lcionline Chapter 104 He Mingning and Fan Junyu (2)
Chapter 104 He Mingning and Fan Junyu (2)
Qin Yaoyao blinked her big, bright eyes, her face full of doubt, and asked, "Then why not just treat them like family?" He Yanxi gently hugged Qin Yaoyao tighter and explained softly, "Treating family is indeed much easier and more natural because we've lived with them since we were little, and we know everyone's temperament and personality inside and out. Even if there are occasional disagreements, we all tolerate and understand each other. However, with a complete stranger, our instinctive reaction is to cautiously probe and gradually explore and get to know everything about the other person. Especially for an engaged couple like them, besides trying to understand each other, they also need to consider each other's families. After all, the relationship between the princess and her aunt is very close, and if it affects the harmony of others because of him, it would be a loss. Therefore, naturally, he is particularly cautious when facing this relationship."
Qin Yaoyao nodded in sudden understanding and exclaimed, "I see! So they really do need more time to get to know each other and adjust to each other! Hmm... I guess I need to think of a way to help them more and create more opportunities for them to interact and communicate!" With that, she rested her chin on her hand thoughtfully and began to plan in her mind.
He Yanxi nodded slightly in agreement and replied softly, "Well, shall we continue listening?" Qin Yaoyao nodded without hesitation and replied, "Of course we shall listen. If we don't listen, how will I know where they have gone?" Hearing this, He Yanxi smiled indulgently and said softly, "Alright, then so be it."
At this moment, He Mingning, sitting to the side, felt a little embarrassed by her slight lapse in composure. She lowered her head gently and began to concentrate on eating. In no time, she elegantly devoured a crystal cake, translucent and exuding an enticing aroma. Just then, the considerate Fan Junyu thoughtfully refilled He Mingning's teacup and gently said, "Have some tea to moisten your mouth first." Hearing this, He Mingning looked up, her face slightly flushed, and softly said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "Thank you." Then, she carefully picked up the teacup, parted her lips slightly, and sipped the tea little by little, looking incredibly sweet and adorable.
Perhaps captivated by He Mingning's charming and shy demeanor, Fan Junyu found himself lost in thought. After a moment, when He Mingning looked up again, their eyes met, and she found him staring intently at her with a smile. Instantly, He Mingning's cheeks flushed crimson, like a ripe apple, and her heart pounded wildly. She quickly lowered her head even further, wishing she could disappear into the ground. Seeing this, Fan Junyu found it extremely amusing and couldn't help but tease her with a laugh, "If you keep lowering your head like that, it'll end up inside the teacup!"
He Mingning tilted her head slightly, trying to appear calm and composed, but her gradually flushing cheeks, like ripe apples, easily revealed her inner shyness. Fan Junyu keenly noticed this subtle change; the curve of his lips widened, and the smile in his eyes seemed capable of melting the winter snow.
He Mingning's cheeks were flushed, like ripe apples, her shyness becoming increasingly apparent. Her usually bright eyes now seemed unfocused, and she dared not meet Fan Junyu's gaze. To hide her embarrassment, she could only pick up her teacup, take a small sip, and try to calm herself down.
However, Fan Junyu was an extremely observant person, and he naturally noticed He Mingning's subtle changes in movement. He chuckled inwardly, thinking, "This little girl really can't hide her thoughts!" In the end, He Mingning's little actions could not escape Fan Junyu's sharp eyes.
Seeing this, Fan Junyu smiled slightly and decided to break the awkward silence. He asked softly, "Princess, I've heard that you've lived in the White Horse Temple since you were a child. Is that true?" Hearing this, He Mingning was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting Fan Junyu to bring up this question. However, she quickly recovered and nodded gently, saying, "Yes, that's true. Since birth, I've always been very weak. The imperial physicians all said that only quiet recuperation could help me recover. And the White Horse Temple has a tranquil and secluded environment, making it an excellent place for quiet recuperation."
After a brief pause, He Mingning continued, “Initially, my mother was worried that I would be alone here without anyone to take care of me, so she wanted to accompany me herself. However, as the head of the harem, she had many duties to attend to and could not easily leave. Just when everyone was worried about this, my grandmother stepped forward and offered to accompany me to the White Horse Temple, so that we could sincerely worship Buddha. In fact, everyone knew very well that my grandmother did this simply to take care of me wholeheartedly, so that my father and mother could be at ease. In this way, my grandmother tirelessly accompanied me in the White Horse Temple for a full fifteen years…” At this point, a trace of gratitude flashed in He Mingning’s eyes, as if recalling the warm times spent with my grandmother.
Fan Junyu thought to himself, it seems this strategy of diverting attention is working quite well. However, his expression remained calm and curious as he softly asked, "I accompany my mother to the White Horse Temple to offer incense and pray for blessings every year, but I've never had the chance to see you. Don't you usually go out much?"
Sitting opposite her, He Mingning nodded slightly in agreement. She explained softly, "To be honest, I have always lived in the backyard and rarely step out of that small space. I only make a brief appearance when I need to return the scriptures. Most of the time, I stay quietly in my own courtyard, not wanting to bother others or cause trouble for myself."
Upon hearing this, Fan Junyu felt a pang of pity. He slowly put down his delicate teacup and asked with concern, "Did someone ever tell you they were worried you would cause trouble for others?" He Mingning gently shook his head and replied in a low voice, "No one has ever said that to me directly. However, I remember once when I was young, I secretly ran out to play and accidentally saw a group of children gathered together. One child pointed at another and loudly scolded him, saying that he was always running around and only causing trouble for everyone. From that moment on, those words were deeply imprinted in my heart, making me fearful of ever leaving the courtyard."
Fan Junyu looked regretful and sighed, "So that's how it is. Just because you overheard one sentence by chance, you developed such a deep-rooted idea, to the point that you almost never went out again. It's truly lamentable!"
He Mingning nodded slightly, indicating her agreement. At this moment, Fan Junyu frowned slightly and then asked, "Then will the Empress Dowager just ignore this?" He Mingning slowly shook her head and explained softly, "Grandmother has always thought that I was born with a love for quiet and simply didn't want to go out, and she didn't know the real reason. Moreover, Grandmother has always been concerned about my health and never forced me to do so, so she let me do as I pleased."
Hearing this, Fan Junyu couldn't help but feel pity. Looking at the well-behaved and adorable little girl before him, he sighed inwardly. If she had grown up in the palace, given the current emperor and empress's doting love for their children, she certainly wouldn't have suffered such injustice. To think that a princess of the nation had remained secluded in her small courtyard for so many years was truly a pity.
After a brief pause, Fan Junyu continued to press, "So what happened after you returned to the palace? How did you spend your days?" He Mingning lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment before raising her head to reply, "Every morning, apart from going to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager, I mostly stayed in my own palace. Occasionally, my sisters would come to find me to play, and sometimes I would also take the initiative to go and play with them."
Fan Junyu asked again, "Will they take you to visit outside the palace?" He Mingning gently shook her head and replied softly, "I usually only visit them in the evening, because they each have their own tasks to complete, and I really shouldn't bother them all the time. Besides, I've gotten used to being alone over the years. Moreover, I don't feel lonely or bored, because I love reading. Whenever I have free time, I immerse myself in the world of books, which is quite nice."
Fan Junyu gazed at the beautiful and refined young woman before him, a surge of intense pain welling up within him. Even his gaze unconsciously betrayed a hint of pity. He Mingning, however, keenly noticed the change in Fan Junyu's expression and instantly felt somewhat embarrassed. She quickly changed the subject, saying urgently, "Oh dear, let's not just talk about me yet, let's talk about you!"
Fan Junyu hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "As for me..." He Mingning nodded quickly and replied, "Yes, yes, tell me about yourself! I've already told you everything, and now I'm really eager to hear about yours." After thinking for a moment, Fan Junyu continued, "Actually, my story is rather mundane. I wonder if Your Highness really wants to hear it?" He Mingning nodded without hesitation and replied, "Of course! Could it be anything more boring than my story?"
Fan Junyu's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile, and she said softly, "Since I was a child, I have had a special fondness for books. Compared to other children who are keen on playing and having fun, I prefer to immerse myself in books. I remember when my younger brother would excitedly run over to me to play together, but when he saw that I was engrossed in reading, he wisely stopped bothering me and went off to find his own fun."
After a brief pause, Fan Junyu continued his recollection: "Then one year, a sudden flood struck Jiangnan, causing a severe disaster. The Emperor was furious and immediately dispatched my father to the disaster area to provide relief to the victims. However, not long after, rumors spread that a terrible plague had broken out in the Jiangnan region. Upon hearing this news, my mother was extremely anxious and wanted to rush to Jiangnan to find my father. But she had many trivial matters to attend to at home and was too worried to leave. In this dilemma, she finally decided to go to a temple to burn incense and pray for blessings, asking Heaven to protect my father's safety. It just so happened that the academy was on holiday at the time, so my mother asked me to accompany her to the White Horse Temple to burn incense."
At this point, Fan Junyu paused briefly, picked up the teacup beside him, and took a sip to moisten his throat. He Mingning, already captivated by the story, eagerly asked, "What happened next?" Fan Junyu smiled at He Mingning's eager expression and continued, "After we arrived at Baima Temple, my mother went into the main hall to offer incense and pray devoutly, while I sat quietly on the stone bench outside, engrossed in my book. A short while later, my mother finished offering incense and came out of the hall. Seeing me still absorbed in my reading, she didn't say anything. Then, my mother and I began our journey home. Sigh, doesn't this experience sound rather mundane?"
He Mingning gently shook her head and said with a smile, "No, it's really interesting. Compared to mine, your story is much more exciting." She blinked her bright eyes and asked curiously, "And then what happened? Someone as intelligent and fond of reading as you must have participated in the imperial examinations at a very young age, right?"
Fan Junyu nodded slightly and said slowly, "That's right. I took the imperial examination at the age of fifteen and became the top scholar. After serving in the Hanlin Academy for a year, I was honored by the Emperor's favor and appointed as the governor, ordering me to travel all over the country to conduct inspections."
Upon hearing this, He Mingning's face lit up with delight. She clasped her hands together and exclaimed, "Wow, you're amazing! To become the top scholar at such a young age is truly admirable!" Then, as if she had just thought of something, she tilted her head charmingly and said with a grin, "With your outstanding abilities, there must be many girls who are smitten with you, right?"
Fan Junyu smiled slightly and replied, feigning ignorance, "Well... I'm not too sure, maybe there is." Hearing this, He Mingning felt a pang of disappointment. The smile that had been on her face gradually disappeared, and her head slowly lowered.
Seeing the girl's downcast mood because of his words, Fan Junyu found it quite amusing. A sly smile appeared on his lips as he deliberately raised his voice, wanting to tease her further. "I'm not sure if any girls like me, but I often get secretly given purses."