Call Me By Name

Si Ning never thought he had ever been in a worst situation that he ran out of ideas of what to do. He broke out in cold sweat when he saw the Emperor dressed majestically in golden and white robes looking so regal accompanied by Lin Fan dressed in a blue robe holding a sword and Si Ning knew Lin Fan had to be the Emperor's personal Imperial guard. The palace maidens and eunuchs were holding different sizes of boxes. Song Feng proceeds to kneel on the floor to pay his respects to the Emperor and Si Ning quickly followed suit.

"Long live Your Majesty." Song Feng said firmly.

"Long live Your Majesty." Si Ning imitated him since he had no idea if a General was supposed to greet the Emperor by kneeling.

The palace maidens and eunuchs all proceed to put down the boxes they carried and opened them. Even though Si Ning was in a kneeling position, he could still see some of the things inside the boxes by stretching his neck, he saw the boxes contained clothes, silks, medicinal herbs, and silvers. He wondered if those were for the Emperor and when his eyes darted to the Emperor, his cheeks turned rosy in embarrassment for how he shamelessly behaved just to satisfy his curiosity and for not acting subtly.

"Leave." The Emperor said after taking a long look at Si Ning making Si Ning so uncomfortable that he started fidgeting unconsciously while looking at Song Feng, ready to copy the next thing Song Feng does.

Song Feng stood up to leave the room and Si Ning also quickly stand to his feet to follow Song Feng out, he had no idea who the Emperor was referring to but since the rest of the people in the room were making their way out he also decided to follow praying silently the Emperor shouldn't call for him.

"General Si Ning?" Song Feng gave him a questioning look when Si Ning took a step in the direction of the door following closely behind him.

"Yes?" Si Ning automatically replied his eyes pleading for them to leave the room first and take their discussion outside.

"You should lie down on the bed." Song Feng told him. "Your body is still weak and you need at least five days of rest." He repeated slowly.

Si Ning wanted to curse at Song Feng loudly for being concerned about his health and for telling him what to do, he knew he wouldn't die before he gets home if he leaves the palace but Song Feng had to open his mouth and spoil his plan. Si Ning made a mental note to tell Song Feng to mind his business the next time he sees him.

Si Ning took a risky look at the Emperor whose powerful aura had occupied the room that Si Ning felt so uncomfortable, he quickly looked away when he saw the Emperor's gaze was on him, his face impassive like he was carefully studying Si Ning like he was waiting to see the next odd thing the great General of Xiu Nation would do which prevented Si Ning from glaring at Song Feng because he was being watched. Si Ning knew he couldn't just go back to bed not until the Emperor orders him to do so and he pursed his lips to avoid thanking Song Feng for his advice.

"You should do as the apprentice of the Imperial Doctor tells you to." The Emperor said quietly but loud enough for Si Ning to hear.

Since the Emperor told him to do as Song Feng says. Si Ning had no choice but to quickly go back to lay on the bed watching as Song Feng with the rest of the palace maidens and eunuchs left shutting the door behind them. All he had left to do was to try to remain calm and wait for his sentence. He pulled the blanket to cover up to his chest.

"Your Majesty Your Servant is now feeling better." Si Ning tried his sad attempt to send the Emperor away since he wasn't given the chance to organize his thoughts. Not only did the Emperor casually dragged a seat to Si Ning's side, he even took Si Ning's hand in his making Si Ning so confused about the Emperor he pictured to the one sitting beside him.

"I told you to call me by name when we are alone and stop referring to yourself as a Servant when we are alone." The Emperor told him. "I know you are unsatisfied with me that the last time at the Imperial residence you laughed as a way to show your displeasure to me, I didn't want to place you in danger that is why I stationed you far from the borders and I never thought Xilie would be so sly to go round and avoid the garrisons and other troops from Xiu in that process you lost a lot of your army. I know all the gifts I brought can never compensate you, now tell me what do you want?" He said gently and slowly rubbing Si Ning's hand lightly, his sharp phoenix eyes not leaving Si Ning once.

The situation was so odd that Si Ning had no idea of what to say. First, Liu Zhicheng he knew was never gentle and would never talk to him calmly. Si Ning knew that must be differences between being the President of a company and the Emperor of a great nation. This was also the first time Liu Zhicheng would talk to him for a long time. Si Ning's head was currently jumbled since he had no idea where to look and he was more aware of his hand that was held gently and the Emperor that kept rubbing his hand making his hands go sweaty that Si Ning wanted to pull his hand away, he was more aware of the sandalwood scent mixed with the jasmine in the room making his head groggy but since the Emperor thought he was angry because he lost almost half of his troops which means his head saved and he doesn't have to think of what he would have for his last mean now it was time for him to turn the situation to his favor and not give any hint of his silly thought that made him laugh at the Emperor in the temporary Imperial residence.

"Your Majesty...."

"I told you to call me by my name." The Emperor interrupted him and raised a brow.

A cold sweat ran down Si Ning's neck since he had no idea of the Emperor's name but as a smart man he knew he could try to trick him to tell him his name but Si Ning was not confident enough to be able to pull it off instead he tried to think. First, the surname of the direct Imperial family was Xiu but he had no idea if it also applies to the Emperor. He knew him as Liu Zhicheng but he doesn't think the man currently looking at him should be a Liu Zhicheng too yet Si Ning couldn't picture or see Liu Zhicheng baring a name apart from Zhicheng.

What to do? What to do?

"Xiu Zhicheng." Si Ning said almost like a whisper but the Emperor's face didn't brighten nor did he show any sign of Si Ning being correct but at the same time he nodded and Si Ning quickly smiled at his small victory.