Cunning General Si Ning

It was odd that Ah Dai didn't say a word and Si Ning noticed his hands were shaking when he asked for his assistance to wash his hair.

On a day that Si Ning doesn't have a lot to do, he would have loved to pry and tease Ah Dai but he was now worried because he could tell it was past noon and if Xiu Zhicheng wanted to have lunch with him then it was already impossible.

After having his bath, Si Ning allowed Ah Dai to dress him while ignoring his guilty expression, shaky hands and the worst part of it was Ah Dai sweating when the weather was cool.

After dressing, just checking his attire in the mirror made Si Ning feel so beautiful and he doubts he should be worried about any of the Emperor's women looking more beautiful than him. It was odd for him to even try to compare himself in terms of beauty with the Emperor's women but he was planning to monopolize Xiu Zhicheng which means he mustn't even slack in dressing beautifully while wearing his intelligent expression since he was no beautiful doll but a walking intelligent beauty. Labeling himself an intelligent beauty was so cheesy of Si Ning but he couldn't help it since he was aware of it.

Si Ning traced the white embroidery on the tip of his sleeves, the golden dragon emblem was barely visible since the robes were too large and if Si Ning didn't take his hand to smoothen the dragon emblem on the right side of his chest then he doubts anyone would see it.

"Ah Dai my hand fan." Si Ning said and then turned to see Ah Dai staring at his hands, his head bowed and Si Ning could bet he didn't hear a word he just said.

What happened after Ji Ran came in after Ah Dai was something Si Ning didn't see as unusual and he couldn't help but let his mind drift to what transpired that afternoon to see if perhaps he missed anything that would have caused Ah Dai's sore mood.

"General is not like the way you think." Ji Ran stepped forward almost blocking Ah Dai from Si Ning's view.

Seeing the almost protective stance of Ji Ran, making a subtle attempt to hide Ah Dai behind him made Si Ning narrowed his eyes, displeased that Ah Dai was acting timid like he was going to hit him while Ji Ran was trying to protect him like he was preventing Si Ning from hitting Ah Dai.

"How do you know the way I think? which way do I think?" Si Ning crossed his hands across his chest now getting annoyed as he started to tap his arm with his index finger.

Tapping his arm was his way of trying to stop himself from lashing out at Ji Ran and Ah Dai, asking why Ah Dai was hiding or why Ji Ran was trying to hide him. Si Ning gave himself a mental award for his tolerance and his calm behavior he was unable to exhibit in the modern-day world and it was almost like his personality changed overnight but then he couldn't help but conclude that being rich was able to kill those personalities since him being poor was the reason he was frustrated and in this world, he doesn't understand the word poor anymore.

"I had something to talk to Ah Dai so..." Ji Ran paused and bit his bottom lip hard and suddenly fell on his knees. "General please give us your blessing!" He said firmly.

Eh?

Ji Ran's statement was unexpected, Si Ning was only trying to be nosy and make small talk while acting like the most intelligent understanding General and he didn't expect his actions to produce the result of Ji Ran confessing about his love for Ah Dai, it was what Si Ning interpreted his statement to and he couldn't find any other meaning to it.

Ah Dai fell on his knees. "Young Master forgive me for not resting....."

"It wasn't Ah Dai's fault, it was my fault for calling him out." Ji Ran said, interrupting Ah Dai.

Ah Dai clenched his fist. "Young Master me and Commander Ji Ran are not like that, Young Mas...."

"Aye aye." Si Ning said as a means to stop Ah Dai who looked desperate to explain. He doesn't like how Ah Dai was shaking or how his face turned pale, his face full of pain and regret like he just committed an unforgettable act.

"General I have prepared the bath." Jiang Ye announced outside the door.

Just like his statement burnt Ah Dai because he raised his head sharply, his mouth quivering as he bit his bottom lip, earning a concerned look from Ji Ran.

Si Ning took a deep breath, knowing that Ah Dai had assumed the worst-case scenario of him not being needed as a servant anymore. "You and Ji Ran is none of my business, you should sort it out between yourself and whether you both are in love or not ahhh." He pauses already seeing nowhere his motivational talk was going. "Anyway you guys should start working on the task I have given you, I have to prepare to go to the palace." He would have loved to include the order he gave Ah Dai for him to rest but knowing Ah Dai's personality, he decided to leave it at that, allowing Ah Dai to follow him because it was one thing that would make Ah Dai happy.

Ji Ran and Ah Dai had always been close but not for once did Si Ning suspect that Ji Ran might have some feelings for Ah Dai, he had enough on his plate than to sniffing out a romance from his third Commander and his servant. In this era it was an odd combination that made Si Ning never even thought of it, he had only thought they were good friends and nothing more. Ah Dai trying to deny it almost seemed like he was saying the truth or was afraid. Si Ning turned, concerned, only to see Ah Dai coming as expected, he turned back his attention to where he was heading, laying his curiosity to rest since he still had to worry about what was taking Xiao Pei so long to return.

Since then Ah Dai seemed depressed but Si Ning doesn't want to bring up the discussion about him and Ji Ran because he doesn't want to dig into things concerning love because one wrong word then Ah Dai won't hesitate to cut off his friendship with Ji Ran and that might affect the rest of the Commanders, affecting the army which means as a General he would definitely be affected one way or the other and it might even be in a roundabout way that he won't be able to find out that the root of the problem was Ah Dai not being in good terms with Ji Ran.

Si Ning gaze was still on Ah Dai when he realized that not asking what the problem was and ignoring won't make Ah Dai's mood get better since he knows Ah Dai as the happiest person just by serving him but he was doing what he loves most still his mood was still bad so Si Ning decided to pry a little if that would lighten his servant's mood. He was about to say a word when a knock came on the door which made him snap his head sharply in the direction of the door.

Xiao Pei?

"Come in." Si Ning said, trying to not sound or look eager and at that moment he forgot he wanted to ask Ah Dai some questions.