Chapter 9: Countless Girlfriends, Pressure Overbearing As A Mountain

"Elder Sister, why is the estate so desolate?" Lanling asked the question that was bothering his for a while.

Suo Ningbing responded, "Father was seriously ill for many years and in order to cure him, we spent many resources. Also, the living here in the Capital City is extravagant, The money the nobilities squander is huge. Moreover, Suo Lun did not live up to expectations and he lost a lot of family properties. These years, the family wealth did not progress, and so the family has been economically distressed."

Lanling said, "Is there not Tianshui City? A city that covers 400 to 500 miles, the annual taxes should be astronomical figures."

Actually, these words of Lanling were simple but deep. His heart had completely accepted Suo Ningbing as his elder sister, and he did not regard himself as an unknown outsider either.

Suo Ningbing bitterly said, "Since father left the territory to come here in the Capital City for treatment, the taxes of Tianshui City has not been turned over for five years already."

Lanling eyebrows lifted. "They want to rebel?"

Suo Ningbing nodded. "Right now, the Lord is the weak one, while the servant is the strong one. Some things we can only open an eye, or completely turn a blind eye."

Lanling shook his head. "For the Lord to leave the city for a long amount of time, and hand over the governing for the ministers to handle is extremely dangerous."

"We are already in danger, the people are already very restless to move. When Suo Lun went missing and did not come back, they rejoiced and celebrated."

Lanling said, "Isn't the Suo Clan's foundation at stake? There is also the Royal Family eyeing it, and may have hired the retainers to instigate rebellion from within."

Suo Ningbing nodded, "Therefore, we must succeed the title to you as soon as possible."

Lanling questioned, "Do I really need to succeed to the position before becoming Tianshui City's Lord?"

Suo Ningbing said, "Of course, this matter needs to be finished. You must receive the rank and title from the Royal Family, then can you be justified as Tianshui City's Lord."

Lanling thought for a moment and asked, "When will the Royal Family confer the title and rank to me, so then I can succeed the title?"

"After you graduate from the Royal Capital Institute. Before you can inherit the title, each successor must accept six years of study from the Royal Capital Institute and pass the graduation exam before they can inherit the title."

"Is it difficult?" Lanling asked.

Suo Ningbing replied, "You have to pass four of the Institute's branches in order to graduate. As long as you studied normally for six years, you can smoothly pass the test. But, afterall, you are not Suo Lun, you haven't studied even for a day. It will be very difficult… so, maybe you need to extend a year in order to graduate smoothly."

Lanling frowned. "Are we not in an urgent situation? The retainers are already poised to move."

Suo Ningbing sighed. "There is no other way, this must be done. Over the decade, the Royal Family has loosened up a bit, and based in accordance with the previous system, you just have to pass the exams even not with the best grades, then you can inherit the nobility badge and title."

Lanling said, "Is it not possible to not extend a year for graduation?"

Suo Ningbing did not open your mouth. Ye Jing Yu spoke instead, "Not possible. The length of the Royal Capital Institute's graduation exams is around five months later. And yet there are four branches you have to start from rock bottom. The Young Miss said that you need to postpone a year because she already saw how high your talent is. If it was in accordance to Suo Lun Young Master's character, even with three years of extension he many not be able to graduate."

Lanling went silent. Although these children of nobilities study in the Institute for only six years, but since they were four or five years old, their families already began to develop them in various subjects. Therefore, overall, they studied for around ten years.

But Lanling had to start everything from scratch, and give examination in just less than six months of time. Other people take more than ten years of military and studies to complete their studies; his words were no different from nonsense.

...

A full month passed.

Lanling stayed at the pavilion hall and mourned for the Clan Leader; food and drink were served for him inside. He was making up for Suo Lun's mistakes and unfilial attitude by doing this.

Actually, during this time, Suo Ningbing was also busy teaching him the lessons he missed about this world's foundational civilization knowledge, and the types of people surrounding the former Young Master. She did this to prevent Lanling going out the estate and meet acquaintances that he does not know about; thereby revealing his secret. Or when enrolling at the Royal Capital Institute, he will be known as ignorant of the world's knowledge.

"Suo Lun did not live up to expectations. He was completely unknowledgable, he had no talent in civil and military duties. He was only good on capturing a girl's heart." Suo Ningbing said, "At the Royal Capital Institute, even if you do not have a good performance, it really does not matter. "

Lanling said, "That… does he really have a lot of girlfriends?"

Suo Ningbing nodded, "Yes… a lot.."

Lanling said, "How many does he probably have?"

Suo Ningbing's face burned bright red as she whispered embarrassedly, "It may be two-digits, or even more."

Double digits? Even more? Lanling was going crazy,, his scalp tingled with numbness.

"Elder Sister, I... I haven't been in relationship since I was a child. Suo Lun has such a rich love history. In case his lovers come to me, I may end up revealing the secrets." Lanling said.

Suo Ningbing was clearly embarrassed. "Suo Lun was always fickle. And whenever there was an opportunity, he would end with a girl. But most of them are just as fickle. They will not go out of their way to find you if you will not look for them. Although... there are still a few women that you should be careful with."

Lanling asked nervously, "Who are they?"

Suo Ningbing took a deep breath and revealed, "The first one is called Gui Qinshao, she is Suo Lun's fiancee, she is Lin Hai City Lord's daughter. A man of great civil and military reputation; he looks down of Suo Lun. You do not need to worry about her, she would take the initiative in avoiding you."

That is good, Lanling nodded.

Suo Ningbing said, "The second is Princess Zhi Ning. She is very beautiful, very smart, and is honored as one of the kingdom's most talented women. Suo Lun was infatuated with her; he did not know the limit of pursuing her—the result was a great humiliation during a combat. She was the reason why he went to the Demon's Mountain. He heard she was very eager to obtain the Ancient Dragon Tablet, and this tablet is rumored to be in the Demon Mountain Range. So Suo Lun took the risk and set out hoping to find the Dragon Tablet to impress Princess Zhi Ning."

After hearing this, Lanling instinct smelled the scent of conspiracy. Suo Lun's death, perhaps it stemmed from this people plans.

Suo Ningbing continued, "Zhi Ning is every clever, so if you encounter her, you must act very reasonably, otherwise she will find flaws."

Lanling nodded. "I know this type of women. I'll know what to do."

He didn't lie. He had lived with his sister since he was a child and is used to both the warmth and coldness of the world. Although his heart is mostly kind, he has never been afraid of scheming against others who had malicious intent towards him or his sister. He is enough to deal with bad people.

Suo Ningbing talked further, "The third woman you may have to specially pay more attention, her name is Yan Nai Er. Her looks are very, very beautiful. Her martial arts skill is very high especially when she is in very high temper. Suo Lun was also in pursuit of her. He spent a lot of effort, I myself do not know how many times he was beaten by her. After a year, he was finally able to catch her heart. The girl's mind is pure, but she got a fierce personality, Once she fell in love, she was very persistent and focused, still, Suo Lun never married her even after she expressed her desire."

Suo Lun, this jerk apparently won't abandon the whole forest for a single tree.

"After falling in love, Yan Nai Er was frequently compelling Suo Lun for marriage. This news spread around the whole city; most couldn't understand why she is so persistent for marriage? And then he began chasing after Princess Zhi Ning. When Suo Lun left the Imperial City and became missing, Yan Nai Er was heartbroken."

Lanling could not help but say, "This girl is very good, Suo Lun is really a bastard though."

"Yes…" Suo Ningbing agreed. "Yan Nai's father dislike Suo Lun, not to mention that he already has a fiancee. Her own relationship with her parents strained because of him but Suo Lun still abandoned her. From a woman's point of view, I detest Suo Lun's action."

Lanling said, "Then if I meet Yan Nai Er, then I will be in a big trouble."

Suo Ningbing nodded, "Correct. I cannot say what will happen to if you run into Yan Nai Er, even a sword fight might ensue. She is absolute best with the sword and her skill is very high."

Suddenly, Lanling shivered, and felt another tremendous pressure.

Suo Ning comfortably said, "Yan Nai Er's martial arts is very high. If you bump into her and she hits you, pretend to be pitiful and don't talk back.

She still loves Suo Lun very much, and I believe that she will not injure you that much."

"Good… good… that's very nice to hear," Lanling said with difficulty, "Are there other women that requires my attention?"

Suo Ningbing shook her head, "Not that I know of. Because I like discipline, Sauron won't come home for long periods of time. There were things that I do not know about him. But I vaguely heard that he also have a relationship with a teacher of the Institute and they were caught by the woman's husband."

Lanling was really going crazy. Even after he goes to the Royal Capital Institute, he may not be safe. This Suo Lun was really a jerk! A bastard that even seduced his teacher! A married woman with a husband! He was even caught. How has he not been hacked to death by people long ago?