No matter how hard Si Ning tried to go to sleep, he was unable to sleep even after trying to empty his mind and made sure he had nothing to think about but still the picture of Xiu Zhicheng laughing with his Concubines while they fed him, drinking wine kept coming to his mind that it was so irritating.

Why am I disturbed by this?

The most confusing part was that he couldn't figure out why he was disturbed by this or why he had been thinking of Xiu Zhicheng so much to the extent that he wasn't even angry for thinking about him and that was what was irritating him the most. Si Ning wasn't stupid to know that he was attracted to Xiu Zhicheng so he was going to label it as infatuation which means the only thing he needed was time for it to go and he would completely stop thinking about Xiu Zhicheng and finally go back to his daily life of not thinking about sharing affections with someone or making love to them.

This thought made Si Ning smiled giggling with a wicked smile plastered on his face because he couldn't wait for that time to come when he wouldn't even think of Xiu Zhicheng and after their marriage, he would only see Xiu Zhicheng as a decorative piece whenever they share a bed. Since Xiu Zhicheng was the Emperor and had more than one wife means there would be days fixed to spend with each of his wives which means they might only get to share a bed once a month which means he doesn't have to see him every day and after becoming the Empress he might not have to be attending the court assembly which means he was free.

Si Ning smirked and turned only to almost jolted in shock as he sat up and about to yell in fright, his gaze directed at a dark figure by the table. Something tells him he doesn't have to be frightened so he stopped to check and had to squint his eyes to discover that it was Ah Dai sitting at the table. Si Ning sighed relieved that he wasn't being attacked or having an intruder in his room and he also realized Ah Dai must have taken his seat when he came in with the food without him realizing it because he was lost in thought and just assumed Ah Dai already left the room. He wondered why Ah Dai was in the room so he tossed the blanket back placing his feet on the floor and walked across the room barefooted to face Ah Dai who was dozing at the table, a tray of series of covered food on the table. Si Ning was about to wake him up when Ah Dai opened his eyes.

"Young Master." Ah Dai called in alarm and jumped into a standing position.

"Go and sleep." Si Ning told him staring at Ah Dai who was standing so still and trying not to look like he had been sleeping.

Ah Dai's eyes landed on the covered food on the table. "Young Master, Ah Dai has to serve you food." He said and knelt to start dishing out the food.

Si Ning shook his head. "Ah Dai it's too late for me to eat now so I will eat tomorrow." He said when he realised Ah Dai couldn't see him shaking his head and even had to stretched his hand to stop Ah Dai when he was about to pour him a cup of water.

Ah Dai nodded after looking around to confirm it was indeed late by how dark it was. "Young Master what will you like?"

"What I like is for you to go and sleep." Si Ning said firmly leaving no room for argument.

"It looks like Young Master haven't been sleeping so do you want Ah Dai to accompany you, I can tell great stories." Ah Dai suggested.

Si Ning stared at him waiting for Ah Dai to stand up and leave instead Ah Dai sat properly waiting for Si Ning to sit too while he behaved like he didn't hear Si Ning's statement for him to leave the room. Si Ning shrugged his shoulders and took his seat opposite him, he folded his with a 'what next look'.

"Tell me about yourself?" Si Ning asked. Since he came home he hadn't set his eyes on Ah Dai's mother. Even though he fulfilled Ah Dai's request of having his quarters renovated and given him more furnitures.

"About myself?" Ah Dai's eyes widen as his mouth fell in shock.

"Hmm." Si Ning moved to his side to lie on the floor, resting his head on Ah Dai's lap and this sudden movement made Ah Dai stiffened then he relaxed when Si Ning closed his eyes. "I am listening." He said when Ah Dai didn't say a word.

"My mother always does random jobs while we moved around because she was looking for my father but when they later met, he acted like he doesn't know her since she is a mute and also doesn't want me then we moved around and came to the capital and my mother started working at an Inn but the pay wasn't much and they didn't allow us to sleep inside and then General Si Yunsheng found me and my mother in front of his home when his guards were about to drive us away but he stopped them and took us in, fed us and asked us to stay." Ah Dai started talking, he placed his hand on Si Ning's shoulder. "I remembered it was the first time I will meet someone kind that I cried along with my mother, he gave us clothes and a home to stay and then I met you, you laughed at me because I couldn't read and write and that was when you thought me how to read and write and I promised to always serve you." He stopped when he looked down at Si Ning to check if he was asleep or not.

"Continue." Si Ning said as he started feeling sleepy.

"I didn't remember much about that but I also met Commander Ji Ran and he treated me like a friend and my mother was so happy to be here and I am happy too." Ah Dai told him.

"You like it here even though you lost your arm." Si Ning pointed out because it was scary how loyal some people in this era could be.

"Yes Ah Dai like it here, Ah Dai likes serving Young Master and it was also my fault that I lost my arm but Young Master gave me another one."

"You do not blame me." Si Ning pointed out even though he had crossed out Ah Dai's name among the people he was suspected to have ill intentions towards him.

"I dare not blame Young Master because it is entirely my fault for not being better in using a sword."

Si Ning took a deep breath as he started to feel so sleepy. "Tell me Ah Dai, do you have someone you like?" He asked slowly in a low voice.

Ah Dai had to listen carefully to hear him as his cheeks tinted into red. "Mhmm." He stopped as he paused his lips. "I do but not anymore."

"When you find a nice girl or a nice man, you must tell me." Si Ning said already feeling like he was in a deep puddle and he doesn't know if Ah Dai replied to him because he drifted off into a deep sleep.