Cunning General Si Ning

When the teenage boy got closer he saluted and Si Ning could almost see Yan Dong looking the same when he becomes older, by the striking resemblance anyone could tell they were brothers. The teenage boy wouldn't be more than sixteen and was a head taller than Yan Dong but the aura surrounding him wasn't friendly, his expression was stern and the atmosphere around him was just like his dark blue attire and only the white sleeves seemed like the little bright color on him.

"Forgive me, General, for the intrusion in your graceful palace and forgive my younger brother for his disrespectful shameful behavior, as his older brother I am to be blamed because I failed to teach him. I will now remove the obstacle from your palace."

The way the boy talked smoothly with a deep voice like he just researched all his words made Si Ning frown. The boy was polite but Si Ning detected that hostility was laid behind his words because of his voice that doesn't seem to be naturally deep but was forced to sound so just to show he would like to keep him and his brother distance from him. If the teenage boy does like him he would have at least introduce himself yet the boy looked like he wanted to leave as fast as possible with his younger brother so Si Ning decided not to make small talk.

Si Ning didn't say a word and watched how the boy glared at Yan Dong before grabbing him by the ear, forcing Yan Dong to go with him while Yan Dong kept complaining at the same time he kept looking back with a smile plastered on his face.

Finally, Si Ning could concentrate on the boy he was carrying, his hands were starting to get numb and he was aware that his hands would start shaking if he didn't put Xiu Yuan down. There was nothing like a gym to exercise, he doesn't train too because he doesn't want to and he was confident about his shape so he didn't bother to have the means to exercise maybe by jogging or finding something to lift because not exercising would definitely make him lose some muscle which was the reason he couldn't go on carrying Xiu Yuan.

Xiu Yuan raised his head, his eyes stained with tears. "Nin Nin."

Si Ning used his hands to wipe the tears off making sure the wet tears wiped over the dried ones. "Don't worry I will help you with your lessons." He reassured the boy then turned to Elder Qin with a raised eyebrow.

With Yan Dong leaving with his brother means he would likely not come back with the notes like he said which means Elder Qin should send one for it or go and get it. 

"I will go and get His Highness writing materials." Elder Qin said before leaving fast like she was almost running while the two palace maidens stayed behind. 

Si Ning took his seat at the pavilion, Xiu Yuan on his laps. "What will you like to eat, do you want some fruits or juice?" He asked wondering where his Servants were. If only his Servants would go unpunished in the hands of Xiu Zhicheng then he wouldn't mind using their poor service as an excuse to send them all away and maybe they would be replaced by palace maidens just like his dream. 

SI Ning was the one that wanted only Ah Dai and Yang Sheng to approach him while the other Servants stay away because he doesn't want a Servant he barely knows to get closer to him and they might turn out to be a spy. He had sent Ah Dai and Yang Sheng away yet he couldn't help but want to grumble out a complaint because Xiu Yuan that appeared means he was going to need their service.

Xiu Yuan shook his head. "I... am.. not hungry... I.. don't... want to.. ea.. eat.. anything."

Si Ning heard Xiu Yuan reply when he was just about to tell one of Xiu Yuan maids to go and call him Yang Sheng. "Hmm." the way Xiu Yuan talk reminded him of the first time he met him, from what he remembered the boy could talk faster and smoothly but why was he talking like that? 

"Nin Nin the... Imperial Tu...tor told... me not to run.. anymore.. , he... told me to... call you... Ge..neral... Si Ning, he... told me... to watch... what... I say... and... he made me.. write all... day... and doesn't... let me... play." Xiu Yuan complained as he placed his head on Si Ning's chest. 

Si Ning doesn't know if the Imperial Tutor method was right or wrong at least the Imperial Tutor wasn't given the title for no reason. "You can run to me, play with me and call me my name." He doesn't want to interfere with the Imperial Tutor method of teaching because he might be the reason Xiu Junjie was so brilliant.

The Crown Prince being brilliant was a necessity for the country, as a General in terms of studies he felt lost to Xiu Junjie but that doesn't mean it was a bad thing and Xiu Yuan also being the same would be a good thing. What Xiu Yuan was passing through might be the same Xiu Junjie passed through when he was young and from what he had seen Xiu Junjie seemed to have plenty of time to laze around which means in just a few years Xiu Yuan would also be free to do the same. 

Xiu Yuan giggled brightly. "Yes... I will only run to... Nin Nin, play.. with Nin Nin.. and learn... sword...sword.. swordman.. ship from Nin Nin."

Si Ning smiled, Xiu Yuan loved to play but he seemed mature for his age. "Nin Nin is too busy and can't teach you swordsmanship but I will help you with your lessons from now on, what you don't understand you can bring it to me okay." He had to make it clear he had no intention of teaching Xiu Yuan swordsmanship.

"What Yuan doesn't.... understand... I will find Nin Nin. " Xiu Yuan replied. 

"Good boy. " Si Ning pat his head gently. "Is Yan Dong your guard?" From what Si Ning could see the boy Yan Dong was going to disturb him if he ends up coming over with Xiu Yuan. 

Xiu Yuan shook his head. "Imperial father didn't... allow it."

Good.

Si Ning gave Xiu Zhicheng a mental thumbs-up, he could now see the reason why Yan Dong wore a similar cloth with the guards which means he was just playing the guard role and that also gives Si Ning the power to send him away if he appears with Xiu Yuan. 

Yang Dong was Ran Chunhua's nephew and for him to be Xiu Yuan's guard was an honour but Si Ning wondered why Xiu Zhicheng didn't allow it. Si Ning wanted to ask Xiu Yuan about his mother but he decided not to because he would seem like he was poke nosing in business that doesn't affect him, It was probably better to focus on the important things, being close to Xiu Yuan doesn't mean he should be close to Ran Chunhua. He had only had a meeting with her once and they don't seem close also Xiu Yuan doesn't talk about her, he was still young and might have people that already replaced the role of a mother in his life. 

"Do you want Yan Dong to be your guard?" Si Ning asked, it was best to decide for a child but sometimes their opinion was needed. 

Xiu Yuan shook his head, Si Ning pat the boy's head and at that moment sosmomenting flashed in his eyes making him raise his head to see Yang Sheng carrying a plate and Ah Dai was right next to him with a jug.. Si Ning had already accepted his fate with Ah Dai because he would never win again his stubborn Servant.