"Elder brother, who is Liu Ting?" Si Nan asked bluntly like she might never get a chance to ask about Liu Ting if Si Ning started asking her questions.
It was quite difficult for Si Ning to explain who Liu Ting was because for Si Nan not to know her means Liu Ting had a different name in this world. The only way to ask Si Nan about her was to describe her and Si Ning raised his head placing his hand on his neck to think.
After taking a while thinking deeply, Si Ning never expected it to turn out to be difficult for him to describe Liu Ting and he had to close his eyes trying to think of one thing that stood out.
Si Ning clicked his tongue in annoyance when he couldn't come up with a distinguished feature about Liu Ting. "Ting in the palace." He said finally purposely not including her last name as he lowered his head to look at Si Nan who had been waiting patiently for his answer only for her to frown clearly confused.
Si Ning wanted to know how Liu Ting fit into the Imperial family because when he saw her with her group of maids already shown she doesn't have a simple background. She also acted like she was Xiu Yuan's mother when Concubine Ran was the birth mother of Xiu Yuan.
"Princess Xiu Ting? The daughter of the Emperor's uncle? Elder brother what are you asking me?" Si Nan asked looking at Si Ning closely before standing up to check his head probably to see if Si Ning had a head injury.
Xiu Ting... Liu Ting?
Since Liu Zhicheng here had the last name was Xiu then of course Liu Ting had to be Xiu Ting, a part of him knew he was correct about his deduction. Si Ning had never met Liu Ting's father but he was sure Liu Ting's father was the younger brother of Liu Zhicheng's father and the same also had to apply to this world since his own family was also the same. Si Ning clapped once when he finally concluded Liu Ting was definitely Xiu Ting. He was only wrong by thinking she had to be one of the Emperor's women.
"Why is Princess Xiu Ting so fond of Xiu Yuan?" Si Ning had to ask. Xiu Yuan didn't call Xiu Ting 'mother' to his face but he had to know why she ignored Xiu Junjie and acted like Xiu Yuan's mother.
Si Nan sat down. "Since Concubine Ran does visit the capital sometimes and you already know she and Princess Xiu Ting are friends but do you know that Princess Xiu Ting hates Concubine Ling because Concubine Ling seduced the Emperor and got pregnant when Concubine Ran supposed to be the Emperor's first wife!" Si Nan giggled clearly enjoying her discussion with Si Ning.
"First wife?" Si Ning had no idea why being a first wife to the Emperor should be a big deal. Being a first wife doesn't mean the Emperor would make them his Empress.
"Concubine Ling even almost turn over the palace because of her beauty that the Empress Dowager had to punish her, tsk I am so jealous of her beauty." Si Ning said raising her chin proudly like she just disclosed a secret.
Without asking Si Ning had already found out what might have caused Xiu Ting to ignore Xiu Junjie and why Xiu Ting seemed closer to Xiu Yuan. It was like a whole bunch of troublesome individuals and Si Ning concluded he would never join the Imperial family. Si Ning was glad he had a talkative for a sister but he made a mental note to be careful of what to say to her because he might never know when she would go around blabbing to others.
"So... Si Nan when did you know me and the Emperor do meet in secret?" Si Ning raised an eyebrow as he folded his hands on the table slightly itching to also ask if Si Nan knew their meeting location instead he bit his tongue and stared at Si Nan that started fidgeting and kept blinking, looking everywhere but Si Ning.
Ah.... what a troublesome sister.
Si Nan scratched her cheek guiltily. "Well I read your letters, I mean just one, one letter one... letter." She emphasized raising her index finger to prove her point.
"And?" Si Ning was now interested in the content of this letter.
"I think it was four or five years ago when I read the letter and I was able to understand why you were sad when the Emperor married Concubine Ling even though you smiled and chat normally at the ceremony but we are siblings and I always know when you are feeling down and that's why I insisted in coming along with you. Elder brother don't you hate Concubine Ling too?" Si Nan knocked the table once after some time to draw Si Ning out of his thoughts when he didn't reply to her.
"Hmmm... Si Nan you should be careful of what you say outside." Si Ning told her after making all his mental notes.
No matter what Si Nan was still Si Ning's beloved sister and even as a General his power was still limited and he doesn't want Si Nan to get into trouble he won't have the power to get her out.
"I know, I only tell Nie QingYang these things and I am always careful around the others." Si Nan explained. "Elder brother do you know Mo Qi wants to get married to Song Feng?"
Si Ning almost slaps his forehead at how blunt Si Nan had to make inquiries."Si Nan where did you find the letter?" He would rather find those letters and read them than talk about Song Feng, knowing Song Feng wants to get married doesn't affect him so he wasn't interested.
Si Nan pursed her lips as she stared down at her intertwined hands. "Forgive me elder brother for checking the cavity in the wall in your wardrobe but it seemed you and the Emperor already called it off and elder brother, I, and mother will support whatever decision you make." She said briskly. "It should be nine already, I should go to bed. See you tomorrow elder brother." She stood up ready to run out of the room to avoid Si Ning lecturing her about her bad attitude of secretly checking his things.
"Night." Si Ning watched her leave knowing she probably read more than one letter but first he had to find those letters.