Chapter 14

Note: Today I returned from my hometown in the countryside to Jiaxing, and since public chapters cannot be automatically published, the update was a bit late. I apologize for that.

Today, it seems the book was on the new book list for an hour, and then it was taken off. I urgently need favorites and recommendations, please help.

...

When he saw Lan Ling, Suo Hanyi frowned, his eyes filled with anger and disgust. He said coldly, "You scoundrel, you still know how to come back? Burned by a woman, you traveled thousands of miles to the Demon Mountain Range, and in the end, you didn't even see Father for the last time. You really have some nerve, don't you?"

Lan Ling did not argue but lowered his head and said, "Big Brother, I was wrong."

Suo Hanyi was somewhat surprised. His relationship with Suo Lun had always been poor. Because their adoptive father valued him greatly, Suo Lun both feared and hated him, and he never called him Big Brother, always looking at him with a frown.

However, even so, Suo Hanyi did not give Lan Ling a proper look. In his heart, he looked down on this step-brother, despite his loyalty to the Suo family.

"Big Brother, what happened in Tianshui City?" Suo Ningbing asked gently.

Suo Hanyi turned his face, no longer looking at Lan Ling, and his gaze fell on Suo Ningbing.

Lan Ling wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he felt that Suo Hanyi's gaze on his sister was somewhat passionate, though very subtle and fleeting.

"Suo Lun, I need to talk to Little Bing about something important. You should leave," Suo Hanyi said bluntly.

Suo Hanyi's attitude could be considered very rude. After all, Suo Lun was not only his step-brother but also his lord. Yet, Suo Hanyi treated him as if he could be summoned and dismissed at will.

Suo Ningbing's face turned slightly unnatural, then she smiled gently and said, "Big Brother, Little Lun is getting older, so he should also learn how to manage the territory."

Suo Hanyi nodded and said, "I came to the capital for two reasons: one, I heard that Suo Lun had returned, and two, there is a crisis in Tianshui City."

Suo Ningbing's face changed, and she asked, "What kind of crisis?"

Suo Hanyi said, "Nuerdan is rallying the high-ranking warrior lords, planning to break away from the Suo family and establish himself independently."

Nuerdan, the largest lord in Tianshui City, has always been ambitious.

Suo Ningbing's face changed again. "How can they do this? Their territories were granted by our Suo family. They are not only vassals but also servants of the Suo family."

Suo Hanyi said, "Suo Lun was missing for a long time, and everyone thought he was dead, leaving the Suo family without an heir. They are using this as a reason to break away and establish themselves independently."

Suo Ningbing said, "But Suo Lun has returned now."

Suo Hanyi said, "However, before this, Nuerdan's rallying had already begun."

Suo Ningbing asked, "How many warrior lords have responded to Nuerdan?"

"Among the nineteen warrior lords, at least seven or eight are already on his side, and the rest are wavering," Suo Hanyi said. "If we don't stop them soon, they will rebel and establish themselves within a few months. When that happens, the royal family will take the opportunity to intervene, and we will lose the five hundred miles of territory in Tianshui City."

Suo Ningbing's breathing quickened, and she looked at Suo Hanyi with her beautiful eyes. "Big Brother, what should we do?"

Suo Hanyi said, "We need to quickly have Suo Lun inherit the title and become the Lord of Tianshui City, then return to the territory to maintain order. Everyone knows that a country cannot be without a ruler for a day."

Suo Ningbing frowned. After all, the current Suo Lun was an imposter, Lan Ling, who had to start from scratch in both literary and martial knowledge. It would be a genius if he could pass the final exam of the capital's academy next year.

Thus, Ningbing said hesitantly, "Big Brother, although Suo Lun has reformed and become ambitious, he has fallen behind in both literary and martial studies. It will be very difficult for him to pass the final exam of the capital's academy this year."

"Hmph." Suo Hanyi sneered. "Little Bing, don't cover for him. With this wastrel's own abilities, he wouldn't graduate in ten years. You need to find another way."

Suo Ningbing was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Big Brother, I understand."

Suo Hanyi said, "Remember, Suo Lun must graduate smoothly this year and inherit the title. If we wait until next year, the high-ranking lords in Tianshui City will surely rebel and establish themselves."

"Yes," Suo Ningbing bowed.

...

Suo Hanyi said, "We've finished talking. I need to return to Tianshui City immediately."

Ningbing said, "Big Brother, won't you stay overnight?"

Suo Hanyi said, "This is a serious matter; there can be no delay."

Ningbing said, "At least have a meal before you leave. I'll cook for you, Big Brother."

Suo Hanyi shook his head. "No, just prepare a few meat pies for me to eat on the road."

Then, he put on his helmet and was about to leave.

"Alright," Ningbing's eyes welled up, and she said softly, "Big Brother, thank you. I don't know what I would do without you!"

Suo Hanyi trembled, and his gaze on Suo Ningbing became gentle and passionate. "Silly, you know that for you, Big Brother would do anything, even give his life."

Suo Ningbing was stung by his gaze and turned away uncomfortably, while Lan Ling's hair on the back of his neck stood up, as if a lion had been invaded in its territory.

Fifteen minutes later, the meat pies were ready. Suo Ningbing wrapped them in oil paper and placed them in the saddlebag of the warhorse.

"Suo Lun, you unfilial son, remember to stay out of trouble and listen to your sister, understand?" Suo Hanyi scolded coldly before leaving.

Lan Ling frowned and said, "Of course I will listen to my sister. I don't need you to tell me."

Lan Ling had always been a person with a strong personality. When others were good to him, he would be shy and pure, but when they were bad to him, he would be like a porcupine.

Suo Hanyi thought he was reverting to his old ways and scolded him in a low voice, "A dog can't change its nature."

Then, he left the earl's residence, mounted his horse, and galloped away. Suo Ningbing bowed to his retreating figure.

...

"Little Brother, I'm sorry for your trouble," Suo Ningbing said. "Big Brother is just disappointed with Suo Lun; he has no ill intentions."

Lan Ling said, "It's fine that he treats me badly, but I don't like the way he looks at you."

Suo Ningbing's face turned red. She was not completely unaware of Suo Hanyi's feelings, and he had always been very restrained in his emotions.

"In any case, Big Brother is very loyal to Father and the family. Before you grow up, he is the pillar of our family," Suo Ningbing said. "So, you need to rely on him and handle your relationship with Big Brother well, understand?"

Lan Ling said in a deep voice, "I understand, but no matter who it is, if they have ambitions for you, I won't allow it."

Hearing Lan Ling's innocent yet domineering words, Suo Ningbing's face turned even redder. She didn't know whether to be embarrassed, happy, or worried, especially since Lan Ling was currently playing the role of her younger brother.

Suo Ningbing said softly, "Don't worry, your sister will always be by your side and won't marry again."

"I will marry you openly in the future," Lan Ling almost blurted out but ultimately didn't say it, because he felt he wasn't strong enough to protect his sister.

Suo Ningbing had been married before to a very prominent and transcendent family. However, less than a year after the marriage, they separated, and Suo Ningbing returned to her family, enduring much criticism.

As for the specific reason for the separation, Lan Ling did not know. It was a painful matter for his sister, and he had never asked. He believed that if their feelings were deep enough, his sister would eventually open up to him.

Thinking about what Suo Hanyi said about Suo Lun not being able to graduate smoothly and needing another plan to inherit the title, Lan Ling couldn't help but ask, "What exactly is the other plan that Suo Hanyi mentioned?"

Suo Ningbing said gently, "It's mostly about bribery. Don't worry, Little Brother, just continue your studies as before. Your sister will handle it."

At that moment, Lan Ling wished he could immediately become much stronger, pass the capital's graduation exam smoothly, and inherit the title.

...

The next day, Suo Ningbing went out and brought three thin deeds. These deeds were for an estate, a pawnshop, and a store, with a total value of over ten thousand gold coins.

Ten thousand gold coins might not seem like much, but it was actually an enormous amount of wealth.

In this world, a gold coin is more than an inch and a half in diameter and weighs about eighty grams. One gold coin is roughly equivalent to fifty silver coins or ten thousand copper coins. In Earth's currency, one gold coin is worth about ten to twenty thousand RMB.

Moreover, this was almost the last property of the earl's residence in the capital. However, Suo Ningbing did not hesitate and directly took the three deeds to the Duke of Zhiting's residence for bribery.

The Duke of Zhiting is the youngest brother of the king and is deeply favored by the king. He does not care for power but loves to eat, drink, and enjoy life, with a strong obsession with money and wealth. Therefore, it is very simple to get him to do something for you—just bribe him with enough gold coins.

Moreover, once he receives the money, he will definitely do the job, with a very good reputation.

Originally, Suo Ningbing planned to have Lan Ling delay for a year before taking the capital's academy final exam. However, the situation in Tianshui City was now very dangerous, and it was urgent for Lan Ling to inherit the title and return to Tianshui City. But in everyone's eyes, it was a pipe dream for Lan Ling to pass the capital's graduation exam this year, so Suo Ningbing had to use the last property of the earl's residence to bribe the Duke of Zhiting.

In the magnificent duke's residence, Suo Ningbing quickly met the Duke of Zhiting.

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