You Stole My Husband, So I Seduced Your Son - Chapter 65

Song Xuwan hadn’t expected Min Rongxue to have converted to Buddhism for Ji Moyang’s sake. She had assumed the woman had simply sought solace in religion out of boredom.

“I’ve noticed Liyue’s health isn’t very good,” Song Xuwan remarked. “Was Young Master Ji also sickly as a child?”

Min Rongxue led Song Xuwan to a distant pavilion, careful to keep their voices low so as not to disturb Ji Moyang, who was resting in his room.

Once they were seated, she replied, “Liyue was born prematurely and has always been frail, often falling ill. But her illnesses are usually mild and pass within a few days. Mo’er, on the other hand, was robust from birth and rarely got sick. But when he did, his condition would become critically dangerous. In our ancestral home, where medical resources were scarce, there were times I feared he wouldn’t survive. Fortunately, the child has an indomitable spirit and always pulled through.”

For some reason, Song Xuwan felt a pang of unease. She casually remarked, “Young Master Ji is an excellent scholar and so sensible. Madam Min must have had an easier time raising him than other mothers.”

Min Rongxue shook her head with a wry smile. “He may seem easygoing, but he bottles everything up inside. Even when I ask him directly, he rarely shares his thoughts. I have to guess at what’s troubling him, which makes him the most worrisome of my children.”

“When he was little, he was often bullied. His schoolbag and clothes would come home torn, but he always insisted he’d simply fallen and damaged them. No matter how many times I questioned him, he stubbornly refused to tell the truth, clinging to his story of a fall.”

“I was so furious that I lashed him with a rattan cane. His back was covered in welts, but he still refused to tell the truth. From that day on, I knew that if he didn’t want to talk, I could never force it out of him.”

Song Xuwan recalled how Ji Moyang’s back always felt slightly uneven whenever she touched it. She had never examined it closely before. Could those have been old scars?

Min Rongxue was truly ruthless. Song Xuwan could never bring herself to whip her own son like that.

Min Rongxue continued, “Later, as his reputation grew, some people with malicious intentions tried to corrupt him. He gritted his teeth and kept everything bottled up inside. I could only suffer alongside him, helpless to do anything.”

“Thankfully, once he enters the examination hall tomorrow, all this darkness will finally be behind him.”

Song Xuwan felt a growing tightness in her chest. Perhaps I ate too much for dinner? Should I get up and walk around?

She glanced at Baizhi, who was still holding the Calming Decoction, and forced a bitter smile. “I even brewed this Calming Decoction for Young Master Ji. I heard he’s been having trouble sleeping in the new bed.”

“Don’t worry,” Min Rongxue replied. “The calming incense I usually use works wonders. He borrowed some to burn before bed.”

Song Xuwan sank onto the stone bench, her heart plummeting. She knew Ji Moyang had laced Min Rongxue’s calming incense with something potent. Now, even if she climbed into his bed, she wouldn’t be able to wake him.

One mistake led to another, and ultimately, she missed her chance.

Seeing Song Xuwan’s troubled expression, Min Rongxue assumed her Calming Decoction had been rejected and quickly apologized, “Madam, I’m deeply grateful for your meticulous care these past few days. I truly don’t know how to repay you.”

Repayment isn’t necessary, Song Xuwan thought. Just stay away from my husband. But Min Rongxue was currently dependent on Zhou Minghai for her livelihood. Even if Song Xuwan demanded she leave, Zhou Minghai wouldn’t abandon her.

Forcing Min Rongxue into a corner would only make Zhou Minghai pity her more.

Since she had already done a good deed, she might as well do it properly.

She smiled. “Madam Min, you’re too kind. Master has been indebted to Grand Academician Min for years. This small gesture is nothing in comparison.”

If Min Rongxue were willing, Zhou Minghai would probably offer himself as repayment for the Grand Academician’s kindness. What was a few gifts of food and clothing?

“Young Master Ji’s exceptional character and talent are truly admirable. Even if our families weren’t connected, we’d still want to help such a promising young man.”

Min Rongxue beamed with pride. “The boy only appears talented. In truth, he’s quite clumsy. His so-called genius is merely the result of diligent practice—a slow bird catching up by flying early.”

“He followed me back to our ancestral home when he was only four years old. Every day, he would wake up at the fourth watch to study, and even after everyone else had gone to bed, he would continue reading late into the night. Over the years, he has truly devoted himself to his studies, yet he has only managed to achieve a modest reputation.”

As Song Xuwan listened to Ji Moyang’s difficult childhood, she thought of her own son, who, at seven or eight years old, still insisted on sleeping until noon and refused to study. At the time, she had felt deeply sorry for him.

Min Rongxue must have felt the same way about her son, especially since he was such a sensible child.

Suddenly, Song Xuwan understood why her heart felt so heavy. Seeking revenge against Zhou Minghai and Min Rongxue was understandable; after all, their years of correspondence had poisoned her marriage.

But what had Ji Moyang done wrong? As the son of a Commandery Prince, he had been unjustly reduced to commoner status. He had studied diligently since childhood and finally managed to reach his current position through sheer hard work.

Time and again, Song Xuwan’s plots against him had been thwarted by some unseen force, as if fate itself recognized his suffering and intervened to help him.

For the first time, Song Xuwan wavered in her resolve for revenge. Should I find another way to retaliate? Should I spare Ji Moyang?

She shook her head with a bitter smile, realizing this was the first time her own kindness had caused her such inner turmoil.

Before they knew it, the two women had been talking for a long time. Song Xuwan never found an opportunity to get closer to Ji Moyang.

Suddenly, the third watch of the night arrived. Min Rongxue listened to the distant drumbeats of the night watchman, a wave of desolation washing over her.

Over the years, she had kept so many unspoken thoughts bottled up, unsure who to confide in. Yet tonight, she had poured out her heart to Song Xuwan, the woman she disliked.

“It’s getting late, Madam. You should retire for the night.”

“You should rest too, Sister Min.”

Song Xuwan watched Min Rongxue shake her head and heard her say she still needed to recite scriptures. It’s over, she thought. There’s no chance left tonight.

Let me be kind just this once, she resolved. I’ll spare Ji Moyang.

The next morning, everyone rose early to see Ji Moyang off to the Examination Compound.

Long before they reached their destination, the carriage was forced to stop. The road was clogged with people sending off candidates and the candidates themselves.

Zhou Minghai ordered everyone to disembark and pointed into the distance. “The carriage can’t get through the crowd. You ladies wait at the tavern up ahead. I’ll take Moyang the rest of the way with the servants.”

Min Rongxue nodded. For the ladies to squeeze through the crowd would be undignified, and besides, it was only a short walk.

She glanced tearfully at Ji Moyang, offering a silent smile before finally saying, “You know what I mean.”

Ji Moyang nodded solemnly, his voice heavy. “Your son understands.”

Entering the examination hall was not like facing execution. Song Xuwan, wanting to lighten the mood, beamed and said, “Congratulations, Young Master Ji! May you return as the Top Scholar!”

Ji Moyang nodded earnestly again. “I will certainly not disappoint Madam’s expectations.”

Zhou Minghai glared speechlessly at Song Xuwan before snapping, “Do you even know this is the Autumn Provincial Exam, the Provincial Examination? The first place is called the Provincial Champion, not the Top Scholar! The Top Scholar is the first place in the Palace Examination! What are you congratulating him on?”

Song Xuwan’s good mood vanished, replaced by annoyance. She rolled her eyes. “Can’t I offer congratulations in advance? I might as well wish Young Master Ji a swift rise to become both a great general and a prime minister! Would you then argue that civil officials can’t become generals?”