The two creditors did not take Lan Ling’s warning seriously at all.
Of course, it was not that they had never seen so much money before.
As one of the largest gold shops in the royal city, they had seen not only thousands of gold coins but tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands.
Because this gold shop had royal family backing. Every year the income from the royal family’s related industries would go into this gold shop. Even part of the kingdom’s taxes each year would enter this gold shop.
Although the shopkeeper was only a manager, he had seen plenty of money.
It was just that, according to the plan, the Suo family could not possibly produce this sum of money. No one in the entire royal city who could produce it would lend it to the Suo family.
Moreover, both the road to Tianshui City and the road to Linhai City were already being watched. The Suo family had not sent anyone to borrow money from Suo Hanyi or Gui Xingfu, and there was no time left anyway.
They had not expected that in just two days Solon had really raised so much money, a full four thousand three hundred gold coins. It was truly unbelievable. (This sum of money was equivalent to about seventy or eighty million RMB. Gold coins in this world were very valuable.)
Suo Ningbing and Ye Jingyu were even more completely stunned.
They knew Lan Ling had gone to the brothels to raise money. Because Solon had a very good reputation in the brothels, they thought Lan Ling was going to ask Solon’s previous lovers for help. But they were not optimistic, because brothel women’s money was all hard-earned. Being able to borrow a thousand gold coins at most would already be amazing.
They had not expected him to actually raise four thousand three hundred gold coins in real life.
The gold shop’s shopkeeper was indeed someone who had seen grand scenes. He quickly calmed down and smiled: “In that case, we are even.”
Lan Ling said: “Have you brought my promissory note and the copies of the mortgage deeds for the properties?”
“They are all here. Please examine them.” The gold shop shopkeeper handed them over and said: “In that case, we will take our leave.”
Looking at the backs of the two men, Lan Ling suddenly said: “If you two have children at home, send them away quickly. If you are too late it will be too late.”
The gold shop boss’s lips trembled. Finally he burst out laughing, then looked at Lan Ling seriously and said: “Little Count, although I hold no title, I manage such a large estate for His Highness. Let me put it this way. Other counts and the like all speak carefully in front of me, as if I were their superior. Is that not ridiculous?”
In his words he completely did not take the future Tianshui Count Solon seriously. After all, he was a close associate of the future king. Although his tone remained polite, the contempt and mockery inside were now completely undisguised.
The thin casino boss’s gaze turned cold and he grinned ferociously: “As for us, we specialise in doing dirty work for important people. There are two Dragon Warriors standing guard outside my door every day. Little Count, feel free to use whatever means you have.”
Lan Ling smiled and said nothing.
Sometimes people were not even as good as animals. A fox borrowing a tiger’s might at least knew it had no ability itself. But after people borrowed a tiger’s might for a long time, they gradually began to think of themselves as real tigers.
The fat and thin creditors turned and left.
At this time Suo Ningbing finally spoke and asked: “Little brother, how… how did you earn this money? In just two days.”
Lan Ling said: “Selling paintings.”
Suo Ningbing said: “What paintings? Worth so much money?”
Lan Ling said: “Paintings I drew myself.”
Suo Ningbing muttered: “This, how is this possible? In painting, your comprehension is quite good, but… but you are only a beginner. It should not reach the level where your paintings can sell for thousands of gold coins.”
Lan Ling smiled apologetically at her and said: “Sorry sister, I was pretending when I learned painting from you before. It was just so I could spend more time with you.”
Then Lan Ling walked into the inner room and took out a painting.
It was a portrait of Suo Ningbing, also a portrait of Lan Kou. She sat by the window, staring blankly at the scenery outside.
He had finished this painting a long time ago and was only bringing it out now.
The moment Suo Ningbing saw this painting she was also completely stunned.
It was… so realistic, as if the person’s shadow had been imprinted onto it. It was exactly the same as the real person.
This was completely a revolution in painting. Such painting was truly unprecedented and would never be repeated.
Suo Ningbing looked at Lan Ling with eyes full of amazement. She had not expected his painting skill to be so superb that it was unmatched in this world.
“Little brother, your talent really makes even sister fall for it. It is truly priceless.” Suo Ningbing muttered.
From this one sentence one could see Suo Ningbing’s innocence and artistic nature.
No matter how good the painting was, it could not earn thousands of gold coins.
…
After Princess Zhi Ning received the report from the gold shop shopkeeper she was instantly astonished.
She immediately sent people to investigate how Solon had raised this money.
In the end she received an answer that was completely unbelievable.
Solon had sold paintings and actually earned more than four thousand gold coins? Of course, in reality it was not selling paintings but packaging and promoting brothel women. The royal city Nineteen Beauties plan had turned into several thousand gold coins.
But the reporting personnel had come and gone in a hurry and could only reach the simple conclusion of selling paintings first.
Zhi Ning was truly completely stunned. Even the painters in the royal palace charged no more than one gold coin per painting. Solon had earned several thousand gold coins just by painting prostitutes. This… how was this possible?
Moreover she had seen Solon’s paintings before, because Solon had made no fewer than ten for her. They were quite good, but that was all.
“Did you see Solon’s painting?” Princess Zhi Ning asked.
“I saw it.” The person said.
“How was it?” Princess Zhi Ning asked.
“Exquisite craftsmanship, divine skill, like a reflection of the soul.” The person said.
“I do not believe it. Even an immortal’s painting is not worth ten gold coins.” Princess Zhi Ning said decisively: “Prepare the carriage. I want to see it myself.”
Half an hour later, Princess Zhi Ning’s carriage appeared outside the Yuhua Pavilion. At first glance she saw the huge Ye Little Cat poster under the brilliant lights.
Instantly she was also completely stunned.
Although the woman in the painting looked extremely vulgar in her eyes, just the painting itself could be called divine skill and a reflection of the soul. It was truly something she had never seen or heard of before. Moreover the black fishnet stockings and the pointed high-heeled shoes on it actually made her own heart stir. She wished she could put them on immediately.
Princess Zhi Ning was also proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, but in terms of painting skill she could not even compare.
This was completely a revolution in painting. She had really not expected that the profligate son Solon actually possessed such talent.
After he returned from the Heavenly Demon Mountain Range she had made two moves against him and had actually lost both times.
That profligate son Solon had actually beaten her twice? How was that possible? Was he not an ignorant and incompetent profligate? Had she misjudged him?
“Have you found out clearly? It was that cheap whore Yi Manman helping Solon, right?” Zhi Ning asked.
“Yes.” The eunuch beside her said.
“Act tomorrow then. Send this whore to the beggars’ den.” Zhi Ning said indifferently: “Remember, do not let her die. Make her pregnant and give birth to a group of beggars’ children.”
“Yes.” The eunuch said.
“And that so-called art committee and the royal city Nineteen Beauties, get rid of all of them.” Zhi Ning said: “That one called Ye Little Cat, send her to Zhi Wei as a gift. I hope this time he can play with her for a while longer and not kill her in less than two days.”
“Yes.” The eunuch said.
…
That night, Lan Ling had just slept for less than an hour when Ye Jingyu woke him up.
When he walked into the living room, there was a eunuch sitting there, and Suo Ningbing was sitting to one side keeping him company.
“Duke Zhi Ting invites you to come over.” Seeing Solon come out, the eunuch withdrew the gaze full of pity that had been on Suo Ningbing.
Duke Zhi Ting was currently the Suo family’s biggest backer. Lan Ling had been waiting for this summons for quite a while.
Inside the magnificent duke’s mansion, Lan Ling saw the obese Duke Zhi Ting who was as round as a ball.
“I heard you earned more than four thousand gold coins by selling paintings?” Duke Zhi Ting asked.
Lan Ling was startled, then nodded and said: “Yes.”
“How did you earn it?” Duke Zhi Ting asked: “The girls in the brothels are not fools. Even if a painting is sold to the sky it would not exceed two gold coins.”
“Your Grace is wise.” Lan Ling said: “In fact, the painting is only a medium. The focus is on the completely new styling and promotion of the brothel women, instantly making them famous and then increasing their value dozens or even hundreds of times.”
Then Lan Ling explained the entire royal city Nineteen Beauties plan in full detail.
After Duke Zhi Ting finished listening he immediately burst into loud laughter: “You really live up to being the ancestor of the pleasure quarters. How about this? Tomorrow you have that Ye Little Cat come to my mansion for a visit. I want to see if she is really that fiery and alluring.”
“Yes, Your Grace.” Lan Ling said.
Duke Zhi Ting said: “Have you dealt with the two creditors who went to your house?”
“They have already been dealt with.” Lan Ling said: “This subordinate is ashamed. I nearly damaged Your Grace’s dignity.”
Then Lan Ling suddenly bowed deeply and said: “There is one matter that I ask Your Grace to agree to without fail.”
Duke Zhi Ting frowned. How could this profligate be so不懂事? The moment he showed him a good face he actively made a request.
Lan Ling said: “This art committee and the upcoming royal city Nineteen Beauties, I ask Your Grace to take more care of them. In the future this art committee will be placed under Your Grace’s account.”
As soon as these words came out Duke Zhi Ting was startled.
He could hear that this so-called art committee and royal city Nineteen Beauties was a small money tree that could bring in large profits for the next few years. Solon was actually transferring it to him just like that?
“Why?” Duke Zhi Ting said: “For the matter of you inheriting the title, your Suo family has already bribed me once. There is no need to bribe me again.”
Lan Ling said: “This time Yi Manman from the Yuhua Pavilion helped me, which indirectly ruined Princess Zhi Ning’s plan. With Princess Zhi Ning’s character she will definitely make a move against Manman. Therefore I ask Duke Zhi Ting to shelter this art committee, and also to shelter Ye Little Cat.”
Duke Zhi Ting’s expression trembled slightly. He stretched out his thick, fleshy hand and patted Lan Ling’s shoulder, saying: “Solon, your reputation is bad, but after seeing you today I find you are not a bad person.”
Then Duke Zhi Ting said: “Go to the Yuhua Pavilion immediately and invite Yi Manman and Ye Little Cat over. Tomorrow I will hold a banquet and ask the two ladies to help support the occasion.”
“Yes.” The eunuch immediately obeyed and set off.
Lan Ling bowed deeply once more and said: “Thank you, Your Grace, for your shelter.”
Duke Zhi Ting sighed: “You little profligate and I, this big profligate, can only do this kind of pitying and cherishing beautiful women things.”
In his words there was actually a sense of desolation.
Then Duke Zhi Ting said: “By the way, do you want me to have someone kill those two creditors of yours to vent your anger?”
Lan Ling shook his head and said: “No need. Tonight I will make their master personally kill the two of them.”
Instantly Duke Zhi Ting was astonished. Make Zhi Ning personally kill these two? How was that possible?