"Junjie-er will you show me around the palace?" Si Ning asked, between him and Xiu Junjie, it was the boy that needed consoling, Xiu Junjie was able to return to his former self but he still wasn't talking, he only had to say a few words and Si Ning was able to see through it that the boy was trying to convince him he was okay by trying to start a conversation which didn't go well because Si Ning knew that Xiu Junjie was faking it because he couldn't speak without his voice being too low which made him stop abruptly in the middle of some sentence and from how things were moving it seemed Xiu Junjie was aware of it too.

Xiu Junjie frowned. "Why should I this great Master do that when you already know the in and out of the palace." He pointed out.

Si Ning frowned, he flipped his hand fan open. "How will I know the in and out of the palace when I just moved in yesterday." He also pointed out the obvious.

Xiu Junjie shook his head like he couldn't believe the nonsense Si Ning was sprouting. "How won't you know when you practically grew up with Imperial father and you do come to the palace from time to time." He stopped and turned to Si Ning, his hands folded waiting for Si Ning's come back as he raised his brows.

"How will I grow up with his Majesty when he is older than me?" Si Ning was confused why he would have Xiu Zhicheng as a playmate.

Xiu Junjie frowned. "How would I know that!" He waved his hands in frustration. "But that is what I heard." He said after some time. "Everyone knows you and Imperial father practically grew up together maybe you even see him as a brother but later you have to have perverted thoughts about it." He said accusingly.

"Oh." Si Ning could see a lot of sense in what he just said. He ignored the last statement which was implying that he might have seduced Xiu Zhicheng but since he doesn't know the truth about who seduced who or if it was a mutual feeling between them when they grew older. "But I want you to show me around." He insisted not wanting their conversation to divert.

"Uh?" Xiu Junjie grunted, clearly not interested.

"Won't great Master show me around?" Si Ning asked wearing what he called a puppy look which always worked when he wanted something from Xiu Ting, he doesn't know if it might work on a kid but he should still try to make Xiu Junjie see him as pitiful for him to grant his request. "Master please..." He blinked pitifully. Si Ning could live with flattering the Crown Prince, there was no shame in it. The boy might be brilliant but still looked lonely and Si Ning guessed it had to be the reason he always showed up when he ever Xiu Yuan comes to Si Ning.

It was definitely a lonely person's behavior.

Xiu Junjie demanding for the afternoon to be spent with him and following him about without a complaint made Si Ning able to confirm his suspicion that Xiu Junjie was indeed lonely and might not even have friends since he doesn't have to attend the academy. Si Ning was also trying to use this moment to get familiarize with the palace because he might need the knowledge in the near future.

Xiu Junjie sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Fine come." He finally agreed.

First, it was fun walking around, Xiu Junjie taking his time to explain the different locations in the palace, they met a few Officials, guards, court maidens but they didn't meet any of the Imperial family even though Si Ning was looking forward to running into the first or third concubine he had never seen and also run into the rest of the Imperial family he doesn't know.

When they got to Xiu Yuan's residence, Xiu Junjie told Si Ning Xiu Yuan was probably having his lessons and to not disturb them they only passed by the residence.

"This is Princess Xiu Ting's residence." Xiu Junjie pointed to a small residence. "Princess Xiu Ting's father and mother which is my Imperial older uncle and Imperial older aunty live in the northern part of the palace, they don't want to mingle anymore with the palace life because they lost all their children and the only surviving child is Princess Xiu Ting, They want to leave the palace yet they can't leave that is why they isolated themselves far from here." He explained.

"I see..." Si Ning said as he opened his mouth slightly to help in breathing. He wasn't sweating because of the cool weather and a guard held an umbrella above him but he felt as if he was already drenched in sweat. It was nice that Xiu Junjie was able to tell him much about the palace and he uses the opportunity to memorize all the identical residences and the name of each palace.

"Let's go, if we talk this shortcut we should be there before sunset." Xiu Zhicheng pointed to the side of a fence.

"Eh?" Si Ning could hardly believe that they have been walking for half an hour and they haven't even covered the whole palace yet. "Master let us go back." He couldn't take it anymore, he felt like his legs were about to break yet Xiu Junjie didn't even show a sign of being tired nor the guards following them or the servants holding an umbrella above them.

Si Ning had already seen enough, there was still time for him to go and check the northern part of the palace and see all the buildings and who were staying there maybe he might run into Xiu Ting's parents.

"Come, I said we will take a shortcut." Xiu Junjie snorted.

"Uh, can't we find a palanquin to take us back or a horse?" Si Ning suggested. He wasn't going to take another step forward because he felt like he was going to collapse any minute.

"Si Ning, why are you complaining when your great Master here is not, now come on." Xiu Junjie rolled his eyes.

Si Ning was a bit hesitant. "Let's go back." He said firmly. "Let's find a palanquin and go back."

"Young Master let me go and get the palanquin, if Ah Dai runs, Ah Dai should be able to come back faster, Young Master only has to stay here." Ah Dai suggested.

"To make it faster let the guards separate and find the nearest palanquin for King Consort and Your Highness." Yang Sheng suggested when he stepped forward.

"Xiao Pei stay, the rest of you go and find a palanquin."

The guards and servants all bowed before going in different directions, Si Ning watched Ah Dai leave, he would have love Ah Dai to stay with him but he doesn't want to look like he was giving Ah Dai a special treatment and Ah Dai would also not feel happy to stay without helping, Ah Dai was his guard before Xiao Pei came along but with one good arm, there was only little he could do so it was better to have Xiao Pei stay with him and Xiu Junjie.

Si Ning waved his hand when Yang Sheng seemed to be confused if he was supposed to stay or not but when he saw Si Ning that waved his hand as his dismissal made him quickly start going in the direction of where they came from.

To avoid just staying idle under the sun while waiting since the servants with the umbrella also left, Xiu Junjie pointed to a building closer to them.

"That building is not occupied, come let's rest there." Xiu Junjie started to lead Si Ning.

Si Ning wanted to complain so bad when he heard a voice when they moved closer to the building, he recognized the voice as the Queen Dowager's voice and a subtle voice which he instantly recognized as Xiu Zhicheng.

What was going on?