Looking at the tea set brought by Ah Dai made Si Ning smiled. It was the first clean fine white ceramic tea set he would lay his eyes on in this world and to make things better Ah Dai set up a plate of snacks.
"Young master I hope you like it, Ah Dai made it personally." Ah Dai poured him a cup of tea acting like he didn't just lost his arm. "These herbs when added to the water to bath, will help soothing Young Master's body." He said bringing out a small pouch to show Si Ning.
The floral scent of the tea made Si Ning quickly took a sip and the bittersweet taste left on his tongue made him nodded in approver. Ah Dai proceeded to clean out his bathtub, this time Si Ning didn't stop him. Instead, he decided neither to question Ah Dai's miraculous change from a determined man eager to lay his life down for him to a polite docile servant.
Si Ning closed the classic book he had been reading to take his mind off being annoyed by the absence of the internet and his cellphone. What would he not give just to take a picture of himself when he was on the battlefield and post it on his Weibo account and smiling at the cute comments from his fans. It was hard not to think of his modern-day world.
Did he die? Was his news printed on the headline of the newspaper? Did Shang Jin or Chen An cry? Did Liu Zhicheng attend his funeral? What about his mother and sister?
"General... Second Prince as arrived." Chen An made an announcement as soon as he stepped in drawing Si Ning out of his thought.
"Second Prince Xiu TianZhao." Ah Dai said.
Before Si Ning could react. A tall handsome man with sword shape thick eyebrows, jet black hair packed into a high ponytail dressed in dark blue, and a lighter shade of blue luxurious robes walked in gracefully along with two fierce-looking men that looked alike. No one had to tell Si Ning the man was the Second Prince and the fierce look-alike two men were identical twins, probably his guards.
Xiu TianZhao doesn't look like how Si Ning imagined him to look, he had been expecting the Second Prince to be a proud teenage boy that wanted to prove his worth desperately to not be overshadowed by the First Prince who was the Crown Prince of Xiu nation. Wasn't that how most ancient setting drama he had seen goes.
Now Si Ning was annoyed that Chen An announced Xiu TianZhao arriver late putting him in an awkward situation as he tried to gather his thoughts.
"I can see you are quite well Xiao Ningzi." Xiu TianZhao smirked waving for his two followers to leave.
Xiao Ningzi?
Si Ning was quite puzzled about how to pay his respects to the Second Prince and Ah Dai made the situation worst by kneeling in front of Xiu TainZhao.
"Greetings Second Prince."
Si Ning had to do everything to preserve his head. He doesn't know what would happen if he made a mistake. Instead he also slowly knelt. "Greetings Second Prince." He imitated Ah Dai.
"Xi..ao Ning..zi." Xiu TianZhao stammered in shock.
Si Ning proceeded to stand up and pulled out the chair he occupied earlier. "Second Prince please take your seat, let me serve you tea." He noticed Xiu TianZhao didn't make any move which made Si Ning turn to meet his gaze only for him to see Xiu TianZhao shocked expression along with Ah Dai and Chen An.
Did he do something wrong? Was it the greeting? Was it how he addressed him by his title? As a General was it improper to kneel in front of a Prince?
The situation turned to a battle of a staring contest which made Chen An and Ah Dai withdrew from the room leaving only Si Ning and Xiu TianZhao in the room.
"You know Xiao Ning, that seems a little out of your character. I am not my brother you know and what is this kneeling for?"
"Oh." Si Ning bit his lower lip. "You are the Second Prince and you deserve every respect...." He chose his words carefully.
"Xiao Ning stop it!" Xiu TianZhao pulled a scowl using his hand to rub his forehead. "What are you doing? Are you trying to chase me from being your friend? Do my brother put you up for this?"
The brother he was talking about should be the First Prince or maybe one of the Princes. Not that Si Ning knew how many they were.
The situation was a little difficult for Si Ning to find a solution. He just made a mistake in paying his respect to the Second Prince and acted politely but it seemed he wasn't supposed to act like that.
"No." Si Ning said softly. He had no idea of the brother Xiu TianZhao was talking about.
"Did you hit your head? I am your closest friend tell me what is wrong little Ningzi?" Xiu TianZhao moved towards him to grab his shoulders lightly. His eyes beseeching. "Please tell me, are you hurt, don't avoid acting like yourself in front of me and stop this facade of acting politely, it is making me uncomfortable, Chen An and Ah Dai left now tell me what is going on and this Second Prince will solve all your problem."
Xiu TianZhao, the Second Prince, His closest friend like a best friend. It was true Si Ning definitely would not act like that to his friend and Chen An in this world seemed to be his subordinate. Seeing how close Xiu TianZhao was staring down at him since he was a head taller than him. Xiu TianZhao didn't make him feel uncomfortable and like how he wasn't afraid on the battlefield. This time he was calm and felt like he could tell this person anything.
"Since you like being disrespected so much, you can as well as stand and Ah Dai made this tea for me, wanting to share with you is my way of being a good friend." Si Ning took his seat, his heart in his throat getting ready for Xiu TianZhao to scold him only to see Xiu TianZhao burst out laughing.
"Now that is more like the Xiao Ningzi I know." Xiu TianZhao grabbed the book on the table flipping it. "Seems Xilie heard of the rumor going on around and because of that they were determined to capture you even taking a roundabout route to you when you and your army were not meant to be on the front line."
Rumor?
Si Ning wanted to ask about this rumor but he doesn't want to look odd again since Xiu TianZhao now seemed comfortable. "We will be moving the camp since it's a bit hard to get water around here."
"This war dragged for nine-month and it is finally over, that's why I am here to bring you home. Xilie will be sending an envoy." Xiu TianZhao reported as he poured himself a cup of tea.
It was unbelievable that the war had ended which means Si Ning doesn't have to fight anymore. This made Si Ning laugh out loud since he doesn't know where he could transmit his happiness to and Xiu TianZhao doesn't look surprised or bothered by his behavior. Now he could go home accompanied by the weird Second Prince that doesn't behave like a Prince and finally see Xiu Nation, see where he lives, see if he would still have the same family, and finally have the time of his life drinking with beauties dressed in colorful robes.