Note: A chapter got deleted and I have no idea how that happened so I will be uploading the deleted chapter after this, Note:- Read next chapter first before this. Read 'To the palace' chapter.

Si Ning's mouth fell slightly because a part of him was telling him that Xiu Yuan was at the front of the courtroom to see him. "Yuan-er?" He never expected that the name he called to sound like a question but he was a bit surprised to see Xiu Yuan so he quickly moved closer to the foot of the stairs, his attention on Xiu Yuan not realising when Xiao Pei, Jiang Ye and the rest of the guards saluted and started to leave.

Xiu Yuan jumped up happily and started to wave his hands before clapping then returned to waving his hands to show how happy he was as he laughed then he started to climb down the stairs in a hurry.

"Your Highness!" A palace maiden shouted in alarm as she hurried off after Xiu Yuan but didn't try to stop him, she only walked behind with her skirt gathered in her hands to avoid tripping, making it looked like she couldn't catch up to stop Xiu Yuan.

Si Ning could not believe that Xiu Yuan with his big robes was running towards him, he had the feeling that he could miss a step and also his long robes might make him fall if he steps on it so Si Ning also jumped and started climbing the stairs when usually he always takes his time to climb the stairs while grumbling of how the stairs were too much but this time he was taking it two at a time wanting to get faster to Xiu Yuan before he trips and fall then he extended his hands when he was about to meet Xiu Yuan halfway and the boy stopped and jumped up happily at this gestured and opened his hands wide before jumping into Si Ning's wide-opened arms.

The irritation Si Ning was feeling first dispersed from him like it never existed and as he found himself giggling with Xiu Yuan as he kissed the boy's cheek.

"I miss you." Xiu Yuan said slowly as he pulled Si Ning's cheeks before nuzzling on his neck and wrapping his arms around Si Ning's neck.

"I also miss Yuan-er." Si Ning said sincerely. Why won't he miss the one reason that makes his worries go away because he had been so busy thinking of a solution to any problem surfacing everytime.

Si Ning pulled back to look at Xiu Yuan's face, it was unbelievable that Ran Chunhua was the mother of the lovely boy in his arms because they don't even look alike but looking at him closely, he could see the boy shared some resemblance to Xiu Zhicheng and Si Ning couldn't help but imagined if Xiu Zhicheng was also this cute as a kid.

Si Ning smiled at the thought of a cute Xiu Zhicheng. Then he glanced around, he was surprised that the brother complex Xiu Junjie was nowhere in sight neither was Elder Qin that was always chasing after him and this made his smile widened because funny enough he wanted to see the Xiu Junjie and bring up another game he was bound to win and finally give Xiu Junjie a punishment he deserves and this made him chuckled evilly making Xiu Yuan frowned and poked his cheek.

"Yuan did all his... homework, Yuan listened... to his tutors that the Imperial tutor too started... to teach me about history." Xiu Yuan boasted wanting to be praised.

"You are a very good boy." Si Ning said patting his head then he looked at the boy carefully because something seemed amiss.

"Your Highness, you have to come so that we do not delay the King Consort." The palace maiden said briskly, when she finally caught up with the two other palace maidens behind her then they bowed to pay their respects to Si Ning.

Oh right.

"I have to attend the court meeting Yuan-er." Si Ning told him as he patted the boy's head. He must be the last Official that wasn't in the courtroom yet, as the future Empress he was supposed to come early to keep up with the appearance of taking Xiu's best interest at heart.

Another thing Si Ning doesn't want was to enter the courtroom when Xiu Zhicheng was already seated because the attention would be drawn to him the moment the guards open the door and he steps in making him look like he was being disrespectful to the Emperor by coming late.

Xiu Yuan nodded in understanding. "Must you attend?" He asked pulling Si Ning's cheeks.

Si Ning nodded. "Yes, I have to, to make Xiu a better place." He has to put it in words for Xiu Yuan to understand better.

"Promise me that you will see me after the meeting..." Xiu Yuan said raising his pinky finger.

Si Ning frowned because it was still bugging him that something seemed weird about Xiu Yuan but he couldn't place what it was. He also seemed like Xiu Yuan grew overnight and was more reasonable and even agreed to let him leave as long as he promised him.

"Your Highness." The palace maid said, worried that Xiu Yuan was delaying General Si Ning and it could cause trouble for them because it was their fault for not stopping Xiu Yuan and allowing him to go and stand in front of the courtroom demanding to see General Si Ning.

"Promise me, Nin Nin." Xiu Yuan pulled his cheek to gain Si Ning's attention and raised his pinky finger to his face.

Si Ning was still wondering what changed then it clicked that it was Xiu Yuan's way of talking. "Yuan-er you don't stammer anymore?" His mouth fell, just between the few time he was unable to see Xiu Yuan and now he was able to speak fluently and only stressed out some words.

"Stammer? But I don't stammer." Xiu Yuan protested as he pouted shaking his head in disagreement.

"Yes you don't anymore and that is worth celebrating so I will see you after the meeting." Si Ning said and used his pinky to grab Xiu Yuan's pinky as a sign of promise.

After releasing Xiu Yuan's finger. The boy was still reluctant to let go as he wrapped his hands around Si Ning's neck tighter making Si Ning to consider if he should raise his hand to swear.

"It is a promise Nin Nin." Xiu Yuan said.

"Yes it is." Si Ning agreed. It doesn't cost him anything to spend a few moments with Xiu yuan also talking childishly to the boy was something he was looking forward to so he kissed his forehead slightly.

"I love you, Nin Nin." Xiu Yuan said as he hugged Si Ning's neck then he released him allowing the palace maiden to carry him and placed it on a step.

Seeing this made Si Ning's eyes widen because it means the palace maiden expected Xiu Yuan to climb down all by himself so without saying a word Si Ning picked you the boy and started climbing down the stairs to avoid talking too much or instructing the palace maidens how they should treat Xiu Yuan.

Xiu Yuan giggles happy that Si Ning carried him only to place him down on the ground when he reached the stairs footing.

The palace maidens bowed deeply, looking guilty for not carrying Xiu Yuan instead then Si Ning smiled and patted Xiu Yuan's head before climbing up the stairs.

"Nin Nin!" Xiu Yuan yelled when he saw the guards opened the door for Si Ning and was about to disappear from his view.

When Si Ning heard him he turned to see Xiu Yuan stretching his neck to see Si Ning at the top of the stairs pavement better, waving at him and Si Ning chuckled as he waved back before turning and stepping into the courtroom and just as expected all eyes turned to him but he was glad to see that the throne empty which means he got to the courtroom before the Emperor and this made Si Ning to first take a deep relieved breath before walking up to stand in his position.