Chapter 166: Seeking Trouble

Just as Liu Ange had mentioned, Dong Yujiao and Dong Yushuang had long instructed numerous maidservants to keep their ears open for any news concerning Su Nanxing. Any useful intelligence, regardless of its nature, would be generously rewarded.

Today, when Su Nanxing was seen walking hand in hand with Tao Ming through the bustling markets of the imperial city, the Dong family maids quickly caught wind of their whereabouts through various channels. They also learned that numerous teahouses were selling portraits of the couple. Some maids went out to purchase the artwork, while others wandered all over the imperial city in hopes of catching a glimpse of them by chance.

One clever maidservant followed closely behind Dong Yuxian, hoping for a stroke of luck, and to her surprise, she actually spotted Tao Ming and Su Nanxing.

Hiding behind the corner of a teahouse, the little maid watched the couple enter the establishment and later emerge from it.

She trailed a good distance behind them, curious to see what else they might do, but after they stopped briefly at a small shop and headed straight out of the city gates, she had no choice but to return and report back.

Back at the Dong residence, within the inner courtyards.

Dong Yujiao and Dong Yushuang were leafing through the portraits purchased by the maids, listening to their descriptions of the scene, and exchanging glances from time to time.

Once the maids had finished speaking and withdrawn, Dong Yujiao pointed her finger one by one at the exposed areas of Tao Ming in the paintings and exclaimed, "She actually dared to dress like this!"

Dong Yushuang looked equally incredulous. "I'm afraid those descriptions are exaggerated."

Dong Yujiao then pulled out the finest portrait of the lot and spread it before them both. "In broad daylight, the two of them acting so intimately—it's simply, it's simply..."

Out of her deep affection for Su Nanxing, the phrase "shameless" refused to leave her lips.

Gazing at the figures in the painting, Dong Yushuang spoke in a soft voice, "The maid did say just now that they were walking hand in hand, leaning against each other while chatting and laughing, and Young Master Su even displayed affectionate gestures from time to time."

Piqued, Dong Yujiao shoved the painting away. "Given the notorious reputation Tao Ming has garnered, how could Young Master Su still be so utterly devoted to her?"

"Whether those rumors are true or false, Young Master Su must know the truth in his heart. True or not, his actions today have made his stance quite clear," Dong Yushuang analyzed with a measure of calm objectivity.

Soon enough, Dong Yuxian returned to the manor. Standing outside the courtyard where the two sisters lived, he called out, "Eighth Sister! Ninth Sister!"

A maid quickly came forward to welcome Dong Yuxian inside.

Hearing his voice, Dong Yujiao hurried to the doorway of the main room. "Seventh Brother, did you meet with Young Master Su just now?"

"I met with both Nanxing and his wife alongside Ange," Dong Yuxian replied as he stepped into the main parlor, casting a glance around. "Where is the Eighth Sister?"

Dong Yushuang gathered the portraits from the table and walked out from the bedroom into the parlor.

Taking a seat, Dong Yuxian immediately spotted the portraits in Dong Yushuang's hands, thinking to himself that Ange had been entirely right—the two sisters really had gone out and bought them.

Dong Yushuang spread the portraits across the table. "Seventh Brother, does Tao Ming's dress really reveal this much?"

Flipping through them casually, Dong Yuxian picked out the one closest to reality and placed it on top. "It reveals even slightly more than what is shown in this painting."

Glancing at the artwork, Dong Yujiao said indignantly, "She is utterly devoid of shame."

Recalling Tao Ming's demeanor at the time, Dong Yuxian sensed no sign of unease in her whatsoever; most likely, that style of clothing was simply what she was accustomed to wearing.

Hearing Dong Yujiao's remark, Dong Yuxian's expression darkened, and he said in a deep voice, "Eighth and Ninth Sisters, with my own eyes today, I saw the two of them living in perfect harmony, sharing a deep and extraordinary affection. There is simply no room for a third person to ever come between them."

Dong Yujiao gave a cold snort. "Her reputation is ruined!"

Dong Yuxian mused that Tao Ming probably cared nothing for her reputation at all. He urged them once more, "The profound affection between the two of them goes far beyond what these paintings could ever capture. You both should put these notions out of your minds."

...

Tao Ming and Su Nanxing lingered around Lining Mountain until the afternoon sun began to soften, finally returning to the imperial city as daylight waned.

Upon entering the main room of the Thread-Winding Cave in the Qin residence, they found Ruanruan, Nuonuo, and Tao Sisi with their heads huddled together over the table, intently examining something.

"Mom, Ruanruan, Nuonuo," Tao Ming greeted them one by one.

Hearing Tao Ming's voice, Ruanruan turned around, slid off her chair, and held out her arms for a hug. Once Tao Ming picked her up, Ruanruan declared, "Mommy, those pictures don't look like you at all."

Seated at the table and catching sight of the scattered portraits, Tao Ming felt as though a flock of crows had just flown across her head. "Mom, why do you have this stuff?"

Tao Sisi answered triumphantly, "I bought them, of course! They're quite the hot item."

Ruanruan tugged at the collar of Tao Ming's shirt. "Hey, Mommy, the clothes you wore when you went out this morning aren't these!"

Nuonuo pointed at a portrait and chimed in, "They don't match the picture."

Tao Ming pressed Ruanruan's little hand against her collarbone. "Feel this—it's all sweat. It was so hot outside that Mommy changed her clothes."

Ruanruan withdrew her small hand with an expression of supreme disdain. "If it was so hot, why didn't you come back earlier instead of gallivanting outside all day?"

Su Nanxing scooped Ruanruan out of Tao Ming's arms. "Ruanruan, ever since you were born, Mommy and I haven't been able to go on a date for a very, very long time."

"Well, did you have fun on your date today?" Ruanruan pouted in slight displeasure.

Tao Ming hurriedly produced the pastries she had bought. "Mommy was thinking about the two of you the entire time."

Nuonuo opened the box. "Ruanruan, look, yummy treats!"

Only then did Ruanruan grudgingly wiggle her way down from Su Nanxing's embrace.

Seeing that the two little ones were temporarily placated, Tao Ming asked, "Mom, where is Dad?"

Tao Sisi rolled up the scrolls on the table. "Your dad is on duty at the Xibao Tower tonight; he'll be back tomorrow morning."

Tao Ming gave a soft "mm" and said nothing more.

Curiosity finally getting the better of her, Tao Sisi asked, "Is there something you need from your dad?"

"Mom, do you know that if you go out the west gate of the Qin residence and keep heading west, there's a vegetable market?"

Tao Sisi frowned. "A vegetable market? I have no idea."

"I heard that area belongs to the Qin family, so I wanted to ask about it."

Tao Sisi offered Tao Ming a shortcut. "Why don't you just go ask the Old Master? He's bound to be in the manor right now."

Tao Ming stood up. "Then I'll go ask him."

Su Nanxing stood up as well, but Tao Sisi stopped him. "Nanxing, stay here and keep me company for a moment."

Unsure what business Tao Sisi had that required her to leave, Tao Ming flashed Su Nanxing an "OK" hand sign and went off to find Qin Youchuan by herself.

As soon as Tao Ming stepped out of the courtyard doors, Tao Sisi smiled warmly. "Ruanruan, Nuonuo, keep eating here for a bit. Grandma and Daddy are going to talk in the courtyard."

The two little ones nodded.

Tao Sisi walked over to the pavilion and sat down. Once Su Nanxing had taken his seat across from her, her expression turned stern. "That Dream Girl who threw herself into your arms on the street yesterday—what is your relationship with her?"

Su Nanxing's first internal reaction was: Who on earth is Dream Girl?

Then, recalling yesterday's ordeal, he hastily tried to clear his name. "Mom, I don't know her at all."

"You don't know her?" Tao Sisi clearly disbelieved him. "The moment you and Mingming stepped out the door this morning, that girl rushed right up to the front gates of the Qin residence, weeping and howling to see you. Fortunately, the gatekeeper pulled her inside quickly, otherwise the imperial city would have yet another scandalous romance on its hands."

Su Nanxing's face turned as dark as charcoal. "Mom, I really don't know her! Mingming can vouch for me!"

"Since you claim you don't know her, I suppose I'll just dispose of her however I see fit," Tao Sisi said, testing him when he continued to deny any acquaintance.

Recalling that face which bore a striking nine-part resemblance to Ruomeng, Su Nanxing was suddenly struck by an idea. "Mom, why don't you bring that woman over for Qiao Kongqing to see?"

Tao Sisi grew suspicious. "What does Kongqing have to do with this?"

"Mom, just trust me on this one." At that moment, Su Nanxing was desperately curious to see Qiao Kongqing's reaction upon laying eyes on that face.

Being a decisive person, Tao Sisi immediately dispatched someone to summon Qiao Kongqing.