Cunning General Si Ning

When Si Ning woke up, it was almost midday and his stomach feels empty which was the result of throwing up all the food he ate after the Imperial Doctor gave him a concoction to drink. At that time he wasn't asked any questions and when he was done throwing up and cleaning his mouth he fell asleep immediately only to be woken up by Yang Sheng. It was after blinking a few times Si Ning was aware it was morning, he didn't bother to panic about the court assembly because he was too weak to even sit up, his eyes were itchy and all he was concerned about was to eat yet he was scared of throwing up but Ah Dai who brought his food assured him it was alright.

The meal Si Ning ate was just a simple pap but he was too hungry to complain so he let Ah Dai feed him, after eating he slept for some time and when he woke up it was midday, his eyes were no more itching, he felt the urge to stretch and he had a bit of energy to move around so he decided to go to the pavilion to enjoy a little me time.

"You should sleep Ah Dai." Si Ning said as he slipped his hand into his outer coat, He couldn't ignore how tired Ah Dai looked because he and Yang Sheng took matters into their hands to watch him sleep, Ah Dai also didn't leave his side even after he finished his meal while Yang Sheng left. Ah Dai stayed to attend to him when he wakes up.

"Ah Dai is not tired." Ah Dai replied. "It is my fault that Young Master had a stomachache that is why Ah Dai wants to be with Young Master throughout today." He knelt to help Si Ning wear his sparking white shoes.

Si Ning almost rolled his eyes, Ah Dai blaming himself for his stomachache was absolute nonsense, Ah Dai wasn't there when he was busy stuffing his face. "Just go to sleep, Xiao Pei will be with me and it is an order." He said after Ah Dai helped him put on his shoes, he started to walk out of the room ignoring Ah Dai after he noticed he wanted to talk, obviously to protest.

It was Si Ning's way of avoiding some unnecessary concern because the moment he stay to convince Ah Dai to take a rest, Ah Dai was going to start begging and it would be such a pain to listen to something like that.

The sun was up in the sky and the weather was mild yet the air was fresh and Si Ning could feel it caressing him, blowing his silky long hair that was brushed behind him, his white attire so white that gave Si Ning the aura and look of an immortal that just descended to the earth with how his skin looked so great and soft compelling people to stare and this view made the Servants in the courtyard to stop whatever they were doing only to stare at their Master, some mouth was even hanging open like they couldn't believe they were in the presence of such being even though it was disrespectful for them to stare but none of them was aware that they were staring.

Si Ning didn't notice how everything was still around him or how all eyes were on him, all he was interested in was breathing fresh air and he even raised his hands, his head tilted up, feeling the air caressing his cheeks, the air making his sleeves flutter. Since he chose to stay at home, he didn't bother to put on any pieces of jewelry or try to put on some powder but his skin was so great even the guards stationed around heads were turned in his direction. Xiao Pei that was walking towards Si Ning snapped his fingers to break the trance the guards were in and they bowed when they snapped out of it and saw Xiao Pei.

"General, should you be out of bed?" Xiao Pei asked when he got closer.

"Being awake but lying in bed means I am resting but this time I will rest at the Jasmine pavilion." Si Ning finally lowered his hands before heading to the side of the building, following the stone path to the back of the Jasmine palace, and just as he remembered, the pavilion stood proud and tall.

Si Ning stopped a few times just to inhale the fresh flowery scent in the air, he even closed his eyes to register the scent and when he opened his eyes he walked leisurely over to the pavilion. The seat was sparkling clean to show it was cleaned daily and the clear view of the green lake made everything feel better so Si Ning took his seat, the table was clear only a little stack of square-shaped golden ornament was on the table as a decoration. It was the kind of ornament Si Ning would have been interested in, in the modern-day world but here he was surrounded by many golden ornaments so the golden ornament on the table doesn't fascinate him. He couldn't help but smile when he thought about what happened the last time at the pavilion with Xiu Zhicheng. He doesn't think of it as a bad memory but a pleasant one.

"General what will you like to take." Xiao Pei asked. "What about a glass of warm milk?" He suggested.

Si Ning wore a confused look, he wasn't a boy that was still growing that needed a lot of milk but a grown man taking milk doesn't stand well with him. "Just water, boil water to a hundred degrees, and let it cool before bringing it." He wasn't thirsty but he might need it and just to have a few minutes of peace he had to send Xiao Pei away on a ridiculous errand, telling him to boil and let the water cool would take some time so by the time being he would be by himself.

"A hundred de.. degrees? what is a hundred de..grees General?" Xiao Pei asked. "Forgive me General for not knowing the meaning of that word but if I want to consult my book and ask then it will take a lot of time, General forgive me for not being verse well in knowledge."

"I mean make sure to boil it for long." Si Ning explained simply to show he doesn't want to explain what a degree was, he wasn't good with explanation, especially explaining things that don't exist yet.

"Yes General." Xiao Pei saluted and with a determined look.

The reality was different because when Xiao Pei left Yang Sheng appeared and Si Ning knew it was Xiao Pei's doing, basically he couldn't be left alone. Xiao Pei might also be blaming himself for the stomachache because he was there and even spare his coins just for Si Ning and Xiu Junjie to eat without control.

"King Consort, how is your health, are you strong enough to move around?" Yang Sheng asked when he got closer. "Do King Consort need anything?"

"I am fine." Si Ning replied, he closed his eyes and decided to rest but it was impossible because of the hard seat, he didn't notice the last time because he sat on Xiu Zhicheng's lap and when he later sat on the seat his mind was preoccupied so the hard seat condition didn't register into his brain.

"King Consort, May I speak?"

Uh?