"Yay... Nin Nin will play... with... me... let's go.. to.. the Yang... pavilion!" Xiu Yuan said excited almost jumping up in Si Ning's arms.
"Oh Yang pavilion?" Si Ning pretended to be amazed. "Oh, where is it?" He asked, his voice high, carrying a hint of excitement to cover up that he didn't know where the Yang pavilion was situated.
"There... I will... show... Nin Nin the... way..." Xiu Yuan giggled as he puffed out his cheeks, happy that he was going to show Si Ning the way to the Yang Pavilion.
"Yuan-er is a good boy." Si Ning said glad he doesn't have to ask the way, he adjusted the child in his arms before turning to the people following him. "Chen An, Su Heng, Ji Ran do you have something to say?"
"Forgive us, General." Su Heng, Chen An, and Ji Ran said in unison as they fell to their knees.
"Forgive us for not being able to inform you ahead of time that his Majesty declared that he will be taking you as his first King Consort." Chen An said.
It wasn't their fault since Si Ning doesn't think it would be proper for one of them to leave the palace and race to his house just to inform him about Xiu Zhicheng's decision. He stared at the golden box Su Heng was holding thinking of what to do with it, he doesn't think his mother would be glad that he didn't give the gift to Xiu Zhicheng and add it back to the Si family treasure.
"You all can leave and Su Heng gives the box to Xiao Pei." Si Ning gave out his instructions before turning his attention back to Xiu Yuan who was tapping his shoulder continuously to get his attention.
"Yes General." Chen An said.
"There." Xiu Yuan pointed in a direction and Si Ning nodded.
The lunch with Xiu Zhicheng was already over and Si Ning doesn't see any use in having the three Commanders following him like his guards when Xiao Pei and Jiang Ye were around.
The Yang pavilion was just a greenfield with some flowers planted around and trees while a big and wide golden pavilion stood in the middle. Instead of sitting under the shade, Si Ning sat on the green grass surrounding it, it was still bright but the weather was mild and Si Ning couldn't even feel the sun so he thought it was okay for Xiu Yuan not to sit under the shade since it wasn't hot nor too bright. Only four palace maidens followed and they stood far from where Si Ning sat with Xiu Yuan sat across him while Xiu Junjie that had gotten quiet stood beside Xiu Yuan glaring at Si Ning.
Xiao Pei and Jiang Ye also stood far away leaving some distance between them and the palace maidens, their eyes on them like they were waiting for the childish play Si Ning wanted to display.
"Junjie, sit down." Si Ning said as he propped up his elbow to support his cheek and tilted his head.
"What! you old man calling me by name, I will have your head, you...."
"Yes yes yes, I have heard you." Si Ning interrupted him as he nodded waiting for Xiu Junjie to sit.
"Do not interrupt me, old man, how dare you! Si Ning not showing me respects..." Xiu Junjie sneered.
Si Ning's mouth twitched. "I don't think you want to stand for long, is your ankle better." He pointed out and he knew he must have hit the nail on the mark because the boy that dares call him an old man finally sat next to Xiu Yuan, facing him with a scornful look.
"Now what!"
Looking at the brother complex boy made Si Ning took a deep breath, it was the first time he would be in a situation of dealing with a troublesome child.
"Imperial brother... will... play... too..?" Xiu Yuan's eyes widen as he clapped, happy that Xiu Junjie would be joining their play.
"Yes." Si Ning replied Xiu Yuan as he clapped once when he finally got an idea. "We are playing a game called Ddak-bam." He announced trying to suppress the wicked grin coming up.
"D..ak.. ba?" Xiu Yuan raised his brows in astonishment like he just heard the most beautiful words, he was so happy that they would be playing a new game.
"What is that?" Xiu Junjie asked, curious about the game that he was unable to hide his interest as he crossed his legs and crossed his arms across his chest.
"Ddak-bam is a game if I ask you a question and you miss then you flick my forehead just like this." Si Ning explained as he gently flicked Xiu Yuan's forehead to show as an example.
Xiu Yuan's small hands flew to his forehead and he giggled. "Let... play."
"If you ask me a question and I miss you will do the same to me since you miss your lessons this is one way to learn and Yuan-er too will listen okay." Si Ning explained turning to Xiu Yuan.
"Okay.." Xiu Yuan agreed.
Xiu Junjie shrugged, he frowned. "So we flick the forehead gently?" He asked.
"No no no, you flick it as hard as you can or anyway you like it." Si Ning said.
"Fine but I will go first." He said after sometime.
Si Ning couldn't suppress the smile anymore as he smiled widely happy that he finally got the opportunity to punish the rude child in front of the palace maiden watching without looking like he was punishing him. The child had called him a series of names and kicked him and finally, it was time to pay him back in kind.
"Sure, go." Si Ning said still smiling. He had spent a lot of time going through series of books about this world, he was far older than Xiu Junjie and this made him confident he was going to get all the questions Xiu Junjie would throw at him.
"Ehm... eh mmm..... wait I am thinking." Xiu Junjie told him tapping his chin, frowning deeply to show he was in deep thoughts.
"Take your time." Si Ning said, to wait and finally get a chance to flick Xiu Junjie's forehead was some time that worth the wait.
"Eh Hmm... eh... okay..." Xiu Junjie grinned.
"What what... what..." Xiu Yuan quickly tapped Xiu Junjie's knee.
"Why didn't Imperial grandmother follow Imperial grandfather to his deathbed even after Imperial grandfather wrote the law down for her to follow him immediately after his death?"
What?
Si Ning's eyes widen as his smile instantly fell. "Who?" He doesn't know if this was something a little boy should know.
"Why didn't Empress Dowager follow the late Emperor to his deathbed?" Xiu Junjie made himself clear as he nodded to show he was satisfied with his question.
Si Ning eyes twitched, it was just the first question and he felt as if he was already losing and seeing Xiu Junjie giving him a wicked grin didn't sit well with him and Xiu Yuan gaze that directed at him, shimmering like he was looking at his favorite Idol made Si Ning want to dig a hole and hide. He doesn't know the answer, he had never come across it in the books he had read but still, he was going to guess.