Chapter 21: Zhi Ning Loses a Round

Lanling's purpose was to find Tutor Niya for help, hoping that the Academy would rescind its decision to expel him.

"The royal family wants to annex Tianshui City Territory of the Suo family, so they need to stop me from inheriting the title. My sister went to bribe Duke Zhi Ting. Some people were worried Duke Zhi Ting would actually help me succeed smoothly to the title, so they had Vice Dean Luo Ge expel me," Lanling said.

Niya asked, "Who are these 'some people' you are talking about?"

"Princess Zhining," Lanling said.

Niya, filled with jealousy, said, "Isn't she your dream lover? You would sacrifice even your life for her."

Lanling gave a bitter smile but didn't explain. However, Niya comforted him by stroking his cheek and said softly, "You don't need to tell me; I know it's for your family."

The imaginative mind of a literary woman, always readily providing a complete justification for her lover in any situation.

"Don't worry, you won't be expelled. I'll make Principal Jian Yong take back the order," Niya said.

Lanling felt a surge of happiness and asked, "Would that hurt you?"

Niya gave a forlorn smile and said, "No, what more can they do to hurt me?"

A question came to Lanling's mind that he wanted to ask, but he felt embarrassed to verbalize it.

Niya immediately noticed his hesitation and asked, "What do you want to ask?"

Lanling said, "Two years ago, I was quite frivolous. You are so outstanding, so full of substance, why would you be with me? Even if you have no feelings for your husband, even if he restrains your true nature, you have such high moral standards, you would not retaliate by having an affair."

Suddenly, tears slid down Niya's face. She gently kissed Lanling's lips and said softly, "Little boy, you have truly grown up, you really understand me now."

Then, Lanling gently nestled in his arms, saying, "When I married Jian Ning, everyone envied us, thinking we were a match made in heaven. However, you know that he had just escaped from a rigid family only to enter another that's even colder and more inflexible. Of course, that's not important; a woman being unhappy isn't a reason for her to cheat. The reason I had an affair was because... my husband actively wanted to be cuckolded, so I obliged."

Lanling was taken aback and could not believe it. Jian Ning, such a fine young man, would actually want to be cuckolded? How could that be?

"Unbelievable, isn't it? In the eyes of the world, he's so upright, so dazzling," Niya said with a cold laugh. "You may know that Prince Zili has a taste for beauties, especially the wives of others. In order to advance his status, my husband wanted to offer me to Prince Zili."

This? This was shocking.

Of course, it wasn't that Prince Zili's preferences were shocking; such hobbies were quite normal for a royal like him, a future Crown Prince.

It was Jian Ning who was too shameless and abnormal, right? After all, he was the idol of the younger generation. Plus, he was heir to a Marquis, his father was the principal of the Royal City Academy. Was he so desperate? After all, Niya was his wife, and once a man was cuckolded, he could never hold his head up again. Then what would be the point of high status?

Niya said, "I confronted him immediately. If he wanted a cuckold's hat, I'd give him one, but I would choose my own affair."

Lanling asked, "What happened then?"

Niya said, "Then, he became the commander of ten thousand of the royal family's third dragon knight army."

"Ah..." Lanling said, "But, you didn't go with Zili."

"Yes," Niya said. "Even though Zili did not get me, because Jian Ning had such 'filial piety,' Zili still gave him the position."

This Zili was very dangerous.

Niya said, "Zili is a formidable person; he has King Zibian's cunning and is even more domineering, more unrestrained. If he has set his sights on your Tianshui City, you need to be extremely cautious."

Lanling furrowed his brow and nodded.

"Stay with me a little longer, then we'll head back to the Royal City separately. I'll go to Principal Jian Yong, and you go home," Niya said softly.

Then, she just held Lanling like that, quietly embracing each other.

When it was time to part, Niya asked, "Two years ago, when I taught you to play the piano, you did so poorly. Why is it that you play so well now?"

Lanling said, "Female teachers like bad students more, don't they? If I didn't act poorly, how could I stay with you all the time?"

…

Half an hour later, Niya left the Ciji Association first. The last thing she said before leaving made Lanling's heart pound with alarm.

"When you retrieve all that belongs to you and can control your own destiny, I will confront Jian Ning about the divorce and come back to you," Niya declared resolutely.

After speaking, she mounted a steed and galloped toward Royal City.

Lanling took over her teaching duties for the children, and half a day later, he and Ye Jingyu also returned to Royal City.

On the way, Ye Jingyu kept giving Lanling strange looks, which made him feel awkward, unsure of where to position his hands.

"Jingyu, please don't look at me that way," Lanling said, slightly annoyed.

Ye Jingyu said, "Who knew you were more skilled with women than Suo Lun? Then why do you act so naive normally? Are you trying to attract young ladies?"

Lanling frowned and said, "The way I usually am is the real me. I understand women and know what to do, but that doesn't mean I have to act on it. I can play a role, but that doesn't mean I enjoy acting."

Lanling, having spent his childhood with his sister, naturally understood women. Having faced cold looks from people since he was young, he naturally knew the ways of the world. He studied scriptwriting and watched countless movies, so of course, he could act.

However, he preferred not to act unless absolutely necessary.

"Oh, you're getting upset now, quite the temper," Ye Jingyu remarked.

Lanling simply ignored her and lay inside the carriage, staring at the roof, lost in thought.

"This woman is a good ten years older than you, and it looks like she's already entangled with you. I can tell when a woman like this falls, she falls hard. What do you plan to do?" Ye Jingyu asked.

Lanling slightly furrowed his brow and closed his eyes, pretending not to hear.

…

Three days later, Lanling returned to the Earl's mansion in Royal City.

As soon as he entered the house, his sister Suo Ningbing came to greet him, saying, "Little brother, Principal Jian Yong has intervened and revoked the decision to expel you. You truly did it; I can hardly believe it."

Suo Ningbing indeed hadn't expected Lanling to make Jian Yong retract his order.

And Lanling was just as astonished; Niya had acted with such swift efficiency. For the sake of her son's future and to keep the family scandal from leaking, Jian Yong, even though reluctantly, had no choice but to grant Niya's request.

In this first round, Lanling had outplayed Princess Zhining.

Suo Ningbing's stunning face was filled with joy, and there was a hint of exhaustion—it was evident she hadn't slept well for days. The sister back on Earth, Lankou, was just the same, unable to sleep at all when something weighed on her mind.

"Why didn't you get some proper rest?" asked Lanling, his voice tinged with concern.

Suo Ningbing replied, "I couldn't help but worry, especially seeing how you've almost wasted away."

Ye Jingyu, who was standing behind, couldn't hold back, rubbing her arms to indicate that she was getting goosebumps.

"Miss, you would never guess that this innocent-looking boy in front of you is actually a casanova," Ye Jingyu said with a laugh.

Suo Ningbing's expression shifted slightly, and she responded with a soft, forced smile, "Is that so?"

The smile was a bit strained.

"Okay, Jingyu, that's enough," Lanling said.

Seeing his exasperated look, Suo Ningbing smiled affectionately, "Royal City Academy has sent a notice; you can't skip any more classes. You need to return to the academy as soon as possible."

The thought of Suo Lun's poor popularity within Royal City Academy gave Lanling a headache.

Suo Lun was more than just unpopular at the Royal City Academy; he was despised like a rat crossing the street. The boys were both jealous and contemptuous of Suo Lun, while the girls both hated and were furious with him. Although Lanling had the means to avoid being bullied, the taste of isolation was nevertheless unpleasant.

"Alright, I'll go to the academy tomorrow," Lanling said. "Now, I'm going to rest and sleep."

Lanling had not had a proper sleep for several days and nights and had planned to sleep for a day and a night.

"All right, with half a day to spare, it's time to train in Martial Enlightenment's third step." But at noon, he was abruptly woken by Ye Jingyu, who marched up and fiercely yanked away Lanling's blanket.