"Ouch." Si Ning cringed as Ah Dai applied ointment on the red glowing throbbing point on his forehead.

It was such a shame that Shao Lang he thought would ace all the answers while he backs him up spent time thinking about each answer to the question acting like a scholar as he stroked his chin only to get it wrong but Si Ning hoped Shao Lang would get the next one right only to get it wrong and at the end he got all the answers wrong and this earned them being flicked on the head to each wrong answer that Si Ning wondered why his forehead had to be flickered too when he wasn't even the one that got it wrong.

It was after Shao Lang kept getting it wrong that Si Ning realized Shao Lang only knows things relating to being a General, forming strategies and war but very bad at general random knowledge and Xiu Junjie was able to use that knowledge at beating him at every question and when it was Shao Lang's turn, all the questions he asked, Xiu Junjie got them all right that Si Ning couldn't help but tagged the boy as a genius because it was amazing how vast his knowledge was. At a point, Si Ning had to demand books concerning some advanced questions Xiu Junjie got but he wanted to be sure if he was right and the boy wasn't tricking them only to open the books and found that Xiu Junjie was right.

It was such an embarrassment for two adults unable to beat a boy at the game of knowledge. Xiu Junjie also had no mercy on them when he wanted to flick their foreheads that Si Ning had to wonder why his fingers had so much force and he showed he wasn't even affected by the impact of the forefinger to their forehead because he never hesitates to quickly jump up to flick their forehead at getting another answer wrong.

When Si Ning took over and stopped relying on Shao Lang and he got an answer right and wanted to flick Xiu Junjie's forehead that was when Xiu Yuan Jumped up and said he would do it instead because he also wanted to participate in the game and Si Ning doesn't have a choice than to back out while watching how gently Xiu Yuan flicked Xiu Junjie's forehead even though the child thought he had applied a great force.

Si Ning was glad the palace maidens were standing far from them and couldn't see what was going on yet Shao Lang kept a straight face all through and after getting a question wrong, he still maintained the scholar posture and didn't even rub his flickered forehead once but sat appropriately trying to think of the question he would ask and worst at the end of the game, he didn't apologize to Si Ning and only told him he was glad to participate and now he was aware that he was lacking in knowledge so it was time for him to find someone to teach him and start reading.

"Young Master, did you take a hairpin along?" Ah Dai asked as he closed the ointment and placed the bottle in a box.

"No." Si Ning replied.

Si Ning turned when Ah Dai removed the hairpin Xiu Zhicheng inserted in his hair because he had no idea what it looked like, It was surprising to see that it was exactly the type of the two dragon-shaped golden hairpins he owned which made him confirmed that it was indeed Xiu Zhicheng that gave him the two hairpins.

Si Ning wasn't sure if Ran Chunhua also wore the type because for Xiu Zhicheng to change his hairpin must mean his wives too used the same hairpin to symbolize as belonging to the Imperial family yet it doesn't make sense to Si Ning because it was never like that in the traditional ancient dramas he had seen and on set.

The meaning behind Xiu Zhicheng wanting him to wear this particular hairpin was something Si Ning doesn't understand, If he had worn his to the court means he and Xiu Zhicheng would be wearing a matching set and it was almost like Xiu Zhicheng used it to tell everybody he belongs only to him because he might not take note of Xiu Zhicheng's hairpin doesn't mean others in the courtroom didn't take notice and it could be the reason he was stared at that Xiu TianZhao even mentioned it.

'Matching hairpins? Just like a couple.' a little voice said in Si Ning's head which made his cheeks tinted in red and he quickly bowed his head so his hair could cover his cheeks, preventing Ah Dai to see his flushed face.

"But where did Young Master see this one and the hairpin Ah Dai inserted in Young Master's hair, where is it?" Ah Dai asked as he opened the hairpin box and want to place the hairpin in it but Si Ning stopped him and collected it.

The hairpin Si Ning chose earlier was so beautiful and it was such a shame that he couldn't barge into Xiu Zhicheng's study and ask for it back because he doesn't understand if Xiu Zhicheng took it because he likes it or was concerned about him wearing another hairpin than the dragon-shaped hairpin.

"Gone." Si Ning replied flatly holding the hairpin firmly because he doesn't want it to mix with his two hairpins even though it was the same type yet he doesn't want it to mix for a reason he doesn't know.

"Gone? Young Master lost it? and it was a gift from Imperial doctor Song Feng." Ah Dai said more to himself in a low voice.

What?

"What! Song Feng gave me the hairpin?" Si Ning turned sharply to him because he was able to catch what Ah Dai said.

"Yes Young Master, he gave you as a set, he has one and one for you but then you only wore it once then came home never to wear it again." Ah Dai explained.

"Really?" Si Ning wondered why he never wore it again when it was such a beautiful hairpin so he raised a questioning brow so that Ah Dai would start talking if he knows the reason behind it.

"You only went to the palace that day and Ah Dai didn't accompany you but since then Young Master always wore the dragon hairpin but Young Master, do you know that giving a hairpin can be a sign to show affection to that person." Ah Dai told him.

"And this makes Ah Dai wonder if Young Master Song Feng may like you oh of cause he does, he is your friend." He added as he started brushing Si Ning's hair out.

Si Ning didn't reply instead he turned the hairpin he was holding in his hand, it looked ridiculous for him to have three same types of the hairpin which means he had to return the one he was holding. He never thought about his hairpin for once and didn't allow Ah Dai to insert the same dragon-shaped hairpin in his hair because he was still a little annoyed because of what happened the previous day and that was why he wanted nothing added to his dressing that would look like the Imperial family emblem and that was when he found out he owned series of beautiful hairpins and the one Song Feng gave him was perfect and as a gift, he wants it back but to get it would be a problem because he doesn't think he was bold enough to ask Xiu Zhicheng for it back.

A hairpin as a sign of affection.

Si Ning wondered if that was what it was about. The dragon-shaped hairpin as an affection of love from Xiu Zhicheng or a sign of property.

"Young Master, Ah Dai have prepared the clothes for you." Ah Dai told him.

"Hmmm." Si Ning turned to see the dark robes Ah Dai laid on the bed.

No this won't do.