95: Chapter 91: Zhi Ning Marries You, How About That?

(4 More) 95: Chapter 91: Zhi Ning Marries You, How About That?

(4 More) Note: The fourth update is presented, to celebrate the Alliance Hierarch of ‘Furious Wind and Bright Moon’ readers!

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King Zhi Bian’s decrees were always very concise and to the point, rarely using flowery and grandiose language.

“Tomorrow afternoon at two-fifteen, Xuan Suolun is to enter the palace for an audience and receive the Noble Warrior Medal.

Hear this!”

Upon hearing the appointed time of two-fifteen, Suo Lun was not surprised at all because the previous transmigrator, the Dragon Emperor, had already introduced time and distance units to this world.

“By your command,” Suo Lun bowed and accepted the decree.

The decree from the king only mentioned awarding the Noble Warrior Medal and did not speak of bestowing the title of Count Tianshui or the lordship of Tianshui City.

However, according to protocol, one must first be awarded the Noble Warrior Medal before inheriting a noble title.

And the middle-aged eunuch who delivered Prince Zili’s invitation glanced first at Suo Lun’s eyes.

Seeing that his sight had been restored, he showed only a slight startle.

“My lord requests the presence of Young Master Suo Lun at the prince’s residence for a chat,” the middle-aged eunuch extended an invitation engraved on a bamboo card.

After receiving it, Suo Lun immediately returned it; it was a noble etiquette that one could not accept an invitation from someone of higher status.

Therefore, Zili’s jade invitation card had been polished smooth as a mirror.

It was rather characteristic of Zili to use bamboo for invitations instead of gold or white jade, considering his status.

“It would be disrespectful to decline,” though Suo Lun was not prepared to meet with Zili, the invitation was one that he could not refuse.

“Then this servant shall wait here.

Young Master Suo Lun, please let me know when you are ready,” the middle-aged eunuch sat down, and though Suo Ningbing’s expression was cold, she still offered him tea.

Next, Suo Ningbing personally prepared a bath and helped Suo Lun to bathe.

Seeing Suo Ningbing roll up her sleeves, revealing arms as white as jade, and pick up a soft towel, Suo Lun was startled.

“Sister, what are you doing?”

“Bathing you,” Suo Ningbing replied.

“That’s really not necessary,” Suo Lun said with a start.

When he was on Earth, his sister had bathed him until he was ten years old.

Afterwards, feeling embarrassed, he had started bathing himself.

“Only now you’re embarrassed?

Where did your courage come from just before?” Suo Ningbing gently scolded Suo Lun with a glance, then softly continued, “You’re a grown man, it’s difficult for you to wash your own hair and back, and I don’t want other maids to assist you.”

Her words left Suo Lun heart fluttering, as her reluctance to have other maids help him implied the stirrings of jealousy in her heart.

“Alright, disrobe and enter the tub,” Ning Bing instructed and then turned her delicate back to him.

Then, amid the awkward atmosphere, Suo Lun quickly stepped into the bathing tub.

The tub was filled with milk, and steam billowed so that nothing could be seen beneath the water, which afforded him some relief.

Ning Bing, with her cheeks flushed, stepped forward with a bottle of essential oil and a soap pod, carefully applying it to Suo Lun’s hair and then meticulously washing it.

Her soft hands gently massaged Suo Lun’s scalp.

After the massage, she dried her hands and gently massaged Suo Lun’s eyes, asking softly, “Is it completely healed now?”

“Yes,” he replied, although it wasn’t quite completely healed.

His vision still had a faint red tint, as if looking through a filter.

Yao Xing had said that it was the release of spiritual power during his last major test that had caused damage to his visual nerves, which would take some time to recover.

After carefully washing his hair and back, Ning Bing left to allow him to put on his undergarments, then she brought a brocade robe and personally helped him change into it.

Half an hour later, Suo Lun followed the eunuch to Prince Zili’s residence.

…

Half an hour later, Suo Lun entered Prince Zili’s elegant residence.

The residence was not very large, nor could it be described as opulent or magnificent; instead, it had a solemn air, predominantly featuring grey tones.

“Your Highness, Young Master Suo Lun has arrived,” the eunuch announced outside a door.

“Please come in, come in…” The voice of Zili resonated from within, hearty and bold.

Then, the door opened, and a thirty-year-old man came forward, grasping Suo Lun’s hand.

“Come, come, come, I’ve been waiting for you for a long time.”

Next, Zili looked into Suo Lun’s eyes and said, “Your eyesight has returned?

That’s good.

It eases my concerns greatly.”

Suo Lun was taken aback by his enthusiasm.

The image of Zili before him was beyond his expectations.

His hair was tied back simply, secured with a bamboo hairpin.

He was dressed casually in a loose linen robe and was even barefoot.

He wasn’t particularly handsome, at least not when compared to Suo Lun’s pretty boy looks.

But his face was full of character, with an air of unruliness, intelligence, authority, and a hint of wickedness.

Particularly, his long nose gave one an instinctual sense of fearfulness after seeing it.

This was Prince Zili, the future king whom the entire Rage Wave Kingdom expected and supported.

“Suo Lun, Zhi Ning has never been defeated before.

This time you’ve beaten her soundly, causing her to vomit blood twice,” Zili said.

“She is my most beloved sister, what do you think we should do about this?”

Suo Lun thought for a moment and said, “She and I are alike, we can’t afford to lose.”

These words, instead, took Zhi Li by surprise.

Most men are unwilling to admit that they can’t afford to lose, believing themselves to be broad-minded.

“Come, sit down, join me for a meal,” Zhi Li said as he sat cross-legged in front of a table.

“Don’t worry, there definitely won’t be any poison.

Zhi Ning is somewhat insidious with her methods, but it doesn’t matter because she’s a woman.

As a young lord, I can’t do such things.”

Suo Lun took a seat opposite him.

In front of him were four dishes, two meat and two vegetarian, all very exquisite.

Suo Lun saw at a glance that this one meal could feed the commoners outside for an entire month.

Zhi Li, dressed in plain clothes and even wearing a bamboo hairpin, was nonetheless so particular and even luxurious when it came to food.

“I don’t dislike luxury, I just hate vulgar things like gold, white jade, silk, and the like,” Zhi Li said.

After tasting a dish and sipping some wine, he looked at Suo Lun and said, “You know, there’s one thing very similar about the two of us, do you know what that is?”

Suo Lun shook his head and replied, “You tell me.”

“We’re both old hands at romancing women.

You’re battle-hardened, and I’ve heard that you’ve had no less than a hundred girlfriends and lovers,” Zhi Li said.

“And as for me, I’ve handled others’ wives no less than a hundred times.

Both of us have slept with the most noble ladies.”

At that moment, Suo Lun was drinking wine and nearly spit it out when he heard these words.

This Zhi Li really didn’t hold back at all, speaking so directly.

However, it’s not something to brag about, is it?

Then, Zhi Li clapped his hands and said, “Come in.”

Immediately, two beauties gracefully entered the room.

One was older and one was younger.

The younger one was lithe and captivating, with a charming face.

The older one was mature like a ripe peach, dignified and elegant, with occasional shy glances.

“Guess who these two women are?” Zhi Li asked.

Suo Lun thought for a moment and vaguely had an answer, but he shook his head nonetheless.

“Don’t hide your cleverness in front of me.

You’ve surely guessed it.

I’m to entertain you, so naturally, I would choose the wife of the man you detest the most,” Zhi Li said.

“Your most hated man is me, but I can’t bear to share my wife with others.

So, as the next best thing, I’ve summoned the women of Jian Ning and Marquis Jian Yong.”

Then, pointing to the young and charming woman, he continued, “This lady, born of modest background, goes by the name Wu Xiuxiu.

She’s Jian Ning’s concubine and is twenty-five years old.

Of course, you also know that the marriage between Niya and Jian Ning is in name only.

So, Wu Xiuxiu is essentially Jian Ning’s wife now, having even given him a son.”

“And this mature woman is called Wu Qianyu, the favored consort of Marquis Jian Yong, who is thirty-eight years old,” Zhi Li said.

“Of course, if you wanted to retaliate against Jian Ning and Jian Yong, it would have been best to have Marquis Jian Yong’s principal wife come.

However, she is already in her fifties.

I think your taste isn’t quite that mature, so I’ve had his most cherished consort come instead.”

Then, Zhi Li excitedly stood up and pointed to the two women, “Come on, Suo Lun, don’t be shy.

Pick one, and I’ll take the one you leave.

And I assure you, I haven’t touched either of these women before.”

At this moment, Suo Lun’s heart was truly shattered.

This Prince Zili was incredibly uninhibited, proposing that they toy with women together from the outset, and worse, the wives of his own loyal subordinates.

He had heard of his proclivities before, but he hadn’t expected them to be so fitting to his reputation.

He could only admire Jian Ning and Marquis Jian Yong, who seemed so willing to wear such green hats.

“Come on, don’t be bashful, pick one, pick one,” Zhi Li urged.

Taken aback, Suo Lun then pointed at the mature and graceful Wu Qianyu, the consort of Marquis Jian Yong.

“You know how to play,” Zhi Li responded with a thumbs up and then motioned to Wu Xiuxiu, “Come here.”

Jian Ning’s concubine, Wu Xiuxiu, came to Zhi Li’s side, submissively took the wine jug, and poured wine for him.

As Zhi Li’s hand wandered over Wu Xiuxiu, he nodded and said, “Not bad, not bad, Jian Ning is quite fortunate.”

Meanwhile, the plump Wu Qianyu knelt next to Suo Lun and picked up the jug to pour wine for him.

Seeing Suo Lun sitting there like a gentleman, Zhi Li frowned and said, “Suo Lun, don’t be shy.

If you’re so reserved, it makes me uncomfortable too.”

“Please enjoy yourself, I…

I’ve been restraining myself lately,” Suo Lun said.

Zhi Li frowned in disappointment, withdrew his hand from Wu Xiuxiu’s dress, and got down to business, “Tomorrow, His Majesty the King will summon you to the palace and will bestow upon you the Noble Samurai medal.”

“I’ve already received the decree,” Suo Lun said, then waited for more information.

Zhi Li went on, “If nothing unexpected happens, you will soon inherit the title of Earl Tianshui and the position of City Lord of Tianshui City.”

Suo Lun replied, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Zhi Li continued, “Let’s discuss something.

Once you become the City Lord of Tianshui City, don’t go to your territory.

Lend me Tianshui City Territory for twenty years.

I’ll make it into a fortress to attack the Southern Barbarian Plains.

Once I conquer the Southern Barbarian Plains and build a city there, I’ll return Tianshui City to you.”

Frowning, Suo Lun did not answer, but used silence as a refusal.

Zhi Li proposed, “In exchange, I invite you to become my future Prime Minister, and also a brother-in-law.

How about that?”

These words startled Suo Lun.

Zhi Li continued, “Weren’t you once madly in love with Zhi Ning?

I’ll marry her to you, and we’ll become family.

Then, you can assist me, become my future Chancellor, and also lend me Tianshui City for twenty years.

Isn’t that a good deal?”