You Stole My Husband, So I Seduced Your Son - Chapter 60

“It’s nothing,” Ji Moyang said, trying to brush it off.

Xia Yongyan immediately cut him off. “If you lie again, we won’t cover for you anymore.”

Forced to confess, Ji Moyang reluctantly admitted, “It was just… you know. We exchanged some clothes and a horse.”

“Just what? What do you mean ‘you know’? We don’t know!”

The group continued their noisy ascent to Fuyun Temple. When Zu Hongyuan realized Ji Moyang was refusing to reveal any details, he threatened, “Fine, if he won’t tell us the truth, we’ll make sure he can’t consummate his marriage when the time comes. Then he’ll regret keeping secrets from us today.”

Xia Yongyan chuckled. “You’re so naive. By the time he gets married, he probably already has a son. They’ve probably consummated their marriage long ago, ha ha ha!”

Ji Moyang’s face flushed crimson under their teasing. He admitted to meeting the young lady in secret but refused to divulge any further details, frustrating his friends until they finally let him go home.

Back at the annex, Ji Moyang greeted Min Rongxue with a slightly guilty bow. “Academician Zeng insisted on reviewing my essays,” he explained. “I had to stay and write one for his critique. I completely lost track of time, and I’m sorry for making Mother worry.”

“Our Young Master has always been like this,” Madam Ma quickly interjected. “When he was little, if we didn’t call him to eat, he’d sit at the table reading all day, completely losing track of time. Isn’t that right, Madam?”

Min Rongxue, who had been about to scold him, softened her tone. “It’s good you’re back. The exams are just a few days away. You should start preparing.”

“Yes, Madam.”

After Ji Moyang left, Madam Ma remembered Feng Shi and muttered, “How did he even look for him? Didn’t they run into each other on the road?”

Little did she know that Feng Shi had arrived at the Small Residence shortly after Ji Moyang left. He had lingered outside for a while, and when he saw no one around, he cautiously peeked through the door crack.

After watching for some time and seeing no movement inside, he mustered the courage to climb over the wall. Finding the place deserted, he boldly began searching the premises.

Apart from a few men’s and women’s garments, the Small Residence contained nothing else. There wasn’t even any sign of a fire, making it seem uninhabited.

Why would the Young Master rent this place? Feng Shi wondered. If it’s for quiet reading, why are there women’s clothes here?

Could it be? Feng Shi wondered. Does the Young Master have a secret, unspeakable fetish? Is that why he’s hiding women’s clothing here?

Feng Shi suddenly felt he had uncovered the truth. However, such a matter would tarnish the Young Master’s reputation, so it was best to keep it hidden from everyone.

As evening approached, Zhou Minghai finished his official duties, drafted his official report, and returned to the rear courtyard to prepare for dinner.

Entering the main room, he found it empty. Frowning, he stepped into the inner chamber and discovered Song Xuwan trying on the jewelry. His frown gradually relaxed.

He glanced at the pearl hairpin in Song Xuwan’s hair, opened the wardrobe, and found several rose-red dresses. After a moment’s thought, he pulled one out.

“The gemstone in your hair would pair nicely with this rose-red dress.”

Song Xuwan’s legs nearly buckled at the sight of the rose-red dress in Zhou Minghai’s hand. That scoundrel Ji Moyang seemed to have a particular fondness for her in rose-red, driving him into a frenzy every time.

She pressed down the frantic pounding of her heart, her face cold as she said, “This style is from two years ago. I don’t like it, and I don’t like rose pink either.”

Zhou Minghai’s smile widened slightly as he casually set the dress down. “Alright, did you not get enough of trying things on at the Song Residence? You’ve been trying things on all afternoon since you got back. Aren’t you going to eat dinner?”

Song Xuwan hadn’t had time to try on jewelry at the Song Residence; she had spent the afternoon resting after returning home and had only just gotten up to try on the new jewelry the Old Madam had given her.

But her stomach was indeed growling. Reluctantly, she set down the jewelry in her hand and sighed as she turned away from her beloved jewelry box.

After dinner, Zhou Minghai said to Song Xuwan, “The Autumn Provincial Exam is on the ninth of the eighth lunar month. Tomorrow is the seventh, so I’ll go check on the Annex. I plan to have Madam Min and her three children come to our residence on the eighth, so Moyang can easily travel to the Examination Compound from here on the ninth.”

Song Xuwan nodded. Living nearby would be ideal, offering more opportunities.

“Master’s plan is sound. I’ll have the guest rooms cleaned immediately.”

“Madam is truly virtuous,” Zhou Minghai complimented before adding, “During my recent trip to the Imperial Mausoleum, the staff managed to procure several baskets of early-season grapes. I divided them into two baskets. Since I’m visiting the Song Residence today, have someone deliver one basket there later. I’ll take the other basket to the Annex tomorrow for Madam Min to try.”

Song Xuwan nearly misheard him. “Not even one basket for our own household?” she asked, surprised.

Zhou Minghai hadn’t anticipated this question. He replied casually, “You and Ningning will be at the Annex anyway. We can all enjoy the grapes together with Madam Min there.”

“What?” Song Xuwan didn’t know how to react. Now she needed Min Rongxue’s approval just to eat some early-season grapes?

Her expression darkened instantly, and she retorted sarcastically, “What does it matter whether I eat them or not? They’re not some precious delicacy. But since Master brought them all the way from the Imperial Mausoleum, you’d think he’d save some for his own son. Xinglin will be returning from the Imperial Academy in a few days.”

Hearing Song Xuwan’s words, Zhou Minghai finally remembered he had a son. There were only two baskets of grapes. Normally, whenever the Song Residence had something good, they would send a portion to the Zhou Residence. Today, Zhou Minghai had finally acquired something fresh and wanted to send a portion to the Song Residence to save face.

With one basket remaining, he desperately wanted to give it to Madam Min. He remembered how much she used to love grapes. After all these years in her ancestral home, he wondered if she could even afford them.

His fleeting guilt vanished as he said dismissively, “Xinglin isn’t coming back for a few more days, is he? This basket of grapes will probably spoil in this heat by then. Besides, they might be available in the market by then. We can just buy him more then. What’s a few days’ delay?”

“How can that be the same?” Song Xuwan retorted. “These grapes were specially brought back by Father from out of town. How can they compare to something casually bought on the street?”

For days, Song Xuwan had watched Zhou Minghai fuss over Ji Moyang, treating him like his own son and paving the way for his future. She had long felt deeply wronged on behalf of her own son.

Now, even a basket of grapes was deemed too good for his own son!

“Why couldn’t you have Madam Min wait a few days until they’re available in the market? Then you could buy her fresh ones. Why did you have to make my son suffer?”

Zhou Minghai found Song Xuwan’s reaction excessive. “Is a basket of grapes really worth this?” he snapped. “When did you become so petty? Madam Min and her family are our guests, and she’s the daughter of my Honored Teacher. How could I possibly slight her?”

“Petty?” Song Xuwan roared, her entire body trembling with rage. “In all my years, no one has ever called me that! She—Min Rongxue—is living on my dowry estate, eating, wearing, and using only the finest things I personally selected for her. I’ve meticulously cared for her and her two children for months, and you still call me petty? Fine! Let’s see who’s generous enough to take care of them. I, Song Xuwan, can’t afford to cater to such demands!”