Cunning General Si Ning

The window was wide open and from the outside view Si Ning could tell the day was breaking and soon Ah Dai would come in to style his hair and help him wear his official outfit. He pulled his outer coat closer to cover his neck better.

Si Ning was able to finish the next set of profiles Chen An brought for him before dawn but he wasn't satisfied with how fast he worked because he couldn't shake off the feeling that he might have missed some things and would end up losing some skilled men and because of this he wasn't able to fully rest, he was only able to sleep for just a short time before he decided to take a warm bath and dress up for the day. The only thing left was for Ah Dai to style his hair and apply some makeup on his face and since he still had time he started to scan through the profiles to make a few adjustments.

When he was done with the profiles and was satisfied that he was able to pick out some free profiles to retain in his army, he decided to write a letter to his mother 'cause he would be seeing Jiang Ye later in the day so Jiang Ye would be the one to deliver it. It had been almost two days since he heard from her.

It was stressful to be dipping his pen into ink just to write each word but Si Ning knew he doesn't have a choice in a world without technology. He knows little about technology and wasn't serious about knowing physics or chemistry, overall he was only concerned about passing through each grade without repeating, If he was at least a top student of his class and serious in retaining what he learned then he should have used the knowledge to invent the telephone if it was possible and then go down to history as the first person that invented the telephone and all students in the future would know his name as the man that made life a little bit convenient then maybe he would develop some games too and try to replicate his battleXmode or some action game then maybe he could create some interacting site but before that he had to first invent the internet...

"Not bad." Si Ning said as he stopped his daydreaming to concentrate on the letter he started writing. Daydreaming wouldn't help him because he was so sure he doesn't have the knowledge to invent something like that so the least he could do was to focus on his reality.

"King Consort, Young Master Jiang, and Second Young Master Jiang are here to see you."

Eh? Jiang? Oh!

Si Ning heard Yang Sheng announced outside the study room just when he finally dropped his pen brush. "Come in." He chuckled as he set down his pen. It was a bit funny to him how Yang Sheng referred to Jiang Ye and Jiang ChenMu but his smile suddenly fell because he doesn't understand why the two had to come so early to see him.

He had expected Jiang Ye and Jiang ChenMu to arrive in the afternoon or after the court meeting. He didn't expect they would come

knocking at his door early in the morning.

The door opened and Jiang ChenMu came in. Si Ning was surprised he was younger than he thought, he guessed the boy should still be in his teens. Jiang Ye came in after him and knelt on one knee.

"Greetings General." Jiang Ye saluted.

Si Ning gaze was on the tall teen that was standing by the door, he wasn't dressed as a simple noble, his blue robes were shinning making Si Ning wonder how it was going to be sparking during the day, hair packed with a ribbon neatly into a ponytail, his outer coat collar made of thick wool that was high almost reaching his ears, his expression serious with the air surrounding gave him the appearance of a high-status person, giving off the air of a strong trained martial artist even though he wasn't heavily built. Jiang ChenMu's sparkling appearance was just like how Xiu Junjie's appearance was when he came to the Jasmine Palace.

He should be a ladies' man.

Si Ning couldn't help but judge him, no man can stand so tall, proud, and handsome without some ladies all over him. If he wasn't the lover of the Emperor before they broke up then Si Ning was sure he would also be surrounded by soft ladies.

"General." Jiang Chen Mu saluted. "It is an honor that General summons for my presence."

Si Ning narrowed his eyes, it was expected that Jiang ChenMu should salute him yet it almost doesn't fit him. His voice was also deep not fitting his young appearance.

"General, have you been well?" Jiang Ye asked, his eyes full of worry.

Si Ning blinked slowly. "Yes Jiang Ye." He replied and turned to Jiang ChenMu. "I am glad you were able to come this early, take your seat and Jiang Ye too." He said as he folded his letter into three then placed it on the table.

To be honest Si Ning doesn't want to start his day by discussing with Jiang ChenMu and Jiang Ye and he placed it at the back of his mind to tell Chen An he wasn't pleased with two Young Masters coming to knock on his door so early in the morning. Showing up early means Chen An urges them to come and see him because he might have thought it must be really important that Si Ning wanted to see Jiang ChenMu and Jiang Ye.

Si Ning took a deep breath and folded his hands on the table. "So Jiang ChenMu, when did you start training in my army?" He had to go straight to the point to save time. He had never been the first to arrive at the court meeting but at least he should round things up and prevent himself from being the last person to arrive at the court room before the Emperor.

"For almost nine years." Jiang ChenMu replied firmly.

"How old are you?" Si Ning asked sizing him up as he raised his folded hands below his chin to rest his head.

"I will be nineteen this coming month." Jiang ChenMu replied.

Si Ning quickly calculated when Jiang ChenMu joined his army and he was quite surprised that Jiang Xi would come with his ten-year-old son and place it in his army care. Si Yunsheng died twelve years ago which means Jiang ChenMu came into his care and the deal was between him and Jiang Xi. That was what Si Ning was trying to find out whether it was his father Si Yunsheng that had a deal with Jiang Xi or him.

"Why did I accept you to train with my army?" Si Ning asked straightforwardly. It was almost time for him to do his hair and he should be expecting Ah Dai at any moment.

From what he heard seen in the profiles which turned out that Jiang ChenMu was the only special case and he wasn't so generous to accept a noble Young Master from a military family to his army.

Jiang ChenMu's cheeks turned into a shade of pink as he scratched his cheek nervously. "To make both the Si and Jiang family stronger, for us never to fight and to support one another and after I marry my betrothal Young Miss Si Nan I will uphold...."

"Eh....?" Si Ning banged the table making Jiang ChenMu and Jiang Ye eyes widened in shock due to his sudden behavior. "Marry who?" He had to ask because he felt he didn't catch the name of Chen Mu's fiancé or he must have heard him wrong.

Jiang Chen Mu turned to Jiang Ye and Jiang Ye nodded to him. "Young Miss Si Nan." He replied after turning to Si Ning with an extremely serious expression.

No, this couldn't be, let us calm down and be sure.

Si Ning kept repeating in his head as he closed his eyes to calm himself.