When Suo Lun arrived he really had not expected that Zhili would actually betroth Zhining to him.
Moreover from the first moment he saw Zhili Suo Lun knew that he meant what he said. Even if not viewed from the position of an enemy Zhili was without doubt a lord full of charisma and a future king of great talent and bold vision.
As long as he nodded the enormous pressure on his shoulders would vanish in an instant and he would become a member of the imperial family.
The future kings brother in law and the future prime minister sounded like it held infinite appeal.
As for Zhining Suo Lun was certain that once Zhili decided it she would definitely not object no matter how much she hated him.
Because Zhining would give anything for her brothers throne.
Zhili said of course as a veteran in the field of romance you should easily see Zhinings complicated feelings towards you. That extreme hatred and the faint stirrings in her heart.
Suo Lun remained silent all the while.
Zhili did not urge him further and simply lowered his head to drink and eat.
Why are you willing to do this? Suo Lun asked.
Zhili said I thirst for talent. I need Tianshui City and I need you even more.
Suo Lun frowned picked up the wine pot poured himself a full cup drained it in one gulp and was about to speak.
Zhili said before you speak please listen to one thing from me.
Please speak. Suo Lun said.
Zhili said you should know that once you refuse me you will become my enemy. Once you become my enemy I will destroy him both spiritually and physically.
Suo Lun nodded.
Zhili added you should also know that even if you successfully inherit the position of City Lord of Tianshui you will not obtain Tianshui City. No matter from which angle you look at it you will not get Tianshui City.
Suo Lun nodded and said I know. The only way to obtain Tianshui City is to seize it with my own hands rather than have it handed over.
The way you put it makes me desire you even more. Zhili frowned with a trace of sadness and said you should know that I really do not want to kill you and I really do not want you to become my enemy. I truly need someone like you who has strategic vision and a resolute heart.
Suo Lun drank another full cup of wine and borrowing the courage from the alcohol said Your Highness Zhili Tianshui City is the foundation that the Suo clan has built over several hundred years. It cannot be lost in my hands. So I am sorry!
Zhili closed his eyes in pain then exhaled two heavy breaths from his chest.
Haha… then he let out a bright laugh and said since that is the case today we will only talk of romance only drink and eat meat and only play with women. Once we walk out of this door we will continue as enemies.
Then after draining a cup of wine he suddenly tore open Wu Xiuxius top and bit down on her delicate breast. It seemed as if he wanted to vent his feelings and bite hard but in the end he cherished her beauty and did not bite down.
As for Suo Lun he raised his wine cup in a distant toast to him and drained it in one gulp.
…
Suo Hanyi of Tianshui Main City had become the true saviour and the war god in the hearts of many soldiers.
One against three in numbers he had repelled several waves of enemy attacks and that was not all. In the end he had led four thousand elite troops and utterly defeated more than twenty thousand enemy soldiers.
In this great battle many people had thought it would take ten or fifteen days but it was won in a single day.
Everyone who looked at Suo Hanyi did so with fervent admiration. Whether the civilians of Tianshui City or the soldiers of the army all regarded him as the supreme leader and supreme lord.
Suddenly a thought surged in Suo Hanyis mind. Why could he not be the master of Tianshui City?
He was so powerful. In his twenties he had already become a Dragon Warrior which made him one of the few top experts in the entire Furious Wave Kingdom. His military talent was also outstanding. He had achieved a great victory with four thousand against twenty thousand.
He was so exceptional so why could he not become the master of Tianshui City? Yet that waste Suo Lun who was useless and only knew how to ruin the family and squander wealth why could he become City Lord of Tianshui?
Was it just because of his good birth? Just because he was the adopted fathers real son?
If he became the head of the Suo clan and the City Lord of Tianshui would that not make Tianshui City even stronger? Moreover those high level warrior lords would no longer dare to rebel.
At this moment he was lying on the bed lost in reverie while his wife Yang Hongyi sat in front of the mirror taking down her hair bun.
Sigh I wonder how Suo Lun and Ningbing are doing. Did the exam go smoothly? Yang Hongyi said Big brother now that the rebels have been repelled by us we should quickly send people to bring Suo Lun and Ningbing back. Tianshui City cannot remain without a master for so long.
Suo Hanyis temple suddenly throbbed violently and he burst out in rage you lot only know how to side with that spendthrift. What virtue or ability does he have to just take Tianshui City and become its master directly?
As soon as these words were spoken Yang Hongyi turned around and stared at her husband Suo Hanyi in complete disbelief as if she no longer recognised him.
Tianshui City originally belonged to Suo Lun. Was there any question about that?
Suo Hanyi hurriedly explained I mean Tianshui City was defended with the blood of countless brothers. It cannot be ruined by that spendthrift Suo Lun.
Yang Hongyi did not speak in a low voice Big brother do not forget that it was our adopted father who raised us. The Suo clan has shown us kindness as high as the heavens and as deep as the earth.
Suo Hanyis facial muscles twitched and he said nothing more.
At this moment more than a hundred miles away in the camp of the high level warrior lord rebels a graceful woman completely shrouded in a black cloak entered the rebel camp under the protection of dozens of experts.
…
When Suo Lun left Zhilis Junior Sovereign Mansion he was already half drunk and was helped onto the carriage by Ye Jingyu.
After returning home he saw Suo Ningbing still sitting under the candlelight waiting for him. Her peerless face carried a smile as if filled with longing.
Why are you not sleeping? Suo Lun asked softly.
Why have you been drinking again? Suo Ningbing scolded I will go and boil a bowl of sobering soup.
There is no need. I am not drunk. Suo Lun said what were you thinking about just now that made you so happy?
Suo Ningbing said once you inherit the position of City Lord of Tianshui we can return to Tianshui City. That is our real home. Just thinking about it makes me unable to contain my joy. Although we have lived in the royal city for seven years I still cannot get used to it here.
Then Suo Ningbing added we have just received news from Tianshui City. Nineteen high level warrior lords rebelled and thirty thousand rebel troops besieged Tianshui City. In the end big brother defeated them in a single day. Now the crisis of the siege on Tianshui City has been lifted and you are about to inherit the position of City Lord of Tianshui smoothly. The three of us siblings have finally not let down our fathers expectations and have not lost the Suo clans century old foundation.
Suo Lun could not help but be startled. Thirty thousand rebel troops against ten thousand and Suo Hanyi had actually defeated the rebels in one day and lifted the siege.
His adopted brother was truly extraordinarily strong in military matters.
After a slight hesitation Suo Lun said sister I do not want to pour cold water on you but Suo Hanyi may not welcome us back right now.
You are talking nonsense again. Suo Ningbing said although big brother has not been kind to you he has protected our family wholeheartedly. Let me tell you once we reach Tianshui City even if you are the city lord you must still respect big brother and treat him like a real elder brother otherwise…
Otherwise what? Suo Lun teased.
Otherwise I will be unhappy and I will pinch your ear. Suo Ningbing extended her jade hand and gently tugged Suo Luns ear.
Borrowing the courage from the wine Suo Lun grabbed her little hand and was about to pull her into his arms.
Suo Ningbing was startled and quickly jumped away. She glared at him and said you are getting bolder and bolder. If anyone saw that I would not be able to live anymore.
Then she gave him another glare and said you look honest but you are actually very bad. Alright go to sleep early. Tomorrow you still have to enter the palace to meet the king.
…
The next day at noon Suo Lun changed into a brand new brocade robe and together with the other eight students from the Royal City Academy entered the royal palace to meet the king and receive the noble warrior medal conferred by the king.
That is right eight. The mysterious dukes daughter Tu Lingduo was still nowhere to be seen.
Suo Lun was astonished. She did not even attend when the king was conferring the medals. That was too unique.
As if sensing everyones puzzlement Zhimin said Miss Tu Ling is on a secret mission so her noble warrior medal has already been conferred in advance.
So that was the case. Tu Lingduo had quite the background.
As the campus belle of this years Royal City Academy Suo Lun had not yet met her.
Of course he had not met the previous campus belle Gui Qinshao either even though she was now considered his fiancée.
Moreover if nothing unexpected happened the two of them would marry within a few months whether Suo Lun was willing or not.
Suo Lun had even sensed inwardly that going to the coastal city to marry Gui Qinshao would happen earlier than he had imagined.
Under the guidance of the eunuch Suo Lun entered the royal palace of the Furious Wave Kingdom.
This royal palace was larger than the Forbidden City on Earth but not as ornate. The palaces here were solemn and dignified yet not magnificent.
The entire architectural colour scheme was dominated by grey and dark tones giving an aura of austerity and menace. This also revealed the aggressive nature of the Furious Wave Kingdom.
Although the area was large the number of palace buildings was not many and each palace was very grand. Between the palaces there were mostly spacious squares.
Tall dragon pillars were everywhere. Each dragon pillar exceeded the height of the palaces which represented that the dragon held the supreme and indisputable status of a divine spirit in this world.
The eunuch led Suo Lun and the other nine people to a palace and said wait here.
Then Suo Lun and the other nine lowered their heads and waited in solemn silence without making a sound.
To the others receiving the noble warrior medal was merely an honour.
But to Suo Lun not only was the medal to be conferred but also the title of nobility and the position of City Lord of Tianshui.
For this position he had staked his life and had even engaged in a life and death struggle with Zhining. He had nearly gone blind and had nearly lost his life.
So at this final step Suo Lun still felt somewhat nervous.
“His Majesty has arrived!” a eunuch shouted loudly.
Then a figure walked in from outside. He was the ruler of the Furious Wave Kingdom one of the five overlords of the world King Zhilian.
Instantly the atmosphere inside the palace became heavy and oppressive.