Getting Ready

Waking up at six and dressing up before seven was something Si Ning was getting used to but not being able to sleep till dawn made him so weak and his body felt heavy yet he stared at the notes he made.

"Young Master, I brought hot water to fill the bath tub." Yanlin said outside his door as she proceed to knock softly.

"Come in." Si Ning wondered why Yanlin had to the one to bring him hot water at dawn. He didn't turn to look at her since he was more focused underlining the key points in the notes he made.

"Young Master, do you want me to help you bathe?"

Si Ning turned to see Yanlin only dressed in a white light inner robes coming closer to him till he could perceive her floral perfume.

It had been long since Si Ning had any sexual activities but he always take cares of himself whenever he was horny but seeing this sight of Yanlin didn't sexually arouse him. He felt nothing since he was more worried about how he would survive the court and seeing the barely developed body of Yanlin put him off and he found himself gesturing for her to leave, averting his attention back to his notes leaving no room for Yanlin to ask again.

After taking a long bath since he couldn't get enough of the scent of the soap, Si Ning found himself staring at the series of beautiful cloths folded neatly in his wardrobe. The urge to try on the different cloths at a go was so overwhelming until Ah Dai knocked on his door to tell him he had prepared the carriage and brought hot water for his bath while Xiao Pei appeared immediately to tell him he had prepared his horse and breakfast.

Si Ning had no choice than to frown and hasten his preparations. He checked through his cloths till he found series of an official robes, guessing it had to be his official robes, he fished out one and wore it before fastened the black belt. As an Actor he had to just sit and let the Hairdresser or Makeup Artist work through his hair since he now had an incredible long mass of hair, he had no choice than to allow Xiao Pei style his hair.

After dressing Si Ning's hair, Xiao Pei applied some powder on Si Ning's face to cover his dark circles under his eyes as the result of not having a wink of sleep then he sprayed him with some light perfume before fixing Si Ning's tag to his belt to complete Si Ning's official look.

Si Ning had to tell Ah Dai to see a doctor and not show up in front and also told him to stop bringing him hot water till he brings out the details of the prosthetic that would be fixed to his arm. Si Ning had to watch him leave before he mounted his horse since he doesn't want to let Ah Dai know he would not be using the carriage prepared for him although it was tempting but to get to the palace faster, Si Ning opted for his horse.

After taking his horse Si Ning found himself riding to the palace like a zombie. His head ringing since he had never studied hard like he did till the morning.

The palace was gorgeous and how well the floors were made was so amazing Si Ning had to stop his horse to stare at the details.

"General." Xiao Pei called.

"Take Yun." Si Ning unmounted his horse and handed the reins over to Xiao Pei. He decided to walk for a bit giving Xiao Pei time to keep the horses at a stable and catch up with him outside the courtroom.

"Nin Nin...."

Si Ning heard a small tiny voice and he turned to see a small child that wouldn't be more than four years of age dressed in a sligtly big silky shinny robes running towards him in excitement. The robes made the child looked so adorable that Si Ning found himself extending his hands and lifted the child up when the child was about to crash into him.

"What a lovely child." Si Ning smiled, his eyes lit with joy and his mood brightened. He twirled around before hugging the child, breathing in the scent of wildroses and he had no choice than to admit this era had a lot of intelligence when it comes to dealing with scent.

"Nin Nin I miss you, when.. you.. are.. gone.. Yuan has.. been.... a good... boy." The child said stressing out each word while pulling Si Ning's cheeks. "Yuan did... all... his... homework and listen... to all.... his.. tutors... and Yuan... did... well..." He boasted puffing his cheeks.

"Really, you are really a good boy Yuan-er." Si Ning patted his head. Si Ning didn't have much experience with children and he wasn't sure whether he likes them or not but carrying such a cute child made him happy.

"Hey you violent man! What are you doing to my brother!!!" A loud unpleasant voice rang out.

Si Ning directed his attention to the loud unpleasant voice and this time it was another child that looked four years older than the child Si Ning held in his arms. He was dressed in light cloths and holding a wooden sword and Si Ning could tell the child seemed to be on his way to practice Martial Arts.

Violent man?

"Hey you who are you calling violent man, can't you see I am only hugging this lovely bundle of joy." Si Ning almost yelled. It was the first time anyone would call him a 'Violent man'. Even though it was just a kid yet it was unforgivable to Si Ning.

"Si Ning where is your respect." The older child said and started walking up to him in large angry strides.

It was the first time a child would call Si Ning by his name and this made his mouth fell as he stared at the disrespectful child walking towards him.

"You this child who are you, can't you see I am older than you." Si Ning said firmly only for the older child to get closer to him, giving him a kick on his leg. "Ouch.." Si Ning likes cute children but he wanted nothing more than to give a few spanking to the rude older child than was currently trying to land another kick.

"Junjie stop.. kicking... kicking is bad...." The child Si Ning held yelled as his arms went round Si Ning to avoid slipping since Si Ning was desperately trying to dodge the older child kick.

"How dare you talk to the great Crown Prince Xiu Junjie of Great Xiu nation like that! and how dare you touch my brother, I will have your head." The older boy yelled as he pouted still desperately trying to land a kick at Si Ning.

Si Ning couldn't help but to roll his eyes at the ridiculous child as he tried to dodge the series of kick coming at me. "Yea yea what a rude child now shooo..." He turned to touch the child in his arms cheeks turning his full attention to him while he ignored Xiu Junjie since the first kick he landed didn't have any effect.

"You... You... put him down before I call the guards." Xiu Junjie seethed, his eyes glaring daggers at Si Ning.

"Yuan-er...."

Si Ning turned to see no other person than Liu Ting dressed in extravagant purple robes, her hair parted and styled perfectly fitting her heart shaped face. Seeing her again made Si Ning's heart raced and when the idea of this two children belonging to Liu Ting made his heart fell but he couldn't believe Liu Ting would have a child as old as Xiu Junjie. He should be jumping happily for seeing her again yet seeing her in the palace dressed extravagantly and seeing dozens of maids trying to catch up to could only be interpreted that she had to be one of the Concubines of the Emperor.