World-Ending Demon Emperor-Chapter 39 - 37 Zhi Ningxue!
39: Chapter 37: Zhi Ningxue!
39 -37: Zhi Ningxue!
“Commandery Princess, Young Master Suo Lun has arrived,” the eunuch treaded lightly to the front of the carriage and whispered.
“Let him in,” Princess Zhining said, her tone casual and serene.
Lanling was slight stunned upon hearing her voice because it was truly pleasant, clear and soft, with a faint touch of sensuality that didn’t at all resemble a woman with a heart of a serpent.
Then, the grand and luxurious carriage door opened, and Lanling took a deep breath, holding his chest for a while as if trying to calm his heartbeat, before stepping into the carriage.
This scene was secretly glimpsed by Princess Zhining, who immediately revealed a smug smile at the corners of her mouth.
Of course, all of this was an act by Lanling; he was putting on a performance.
The carriage interior wasn’t as lavishly ornate as one might imagine, but rather it exuded a sense of elegance and simplicity.
Princess Zhining sat upright on the soft couch, her delicate jade-like hand holding a scroll.
After entering, Lanling neither bowed nor sat down, but stood straight, his face cold.
Princess Zhining said to the eunuch, “You may leave now, go a distance away, and without my order, do not come in.”
“But…” the eunuch glanced at Suo Lun (Lanling).
Princess Zhining replied, “This good-for-nothing weakling is not a threat to me.
What do I have to worry about?”
“Yes!” The eunuch drifted away and the grand carriage was left with only Princess Zhining and Lanling.
…
“Suo Lun, you called me a whore,” Princess Zhining asked indifferently, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you for speaking to me like that?”
Lanling’s face spasmed as he said, “You’re plotting to kill me and take over my legacy.
Am I not even allowed to curse you?
Besides, you… you have also deceived my feelings…”
Speaking to this point, Lanling’s face turned crimson, desperately trying to suppress the excitement in his heart.
He was still putting on an act.
He had once told Suo Ningbing that when dealing with a treacherous woman like Zhining, he knew how to handle her.
Princess Zhining felt even more smug inside, as the man before her was still so captivated by her.
Before, it was love; now, it was hate, which to a large extent, can be an even more intense form of love.
“How did you come to know about the anti-counterfeiting measures of my gold notes?” Princess Zhining inquired.
“Why should I tell you?” Lanling sneered.
He was now playing the role of a youth wounded by a woman, an invariably rebellious one at that.
Princess Zhining didn’t press further, but said indifferently, “You should know that once you make this technology public, you won’t gain anything and you will instead lose your life.”
“That’s for me to worry about,” Lanling replied.
He sneered again, “Rest assured, I’m not that foolish.
Moreover, I tell you, should anything happen to either my sister or me, your gold notes’ anti-counterfeiting measures will be completely exposed.”
Princess Zhining neither confirmed nor denied but simply smiled.
She had already sent people to develop a second set of anti-counterfeiting measures.
She had the most distrustful heart in the world; once this anti-counterfeit technology became known, even if Suo Lun would not disclose it, she no longer felt secure using it.
Then, the carriage fell silent once again.
“Suo Lun, do you want your sister to live?” Princess Zhining asked seriously.
“Of course,” Lanling replied.
Princess Zhining then asked, “And do you want to live?”
“What a question,” Lanling retorted.
Princess Zhining continued, “You should be aware that neither I nor Zhi Li His Highness bear personal grudges against your family.
It was merely that you blocked Crown Prince Zhi Li’s strategic route and the kingdom’s path to expansion.
Therefore, you definitely cannot retain Tianshui City, and no one can help you, not even Duke Zhi Ting, who is nothing more than a jumping clown.”
Lanling’s face twitched again.
“Originally, you were doomed to die,” Princess Zhining said.
“But your sister’s talent has greatly impressed Crown Prince Zhi Li.
Previously, her suggestions for developing naval strategies and the core strengths of Rage Wave Kingdom were quite brilliant.
And lately, she noticed the reason behind the King’s definite disagreement on naval expansion, that he doesn’t want to provoke the Flame Empire, and doesn’t want to change the current policy of keeping a low profile.
Such intelligence has earned our respect.”
“And then?” Lanling said coldly.
“Therefore, your sister can live.
And so can you.
The royal family will ‘lend’ you Tianshui City for twenty years,” Princess Zhining stated.
Lanling was taken aback; this was indeed news to him, but he immediately became wary and asked, “What do you mean?”
“Your sister Suo Ningbing will become Prince Zili’s woman, and the son she bears for Prince Zili will become the future master of Tianshui City,” Princess Zhining explained.
Upon hearing this, the hairs on Lanling’s neck bristled as if he were a lion about to have his territory and lioness taken away.
“As for you, Suo Lun,” Princess Zhining said, “you too can live.
However, to ensure safety, you cannot father any children, so you must be castrated.
Just as well, you can come and be a eunuch by my side.
Isn’t that in line with your intentions?”
At that moment, the blood in Lanling’s body rushed to his head, and he longed to ravish and then slay the breathtakingly beautiful but venomous woman before him.
Immediately, he arrogantly lifted his chin, looking at Princess Zhining and declared, “Woman, you’re dreaming.
I, Suo Lun, would rather die standing than live on my knees.”
After speaking, he turned to leave.
“Suo Lun, this is the last chance for you and your sister,” Princess Zhining said.
“Either surrender completely or die with nothing.”
Lanling gazed at Princess Zhining’s stunning face and said word by word, “Woman, remember this, I would rather die spectacularly or preserve my Tianshui City with dignity, than live a life of submission.”
“How will you protect your sister and Tianshui City, with your mouth?
With your clever words?
Ha ha…” Princess Zhining laughed rarely, as if she heard a ridiculously funny joke.
Lanling stepped forward in an instant, grasped her delicate chin, bared his teeth and bit down fiercely on Princess Zhining’s luscious red lips.
Suddenly, a mix of sweet and salty taste flooded into Lanling’s mouth.
When Zhi Ning’s lips were bitten by Lanling, she was instantly completely shocked.
Everything happened too fast, too suddenly, and she couldn’t react at all.
It wasn’t until her lips felt a stabbing pain that she fully came to her senses, staring in disbelief at the Suo Lun in front of her.
He, he actually dared to do this?
“This is my mouth, my clever tongue,” Lanling said coldly.
“Did you taste it?”
“You, you’re courting death!” Overwhelmed with shock and anger, Zhi Ning struck out with a fierce palm.
Immediately, Lanling’s body flew out like a piece of straw.
However, Princess Zhining’s martial arts were not so strong, and he wasn’t seriously injured.
But then, that eunuch instantly grabbed his neck and knelt swiftly in front of Zhi Ning’s carriage, saying, “Commandery Princess, the villain has been captured.
Whether he lives or dies, please instruct us.”
Zhi Ning wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth with her white handkerchief.
Was…
was this considered her first kiss?
This scoundrel, he actually bit her without warning.
At this moment, her heart was utterly racing with fear, and she truly wished she could tear Suo Lun into a thousand pieces.
Meanwhile, Lanling, who was held captive by the eunuch, continued to show an unconcerned and wicked smile towards her.
She couldn’t kill him now, not before the graduation examination, not until he lost his title.
“Remember, Suo Lun, you brought this on yourself, and no one will be able to protect you,” Zhi Ning slammed the carriage door shut.
When no one was looking, she slightly opened her small mouth, breathing heavily.
The eunuch looked at Lanling for a while before throwing him on the ground.
Lanling got up from the ground, wiped the blood from his lips, and sniffed it below his nose.
Just now, biting Zhi Ning wasn’t part of his plan, but an extreme reaction to the intense anger he felt inside.
But, in the end, Zhi Ning wouldn’t kill him at this moment.
Watching that modest yet luxurious carriage depart, Lanling dusted off his clothes and entered the office of the principal of the Royal City Academy.
…
This was the first time Lanling met Marquis Jian Yong.
Indeed, their relationship was really very complicated and messy.
Suo Lun had an affair with his son’s wife, effectively cuckolding his own son.
And Principal Jian Yong was completely on Prince Zili’s side.
Principal Jian Yong’s hair was already half white, neatly combed back.
He was very tall and thin, and his elegant face gave off the impression of being unfathomable.
Before Lanling could speak, Principal Jian Yong said, “Last time, you had Niya come to ask me to rescind your expulsion.
Niya threatened me, saying if I didn’t comply, she would expose Jian Ning’s scandal.
So, I went to plead with Prince Zili and told him about it.”
Lanling was startled by these words.
“Prince Zili just chuckled and then told me to revoke your expulsion,” said Principal Jian Yong.
Lanling narrowed his eyes, as he had truly not expected this at all.
“Whether a king is wise is extremely important for the entire nation and its subjects, and Prince Zili is a wise monarch,” continued Principal Jian Yong.
Lanling nodded.
Although he had never met Zili, he could feel that he was not only a formidable figure but also a charismatic sovereign.
“Prince Zili holds no malice toward the Suo Family, but there are some things he must do.
Do you understand?” Principal Jian Yong said.
“For the future of the kingdom, the sacrifice of your Suo Family is worthwhile.”
Lanling instantly sneered, “Are you saying my Suo Family should die?
Why doesn’t your Jian Family sacrifice instead?”
“My Jian Family gave up its territory decades ago,” replied Principal Jian Yong.
Lanling laughed, “Your Jian Family’s territory was nothing but a small grant from the royal court, just a few dozen miles.
My Suo Family’s lands have been passed down from our ancestors, ruling Tianshui City even before the Rage Wave Kingdom existed.
Now, am I to let centuries of foundation be destroyed in my hands?”
Principal Jian Yong fell silent for a moment and then said, “I truly sympathize with you, but there is nothing I can do.”
“Of course, you can do nothing, but I have only come to request leave,” said Lanling.
“Granted, you may take as long a leave as you wish.
But, where do you plan to go?” asked Jian Yong.
“I’m taking leave to train.
I hope to become a second-level samurai archer within two to three months and earn a noble samurai medal,” Lanling said.
Jian Yong was taken aback as if Lanling had told a very cold joke.
Suo Lun couldn’t even draw a fifty-pound bow, but a second-level samurai archer needed to pull a two hundred fifty-pound bow and achieve 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 samurai archer starting from scratch.
And Suo Lun, who had not even passed the three steps of enlightenment, aspired to reach that level in just three months—indeed, a very cold joke.
“Leave granted, but remember to attend the graduation examination.
If you don’t make it, you will be deemed to have given up,” said Principal Jian Yong.
“Of course, I will be there.
Otherwise, the centuries-old foundation of Tian Shui City will be ruined by my own hands,” said Lanling.
Principal Jian Yong didn’t speak further but looked at Lanling (Suo Lun) with a sympathetic gaze.
…
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