“Elder sister, why is the Earl’s residence so desolate, and why are there so few people?” Lan Ling finally voiced the question that had been weighing on his mind.
Suo Ningbing said, “Father was seriously ill for many years. To treat his condition, we spent countless amounts of money. On top of that, the royal capital has a culture of extravagance. Interactions among nobles involve enormous expenses. And Suo Lun was never promising. He squandered a great deal of the family fortune. Over these years, money has only flowed out and never in, so the Earl’s residence is already in a very difficult financial situation.”
Lan Ling said, “But is there not still the Tianshui City fief? It spans four or five hundred li in every direction. The annual taxes must be an astronomical figure.”
In truth, these words were far too familiar and intimate for someone who had only just met. But right now, in Lan Ling’s heart, he had completely accepted Suo Ningbing as his sister Lan Kou. He no longer felt like an outsider at all.
Suo Ningbing said bitterly, “Ever since Father left the fief to come to the royal capital for treatment, the revenues from Tianshui City have not been sent to the Earl’s residence for five full years.”
Lan Ling said, “Are they planning a rebellion?”
Suo Ningbing replied, “Right now it is the master who is weak while the servants are strong. We are the ones who have to beg them. For many matters, we can only turn a blind eye.”
Lan Ling said, “When the lord is absent from the fief for a long time and leaves governance to the retainers, that is very dangerous.”
Suo Ningbing said, “It is already very dangerous. The retainers in the fief are already stirring restlessly. When Suo Lun went missing and did not return this time, they practically celebrated in secret.”
Lan Ling said, “Then is not the Suo clan’s foundation hanging by a thread? Outside, the royal family watches with tiger-like eyes. Inside, the retainers are causing trouble.”
Suo Ningbing nodded and said, “That is why we must act quickly to have you inherit the title, then immediately return to Tianshui City and take up the position of city lord. If we delay too long, there will be endless complications.”
Lan Ling asked, “Is it absolutely necessary to inherit the title before one can become the lord of Tianshui City?”
Suo Ningbing said, “Of course. This step is mandatory. Only after receiving the royal family’s official investiture can one legitimately become the lord of Tianshui City.”
Lan Ling asked, “Then when can I receive the royal family’s investiture and inherit the title?”
Suo Ningbing said, “Once you successfully graduate from the Royal Capital Academy, you can inherit the title. Every noble heir must complete six years of study at the Royal Capital Academy and pass the graduation examination before they can inherit.”
“Is it very difficult?” Lan Ling asked.
Suo Ningbing said, “The graduation examination only requires passing four subjects. Anyone who studies normally for six years can pass it smoothly. But since you are not actually Suo Lun and have never studied a single day, it will be very difficult… That is why I said you will probably need to extend your studies by one year before you can graduate successfully.”
Lan Ling said, “But are we not in an extremely urgent situation? The retainers in the fief are already restless.”
Suo Ningbing said, “There is no other way. This hurdle must be cleared. Moreover, in recent decades the royal family has already relaxed the requirements considerably. According to the old rules, one had to achieve the highest marks in the examination and also earn the Noble Warrior Medal before inheriting the title.”
Lan Ling asked, “Is there any possibility that I could graduate normally without needing to extend by a year?”
Before Suo Ningbing could answer, Ye Jingyu spoke up. “Impossible. The graduation examination at the Royal Capital Academy is less than five months away. You have to start from zero in all four subjects. When young miss said one year of extension, she was already giving you very high regard for your aptitude. Judging by Young Master Suo Lun’s character, even three years of extension might not be enough for him to graduate.”
Lan Ling was truly fearless because of his ignorance. Although these noble children only studied at the Royal Capital Academy for six years, their families had begun cultivating them comprehensively from the age of four or five. So in reality, they had been learning for more than ten years.
But Lan Ling had to start from absolute zero. With less than half a year, wanting to complete what others had spent more than a decade studying in both civil and martial arts was no different from a pipe dream.
…
For the full month that followed, Lan Ling remained inside the memorial hall of Earl Suo Long under the pretext of observing mourning. He even ate and drank there, as a way of making up for his previous unfilial behaviour.
In reality, Suo Ningbing used this time to tutor him intensively. She taught him the basic common knowledge of this world, as well as information about Suo Lun’s social circle, so that when Lan Ling left the Earl’s residence he would not fail to recognise acquaintances and expose himself, or enter the Royal Capital Academy completely ignorant of the world’s fundamentals.
“Suo Lun was useless and uneducated. He achieved nothing in either civil or martial studies. The only thing he was good at was winning women’s hearts,” Suo Ningbing said. “So even if your performance at the Royal Capital Academy is somewhat poor, it will not matter.”
Lan Ling asked, “Then… then did he have many girlfriends?”
Suo Ningbing nodded. “Yes… many.”
Lan Ling asked, “Roughly how many?”
Suo Ningbing’s face flushed. “Perhaps in the double digits… or even a few more.”
Double digits? Or even more? Lan Ling really felt like he was going mad. His scalp tingled.
“Elder sister, I… I have never been in a relationship from childhood to now. Suo Lun’s romantic history is so extensive. If any of his lovers come looking for me, I will definitely give myself away,” Lan Ling said.
Suo Ningbing said awkwardly, “Suo Lun was always fond of the new and tired of the old. Most of the women were just fleeting affairs, so they probably will not come looking for him. However… there are a few women you still need to be especially careful about.”
Lan Ling said nervously, “Elder sister, please tell me.”
Suo Ningbing said, “The first is Gui Qinshao. She is Suo Lun’s fiancée, the daughter of the Lord of Linhai City. She is accomplished in both civil and martial arts and enjoys great fame. She looks down on Suo Lun very much. If you meet her, there is no need to worry too much, because she will take the initiative to avoid Suo Lun.”
That was good. Lan Ling nodded.
Suo Ningbing continued, “The second is Princess Zhi Ning. She is an extremely beautiful and extremely intelligent woman, known as the foremost talented lady of the royal family. Suo Lun was utterly infatuated with her. He once overreached himself and pursued her, only to suffer enormous humiliation and setback. The reason he went to the Heavenly Demon Mountain Range was because he heard that Princess Zhi Ning greatly desired an ancient Dragon Seal rubbing, and legend said it was located in the Heavenly Demon Mountain Range. So Suo Lun took the risk, hoping to find the Dragon Seal rubbing and make Zhi Ning see him in a new light.”
After hearing this, Lan Ling instinctively sensed the smell of conspiracy. Suo Lun’s death was perhaps part of someone’s scheme.
Suo Ningbing said, “Zhi Ning is very clever. So if you ever meet her, you must behave in a completely reasonable manner. Otherwise, she will surely notice something wrong.”
Lan Ling nodded. “I understand. For a woman like that, I should know what to do.”
Lan Ling was not speaking empty words. Having grown up relying only on his sister, he had seen enough of the world’s warmth and coldness. Although his heart was kind, he never hesitated to assume the worst malice from others when necessary. He was fully capable of dealing with bad people.
Suo Ningbing continued, “The third woman you must be especially, especially careful about. Her name is Yan Nai’er. She is extremely, extremely beautiful, highly skilled in martial arts, and has a particularly fiery personality. To pursue her, Suo Lun spent an enormous amount of effort and was beaten by her countless times. It took more than a year before he finally won her over. This girl is pure-hearted and intense by nature. Once she falls in love, she becomes extremely devoted and clingy. She would marry no one but Suo Lun.”
Lan Ling could roughly guess the ending of this romance. That scoundrel Suo Lun would certainly not give up the whole forest for one tree.
Suo Ningbing said, “After they began their relationship, Yan Nai’er kept pressing him to marry her. The entire Zhi Du was filled with gossip about it. But… Suo Lun still abandoned her in the end. He shifted his affections to Princess Zhi Ning. Yan Nai’er was heartbroken and left the royal capital. Her whereabouts are now unknown.”
Lan Ling could not help saying, “This girl sounds wonderful. Suo Lun really is a bastard.”
“Yes…” Suo Ningbing said. “Yan Nai’er’s father greatly disliked Suo Lun, let alone the fact that Suo Lun already had a fiancée. Nai’er fell out with her parents for Suo Lun’s sake, only to be abandoned by him in the end. From a woman’s perspective, I truly despise Suo Lun’s behaviour.”
Lan Ling said, “Then if I ever run into Yan Nai’er in the future, I will be in big trouble.”
Suo Ningbing nodded. “Yes. I cannot even predict how Yan Nai’er would react if she met you. She might even draw her sword and attack you on the spot. Her martial skills are very high.”
Instantly, Lan Ling shivered again. He felt immense pressure.
Suo Ningbing comforted him. “Yan Nai’er’s martial skills are very high, so if she ever attacks you, just act pitiful. Do not speak and especially do not fight back. She loved Suo Lun very, very deeply. She would not bear to truly injure you.”
“Alright… alright…” Lan Ling said with difficulty. “Are there any other women I need to watch out for?”
Suo Ningbing shook her head. “I do not know. Because I liked to discipline him, Suo Lun rarely came home. There are some things about him I do not know either. But I vaguely heard that he had an improper relationship with a certain female teacher at the academy, and he was even caught by her husband once.”
Lan Ling really felt like he was going insane. If that was the case, even going to the Royal Capital Academy would give him no peace. This Suo Lun truly was a bastard. To seduce his own teacher, and a married woman at that, and then get caught in the act. How had he not been killed before?