World-Ending Demon Emperor
Chapter 99 - 99 94 Ascending the Throne as the City Lord of Tianshui!

99: Chapter 94: Ascending the Throne as the City Lord of Tianshui!

(3 more)_2 99: Chapter 94: Ascending the Throne as the City Lord of Tianshui!

(3 more)_2 “Suo Lun, since you are unwilling to stay in the royal city, I must take back the earldom awarded to your family here.” King Quo Bian suddenly declared.

His words not only startled Suo Lun, but also all the civil officials and military generals present.

There were two Count Tianshui residences, one within Tian Shui City, which served not only as the count’s mansion but also the city lord’s.

The other was in the royal city, the very estate where Suo Lun was currently residing.

The royal city count’s mansion was a bestowment from the royal family that had lasted for several generations.

However, this mansion had long been unoccupied until Suo Long, who had been gravely injured and inflicted with a serious illness during the war for the country, needed to stay in the royal city for treatment, which was why he occupied the Tianshui Count’s residence there for a long time.

Now, as Suo Lun planned to return to Tian Shui City, the king directly demanded the return of the earldom residence, which was quite unexpected.

Typically, the residence of a noble would only be repossessed if they committed an error and were stripped of their noble title.

King Quo Bian’s actions seemed almost as if he was eager to rush him back to Tian Shui City, right?

Or perhaps, he was displeased with Suo Lun’s involvement in the recent gamble with Zhi Ning, which had severely embarrassed the royal family?

In any case, the act of reclaiming the count’s mansion would make the king appear petty, not befitting of a ruling sovereign.

But to King Quo Bian, his actions were often whimsical and not to be interpreted with ordinary reasoning.

Any of his moves had profound implications, it just depended on whether you could comprehend them.

And if you failed to understand, you were in danger.

“Yan Wujie, remember to notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs to collect the Tianshui earldom residence within five days,” King Quo Bian ordered.

“By Your Majesty’s command,” Prime Minister Yan Wujie bowed as he responded.

Suo Lun had an inkling that the king’s actions were intent on cutting off his retreat to the royal city.

It seemed as if he was being driven down a specific path, and although Suo Lun hadn’t completely figured it out yet, at least one thing was certain: he could no longer stay in the royal city as the king had already set a deadline, demanding his departure within five days.

“Alright, you may go now, Suo Lun,” King Quo Bian said.

“There’s no need for farewells when the time comes.

Just head straight back to Tian Shui City.

Without an imperial edict or essential military affairs, you shall not return to the royal city, nor forge private relationships with civil and military officials, and certainly not with members of the royal family.”

This was the king’s character; he spoke so straightforwardly that it seemed as if he lacked any cunning.

However, only those who had been by his side for a long time knew how profound and frightening his schemes and political maneuvers could be.

“Your servant obeys,” Suo Lun knelt and then left the grand hall.

Following him were more than a dozen eunuchs, carrying robes, precious swords, and the like, as they escorted him out of the palace and back to Tian Shui City.

…

After returning to the Tianshui Count’s residence, Suo Ningbing was too eager to wait before getting Suo Lun dressed in the Tianshui Count’s embroidered golden robe, placing the gold crown on his head, and strapping the precious sword to his waist.

“So imposing, so handsome indeed, capable of capturing the hearts of daughters from all over,” Suo Ningbing clapped her hands and said, “You must be the most handsome and graceful lord our Suo family has had in hundreds of years.”

Then, Suo Lun simply let his sister arrange him into various poses, while the servants, maids, and family samurais of the count’s mansion gathered around to watch.

While they observed, they applauded and cheered, with many maids showing admiration in their eyes, resenting Suo Lun for now restraining his flirtatiousness towards them.

In the past few months, the atmosphere within the Tianshui Count’s mansion was filled with depression and agony, making even breathing feel constricted.

This was because, during this period, the Suo family was in a state of uncertainty and peril.

And today, it was filled with laughter, filled with joy.

Indeed, this was the happiest day for Suo Ningbing, as Suo Lun had finally overcome all obstacles and inherited the lordship of Tianshui City.

The Suo Family’s centuries-old foundation, fortunately, did not end in her hands.

It was because Suo Lun had turned the tide, saving the Suo Family from this crisis of destruction.

As for the Suo Lun in front of her, he wasn’t actually the real Suo Lun, she really didn’t care about it at all.

Even, she had completely stopped thinking about this matter because in her heart, Suo Lun was not only a brother and relative, but also, vaguely, her lover.

However, she absolutely dared not admit it, nor accept it.

“Sister, His Majesty’s edict demands the return of this earldom, limiting us to leave within five days, and furthermore, we’re not allowed to issue any orders or return to the royal city,” Suo Lun said.

“Let them take it back, it’s cold and uninviting here, I don’t like it one bit,” said Suo Ningbing nonchalantly.

“Only Tianshui City is our home, our root.

We don’t need five days, within three days we will move out of this earl’s residence and return to Tianshui City.”

Thereupon, an elated Suo Ningbing had the servants and maids pack up her belongings and prepare the carriages overnight.

She was completely eager to return, wishing she could leave that very night and return to Tianshui City.

“We will return to Tianshui City after three days, back to our home,” Suo Ningbing uttered with rare vocality.

Suddenly, all the family samurai and maids and servants cheered in unison.

They had been repressed for a very long time and finally, they could cheer, because they were going home.

Then, everyone excitedly packed up their luggage overnight, ready to move house.

…

When Suo Ningbing had gone far enough that she couldn’t see him anymore, the smile on Suo Lun’s face instantly vanished.

He stepped outside into the courtyard, closed his eyes, facing the bright moon above as if letting the moonlight soothe the burning, stinging pain in his eyes.

Even though his sight had returned, his eyes were still damaged, often feeling a burning pain.

“I’ve truly never seen the young lady so happy before,” Ye Jingyu remarked from beside him, then came behind Suo Lun, gently massaging his eyes, and said, “Young Master, what exactly are you worried about?”

Feeling the firm resilience against his back from Ye Jingyu’s chest, Suo Lun leaned back slightly and said slowly, “Jingyu, we can’t return to Tianshui City, we can’t go home.”

“What?” Ye Jingyu exclaimed in a trembling voice.

“I had a premonition about this before, and today’s royal edict has completely confirmed it.

We can’t go back to Tianshui City, and we’ve also lost the lordship of this royal city,” Suo Lun said.

“So, in five days we will be homeless.

I really can’t bear to tell Sister, I truly can’t bear to see the smile fade from her face, she smiles so rarely.”

“What exactly is going on?” Ye Jingyu asked in anguish.

“We’ve been caught in a vortex, and Prince Zili’s strategy is just the first layer,” Suo Lun said.

“Behind this, there’s another vortex, bottomless, because it’s the King’s strategy.

He wants to push me onto another path, and this path is fraught with peril, capable of grinding me and those around me to dust.”

“Which path?

What path?” Ye Jingyu asked.

“I can’t tell you, it’s too dangerous,” Suo Lun said.

“Everyone says King Quo Bian is the most fearsome person under the heavens; today, with just a glimpse of his power, he made me profoundly understand this, truly terrifying.

No wonder none of the kingdom’s ministers, samurai, nobles, and lords can match him.”

Taking a deep breath, Suo Lun turned to Ye Jingyu and said, “Go tell the family samurai to sharpen their weapons, leave everything else, prepare the warhorses, we…

are going to battle.”

“Moreover, the legendary Zhi Yan Princess, she will likely soon return from the Yanjing Divine Dragon Sanctuary,” Suo Lun murmured to himself.