Si Ning couldn't see Ling Qi's face because he refused to raise his head but with how he was shaking he could see he was afraid yet Si Ning didn't feel any murderous aura from Xiu Zhicheng. The Emperor was only talking gently like he just wanted to dismiss the discussion Ling Qi brought on because Ling Qi's point was irrelevant.

"I will spare you once because you are my First Concubine father." Xiu Zhicheng told him, a hint of warning laid in his words.

​​

"Thank you your Majesty, may his Majesty live for a thousand years...!" Ling Qi knocked his head on the floor three times yet he refused to stand to his feet.

"My marriage to General Si Ning is in few days and to travel to Xilie isn't a matter of days, The Emperor of Xilie should know that and I will not send General Si Ning as an envoy, that is final." Xiu Zhicheng said aloud.

Si Ning felt proud of the handsome man a few feet from him that supported him, stood up for him, and defended him wholeheartedly, his eyes were narrowed but he couldn't help but smile as he admires the powerful man that would become his husband in few days.

"Your Majesty, what should we do about the alliance?" Song Ouyang asked. "What is the reply we should give to the Xilie Emperor?"

Si Ning wondered what Xiu Zhicheng would do between dissolving the alliance by not meeting Qiu Bai's demands since not sending him means he had ruled over one of Qiu Bai's demands or he was going to find a way to compensate Qiu Bai. He was still thinking of this when Xiu Zhicheng moved to stand before Si Ning.

Eh?

The fresh scent of sandalwood drifted to Si Ning and he raised his head to meet Xiu Zhicheng's gaze, he doesn't understand why the Emperor was standing in front of him with a poker face then he noticed that his brows slowly became knitted and he was now frowning while staring at Si Ning, it was rude to stare at the Emperor and when Si Ning realized this he quickly lowered his head while wondering why Xiu Zhicheng was frowning making things awkward for him because once again the hall was silent. Si Ning's heart began to beat faster, he was so tired to even blush that Xiu Zhicheng's attention was on him.

"What should we do about the Emperor of Xilie's offer?" Xiu Zhicheng asked.

"Eh?" Si Ning raised his head just to be sure if the question was directed at him and when he saw the Xiu Zhicheng was still looking at him made him sure. "Mhmm." His thinking was already at the peak of not being able to come up with anything sensible yet Xiu Zhicheng decided to ask him a question.

"General Si Ning, what is your opinion?" Xiu Zhicheng asked.

It was rare for the Emperor to repeat his question and this placed Si Ning in a position of having no choice but to reply, he shamelessly sniffed the sandalwood scent because he felt like it was going to help his thinking become sharper.

For Xiu to accept Qiu Bai's offer means it was a way for them to at least prevent the war for now and if they refused then Qiu Bai might finally be able to quickly declare war between the two Nations. Si Ning doesn't want to go to Xilie nor does he want to extend his wedding so he wasn't going to suggest him going to Xilie.

"From my opinion, a written apology should be sent to Xilie along with the hundred bags of salt and for the envoy..." Si Ning paused. "To show that Xiu is sincere then Prime Minister Song Ouyang or General Shao Lang can go to Xilie in the place of me as the envoy the Emperor of Xilie requested." He concluded, his gaze was on Xiu Zhicheng's chest just to avoid looking directly at Xiu Zhicheng and also to avoid his gaze shifting to Song Ouyang.

For Si Ning to suggest Shao Lang wasn't because he wanted to get rid of him but because Shao Lang had become someone he could trust, a true General that Si Ning doubts he was going to get swayed by riches Incase he was offered riches and wealth in Xilie and Shao Lang was also suitable as an envoy because he was going to survive even if Xilie decides to throw him into the prison if he doesn't corporate with Xilie Incase Qiu Bai want to have him on Xilie's side, Shao Lang had the highest chance of surviving the trip and Xilie. Si Ning suggested the Prime Minister because if the Prime Minister of Xiu goes to Xilie then Qiu Bai's hands might be folded because he might not be able to do anything to an important governmental personnel who was even more important than a General. Si Ning suggested Shao Lang and Song Ouyang yet he hoped Xiu Zhicheng was going to choose Shao Lang if he accepts his opinion.

"Your Majesty." Shao Lang fell on one knee. "I will go to Xilie as an envoy in place of General Si Ning."

Si Ning was glad that Shao Lang even made his move before Xiu Zhicheng decides to reject his opinion. His heart accelerated as he waited for Xiu Zhicheng final say, his palms getting sweaty, Xiu Zhicheng not saying a thing was making him more nervous.

"General Shao Lang will go as an envoy to Xilie, with a written apology and a hundred bags of salt." Xiu Zhicheng concluded. "Court dismissed!"

Si Ning was glad that it was all over and it was finally time for him to rest, he doesn't want to think of Qiu Bai's hidden intentions because he knew the goods sent to Xilie might not even be missing like the Emperor of Xilie claimed nor does a powerful rich Nation like Xilie needed salt from Xiu. He was also glad that Xiu Zhicheng asked for his opinion and even acted on it.

All Si Ning wanted now was to leave the courtroom but he didn't make a move because he knew he was going to be stopped by Xiu TianZhao to make small talks but the moment he turned Xiu TianZhao was gone, he was only able to catch him disappear behind the curtain to show he was following Xiu Zhicheng. Si Ning turned to see that Shao Lang was talking with the Minister of Welfare and that was the hint that he should leave so Si Ning started heading out with a poker face just to make sure he wasn't stopped even though he knew no one in the courtroom would be able to stop him from leaving, not even Song Ouyang.

The moment Si Ning stepped out and saw the palanquin waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs, he glanced around hoping Xiu Junjie won't appear as he quickly descended the stairs and got in the palanquin that Xiao Pei raised the curtain for him.

When they arrived at the Jasmine palace, Si Ning was glad that none of the Servants said a word and Yang Sheng was also quiet which means his order had been passed around and he was going to have a peaceful sleep, he got to his room, his bed few feet from him, Ah Dai already setting the table next to his bed and he sighed relieved only to get dizzy before he realized what was going on he was already falling, he saw Ah Dai running up to him and he was caught but Si Ning wasn't able to keep his eyes open anymore as he collapsed in the pair of arms holding him.