Chapter 137: Carrying on the Family Line

Tao Ming flatly rejected Su Nanxing’s suggestion. "No. I’m waiting for Ruanruan to come back."

Su Nanxing continued to persuade her, "Wife, think of it this way: if Ruanruan comes back and doesn't find you, she’ll probably be anxious, but it will be a good lesson for her."

Tao Ming shook her head repeatedly. "Absolutely not. I can’t let her develop the thought that 'Mom doesn't want me.' It’s bad for her growth."

No sooner had she spoken than the Seventh Prince’s voice echoed, "Ruanruan, your uncle was right, wasn't he? Mom isn't angry at you anymore."

Ruanruan ran in from outside, climbed into Tao Ming’s arms, and acted spoiled. "Mom, I know I was wrong. I’ll never throw fireballs into the water again."

Seeing that Ruanruan was still dripping wet, Tao Ming glared at the Seventh Prince. "You didn't even change their clothes? What if they get sick?"

The Seventh Prince pointed at Ruanruan and replied, "She wouldn't let me! She kept saying she’s a little lady and can't let a man see her without her clothes on."

Tao Ming patted Ruanruan on the head. "Ruanruan is such a good girl for remembering what Mom told her so clearly."

The Seventh Prince looked dejected. "You change your tune way too fast, don't you?"

The mere sight of him made Tao Ming feel stifled. "Why do you keep hanging around the Qin residence? Hurry back to your own prince’s manor!"

The Seventh Prince put on an injured expression. "Mingming, you're kicking me out? I'm so heartbroken!"

"Get lost, now!"

The Seventh Prince turned and walked away. "Fine, I'm going! Don't come looking for me later!"

Seeing Nuonuo peeking from the doorway, Tao Ming picked up Ruanruan and walked over. "Let’s go. Come with Mom to change your clothes."

After bathing and dressing the two little ones, Tao Ming accompanied them back to the Su residence with Su Nanxing.

Upon entering the Weixiang Courtyard, Qiao Ruowei saw Tao Ming and teased, "Why are you here? Aren't you afraid your parents will scold you?"

"Ruanruan is already this big; why bother with those rules?"

Ruanruan pouted. "I’m still a little girl! I’m not big at all!"

Qiao Ruowei picked up Ruanruan and said, "I haven't seen you in days; I missed you to death." She then took a piece of pastry from the table and fed it to her.

Seeing Nuonuo staring longingly at the pastry, Tao Ming picked her up and tucked her into Qiao Ruowei’s arms as well. "You have to treat them equally; you mustn't show favoritism."

Qiao Ruowei paused, set Ruanruan down on a chair, and fed a piece of pastry to Nuonuo as well.

After the two little ones finished eating, Qiao Ruowei wiped their mouths and said to Tao Ming, "You’ve returned just in time. Sishang has delivered the wedding dress she finished. Try it on."

Tao Ming hesitated repeatedly before saying cautiously, "Mother, my own mother also made a wedding dress for me..."

"Your mother made one for you too?" Seeing Tao Ming nod, Qiao Ruowei changed her tune. "Then we’ll have Sishang alter this one so you can wear it as everyday attire."

Seeing how reasonable Qiao Ruowei was, Tao Ming apologized sincerely, "Mother, I’m sorry. I’ve let down your kind intentions."

Qiao Ruowei laughed. "It was my own meddling; I can't blame you."

"Mother, you are so kind."

Qiao Ruowei took Tao Ming’s hand. "As long as you live a good life with Seventeen and give me several grandsons, it’s only right that I treat you well."

Tao Ming kept a smile on her face, but she rolled her eyes internally. If she couldn't give birth to a son, would she have to live at the mercy of Qiao Ruowei’s moods?

Su Nanxing, sensing that Tao Ming didn't like hearing this, quickly grabbed Qiao Ruowei’s arm and acted spoiled. "Mom, I actually prefer daughters. If my sons were as mischievous as I was, I’d have a headache all day long."

Ruanruan chimed in, "Exactly! The little boys in our class are so annoying!"

Qiao Ruowei smiled at Tao Ming, then changed the subject. "Sishang also made a few dresses. Mingming, take the girls and go try them on."

Sishang, who had been standing by for a long time, spoke up. "Young Mistress, please follow me."

Once Tao Ming and the others had followed Sishang into the bedroom, Qiao Ruowei pulled Su Nanxing out of the main hall and stood a bit further away. "I’ll say it clearly now: if Mingming doesn't produce a son within ten years, you must take a concubine."

"Mom, set your heart at ease. I’ll definitely make you a grandmother to a grandson." Su Nanxing thought to himself that he had been quite diligent lately; he wondered if Tao Ming had conceived yet.

Seeing Su Nanxing’s willingness to comply, Qiao Ruowei’s voice softened a little. "Mother knows you only have eyes for Mingming, but carrying on the family line is the top priority. If a concubine gives birth to a son before Mingming, we can just keep the child and send the mother away, raising him in Mingming’s quarters."

Seeing Qiao Ruowei becoming increasingly serious, Su Nanxing resorted to his usual playful tactics. "Mom, do I look like the kind of man who can't father a son?"

"I wasn't talking about you; I was talking about Mingming," Qiao Ruowei chided him with a glare.

Su Nanxing continued to play the rogue. "Mom, Mingming clearly looks like she’s built to bear children."

Qiao Ruowei knew that Su Nanxing wouldn't listen to reason at this moment, so she simply said, "Fine. I’ve said what I needed to say today; just keep it in mind."

Seeing that Qiao Ruowei had stopped talking about grandsons, Su Nanxing tentatively asked, "Mom, Qiao Qingyao sent an invitation to Mingming, asking her to attend a lotus-viewing banquet at the Sixth Prince’s manor tomorrow."

Qiao Ruowei looked regretful. "Ah, what a pity. Qingyao would never agree to be your concubine."

"Mom, what are you thinking? I’m worried that Mingming might be in danger."

Qiao Ruowei glanced toward the main room. "What danger could there be? Qingyao is gentle and kind-hearted. It’s Mingming who looks like she’s not someone to be trifled with."

Su Nanxing knew there was no point in arguing further. His mother had long since regarded Qiao Qingyao as her daughter-in-law and would naturally take her side, so he changed the subject. "Where is Father?"

"Your father went to the Dongchang Tower to listen to the gossip."

"What gossip?" Su Nanxing wondered what big news he had missed.

Qiao Ruowei chuckled. "He just wants to hear how outsiders are praising the betrothal gifts the Su family sent."

Su Nanxing laughed along. "I think Father just wants to hear how outsiders are mocking the Qin family."

"You mustn't let your father hear you say that."

The two walked back to the main hall. Seeing that Tao Ming hadn't come out yet, Su Nanxing grew anxious. "Mom, why hasn't Mingming come out yet?"

Tao Ming had realized earlier that Qiao Ruowei wanted to speak with Su Nanxing, so she had intentionally dawdled while trying on clothes. Hearing Su Nanxing’s voice, she finally dressed Ruanruan in a white gown and brought the two little ones out.

When Su Nanxing saw Tao Ming, his expression darkened immediately, simply because the dress she wore was fashioned from Flowing Cloud Silk.

The white Flowing Cloud Silk was incredibly thin, and the dress Sishang had made was extremely form-fitting. Although the sleeves were wide and the skirt was layered, Tao Ming’s upper body was tightly wrapped, perfectly showcasing her beautiful curves, and with every step she took, one could almost see the beauty beneath.

Qiao Ruowei examined Tao Ming and sighed in admiration, "A peerless beauty, a natural temptress."

Su Nanxing’s face darkened further. "Mom, that’s my wife."

Qiao Ruowei held back a laugh. "To have a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?"

"Mom, if Mingming wears this to the lotus-viewing banquet, who knows what kind of nasty things those noble ladies will say." Su Nanxing thought to himself that if Qiao Qingyao wanted to set a trap for Tao Ming, there might even be men lurking at the banquet.

"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore. This dress was specifically made for Mingming to wear for you."

Su Nanxing’s expression finally improved. He instructed Tao Ming, "Wife, from now on, you only wear this in the bedroom!"

Tao Ming nodded, thinking to herself that Sishang had insisted she wear it, so what could she say?

Ruanruan asked in confusion, "Daddy, we only wear pajamas in the bedroom. Why do we need to wear this?"

Su Nanxing only then noticed Ruanruan’s skirt. She was wearing a white dress that only reached her knees, revealing her two fair, tender calves. He frowned. "Isn't Ruanruan’s skirt a bit too short?"