Chapter 131: The Day of the Betrothal Gifts (Part I)

Tao Ming’s face turned bright red in an instant, and she pulled the two little ones along as she quickly ducked into the main house.

Tao Sisi looked at the Seventh Prince, lost in thought, and probed, "Kongqing, I feel like you’ve been acting very strangely today."

"Aunt, what is strange about it?"

Tao Sisi mused, "In the past, the way you looked at Mingming was mostly out of admiration. Now, however, there is much more affection. You haven’t fallen in love with Mingming, have you?"

"Aunt, where are your thoughts wandering? I treat Mingming like a younger sister." The Seventh Prince thought to himself how truly terrifying it is when women start gossiping.

Tao Sisi looked disappointed. "Is that so? I was actually thinking of sending Nanxing away today and just having you marry Mingming instead."

"Aunt, don’t scare me. I really do treat Mingming like a younger sister." The Seventh Prince thought to himself that she was his sister in the most literal, undeniable sense.

Tao Ming sat at the table waiting for breakfast, recalling the Seventh Prince’s words, and her face flushed red again. It was all Su Nanxing’s fault—why didn’t he use an isolation array? No, she had to learn how to set up arrays herself; she couldn’t let people overhear them again.

The Seventh Prince sat beside Ruanruan, diligently placing food onto her plate. Ruanruan looked at the small mountain of food in front of her and complained, "Uncle, I can’t eat all of this."

The Seventh Prince paused. "Ruanruan, don’t call me 'Uncle' (cousin-uncle) anymore; just call me 'Uncle'."

"Why?"

The Seventh Prince patted Ruanruan’s little head. "Because 'Uncle' sounds closer than 'Cousin-Uncle'!"

Ruanruan hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at Tao Ming. "Mommy, can I call him Uncle?"

Tao Ming stared at the Seventh Prince, full of doubt. What was this guy up to today? Still, he was her cousin, so calling him "Uncle" seemed correct enough.

"Suit yourself, call him whatever you like." Seeing Nuonuo sitting silently, Tao Ming placed some food on her plate. "Nuonuo, you’re acting a bit off, aren't you?"

Nuonuo stared at the food in front of her and replied softly, "Mommy, I’m fine."

Tao Ming patiently coaxed her. "Nuonuo, if something is wrong, you must tell me. You can’t hide things from me!"

"Mommy, I’m really fine." Nuonuo kept picking at her food, not daring to meet Tao Ming’s eyes.

Seeing that she didn't want to talk, Tao Ming patted her head, deciding in her heart to find a time later to talk to her privately.

The Seventh Prince chose that moment to chime in, "Mingming, if Su Nanxing ever bullies you in the future, just come to me. I’ll stand up for you."

Tao Ming rolled her eyes. "Are you even strong enough to beat him?"

The Seventh Prince was momentarily choked, thinking he would have to find an excuse to improve his cultivation soon.

Seeing the Seventh Prince stay silent, Tao Ming reassured him, "Don’t worry, he would never dream of bullying me."

"I just want you to be happy."

Tao Ming turned to look at the Seventh Prince upon hearing this. She felt his gaze was like that of a father looking at his daughter, and she couldn't help but ask, "Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed today? Why the sudden sentimentality? Could it be that you have a crush on me?"

The Seventh Prince offered a seductive smile. "A crush? Any person with eyes can see that I love you!"

Tao Ming curled her lips. "Then go ahead and chase Su Nanxing away in a moment."

"You would hate me for it."

...

Once the meal was finished, Qin Siyu’s voice could be heard from the courtyard gate: "Nanxing has arrived at the front entrance."

Tao Sisi walked out excitedly. "Let’s go see what the Su family has brought."

Tao Ming was also somewhat expectant; she wondered what kind of treasures were hidden in Su Nanxing’s private treasury.

The Seventh Prince patted Ruanruan’s head. "Does little Ruanruan want to go see?"

"See what?" Ruanruan asked, confused.

Tao Ming thought for a moment and explained it in terms Ruanruan could understand: "Daddy is going to marry Mommy, and today he is bringing over a lot of gifts."

Ruanruan’s eyes lit up. "Are there gifts for me too?"

Tao Ming said uncertainly, "There should be, yes."

"Hmph, I don’t want to go watch!" Realizing Tao Ming was just coaxing her, Ruanruan pouted angrily.

Nuonuo took Ruanruan’s little hand and started walking out. "If you want something, just tell Daddy directly; he will definitely give it to you."

Ruanruan turned back and shouted at Tao Ming, "Mommy, I’m not going!"

Tao Ming followed them, amused, walking side-by-side with the Seventh Prince.

"Mingming..." The Seventh Prince held back the urge to tell her the truth.

"Hmm?" Tao Ming was watching the two little ones, somewhat distracted.

"Mingming, call me 'Brother' from now on, will you? Calling me 'Cousin' feels too distant."

Tao Ming turned her head, looking at the Seventh Prince in surprise. "Why do I feel like you’re acting so weird today?"

"I didn't sleep well last night; I listened to a 'good show' all night long." The Seventh Prince curled his lips and stared at Tao Ming with a strange smile.

Tao Ming pouted. "And you didn't have any reaction?"

"What kind of reaction?" The Seventh Prince was stumped by the question.

Tao Ming gave him a playful wink. "The kind of reaction a normal man should have."

The Seventh Prince felt a headache coming on. How did his own sister turn out like this? It was simply, absolutely—no need to say it, it must have been Su Nanxing who corrupted her!

...

Soon, the group arrived at the front courtyard of the Qin residence. From afar, they saw a large crowd; it seemed almost every member of the Qin family had arrived, blocking the main gate completely.

Tao Sisi shouted loudly, "Make way, Mingming is here!"

The crowd parted, and Qin Youchuan stood at the very front, waving at Tao Ming. "Mingming, come quickly."

Tao Ming was confused and turned to ask, "Mother, I’m collecting the betrothal gifts myself? Shouldn't the elders do that?"

"Naturally, you must collect them yourself; they will have to be brought back as your dowry later," Tao Sisi said, pushing Tao Ming forward.

"Isn't that just like taking off one's pants..." Tao Ming stopped herself, remembering that Ruanruan and Nuonuo were still nearby, and changed her wording: "Isn't this just doing the same thing twice? Why go through all this trouble?"

Tao Sisi laughed. "By going through this back-and-forth, the things that originally belonged to the Su family will officially become yours."

Tao Ming walked up to Qin Youchuan and saw Su Nanxing standing outside the main gate. His eyes and brows were filled with joy, and when he saw Tao Ming, his expression was so tender it was practically overflowing.

Su Nanxing took two steps forward. The word "Wife" had just reached his lips when he heard Qin Youchuan cough. Su Nanxing quickly corrected himself: "From the Su family at East Peace Lane in the Heavenly Saint Imperial City, Su Nanxing of the seventeenth generation has come to present the betrothal gifts. I ask that Miss Tao kindly accept them."

Tao Ming didn't know what to say and spread her hands toward Su Nanxing.

Su Nanxing thought to himself that the Qin family was truly unreliable—how was it that no one had taught Tao Ming the proper etiquette? He curled his finger, signaling for Tao Ming to step closer, and he took a few steps forward himself.

With one standing inside the threshold and the other outside, Su Nanxing handed the list of betrothal gifts to Tao Ming. "Miss Tao, please accept my humble offering."

Tao Ming took the list. A long red silk scroll was neatly folded, with black characters the size of thumbs written upon it. She glanced at it casually: the first few items were a Rainbow Comb and a Glazed Mirror. Then, a Dragon-and-Phoenix Carved Sunset-Wood Bed—she wondered why they needed a bed, as the Star-Plucking Courtyard already had one. There was also a Dragon-and-Phoenix Carved Sunset-Wood Dressing Table.

Following that was a long list of daily necessities. Tao Ming flipped further down and saw Starry Gauze, Flowing Cloud Silk, and a long list of fabric names. Further down were Purple Flame Ginseng, Heavenly Frost Mushrooms, Cloud Spirit Grass, and other medicinal ingredients.

Tao Ming wanted to look more closely, but Su Nanxing lowered his voice and said, "Just take a look and put it away for now."

Tao Ming nodded and tucked the list away, also lowering her voice. "Shouldn't the bed and dressing table be prepared by the bride's family?"

Su Nanxing’s voice was gentle. "Wife, according to the customs here in Weishui, it is only when taking a concubine that the bride's family prepares the bed, signifying that the family is sending the daughter away along with the bed, meaning she no longer has any ties to her maiden home."