amaotonovel Chapter 129 Little Rabbit Hairpin
Chapter 129 Little Rabbit Hairpin
He Mingning nodded slightly, a thoughtful expression on his face, indicating that he understood what the other person meant. Seeing this, Fan Junyu turned his head, a smile on his lips, and asked softly, "Want to eat?" His voice was gentle and caring, as if it could penetrate the heart.
He Mingning gently shook her head and replied, "I didn't mean that." Her voice was clear and melodious, as sweet as a nightingale's song. After saying that, the two continued walking side by side.
The streets were bustling with people and incredibly noisy. As far as the eye could see, there were vendors selling all sorts of trinkets on both sides of the road. These vendors were shouting loudly, trying their best to attract passersby to stop and patronize their businesses.
Surrounded by the bustling city, He Mingning was filled with curiosity about everything around her. She kept looking left and right, her bright eyes shining with undisguised excitement.
Just then, the group slowly strolled to a stall selling hairpins. In an instant, He Mingning's steps seemed to be frozen in place, and she stopped involuntarily. Her gaze was firmly drawn to a silver hairpin as if by a magnet.
At first glance, this silver hairpin may not seem like a priceless item, but its unique design is truly exquisite. Upon closer inspection, the tip of the hairpin resembles a beautiful work of art, meticulously carved with a lifelike little rabbit. The rabbit's body appears to be born from flawless jade, pure white as snow, warm and smooth as jade, radiating a soft, gentle luster, like crystal-clear mutton-fat jade, captivating and mesmerizing all who behold it.
What's particularly eye-catching are the rabbit's crystal-clear eyes, which are made of two bright, dazzling rubies, as vibrant as burning flames. Although these two rubies may not be of the highest quality, they still sparkle brilliantly in the sunlight, like the brightest stars in the night sky.
Looking at the exquisite carving, every line flows smoothly and naturally, perfectly capturing the rabbit's form, as if it might leap off the hairpin at any moment to run and play joyfully. Such a lifelike and vivid rabbit is truly astonishing, a masterpiece of craftsmanship.
The moment He Mingning's gaze fell upon the silver hairpin, she was captivated, and an indescribable feeling of fondness welled up within her. Her eyes burned with fervor, and she could no longer look away, her face revealing undisguised joy.
Unable to contain her excitement any longer, He Mingning eagerly asked the stall owner, "May I ask how much this hairpin costs?" The stall owner, who had been tidying up his stall with his head down, quickly looked up upon hearing the clear and pleasant question. When he saw He Mingning and Fan Junyu standing in front of him, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
The two women were dressed in luxurious attire, their flowing robes exuding elegance, clearly indicating their extraordinary status. The stall owner immediately beamed and replied enthusiastically, "Young lady, you have excellent taste! This is my latest arrival, an absolute gem." Although the material of the hairpin was slightly inferior, its craftsmanship was truly exquisite and meticulous! The intricately carved patterns flowed smoothly and naturally, almost lifelike; the inlaid gemstones, though not rare treasures, radiated a soft and captivating light. Such exquisite workmanship was truly irresistible. "Well then, sir, ten taels of silver will suffice!" the stall owner said with a beaming smile.
Just as He Mingning was about to take out his money to pay, Fan Junyu swiftly beat him to it. In fact, Fan Junyu had already secretly prepared the money the moment He Mingning reached for the hairpin. He quickly pulled out a bulging purse from his pocket, took out ten taels of silver, and handed it to the stall owner without hesitation.
Seeing that Fan Junyu had already paid, He Mingning hurriedly said, "Let me pay!" However, Fan Junyu didn't retract her outstretched hand, still holding the ten taels of silver steadily. At this moment, the stall owner, quick as a flash, snatched the money from Fan Junyu's hand, his smile growing even brighter. As he put the money into his pocket, he teased He Mingning, "My dear wife, since your husband is so eager to buy it for you, don't refuse! Look how good your husband is to you, always putting in the first thing. I'm sure your future together will be as bright and prosperous as a blazing fire!"
Hearing the stall owner's words, He Mingning blushed instantly, her face as beautiful as the sunset. She lowered her head, wishing she could disappear into the ground, secretly annoyed that she had been mistaken for a married couple. Just as she was about to explain their relationship to the stall owner, she suddenly heard Fan Junyu's clear voice: "Haha, then thank you for your kind words, boss! I hope we can truly be as happy and fulfilled as you say."
After saying this, Fan Junyu led He Mingning away like ghosts. He Mingning clutched the exquisite hairpin tightly in her hand, murmuring softly, "Why didn't you explain?" Her words were full of doubt and confusion.
Seeing this, Fan Junyu looked on with suspicion and asked, "What is it that's bothering you so much?" He Mingning raised his head slightly, turned his gaze to him, and continued, "It's what that stall owner said earlier!" Fan Junyu frowned slightly upon hearing this and pressed, "What did he say?"
He Mingning took a deep breath, tilted her head back slightly, gazed at Fan Junyu in front of her, bit her lip lightly, and blushed slightly on her cheeks. She said shyly, "It was...it was what he said at the end. He seemed to have misunderstood our relationship, and you, why didn't you..." Her voice trailed off, as if she found it difficult to speak.
Upon hearing this, Fan Junyu suddenly stopped, turned around abruptly, stared intently at He Mingning, a slight smile playing on his lips, and said slowly, "Are you referring to the fact that he mistakenly thought we were husband and wife?" He Mingning nodded shyly when he called her name directly.
Fan Junyu continued, "What does it matter? I don't think there's any need to explain to him." He Mingning was taken aback at first, then nodded thoughtfully, replying, "Indeed, we're complete strangers. How he addresses us doesn't really matter to us. There's really no need to explain." After saying this, He Mingning thought to herself, "Oh dear, He Mingning, you're so incredibly foolish! You naively thought he would care about your feelings. It turns out he's just too lazy to explain." Thinking this, she couldn't help but shake her head slightly, her blush deepening.
Fan Junyu quietly observed He Mingning, whose mood was clearly downcast. He understood immediately that the little girl must have misunderstood something. He slightly raised the corners of his beautifully shaped lips, like ripples on a lake in spring breeze, slowly revealing a faint, captivating smile, as gentle as the morning sun. Then, he gently shook his head, the movement so delicate as if afraid to disturb the surrounding tranquility. Next, in a voice as melodious as flowing water, he spoke slowly and deliberately: "The reason I chose to remain silent about all this, without offering any explanation, is actually quite simple—because deep down I believe what he said is true."
Standing quietly to the side, He Mingning trembled violently as if struck by lightning upon hearing these words. With lightning speed, she swiftly raised her small, delicate head. Her already fair and jade-like face was now instantly filled with a mixture of confusion and surprise, like a vibrant yet enigmatic painting. Especially striking were her beautiful, captivating eyes, now fixed intently on Fan Junyu, their gaze burning with intensity, as if trying to pierce through his deep pupils to discern his truest thoughts, attempting to find the key to unraveling the mystery within her heart.
Faced with He Mingning's strong reaction, Fan Junyu's smile didn't diminish at all; instead, it deepened. He paused for a moment, then spoke softly again, "My dear Mingning, have you forgotten? There's a marriage agreement between us that's already been made. Although we haven't officially held that wedding ceremony symbolizing our eternal commitment yet, and haven't truly become husband and wife in name and in fact, it's just a matter of time. After all, one day, we will walk hand in hand into the hall of marriage and begin a new chapter of our happy life together. In that case, what he just said is naturally not inappropriate at all. So why should I waste my breath explaining it to others?"
At this very moment, He Mingning was enveloped as if by a thick fog, a heavy curtain that completely shrouded her. Her figure appeared so small and helpless within the fog, as if she might be swallowed up at any moment.
Looking again at her once bright and captivating eyes, as radiant as stars, they had lost their former brilliance, becoming somewhat dull and lifeless. She stared blankly ahead, her gaze empty and lost, as if trying to pierce through the boundless fog before her to see some hidden truth or answer. But no matter how hard she tried to gaze, the fog remained so thick, showing no sign of dissipating, making all her attempts a futile struggle.
As for Fan Junyu's words, they struck He Mingning's heart like a heavy hammer. Every word, every sentence, entered her ears with crystal clarity, but these words were like independent fragments. No matter how hard she racked her brains, she couldn't piece them together into a complete and comprehensible sentence. She felt as if her thoughts had suddenly frozen, completely ceasing to function. Her mind was like a wasteland swept by a raging storm, chaotic and disordered, with all sorts of thoughts intertwined and tangled together, forming a complex web. The more He Mingning tried to unravel these thoughts, the deeper she sank into it, unable to extricate herself. Gradually, she felt herself completely trapped in this web of thoughts, unable to break free.
He Mingning stood there blankly, like a soulless statue, completely still. Everything around her seemed so unfamiliar and distant; she felt isolated from the world, trapped alone in a cage woven from confusion.
Just as He Mingning felt helpless, Fan Junyu suddenly leaned forward slightly, moving even closer to her. His handsome face gradually magnified until it was almost touching hers. Then, in an extremely gentle and deep voice, he softly asked, "Could it be that, Princess, you intend to back out of this marriage?" As his words fell, a warm breath, like a gentle spring breeze, slowly brushed past He Mingning's ear. That breath, carrying a faint warmth, lightly touched her sensitive skin, like the most gentle breeze in spring, warm and soft, making one feel intoxicated.
As the gentle breeze caressed her, He Mingning felt a wave of warmth wash over her, as if countless tiny hands were softly stroking her cheeks. In the blink of an eye, her cheeks were as red and juicy as ripe apples, even slightly flushed. A little flustered, she instinctively raised her hand and gently touched her burning cheeks, feeling only a searing heat where her fingertips touched. At the same time, her heart, as if stimulated by something, began to pound uncontrollably, like a wild horse galloping wildly through her chest.
He Mingning's gaze involuntarily fell on Fan Junyu, her eyes flickering uncertainly. She shook her head repeatedly, her voice so soft it was like a mosquito's hum, and stammered, "No...no, I...didn't think that way." As she spoke, her voice grew weaker and weaker until it was almost inaudible; one would hardly notice it unless listening carefully.
Fan Junyu took in all her reactions and understood that the shy and charming woman before him had already fallen in love. He smiled slightly, deliberately straightening his posture to appear even taller and more imposing, then looked at He Mingning with gentle, smiling eyes and asked softly, "That's very good. I wonder if Your Highness intends to go to the Duke's mansion immediately, or would you like to stroll around and enjoy the scenery first?"
He Mingning hesitated for a moment, the image of Fan Junyu's busy figure and the many unfinished matters flashing through her mind. Knowing she shouldn't take up too much of his time, she decisively replied, "I'll go directly to the Duke's mansion!"
Hearing this, Fan Junyu smiled and nodded in agreement. Then, he gestured to the side and said softly, "Alright, then I will escort you to the Duke's Mansion now. Let's go!" He Mingning nodded slightly in acknowledgment, then gracefully moved to walk alongside Fan Junyu, slowly making their way towards the Duke's Mansion. Although the two did not exchange many words along the way, the atmosphere between them was exceptionally harmonious and pleasant.