Cunning General Si Ning - Chapter 210 Yueging

Just by getting to the open venue, it was surprising to Si Ning when he looked out the palanquin window to see how beautiful everywhere was decorated, it showed that Concubine Ling surpassed her skill and the most perfect part was the wide extravagant chair which was in the middle of the long banquet table and it wasn’t the Queen Dowager sitting on it but the Emperor himself leaving a space by his side which could accommodate a person. Xiu TianZhao was sitting on the next grand chair on the left side while the Queen Dowager was sitting at the grand chair on the right side, the way it was arranged almost seemed like it was the Emperor’s birthday ceremony, and everything became more perfect when Si Ning stepped out of his transport, making his grand late entrance, everyone stood up to pay him their respects.1

It was only the Emperor that was seated and surprising enough the Queen Dowager was also seated. There were no available chairs that weren’t already taken by the Imperial family so this made Si Ning stop in his track because he was wondering if he had to sit beside Xiu Zhicheng but his abrupt stopping made the people standing confused because Si Ning was unknowingly frowning like he was displeased by something and some gazes were directed at the Queen Dowager even Xiu Zhicheng tapped on the table twice which forced the Queen Dowager to finally stand up to her feet to pay her respect to the Empress whereas Si Ning had no idea about the transpiring, he only proceed after noting that it seemed his appropriate seat was to sit next to Xiu Zhicheng. 1

When Si Ning got closer he paid his respects to Xiu Zhicheng before taking his seat and when he did this did the rest of the guests present took their seat after the rest of the Imperial family took theirs after Si Ning.

Si Ning almost jumped when Xiu Zhicheng laced their fingers together, he pretended nothing happened and turned to where the Concubines sat, he met Concubine Liu’s eyes and was shocked when she winked at him which made him quickly divert his gaze while looking forward to Yueqing to see if she was a good dancer like Ah Dai told him. He was glad that Xiu TianZhao was the one next to him and not the Queen Dowager. 

“You look beautiful Si Ning” Xiu Zhicheng complimented him.

“You also look great Your Majesty.” Si Ning replied he knew already that he was perfectly dressed nicely thanks to Ah Dai that made a fuss in making sure heads were going to be turned in his direction and it worked because most guests were stealing a glance at him.

Si Ning complimenting Xiu Zhicheng was true because to him Xiu Zhicheng had always looked so handsome, with him dressed or not, with his hair down like a curtain, with his hair up, with his body wet or dry that each time Si Ning wished it was the modern era where they could kiss openly at any time but here, he had to suppress his desires, leaving it all to the bedroom so he sighed knowing he couldn’t kiss his handsome husband.

The ceremony started like they had been waiting for the Empress arrival and there was a lot of entertainment but it bored Si Ning because the dancing was so boring he knew he would do better but he promised Xiu Zhicheng not to dance publicly also he didn’t touch his drink so he was sober and wouldn’t dare try to go on the stage to demonstrate his style of dancing, the drumming was fun and pleasant to the ears, the storytelling was great but he found himself dozing off when the presentation of the gifts started only to be startled awake when he felt a warm hand taking his hand and squeezed it to grab his attention. This made Si Ning raise his head, his cheeks flushed in embarrassment and he blinked to concentrate, Xiu Zhicheng had unlaced their fingers when they started to munch on the snacks presented, and now taking Si Ning’s hand again made him blush.

“Are you tired Si Ning, you can retire early.” Xiu Zhicheng told him.

“No your Majesty, I am alright.” Si Ning said quickly, he dare not stand and leave after he made the effort to come.

What would the Ministers say about him, especially the Queen Dowager who would find an opportunity in that and try to make his life in the palace difficult by dropping on him an insult whenever they meet.

It finally came the time for the Empress to present his gift which was saved for the last for some reason and Xiao Pei was the one that brought the gifts forward while the head eunuch read out his gift which he proceeds to open the box to confirm the content and when the silk was raised Si Ning heard few gaps and murmur and he was quite pleased with himself.

When it comes to Xiu TianZhao’s gift, a lady stepped forward, a veil covering half of her face, her dress unique with the beads designed dangling all over, her arms and stomach bare and it was such a sexy robe and Si Ning could tell it was indeed the dancer Yug after the announcement was made. It seemed just her standing grabbed the whole attention of the room. What Si Ning didn’t expect was for her to be endowed, her chest huge, her hips curved, her stomach flat and tiny, it was the type of body shape Si Ning would have once die for.

“This is the gift prepared for TianZhao.” Xiu Zhicheng said more like a whisper.

Si Ning had no idea how to reply, he didn’t detect Xiu Zhicheng sounding displeased but his statement made Si Ning feel his heart in his throat as he prayed she was a good dancer like Ah Dai said because if she dances well then Xiu Zhicheng might praise him.

The drummers started to beat the drum once then twice and she started dancing to each beat, swaying her hips to the side, so sexual and captivating which made Si Ning instantly feel uncomfortable and he felt as if he was the only one not enjoying when the dance speed up and those playing the flute joined to create a brilliant melody which was so pleasant to the ears, making some hearts beat faster for them to become aware they were witnessing a rare dance but Si Ning wasn’t feeling it, he was more concerned about Xiu Zhicheng who seemed to be captivated by the dance, his eyes glued to Yueqing watching all her steps with a mesmerizing look that he even unlaced their fingers and Si Ning was annoyed because he doesn’t like it if he had known Xiu Zhicheng was interested in a special dance he would have trained and be the one dancing on the stage gathering all the attention of everyone and mostly Xiu Zhicheng’s attention, all Xiu Zhicheng could do at the end of it all was to complain.

Si Ning felt a sense of panic because Xiu Zhicheng’s eyes seemed to be shimmering, he wanted to grab Xiu Zhicheng’s hand and squeeze it to make him look at him and stop staring at the seductive dance yet he was afraid, he only grabbed the arm of the chair till his knuckles turned white.

It was great his mother thought of this gift that Xiu Zhicheng was currently engrossed in but Si Ning wished she hadn’t and while he was panicking a little made him turn and met

Ran Chunhua’s gaze who had a small smile playing on her lips and Si Ning knew right then she had seen through him and it made him annoyed.

At the drop of the last beat, the dance was finally over and Si Ning sighed, relieved but right at that moment he was angry and wanted to leave, to do that he had to tell Xiu Zhicheng but he was so angry he doesn’t want to, he wished he could just turn over the table and maybe Xiu Zhicheng would finally understand what he did.

It was selfish of Si Ning to want to behave childishly but he had already determined that Xiu Zhicheng was in love with him but at the back of his mind he knew that shouldn’t stop him from taking in another concubine, especially a woman who had curves in the right places with a huge chest.

“That was quite amazing, I should reward her with some gold coins.”

Uh? 

Si Ning watched as Xiu Zhicheng made a signal to Lin Fan and the guard nodded and immediately went to meet Yueqinq after her final salutation. They didn’t have to tell Si Ning what was happening.

“I will see hee tonight.” Xiu Zhicheng said.

That was it, Si Ning couldn’t take it anymore, how dare Xiu Zhicheng praise another woman in front of him and the worst part was that he seemed he just said his thought out loud without regard to his Empress.

How dare he!

“Your Majesty I will like to retire and rest.” Si

Ning said as he stood up to show that he doesn’t really need his approval before he leaves.

“Okay.” Xiu Zhicheng was about to hold his hand but Si Ning subtle dodged making Xiu Zhicheng aware he avoided his hand on purpose. Xiu Zhicheng should have told him he would see him tonight but he didn’t and Si Ning quickly bowed and with light steps he left the banquet with his heart in his stomach.

What a way to spoil his mood.