Lan Ling’s purpose in coming here was to seek help from Mentor Niya, hoping she could persuade the academy to revoke his expulsion.
“The royal family wants to annex my Suo Clan’s Tianshui City territory, so they are trying to prevent me from inheriting the title. My sister went to bribe Duke Zhi Ting. Some people were worried that Duke Zhi Ting might actually help me successfully inherit the title, so they had Vice Dean Rogge expel me,” Lan Ling explained.
Niya asked, “Who are these ‘some people’ you speak of?”
“Princess Zhi Ning,” Lan Ling replied.
Niya said with a trace of jealousy, “Is she not your dream lover? You would even give up your life for her.”
Lan Ling gave a bitter smile but offered no explanation. Yet Niya, instead, gently stroked his cheek in comfort and said softly, “You do not need to say it. I already know. You did it for your family.”
How rich the imagination of an artistic, sentimental woman can be. No matter the situation, she automatically fills in a complete romantic justification for her beloved.
“Rest assured, you will not be expelled. I will make Dean Jian Yong retract his decision,” Niya said.
Lan Ling’s heart leaped with joy. He asked, “Would doing that harm you in any way?”
Niya gave a desolate smile. “No, and besides, how could they possibly harm me any further?”
A question rose in Lan Ling’s mind, but he felt too embarrassed to voice it.
Niya immediately noticed his hesitation and asked, “What do you want to ask?”
Lan Ling said, “Two years ago, I was still very frivolous. You are so outstanding, so full of depth and substance. Why did you choose me? Moreover, even if you felt no affection for your husband, even if he restrained your nature, you have very high moral standards. You would not take revenge by cheating.”
At once, tears slid down Niya’s cheeks. She leaned in and gently kissed Lan Ling’s lips, whispering softly, “Little boy, you really have grown up. You truly understand me now.”
Then she nestled lightly into Lan Ling’s embrace and continued, “When I married Jian Ning, everyone envied us. They thought we were a match made in heaven. But as you know, he had only just escaped from a rigid, stifling family, only to enter another that was even colder and more rigid. Of course, that in itself is nothing. A woman’s unhappiness is not justification for infidelity. The reason I cheated was… because my husband actively wanted to wear a green hat, so I granted his wish.”
Lan Ling was stunned, completely unable to believe it. A young outstanding figure like Jian Ning had actually wanted to wear a green hat? How could that be possible?
“Unbelievable, is it not? In the eyes of the world, he is so upright, so dazzling,” Niya said with a cold laugh. “You may know that Prince Zhi Li has a fondness for beauties, especially other men’s wives. My husband, in order to advance his position, wanted to offer me to Prince Zhi Li for a single night of pleasure.”
This… this was far too shocking.
Of course, Prince Zhi Li’s preferences were not the shocking part. For a member of the royal family, the future crown prince to have such a taste was quite normal.
But Jian Ning himself was simply too shameless, too abnormal. He was an idol of the younger generation. Moreover, he was the heir to a marquisate, and his father was the dean of the Royal City Academy. Was there really such a desperate need to rush? Niya was, after all, his wife. Once a man wears a green hat, he can never hold his head high again. No matter how high his status, what use would it be?
Niya said, “I immediately lost my temper. If he wanted a green hat, I could give him one, but I would choose my own partner for the affair.”
Lan Ling asked, “And then?”
Niya replied, “And then he became the Ten Thousand Riders Commander of the royal family’s Third Dragon Cavalry Legion.”
“Ah…” Lan Ling said, “But you did not actually go to accompany Prince Zhi Li.”
“Indeed,” Niya said. “Although Prince Zhi Li did not obtain me, because Jian Ning showed such filial devotion, Prince Zhi Li still granted him the position.”
This Prince Zhi Li is truly dangerous.
Niya continued, “Prince Zhi Li is a very capable and remarkable man. He possesses the cunning and scheming mind of King Zhi Bian, yet he is even more domineering and unrestrained. He has set his sights on your Tianshui City. You must be extremely cautious.”
Lan Ling frowned and nodded.
“Stay with me a little longer. Then we will part and return to the royal city. I will go find Teacher Jian Yong, and you will go home,” Niya said gently.
After that, she simply held Lan Ling lightly, and the two remained quietly in each other’s embrace.
Just before they parted, Niya asked, “Two years ago, when I taught you to play the zither, your performance was terrible. Why are you so good at it now?”
Lan Ling replied, “Female teachers prefer naughty students. If I did not perform poorly, how could I have stayed by your side all this time?”
…
Half an hour later, Niya left the Benevolent Relief Society first. The last words she spoke before leaving made Lan Ling’s heart pound with shock.
“Once you have taken back everything that belongs to you, once you can truly control your own destiny, I will confront Jian Ning, demand a divorce, and return to your side,” Niya declared with resolute determination.
After saying this, she mounted her fine horse and galloped straight towards the royal city.
Lan Ling took over from her and continued teaching the children. Half a day later, he and Ye Jingyu also set off back to the royal city.
On the journey, Ye Jingyu kept staring at Lan Ling with a strange look in her eyes. Being watched so intently made Lan Ling feel extremely uncomfortable, unsure where to put his hands.
Ye Jingyu’s feelings were truly complicated. The current Lan Ling was utterly innocent and inexperienced. As long as she stared at him for more than two seconds, he would become flustered, his face flushing red. Yet when her back was turned, he could not resist sneaking glances at her backside.
In short, the present Lan Ling was completely a shy, curious, tender youth full of innocent fascination with a woman’s body.
However, when he had interacted with Niya earlier, he had been incomparably seasoned. His understanding of women, his choice of words, his expressions and demeanour — all belonged to a veteran of romance, even more skilled at seducing women than Suo Lun himself.
Last night, he had spent the entire time imitating Suo Lun. Yet today, he had performed in an entirely different manner, far more mature and experienced than Suo Lun.
“Jingyu Jie, please do not look at me like that,” Lan Ling said, somewhat annoyed.
Ye Jingyu replied, “I never would have guessed. Your techniques with women are even more masterful than Suo Lun’s. So why do you usually act so innocent? Are you trying to attract young ladies?”
Lan Ling frowned and said, “The me you usually see is the real me. I understand women, and I know what to do, but that does not mean I want to do it. I can act, but that does not mean I enjoy acting.”
Having grown up in constant close company with his sister, Lan Ling naturally understood women. Having endured disdain and cold treatment since childhood, he naturally understood human relationships and worldly affairs. He studied screenwriting and watched countless films, so of course he could act.
It was just that, unless absolutely necessary, he did not want to act.
“Oh? Getting upset now? Quite a temper,” Ye Jingyu teased.
Lan Ling simply ignored her, lay back inside the carriage, and stared blankly at the roof.
“This woman is more than ten years older than you, and it seems she is already determined to cling to you. I can tell that once a woman like her falls in love, her passion burns fiercely. What do you plan to do?” Ye Jingyu asked.
Lan Ling frowned slightly, closed his eyes, and pretended not to hear.
…
Three days later, Lan Ling returned to the Earl’s residence in the royal city.
The moment he stepped through the door, his sister Suo Ningbing came forward to meet him and said, “Little brother, Dean Jian Yong has intervened and withdrawn the decision to expel you. You actually managed to do it. Elder sister truly cannot believe it.”
Suo Ningbing really had not expected that Lan Ling would succeed in getting Jian Yong to reverse the expulsion.
Lan Ling was equally astonished. Niya had acted with astonishing speed. For the sake of her son’s future and to prevent the family scandal from leaking out, Jian Yong had no choice but to grit his teeth and agree to Niya’s request, even if it pained him.
In this first round, Lan Ling had won against Princess Zhi Ning.
Suo Ningbing’s peerlessly beautiful face was filled with joy, though it also carried traces of exhaustion. Clearly, she had barely slept these past few days. The sister back on Earth, Lan Kou, had been the same — whenever something worried her, she simply could not sleep at all.
“Why have you not been sleeping properly?” Lan Ling asked, his heart aching.
Suo Ningbing replied, “I just could not help worrying. Look at you, you have become so thin.”
From behind, Ye Jingyu could not stand it any longer. She rubbed her arms, covered in goosebumps.
“Miss, you would never guess. The innocent boy standing before you is actually a master of romance,” Ye Jingyu said with a laugh.
Suo Ningbing’s expression shifted slightly. She smiled gently and said, “Is that so?”
Her smile was just a little forced.
“Enough, Jingyu, stop talking,” Lan Ling said.
Seeing his flustered and exasperated look, Suo Ningbing smiled fondly and said, “The Royal City Academy has sent a notice. You are no longer allowed to skip classes. You must return to the academy and resume lessons in the shortest time possible.”
When Lan Ling thought of how hated Suo Lun had been at the Royal City Academy, his head began to ache.
Suo Lun had not merely been unpopular at the Royal City Academy — he had been a public enemy, reviled by all. The male students were both jealous and contemptuous of him, while the female students hated and resented him. Although with Lan Ling’s abilities he would not be bullied, the feeling of being completely isolated was still unpleasant.
“Very well. I will go to the academy tomorrow,” Lan Ling said. “I am going to rest and sleep now.”
Lan Ling had not had a proper sleep for several days and nights. He had originally planned to sleep for an entire day and night.
“Enough resting. There is still half a day left. Time to practise martial arts — the third step of your initiation,” Ye Jingyu announced at noon, abruptly waking him. She marched over and yanked the blanket off him in one swift motion.
In that instant, Ye Jingyu witnessed an extremely awkward scene.