Chapter 14: Duke.

Upon seeing Lanling, Suo Hanyi's brows furrowed, his gaze filled with rage and disdain as he coldly said, "You bastard, you actually know to come back? After being incinerated by a woman, you actually traveled thousands of miles to the Heavenly Demon Mountain Range, and in the end, you didn't even see Father for the last time. You're really something, aren't you?"

Lanling didn't argue, instead, he lowered his head and said, "Big brother, I was wrong."

Suo Hanyi was somewhat surprised, for his relationship with Suo Lun was quite poor. Because their foster father greatly valued him, Suo Lun was both fearful and jealous of him, never calling him big brother and always looking at him with cold contempt.

Even so, Suo Hanyi still didn't look at Lanling directly. In his heart, he looked down immensely on his lowly half-brother, despite the fact that he was extremely loyal to the Suo Family.

"Big brother, has something happened in Tianshui City?" Suo Ningbing asked softly.

Suo Hanyi turned his face away, no longer looking at Lanling as his gaze shifted to Suo Ningbing.

Lanling wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he always felt there was a heated look in Suo Hanyi's eyes when he looked at his sister, although it was very subtle and fleeting.

"Suo Lun, I need to discuss important matters with Ningbing, you step aside," Suo Hanyi said bluntly.

Such an attitude from Suo Hanyi was extremely rude. It should be known that Suo Lun was not only his sworn brother but also his lord. And here Suo Hanyi was, treating him with utter disregard.

Suo Ningbing's complexion grew slightly uneasy, then with a gentle smile said, "Big brother, Xiaolun is getting older, so he should also start learning how to handle the affairs of the territory."

Suo Hanyi nodded and said, "I came to the Royal City, first, because I heard Suo Lun returned, and second, because a crisis has emerged within Tianshui City."

Suo Ningbing's pretty face changed, and she asked, "What crisis?"

Suo Hanyi replied, "Nu Er Dan is rallying various high-ranking samurai lords, planning to break away from the Suo Family and become independent."

Nu Er Dan, the greatest lord of the Tianshui City Territory, had always been ambitious.

Aghast, Suo Ningbing said, "How could they do this? Their territories were conferred by our Suo Family, they are not just vassals of the Suo, but also servants."

Suo Hanyi said, "Previously, with Suo Lun's prolonged disappearance, everyone thought he was dead. The Suo Family was believed to have no heir, and they used this as a pretext to break away and become independent."

Suo Ningbing said, "But now Suo Lun has come back."

Suo Hanyi replied, "However, by then, Nu Er Dan's rallying had already begun."

Suo Ningbing asked, "How many samurai lords have responded to Nu Er Dan?"

"Out of the nineteen samurai lords, at least seven or eight have already sided with him, and the rest are beginning to waver," Suo Hanyi said. "If we don't stop them soon, they will rebel and declare independence within a few months. Once the royal family intervenes, our Suo Family will completely lose the five hundred miles of Tianshui City Territory."

Suo Ningbing's breathing became rapid as she looked at Suo Hanyi and asked, "Big brother, what should we do?"

Suo Hanyi replied, "We need to have Suo Lun inherit the title as soon as possible, take up the position of City Lord of Tianshui, and then return to the territory to subdue them with righteousness. Everyone knows, a kingdom cannot survive a day without its leader."

Suo Ningbing frowned. She knew that the current Suo Lun was a fake, that Lanling was impersonating him, and that he was starting from scratch with the literature and martial arts knowledge of this world. It would already be a miracle if he could pass the Royal City Academy's graduation exam next year.

Distressed, Ningbing said, "Big brother, although Suo Lun has reformed and is striving for improvement, he has fallen far behind in both literary and martial courses. It will be rather difficult for him to pass the Royal City Academy's graduation exam this year."

Suo Hanyi scoffed coldly and said, "Ning Bing, you don't have to cover for him. With this prodigal son's own abilities, he won't graduate even in ten years. You'll need to think of another way."

Suo Ningbing remained silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Big brother, I understand."

Suo Hanyi instructed, "Remember, Suo Lun must graduate smoothly within a few years and inherit the title. If we delay till next year, those high-ranking lords within Tianshui City will surely rebel and declare independence."

"Yes," Suo Ningbing bowed as she responded.

...

Suo Hanyi said, "That's all I have to say, I must hurry back to Tianshui City immediately."

Ning Bing said, "Big brother, won't you stay one night before leaving?"

Suo Hanyi replied, "This matter is of great importance, I can't afford to delay even for a moment."

Ning Bing said, "At least have a meal before you go. I'll cook for you, big brother."

Suo Hanyi shook his head and said, "No need, just prepare some meat pies for my journey."

Then, he donned his helmet and prepared to leave.

"Okay." Ning Bing's eyes warmed with emotion as she softly said, "Big brother, thank you. Without you, I really wouldn't know what to do!"

Suo Hanyi trembled, his gaze toward Suo Ningbing turning gentle and fervent as he said, "Nonsense, you know that for you, big brother is willing to do anything, even if it means giving up my life."

Ning Bing felt stung by his gaze and awkwardly looked away, while Lanling felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, as if a lion's territory were being invaded.

A quarter of an hour later, the meat pies were ready. Suo Ningbing wrapped them layer by layer with oil paper and placed them on the warhorse's pack.

"Suo Lun, remember this, you unfilial son. Go out and cause less trouble, and listen to your sister, understand?" Before leaving, Suo Hanyi coldly chastised Lanling.

Lanling frowned and said, "I will of course listen to sister, there's no need for you to say so."

From a young age, Lanling had a strong personality. When treated kindly by others, he would come across as shy and innocent, but when mistreated, he'd bristle like a thorny bush.

Suo Hanyi thought he was reverting to his old ways and muttered under his breath, "A dog can't change its habit of eating feces."

Then, he exited the Earl's mansion, mounted his steed, and galloped away. Suo Ningbing bowed to his departing figure.

...

"Little brother, I'm sorry you're being wronged," Suo Ningbing said. "Big brother just feels pity for Suo Lun's lack of ambition and doesn't harbor any ill intentions."

Lanling said, "I don't mind his attitude toward me, but what I can't stand is the way he looks at you."

Ning Bing's cheeks flushed. She was not completely unaware of Suo Hanyi's feelings, and he had always greatly restrained his emotions.

"In any case, big brother is extremely loyal to our father and to the family. Until you have grown up, he is our family's pillar of strength." Suo Ningbing said, "So, rely on him and maintain a good relationship with big brother, okay?"

Lanling said with conviction, "I understand, but whoever harbors any ambition toward you, I will not allow it."

Hearing Lanling's innocent yet domineering words, Suo Ningbing's cheeks reddened further. She didn't know whether to feel embarrassed, happy, or faintly worried.

Suddenly, Suo Ningbing said softly, "Don't worry, sister will stay with you for life and not marry again."

"I will one day openly and honorably take you as my wife," Lanling almost blurted out, but ultimately held back, feeling he was not yet strong enough to protect his sister.

Suo Ningbing had been married before; her husband's family was an exceedingly illustrious and detached clan. But within less than a year of the marriage, they had separated, and Suo Ningbing returned home alone, facing much criticism.

As for the specific reason for their separation, Lanling did not know. It was Suo Ningbing's sorrow, and he had never asked. He felt that once their relationship reached a certain depth, she would surely open her heart to him.

Recalling what Suo Hanyi had said about Suo Lun being unable to graduate smoothly and thus needing to think of another way to inherit the title, Lanling couldn't help but ask, "What is this 'other way' that Suo Hanyi mentioned?"

Suo Ningbing replied softly, "It's basically methods like bribery. Little brother, don't feel pressured, just continue your studies as before, and your sister will handle everything."

At this moment, Lanling wished even more to quickly increase his martial power, to pass the Royal City Academy's final exam smoothly and inherit the title without delay.

...

The next day, Suo Ningbing left the house, taking with her three thin deeds. These deeds were for a manor, a pawnshop, and a store, worth a total of over ten thousand Gold Coins.

Over ten thousand Gold Coins might not seem like much at first glance, but in reality, it was a tremendous fortune.

The Gold Coins of this world were more than one and a half inches in diameter and weighed around eighty grams each. One Gold Coin was worth about fifty Silver Coins or ten thousand Copper Coins. Converted into Earth's currency, one Gold Coin would be equivalent to twenty thousand yuan.

And this was nearly all the remaining property of the Earl's mansion in Royal City, but Suo Ningbing left without any reluctance, directly taking these three deeds to bribe Duke Zhi Ting.

Duke Zhi Ting was the King's youngest brother and was deeply favored by King Quo Bian. This man had no interest in power and loved only food, drink, and pleasure. He had an intense fixation on money and wealth. Therefore, to have him do you a favor was simple: a sufficient bribe in Gold Coins would suffice.

Moreover, this man had a very good reputation for fulfilling his obligations once he accepted money.

Originally, Suo Ningbing had planned to let Lanling postpone the Royal City Academy's grand examination for a year, but the situation in Tianshui City Territory had become very dangerous, making it imperative for Lanling to inherit the title and return to Tianshui City. However, to everyone, the idea of Lanling passing this year's graduation exam in Royal City was a fool's dream, so Suo Ningbing had no choice but to use the last of the Earl's assets to bribe Duke Zhi Ting.

In the opulent mansion of the Duke, Suo Ningbing soon met with Duke Zhi Ting.