eurekapd Chapter 108 Sending He Mingning Home (1)
Chapter 108 Sending He Mingning Home (1)
Qin Yaoyao's lips curved slightly upward, revealing a smile as bright as the sunshine, like a flower blooming in spring. She parted her lips slightly and said softly to the eldest princess, "Sister Ning, please rest assured. I assure you, I will definitely send them home safely and soundly."
Hearing this, He Mingning, who was standing to the side, said, "Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you? Why don't you two go ahead with your work, and I'll come pick them up when you're done?" Qin Yaoyao smiled and said, "No trouble at all, no trouble at all! They're my friends, how could I find it troublesome! Don't worry, Sister Ning!" After a brief hesitation, He Mingning finally opened her mouth slowly and said in a gentle tone, "Well... alright then! But you two have to behave well, okay? Don't be naughty on the way, and don't cause any trouble for anyone else. Remember what I said?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the younger sisters, as if they had planned it beforehand, answered in unison, "We know, sister, you can rest assured! We definitely won't let you down."
Just then, Qin Yaoyao, who had been silent all along, suddenly felt that the time was ripe. She quickly turned her head, her gaze shooting like lightning towards Fan Junyu beside her. At the same time, a hint of cunning flickered deep in her eyes. Then, she whispered to Fan Junyu, "Junyu, look at the situation now. The princess is traveling alone, and I'm so worried. I can't put my mind at ease. So, I think it would be better if you escorted the princess on this journey! That way, I can finally rest easy."
Upon hearing this, the eldest princess hurriedly waved her hands and hastily declined, saying, "No need, there's really no need to trouble Young Master Fan like this. I can return safely by myself, how could I dare to trouble you to make a special trip for me? I'm so sorry, please don't take it to heart."
Fan Junyu frowned, a troubled look on his face, and slowly replied, "Aunt, I'm afraid this isn't appropriate. Although the sky isn't completely shrouded in darkness yet, what if we happen to run into someone we know on our way back?" However, before he could finish speaking, Qin Yaoyao raised her hand and gently tapped him on the head, scolding him with a hint of annoyance, "Oh dear, what are you afraid of! You and the princess are already engaged. Even if you do run into someone you know, so what? Do you think they can gossip about you?"
As she spoke, Qin Yaoyao quietly leaned closer to Fan Junyu, deliberately lowering her voice, and continued anxiously, "Putting everything else aside, just look at the sky. Although it's not completely dark yet, this is still the middle of nowhere. The princess is so naturally beautiful and lovely; what if something happens to her? How could you bear it? How can you let her embark on her journey home alone?" Faced with Qin Yaoyao's anxious words, Fan Junyu appeared unconcerned and immediately retorted, "Aunt, don't worry. How could we let the princess travel alone? Have you forgotten? We have other attendants with us. We can easily arrange for some people to escort the princess safely back to the palace."
Upon hearing this, Qin Yaoyao's pretty face instantly flushed red. Her beautiful eyes widened, her eyebrows furrowed, and she angrily retorted, "Hmph, you ignorant brat, do you think our noble princess is not good enough for you?" As she spoke, she stomped her foot angrily, as if to vent all the anger in her heart.
Seeing this, Fan Junyu, who was standing to the side, hurriedly waved his hands and explained in a panic, "Aunt, please don't misunderstand! Her Highness the Princess is of noble birth and her status is extremely high. How could someone as ordinary as me dare to have the slightest contempt for her? It is only the Princess who would look down on me." A layer of fine sweat had already appeared on his forehead, clearly intimidated by Qin Yaoyao's imposing manner.
However, Qin Yaoyao didn't seem to intend to let him off easily. She narrowed her eyes slightly, stepped forward, and continued to earnestly persuade him: "Since you understand all these principles, why not make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? Find more opportunities to interact and communicate with the princess. In this way, you can get to know each other better, and perhaps the princess will discover more of your shining qualities! Moreover, this is also a perfect opportunity to show everyone that you have a close relationship with the princess, which will deter those who harbor ill intentions towards the princess and try to take advantage of her, making them automatically give up their thoughts and retreat. Oh dear, why are you so stubborn and inflexible! It's driving me crazy!" At the end, Qin Yaoyao couldn't help but reach out and poke Fan Junyu's forehead, looking at him with a disappointed expression.
After a moment's thought, Fan Junyu nodded slowly and replied, "Yes, that's true." Just then, He Mingning, who had been quietly observing their conversation, finally broke the silence. A faint smile graced her face, her gaze softening as she looked at Qin Yaoyao. In a voice so gentle it seemed as if it could be carried away by the wind, she said, "Yaoyao, I specially arranged for some highly skilled bodyguards to accompany me on this trip, so I'm perfectly capable of returning home safely on my own. There's really no need for you to trouble Young Master Fan to see me off." After saying this, He Mingning gave Fan Junyu a slight bow as a polite greeting.
Qin Yaoyao instantly grasped the deeper meaning behind He Mingning's words. She quickly gave Fan Junyu a knowing look that only the two of them could understand. Receiving this hint, Fan Junyu immediately understood Qin Yaoyao's intention. Without hesitation, he turned to He Mingning and firmly retorted, "I'll escort you! The journey is incredibly long, and it's already getting dark. It's not reassuring for you to return alone with only one guard. I'll personally escort the princess." As soon as he finished speaking, he quickly turned back to Qin Yaoyao, gazing at her gently, and said, "Aunt, in that case, I'll accompany the princess on her journey."
Qin Yaoyao's pretty face blossomed into a radiant smile, like a spring flower in full bloom. Her voice was soft and melodious, like a gentle, flowing spring, as she softly replied, "Okay, be careful on your journey, and remember to take good care of Sister Ning." Fan Junyu nodded hastily in agreement, repeatedly indicating that he understood, while muttering, "I know, Auntie." Then, he and He Mingning walked forward side by side. Their figures appeared exceptionally tall and slender in the sunlight, and as they moved, the distance between them grew closer and closer, like an intimate couple.
And so, Fan Junyu and He Mingning walked further and further away, their figures gradually becoming blurred and eventually disappearing completely from everyone's sight. He Mingxuan, who had been standing there watching them leave, couldn't help but cover her mouth and let out a clear, melodious laugh. At that moment, her cheeks were flushed like a sunset, her eyes bright as stars, and her face was filled with undisguised joy. She said sweetly, "Hehe... I think it won't be long before we can happily drink my eldest sister's wedding wine!"
Standing next to He Mingxuan, Shen Xiaoran nodded eagerly in agreement, practically jumping for joy. Her adorable face flushed slightly with excitement, and her large, watery eyes sparkled with delight as she chimed in, "Of course! That's wonderful! Just thinking about my older sister's upcoming happy moment makes me genuinely happy for her."
Just then, Qin Yaoyao, with a smile on her face, gracefully stepped forward. She elegantly extended her arms and gently embraced He Mingxuan and Shen Xiaoran's shoulders, then said with a warm and gentle smile, "Since that's the case, let's not linger here any longer, let's set off together!" With that, the three of them linked arms, chatting and laughing as they walked forward, leaving behind a string of cheerful, bell-like laughter echoing in the air. And so, the three of them walked away, chatting and laughing, leaving behind a string of clear, melodious laughter reverberating in the air.
Fan Junyu and He Mingning walked side by side, maintaining a perfectly comfortable distance. Sunlight cast long shadows. He Mingning occasionally stole glances at the tall, handsome young man beside him. The young master Fan had striking features: sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose, and a faint smile. Every gesture exuded a unique charm. He Mingning thought to himself, "Judging by this young master Fan's handsome appearance, he must already have someone he likes. Otherwise, why would he be so cautious, as if afraid of being seen walking with me? He's probably only escorting me home today because he can't disobey his elders. In that case, why should I add to his unnecessary troubles?"
Thinking of this, He Mingning involuntarily lowered her head slightly, her silky hair falling down to obscure her fair profile. She parted her lips slightly and said softly, "I'm so sorry, Young Master Fan. I'm sorry to trouble you to take me home. If you have important matters to attend to, please feel free to leave; there's no need to waste your precious time here. I can get home safely on my own." Her voice was clear and melodious, like the first song of a nightingale, extremely pleasant to hear. However, within this beautiful voice, a hint of undisguised loneliness and helplessness was subtly revealed.
Fan Junyu's lips curved into a gentle smile, as warm as a spring breeze, as he softly replied, "It's alright. Since I've already promised my aunt to escort you safely home, I will never break my promise and let you embark on your journey back alone." Hearing this, He Mingning's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly regained her composure, thinking to herself: Just as I expected, he's probably only doing this because of the elders' instructions. So she raised her head and said softly, "Young Master Fan, there's no need to worry about this. I certainly won't tell Yaoyao about what happened today. She will never know the inside story, so you can rest assured!"
Fan Junyu's expression remained calm and composed, without the slightest ripple. He slowly spoke, his tone even, "It's alright." He Mingning nodded gently, indicating that he understood, and then lowered his voice slightly to continue, "I promise I will not cause you any trouble."
Just then, Fan Junyu, who had been walking steadily forward, suddenly stopped without warning. However, He Mingning, preoccupied with her own thoughts and filled with worry, was walking very slowly and with her head down the whole time, completely unaware of the change in the situation ahead. And so, she bumped straight into Fan Junyu, who had already turned around.
With a muffled thud, the sudden and violent impact, coupled with He Mingning's already unsteady stance, caused her to lose her balance and involuntarily lean backward...
At this critical moment, Fan Junyu's eyes suddenly sharpened, like two bolts of lightning streaking across the night sky, his gaze fixed on He Mingning's swaying figure. At the same time, his body shot forward like an arrow, his right hand swiftly reaching out and accurately grabbing He Mingning's slender wrist.
Thanks to Fan Junyu's timely and perfectly timed intervention, He Mingning's body, which was about to make intimate contact with the ground, was instantly stopped from falling backward, successfully avoiding an embarrassing scene of falling to the ground in a disheveled manner.
Fan Junyu looked concerned and hurriedly asked, "Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?" His words were full of anxiety and worry.
He Mingning gently shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips, and replied in her soft, melodious voice, "I'm fine, thank you for your concern, young master." Her tone was calm and gentle, as if she hadn't been too frightened by the dangerous scene just now.
However, Fan Junyu was clearly still worried, and he immediately asked again, "Are you really alright?"
Hearing this, He Mingning slowly raised her head, her beautiful eyes fixed on the handsome young man standing before her. He possessed striking features and an imposing presence, causing a slight stirring in her heart, but she quickly regained her composure. After composing herself, she slowly said, “Young master, I am truly grateful for your escort all the way. However, we are now in the city, bustling with people and lively, and there is little chance of encountering any danger. Therefore, I believe I can return home safely on my own, so I will not trouble you to continue escorting me.”