Cunning General Si Ning
Chapter 223: Your Aim

Chapter 223: Your Aim

Just as predicted Si Ning was only able to get a little amount of sleep because he spent time looking for ways that Xiu and Xilie might settle the matter between them without causing an all-out war, he had already concluded that the two Nations would go to war and there was no way around it but after examining the consequences and results of war between two great large Nations like Xiu and Xilie like death, famine, orphans, fatherless or motherless children, hate, slavery, an eruption of diseases, fear, polluted air and worst the Nation that losses would receive the worst part of it and the only solution he was able to come up with in the morning after considering different possibility was to kill the root of the problem and the root of it all was Qiu Bai which means to avoid the catastrophe the Emperor of Xilie must die.

It was horrible thinking yet at that moment it wasn’t horrible to Si Ning he saw it as the perfect solution and he knew it was finally time for him to talk to his mother about her army and maybe he would be able to meet Yi Chen, the green wild tiger and who knows maybe he would be willing to help because Si Ning knew if he wants to end Qiu Bai’s life then he need an insider in the Xilie’s army because he would boldly meet Qiu Bai but he might not be able to finish the job so the insider must be the one to do it.

Ending Qiu Bai’s life was the boldest thing Si Ning could ever think of doing, for Xiu safety he was willing to stake his head, he won’t mind being with his Commanders for protection when meeting Qiu Bai but he doubts that was going to happen yet he had to protect his family one way or another and he had to protect his newfound family too, thinking about Xiu Yuan, Si Ning doesn’t want the boy to experience something like war at his young age.

Before Si Ning slept off, he kept calling himself ’stupid’ because for the first time in his life, he wasn’t thinking about himself first and he wanted to stick his head in the lion’s den for the sake of his loved ones.

The only simple way Si Ning could think about putting Qiu Bai six feet under was for him to first find a way to talk to his mother about her army, make use of the army in a way that the authority would be given to Ge Liang and he was going to ride into way thinking he had the power over the army and Ge Liang and his army had to be properly mixed with the Xilie’s Imperial army and when Si Ning go and visit Qiu Bai then his mother had to be present to go with him and command the Ge family army and that would be their way in taking the Emperor of Xilie’s life.

Thinking about the plan seemed like a thought up foolish plan but Si Ning couldn’t blame himself of thinking about the ridiculous plan that was so smooth to imagine but deep down it was never going to be easy, the plan was going to be full of thorns, rocky paths, muddy lake, broken sharp-pointed stones, and so on. First, was, would his mother agree to command the Ge army by hiding in the background? would the army listen to her? How would they trick Ge Liang to think the army was finally his? Would Qiu Bai agree to meet him? Would Qiu Bai even lead the Imperial army? What if Qiu Bai stays back at Xilie only to give commands? How would he even see Qiu Bai when he was supposed to stay in Xiu running the palace and the Nation.

Everything was so demanding that when Si Ning woke up, he woke up with a headache, and now he was at the court meeting not listening to a word being said because his mind kept drifting away, he kept thinking about how he was going to go to war because meeting Qiu Bai means he can’t stay in Xiu, if he was going then he would get the rest of the plans in motion and his plan of getting rid of Qiu Bai would be better if he did it before the war start officially.

At the court meeting Si Ning couldn’t help but look at the faces in front of him, he narrowed his eyes trying to pick anyone that might be suspicious between them, one or two of the Ministers must be working for Xilie, that was what he concluded but seeing their faces he couldn’t detect a thing. Si Ning was exhausted like he ran a marathon before the meeting, the tiredness was getting to him that he had to lean slightly on the throne. His mind drifted to the Si residence, thinking if it was protected and hoping no one would think about harming his family.

Si Ning felt something warm creep up his hand, he almost jolted but just shook slightly as he lowered his gaze to his hand to see Xiu Zhicheng was holding it. "Your Majesty." He said shyly as he caught sight of the ring on Xiu Zhicheng’s finger. With their matching rings, he could feel the eyes of Officials on them but since Xiu Zhicheng seem not to care, he wouldn’t mind too.

"Sit Si Ning, you look tired." Xiu Zhicheng said drawing Si Ning’s hand a little.

"Yes." Si Ning let Xiu Zhicheng guide him to sit next to him on the throne, he looked up to see the Ministers turning their heads away because now Xiu Zhicheng placed a hand on his cheek lovingly to stroke it, examining his face.

"It seems the burden I placed on you is too much." Xiu Zhicheng said gently and sighed.

Si Ning shook his head as he leaned into his husband’s warm hand. "I have no burden only my duties." He replied feeling warm from within.

"But I have called your name thrice you didn’t respond, do you want me to lift some of your duties?" Xiu Zhicheng asked.

Si Ning knew this was his moment, his opportunity. "Your Majesty before I am in charge of Xiu I want you to grant me something." He said as he straighten up.

"Anything you want Si Ning." Xiu Zhicheng told him instantly.

"I want to go and see the Emperor of Xilie, Qiu Bai." Si Ning said briskly.

Just like being burned with fire, Xiu Zhicheng withdrew his hand immediately and faced front, his expression unreadable. He took and opened the fat book on the table.

"No, you will stay in Xiu." Xiu Zhicheng replied firmly.

What?

Do Xiu Zhicheng realised he was among the people he was trying to protect, why did he have to dismiss him like that? Si Ning wasn’t about to take no for an answer.

"But...."

"My word is final and I do not want to hear it again nor do I want to hear about you leaving the palace." Xiu Zhicheng interrupted him with an expression that says the conversation was over.

Si Ning couldn’t believe Xiu Zhicheng just dismissed him just like he would dismiss his court Officials but Si Ning wasn’t about to back down so he was going to act on his instinct without thinking so he stood up, this movement made curious eyes to settle on him and then he started to walk down the stairs, he made an unpredictable movement by leaving the throne that made Xiu Zhicheng narrowed his eyes watching Si Ning leave.

Anyone would have thought Si Ning was going to leave the courtroom but when he got to the bottom of the stairs, he turned to face Xiu Zhicheng just like how any of Xiu Zhicheng’s subjects do to talk to the Emperor.

Si Ning fell on one knee, his head balanced nicely on his neck. "I will like to make a proposal and I will like Your Majesty to grant me permission for my proposal." He said aloud to make sure the whole court heard him.

A murmur started in the court and after some moment the murmur died down like it never happened and Xiu Zhicheng that was supposed to reply only watch Si Ning without saying a word forcing the Prime Minister to reply to Si Ning.

"Please go on, mother of our Nation." Song Ouyang said after looking between the Emperor and his Empress knowing the Emperor wasn’t going to reply and the Empress wasn’t going to stand and leave.

"Your Majesty I will like your permission to go to war with the aim to see the Emperor of Xilie, I do not think it is late for us to settle because war between two great Nations damages isn’t something that can clear up in a day and if it is impossible to negotiate with the Emperor of Xilie then I will accept that the war will be unavoidable." Si Ning said. "The Emperor of Xilie requested for me to settle between Xiu and Xilie and the Emperor of Xilie might had a grudge against us because we didn’t honour his request, I know his request wasn’t with pure intention and by seeing the Emperor of Xilie I might be able to get to the bottom of the hate floating between our Nation."

The whole courtroom got filled with a murmur, some agreeing and some disagreeing but the final decision rested on the Emperor so once again the hall went quiet waiting for the Emperor to speak.

Si Ning almost smirked knowing this time Xiu Zhicheng wouldn’t dismiss him like a fly, his voice was going to be heard, he would have loved to even let the Ministers vote but it might lead them to trouble so he only waited, his heart starting to beat faster because Xiu Zhicheng had no change in expression but Si Ning suspected the Emperor was angry with him.

"As the mother of the Nation, your only aim is to keep Xiu balanced in my absence and I will not jeopardize your life and send you on a suicide mission." Xiu Zhicheng said. "You will stay in Xiu, your Commanders will lead your army and this is my final judgment."