Cunning General Si Ning
Chapter 217: He Slipped

Chapter 217: He Slipped

The large door was opened by the guards whose heads were bent at 45 degrees and Si Ning stepped into the courtroom which was already filled with the governmental Officials who gathered for the morning assembly. The throne was empty which means Xiu Zhicheng wasn’t present and Si Ning was glad that Xiu Zhicheng was going to meet him in the courtroom so he had successfully crossed the path that might block him from attending the court meeting. It was in the middle of the night he ran out of the Jasmine palace into the cold, he was confused about where to go so he walked around a bit and before he knew it, it was already getting bright which means it was time for the court meeting.

Si Ning wasn’t dressed in his official uniform, he was dressed in a dark maroon dull robe which suit him well the Officials had to take a look at him more than once, he would have worn his official uniform but he was in a hurry so he grabbed the closest robe he could find, it was the same colour but he already ran to dress in the study because Xiu Zhicheng might already notice he was missing and now on his way to his room. When Si Ning noticed it was a different robe, he felt defeated, and for him to go back to change seemed stressful so he wore the robe anyway, his hair packed into a simple ponytail knowing Ah Dai was probably going to flip if he finds out he went to the courtroom with a simple style with only his hairpin holding it, even though it was a simple dressing yet he looked regal and emits the aura of a powerful beautiful faraway being.

In the courtroom everyone turned and quickly bowed as Si Ning walked to his position, right next to him where Shao Lang used to stay which was now empty, Xiu TianZhao wasn’t around too and he suspected the Minister of Works might probably not be in the palace or still sleeping after drinking throughout the whole night.

"...The Empress is just showing up, after all this while that we have been discussing how to prevent the upcoming war which is knocking on our doors."

Si Ning’s expression was clear not showing any sign of being hit with words as he listened to some official behind him talking a little loud enough for him to hear. He doesn’t have to be told for him to know the war brewing was between Xiu and Xilie but he doesn’t understand why Xiu Zhicheng allowed him to rest without telling him about the war or even mentioning it now he had no idea if Shao Lang was safe.

"Shhhh you shouldn’t talk so loudly."

"Why shouldn’t I, did I lie? I heard he had been enjoying leisurely which means doing nothing...."

Si Ning turned sharply and found himself facing Minister Ling Qi who quickly swallowed the rest of his words as he looked away trying not to hide that he was the one who had been talking. The hall became so silent if a pin dropped it would make the loudest noise because most Officials around Ling Qi heard him, they knew he was looking for trouble but what they don’t know was that Si Ning was going to turn because they all expected Si Ning to pretend he didn’t hear due to guilt.

The unexpected turn of events made all the court Officials go silent even Xiu TianZhao that came in quickly paused to assess the situation because Si Ning was gracefully walking toward Ling Qi. He stood in front of the man called Ling Qi who was much shorter than him, he could even see the middle of his hair.

How bold of him!

"Your Majesty." A governmental Official next to Ling Qi.

i said as he saluted, he seemed to be the one that cautioned Ling Qi.

Si Ning’s concern was on Ling Qi so he only looked at the man saluting him as a sign of acknowledgment as he turned back his attention to Ling Qi. "Minister Ling, your statement means I have been doing nothing even though his Majesty had been spending time with me and according to you, we both have been idle." He said in a gentle slow manner yet it was loud enough for the whole court to hear due to everyone being so silent and still to watch what would happen.

Ling Qi’s eyes instantly shot up to meet Si Ning’s. "No, I didn’t mean that." He disagreed shaking his head.

"That is exactly what you have been implying even though I and his Majesty have been working to deal with the situation yet you said we are idle." Si Ning raised a brow, he lied not to protect himself but as a means to show a subordinate to not bad mouth their Boss behind them nor in their presence.

"No, I didn’t mean his Majesty." Ling Qi said quickly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"Then me." Si Ning said, his look calm but everyone knows Ling Qi had woken up the Lion in his den. "I have plenty of time so I had been eating enjoying all around and how do you know this? Is it because you have spies around me or you perhaps want me to starve to death..."

"No, I never, all I said is what I heard." Ling Qi defended.

"From your spy? Or by following up rumours?" Si Ning asked as he narrowed his eyes forcing Ling Xi to lower his eyes.

"Eh...." Ling Qi bit his lip as he folded his hands that were starting to shake behind him.

"If the rumours you follow or if your spies inform you well then they will tell you that I have been with his Majesty most of the time, which means me and the Emperor had both been idle! You insulting me means you insulted his Majesty too, insulting the Empress who is still a General of the Nation and the Emperor the son of heaven! I hope you will be able to bear the weight." Si Ning said. He had to remind Ling Qi he wasn’t a weak Empress, he was still a General.

The whole of the court gasped even Xiu TianZhao nodded like he was acknowledging Si Ning for taking action and not allowing anyone to insult him. Ling Qi on the other hand was now sweating furiously, his mouth quivering. Just a look at Si Ning, the Officials knew Ling Qi had finally passed his boundary because Si Ning wore a serious look that Ling Qi had no choice but to fall to his knees and kowtowed. This amazes the whole court because they knew Ling Qi as a proud man who stood by his words, never apologizing and they never imagined he could ever kowtow to Si Ning.

"Forgive this old man, Your Majesty! This old man is too old and idle that he keeps following false rumours, forgive this loyal subordinate that never means to say any of those words..." Ling Qi yelled out loud.

Si Ning watched Ling Qi, he knew each of the Officials was powerful in their way, he doesn’t want to create a commotion, he wants to end everything before Xiu Zhicheng arrives and he opened his mouth to say something only for the loud announcement to be made that the Emperor had arrived.

Ling Qi raised his head, his eyes filled with extreme fear, most of the rest of the Officials looked at him with pity because everyone knows that the Emperor doesn’t joke with his Empress, and Ling Qi insulting Si Ning might turn out that he won’t be able to see the afternoon nor the near future.

Xiu Zhicheng entered like a mist, Song Ouyang behind him, and just as predicted when he laid his eyes on Si Ning, he didn’t go up to his throne, he walked up to the stand just a few feet from Si Ning trying to assess the situation because Si Ning was the only one backing the court and standing in an unusual position. The whole court bowed to the Emperor yet Si Ning’s attention was on Ling Qi.

"What happened?" Song Ouyang asked extremely gently to show his question was directed at Si Ning.

This time Ling Qi was shedding tears, shaking all over, his daughter getting pregnant and giving birth to the Crown Prince, being the first Concubine was like an accident which means with just his mouth he might have destroyed her future, his future, and his family’s future so his mouth quivered as he looked at Si Ning with pleading eyes, the whole court was silent waiting for who would report between the man on his knees or the man standing above him.

"He slipped and fell, I was just helping him up." Si Ning said as he bent and extended his hand, Ling Qi looked up, his eyes filled with uncertainty as he took his hand and allowed Si Ning to help him up.

"Thank you... You..r Majesty." Ling Qi said with a shaky unsure voice, his tears unstoppable.

Si Ning nodded and walked up to stand at his position, Xiu Zhicheng was still standing and everyone knew he was still accessing the situation but since the Empress didn’t say anything to be concerned about, he finally started to take the steps leading to his throne.

Most of the Officials that had been holding their breath exhaled and heaved a sigh of relief, the Officials glanced at Ling Qi to see him wiping the sweat on his forehead and his tears with his sleeves, they look to Si Ning to see he was concentrated on the meeting that was about to start and Si Ning sparing Ling Qi made them have a high level of respect for him, respect which was higher than when he was General Si Ning.