bestfiction Chapter 116 Dreaming
Chapter 116 Dreaming
Upon seeing this, a thoughtful look flashed across the Empress's beautiful eyes. After a brief pause, she parted her lips again and asked softly, "So, Ning'er, what do you think of this marriage that your mother has chosen for you? Are you willing to agree?" Hearing this, He Mingning's delicate face instantly flushed with a radiant blush, like the evening glow. She lowered her head shyly and murmured, "Your Majesty has always been wholeheartedly considering my needs. Every decision you make is surely filled with your love and care for me, and naturally there will be no mistakes."
The Empress gazed at He Mingning, whose cheeks were flushed with shyness, as lovely and charming as a ripe apple. She couldn't help but think to herself: "Judging from this, this girl clearly has high hopes for this marriage and has already fallen deeply in love!" Thinking this, a kind and gentle smile bloomed on the Empress's face, and she softly comforted her, "Alright, alright, my dear daughter, you've been playing and frolicking outside all day. You must be exhausted. Go and rest early, don't overwork yourself. As for other matters, we can discuss them tomorrow. I'll return to the palace now."
Upon hearing this, He Mingning nodded hurriedly, then respectfully stepped forward, personally taking the Empress's arm and carefully escorting her out of the room. After watching the Empress walk away until her figure completely disappeared, she gently turned around and softly instructed the personal maid who had been attending to her, "Quickly prepare some hot water for me. I want to take a good bath to relax and wash away all the fatigue accumulated throughout the day." The maid quickly agreed and hurriedly ran out to do so.
Not long after, two strong palace maids carried a huge wooden tub slowly into the room. The tub was filled with steaming, swirling bathwater. As they placed the tub steadily on the ground, a thick plume of steam rose into the air, quickly filling the room as if shrouded in a hazy, dreamlike mist. At the same time, wisps of delicate, fragrant aroma wafted out, refreshing and soothing, making one feel relaxed and comfortable...
He Mingning leaned comfortably against the bathtub, surrounded by layers of steam that rose gently like wisps of smoke, gradually blurring her vision. The warm, moist steam felt like gentle hands, lightly caressing her delicate skin, bringing an indescribable sense of comfort. Her muscles gradually relaxed, and she was completely immersed in this tranquility and peace.
However, despite her body being completely relaxed, her thoughts began to wander uncontrollably, eventually drifting to the complicated events of the day.
Just then, that all-too-familiar and exceptionally handsome face unexpectedly entered the depths of her mind. Those deep, pool-like eyes, like brilliant stars in the night sky, shone with captivating light; his high, straight nose, like a precipitous mountain peak, was resolute and upright; and the slightly upturned corners of his mouth held a faint smile, as if containing an irresistible magic that instantly seized He Mingning's entire attention.
She was irresistibly drawn to the suddenly appearing figure, her heart pounding and her breathing becoming slightly rapid. When she realized she was thinking of that person again, He Mingning was truly startled by this sudden thought. Her face filled with astonishment, she murmured softly, "Why am I thinking of him again? How strange..." As she spoke, she gently touched her burning cheeks, feeling as if they were on fire, the burning sensation spreading continuously.
He Mingning hurriedly plunged her hands into the water, hoping the cool current would cool her burning face. At the same time, she kept muttering to herself, "It must be because the water is too hot, that's why my head is spinning and I'm starting to overthink..."
Accompanied by the barely perceptible sound of rippling water, He Mingning tightly closed her eyes, trying to suppress the turbulent waves surging within her. However, her restless heart was like a wild horse, completely out of control, and no matter how hard she tried, she could not truly calm it down.
Time ticked by, and after an unknown amount of time, He Mingning finally felt the burning heat on her cheeks subside slightly. She took a deep breath and slowly rose from the bathtub. Water splashed everywhere, and glistening droplets slid down her fair, jade-like skin like pearls falling from a broken string. She stretched out her slender arms, gently picked up the white towel placed beside her, and began to softly and gracefully dry her body.
After showering, He Mingning changed into a loose and comfortable light pink nightgown. The nightgown was made of extremely soft and smooth material, as light as a cloud. She walked slowly towards the bed, each step careful, as if afraid of breaking the tranquility of the night. When she finally reached the bed, she first bent down slightly, gently smoothing out the wrinkles on the sheets with her hand, and then slowly lay down.
Upon touching the incredibly soft bed and the faintly fragrant bedding, He Mingning felt an unprecedented sense of comfort wash over her. She sighed contentedly, then closed her eyes and began to regulate her breathing, hoping to dispel the face that kept lingering in her mind.
Gradually, with her tireless efforts, the lingering warmth on her face dissipated like the last rays of the setting sun. At this moment, He Mingning became extremely languid, like a cat that had eaten and drunk its fill and curled up contentedly, lying quietly on the soft bed.
Although she kept her eyes tightly closed, trying to immerse herself in the tranquil atmosphere of darkness, her chaotic thoughts, like wild horses, were completely out of her control, drifting away on their own. They were as if swept up by an invisible wind, involuntarily traversing the tunnel of time, returning to the beautiful time she had spent with Fan Junyu today.
Those warm and romantic scenes, like a meticulously crafted and exquisitely beautiful movie, played on repeat in the depths of her mind. Every image was so clear, every detail so vivid, as if she could reach out and touch it. Whenever she recalled a moment that stirred her heart—perhaps a tender look he inadvertently revealed, or a comforting word he whispered—the corners of her mouth would involuntarily turn up, blossoming into a sweet and charming smile, like a flower blooming in spring. This smile contained boundless happiness and contentment, as if the whole world had become vibrant and colorful because of that moment.
She murmured softly, her voice as gentle as ripples on a lake in the breeze: "Fan Junyu, can we... still get along like this in the future?" Though the question was utterly soft, it carried a heavy weight of expectation and uncertainty. She didn't know how the future would unfold, and dared not speculate too much, fearing that her beautiful dreams would ultimately vanish. Yet, deep within her, the small flame of hope burned eternally, refusing to be extinguished.
Perhaps... that day really will come. She silently told herself, trying to give herself some confidence and courage. With this faint but firm belief, she slowly relaxed her body and mind, letting her thoughts drift, and gradually, her consciousness began to blur. Finally, like a weary bird finding a warm nest, she peacefully drifted into a sweet dream.
In her deep sleep, He Mingning seemed to be in a strange world, becoming a calm observer, quietly watching the moments between herself and Fan Junyu. The scene before her left her speechless, for she saw herself in her dream bravely and fearlessly making a series of daring moves, things that would normally make her heart race and her face flush just thinking about them.
In her dream, she took Fan Junyu's hand without hesitation, feeling the warmth from his palm. Then, the two embraced tightly, their breaths mingling and intertwining intimately. Even more unexpectedly, they kissed passionately, the scene as beautiful as a dream.
He Mingning stared wide-eyed at everything in disbelief, her heart pounding with panic. She felt her cheeks growing hotter and hotter, as if a fire were burning within them, and this burning sensation intensified with the progression of the dream. Finally, just as she felt she could barely bear the stimulation, she suddenly woke up with a start.
Realizing that everything that had just happened was just a dream, He Mingning breathed a long sigh of relief and murmured to herself, "Thank goodness, it was just a dream..." However, despite comforting herself, her face would still involuntarily flush red whenever she thought of that captivating dream.
Just then, He Mingning's personal maid, Lan'er, tiptoed in carrying toiletries. The moment she stepped into the room, Lan'er's keen eyes immediately noticed something amiss with her princess—He Mingning's cheeks were flushed, and her expression seemed somewhat dazed. Lan'er's heart tightened, and she quickly stepped forward, asking with concern, "Princess, what's wrong? Your face is so red; are you perhaps unwell or ill? Perhaps I should quickly fetch the imperial physician to examine you!" With that, Lan'er made as if to turn and leave.
Seeing this, He Mingning quickly reached out and grabbed Lan'er, shaking his head repeatedly and saying, "Oh, Lan'er, I'm really fine. Don't always make such a fuss, okay?"
Meanwhile, Fan Junyu entered the mansion with a heart full of trepidation. Although he was home, his emotions remained turbulent, like a stormy sea. Lying in bed, he tossed and turned, unable to drift into a sweet dream. The image of his fiancée, He Mingning, whom he had just met, danced incessantly in his mind like a playful butterfly. Thinking of this, a faint smile involuntarily crept onto Fan Junyu's lips.
As the night deepened, fatigue slowly washed over him like a tide, and Fan Junyu's eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Finally, unable to resist the onslaught of drowsiness, he slowly closed his eyes and gradually drifted off to sleep.
However, even in this dreamlike world, fate seemed unwilling to let him go. His dream was like a captivating movie, presenting every detail of his encounter with He Mingning on the street during the day. Every subtle change in expression, every gentle word, even the soft touch of the breeze through his hair, was displayed so clearly and so realistically before him.
In his dream, Fan Junyu seemed to be standing on that bustling street again, surrounded by crowds of people coming and going, their noise rising and falling. He Mingning stood quietly not far away, smiling sweetly at him. Sunlight fell on her, outlining a beautiful golden silhouette, making her look like a fairy descended from heaven, breathtakingly beautiful.
However, in that fleeting moment, as if it were only the blink of an eye, the scene before them suddenly changed dramatically. The familiar landscape vanished, replaced by a breathtakingly beautiful peach blossom grove.
This peach grove is like a paradise on earth. Each peach tree soars high into the sky, standing straight and tall, its thick trunks displaying their resilience honed by the passage of time. The lush branches intertwine, forming natural umbrellas that completely block out the sky. The delicate pink blossoms, like shy maidens, adorn the branches. A gentle breeze causes the branches to tremble, and these beautiful flowers dance like butterflies, light and graceful. From a distance, the profusion of blossoms resembles a dazzling cloud, like smoke and mist, dreamlike and ethereal.
A gentle breeze caressed my face, bringing a cool and pleasant scent. Along with the breeze came countless petals, fluttering down like snowflakes in winter. Some landed on the ground, forming a thick carpet of flowers; others swirled in the air before gently settling on the shoulders or in the hair of passersby. The entire peach grove was filled with a delicate and serene fragrance, a scent so refreshing and invigorating that it seemed to instantly dispel all worries and anxieties.