Chapter 95: An Honored Guest Arrives (I)

Su Nanxing naturally agreed without hesitation, "No problem, I'll look for something suitable when we get back."

Tao Ming took out two pairs of hairpins and asked, "Will these do?"

Su Nanxing looked them over and replied, "The plastic is too poor in quality; it won't hold up. If they're made of good metal, it should work."

Tao Ming then produced jewelry crafted from cold gold, handing it over with, "Modify these, then."

Su Nanxing didn't take them and answered, "I'll check the storeroom first. If there's really nothing, then I'll use these."

Tao Ming had to put her things away. Remembering the events at the pastry shop earlier, she said, "I think I'll find a few maids. When in Rome, some things really need maids to handle. I'll treat them as assistants."

Su Nanxing was happy to comply, replying, "Pick them yourself when we get back."

Tao Ming didn't want to select people from the Su family and asked, "Is there a place in Weishui where people are bought and sold?"

Su Nanxing advised, "The Su family's servants are all trained. You can use them right away. If you buy new people, you'll have to train them again!"

Not wanting to reject Su Nanxing's kindness, Tao Ming thought for a moment and said, "I'll pick a few to help with daily life. I also want a chief assistant to help me with work in the future. Ideally, someone who isn't originally a maid, so they can better understand my intentions."

Su Nanxing laughed, "Looks like your workaholic side is back!"

Tao Ming's eyes sparkled as she laughed, "People need something to do, or they'll die of boredom."

...

As soon as they reached the gate of the Su residence, the gatekeeper called out, "Is that the seventeenth young mistress in the carriage?"

The coachman replied, "It is."

The gatekeeper continued, "The Qin family sent someone for the seventeenth young mistress. There is an honored guest waiting at Qin Manor."

Hearing this, Su Nanxing glanced at Tao Ming, seeing her face practically spelled out "Who could it be?" and said, "Let's go to Qin Manor."

The carriage set out once more for Qin Manor.

The Su residence was in the east of the city, Qin Manor in the west. Fortunately, the imperial city wasn't large; in the space of two quarter-hours, they arrived at Qin Manor.

As the carriage came to a halt, a familiar voice called out, "Tao Ming, is that you?"

Tao Ming scrambled to the door, poking her head out to see the Seventh Prince standing at the entrance. She responded irritably, "You're the honored guest?"

The Seventh Prince, seeing her expression, complained, "Am I not an honored guest?"

Tao Ming rolled her eyes, "You are, you're so precious! Come up and show us the way."

With that, she pulled her head back inside.

Su Nanxing spoke up, "You go ahead and return."

The coachman acknowledged, hopped down, and left.

The Seventh Prince couldn't help but say, "Su Nanxing, what do you mean by that?"

Su Nanxing's voice was full of displeasure, "If you want to drive the carriage, we'll go in. If not, we'll leave."

"You... you... you..." The Seventh Prince swallowed the rest of his words, drove the carriage into Qin Manor.

When Tao Ming got off the carriage, she saw it had stopped in front of the Silk Cave. The Seventh Prince pointed to the words "Silk Cave" and asked, "Tao Ming, do you know the origin of this name?"

"I do, but I don't want to tell you."

Tao Ming carried Nuonuo into the side room, Su Nanxing followed closely behind with Ruanruan, satisfied with Tao Ming's reaction.

The Seventh Prince stood at the door, muttering, "After all we've been through together, is this how you treat me?"

Tao Ming placed Nuonuo on the bed and said to Su Nanxing, "Watch over them for a bit, I'll go see what he wants."

Su Nanxing didn't want Tao Ming to be alone with the Seventh Prince, whining, "Let me go with you."

Tao Ming lowered her voice, "Didn't you say you know who his real father is?"

Su Nanxing nodded vigorously, "I do!"

"Then why are you worried?"

Tao Ming thought to herself, The Seventh Prince's surname is Qin; that makes him a cousin! If even a cousin is impossible, how much less a close cousin!

Su Nanxing wondered aloud, "It's because I know that I'm worried!"

Tao Ming was confused. Was it Qin Siyu or Su Nanxing who actually knew who the Seventh Prince's real father was? Qin Siyu had no reason to lie. She would have to ask Su Nanxing more carefully.

But the Seventh Prince was still waiting outside. Tao Ming wrapped her arms around Su Nanxing's neck and gave him a passionate kiss, coaxing, "My good husband, I'm only interested in you!"

Su Nanxing knew Tao Ming had no interest in the Seventh Prince, but the prince's intentions were questionable, so he needed to be vigilant. He grumbled, "My wife is so wonderful, I'm afraid bad people will covet her."

Tao Ming pointed at Ruanruan, "Look at her sleeping. Why would bad people covet me?"

"If you kiss me again, I'll let you go."

Tao Ming hugged Su Nanxing's neck, straddled him, and pressed him down, showering him with kisses before finally heading out.

Just as she stepped outside, Tao Ming was about to speak when Su Nanxing called from behind, "Qiao Kongqing, stop eyeing my wife!"

The Seventh Prince ignored him, tugged Tao Ming's sleeve, and led her into the main hall.

Once seated, Tao Ming asked, "Why did you ask for me?"

The Seventh Prince replied with annoyance, "Can't I look for you even if there's nothing?"

Tao Ming stood to leave, "I'm busy!"

She still had a jealous jar to appease in the side room.

The Seventh Prince quickly pulled her back, pressing her to sit, "There is something!"

Tao Ming tilted her head up, looking at him, "If you have something to say, say it. Don't waste time."

The Seventh Prince said helplessly, "Yesterday, the Heavenly Emperor tested me. You don't know how my heart pounded; I almost lost composure."

Tao Ming was surprised, "It's only been a day since I saw you, but the way you speak, your word choices, it's so different from before!"

The Seventh Prince thought to himself, I paid dearly to win over Qin Yunqi, then spent the whole night learning from him just to talk properly with you. But I can't let Tao Ming know about that.

Feigning ignorance, the Seventh Prince retorted, "Really? I've always spoken like this."

Tao Ming eyed the Seventh Prince suspiciously. Something seemed off, but she couldn't pinpoint what, so she said, "Alright, go on about the Heavenly Emperor."

The Seventh Prince, relieved she didn't press the matter, continued, "The Heavenly Emperor is definitely suspicious about the annihilation of the Imperial Dragon Guard. He sent Longlin Er to investigate."

When Tao Ming heard the word "annihilation," she stared at the Seventh Prince with a chilling gaze, "Be honest, did you sneak into another world?"

The Seventh Prince grew wary, answering quickly, "How could I?"

"As a native of Weishui, how do you know the term 'annihilation'?"

The Seventh Prince played dumb, "I heard someone use it by chance and thought it fit perfectly here."

Seeing him feign ignorance, Tao Ming pursed her lips and let the matter drop, asking, "So you came just to tell me this?"

The Seventh Prince thought to himself, This is important! "What do you mean?"

Tao Ming leaned back in her chair, replying, "Even a fool knows the Heavenly Emperor would send someone to investigate!"

But ever since her conversation with Qin Siyu, she wasn't clear about how much power the Heavenly Emperor really had now.

Moreover, did the Seventh Prince know the Heavenly Emperor had been sidelined? And did he know who his real father was?

The Seventh Prince, feeling frustrated, said, "I kindly came to warn you, and this is your attitude!"

Looking at his dejected expression, Tao Ming felt a twinge of sympathy for this pitiable child and changed the subject, "Today I went with Nanxing to the northeast corner of the imperial city, thinking about setting up a shopping center there."