Cunning General Si Ning
Chapter 276: Disobey

Chapter 276: Disobey

"What do you say?" Si Ning raised a brow because he doesn’t understand if he just heard Ji Ran said they were on their way to Xiu and plans to take him along.

One of the soldiers brought a flat small stool that Ji Ran could write upon, Ji Ran placed the paper on the stool and continued writing like the most important thing ever was to send the letter. Ji Ran didn’t raise his head, his hand was a bit shaky which was confusing to Si Ning because he doesn’t understand why Ji Ran was trying so hard to make his hand steady or why his hand wasn’t stable in the first place or why he refused to meet his eyes even for a second when talking.

"His Majesty sent us here to take General home." Ji Ran said and he was done with the first letter, he handed it to the soldier with the bird cage leaving him to send the letter through one of the birds.

"What!" Si Ning blinked rapidly, his hands akimbo because Ji Ran just confirmed what he thought he misheard.

"We beg you Your Majesty to allow us to escort Your Majesty home!" The whole army chorused like they had rehearsed it.

"Stand!" Si Ning commanded in annoyance as he snapped his finger, he watched them all stand on their feet immediately then he directed his attention to Ji Ran. "Come with me." He immediately turned and started walking away.

Seeing Si Ning leaving gave Ji Ran no choice but to abandon his letter writing and quickly followed, they didn’t walk very far when Si Ning stopped, he just had to have some private discussion with Ji Ran just a few feet from his men because he couldn’t allow them interrupting. Xiao Pei’s eyes were glued on them without even blinking and seeing how concentrated he was made Yi Chen and Song Feng also turned to look in the direction where Si Ning and Ji Ran were standing.

The distance they covered would at least prevent those with sharp hearing not to hear a thing of their discussion that Si Ning even turned in a way that none of his men would read his lips and he also made sure to block Ji Ran from view too giving no space for anyone to also read his lips.

"You know Ji Ran I do not plan to go to Xiu." Si Ning had to make himself clear.

"General, His Majesty guard Lin Fan told me the success of this war depends on General arriving safely in Xiu because His Majesty worries about General daily so for His Majesty not to make a bad decision then we have to do everything in our power that General get to the palace safely." Ji Ran explained the situation at hand, his gaze directed downward like Si Ning’s pants hem and boots were interesting.

Si Ning took a deep breath. "That is the more reason I have to be where His Majesty is." He explained. If Xiu Zhicheng was that worried about him then the best remedy to that was for him to go and see his dear husband so he could put his mind at rest.

"No General can never go there, His Majesty gave me an order I have to see through." Ji Ran replied firmly.

Si Ning was flabbergasted because he expected Ji Ran to agree yet Ji Ran didn’t think twice before disagreeing. Was Ji Ran disobeying him? "Do you work for His Majesty now?" He had to ask as he started to get angry.

Ji Ran quickly shook his head. "I beg General not to misunderstand me, General is my only General, the only General I will follow and lay down my life for but right now I am not only the Commander of General’s army but I am the Commander of Xiu."

The war plan excluded Si Ning so Si Ning’s army was still his army but he had already passed the power of his army to his Commanders making them like the overseer of his army, he still had the right to command his army but right at that moment, it seemed the power had dissolved just by an order from Xiu Zhicheng which made Ji Ran dared to go against him.

Si Ning narrowed his eyes, displeased. "What if I insist?" He had to ask, he wanted to see how far Ji Ran was willing to go. It was ridiculous for Ji Ran to think he could afford not to listen to him or prioritize his order above everybody else.

"Then I will have to tie General up." Ji Ran replied instantly.

"Nonsense!" Si Ning said angrily as he took a step towards Ji Ran and this made Ji Ran take a step back. "I will go to where his Majesty is." He declared firmly to show he was determined and nothing could sway his mind or make him change his mind.

Ji Ran placed his hand on his sword hilt. "If General insisted on going then I and General will have to fight and when I lose my two hands and am unable to fight General then General’s subordinates will take it up which means General will have to kill us all."

"Do you know I can’t strip you of your position? Ji Ran!" Si Ning yelled in anger and this made most of his men turn in their direction in alarm. He clenched his fist wanting to punch something as he took a deep breath trying to calm his nerves.

Now Ji Ran had disobeyed him not once but twice.

"Yes but General have to understand, we cannot have the Emperor worry about Xiu and worry about you! You should know how much His Majesty cares for you!" Ji Ran yelled too as his eyes finally shot up to look at Si Ning directly, his eyes were layered with red. "When I heard of Ah Dai passing away, I almost lost my mind and I am still losing my mind!" A tear dropped from his eye, his eyes showing the pain he was holding in, his hands now shaking as he clinched it firmly right beside him.

Si Ning’s mouth slightly opened in shock as he watched pain written all over Ji Ran’s face. "Ji Ran..."

"It is so painful I prefer death but the reason why I am here is so that I can prevent it from happening again!" Ji Ran said breathing hard, his chest heaving up and down. "I plan to leave the army after this to heal but before then I must stop General from going to join his Majesty!" He declared and pulled out his sword swiftly, his stance ready for an attack as he pointed the sword at Si Ning, his hands now steady with his gaze determined.

Xiao Pei that saw this jumped up immediately, alert, Jiang ChenMu, Shang Jin, Song Feng and Yi Chen also became alert immediately but it was only Xiao Pei that ran to Si Ning’s side wanting to assess the situation, the rest didn’t follow because they would be butting in so they stood up and watched from the distance.

"General?" Xiao Pei called as he stood beside Si Ning ready to draw his sword as he took up a fighting stance, his hand a few inches away from the hilt of his sword but he didn’t draw his sword because Si Ning didn’t draw his sword.

Si Ning could now see that Ji Ran was indeed serious about stopping him. "Ah Dai wouldn’t want this." He said and saw Ji Ran flatter as some flashes of emotion flashed through his eyes. "He said he was sorry for not replying to your feelings and because of him I won’t fight you, I will go to Xiu."

Ji Ran sighed relieved as he sheathed his sword and then fell to one knee. "Thank You General and please forgive this loyal subordinate." He bowed deeply with his hands raised and cupped to show his gratitude.

It seemed Ji Ran started to cry because he refused to raise his head and his cupped hands weren’t steady. Si Ning had to leave him, it was sad to see Ji Ran devastated but that doesn’t mean Si Ning plans to go to Xiu because he lied and he just had to find another way to reach Xiu Zhicheng’s camp.