Cunning General Si Ning

Since Shen Yu was not a citizen of Xiu and also someone that committed the crime of attacking a General's residence then he was going to be buried at the top of the hill just at the outskirt of Zhonghua, a place a drifter or a commoner could be buried upon. This made Si Ning concludes that he had to be the Empress no matter what because he doesn't want to die miserably like Shen Yu. Dying like a loyal discarded dog as his owner watches him die without making a move to help him.

Shen Yu's death was what Si Ning considered as tragic and being the Empress doesn't mean he would have all the power but at least he was going to have more power than just being the General, a General that had the same rank as Shao Lang. With this power he would have to use it well and gather those that would take his side in order to control the internal affairs relating to him in the palace to make sure he would not go down easily like Shen Yu.

Being lost in thought made Si Ning not to realize he was supposed to watch the execution of the subordinates of Shen Yu, he only took his horse and after some time found himself home with Xiao Pei and Jiang Ye that seemed confused.

"What to do.... what to do?" Si Ning repeated to himself as he drummed his fingers on the table dipping the tip brush into the ink.

Not having a backup plan in case Xiu Zhicheng ends up not crowning him the Empress was the root of Si Ning's problem. The only solution Si Ning could come up with all these weeks to ascertain becoming the Empress was to tell Xiu Zhicheng the truth but telling him the truth means he would be betraying Qiu Bai which was what Si Ning doesn't want. He could also propose getting married to Qiu Bai only if he would make him the Empress of Xilie. Ge Mengshu already told him she would support him which means Si Nan would also support him and since Ah Dai follows him means he would have to take Ah Dai and his mother along with a few guards and servants from the Si household while he leaves Xiao Pei and Jiang Ye behind.

Leaving his three Commanders, Xiao Pei, Jiang Ye, and Xiu TianZhao wasn't something Si Ning wanted, even though he doesn't like the last conversation he had with Xiu TianZhao but he still considered him as his friend and he also doesn't want to ever think of the possibility of them meeting in battle due to his choice, facing as the opposite side and the worst part of all was if his name ended up written boldly in the history books as the traitor who betrayed his Nation.

The option for him to marry Qiu Bai wasn't something Si Ning wants, he already seen him as a womanizer who prefers men and women to warm up his bed and becoming one of them with of the Empress of the Nation he had never been to was something Si Ning doesn't want yet his only salvation was for Xiu Zhicheng to name him his Empress if not he was going to end up not having a face to show Qiu Bai since he had declared boldly he was going to be named the Empress after Qiu Bai told him the Officials already suggested a candidate for the position and Xiu Zhicheng was considering it.

Getting married to a man who already had three wives and planning to take one more after him was something Si Ning doesn't like but had to put up with because he wanted to sit high above all the government Officials and look down on Shao Lang but he and Shao Lang were close now and Si Ning could even consider him as a friend which means looking down on him wasn't something he was looking forward to anymore.

"Young Master....?"

"Come in." Si Ning took a deep breath as he squeezed the paper he had been absentmindedly doodling on.

Ah Dai walked in holding a tray that had a bowl of water resting on it. He closed the door behind him. "Young Master, Young Master Song Feng's wedding has already commence and soon it will be the time to feast and Ah Dai is here to prepare you."

Oh Yes!

"Yes..." Si Ning almost forgot he promised to watch Song Feng's wedding while he drinks wine yet he doesn't feel like going because he was surely going to end up spacing out a lot at the ceremony.

"Commander Chen An and Ji Ran are also here to accompany you with the palanquin and lots of palace guards." Ah Dai told him beaming from ear to ear and he moved to the wardrobe to fish out a set of clothes for Si Ning to wear.

Having palace guards escorting him could only be translated as the measure Xiu Zhicheng was taking to brand him as his man and it was something Si Ning knew he had to get used to because when he marries Xiu Zhicheng and pack to the palace, he was going to end up with lots of people flocking around him and having lots of servants walking behind him. He wasn't sure if that was the case with the Emperor's Concubines but Xiu Zhichengs always have a lot of eunuchs and servants walking behind him while a eunuch holds an umbrella over him.

Xiu Ting as the princess also had the same treatment, same with the two Princes and the only one Si Ning noticed was different was Xiu TianZhao who sometimes walks alone or with his twin guards only.

Si Ning took a deep breath before standing up for Ah Dai to have easy access when helping him to put on his clothes. "Maybe I should let loose tonight." He mumbled as Ah Dai tied his belt.

"Young Master, I didn't hear what you said, can Young Master say it again." Ah Dai requested as he helped Si Ning smoothen his robes trying the belt tighter even though it was a little hard to grip with his prosthetic hand.

"I was just talking to myself." Si Ning replied as he shook out his sleeves, satisfied with the blue and white robes Ah Dai chose for him because the sleeves were extremely long and covered his hands.

Tonight he was going to drink as he promised himself and forget all his troubles just for the night. Si Ning nodded at his plan and sat down to let Ah Dai do his hair.