Chapter 128: Tao Ming’s Drunken Reverie (Part One)

Tao Ming climbed onto the bed softly to check on Ruanruan and Nuonuo. Seeing they were sleeping soundly, she climbed back down, told Tao Sisi and Dingxiang she was leaving, and walked out of the bedroom.

The Seventh Prince was discussing the wedding arrangements with Qin Siyu. When Tao Ming came out, she went to the table, grabbed a cup of water, and downed it in one go. She then poured another and finished that as well.

The Seventh Prince stared at the cup in her hand, his ears turning bright red. "You... you... you..."

Recalling that Tao Ming had once drunk from the half-can of beer he had left behind, he swallowed the rest of his words.

"What about me?" Tao Ming lifted both hands to quickly tie her hair into a messy bun.

The Seventh Prince’s face turned even redder. He thought to himself, what was she wearing? It was so tight, clinging to her body, revealing everything that shouldn't be seen.

"Didn't you say you wanted to have a good talk with me once I woke up? Well, talk!" Tao Ming pulled up a chair and sat at the table.

The Seventh Prince glanced at the sky. "Do you realize how long you've been asleep? It’s nearly dark; I should be heading back to the manor."

"How long have I been asleep?" Tao Ming also looked at the sky. Indeed, it would likely be pitch black in the next moment.

The Seventh Prince spoke in an exaggerated tone, "You slept for seven hours! What did you do last night?"

"To tell you the truth, before you saw me this morning, I had already slept for five or six hours."

"Kongqing, just stay here for the night," Qin Siyu said, knowing the Seventh Prince had much to discuss with Tao Ming.

The Seventh Prince was conflicted. Should he stay? Staying would allow him to talk more with Tao Ming, but what if he slipped up and caused trouble?

Seeing the Seventh Prince’s shifting expression, Qin Siyu smiled. "I’ll go tell Mu Tong, and while I’m at it, I’ll go speak with Father about something."

As the prince hesitated, Tao Ming pouted. "Are you worried the Heavenly Emperor will give you a hard time?"

The Seventh Prince followed her lead. "I really should have gone to the palace to report back as soon as I brought you home."

Tao Ming was shocked. "You didn't go?"

"I thought I’d wait until you woke up, but who knew you’d sleep until now."

"Are you stupid? You could have gone and come back."

"You’re the stupid one. Only a fool would sleep that long."

Qin Siyu stood up and headed for the door. "Kongqing, feel free to stay. You two should go out to the courtyard; don't disturb the children."

Feeling famished, Tao Ming followed Qin Siyu out. "Dad, I’m starving. Is there anything to eat?"

Qin Siyu pointed toward the kitchen. "I saved some food for you."

...

By the time Su Nanxing arrived at the Qin estate, it was already pitch dark. He walked toward the entrance of the "Pansidong" (Spider Cave) with familiar ease, hearing Tao Ming’s laughter from inside. "Hahahaha, why does it make me so happy to hear that you had such a miserable time?"

The Seventh Prince’s annoyed voice followed immediately, "Do you have any humanity at all?"

Su Nanxing crossed the threshold and stepped inside. In the courtyard pavilion, he saw Tao Ming and the Seventh Prince sitting across from each other. A stone table between them was filled with food and wine. Tao Ming was holding a wine cup, laughing so hard she was trembling.

Hearing footsteps, Tao Ming turned to see Su Nanxing. Excitedly, she greeted him, "Honey, come here! Let me tell you a joke."

The Seventh Prince turned his head and asked, "Aren't you supposed to come to deliver the betrothal gifts tomorrow? You should be staying at the Su manor tonight."

Su Nanxing looked at the three empty bottles of Erguotou on the table near Tao Ming. His expression grew darker than the night. He sat down beside her without a word, pulled her onto his lap, and captured her lips with his own.

Tao Ming was a bit drunk and had forgotten she was still holding the cup. She wrapped her arms around Su Nanxing’s neck to respond, spilling wine onto his back, which made him shiver from the cold.

The Seventh Prince curled his lip and walked back to the main room. Seeing him return alone, Tao Sisi asked, "Where is Mingming?"

"The big jealous lover arrived. They’re busy canoodling."

Tao Sisi chuckled, "I actually think you and Mingming would be quite a good match."

The Seventh Prince thought to himself that it was absolutely not a good match—forbidden romance was far too terrifying! He feigned shyness and said, "Aunt, please don't tease me."

Tao Ming, feeling that sitting sideways wasn't enough, straddled Su Nanxing’s lap and began kissing his face repeatedly.

Hearing Tao Ming’s increasingly heavy breathing, Su Nanxing stood up with her in his arms and quickly retreated to the guest room. He tried to set her down on the bed to close the doors and windows, but Tao Ming clung to his neck, locking her legs around his waist to keep him from leaving.

Su Nanxing waved his hand to set up a sound-dampening barrier and carried her onto the bed. Tao Ming, her mind hazy, rolled over to straddle him and reached for his clothes.

Su Nanxing grabbed her hands, his voice husky. "Who am I?"

"Honey, don't be annoying." With her hands restrained, Tao Ming leaned down to kiss him.

Su Nanxing pushed her back firmly and asked again, "Who am I?"

Tao Ming looked at him with dazed eyes and asked curiously, "You're my husband, who else would you be?"

Su Nanxing shifted his hips and asked with forced patience, "What is my name?"

Tao Ming stared at him, breaking into a silly grin. "Su Nanxing, you're Su Nanxing."

Su Nanxing slowly released her. Freed, Tao Ming was stunned, unable to react for a moment. He shifted again, and Tao Ming, losing her balance, collapsed onto his chest.

Su Nanxing wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, "Wife..."

Tao Ming didn't respond, lying silently on his chest without moving. Su Nanxing felt his neck grow damp. He tried to lift her head, but she pressed herself tightly against him, refusing to look up.

Anxious, Su Nanxing turned to the side to look at her. Her eyes were squeezed shut, and tears were streaming down her face like a breached dam.

"Wife, wife." Su Nanxing panicked; he had never seen Tao Ming like this.

Over the years, he had only seen her drunk twice: once at a university reunion and once when they had a fight. During the reunion, he had stayed by her side as she cried and laughed with her former roommates, eventually carrying a dead-drunk Tao Ming home. During the fight, he couldn't even remember the cause—only that she had stormed out, and he had followed her to a supermarket where she sat on the curb and downed two bottles of liquor. He had been both furious and heartbroken, carrying her home while she fell asleep instantly, forgetting everything by the next morning.

Seeing her cry like this for the first time, Su Nanxing scrambled to wipe away her tears, but they only flowed faster. He sighed, held her tightly, and gently patted her back.

"Nanxing, I'm scared."

Tao Ming whispered, and Su Nanxing stroked her hair soothingly. "It's okay, you'll feel better after a sleep."

"Mm." Tao Ming nestled quietly in his arms and drifted off to sleep.

Seeing she was asleep, Su Nanxing stood up and headed straight for the main room. He marched up to the Seventh Prince, grabbed his collar, and demanded, "What exactly did you say to her?"

Tao Sisi picked up the two little ones and walked toward the bedroom. "If you're going to fight, take it outside."

Ruanruan struggled to look over Tao Sisi’s shoulder. "Daddy, why are you hitting the cousin?"

The Seventh Prince pulled Su Nanxing’s hand off and walked toward the courtyard. "Don't scare the children."

Su Nanxing suppressed his anger, walked to the bedroom door, and smiled at Ruanruan. "Daddy is just playing with your cousin."

Tao Sisi glanced at Su Nanxing. "Calm down. Mingming is just tired."