Chapter 139: The Su Family Banquet (Part I)

Tao Ming pecked Su Nanxing lightly on the lips and said, "Alright, let's go eat. I'm both tired and hungry."

Su Nanxing picked Tao Ming up and carried her out of the main room, leaving the four maids standing by the door with blushing faces. Tao Ming struggled to get down and said to them, "I'm sorry, I forgot about you again."

The four of them bowed hurriedly. Amber spoke up, "Young Mistress, it is our fault. We should have kept someone on duty at the door."

Tao Ming couldn't be bothered with such trifles. "Arrange it however you see fit. Oh, and the clothes in the bedroom need to be tidied up."

"Young Mistress, I'll go take care of it right now." Pearl, knowing she wasn't particularly eloquent, seized the chance to offer herself for chores.

Glaze bowed and said, "Young Mistress, it is getting late. I shall go prepare dinner."

Su Nanxing stopped her, "No need. We will be dining with Father and Mother today."

Hearing this, Amber quickly added, "Please wait a moment, Young Master and Young Mistress, while we tidy ourselves up a bit."

Tao Ming was confused and asked, "Are you coming too?"

Su Nanxing explained, "When we eat, they need to stand behind you to wait on you at any time."

Only then did Tao Ming remember that when she dined at the Qiluo Residence, Summer Lotus had indeed stood behind her. However, she didn't particularly like having people watching her eat. "You don't have to go. Just tidy up the courtyard; I'll be moving in within a few days anyway."

Amber’s eyes turned red immediately. "Did I do something wrong?"

Tao Ming was speechless.

Su Nanxing laughed, "This is a good opportunity for them to show their faces. If you don't let them go, they'll be sad."

Tao Ming felt a headache coming on. "Fine, go ahead and tidy up. I'll wait for you in the yard."

Amber finally smiled, ran into the bedroom to call Pearl, and the four of them headed to the backyard together.

Tao Ming walked into the garden and called out with a mock-sinister tone, "The big monster is coming to catch you!"

Immediately, she heard Ruanyuan’s soft shriek, "No!"

This was followed by Nuonuo’s sweet, lisping voice, "Quick, come here! Mommy won't be able to find us!"

Tao Ming channeled water from her fingertips, letting it seep into the ground and spread across the garden. She soon found where the two little ones were hiding, but she pretended not to know, pacing back and forth in front of them while saying, "Where are they hiding? Is it here?"

Finally, Ruanyuan couldn't hold back anymore, stood up, and said, "Silly Mommy, we're right here."

Nuonuo giggled as she stood up. Seeing her bright smile, a weight lifted from Tao Ming's heart. She stretched out her hands, curled them into claws, and declared, "The big monster is about to catch you!"

Ruanyuan and Nuonuo shrieked and took off running. When Amber and the others arrived at the courtyard, they saw Tao Ming chasing after the two little misses, her hair flowing behind her, her hairpins long lost somewhere in the garden.

The four maids looked at each other. Pearl whispered, "The Young Mistress is not like the noble ladies I've met before."

Amber glared at her and shook her head.

Seeing that the four maids were finally ready, Su Nanxing called out, "Wife, Ruanyuan, Nuonuo, time to eat."

Ruanyuan was having too much fun and called back, "I want to play a little longer!"

Su Nanxing took two strides, blocked Ruanyuan’s path, and scooped her up onto his shoulder. Ruanyuan struggled vigorously, shouting, "Help! Help! The big devil has caught me!"

Tao Ming walked over, holding Nuonuo's hand, and sighed, "I'm getting old; I can't run anymore."

Ruanyuan looked at her, puzzled. "Mommy, you're not old! Granny is old!"

Tao Ming looked at Su Nanxing and said, "That's true, and there's an old monster here too."

Su Nanxing felt a pang of frustration and shot Tao Ming a look that said, "I'll deal with you tonight," though Tao Ming failed to grasp the message entirely.

After putting Ruanyuan down, Su Nanxing reached for Tao Ming's hair to fix it. Coral hurriedly stepped forward, "Young Master, let me do it."

Su Nanxing didn't stop. "I'll do it. From now on, whenever I'm around, I'll be the one to comb the Young Mistress's hair."

Tao Ming realized belatedly, "My hairpins are gone."

"Here they are." Su Nanxing dangled the hairpin in front of her. "I picked them up the moment they fell."

Once everyone was finally presentable, the group left the Star-Plucking Courtyard. As Amber closed the door and reached for the lock, Su Nanxing laughed, "No need to lock it. No one dares to steal from the Star-Plucking Courtyard."

He then said to Tao Ming, "Wife, now do you see why you need so many maids?"

Tao Ming shook her head to indicate she didn't.

Su Nanxing chuckled, "Someone always needs to stay in the courtyard."

...

As they walked toward the inner courtyard, passing two or three other yards, they arrived at a small courtyard named "Taste of Wisdom."

Tao Ming stopped and stared at the characters. In her mind, she recalled the "Prudence in Speech" plaque in the main study. Perhaps these names reflected Su Yanfeng’s expectations for his children.

Seeing Tao Ming hadn't followed, Su Nanxing urged, "Wife, come on."

Tao Ming collected her thoughts and followed him into a large room. The decor was fresh and elegant, unlike the Qin or Qiluo residences.

Two tables were already occupied. One was filled with the men of the Su family, and at the other sat three women. Two of them bore a five-part resemblance to Qiao Ruowei and were quite beautiful. The third appeared younger and could only be described as pretty.

Su Nanxing led Tao Ming to the women's table and introduced her, "Tao Ming, my wife. She'll be marrying in within a few days."

The younger woman smiled, "I've been curious what the seventeenth sister-in-law looked like. Seeing you today, you truly are as beautiful as a fairy."

Tao Ming blinked. Thinking that only Su Ze was married in the Su household, this must be the twelfth sister-in-law. She replied politely, "Thank you for the compliment, Twelfth Sister-in-law."

One of the other two women let out a scoff. "Such a thick-skinned woman."

Su Nanxing’s expression darkened. "Su Xi, what do you mean by that?"

The woman sitting next to her quickly intervened, "Seventeenth Brother, don't mind her. She has always been this way."

Su Xi looked at Tao Ming provocatively. "I don't see what makes you any better than Cousin Qingyao."

Tao Ming thought to herself that she must be here to stand up for Qiao Qingyao, though she wondered how much Qiao Qingyao had bribed her. Before she could speak, Ruanyuan asked, "Who are you? Why are you talking about my mommy?"

Su Xi turned red with anger. "A mere child, how unrefined."

Nuonuo, standing nearby, said in a voice just loud enough for everyone to hear, "Ruanyuan, she’s even older than Daddy and she’s still not married. Why bother arguing with her?"

Su Xi’s face went as black as the bottom of a pot. She stood up, marched over to Nuonuo, and raised her hand to strike. Tao Ming grabbed her arm, looking at her with a half-smile. "You might want to think this through. I'm marrying into this family in two days."

Su Xi channeled her internal energy, trying to shake Tao Ming off, but no matter how hard she tried, Tao Ming’s grip remained immovable. Panicked, Su Xi shrieked, "Let go of me!"

Tao Ming released her. Freed, Su Xi immediately swung her hand to slap Tao Ming. Tao Ming blocked her arm with one hand and conjured a water ball with the other, smashing it onto Su Xi’s head. Instantly, Su Xi was soaked from head to toe, her face smeared with black and red makeup running down with the water, looking utterly wretched.

Su Xi wiped her face, looked at the colors on her hand, and roared, "I’m not done with you!"

Tao Ming conjured another water ball and tossed it at her face. "Let me help you clean up."

Just then, someone from outside shouted, "The Master and Mistress have arrived!"