Chapter 125: Preparing the Betrothal Gifts (Part I)

Wen Youfang extended his hand with a tremble. Su Yanfeng took his pulse and circulated his cultivation technique.

“You have been overthinking things, eating poorly, and suffering from a slight deficiency of vital energy and blood. Nothing serious.” Su Yanfeng withdrew his hand, puzzled. This man was not seriously ill at all.

Su Nanxing pointed toward the old madam on the bed. “Father, Mr. Wen’s mother has been poisoned. I was afraid I might have misdiagnosed her, so I thought you could take a look.”

Su Yanfeng coughed and stepped forward to examine her. Gradually, his brows drew together. “Seventeenth, what medicine did you use?”

“The Seven-Treasure Soul-Calming Pill.”

Su Yanfeng murmured in acknowledgment and carefully examined her again before withdrawing his hand. “This poison seems familiar.”

“Father, have you forgotten? I was poisoned by something like this when I was little.” Su Nanxing reminded him.

Su Yanfeng shook his head. “The poison you suffered from was far more potent. The two are merely somewhat similar. Still, I believe I saw this kind of poison recently.”

Wen Youfang was terribly nervous. What sort of poison could it be if even the Su family patriarch had encountered it before?

“Father, is the medicine appropriate? Why hasn’t she regained consciousness yet?” Su Nanxing was worried that he had prescribed the wrong medicine and delayed her treatment.

Su Yanfeng took out three bottles and set them on the table. “The Seven-Treasure Soul-Calming Pill can indeed treat her, but it takes too long to work. Use these instead. Give her one pill of each, three times a day, for seven consecutive days. Feed her a dose shortly, and she should awaken soon.”

Su Nanxing picked up the bottles one by one. Upon seeing the names—Ninefold Poison-Transforming Pill, Purpleheart Essence-Nourishing Pill, and Lesser Yin Jade Pill—he could not help clicking his tongue. “Father, that is quite a lavish prescription!”

“Your father is getting old. I cannot bear to see an elderly person suffer.” Su Yanfeng thought to himself that it was, of course, also because of his son.

Wen Youfang was overwhelmed with gratitude and thanked him repeatedly.

After exchanging a few polite words, Su Yanfeng left the bedroom. Su Nanxing pressed the three bottles into Wen Youfang’s hands. “Keep them safe. Give me whatever is left after she finishes them. Make yourselves at home here. If anything happens, have one of the servants notify the steward. I have to deliver the betrothal gifts to the Qin residence tomorrow, so I will probably be rather busy these next few days.”

“Young Master Su, such kindness can never be repaid with mere words. My mother and I will certainly not cause you any trouble.” Wen Youfang’s hands trembled incessantly as he held the three bottles.

Su Nanxing patted him on the shoulder. “Hurry and give the old madam her medicine. I have things to attend to.”

Wen Youfang stopped him and took out the phone Tao Ming had previously given him. “Young Madam Su lent it to me.”

Su Nanxing accepted the phone, patted his shoulder once more, and walked out.

Su Yanfeng was standing outside. When he saw Su Nanxing emerge, the two walked side by side toward Fragrant Rose Court.

“Seventeenth, who is this Mr. Wen?” Su Yanfeng had never seen Su Nanxing bring a stranger home before, much less ask him to treat someone.

Su Nanxing hesitated, but ultimately decided to tell the truth. “Father, he is the chief steward I found for Mingming.”

“When did the Su family become short of chief stewards?” There was a trace of displeasure in Su Yanfeng’s voice.

“Father, I only want Mingming to work with peace of mind. I do not want her wondering whether the Su family has ulterior motives.”

Su Yanfeng gave a self-mocking laugh. “Of all my sons, you resemble me the most.”

The two soon entered the main room of Fragrant Rose Court. Qiao Ruowei was sitting beside the table, writing and drawing. Su Nanxing hurried over and leaned against her affectionately. “Mother, your son has missed you terribly.”

Qiao Ruowei raised her head and glanced around. Seeing that only Su Nanxing and Su Yanfeng had come, she pretended to scold him. “You only remember to coax your mother when your wife is away?”

“Mother, when have I ever coaxed you?” Su Nanxing lowered his head to look at what she had written. The page was densely covered with the names and quantities of various items. Knowing that it was the list of betrothal gifts for Tao Ming, he moved closer.

Qiao Ruowei lightly tapped him on the head with her pen. “You are not sweet-talking me now because you want me to add more betrothal gifts for Mingming, are you?”

Su Nanxing looked at the many valuable fabrics, exquisite ornaments, and rare medicinal herbs. Warmth filled his heart. “Mother, are you planning to take things from your private treasury?”

Qiao Ruowei took his hand. “Mother loves you most of all. Naturally, I want to give you the very best.”

“Mother, there are still two sisters in the family who have yet to marry. You should keep those things for them. Mingming will not mind.” Su Nanxing remembered Tao Ming’s instructions: he was to use his own private treasury for the betrothal gifts and absolutely must not take anything from his future mother-in-law’s private treasury.

Su Yanfeng coughed. “My dear, Seventeenth is grown now. You should avoid impropriety.”

Qiao Ruowei shot him a sharp look. “Am I not even allowed to dote on my own son?”

Su Nanxing placed her hand on his head and rubbed it. “I am still young.”

Qiao Ruowei gently patted his head. “Enough. If you keep this up, your father will want to kill someone.”

“My dear, what sort of thing is that to say?” Su Yanfeng pulled Su Nanxing aside, sat down beside Qiao Ruowei, and picked up the thick list of betrothal gifts to examine it carefully.

Su Nanxing brought over another chair and sat beside them, patiently persuading them. “Father, Mother, Mingming specifically told me to use my own private treasury for the betrothal gifts—”

“Ridiculous!” Su Yanfeng cut him off. “How can the Su family take a wife with such a shabby display? The Qin family would look down on us.”

Seeing that Su Yanfeng was becoming angry, Su Nanxing fell silent. At worst, he could return everything to his mother later.

Su Yanfeng studied the list carefully, then took up his brush and altered several items before handing it to Qiao Ruowei. “Make the arrangements according to this.”

Qiao Ruowei examined the changes and smiled behind her lips. “Seventeenth, your father has finally shown some generosity.”

The three of them talked for a while longer. Qiao Ruowei took the list to arrange for the gifts to be packed, while Su Nanxing returned to Star-Picking Court.

The courtyard was quiet. Looking at its tightly closed gates, Su Nanxing suddenly began to miss Tao Ming. He wondered what she was doing at that very moment.

He had better finish dealing with the matters at hand and go find her as soon as possible.

Su Nanxing pushed open the gates. As he looked at the familiar flowers and plants, he seemed to hear Ruanruan and Nuonuo chattering and bickering nearby. The corners of his lips curved unconsciously. Once they moved in, Star-Picking Court would certainly become lively.

After walking only a few steps, he heard Su Fang’s voice behind him. “Seventeenth Brother, don’t forget what you promised me.”

Su Nanxing turned around and saw Su Fang standing at the gate with an ingratiating smile. He curled his lips. “Come with me.”

The two walked around the main residence toward the back. Just then, Coral came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of food. Startled at the sight of them, she hurriedly set the plate on the windowsill and bowed. “Young Master. Nineteenth Young Master.”

Hearing her, the other three maids also hurried out and bowed together.

Su Nanxing glanced at the food on the windowsill and asked curiously, “Did the main kitchen not prepare meals for you?”

“Young Master, I wanted more practice, so I took the liberty of using the ingredients in the kitchen,” Glazed answered with her head lowered.

Su Nanxing naturally did not mind such a trivial matter and praised her instead. “Not bad. The two young ladies love good food, so you should practice more.”

Glazed was overjoyed by his praise, though she still did not dare raise her head.

“All right, get back to work.” Su Nanxing continued toward the rear, with Su Fang following closely behind without looking to either side.

Once the two had gone, the four maids all breathed a sigh of relief. Coral patted her chest. “That frightened me half to death.”

“With the young madam away, the young master looks terrifying,” Pearl said, still shaken by Su Nanxing’s expression.

Amber called out, “Come inside and eat. Stop loitering outside.”

...

Su Nanxing took out a key, unlocked the storeroom, and walked in first.

Su Fang remained standing at the doorway, gazing inside with eager anticipation. He saw row upon row of shelves, each one piled with Treasure Bags, and his eyes widened. Seventeenth Brother truly was the wealthiest among all their brothers!

Su Nanxing looked around, took out two Treasure Bags, then turned back to see Su Fang still standing at the door. He crooked a finger at him. “Come in.”