newbobooks Chapter 178 The Bold Princess
Chapter 178 The Bold Princess
Granny Li was filled with doubt, her worry surging like a turbulent tide. She frowned, her gaze anxious as she looked at Cui'er and Lan'er, her voice hesitant as she said, "Perhaps the princess is completely absorbed in her own thoughts and hasn't heard our knocking at all! Cui'er, why don't you go and knock on the door again, harder?" Hearing this, Cui'er didn't dare delay, nodding quickly, "Yes, Granny, don't worry, I'll go check right away." Before she finished speaking, she gracefully turned around, like a beautiful butterfly in flight, and gently knocked on the closed door with her slender hand. However, the room remained silent; He Mingning seemed deeply engrossed in her own thoughts, completely oblivious to the knocking.
The three people outside the door grew increasingly anxious. Their hearts pounded like ants on a hot plate, pacing back and forth in a frenzy. They pounded on the door relentlessly, shouting at the top of their lungs, "Princess, Princess, Princess, are you inside? Princess!" Each call was filled with concern and urgency. Granny Li, her face etched with worry, anxiously instructed, "Cui'er, don't stop, keep banging on the door. Lan'er, hurry, run and fetch all the guards on duty today. If the princess still doesn't respond, have the strong guards break down the door with their bodies. At all costs, you must ensure the princess's safety!" Lan'er and Cui'er agreed in unison, and then, like arrows released from a bow, they quickly separated to carry out their respective tasks.
Just then, He Mingning, who was sitting inside, finally came to her senses and suddenly heard a slight noise coming from outside the door. Although the sound was not loud, it was enough to attract her attention. So, she got up, slowly walked to the door, and gently pushed it open.
When the door was fully opened, He Mingning's beautiful face appeared before everyone. However, at this moment, her face was blank, and she looked at Li Mama and the others standing outside the door with a confused expression, asking with a hint of doubt, "Mama, what happened? Why are you all in such a hurry?"
When Granny Li and Cui'er, who were standing outside the door, saw that the door had finally opened, they hurriedly called out to Lan'er, who was walking halfway, as if trying to call a frightened little bird back to its nest. Upon hearing the call, Lan'er quickly turned around and ran back to the door, and together with the others, followed He Mingning into the house.
As soon as she entered the room, before He Mingning could even ask again, Granny Li eagerly stepped forward and said to her with a worried expression, "Your Highness, are you alright? This old servant was so worried!"
Faced with Li Mama's sudden concern, He Mingning felt somewhat puzzled. She frowned and replied with a question, "Mama, I'm perfectly fine! I don't feel unwell anywhere, and I haven't encountered any danger. Why are you so worried? What's wrong?"
At this moment, Cui'er quickly interjected, "Princess, it's so good that you're safe and sound! We were all so worried!"
He Mingning listened to their conversation, her doubts growing stronger. She nodded slightly and responded with an "Mm," then turned her bright, torch-like eyes directly to Lan'er, who was standing in the corner. Her gaze conveyed a clear message, as if she hoped Lan'er would quickly explain what was going on.
Then, Lan'er parted her lips slightly, her voice melodious and gentle, like the warbling of a nightingale, clear and pleasant, and said, "Just now, we saw you, Princess, rush in like an arrow released from a bow, with lightning speed. We were startled, thinking you must be in some dire situation! So we hurried forward, eager to find out what was happening. However, to our surprise, when we reached the door, we first carefully and gently knocked, but the room was completely silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Then, we patiently knocked repeatedly for a long time, but you, Princess, remained silent as if caught in a sudden calamity." The gates were tightly shut, like a fortified city gate; not a sound came from within, not even the slightest whisper. We were all filled with anxiety, our hearts pounding in our throats, fearing that the princess might encounter some unexpected danger or misfortune! In desperation, the nanny instructed Cui'er to continue knocking forcefully, and to shout the princess's name at the top of her lungs. At the same time, the nanny ordered me to quickly go outside and find the guards on duty to come to our aid. She said, "If the princess does not appear soon, then these strong guards will have no choice but to break down the door!"
Cui'er quickly picked up the conversation, laughing as she said, "Oh dear, thank goodness you opened the door in time, Princess! Otherwise, if Lan'er had actually found those guards, your seemingly sturdy door would have become as fragile as a piece of paper, easily broken! At that point, you'd probably have to sleep with the door wide open!"
Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter. The hearty and cheerful laughter rose and fell, one wave higher than the next, as if it were about to break through the roof and soar straight to the highest heavens!
As if grasping at a lifeline, He Mingning tightly held onto Li Mama's slightly rough but incredibly warm hands, her eyes filled with deep apology, her voice so gentle it seemed to melt hearts, "I'm so sorry, Mama! I was completely absorbed in my own thoughts, like falling into a bottomless abyss, unable to climb out, so I didn't even notice you knocking. It's all my fault, causing you so much worry, it's truly my fault!"
Looking at the adorable little princess with heartache, Granny Li gently stroked He Mingning's smooth, jade-like hand with her other hand, and softly comforted her, "Princess, please don't say that. This is nothing serious. As long as you are safe and healthy, this old servant can finally put my mind at ease." As she spoke, she smiled lovingly at He Mingning.
Standing to the side, Cui'er looked on with suspicion, her big eyes darting around like a curious child. Tilting her head and blinking, she asked, as if completely baffled, "What troubles the princess? She seems so engrossed that she doesn't even hear us knocking!"
Upon hearing Cui'er's words, He Mingning's slightly upturned lips suddenly froze as if struck by a spell. The smile that had just blossomed like a flower was instantly chilled, as if struck by a thick layer of frost, and vanished from her beautiful face. The atmosphere in the entire room seemed to shift with the change in He Mingning's expression.
As soon as He Mingning recalled the thoughts that had just crossed her mind, a vibrant crimson hue, like that of a sunset, quickly spread across her face, which was as white as jade. Her once clear, bright eyes now darted around like a startled fawn, avoiding eye contact. Even when she spoke, her voice trembled involuntarily, becoming stammering: "N-nothing...it's really nothing important. I've thought it through. Don't worry, I'm fine. You don't need to worry at all. Oh, Cui'er, quickly go and prepare some hot water for me. I want to take a nice bath to relax. As for you, Granny, and Lan'er, you should go back to your rooms and rest!"
Granny Li had been keeping a close eye on He Mingning, taking in every subtle expression and movement. Seeing He Mingning's unusual reaction, Granny Li immediately understood – anything that could make her usually dignified and composed princess so distracted was most likely related to that Lord Fan. Lan'er, standing beside her, also keenly noticed these subtle changes. Understanding each other perfectly, she turned and exchanged a glance with Granny Li. In that brief exchange of glances, the two seemed to understand each other's thoughts, and smiled slightly in unison, everything understood without words. Cui'er looked completely bewildered, like a monk who had never seen anything before, utterly clueless. She opened her mouth, about to ask what had happened, but was unexpectedly stopped by Lan'er beside her. At this moment, Granny Li, with a kind smile on her face, said softly, "Alright, since that's the case, then we'll take our leave first." He Mingning, who was standing to the side, nodded slightly. After the group turned and left, she gracefully danced like a light butterfly, gently closing the door behind her.
However, even after leaving the room, Cui'er felt an itch in her heart, like a kitten scratching at her. Unable to suppress her curiosity and doubts, she quickly grabbed Lan'er and eagerly pressed, "Lan'er, why did you stop me from speaking? And why were you all laughing so happily just now? Could it be... that you know why the princess is so distracted and lost in thought?" Faced with Cui'er's barrage of questions, Lan'er couldn't help but smile, shaking her head and saying, "Oh dear, Cui'er, some things aren't for us to pry into. You're just too impatient; that's not good." With that, Lan'er gently patted Cui'er's hand.
At this moment, Granny Li turned around, still smiling, and said to Cui'er, "You little rascal, you're such a silly child! There are some questions you shouldn't ask. Don't forget, the princess is waiting for you to prepare hot water for her bath! This old body of mine will go back to my room to rest now." With that, Granny Li slowly walked away. After Granny Li left, Cui'er's bright eyes darted around like a curious child, quickly landing on Lan'er. She parted her lips, about to ask something, but Lan'er spoke first, "Oh dear, you little rascal, you've read so many stories, how come you're still so dull-witted at crucial moments? It's truly lamentable."
However, Cui'er was still completely bewildered, as if she were shrouded in a thick fog, utterly clueless and unaware of what had happened. She frowned slightly, deep in thought, pondering to herself, "What exactly is going on? Why would Lan'er say that?" Just then, she heard Lan'er softly remind her, "Silly girl, what are you still standing here for? Hurry up and prepare hot water! Her Highness the Princess is waiting!"
These words were like a lightning bolt across the night sky, instantly illuminating Cui'er's confused thoughts. She slapped her forehead, suddenly realizing what she had done, and muttered to herself, "That's right, that's right! Look at my memory, I actually forgot something so important! I must hurry and prepare hot water, I can't keep the princess waiting." So, she hurriedly said goodbye to Lan'er, "Sister Lan'er, I'll go and get busy now, we can chat properly when we have time." With that, she rushed towards the kitchen like a startled little rabbit.
Watching Cui'er's hurried departure, Lan'er couldn't help but chuckle. She shook her head gently and said with a smile, "Alright, go on, don't delay our business." Before she finished speaking, Cui'er had already disappeared. Lan'er slowly turned around and walked lightly back to her room to rest. Before long, the quick-witted Cui'er had prepared steaming hot water. He Mingning slowly sat in the bathtub, the warm water instantly enveloping her body, bringing comfort and relaxation. However, her heart was far from calm; chaotic thoughts surged like a tidal wave, constantly assaulting her heart.
She quietly closed her eyes, and her mind involuntarily began to replay the various scenes that had happened that day. Especially when she recalled the incredibly intimate name she had blurted out to Fan Junyu, and the scene of her inexplicably kissing him, He Mingning felt a burning sensation on her face, as if it were on fire.
"Oh my god! How could I do such a thing?" He Mingning exclaimed inwardly. Although the suggestion of kissing was initially made by Fan Junyu, she never thought she would actually have the courage to act on it. She had always considered herself a shy, reserved, and well-behaved woman, so why had she become so bold and unrestrained now? Was it simply because she deeply loved him, and therefore would obey and comply with every word he said without hesitation?