Cunning General Si Ning

Shao Lang coughed, a little shocked at how Si Ning constructed his words but he nodded since he was too embarrassed to reply to Si Ning with words, he quickly looked away in embarrassment as his ears tinted into a lighter shade of red that Si Ning almost rolled his eyes at how Shao Lang was acting so shy like the word love was an embarrassing word he shouldn't say lightly.

Song Feng being in love with him was something Si Ning never expected that he had to close his eyes to think about it and based on how Song Feng interacted with him, there was nothing out of the ordinary except he calls Si Ning by name and played his role as a doctor and when Xiu Zhicheng gave him gifts, Si Ning was more worried about how to act that he wasn't able to see Song Feng's expression. Song Feng making porridge for him was just like a doctor making something light for his patient to eat that would go with the medicine and it was also ordinary because Ah Dai or Xiao Pei would do the same for him without him asking.

Then Song Feng giving him some medicine to help him sleep in case he wasn't able to sleep was something a doctor would do thus Si Ning arrived at the conclusion that Shao Lang had probably hit his head for saying nonsense and even if Song Feng had any feelings for him, as long as Song Feng didn't confess then he was going to ignore it and watch his wedding with Mo Qi with his two eyes while drinking some wine.

Si Ning opened his eyes knowing the best thing to do was to change the subject so he could divert their talk to something else other than Song Feng, he frowned trying to think of how to change the subject.

"I want to ask General Si Ning how you feel about Song Feng?" Shao Lang raised his brows looking so eager to Si Ning's reply that he unconsciously shifted forward in his seat.

How persistent.

"Is that all you want to discuss with me?" Si Ning asked wondering what was the relationship between Shao Lang and Song Feng. He stared directly into Shao Lang's eyes to show him he was only waiting for either a 'yes' or 'no' reply.

"Yes." Shao Lang said after some time. His expression was blankly hiding his disappointment.

Si Ning was glad that Shao Lang didn't push for them to prolong their discussion. "Then I will see you in the next court assembly when I am feeling better." He stood up and slightly turn his head to see Ah Dai and two servants walking up to him. He knew at once that Ah Dai must have been lurking around the corner waiting to see any sign that they had concluded their discussion so he could show up.

Ah Dai and the two servants bent to salute and Ah Dai took the box of ginseng on the table. "Young Master?"

Si Ning glanced at Ah Dai then the two servants that took a step forward waiting for his instructions. "Allow my servants to see you off since I am a bit under the weather." It was his perfect excuse to avoid walking Shao Lang out of the residence to avoid him bringing up a discussion about Song Feng again.

"Thank you General Si Ning for seeing me even though I didn't notify you." Shao Lang rose from his seat.

Since Si Ning had nothing more to say, he turned and started walking away, Ah Dai trailing him. Si Ning made a mental note to see his mother about how she came to Xiu but first, he needs to sleep.

"Ah Dai, if anybody asks of me for the rest of the day or tomorrow, tell them I am dead." Si Ning said briskly.

"Young Master! Dead!" Ah Dai yelled in shock as he jumped in front of Si Ning, almost making Si Ning collide with him.

"What..." Si Ning opened his mouth to complain but seeing how twisted Ah Dai's expression was, he stopped.

"Young Master, what is wrong? is it your eyes or your stomach? let me call....."

"It is just a figure of speech like a metaphor." Si Ning snapped since it was annoying how Ah Dai started to panic.

"Figure of speech? metaphor? Young Master, what is that?" Ah Dai asked looking curious.

Si Ning knew it would be a pain to explain. "I mean to tell the people that want to see me today or tomorrow that I am currently unable to see them, that I am not in the capital." He explained carefully before gesturing for Ah Dai to move away.

"Young Master if you are going anywhere let Ah Dai accompany you." Ah Dai quickly offered as he stepped aside, fearing that if he didn't do his best, Si Ning could always leave him behind.

"No, I just want to rest in tomorrow and for the rest of the day." Si Ning explained brushing his hair out of his face.

"Young Master do you know it can be dangerous if any member of the Imperial family comes by and I tell them you are away when the Emperor didn't give you permission to leave Zhonghua." Ah Dai fell behind Si Ning. "They will try to find out where and if it is Second Prince, he may worry about you." He reminded Si Ning.

Si Ning was annoyed that he could not even lie about leaving the capital because he couldn't leave without permission from the Emperor, it was just like the Officials live for the Emperor but if Ah Dai tells them he was away then Ah Dai might fall into trouble and that was the last thing Si Ning wanted.

"Ah Dai, you have the day off tomorrow." Si Ning said. The only way to protect Ah Dai was to chase him away and let Xiao Pei tell whosoever wants to see him he was away. Si Ning would never allow anyone to spoil his plan of resting to his contentment.

"Young Master what did Ah Dai do wrong, please forgive....."

"Ah Dai." Si Ning snapped knowing if he wasn't walking at the moment Ah Dai would have knelt in front of him. He had forgotten how sensitive Ah Dai was and him carelessly telling him to rest at home wasn't a good decision. "How old are you?"

If Si Ning had to deal with how unreasonable Ah Dai was sometimes then he doubts he would be able to live long. Ah Dai was supposed to be happy for having a day off but it turned out to be the opposite. Si Ning tried to understand Ah Dai's way of thinking but Ah Dai coming to tell him he had someone waiting to see him tomorrow was something Si Ning wasn't looking forward to.

"I do not know Young Master because my mother didn't care for me for some time not that she didn't care but she doesn't know and I was older when I came and Madam accepted me but Young Master I think Ah Dai should be twenty-two years of age." Ah Dai replied.

Si Ning frown from all the jumbled explanation what he understood was Ah Dai was quite younger than he thought. "Just tell whoever comes to see me that I am not available to see them for the rest of the day and tomorrow, I will deal with the aftermath." He said one word at a time.

"Yes, Young Master."

Whether Ah Dai understood him or not, Si Ning knew he would have to tell Xiao Pei to not allow anyone in his quarters including Ah Dai.