Chapter 71

Then, all the students looked at Soren's score in disbelief.

Every year, the Royal City Academy would have exams, and without exception, Soren would always be the last. Even in the simplest foundational theory exam, Soren had never scored above ninety.

Now, he actually scored 172 points, which was incredibly impressive.

Seeing this score, Lan Ling couldn't help but be slightly taken aback. It was about four points higher than his own estimate, so it seemed he had guessed a few questions right.

Next, Lan Ling checked the rankings. A score of 172 might be pretty good, but the ranking wasn't that great.

There were about thirty people ahead of him, placing him at 38th.

However, this was entirely within Lan Ling's expectations. The foundational theory exam was the easiest for other students, but the hardest for him.

"Amazing, Miss will be very happy, and I'm proud of you too." Ye Jingyu came up and whispered in Lan Ling's ear, "Let's go home, rest well, and prepare for tomorrow's second exam."

Lan Ling nodded and turned to leave.

He got into the carriage, left the Royal City Academy, and returned to the Tian Shui Marquis Manor.

However, just as they drove out of the noble students' avenue, a snow-white carriage stopped in front of them.

Lan Ling knew it was Zhi Ning's carriage, and she was also returning home after grading the exams.

Sure enough, a moment later, Zhi Ning emerged, surrounded by people like the moon among stars. Then, a little eunuch knelt on the ground to serve as a footstool, allowing her to step onto the carriage.

From start to finish, Zhi Ning didn't even glance at Lan Ling, even though his score was an unprecedented 172 points.

Zhi Ning didn't really care, though she was slightly surprised when she saw Soren's score.

But after all, the foundational theory exam was the easiest, purely based on rote memorization. If Soren couldn't remember it after a few months, he would truly be a waste.

But without a doubt, Soren's good luck had run out. The next exam on political strategy would definitely expose his true colors.

Zhi Ning knew that Suo Ningbing was a talented woman and had definitely helped Soren guess many questions and write many essays for him to memorize.

However, the next exam's questions would be unprecedentedly difficult, unprecedentedly unexpected, and would shock everyone.

It was absolutely impossible to guess the right questions.

Zhi Ning was almost certain that such difficult questions would doom Soren to a complete failure, making it hard for him to even score 20 or 30 points.

And to obtain the Noble Warrior Medal, one couldn't afford to fail any exam!

"Go," Zhi Ning said coldly.

Four snow-white horses galloped madly toward the Princess Manor. The eunuch beside her followed like a shadow, his feet barely touching the ground.

After returning to the Princess Manor, Zhi Ning got out of the carriage and immediately saw a eunuch with all-white eyebrows standing at the door.

She was slightly taken aback, then showed an unprecedented smile, quickening her steps and saying, "Why didn't you go inside, Lord Li? It's late at night, and you are so old."

Zhi Ning's expression was always cold and distant, giving the impression that she never smiled. But now, she showed an unprecedented smile, seemingly genuine.

This person was Li Chenglian, the heartless eunuch of Prince Zhi Li and the future eunuch leader of the Nulang Kingdom.

The middle-aged eunuch who had been following Zhi Ning approached and respectfully bowed, saying, "Father, your son greets you."

The eunuch who followed Zhi Ning was extremely skilled in martial arts and had never lost a fight in the Royal City. With her by Zhi Ning's side, safety was guaranteed.

But now, seeing the eunuch with all-white eyebrows, he was like a mouse in front of a cat.

"Li Zhu, it's inappropriate to bow like this in front of the master," the senior eunuch Li Chenglian said coldly.

"Appropriate, why not?" Zhi Ning pouted, "You watched us grow up from a young age. If you hadn't protected us during the chaos, my brother and I would have been long dead. If not for the etiquette, I would bow to you every time I see you."

This ruthless woman could actually pout.

Li Chenglian's eyes showed affection, almost unable to resist reaching out to pat her head, something he used to do when she was little.

Eunuchs had no descendants, and Zhi Li and Zhi Ning were raised by him, whom he treated like his own grandchildren.

"How did Soren do?" Li Chenglian asked, his tone indifferent, not adding words like "rich brat" or "waste" before Soren's name.

Zhi Ning replied, "Ranked 38th, surprisingly good. But the foundational theory exam is the easiest."

Li Chenglian nodded and said, "The young master knows about the bet between the princess and Soren, which has caused a stir in the city. He thinks the princess was unwise."

"Yes, Zhi Ning knows she was wrong," Zhi Ning said, lowering her head.

Li Chenglian continued, "This is probably Suo Ningbing's doing, creating public opinion to force the royal family. She is very smart."

Zhi Ning's beautiful eyes flashed with a hint of不服气 (displeasure), as she couldn't stand hearing that others were smart.

Li Chenglian then said, "We need to move earlier in Tian Shui City."

Zhi Ning was taken aback, "Is it necessary? Those high-ranking warrior lords are very greedy."

Li Chenglian replied, "The young master promised that every high-ranking warrior lord who rebels will be ennobled as a baron, and their territories will be hereditary."

Zhi Ning was taken aback, not expecting Zhi Li to agree to such outrageous conditions, but she didn't question it, bowing and saying, "Yes."

A moment later, dozens of black shadows rushed out from the Princess Manor and Prince Zhi Li's residence, heading toward Tian Shui City in the southwest at top speed.

...

After returning to the Tian Shui Marquis Manor, Suo Ningbing greeted Lan Ling immediately. Her beautiful eyes looked at him, though she didn't ask, her watery eyes seemed to speak volumes.

"172 points, ranked 38th," Ye Jingyu said.

Suo Ningbing's eyes lit up, "Little brother, you are amazing."

Ye Jingyu said, "This is just the beginning. The third and fourth exams will be when Soren truly shocks everyone. He will surprise everyone."

Suo Ningbing said, "Gui Qinshe always looked down on Soren, thinking he was useless. Now that Soren is so outstanding, it's time to show her."

Lan Ling changed the subject, "Sister, how many warriors of our Suo family are in the Royal City now?"

Suo Ningbing replied, "About a hundred, all generations of guardians of our Suo family. Half were in the manor, but now that the manor has been given to Duke Zhi Ting, these warriors are all in the Marquis Manor. Is there something you need, little brother?"

Lan Ling said, "Have them prepare. Our time to leave the Royal City is near."

Suo Ningbing was taken aback, then nodded, slightly excited, "Good, I can't wait to return to Tian Shui City."

Lan Ling opened his mouth but didn't say anything.

"Sister has prepared a ginseng soup for you. Drink it and rest well to prepare for tomorrow's exam," Zhi Ning said.

...

The next day, news of the bet between Soren and Zhi Ning had spread throughout the Royal City.

Almost everyone was discussing it, fantasizing about which part of Zhi Ning's body Soren would kiss if he won.

Countless men discussed it enthusiastically, getting so excited that they rushed to the brothels to cool down.

In short, Soren was once again in the spotlight, and this time it was even bigger than the last, which was the Royal City's Nineteen Beauties. This time, almost everyone knew about it.

However, unfortunately, no one in the entire Royal City was optimistic about Soren. The betting at the Silver Casino was still open, with the odds of Soren obtaining the Noble Warrior Medal at 10 to 1, but apart from the initial 10,000 gold coins, no one else bet.

Because no one in the entire Royal City believed Soren could pass the graduation exam, let alone enter the top ten and obtain the Noble Warrior Medal.

Although Soren scored high in the first exam, ranking 38th and breaking his previous last-place record, this was after all a rote memorization test, the easiest subject, right?

Today's second exam on political strategy was held in the evening, in the same large examination hall with the same examiners.

In the evening, Lan Ling once again rode in a carriage to the Royal City Academy, entering the examination hall half an hour before the exam and taking his seat.

The content of the second political strategy exam was simple: one question, one essay.

However, this was the most difficult part. A political strategy essay could thoroughly test a person's breadth of vision, level, and wisdom.

A person's talent could be fully revealed through an essay.

Moreover, the grading of the political strategy exam was done by ten examiners in rotation, to the greatest extent possible, eliminating the unfair influence of individual examiners' biases.

Lan Ling had thought of many political strategy questions and prepared many related essays, especially combining them with classic works from ancient China.

Now, the key was whether he could guess the right question.

Half an hour later, all the candidates were present, and the twenty examiners entered one by one. Princess Zhi Ning and the Great Cultivator of the Divine Dragon Temple still sat in the central position.

Looking at Soren's face, Zhi Ning thought to herself that Soren probably still dreamed of guessing the right question, so the essays prepared by Suo Ningbing could be used.

He was completely dreaming; today's political strategy question was unparalleled in difficulty.

For Soren to score high, the sun would have to rise in the west.

...

"Clang!" The bell rang, signaling the start of the second political strategy exam. The twenty examiners began distributing the test papers.

The test paper was simple, with only one line of the question and two blank sheets of paper.

At the first glance at the question, Lan Ling's heart trembled, and he couldn't believe his eyes, looking again.

At this moment, almost all the noble students were also shocked. There was no doubt that they were also very surprised by the question.

Lan Ling had thought of many political strategy questions, but this one was completely unexpected.

"How many years of national fortune does the Nulang Kingdom have left? In which year will it fall? What will cause its downfall?"

This political strategy question truly shocked everyone, being unprecedentedly difficult and completely unpredictable.

...