Chapter 37

"Princess Zining, Master Suo Ren has arrived." The eunuch walked up to the carriage without touching the ground and whispered.

"Come in." Princess Zining said calmly.

Lan Ling couldn't help but pause for a moment when he heard her voice, for it was truly beautiful—clear, soft, and faintly sensual, not at all like the voice of a woman with a heart as venomous as a snake.

Then, the large, luxurious carriage opened. Lan Ling took a deep breath, pressed his hand to his heart for a while as if to calm his racing heartbeat, and then got into the carriage.

Zining secretly observed this scene and a smug smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

Of course, all of this was an act by Lan Ling. He was performing.

Unlike what he had imagined, the inside of the carriage was not overly opulent but rather elegant and simple.

Princess Zining sat on a soft couch, holding a scroll in her delicate hands.

After entering, Lan Ling neither bowed nor sat down, but stood there straight and cold-faced.

Zining said to the eunuch, "You go out and stay far away. Do not come in without my command."

"But..." The eunuch glanced at Suo Ren (Lan Ling).

Zining said, "This playboy is as weak as a chicken. What do I have to worry about?"

"Yes!" The eunuch floated away, leaving only Zining and Lan Ling in the carriage.

...

"Suo Ren, you called me a slut." Zining asked calmly, "Do you not fear that I will kill you for such insults?"

Lan Ling's face twitched. "You tried to kill me and take my inheritance. Do I not even have the right to curse you? Moreover, you... you deceived my feelings..."

As he said this, Lan Ling's face turned red, and he struggled to suppress his inner agitation.

He was still acting. He had once told Suo Ningbing how to deal with a woman like Zining.

Zining felt even more smug. This man was still so captivated by her. Love had turned to hate, but hate was often a more intense form of love.

"How did you know about the anti-counterfeiting measures of my gold notes?" Zining asked.

"Why should I tell you?" Lan Ling sneered. He was playing the role of a young man hurt by a woman, rebelling with all his might.

Zining did not press further, saying calmly, "You should know that if you reveal this technology, you will gain nothing and will lose your life."

"That's my own business." Lan Ling said, then sneered again, "Don't worry, I'm not that stupid. And I'll tell you, if anything happens to me or my sister, the anti-counterfeiting measures of your gold notes will be made public."

Zining smiled without comment. She had already dispatched people to research a second set of anti-counterfeiting measures. She had the most suspicious mind in the world, and once this technology was known, even if Suo Ren did not reveal it, she would not feel safe using it anymore.

Then, the carriage fell silent again.

Zining said seriously, "Suo Ren, do you want your sister to live?"

"Of course." Lan Ling said.

Zining continued, "Do you want to live yourself?"

"Of course." Lan Ling said.

Zining said, "You should know that neither I nor Prince Zili have any personal grudges against your family. It's just that you blocked Prince Zili's strategic path and the kingdom's expansion. Therefore, your Tianshui City will definitely be lost. No one can help you, not even Duke Ziting, who is just a minor player."

Lan Ling's face twitched.

Zining said, "Originally, you were certain to die. But your sister's talent has won Prince Zili's admiration. Her proposals for developing the navy and the foundation of the Nulang Kingdom's strength were very impressive. Recently, she also saw through the king's reluctance to develop the navy, which stems from his unwillingness to provoke the Yan Empire and to change the current low-profile strategy. Such wisdom has made us look at her with new respect."

"Then what?" Lan Ling asked coldly.

Zining said, "So, your sister can live. You can live too. Our royal family will borrow your Tianshui City for twenty years."

Lan Ling was taken aback. He had no idea about this, but immediately became wary. "What do you mean?"

"Your sister, Suo Ningbing, will become Prince Zili's woman. The son she bears for him will be the future master of Tianshui City." Zining said.

As soon as these words were spoken, Lan Ling's neck hairs stood on end, as if a lion were about to be robbed of its territory and mate.

"As for you, Suo Ren," Zining said, "you can live too, but to ensure this, you cannot have children. Therefore, you will be castrated and will serve as a eunuch by my side. Isn't this what you want?"

Hearing this, Lan Ling's blood rushed to his head, and he wished he could first humiliate and then kill this beautiful but venomous woman.

He lifted his chin arrogantly and looked at Zining. "Woman, you're dreaming. I, Lan Ling, would rather stand and live than kneel and die."

With that, he turned to leave.

"Suo Ren, this is your last chance," Zining said. "Either kneel and surrender completely, or die with nothing."

Lan Ling looked at Zining's beautiful face and said, "Woman, remember this: I will either die gloriously or protect my Tianshui City with honor. I will never live a life of cowardice."

"Will you protect your sister and your Tianshui City with your mouth? With your silver tongue? Ha ha..." Zining giggled, as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world.

Lan Ling stepped forward, grabbed her delicate chin, and bit her luscious red lips hard.

The sensation was incredibly soft and sweet. Immediately, a sweet and salty taste filled Lan Ling's mouth.

Zining was completely stunned when her lips were bitten. Everything happened too quickly and suddenly, and she couldn't react.

It wasn't until she felt a sharp pain in her lips that she fully regained her senses, staring in disbelief at Suo Ren.

He, he actually dared to do this?

"This is my mouth, my silver tongue." Lan Ling said coldly. "Did you taste it?"

"You, you're asking for death!" Zining, filled with rage, struck out with a powerful palm.

Lan Ling's body flew out like a straw. However, Zining's martial arts were not that strong, and he was not seriously injured.

But then, the eunuch instantly grabbed him by the neck and knelt before Zining's carriage. "Princess, the culprit is captured. Dead or alive, please give your command."

Zining wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth with a white handkerchief. Was this... her first kiss?

This scoundrel, he actually bit her without warning.

She was completely terrified, wishing she could tear Suo Ren to pieces.

Meanwhile, Lan Ling, held by the eunuch, continued to smile at her with a carefree, devilish grin.

She couldn't kill him now, not before the final exam, not before he lost his title.

"Suo Ren, remember, you are the one who is asking for death. No one can save you." Zining slammed the carriage door shut. In private, she opened her mouth slightly and took deep breaths.

The eunuch looked at Lan Ling for a while, then threw him to the ground.

Lan Ling got up, wiped the blood from his mouth, and sniffed it.

Biting Zining just now was not part of his plan but an extreme reaction to his inner anger.

However, Zining would not kill him at this moment.

Watching the low-key but luxurious carriage drive away, Lan Ling dusted himself off and entered the Dean's office of the Royal City Academy.

...

This was the first time Lan Ling met Duke Jianyong.

Their relationship was indeed very complicated and messy. Suo Ren had slept with his daughter-in-law, making his son a cuckold. And Dean Jianyong was completely on Prince Zili's side.

Dean Jianyong's hair was already half-white, neatly combed back. He was tall and thin, with a handsome face that gave an air of mystery.

Before Lan Ling could speak, Dean Jianyong said, "Last time, you had Niya come to me to revoke your expulsion. Niya threatened me, saying that if I didn't comply, she would reveal Jian Ning's scandal. So, I went to see Prince Zili and told him about it."

Lan Ling was shocked.

"Prince Zili just chuckled and then told me to revoke your expulsion." Dean Jianyong said.

Lan Ling's eyes narrowed. He had not expected this at all.

Dean Jianyong said, "Whether a king is wise is of utmost importance to the country and its people. Prince Zili is a wise ruler."

Lan Ling nodded. Although he had never met Zili, he could sense that he was not only a formidable figure but also a charismatic leader.

"Prince Zili has no ill will toward the Suo family, but there are things he must do. Can you understand that?" Dean Jianyong said. "For the future of the kingdom, the sacrifice of your Suo family is worth it."

Lan Ling sneered. "Does that mean my Suo family deserves to die? Why doesn't your Jian family make the sacrifice?"

Dean Jianyong said, "My Jian family gave up our territory decades ago."

Lan Ling laughed. "Your Jian family's territory was granted by the royal family, just a few dozen miles. My Suo family's territory has been passed down by our ancestors. We ruled Tianshui City even before the Nulang Kingdom existed. Now, you want me to destroy hundreds of years of heritage?"

Dean Jianyong fell silent. "I am very sympathetic, but I am powerless."

Lan Ling said, "Of course, you are powerless. I am here to ask for leave."

Dean Jianyong said, "You can have leave for as long as you need. But where are you going?"

Lan Ling said, "I am taking leave to practice martial arts. I hope to become a second-level warrior archer and earn the noble warrior medal within two to three months."

Dean Jianyong was taken aback, as if Lan Ling were telling a very cold joke.

Suo Ren couldn't even draw a fifty-pound bow, while a second-level warrior archer needed to draw a two-hundred-fifty-pound bow with an accuracy rate of over eighty percent.

A person with high talent would need at least four to five years to become a second-level warrior archer. Suo Ren, who hadn't even passed the initial three steps, wanted to achieve this in three months. It was a very cold joke indeed.

"Leave is granted, but remember to come back for the final exam. If you don't, it will be considered a forfeiture." Dean Jianyong said.

"Of course, I will definitely come back. Otherwise, hundreds of years of heritage in Tianshui City will be destroyed by me." Lan Ling said.

Dean Jianyong said no more but looked at Suo Ren (Lan Ling) with sympathy.

...

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