About half an hour later, Suo Ningbing returned to the carriage, her expression grave.
"Sister, is the situation very serious?" Lanling asked.
"It's Vice Dean Luo Ge, he is determined to expel you," said Suo Ningbing. "He is the tutor of Commandery Princess Zhi Ning."
In this world, only direct disciples could address someone as 'teacher'; others usually called them 'tutor.'
"It's that bitch Zhi Ning again," Lanling said coldly, having developed a profound hatred for Commandery Princess Zhi Ning since arriving in this strange world.
Hearing Lanling's curse, Suo Ningbing wasn't displeased. Instead, she felt that if Suo Lun had been as wise as Lanling, he wouldn't have died tragically.
"Has the decision to expel me been approved by the academy committee?" Lanling asked.
"Luo Ge is the first vice dean of the academy and also the principal of the noble division. He has the power to expel you without going through the academy committee," explained Suo Ningbing.
Under other circumstances, being expelled would not be a big deal, and whether or not to attend the Royal City Academy wouldn't matter. But now, the expulsion was tied to inheriting a noble title. Once expelled from the Royal City Academy, Lanling's chance of inheriting the title would be utterly ruined.
From this, one could conclude that after taking the money, Duke Zhi Ting was indeed diligently handling matters. Zhi Li and Zhi Ning felt pressured and thus resorted to such a tactic.
The Royal City Academy had never expelled a noble student before. Vice Dean Luo Ge was making an exception this time and it would cost him.
Thus, the expulsion was one hundred percent the handiwork of Commandery Princess Zhi Ning, with the objective of preventing Lanling from smoothly inheriting the noble title.
"Is there anyone who can change this decision, who can make the academy retract the order?" Lanling asked.
"Marquis Jian Yong, the principal," replied Suo Ningbing.
"What is our relationship with him?" Lanling asked.
"Not good," Suo Ningbing explained. "This man gave up his family's territory to immerse himself in academia; he is very aloof and despises students like Suo Lun."
Ye Jingyu was silent for a moment before he added, "The principal's path is definitely not viable. He has a deep grudge against Suo Lun."
Lanling was startled—Suo Lun was a minor figure, while Principal Jian Yong was a major one. It seemed unlikely they would have any serious grievances.
Ye Jingyu explained, "According to the rumors, Suo Lun had an affair with Tutor Niya, who is Jian Yong's daughter-in-law, and they were caught. Due to family disgrace that must not be spoken of outside and personal grievances that can't be pursued publicly, Principal Jian Yong would tear Suo Lun apart if he could."
Lanling almost choked on his own blood. Suo Lun really knew how to court death—having an affair with a tutor was bad enough, but with the principal's daughter-in-law no less.
With things like this, the principal sparing your life would already demonstrate his nobility and magnanimity, and yet you still think he would help you? It's a total pipe dream; plunging into the sea to drown would be simpler.
"Can Duke Zhi Ting intervene?" Lanling asked.
Suo Ningbing shook her head, "The Royal City Academy is quite detached; the royal family cannot easily interfere. Asking Duke Zhi Ting to intervene would only backfire. The academy despises nothing more than a parasite like Duke Zhi Ting."
So, were they utterly out of options now?
Could they just watch as he was expelled, unable to inherit the noble title, causing the Suo Family to permanently lose its noble title and Tianshui City Territory?
Once the territory and title were lost, the situation Suo Ningbing would face was unimaginable.
This couldn't happen; they had to make the academy retract the order.
Lanling took a deep breath and said, "Sister, under the current circumstances, we can only turn to desperate strategies. We must make Principal Jian Yong retract the order."
"Do you have a plan?" Suo Ningbing asked.
"Suo Lun previously had an affair with Principal Jian Yong's daughter-in-law, didn't he? I'll go meet her now as Suo Lun and ask for her help. Since she's Jian Yong's daughter-in-law, perhaps she can persuade the principal to retract the order."
This statement left both Suo Ningbing and Ye Jingyu stunned.
Is this seeking death?
After the two were previously caught in the act, it was hard enough to suppress the scandal, and now he wanted to meet that woman again? Principal Jian Yong would likely tear Lanling apart and feed him to a griffin.
"You're going to see Suo Lun's former lover, Tutor Niya?" Ye Jingyu asked. "Remember, after being caught, Tutor Niya and Suo Lun were supposed to never see each other again. Suo Lun essentially escaped with his life back then, and now you are Suo Lun—are you going to reignite the affair? This is seeking death!"
"That's why I said we turn to desperate strategies; this might be the only way," Lanling responded.
Ye Jingyu and Suo Ningbing fell silent, unsure of what action to take or choice to make.
"I am the only man in the family; this is settled then," Lanling declared. "Is this tutor still at the academy?"
Ye Jingyu shook his head, "No, after she and Suo Lun were caught, she was transferred from the Royal City Academy to Lingfeng Province in the northern province."
Lingfeng Province in the northern province was twelve hundred miles from Wangcheng Zidu.
"Why didn't I know about any of this?" Suo Ningbing suddenly asked.
"You have too many worries, Miss. Some of the trouble Master Suo Lun caused were handled privately by us, and some we chose not to trouble you with," responded Ye Jingyu.
Suo Ningbing glared fiercely at Ye Jingyu, but she had no plan of action. Moreover, with her stunning beauty and gentle demeanor, even a fierce glare seemed devoid of any intimidation, only making her appear even more gentle and endearing.
Lanling concluded, "We'll head home immediately. I'll carefully mimic every move of Suo Lun and thoroughly understand Niya. Tomorrow morning, I'll go to Lingfeng Province in the north to find her."
Lanling's words were definitive—though she was essentially an imposter, a puppet. Yet, this assertive decision filled Suo Ningbing with an indescribable sense of security.
Ever since Earl Suo Long fell ill, Suo Ningbing had been managing everything for the Suo Family. She was exhausted and desperately needed a reliable shoulder to lean on. Now, it seemed that shoulder had appeared, albeit still immature.
"Alright, sister will listen to you; you call the shots," said Suo Ningbing. "Tomorrow, let Ye Jingyu accompany you to find Tutor Niya."