Si Ning took a step back and gestured for Ah Dai to open the next box as he stepped back, not even a bit interested in what might be in the box because he was expecting it to contain silvers or rare medicinal herbs only for Ah Dai to open the lid and carefully bring out a medium size cloisonne vase.

When Si Ning laid his eyes on the vase which looked oddly familiar that when Ah Dai was about to return it, Si Ning raised his hand to stop him and found himself moving closer and he was amazed how beautiful the vase was that his mouth slightly opened because he was so astonished by the details of the decorative metals glued to it and no doubts it would take months to finish it because when he looked at how the color was filled in between the metals without overlapping or any mistake of the color passing it's boundary.

Si Ning raised his hand to touch it thinking of where he had seen the vase but nothing came to his memory yet the vase feels familiar to his touch, the flowers on them, he recognized as jasmine flowers and there was a bird, a crane with lots of flowers surrounding it that he couldn't help trailing his fingers on them, his heart felt lighter when he imagined Xiu Zhicheng telling the ceramic maker about the details he wants on it because by now Si Ning could say Xiu Zhicheng seemed to like the flower Jasmine since the flower wasn't a symbol relating to the Imperial family or Xiu.

After checking the vase to his satisfaction, Si Ning stepped back as Ah Dai returned the vase and he couldn't help but think of how much those kinds of the antique vase would cost in the modern-day world if he have this vase in the modern-day world and sell it to an auction house and there were no doubts he would swim in money.

"I am taking it along." Si Ning said, he doesn't want to know if there were other similar vases in the residence prepared for him in the palace but he was still going to add this vase that seemed like he had seen it somewhere.

Ah Dai opened the third box it just a single comb that was lying in it, a hand fan with a fan pendant. Ah Dai raised the tray they were placed on, Si Ning took the comb that seemed to be made of metal with flowers imprinted on it, it was a beautiful comb, he placed it back on the tray and took the hand fan, he opened the folded fan and just like how Qiu Bai's hand fan was, it had a golden dragon embedded at the center of the red hand fan while Qiu Bai own was a Phoenix bird representing the emblem of Xilie on his hand fan. Si Ning touched the fan pendant, it was such a beautiful high-quality hand fan that Si Ning didn't feel like leaving it in the big box so he walked back to the table and placed it on the table as he took his seat.

"General May I come in?"

"Yes." Si Ning replied, he raised his head, diverting his attention to the door as he flipped the hand fan close.

It was at that moment he realized that Xiao Pei wasn't back and his Commanders seemed to be taking their time in showing up.

Jiang Ye stepped into the room and knelt slowly before proceeding to kowtow. "Greetings to General."

What was this development?

First Si Ning ignored that Jiang Ye asked extremely politely to come in then next he was behaving weirdly yet Si Ning doesn't think he had done something wrong but the way he kowtowed looked like he was sincerely extending his greeting to him.

"Is there a problem?" Si Ning asked because his guards don't enter his room just to greet him.

When Jiang Ye raises his head, Si Ning noticed his eyes were showing some deep grievance and seemed hollow yet it was like he imagined that his eyes were hollow but anyone could tell that Jiang Ye seemed somewhat sad because unlike Xiao Pei with the stone face, Jiang Ye do show a lot of expressions.

This made Si Ning be on edge as he focused all his attention on Jiang Ye wondering if perhaps his family had fallen into some misfortune or a close family of his just kicked the bucket.

"General, according to his Majesty decree, it says that General is only allowed to take one bodyguard and I know General will take Xiao Pei because Xiao Pei have always been General's companion and do that mean General will have no use for me to stay by General's side?" Jiang Ye asked, his eyes beseeching.

Si Ning tilted his head still confused that how could Jiang Ye show some grievance expression because he was concerned by his Master having no more use for him. If only Jiang Ye was close, Si Ning would not hesitate to flick his forehead. The part of Si Ning taking only a Servant and a guard was what he had disregarded because he was more concerned about where the decree says that he should move to the palace before the end of the day.

"That is not right Lieutenant Jiang, Ah Dai has always been Young Master's companion and guard until Ah Dai lost an arm." Ah Dai said.

Si Ning almost rolled his eyes when he turned to see Ah Dai that was silently sulking just because Jiang Ye said Xiao Pei had always been his guard. For Si Ning to decide between who to take to the palace then obviously he was going to take Xiao Pei yet he didn't want to leave Jiang Ye behind because in the long run, he had gotten used to having two guards and for Jiang Ye and Xiao Pei to work together was a division of labor and if one wasn't around then the other would be and he doesn't think he would feel safe in the palace just with a guard.

He was still thinking of how to take Jiang Ye along when he noticed Ah Dai falling slowly to his knees.

"Forgive me Young Master for speaking out of turn." Ah Dai said.

Si Ning resisted the urge to roll his eyes because if he was going to roll his eyes to every uncalled for things that Ah Dai had done then his eyes would have probably fallen out by now. He wanted to click his tongue but he realized that he had been staring at Ah Dai unknowingly which might have been the reason Ah Dai thought he was perhaps angry because Si Ning was frowning that he didn't even realize it.

"Hmmm." Si Ning sighed, his gaze on Jiang Ye wondering what to do as he closed his eyes. "Jiang Ye you will stay here to protect the residence but you will join me as soon as I settle in the palace and discuss with his Majesty." He said after sometime and opened his eyes.

Just like a lantern was lit, Jiang Ye's expression brightens and Si Ning was glad that now he seemed more like himself.

"I Jiang Ye will protect General to death." Jiang Ye saluted.

Si Ning narrowed his eyes, he really needs to ban the use of the word 'death'. It was one word he doesn't like to hear. He waved his hand, indicating for him to leave. "Jiang Ye!" He called before Jaing Ye stepped out of the room.

"Yes General."

"Take a horse and report to me what is delaying Chen An, Su Heng or Ji Ran from showing up." Si Ning instructed.

"Yes General." Jiang Ye replied as he stepped out of the room.