Once again they arrived in front of the familiar carriage. However this time Zhi Ning did not let Lanling get into the carriage. Having learned from previous experience she was truly afraid that Lanling would not play by the rules. He might bite her once more or even do something even more excessive.
I have read your policy essay. It was very well written. Were you pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger before? Zhi Ning asked.
Lanling shook his head and said, No. It is just that after going to the Heavenly Demon Mountain Range my heart received a baptism. My realm has improved and I have gained new insights.
Oh? What insights? Zhi Ning asked.
Does the princess really want to hear them? Lanling said.
What is there that I dare not listen to? Zhi Ning said.
For example, Zhi Ning is a cheap woman. Lanling repeated the words he had said in front of Yi Manman once again.
As soon as these words came out the first to change colour was the eunuch Li Zhu. His palm trembled slightly and he almost could not resist striking Lanling dead on the spot.
As for Zhi Ning her incomparably beautiful face instantly flushed red. From childhood to adulthood no one had ever cursed her like this. She breathed heavily with her chest rising and falling dramatically which made the curves of her peaks even more prominent.
Suolun, are you really not afraid that I will kill you? Zhi Ning said viciously word by word. Her tone was truly filled with killing intent.
Lanling said, It was you who insisted on listening. I can only speak the truth.
Zhi Ning closed her eyes wanting to calm her heart. She had come to see Suolun this time for serious business carrying Zhi Li’s mission. She could not get angry over such a trivial matter even though she found that in front of Suolun her self restraint had become completely useless.
His Highness Zhi Li greatly admires this policy essay of yours. Zhi Ning said, He believes you are a person with great wisdom.
So? Lanling said.
Therefore he hopes that you can give up the Tianshui City territory and join his camp. Zhi Ning said, With your talent you can at least enter the cabinet. You might even become his future prime minister.
Lanling was genuinely surprised by these words.
He truly had not expected that after originally wanting to kill him Zhi Li would instead try to recruit him after reading one policy essay.
Zhi Ning continued, You see very far ahead. In the future once the civilian elites rise completely they will become difficult to control. You would represent the noble class to balance them. I believe you can also see the weight of this. At that time you will become the representative of the entire noble class. Your stage will be the whole Nu Lang Kingdom not merely the tiny Tianshui City.
Zhi Ning stared at Lanling and said slowly, I believe with your wisdom you can understand the relationship between giving up and gaining. Only by giving up can one obtain.
Lanling remained silent.
Zhi Ning continued, Moreover you also know that Tianshui City involves His Highness Zhi Li’s grand strategy so you definitely cannot keep it. A smart person would never try to stop a chariot with a mantis arm. And once you lose your title and territory in order to completely prevent the Suo clan from rising again you will undoubtedly die. The difference in power between you and us is far too great.
Lanling still did not respond.
Zhi Ning said, In that case the choice becomes very simple. Will you choose to live and join His Highness Zhi Li’s camp to reach the peak of officialdom in the future? Or will you perish together with your Tianshui City territory? You must give an answer.
Lanling looked at Zhi Nings incomparably beautiful face and said, Princess then let me ask you to make a choice as well.
Speak? Zhi Nings eyebrows twitched slightly. She sensed that Suolun was going to humiliate her with words again.
Lanling asked, For example if my martial arts are very strong while you are powerless. One day you fall into my hands and I want to rape you. Would you choose to die to preserve your chastity or would you choose to endure the humiliation after being raped and become my woman?
For a long while there was no sound inside the carriage.
Immediately after Zhi Ning rushed out of the carriage in a fury. Her jade hand swung directly towards Lanlings face.
She really could not hold back. She knew this was very undignified but she truly could not endure it any longer.
Lanling instinctively wanted to catch her hand but he suddenly found his whole body unable to move. Then he felt someone behind him. The fingers of that damned eunuch Li Zhu pressed directly on his neck making his entire body feel as if it had been locked.
Slap… Zhi Ning slapped Lanling across the face.
Then she got back into the carriage and said coldly, Go!
Suolun in the third examination do not even dream of getting a high score. Zhi Ning said coldly, We will suppress you openly and fairly.
Lanling said, Are you not afraid of damaging the face of the Shenlong Holy Temple monks at all?
Zhi Ning said, The monks of the Shenlong Holy Temple are also human. Would they fall out with the royal family for the sake of a mere minor noble like you? Unless you create a peak piece that has not been seen in a hundred years and completely conquer their souls making them worship you. Do you think that is possible?
Correct this was almost impossible.
One must know that the great monk from the Shenlong Holy Temple art hall who had come this time stood at the pinnacle of the worlds art circle. He was completely like a deity. They had already become so arrogant that they were no longer like humans. In the past hundred years or more there had been no piece capable of conquering their souls.
Zhi Ning said word by word in the end, Therefore they will definitely sit by and watch indifferently as we suppress you. You must be very much looking forward to your score in the third examination. Let me tell you in advance it will not exceed thirty points.
Then in a fit of rage she left directly.
Lanling who remained in place touched his slapped cheek. His handsome face trembled slightly.
…
Before the third examination Zhi Ning on behalf of the royal family convened a meeting with all the examiners of Wangcheng Academy.
I will make one thing clear. Everyone must obey His Majesty the Kings will. Everything must make way for the kingdoms future strategy. Zhi Ning said, The kingdoms strategy of expanding southward absolutely cannot be affected in any way. Do you all understand?
Although Zhi Ning did not mention Suolun by name everyone understood. Zhi Ning was representing the royal family in wanting to thoroughly suppress Suolun.
In the first examination Suolun had obtained a high score and Zhi Ning had not cared.
But in the second examination Suolun had once again obtained a high score. His policy essay had even alarmed the entire cabinet and royal family. Zhi Ning absolutely could not remain indifferent any longer.
Because everyone knew about her bet with Suolun. If Suolun really entered the top ten and obtained the noble warrior medal then her being kissed by a snake would not matter much at most she would become a laughing stock. The silver casino having to pay out one hundred thousand gold coins would at most lead to bankruptcy causing financial damage to Zhi Ning and Zhi Li.
But the bet also included another condition. Once Suolun obtained the noble warrior medal he would be allowed to inherit the title and the position of lord of Tianshui City.
Moreover this bet was already known throughout the entire royal city and was the focus of public attention. If Suolun really entered the top ten and obtained the noble warrior medal the royal family would not dare to defy public opinion and prevent him from inheriting the title and position of lord of Tianshui City. If they did so the royal familys reputation in the hearts of the people would plummet.
Neither Zhi Ning nor Zhi Li could afford such a price.
Therefore she directly tore off all pretence and began to thoroughly suppress Suolun during the examinations. Although this would cause huge damage to her reputation at this point she could no longer care about such things.
The dozen or so examiners present were all art subject examiners from Wangcheng Academy including famous artists from the entire royal city.
I disagree. Mentor Niya suddenly stood up and said, Art is fair. It is just. It cannot be defiled.
Correct Mentor Niya was also one of the art subject examiners. Although she had not met Suolun she had been paying close attention to his results. She felt genuine pride and joy regarding Suoluns results in the first two subjects.
As for Suoluns third subject examination she was filled with anticipation inside. Because everyone in Wangcheng Academy knew that Suolun had chosen music only to pursue beautiful female mentors. In reality he was skilled in painting and his music level was a complete mess.
Only Mentor Niya knew how astonishing Suoluns talent in music was. She was extremely eager to see the scene of Suolun completely shocking everyone in the third examination.
However she had not expected that Zhi Ning would decide Suoluns fate even before the examination began.
Without doubt once these people had decided even if Suolun played heavenly music he would still be given the lowest score. Because such scoring was completely subjective.
Zhi Ning seemed to have anticipated this scene and the corners of her mouth curled into a faint smile.
But at this moment Mentor Niya suddenly felt a flash of golden light before her eyes. Then her head became dizzy and she slumped sideways into her chair.
Mentor Niya is feeling unwell and cannot continue with the following work. She should go back and rest first. Zhi Ning said.
Then two female warriors stepped forward took Mentor Niyas arms and directly led her out.
Despicable, shameless, filthy… Mentor Niya cried out in grief and indignation, Gentlemen and ladies please face your conscience. Face your conscience!
Zhi Ning said, Since Mentor Niya is absent let the royal familys music official take over the examiners duties. Is there any problem?
Everyone quickly shook their heads. Then a man with snow white skin who was almost more beautiful than a woman walked in and bowed respectfully to Zhi Ning.
This person was the royal familys music official the famous beautiful man Long Yang.
Zhi Ning continued, I believe that music comes from the heart. If a persons moral character is poor then his artistic sentiment must also be lowly and unbearable. A student who seduces married women and commits adultery with his own mentor I believe his character is already shockingly vile. For such a person of notorious reputation what score do you all think he should receive?
Zero points. Long Yang said, Art is first and foremost the sublimation of the soul and moral character. Only after that comes technical skill.
The art subject examination was out of one hundred points yet this famous beautiful man Long Yang had given zero points.
I believe that if the skill is relatively outstanding thirty points would still be acceptable.
Twenty five!
Thirty five!
In the end all the scores were out. After removing the highest and lowest scores Suoluns score was twenty three points.
Correct the examination had not even begun yet but Suoluns score had already been decided. And with this score let alone entering the top ten and obtaining the noble warrior medal even passing the graduation grand examination would be problematic.
Very good. The royal family will not forget your contributions. Zhi Ning said.
At this time Dean Jian Yong suddenly said, Your Highness the princess of course we will unconditionally obey the kingdoms strategy. But there are also the sages from the Shenlong Holy Temple. They…
Zhi Ning said, What a coincidence. The great monk Byron who came this time to be the chief examiner happens to be my art mentor when I studied at the Shenlong Holy Temple in Yanjing.