You Stole My Husband, So I Seduced Your Son - Chapter 8

Lu Zhengwen was deeply immersed in his studies and cared little for social interaction. Ji Moyang had initially held no hope of engaging him in conversation, but to his surprise, Lu Zhengwen set aside his book and gestured for him to sit down for a long talk.

“This Master’s Dharma name is Nianyi,” Lu Zhengwen explained. “He’s a monk the Abbot met during his travels. I heard they debated Buddhist scriptures for three days without either gaining the upper hand, so the Abbot invited him back to Fuyun Temple. Since then, he’s been a guest here, highly revered by the monks.”

Such a high-ranking Buddhist monk wouldn’t come all this way just to arrange a marriage for a junior family member, Ji Moyang thought, shaking his head with a wry smile. I’ve really lost my mind, letting Zu Hongyuan’s drunken ramblings distract me this long.

“There are scriptures in the Library Pavilion annotated by Master Nianyi,” Lu Zhengwen added. “If you’re interested, I can take you to see them.”

Ji Moyang nodded and rose, gesturing for Lu Zhengwen to lead the way.

I can’t focus on my studies anyway, he thought. Perhaps studying Buddhist teachings will help calm my mind.

On the way back, Song Xuwan pondered how to shatter Ji Moyang’s convictions and strip him of all ambition.

Born into the imperial family, with his father having hanged himself after being implicated in a rebellion, Ji Moyang should be extremely cautious about matters of principle, never daring to cross the line.

Therefore, framing him politically—attempting to persuade the Emperor to exile the Min Rongxue family again—would be difficult.

Since she couldn’t attack him on moral grounds, only personal affairs remained.

What if I put a young woman in his bed to break his vow of celibacy?

Ji Moyang happened to be staying at the Flowing Cloud Annex every night, where Song Xuwan had her people everywhere, making it easy to slip someone in.

But upon further reflection, she doubted it would be very effective.

Though Ji Moyang was known for his integrity and aversion to women, sleeping with a young woman would merely be a romantic escapade, not something to shatter his principles.

The ideal scenario would be for him to sleep with someone he shouldn’t, enduring public scorn and tarnishing his image as a virtuous gentleman, leaving him utterly humiliated and ashamed.

Only then would his mind be thrown into chaos, distracting him from the imperial examinations and prompting him to take his mother and sister back to their ancestral home sooner.

“I heard that after Grand Academician Min’s death, his son was repeatedly demoted and is now serving as an Education Commissioner in some remote border town?” Song Xuwan asked.

Nanny Yun shook her head. She had been so focused on Song Xuwan’s mood that she hadn’t had time to inquire about Min Rongxue’s family.

But hearing Song Xuwan’s words, she slapped her thigh and exclaimed, “That’s right! If the Min family still has connections in the Capital, we should have Min Rongxue return to her maiden home. That would stop Master from worrying about her all day.”

Returning to her maiden home would be far from ideal. It would put her beyond Song Xuwan’s reach. It was best to keep her at the Flowing Cloud Annex, where Song Xuwan could monitor every move of the family, down to their sneezes.

Suddenly, Nanny Yun remembered something and said, “I seem to recall that the Second Madam’s cousin married the Min family’s Second Master.”

“What a coincidence! It seems I’ll be visiting my maiden home today.”

The carriage smoothly entered Jade Willow Alley, stopping at the first residence—the home of the Censor-in-Chief of the Imperial Censorate and the Deputy Commander of the Five Wards Directorate, two brothers who held significant positions in the capital.

The carriage halted effortlessly at the second gate, where respectful greetings echoed along the path. Song Xuwan transferred to a soft sedan chair and was carried toward Rongan Hall, the Old Madam’s residence.

Song Xuwan was the late-born daughter of her parents, born prematurely. Master and Madam Song doted on her like a precious jewel, fearing she might not survive if they weren’t careful.

Her father, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, was a formidable figure in court, his presence akin to the Ten Kings of Hell incarnate. Yet when he returned home to his little daughter, he dared not raise his voice, lest his imposing aura frighten her.

As Song Xuwan grew older, her father meticulously sought a suitable match, prioritizing his daughter’s happiness over wealth or status. With Grand Academician Min’s endorsement, he arranged her marriage to Zhou Minghai.

“If only Father were still here,” Song Xuwan murmured.

If her father were alive, he would have undoubtedly intervened upon learning of Zhou Minghai’s ambiguous relationship with Min Rongxue, insisting on her divorce and return home.

Now that her eldest and second brothers were in charge of the household, Song Xuwan couldn’t only consider her own feelings. She also had to think about the wishes of her two sisters-in-law, especially since there were still unmarried nieces in the family, and reputation remained paramount.

Remembering the late Old Master, Nanny Yun felt a pang of sorrow. He had been the person who cherished Madam Song the most in the world.

Wiping away her tears, Nanny Yun forced a smile and comforted her, “Though the Old Master is gone, the Old Madam is still here. The Eldest Master and Second Master also dote on you, Madam. Why not tell them? They’ll make the decision for you.”

Song Xuwan shook her head. “If I tell Mother and my brothers, what then? Mother will scold Zhou Minghai, and my brothers will beat him. At worst, he’ll be demoted. But how would that harm Min Rongxue? She’d still be able to raise her son in peace, and one day, she might even gain an imperial decree through her son’s future status.”

“Even if we took drastic measures against the Min family, wouldn’t that just strengthen Zhou Minghai’s devotion to Min Rongxue in their shared hardship?”

If I can’t find peace, no one else will either.

“I’m old enough to handle this trivial matter myself. There’s no need to trouble Mother and my brothers with such domestic affairs. Nanny, you mustn’t say a word about this.”

In the blink of an eye, they arrived at Rongan Hall. Song Xuwan immediately spotted Eldest Madam Song, Meng Shi, dressed in a crimson-red jacket embroidered with gold phoenixes and adorned with a golden hairpin featuring a pond lotus design. Her entire ensemble radiated regal splendor, befitting her status as a second-rank imperial decree-bearing madam.

As Song Xuwan stepped down from the sedan chair, Eldest Madam Song greeted her with a warm smile and offered a steadying hand.

Second Madam Song emerged from the house, wearing a rose-purple silk jacket embroidered with gold thread and a gold hairpin adorned with kingfisher feathers. She stood ready to lift the curtain for Song Xuwan.

As a daughter-in-law, pleasing one’s mother-in-law was paramount. In the Song family, however, pleasing the younger sister-in-law was equivalent to pleasing the mother-in-law. Thus, both Madam Songs never dared to show Song Xuwan the slightest disrespect.

To be fair, while Song Xuwan was delicate, she was never overbearing and possessed a kind heart. The two Madam Songs didn’t find her difficult to serve, and they genuinely treated each other like sisters.

“Thank you for welcoming me, Eldest Sister-in-Law and Second Sister-in-Law,” Song Xuwan said, offering a proper greeting. Returning to her maiden home meant ensuring her sisters-in-law were happy, as their contentment ensured everyone’s joy.

More importantly, both sisters-in-law came from noble families, were well-educated, and managed the household with exceptional skill. Their capable management had allowed Old Madam to enjoy years of familial bliss, for which Song Xuwan was genuinely grateful.

“We’re family, Sister. No need for such formality,” Eldest Madam Song said with a smile.

“Exactly! A little maid ran over earlier, announcing the Eldest Young Mistress’s return. The Old Madam was so delighted she rushed to put on her shoes and socks to wait for you. Come inside quickly—she’s been eagerly anticipating your arrival.”

Song Xuwan lifted her skirt and hurried into the inner chambers. There, she found Old Madam seated on the luohan bed, wearing a dark red silk jacket embroidered with auspicious patterns and a jade-inlaid headband. Her eyes crinkled with a warm smile as she waited for Song Xuwan to enter.

Her mother, though over sixty, looked remarkably energetic, instantly dispelling Song Xuwan’s worries.

She rushed into the Old Madam’s arms, acting like a little girl, playfully teasing and acting silly, which made the Old Madam and her two sisters-in-law cover their mouths in amusement.

“Why are you here at this odd hour? Is something the matter?” the Old Madam asked, fearing her daughter might be suffering mistreatment in her husband’s household.

Song Xuwan shook her head with a smile. “Nothing’s wrong. I just stopped by after visiting the temple to burn incense. How have you been feeling lately, Mother?”

“What could be wrong with an old woman like me? As long as all of you are well, I’m perfectly fine.”

After chatting with her mother for a while, recounting every little detail about the family, Song Xuwan made an excuse to leave.

Hearing her daughter was returning home, the Old Madam didn’t try to keep her. Since her daughter had married nearby, she could easily visit whenever needed, so there was no lingering sense of separation.

Second Madam Song, who didn’t manage the household affairs and had plenty of free time, offered to see her sister-in-law to the door.

“Second Sister-in-Law, I heard your cousin married Grand Academician Min’s second son?”