You Stole My Husband, So I Seduced Your Son - Chapter 7

Ji Moyang’s handsome brows furrowed. Reserved and socially awkward, he disliked such errands and messages.

“Please forgive me, Master. I’ve already moved out of the temple. If that person returns while I’m away, we’ll miss each other. I suggest you entrust someone else with the delivery.”

Ji Moyang thought he might be mistaken, but he glimpsed a sharp glint in the Master’s eyes. When he looked again, the Master’s expression had returned to its usual benevolent calm.

“Very well, then. I’ll leave it at that.”

As soon as the Master left, Xia Yongyan leaped out and whispered, “You did the right thing not taking it. This Master rarely leaves the temple. How could he have asked everyone? He’s clearly lying.”

Ji Moyang raised an eyebrow in surprise but remained silent.

The younger Zu Hongyuan spoke up, “Even if he’s lying, it’s still a gift. What’s wrong with taking it?”

Xia Yongyan smacked Zu Hongyuan’s head in exasperation. “Think about it! This jade pendant is clearly meant to be worn close to the body. What if some hideously ugly young lady suddenly appears, claiming she’s secretly engaged to Moyang, and uses the pendant as proof? How would Moyang explain that?”

Zu Hongyuan suddenly realized something and asked curiously, “Isn’t he a Master? Why would he be arranging marriages?”

“Oh, I get it now,” Zu Hongyuan continued. “He probably thinks Moyang will become famous and successful someday, so he’s trying to curry favor by offering his granddaughter or great-granddaughter in marriage.”

Ji Moyang was speechless. He couldn’t be bothered with Zu Hongyuan’s wild theories and tried to focus on his book, but he couldn’t concentrate on a single word.

With his exceptional talent and striking looks, Ji Moyang had attracted the admiration of many young women back in his hometown.

Min Rongxue had repeatedly warned him to stay focused on his studies and avoid any romantic entanglements. “Concentration is key to success,” she had insisted. “Don’t let distractions cloud your mind.”

He had always adhered to her advice, remaining steadfast and unmoved by any woman he encountered.

But if Zu Hongyuan’s theory was correct—that the Master had come to arrange a marriage—could he refuse a second time? And what about future marriage proposals from powerful officials? How would he handle those?

Ji Moyang had never imagined that dealing with women’s affections would be more challenging than his studies.

On the third floor of the Library Pavilion, Song Xuwan’s gaze remained fixed on Ji Moyang until he disappeared from sight. Only then did she turn to glance at Nanny Yun.

Seeing the nanny’s frightened expression, she remembered the question Nanny Yun had asked earlier and chuckled in surprise.

“Nanny, what are you thinking? How could I possibly kill someone?”

Killing someone would not only stain her own hands, but it would also drive Min Rongxue to cling even more desperately to Zhou Minghai for the rest of her life.

She had considered breaking Ji Moyang’s limbs, but two factors deterred her. First, Ji Moyang’s status was far from that of an ordinary commoner. Second, the more miserable Min Rongxue’s life became, the more Zhou Minghai would likely pity her.

The ideal scenario was for Ji Moyang to ruin his own prospects, his spirit crushed, losing all ambition for worldly pursuits. With Min Rongxue’s entire focus on her son, she would naturally lose any inclination for romantic affairs.

In this way, Min Rongxue would spend the rest of her life tending to her son, who would amount to nothing. She would transform from a spirited young widow into a hopeless old one.

Perfect!

Seeing Song Xuwan’s sinister smile, Nanny Yun probed, “Madam, if you’ve summoned Master’s men and are investigating Young Master Ji, what do you intend to do if not kill him?”

“Nanny,” Song Xuwan replied, “Father always said, ‘Never fight a war on your own land. Even if you win, the victory will be pyrrhic, leaving behind only shattered mountains and rivers. But if you fight on enemy territory, even a retreat is a minor victory, for it’s their homeland that lies in ruins.'”

Min Rongxue thought she could disrupt Song Xuwan’s family? Not a chance. Song Xuwan would drag the battlefield to Min Rongxue’s doorstep, destroy her son—the source of her pride—and strip her of any reason to boast for the rest of her life.

Nanny Yun remained puzzled. “Madam, do you plan to send Young Master Ji to the border to fight? He’s preparing for the imperial examinations; he’d likely refuse to go.”

When Song Xuwan simply smiled and fell silent, Nanny Yun pressed on, “The Min woman is the widow of Prince Guangyang. Master would never marry her; she’ll remain a pariah for life. Madam, put your mind at ease. We can live happily ever after.”

Now that Song Xuwan knew about this thorn in her side, how could she possibly live happily ever after? She sighed deeply and prepared to descend the stairs.

Nanny Yun felt uneasy, fearing Song Xuwan might encounter Ji Moyang downstairs and some unpredictable incident might occur.

“Madam, you can’t only think of Master. You must consider the Young Master and Young Miss. If you and Master fall out, everyone will lose face. How will the children face the world in the future?”

Song Xuwan wholeheartedly agreed. If not for protecting her son and daughter’s upbringing, she wouldn’t have chosen such a gentle approach.

“Nanny, you don’t need to worry.”

Nanny Yun’s heart nearly leaped out of her chest. How could she possibly relax at a time like this?

“Madam, you haven’t seen your own face. Anyone can tell you’re planning something. Please heed my advice. We’ve lived half our lives already. Let’s spend the rest raising the Young Master and Young Miss well, and our lives will pass peacefully. In the next life, we simply won’t marry Master.”

Song Xuwan scoffed. “It’s best to resolve matters of this life in this life. The next life will have its own fate.”

With that, the group reached the ground floor. Fuyun Temple was crowded with young women, so Song Xuwan’s appearance drew little attention.

From a distance, Song Xuwan observed Ji Moyang. His back was ramrod straight, his posture radiating an air of scholarly detachment, as if he were completely absorbed in his books and oblivious to the world around him. It was almost unbearable to resist the urge to shatter this serene facade.

Unbeknownst to him, Ji Moyang hadn’t been able to focus on a single word for quite some time. He turned to Xia Yongyan and asked, “Brother Xia, you visited Fuyun Temple three years ago. Do you know anything about this Master’s background?”

When Xia Yongyan didn’t respond, Ji Moyang looked up and saw him staring intently into the distance, as if his gaze were following the woman’s retreating figure.

“Brother Xia?” Ji Moyang asked again.

“Quiet! Let me admire her a bit longer. She’s truly breathtaking. After all this time in the Capital, this is the first time I’ve seen such beauty—a sight that transcends the mundane!”

After Xia Yongyan finished speaking, Zu Hongyuan teased, “Too bad she’s already married.”

“Mind your tongue,” Xia Yongyan retorted.

As the pale pink gauze skirt disappeared behind a pillar, Xia Yongyan finally turned around, grumbling, “Did you think I didn’t notice her married woman’s hairstyle? I wasn’t suggesting anything—just appreciating a beautiful woman.”

He sighed again. “Such exquisite beauty… what a waste on some bastard.”

Listening to Xia Yongyan and Zu Hongyuan’s frivolous banter, Ji Moyang couldn’t find an opening to interject. He turned to Lu Zhengwen on his other side.

“Brother Lu, do you know anything about this Master’s background?”