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Returning to the Earl's mansion in the evening, Lanling did not find a portrait of Tutor Niya among the many lovers' portraits of Solon.
Given Niya's status and position, Solon certainly would have kept her portrait, so the fact that these portraits were gone, meant they must have been destroyed. It was clear there was a story behind this.
However, a few hours later, Ye Jingyu provided Lanling with a file, all about Tutor Niya.
Niya, thirty-two years old this year, came from a noble family and was the legitimate daughter of an Earl's family. She possessed excellent artistic talent from a young age, was mentored by great teachers, and became famous in the Royal City when she was only in her teens.
Her overflowing talent led her to enter Royal City Academy at the age of eleven, where she became the direct disciple of Principal Jian Yong. She graduated at seventeen, became an Assistant Teacher at the Academy at nineteen, and at the age of twenty-seven, she became the youngest tutor at the Royal City Academy in decades.
Not only did she possess outstanding talent, but she was also stunningly beautiful with a charming figure, and was the heartthrob of the entire Royal City Academy, the dream lover of all students and male teachers.
The current Niya is even a renowned musician and literary figure in the Rage Wave Kingdom, especially praised for her skills on the keyboard instrument by none other than King Quo Bian. In addition, she possessed exceptional medical skills and at that time, served as a medical assistant teacher at the Royal Saint Mercy Hospital.
At the age of twenty-one, she married Jian Ning, the son of Principal Jian Yong, shattering the hearts of numerous admirers.
Her husband, Jian Ning, was a top-tier young talent of the Rage Wave Kingdom. Both intellectually and martially gifted, he was the pick of the litter and, nearing thirty-three, the youngest leader of the Northern Legion and the future Marquis.
Jian Ning was not only talented in both literature and martial arts and of noble birth, but also famously handsome in the Royal City. Since the age of sixteen, he had been the dream of countless young girls.
When this perfect match wed ten years ago, they broke the hearts and souls of many young men and women, yet everyone harbored only envy, no jealousy, for the two were seen as truly made for each other, a match crafted by Heaven itself.
By all accounts, this couple should be steadfast in love, destined to grow old together.
Moreover, Tutor Niya was subjected to very strict home education from a young age, conservative and reserved. Despite her beauty, she was never frivolous and even could be considered severe, difficult to get along with when in front of her students.
Such a person does not seem like one who would cheat.
Nevertheless, Niya had an affair two years ago, and what's more, her lover was the notorious and uneducated Solon.
At the time, she was Solon's tutor in arts and literature; it was through learning to play the piano that Solon ensnared her.
No matter in looks, temperament, prospects, or talent, Solon was far inferior to her husband Jian Ning, not even worthy enough to hold his boots. That Niya would forsake such an outstanding husband for a scoundrel like Solon was truly incomprehensible.
However, after reviewing the extensive file, Lanling could fully understand her psyche.
She studied art and was particularly excellent in music. Female artists of such exceptional talent often have romantic and unrestrained hearts; yet, the strict upbringing had suppressed her true nature. She had to remain solemn, bound by the so-called etiquette of the noble lady.
Although her husband was a master of both literature and martial arts, a one-in-a-million handsome man, he was utterly immersed in martial pursuits and his career, having neither understanding nor respect for what's known as art.
So, in Niya's eyes, her husband Jian Ning was an unromantic, rigid, and cold layman. Furthermore, having just escaped her parents' constraints, she was faced with the restraints of a rigid husband, leaving her longing for freedom unfulfilled.
Solon was completely different, though virtually good for nothing, he had a free spirit, followed his desires, and had a mouth as sweet as honey.
There's a saying: a woman doesn't love a man who isn't bad. Day after day of Solon's flirting and harassment finally led to the fall of Niya, a woman with a romantic heart but a stern façade.
For such a literary, artistic woman, no words are more powerful than: "In this world, only I understand you."
Solon might be good for nothing else, but when it came to understanding the female psyche, he was a master; hence, he was nearly invincible in matters of women, only having stumbled with the coldly intelligent Princess Zhining, even losing his life.
However, Lanling still had one thing he couldn't understand.
Although Niya's emotional life was not as perfect as one might imagine, she had a high moral standing, bordering on obsession with virtue, to the point where, even if dissatisfied with her husband, she surely wouldn't have had an actual affair. To put it plainly, she might have had spiritual affairs, but certainly not physical ones.
Yet, she did have a physical affair, caught in the act of intimacy with Solon in the garden.
So, what exactly happened that caused Niya to break her own standards of morality and physically cheat? Could it be that Jian Ning cheated first? Or was there something even more shocking that took place?
Lanling sensed that finding the answer to this might be key to convincing Principal Jian Yong to rescind his orders.
Moreover, after Niya's secret meeting with Lanling was discovered, Principal Jian Yong simply transferred her instead of imposing any harsh punishment on her and Lanling.
Having thought through these matters, Lanling began to plan how to converse with Tutor Niya the next day.
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Following his sister Suo Ningbing's guidance, he began to immerse himself wholeheartedly into Solon's inner world, imitating Solon's every word and deed, each expression, every look.
Previously, Lanling's performance in imitating Solon's words and actions was not good.
However, at this critical moment, Lanling performed exceptionally well and resembled Solon to an uncanny degree, completely dazzling Suo Ningbing with her beautiful eyes sparkling with admiration.
Suo Ningbing even said, "Ling, you are just imitating Solon, but don't ever become like him. Sister still prefers you as you are."
"I know," Lanling said, scratching the back of his head in elation and revealing once more the greenness unique to Lanling.
"All right, it's getting late, you should rest," said Suo Ningbing. "Early tomorrow, we must continue our journey to the Northern Province."
Lanling said, "I'll go to the cleaning room to practice the zither for a while. Sister should go to sleep first."
Lanling went to the deepest, quietest room in the Earl's estate and began to play the zither.
Of course, it wasn't a piano—this world didn't have pianos—but a clavichord, which had an almost identical layout. The piece he practiced was the famous "Adelina by the Water" by Paulo Senneville.
While playing, he pondered how to deal with Solon's former lover and tutor, Niya.
...
Early the next morning, Lanling, accompanied by Ye Jingyu, set off for Lingfeng Province in the Northern Province.
After a long journey of three days and three nights, the two arrived at the city of Lingfeng Province.
Not only was Tutor Niya highly accomplished in the arts, but she was also an outstanding physician. At present, she served in the Northern Legion, holding a prestigious position as a military doctor.
The Northern Legion guarded the northern borders of the Rage Wave Kingdom, against the mightiest Flame Empire, so naturally, the military camp was exceptionally strict, and Lanling and Ye Jingyu could not simply barge in.
Fortunately, besides being a military doctor, Tutor Niya was also the honorary president of the Ciji Association in Lingfeng Province. She would go to the Ciji Association every five days to teach orphans there, thus revealing her truly noble nature.
When Lanling arrived at the Ciji Association in Lingfeng Province with a pile of things, Tutor Niya was not there.
Unsurprisingly, Niya held a goddess-like status at the Ciji Association. From the nurses to the teachers, as well as all the orphans, everyone saw Niya as their closest kin.
Thereby, when Lanling inquired about Niya, not only did he receive no information, but he was also met with guarded and hostile gazes.
But let's not forget that Lanling was also an orphan and resonated strongly with the emotions of the children at the Ciji Association, easily releasing his sincere feelings and effortlessly gaining the trust of the children and nurses.
Two hours later, Lanling was already standing in front of the children's classroom, telling them fairy tales from Earth.
The children below listened so intently that in just half a day, Lanling had won the hearts of everyone at the Ciji Association.
So, when Lanling inquired about Niya again, those nurses and children were eager to tell him everything. Furthermore, they started to strongly suggest ways he could pursue Niya, oblivious to the fact that Niya was already married and unaware of her noble status.
Though he came to find Niya, Lanling was so happy at the Ciji Association that he stayed for a full day, even spending the night there.
That night, many little heads crowded around him as he told them three stories, continuing until the nurses urged them several times, after which the children reluctantly crawled into their beds to sleep.
"Big brother, Aunt Niya will come tomorrow to teach us; you have to do your best," a little girl whispered.
...
Without any surprise, the moment Tutor Niya entered the Ciji Association, she saw Lanling (Solon).
Initially, her face was filled with a radiant smile that she had reserved for the children, having missed them for five days and looking forward to seeing them again.
However, what she saw was Solon's face, a face she had once loved passionately and also hated to the bone.
Suddenly, her smile froze, and she stood rooted to the spot.