Cunning General Si Ning
Chapter 278: Fruit Wine

Chapter 278: Fruit Wine

Out of all Si Ning’s Commanders, Si Ning never expected Ji Ran to be the strict Commander but since Jiang ChenMu left Ji Ran surveillance shifted to the highest level, the food they brought for him was tested by the soldier that brought it in because he was one of the reserved forces and after Ji Ran proceed to use a silver spoon to test the food for a long time while watching Si Ning at the same time. Si Ning knew he must be watching if Jiang ChenMu gave him something but since he couldn’t ask all he had to do was to watch to check if anything was amiss or if Si Ning acts suspiciously.

It wasn’t uncomfortable to Si Ning, he was already used to being stared at, he was sure Ji Ran was going to probably watch him all night. Jiang ChenMu that came at the time of Si Ning thought of Xiu Zhicheng was the reason Si Ning told him he had to leave and now he wished he could have told Jiang ChenMu to tell Xiao Pei because he doesn’t see a way Jiang ChenMu would be able to help him escape tonight but Xiao Pei might.

It was already dark and Si Ning lay on his bed, his boots off, he should probably get set to go to bed but first, he needed to think of his way out of Ji Ran’s watch but he was going to leave that until the next day but for now, he needed to rest.

"I will watch over General tonight."

Si Ning turned to see Xiao Pei who was holding a jar of wine, it seemed Ji Ran told him he was going to be the watchman tonight. It would be suspicious for Si Ning to call Xiao Pei to his side so he didn’t say a word.

"Fruit wine." Xiao Pei placed the jar on the table and proceed to pour a large amount into a cup which he drank at once.

It was the first time Si Ning would see Xiao Pei drink and he thought he was going to sit and drink with Ji Ran but after Xiao Pei dropped his empty cup, he left. Xiao Pie that drank a large amount seemed to have removed any doubt of the wine being poisoned because Ji Ran poured it into a cup and drank a little. Si Ning knew Ji Ran was checking the alcohol level in it and after confirming by the taste it had a little, Ji Ran poured a large amount and gulp it like the wine was something he needed. Si Ning would have loved to join but he turned the other way and closed his eyes to think instead he slept off.

"..General."

Si Ning flung his eyes opened and turned to see Jiang ChenMu’s face closer to him. "What?" He asked, confused to see Jiang ChenMu in his tent. He must have slept a little because if it was a deep sleep he might wake up hungry, tired or with itchy eyes but he was just confused only for a second.

"General we have to leave." Jiang ChenMu said.

Si Ning was confused, does it mean Ji Ran finally agreed to let him go but when he turned, he was shocked to see Ji Ran’s eyes closed, his head tilted, his hands folded across his chest and he was still on his sitting position. "Ji Ran?" He had to ask, he stood up immediately and collected his bow while Jiang ChenMu wore a bag of arrows on him.

"Commander Ji Ran is just sleeping." Jiang ChenMu replied as he took Si Ning’s sword and fastened it on the waist belt then he bent to help Si Ning wear his boots.

Xiao Pei also appeared by the doorway and he nodded. Si Ning took one last look at Ji Ran and without thinking he stepped outside the tent, it was dark but he could see well due to the half moon in the sky, almost all the army were asleep and only a few among the reserved forces were awake so they bowed to pay their respects, the rest were either collapsed on the ground or in a sitting position but anyone could tell they were sleeping because some were even snoring loudly.

"How did you?" Si Ning gestured around as he followed Xiao Pei who was leading them into the woods.

"We spiked the food and wine, to make it real some of the reserved forces had to drink too." Jiang ChenMu explained. "It is a risk which I deem necessary and also we have no enemy on their way because we have scouted the environment and the watch birds are at rest."

Si Ning was shocked to see that his reserved force kept amazing him, he turned sharply to Xiao Pei when his head clicked that Xiao Pei drank too. "Are you not affected?" He was curious because Xiao Pei seemed unfazed.

"The Imperial doctor made me an antidote." Xiao Pei replied firmly.

"Xiao Pei, you didn’t agree with Ji Ran taking me to Xiu?" Si Ning asked without thinking immediately after Xiao Pei’s reply.

"Xiu has been doing well, some spies were caught and it seemed the brutal Imperial Tutor and the gentle Prime Minister are what the Nation needed and General might be the Empress but General is still the General and I know General being in Xiu will not make General happy because General is much interested in fighting for our Nation and General being out here will make the people respect and see General as their god." Xiao Pei explained his opinion.

Si Ning nodded, he understood Xiao Pei’s point of view. They finally got to where Song Feng, Yi Chen and two of the reserved force were waiting with horses and Song Feng quickly moved forward when he saw that Si Ning arrived safely, his eyes filled with relief as he sighed deeply. Si Ning didn’t expect Song Feng to also be waiting for him but after seeing his worried look, Si Ning couldn’t complain.

"Shang Jin is not here." Si Ning noticed because out of everyone Shang Jin should be pumped about it since he loved watching Xiao Pei, learning his ways to improve himself in terms of martial art.

"I forgot to warn him and the Imperial doctor says the antidote can’t work for him because he drank a lot." Jiang ChenMu told Si Ning. "We should go."

Si Ning wanted to climb his horse but stopped when he saw Jiang ChenMu climb his ready to go. He closed his eyes to think and opened them almost immediately. "Jiang ChenMu you are not going." He said. "Did you give me my bow and a bag of arrows because you’re aware that you will be staying?"

"But General....." Jiang ChenMu trailed off as he wore a confused look.

"You are the captain of the reserved force and the reserved force is not meant for a large scale war so here is your mission." Si Ning interrupted Jiang ChenMu when he was about to complain. "You will give a burial to our men that died at the pit, one of the survivors of the pit attack have one of our men’s head with him, the head Ge Liang took thinking it was me so you know what to do." He gave out his instructions. "You will also take my mother’s head to Xiu and tell Si Nan to proceed with the burial." He didn’t think much before adding the instruction of his mother being buried.

Jiang ChenMu jumped down from the horse and fell on one knee. "General." He bowed to show he had no complaint because the mission given to him was an important mission only he and the reserved force could fulfil.

"Si Nan will kill me if I stress you too much, she is your betrothed so you have to watch over her." Si Ning said and watched Jiang ChenMu raise his head, his eyes filled with admiration and determination to fulfil his duty. "And keep your distance from her too." He added.

"Yes, General I will fulfil this mission." Jiang ChenMu said.

Si Ning would have loved Song Feng to stay too but he knows Song Feng too well and knowing how Song Feng was made him not say a word as he mounted his horse then nodded at Jiang ChenMu who saluted. Yi Chen, Xiao Pei and Song Feng also mounted their horses and with a kick start, they all rode away into the night.