called after him.

Lord Wang and Lord Tian chuckled behind him. “Just a little brothel visit, why’s he so scared?”

Downstairs, the coachman, who had just settled the carriage and was about to rest, startled when Zhou Minghai descended in a disheveled state. “Master, what’s wrong?”

“Home! Prepare the carriage immediately!” Zhou Minghai barked.

“Yes, yes, yes!” The coachman scrambled to hitch the horses, his hands and feet moving in a flurry.

In the small residence, the battle had finally subsided. Ji Moyang lifted Song Xuwan from the long table, only to find a splinter had snagged her rose-red outer robe, tearing a large gash in the fabric.

Fortunately, Baizhi had been thoughtful enough to prepare several spare sets of clothing in the room. After Song Xuwan dressed, she didn’t dare utter another word, eager to escape as quickly as possible.

“I’ll come back tomorrow,” she said, planning to rest for a day before returning to exhaust Ji Moyang’s energy again.

Ji Moyang chuckled at her hasty departure. “Not coming tonight? Then I’ll be spending the night alone in an empty room.”

Song Xuwan rolled her eyes. “You should go home too,” she retorted. “Otherwise, Madam Min might report you missing.”

After tidying up, Song Xuwan boarded the carriage back to the Song Residence.

Meanwhile, a carriage sped to a halt outside the Zhou Residence on Academy Lane. Before it had even come to a complete stop, Zhou Minghai scrambled out, nearly tripping in his haste.

“Where’s Madam?” he demanded.

“Madam?” The steward paused, startled, then replied, “At the Song Residence, Master. Are you looking for her? I’ll send someone to fetch her immediately.”

“I’ll go myself.”

Zhou Minghai turned abruptly, nearly colliding with his personal attendant. His face darkened as he climbed back into the carriage. “What are you waiting for?” he snapped. “To the Song Residence!”

It was midday when Song Xuwan’s carriage swayed into the Song Residence. Baizhi asked, “Young Miss, shall we return to your chambers?”

“Let’s go see the Old Madam. We can have lunch together.”

Song Xuwan had just changed to a small sedan chair at the second gate when Zhou Minghai’s carriage entered the Song Residence. The steward warmly greeted him.

“Has Madam returned from her outing?”

The steward observed the Son-in-Law, travel-worn and immediately inquiring about Song Xuwan’s whereabouts. Remembering the Young Mistress who had just arrived, he smiled kindly. “An outing? This old servant knows nothing of it. No carriages have been dispatched from the inner courtyard all day.”

Zhou Minghai’s heart immediately settled halfway back into his chest. Thank goodness I didn’t act on my suspicions and rush to the Small Residence to catch them in the act. If I had been wrong, a beating would have been the least of my worries. If my Eldest Maternal Uncle found out I suspected Song Xuwan, I’d be in for a world of trouble.

He smiled. “Please inform Madam that I’ve come to take her home.”

In Rongan Hall, Song Xuwan had just finished paying her respects to the Old Madam when a servant announced, “Old Madam, Young Mistress, the Son-in-Law has come to escort you home.”

“He’s back already?” Song Xuwan asked, surprised.

Seeing that Song Xuwan had been so busy these past few days that she hadn’t even eaten a proper meal, the Old Madam instructed a maid, “Go invite the Son-in-Law to join us for lunch. He can leave after the meal.”

Once the maids had left, Song Xuwan hesitantly said, “Mother, I’ve started a small business outside. Master doesn’t know about it, so please don’t let slip why I’ve been out these past few days.”

The Old Madam glanced sideways at her daughter, knowing this was no mere “small business.” But she would always protect her own child.

Feigning a stern expression, she said, “You’re not a child anymore. You should know what you can and can’t do without me telling you.”

“Yes, yes, Mother is right,” Song Xuwan quickly agreed.

“Hmph, I know you think this old woman nags too much,” the Old Madam grumbled. “But these are my last few years to do so. Once I’m gone, see who’ll bother you then.”

“Who’s complaining? I’d love to hear you nag every day,” Song Xuwan replied, kneeling at her mother’s feet.

After a while, Zhou Minghai was led in, just as Ningning was brought in as well. Seeing her father, the little girl ran and threw herself into his arms.

“Father, you’re back!”

Zhou Minghai instinctively reached out to catch Ningning, his gaze drifting involuntarily to Song Xuwan. Her pale purple dress, not the usual rose-red, was truly beautiful.

After steadying Ningning, Zhou Minghai greeted the Old Madam. The family then enjoyed a warm and lively midday meal before setting off for home.

Throughout the journey, Ningning chattered incessantly, peppering Zhou Minghai with questions about his official duties and any interesting sights he’d seen along the way.

Zhou Minghai patiently answered Ningning’s questions, never finding an opportunity to speak privately with Song Xuwan.

Only upon arriving at the Zhou Residence did he finally manage to ask, “Madam, what have you been doing these past few days?”

Song Xuwan, who had been feigning sleep with her eyes closed and was nearly dozing off, replied coolly, “I simply reverted to my maidenly pursuits—embroidering in my chambers and practicing calligraphy.”

“Madam, did you enjoy embroidery and calligraphy during your maiden days?” Zhou Minghai asked skeptically, teasing, “I bet you tricked the Old Madam into giving you a pile of jewelry, then hid in your room to try it all on, afraid your nieces would resent her favoritism.”

As the carriage entered the Zhou Residence, Song Xuwan disembarked at the inner gate. With a faint smile, she retorted, “Master, don’t let your imagination run wild. Our Song family is a scholarly lineage. The Old Madam would only bestow upon me calligraphy scrolls by renowned masters, not vulgar trinkets of gold and silver.”

At that moment, Nanny Yun and Baizhi stepped down from the carriage behind them. Baizhi held a sandalwood box, clearly filled with treasures. Zhou Minghai, pleased to have guessed correctly again, felt a surge of satisfaction.

“I must apologize, Madam,” he said. “During my recent business trip, I failed to bring back any calligraphy scrolls by renowned masters for you. I truly haven’t been considerate enough.”

Song Xuwan, unwilling to waste time on idle chatter, led Ningning straight to the rear courtyard.

At the foot of Fuyun Temple, Lu Zhengwen and his companions had just descended the mountain when they encountered Ji Moyang returning on horseback.

The group immediately surrounded Ji Moyang, grilling him relentlessly. Xia Yongyan was particularly blunt: “When did I ever give you clothes? Or a horse?” He circled Ji Moyang’s mount, exclaiming, “Fine horse.”

“Since it was a gift from me, this Young Master will be petty for once and take it back right now.”

Ji Moyang forced an awkward smile. “Did you guys blow my cover?”

“And you still dare to ask that!” Zu Hongyuan snapped. “You kept us in the dark about everything! If it weren’t for Lu-xiong and Xia-xiong’s quick thinking, the whole plan would have fallen apart. Now, tell us what you were up to!”