Chapter 99 Seduction

Chapter 99: Seduction

Today was supposed to be a happy occasion. Jiang Fulang had run back to his family home a few days ago, and Old Master Jiang was initially displeased, but seeing his haggard return, he ultimately held back harsh words.

"It's good that you're back. You're no longer a child, so stop throwing tantrums."

Jiang Fulang's gaze carried weariness and self-mockery. "Yes, I suppose things are different from when I was young."

Old Master Jiang's heart clenched. He stiffly changed the subject. "I haven't seen this page before. Did you buy him recently?"

Jiang Fulang replied coldly, "Mm."

His family home was in Xihe Village west of the city. Old Master Jiang was also originally from Xihe Village before making his fortune. A river there was a branch of the great river west of the city.

This time, Jiang Fulang had returned in low spirits and was taking a walk by the river when he happened upon Xiao Liu, who had drifted there.

He had no memory of anything, claiming he didn't know where his home was, only that his name was Xiao Liu. Jiang Fulang, kind-hearted, took him in and called a doctor to care for him. Only recently, when Xiao Liu's health improved, did he bring him back to the Jiang household.

The days that followed were peaceful, but Meng Wan kept thinking about that page and wanted to find a chance to visit Jiang Fulang and probe further.

However, before he could act, Concubine Tao grew impatient first.

Another rainy day. Concubine Tao wore an inner garment and a form-fitting rose-pink brocade dress, waiting on the path Song Tingzhou took when returning from school.

Seeing a tall figure approaching from afar, she held an umbrella and pretended to pass by Song Tingzhou.

As they drew close, the ground was slippery. Concubine Tao accidentally stepped on her hem and seemed about to fall onto Song Tingzhou, who was walking with his head down. But he quickly stepped back, and she fell straight into a puddle.

Since only the main streets of Changping were flagstone-paved, the alleys were tamped dirt roads. After rain, the roads were muddy, and she ended up covered in mud.

Song Tingzhou turned his face away, not looking at her, and said to the air, "Miss, are you all right?"

Having vaguely noticed from afar that Concubine Tao had her hair half-loose with two strands of hair hanging in front, Song Tingzhou mistakenly thought she was an unmarried girl from some household in the alley.

Soaking wet, her delicate, graceful body clinging to the thin fabric, Concubine Tao said in a seductive, weak voice, "I twisted my ankle and can't get up. Could you please help me up, sir?"

Song Tingzhou's straight, sword-like brows furrowed slightly. "It wouldn't be proper for a man and woman to be alone."

Concubine Tao said softly, "There's no one around. You only need to help me to my doorstep. No one will see. If I lie any longer in this muddy water, I'll likely fall ill. I beg you to take pity on me."

Without looking back, Song Tingzhou walked forward and said over his shoulder, "My house is just ahead; I'll send a page to escort you home."

Seeing him walk farther away, she tried again, "But I'm lying on the ground, half-wet, freezing cold. Could you lend me an outer robe, sir, to shield me from the wind and rain?"

Song Tingzhou stopped, his tone apologetic, "It's not that I'm unwilling to help, miss, but if I lend you my robe and I catch a cold, my husband will worry about me. Please wait a moment. I'll return home and send a page over."

Concubine Tao sat up abruptly in the mud, staring in dismay at Song Tingzhou's back as he quickly disappeared. She trembled with rage and kicked the oilpaper umbrella aside.

The pages from the Song household knew her, and besides, she didn't actually want a page to help her.

Shaking her muddy sleeves in anger, Concubine Tao, pale-faced, staggered toward the side gate of the Jiang residence.

Her maid was waiting by the gate, and seeing her drenched, her beautiful clothes soaked with mud, hurriedly ushered her inside. "Miss Tao, where's your umbrella? How did you get so wet?"

Concubine Tao stared straight at her, a hint of ruthlessness in her eyes. "Don't ask what you shouldn't, and don't say what you shouldn't."

The maid was so frightened that she lowered her head, not daring to look up, and replied in a trembling voice, "Yes."

"Go to the kitchen and get hot water and ginger soup. I want to bathe and change."

Concubine Tao's bedroom was near the side gate, so she could have avoided people and gone back to her room, but she ran into the page serving Jiang Fulang.

Xiao Liu bowed to her respectfully and said in surprise, "What happened to you, Madam Tao? You look as if you've rolled in the mud."

Concubine Tao sneered at him, "Watch your tongue. If you don't want it, come to my room and I'll cut it off myself."

Xiao Liu, frightened, covered his mouth and said with tears in his eyes, "Yes, ma'am."

He turned around, sobbing as he wandered the courtyard with an umbrella, and happened to run into Old Master Jiang, who was coming to see Concubine Tao.

Old Master Jiang looked stern, with fine lines on his forehead and the corners of his mouth turned down. "What's with all the crying? Were you scolded by the master?"

Xiao Liu lowered his head. "No... not the master, it was Madam Tao."

A flicker of displeasure crossed Old Master Jiang's eyes. "You're the master's page. How could Madam Tao scold you?"

Xiao Liu stammered, "I-I just saw Madam Tao come back from outside soaking wet and asked out of curiosity... I asked one question, and she scolded me, threatening to cut out my tongue."

Xiao Liu was so scared that tears started streaming uncontrollably from the corners of his eyes. He wasn't particularly handsome, but he was young, with fair, delicate skin and a bright red birthmark between his eyebrows. His crying made him look especially pitiful.

Old Master Jiang's tone softened involuntarily. "Alright, we're a respectable household. We don't use harsh punishments on servants over a small matter. Go back to the master's room and stop your crying."

Xiao Liu bowed to Old Master Jiang. His waist was so slender it could be encircled with one hand, and the bow made him appear even more supple, like a newly sprouted willow branch in the alley.

After he turned and left, Old Master Jiang kept his eyes on that slender waist.

When he reached Concubine Tao's room, he found that she was bathing and changing clothes. On the floor was a wooden tub with the mud-soaked brocade dress in it.

This was precious fabric he had set aside for the family—only two bolts in all. Even Jiang Fulang and Old Madam Jiang each received only half a bolt. Since Concubine Tao had given birth to a son, the remaining bolt was given to her and the child.

Seeing Old Master Jiang arrive, Concubine Tao hurriedly got out of the bath and put on a robe.

"Master, why are you here?"

Old Master Jiang's voice was flat. "Where have you been? Where's the child?"

Only after she put on clothes did Concubine Tao stop rushing, as if that layer of fabric could preserve her fragile pride.

She wiped her hair with a cloth, nonchalantly saying, "The wet nurse and Chun Ying are watching him."

Concubine Tao finished speaking and looked down. The dirty clothes lay between her and Old Master Jiang, and he still wore that indifferent expression.

Her heart raced, and she quickly added, "I went out to buy fruit for you, Master. You said the fruit on Yingluo Street was good. But on the way back, I was in a hurry and slipped."

Old Master Jiang's demeanor softened somewhat. "Where are the fruits?"

Concubine Tao hastily pulled two bowls of fruit from the basket on the low table. They were indeed the kind Old Master Jiang liked to eat.

Old Master Jiang looked at the two bowls of pastries and fruits without expression. They were neatly arranged, with hardly any crumbs at the bottom.

Next door at the Song residence, Bi Yun returned from outside with an umbrella and a robe draped over her arm.

"Master, there was no one on the street?"

Song Tingzhou was surprised. "No one? Perhaps she went home on her own."

But Meng Wan found it odd. "What did the young lady look like?"

Song Tingzhou said sincerely, "I am a married man. How could I stare at an unmarried woman's face?"

In short, he didn't remember what she looked like.

Meng Wan was caught between laughter and tears. "That's not that exaggerated."

Song Tingzhou pursed his lips, his expression slightly displeased—if Meng Wan stared at someone else too long, he would definitely be jealous.

"Oh dear, it seems my husband is getting angry?"

Meng Wan signaled for Bi Yun to leave, then took hold of Song Tingzhou's arm to placate him. "My husband is so handsome and talented, his looks and learning both outstanding—surely you've charmed some young lady?"

Song Tingzhou pulled him into a half-embrace, his voice firm. "I only love Wanwan."

Meng Wan's eyes curved, his gaze tender and full of lingering affection. "Of course I know, that's why I trust you."

A single thread of love, binding two hearts. The endless drizzling rain, the whispering spring.

The next day, as Song Tingzhou's class was about to end, Meng Wan waited in an inconspicuous alley to secretly watch. He wanted to see which lady dared to poach his husband.

After a while, Song Tingzhou walked from one end first—blue robe, black belt, striding like the wind, broad shoulders, narrow waist, and a stern face.

Meng Wan nodded inwardly. Tall and handsome—no wonder he was his husband.

He hid behind a willow tree in the alley, so Song Tingzhou didn't see him; he just walked briskly home.

Meng Wan looked around, wondering if that lady from yesterday would show up for another "coincidental meeting." Sure enough, soon after, a woman behind Song Tingzhou lifted her skirt and ran up to call him.

"Sir, sir, please wait a moment."

Concubine Tao had changed her clothes again today—a light green ruqun, with a wide belt cinched at her waist, and a pale-yellow ornamental knot hanging from the hem, swaying as she moved, quite attractive.

She had also put on makeup, her lips bright red, her brows curved like willow leaves. Unlike yesterday when she held an umbrella, today she made sure Song Tingzhou could clearly see her pretty face at a glance.

Song Tingzhou walked a bit further, deliberately increasing the distance between them, then slowed his pace. "Miss, if you have something to say, speak quickly. But don't delay too long—my husband is waiting for me at home for dinner."

Concubine Tao's smiling face stiffened. Could this man talk about anything other than his husband?

But it didn't matter. Weren't all men the same? Once there's someone new, the old one becomes nothing.

Thinking of how she had seduced Master Jiang back then, her expression shifted to one of sorrow and plea, her voice sorrowful and pitiful. "I just admire you, sir, and want to spend a little more time with you. I only beg you to grant my sincere feelings."

She realized that being subtle with Song Tingzhou was useless—better to be direct.

If a man wants to take advantage of a woman, he uses force; but a woman seducing a man is just a thin window paper away—just stretch out a delicate, fair finger and poke...

Easily, the paper is broken.

But Song Tingzhou reacted extremely strongly. He stepped back with a cold face, distancing himself from the strange woman. "I've already told you I have a husband at home, yet you still disregard your reputation to cling to me. If you don't care about your honor, that's your business, but I can't let my husband misunderstand."

He then turned and left with a flick of his sleeve. Concubine Tao couldn't catch up; she was panting hard, her chest heaving.

In the village, in the gambling den, at the labor market, even in the Jiang household—she had never met a man so insensible to romance. She considered herself quite attractive, yet this Juren Song avoided her as if she were a snake or scorpion, as if she weren't a charming woman but a man-eating tiger.

"So it's you!"

Meng Wan came out of the alley, pretending to suddenly realize something.

Concubine Tao hadn't expected Meng Wan to see her. She turned her head, pressing a hand to her racing heart, and lied blatantly, "I was just taking a walk in the alley."

Meng Wan didn't bother with her nonsense. "I was wondering who had such good taste to fancy my husband. Turns out it's the concubine of the Jiang family. You're coveting another woman's husband—I wonder if Master Jiang knows about this."

Concubine Tao shrieked, "That's bullshit! If you dare say a word in front of Master, I'll tear your mouth apart!"

Both wearing blue robes, Meng Wan was much taller than Concubine Tao. He raised an eyebrow, scanning her from head to toe with a dismissive look. "Whether I tell Master Jiang or not aside, with your looks, unless my husband is blind, you pose no threat to me."

Meng Wan's attitude was as if he were looking at a mere object. A mix of inferiority and hatred twisted her face, and she wished she could become a vengeful spirit and devour him alive.

But she wasn't completely foolish. She knew Meng Wan was deliberately provoking her. After calming herself, she quickly smoothed the loose hair by her cheek.

"I don't know what Meng Fulang is talking about. I merely met Juren Song on the road and exchanged a few words. If Juren Song insists on talking to me, am I supposed to ignore a Juren, a master?"

Meng Wan glanced at her casually, his eyes smiling, but with an icy cold underneath. "I wouldn't bother if you wanted to humiliate yourself. But even if you used some dirty trick to get together with him and entered our house, do you think I'm as weak and easy to bully as the husband of the Jiang family?"

He stepped closer, taking out a handkerchief, and held her chin through the fabric. His voice was dreamlike, not forceful but striking. "You should know I do business outside and have a wide network. If it comes to that, I'll break your legs, tie you up, chop you into pieces and toss you into the river as fish food, or sell you back to a brothel for others to abuse. I have endless ways to handle someone like you."

Concubine Tao's breath quickened. Her momentum faltered instinctively, her voice trembling. "You... you wouldn't dare!"

"Ha ha ha."

As if amused by her reaction, Meng Wan laughed twice. "Want to give it a shot?"

He released her chin, and the handkerchief naturally fell to the ground, soaked in mud. Meng Wan pointed at it. "Oh, by the way, if you like this kind of handkerchief, you can pick this one up too."

The handkerchief was soaked in dirty water—clearly, Meng Wan wouldn't want it anymore.

So that day Meng Wan had known. He knew she picked up the handkerchief he had thrown away.

Concubine Tao looked at him as if he were a demon, then looked at the handkerchief on the ground. She stepped back, moving away from Meng Wan, and then bolted.

The road was muddy; she slipped twice, landing face-first in the mud, as if a ghost was chasing her, crawling and scrambling her way back to the Jiang household.

"Hmph, just a cynical, edgy teenager. All he does is talk tough." Meng Wan summed him up, picking his steps on the cleaner patches of ground, and leisurely walked home.