World-Ending Demon Emperor-Chapter 36 - 34 Zhi Ning is astonished another masterstroke by Lanling

36: Chapter 34: Zhi Ning is astonished, another masterstroke by Lanling

36 -34: Zhi Ning is astonished, another masterstroke by Lanling

Regarding Lanling’s warning, the two creditors did not take it to heart at all.

Of course, they had seen that much money before.

Being one of the biggest financial institutions in the royal city, let alone a few thousand Gold Coins, they had seen tens or even hundreds of thousands of Gold Coins.

After all, this financial institution had the backing of the royal family, and each year the related income of the royal industries would flow into this establishment.

Even a portion of the kingdom’s yearly taxes would be collected here.

Although this Shopkeeper was merely a manager, he had seen a lot of money.

However, in the plan, the Suo Family simply could not produce this amount of money.

In the entire royal city, anyone who could come up with such an amount would never lend it to the Suo.

Moreover, whether it was the road to Tianshui City or to Linhai City, both had been watched closely.

The Suo Family had not sent anyone to borrow money from Suo Hanyi or Gui Xingfu, and there wasn’t enough time either.

Unexpectedly, Suo Lun truly managed to raise such a large sum in just two days, precisely 4,300 Gold Coins—it was incredibly unbelievable.

(This sum was equivalent to seventy to eighty million in RMB, as Gold Coins in this world were very valuable.)

Both Suo Ningbing and Ye Jingyu were utterly stunned.

They knew Lanling went to the brothel to raise money because of Suo Lun’s good reputation there, so they thought Lanling was soliciting funds from Suo Lun’s former lovers.

However, they were not optimistic since the money of brothel women was their lifeline, and being able to borrow up to a thousand Gold Coins would already be quite impressive.

But they really did bring back 4,300 Gold Coins alive.

The Shopkeeper of the financial institution, as someone accustomed to grand scenes, quickly regained his composure, laughed, and said, “In that case, we are even.”

Lanling said, “Have you brought my IOU, and the copy of the deed for the mortgaged property?”

“They are all here, could you please look them over?” the Shopkeeper handed them over and said, “In that case, we will take our leave.”

Watching the two men’s retreating figures, Lanling suddenly said, “If there are children at home, you should send them away quickly—it will be too late later.”

The lips of the financial institution’s owner trembled and he finally burst out laughing, then said to Lanling with a serious tone, “Although I have no title, I manage such a grand asset for His Highness.

To put it this way, even Earls and the like are very cautious when speaking in front of me, almost as if I am their superior.

Isn’t that funny?”

In his words, there was a complete lack of regard for Suo Lun, the future Count Tianshui.

After all, he was a close associate of the future King.

Although he still spoke politely, the scorn and mockery in his tone were no longer concealed.

And the lean gambling den owner’s eyes turned cold, and he sneered, “As for us, we specialize in doing dirty work for big shots.

There are two Dragon Samurai standing guard outside my door every day.

Young Master, any tricks you have, feel free to use them.”

Lanling just smiled and said nothing.

Sometimes, humans are even less than animals; a fox that benefits from the tiger’s might still knows its own weakness.

But when humans play the fox’s game for too long, they start to think of themselves as real tigers.

The fat creditor and the thin creditor turned and left.

Only now did Suo Ningbing finally speak, “Little brother, how… how did you earn this money?

It’s only been two days.”

Lanling said, “I sold paintings.”

Suo Ningbing asked, “What paintings?

Worth so much money?”

Lanling replied, “My own paintings.”

Suo Ningbing muttered to herself, “How… ƒreewebɳovel.com

how is that possible?

Your comprehension in painting is quite good, but… but you’re just a beginner; you couldn’t possibly sell paintings for several thousand Gold Coins.”

Lanling gave her an apologetic smile and said, “Sorry, sister.

My learning from you was just a pretense, to spend more time with you.”

Then, Lanling walked into the inner room and brought out a painting.

It was a portrait of Suo Ningbing, and also of Lancome.

She sat in front of a window, gazing out at the scenery in a daze.

This painting had been completed a long time ago, and he was now just taking it out.

The moment Suo Ningbing saw the painting, she too was completely dumbfounded.

It was so lifelike, as if she had been directly reflected onto the canvas, looking exactly like her in person.

This was a revolution in painting, a style unprecedented and unrivaled.

Suo Ningbing looked at Lanling with amazement.

She had not expected his painting skills to be so exquisite, unmatched by anyone in this world.

“Little brother, your talent will truly make even your sister fall for it, it’s truly priceless,” Suo Ningbing murmured to herself.

From this sentence alone, one could see the simplicity and artistic nature of Suo Ningbing.

No matter how good the painting, it couldn’t have fetched thousands of Gold Coins.

…

Commandery Princess Zhi Ning was astonished upon receiving the report from the Shopkeeper of the financial institution.

Then, she immediately sent people to investigate how Suo Lun had raised the money.

In the end, she received an answer that was completely unbelievable.

Suo Lun sold paintings and actually sold them for over four thousand Gold Coins?

Of course, in reality, it wasn’t painting sales, but about providing packaging and promotion for the courtesans, the project of Tian Shui City’s top nineteen courtesans that brought in several thousand Gold Coins.

But the staff came and went in a hurry, so they could only draw the simple conclusion of selling paintings first.

Princess Zhi Ning was utterly dumbfounded.

Even the palace painters could not fetch more than one Gold Coin for a painting.

Suo Lun had earned several thousand Gold Coins by painting for prostitutes—this… how was this possible?

Moreover, she had seen Suo Lun’s paintings because he had made no fewer than ten for her.

They were quite good, but that was all.

“Did you see Suo Lun’s paintings?” Princess Zhi Ning asked.

“I saw them,” the man said.

“How is it?” Princess Zhining asked.

“A work of a genius, a divine technique, almost like a soul reflection,” the person said.

“I don’t believe it.

Even a painting by a deity wouldn’t be worth ten gold coins.” Princess Zhining declared resolutely, “Prepare the carriage; I want to see it for myself.”

Half an hour later, Princess Zhining’s carriage pulled up outside Yuhua Pavilion, and the first thing she saw was the huge Ye Xiaomao painting poster under the dazzling lights.

She was completely stunned at once.

Although the woman in the painting seemed incredibly vulgar to her, the painting itself deserved to be called the work of a genius, a reflection of the soul, something she had never seen or heard of before.

And those black fishnet stockings and the sharp high heels even made her heart flutter, making her want to wear them immediately.

Princess Zhining prided herself on her mastery of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but in terms of painting skills, she could not hold a candle to this.

This was an absolute revolution in painting.

She truly had not expected Suo Lun, that wastrel, to possess such talent.

Since he returned from the Demon Mountain Range, he had opposed her twice, and she had lost both times.

That wastrel Suo Lun had beaten her twice?

How was that possible?

Wasn’t he an ignorant and incompetent dandy?

Could she have misjudged him?

“Did you find out?

Is it that lowly bitch Yi Manman who’s helping Suo Lun?” Princess Zhining asked.

“Yes,” the eunuch beside her replied.

“Let’s act tomorrow.

Send that bitch to the beggars’ den,” Princess Zhining said indifferently, “Remember, don’t let her die.

Make sure she gets pregnant and gives birth to a litter of beggars’ children.”

“Yes,” the eunuch replied.

“And that damned Art Committee, the nineteen beauties of the royal city, get rid of them all for me,” Princess Zhining ordered.

“As for the one called Ye Xiaomao, send her to Zhi Wei as a gift.

Hopefully, this time he will play with her longer and not kill her in less than two days.”

“Yes,” the eunuch replied.

…

At night, Lanling had barely been asleep for an hour when Ye Jingyu woke him up.

In the living room, a eunuch sat there, with Suo Ningbing by his side.

“Duke Zhi Ting asks that you visit,” the eunuch said, withdrawing his pity-filled gaze from Suo Ningbing upon seeing Suo Lun emerge.

Duke Zhi Ting, the Suo Family’s greatest backer.

Lanling had been waiting for this summons for quite some time.

In the grand ducal mansion, Lanling met the Duke Zhi Ting, fat as a ball.

“I hear you made over four thousand gold coins by selling paintings?” Duke Zhi Ting inquired.

Lanling was slightly startled but then nodded and said, “Yes.”

“How did you make it?” asked Duke Zhi Ting.

“The courtesans are not fools; even sold to the heavens, a painting would not exceed two gold coins.”

“Your Grace is wise,” Lanling said.

“In fact, the painting was just a medium; the focus was on completely revamping and promoting the courtesans, catapulting them to instant fame and raising their prices by tens or hundreds of times.”

Then, Lanling detailed the entire plan of the nineteen beauties of the royal city to Duke Zhi Ting.

After hearing it, Duke Zhi Ting burst into loud laughter, “You are truly an ancestor of pleasure quarters.

Alright, have that Ye Xiaomao visit my mansion tomorrow.

I wish to see if she is indeed as alluring as claimed.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” Lanling said.

Duke Zhi Ting asked, “Those two debt collectors of yours, have you dealt with them?”

“They have been dealt with,” Lanling said.

“I am ashamed to say, I almost compromised Your Grace’s dignity.”

Then, Lanling suddenly bent down and pleaded, “There is one matter for which I must ask Your Grace’s favor.”

Duke Zhi Ting frowned, thinking this dandy was really clueless; showing him kindness, he was now making demands.

Lanling continued, “Please take care of the Art Committee and the upcoming nineteen beauties of the royal city.

From now on, this Art Committee falls under Your Grace’s care.”

Duke Zhi Ting was taken aback by the statement.

He realized that this so-called Art Committee and the nineteen beauties of the royal city could be a little money tree, capable of generating a great income over the next few years.

Was Suo Lun really giving all this to him?

“Why?” asked Duke Zhi Ting.

“Your Suo Family has already bribed me for your inheritance of the title; you don’t need to bribe me again.”

Lanling said, “Yi Manman of Yuhua Pavilion helped me this time, effectively thwarting Princess Zhining’s plan.

With Princess Zhining’s character, she will definitely target Manman.

Therefore, I ask Your Grace to protect the Art Committee, and also protect Ye Xiaomao.”

Duke Zhi Ting’s expression twitched slightly, he extended his plump hand and patted Lanling’s shoulder, “Suo Lun, you have a bad reputation, but seeing you today, you seem to be a good man.”

Then, Duke Zhi Ting said, “Go to Yuhua Pavilion immediately, invite Yi Manman and Ye Xiaomao over.

I’m hosting a banquet tomorrow and need the two ladies to grace it.”

“Yes,” the eunuch immediately obeyed and set off.

Lanling once again bowed deeply, “Thank you, Your Grace, for your protection.”

Duke Zhi Ting sighed, “You, a young profligate, and I, an old one, seem destined only for such acts of cherishing beauty and feeling.”

In his words, there was an unmistakable sense of melancholy.

Duke Zhi Ting added, “Those two debt collectors of yours, do you want me to have someone kill them, to avenge you?”

Lanling shook his head, “No need.

Tonight, I will make their own master personally kill them.”

Duke Zhi Ting was shocked.

Princess Zhining will take action to kill these two?

How could that be possible?