Chapter 133: The Day of the Betrothal Gifts (Part III)

Su Nanxing ran another circuit around the imperial city, then returned to the Su residence to inform his parents. Afterward, he quietly scaled the wall into the Qin residence, intending to take Tao Ming to an inn outside the city and confess everything about his secret.

Who could have guessed that the moment he climbed into Web Cave, dozens of pairs of eyes would turn toward him? The Seventh Prince looked him up and down in astonishment.

“What are you doing here?”

Su Nanxing scratched his head awkwardly. “Why are all of you here?”

Qin Youchuan’s anger flared. “You actually managed to climb in? The defensive formation couldn’t stop you?”

Su Nanxing thought, You climbed over the wall of the Su residence yourself, didn’t you? Nevertheless, he immediately lowered his head and admitted his fault.

“Grandfather, I was wrong.”

Tao Ming came over and looped her arm through his. “Grandfather, I was the one who asked him to come. If you want to scold someone, scold me.”

Qin Youchuan thought bitterly, Girls really do forget their families once they grow up. He waved toward everyone.

“All right, disperse. Everyone, disperse.”

The members of the Qin family winked and gestured teasingly at Su Nanxing before leaving Stargazing Courtyard one after another.

Qin Siyu looked displeased. “Nanxing, what have you come here for?”

“Father, I want to take Mingming out.” Su Nanxing lowered his head and answered in a small voice.

Qin Siyu ground his teeth. “In any other family, you would have been beaten out by now.”

“Why?” Tao Ming asked, puzzled.

The Seventh Prince was only too happy to watch the spectacle. “Once the betrothal gifts have been delivered, the couple isn’t allowed to see each other again until the wedding day.”

Tao Ming blinked, wondering how she should respond, when Softie suddenly called out, “Daddy, come quickly!”

Su Nanxing thought, Truly, this little darling is my lifesaver. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief and hurried over to a pile of chests. Looking up at Softie and Nono, who were standing atop them, he stretched out his arms nervously.

“Why did you climb so high? What if you fall?”

Tao Ming rolled her eyes at his words. The two of them were at least first-level Sun-tier cultivators. How could they possibly fall?

Softie pointed at the chest beneath her feet. “Daddy, I feel like there’s something delicious inside. Open it and let me see.”

Su Nanxing said to them, “Jump into Daddy’s arms one at a time. Be careful, and jump slowly.”

Nono obediently jumped down, leaving Softie no choice but to follow.

Once both girls were steady on their feet, Su Nanxing took down the chest Softie had pointed out, dispelled the seal, and opened the lid.

Softie eagerly rose onto her toes to peer inside. Within lay several purple objects shaped like radishes. She cheered.

“I knew there was something delicious inside!”

Everyone looked at one another. How had Softie known that the chest contained something edible?

Could gluttons really be born with a special talent for identifying food?

Su Nanxing took out a Purple Flame Ginseng and tossed it to Softie. “This isn’t delicious at all. It’s bitter and spicy.”

Softie did not believe him. She opened her little mouth and took a bite. After chewing once, she immediately spat it out, tossed the bitten ginseng back into the chest, stuck out her tongue, and fanned it with her tiny hand.

Tao Ming watched her, both exasperated and amused. She crouched beside the girl, took out a bottle of water, and helped her rinse her mouth.

“Sweetheart, you understand now, don’t you? Not everything can be eaten.”

After rinsing her mouth, Softie puffed up angrily. “It tastes awful. It’s such a waste that it’s so pretty.”

Nono took the Purple Flame Ginseng from the chest and devoured it in several loud crunches. When she finished, she licked her lips, still unsatisfied.

“Delicious!”

“Nono, I’m beginning to think your taste is getting stranger and stranger!” Tao Ming thought helplessly. You’re a carnivore, after all!

Nono replied with a beaming smile, “Mother, I was supposed to eat rare treasures and exotic beasts in the first place!”

...

The inner courtyard of the Dong residence.

Dong Yujiao and Dong Yushan were tugging at Dong Yuxuan, peppering him with questions.

“Brother, I heard that the list of betrothal gifts sent by the Su family alone covered an entire wall of East Prosperity Tower. Is that true?”

“I also heard there were more than two hundred carriages hauling the gifts!”

Dong Yuxuan looked at his two younger sisters and asked, “Who has been gossiping in front of you?”

“Brother, everyone in the imperial city knows.”

Dong Yuxuan sighed. “Eighth Sister, Ninth Sister, I’m afraid you won’t be able to enter the Su residence.”

Dong Yujiao had always dreamed of becoming Su Nanxing’s concubine. Upon hearing this, she asked, “Why not?”

There was a trace of envy in Dong Yuxuan’s voice. “I had people keeping watch outside the Qin and Su residences. They reported that Su Nanxing and Tao Ming are practically inseparable and deeply affectionate.”

“With time, they naturally won’t remain as passionate as they are now. I can afford to wait.” Dong Yujiao thought to herself, When Father first married Mother, he was just as deeply in love. Later, didn’t he take one concubine after another? Men are all alike!

After a moment’s thought, she continued, “Brother, didn’t you already promise to invite Young Master Su to the residence for a visit? Once he’s here, make the necessary arrangements. If I become intimate with him, how could they still refuse to let me into the Su residence?”

Dong Yuxuan deeply regretted ever suggesting that the two girls become Su Nanxing’s secondary wives. He urged her, “I advise you to abandon that idea. Tao Ming is not someone you should provoke.”

Dong Yujiao clung to his arm and wheedled, “Brother, please. This is the only wish I have.”

Dong Yuxuan’s expression was resolute. “Give up on it!”

...

The residence of the Sixth Prince.

Ever since Softie had burned him during the Sealing Ceremony, the Sixth Prince had remained bedridden.

The Celestial Emperor had sent imperial physicians to remain at his side and change his dressings at any time. Unfortunately, Softie’s orange flames were too peculiar. No matter how many ointments they applied to the burns, there was still no sign of improvement.

The Sixth Prince lay on his bed, consumed by resentment. Yet even the Celestial Emperor had not pursued the matter. What could a mere prince do?

Qiao Qingyao was practicing calligraphy in her chamber when her personal maid, Weak Willow, reported from outside the door, “Mistress, Jade has returned.”

“Let her in.”

After finishing a character, Qiao Qingyao set down her brush and looked at the trembling young maid before her.

“Speak.”

“Master, I saw it with my own eyes. The list of betrothal gifts from the Su family covered an entire wall of East Prosperity Tower, and there were more than two hundred carriages transporting them.” Jade glanced at Qiao Qingyao. Seeing that her expression remained calm, she continued, “Young Master Su and Miss Tao stood on opposite sides of the threshold at the Qin family’s main entrance, acting lovey-dovey as though no one else existed.”

Qiao Qingyao remained composed. “You did well. You may leave.”

Weak Willow spoke cautiously. “Shall we go to Madam Su?”

“If my aunt had truly intended it, she would have sent someone to propose to me long ago.” Qiao Qingyao picked up her brush and resumed practicing calligraphy.

Yet she could not steady the brush in her hand. The characters she wrote were painfully distorted.

Qiao Qingyao threw the brush onto the white cloth and said in a low voice, “I want to meet this Miss Tao.”

Weak Willow stared at the ink that had stained a large patch of white cloth and asked timidly, “May I ask what arrangements you have in mind?”

Qiao Qingyao raised her right hand before her eyes and examined it from side to side.

“The lotus flowers in the rear courtyard pond are blooming. It would be the perfect time to hold a lotus-viewing banquet. I hear the Seventh Prince also treats this Miss Tao differently. If we bring the two of them together, wouldn’t that solve everything at once?”

“I’ll make the arrangements immediately.”

...

Su Nanxing took Tao Ming onto a dragon horse and raced all the way to an inn beyond the imperial city.

Tao Ming remained silent throughout the journey, her doubts growing deeper with every passing moment. By the time they reached the inn, her mind was full of questions.

Su Nanxing operated a series of mechanisms in front of her. Watching his cautious movements, Tao Ming’s heart began to pound. She had a feeling she was about to learn some earth-shattering secret.

Following Su Nanxing down the stairs, Tao Ming entered a secret chamber hidden deep underground.

The moment they entered, a breathtakingly seductive woman hooked her arm around Su Nanxing’s and rubbed her body against it.

“You wicked man. We only parted yesterday, and you’ve already come looking for me again.”