C2 Divorce

Gao Shaoyi rushed back to the Marquis Mansion, a vast estate now manned by a mere dozen aging servants. He could only imagine the extent of the trouble he had stirred up.

"Big Sister!"

His anger flared upon seeing her. A handprint marred her face, and not a single maid attended her. Bandages wrapped her feet, a hint of blood seeping through. Had she walked all the way back?

The distance between the Tiger General's Mansion and the Marquis Mansion spanned over thirty miles. She was accustomed to the confines of home; how could she have traversed such a distance?

"Marquis, please look at this."

Gao Shaoyi was on the brink of an outburst when the old butler presented him with a divorce decree.

His brother-in-law had accused his sister of lacking virtue and failing to care for his parents. He went so far as to declare her unfit as a wife, hence sending her back.

"Brother, there's no need for concern. I won't linger here long. Once I've healed, I'll seek another residence. Until my foot mends, I'll have to impose upon you."

Hearing this, Gao Shaoyi was awash with shame, wishing he could disappear into the earth.

He had been reckless in the past, neglecting his sister's welfare and inadvertently causing her to bear the brunt of their parents' complaints due to his antics at the mansion. He suspected his recent actions might have contributed to her current plight.

"This is your home too. Why look elsewhere? I may not be the most reliable, but with our parents gone, who will look after you if not me?"

With determination, Gao Shaoyi took the medicine from the maid and tenderly treated his sister's facial wound.

In that moment, she let go of the pain, feeling an unexpected warmth from her brother who had always been a source of trouble and indifference. Had he truly changed?

"Don't go looking for trouble."

After he finished dressing her wound, he instructed her to rest in the backyard. As she left, she entrusted him with several matters.

She knew his fiery temper well; the bulging veins on his clenched fist were a telltale sign. She was certain he would confront Lee Mingshan to settle their grievances.

Their family had fallen on hard times, and if he stirred up trouble in the capital city, he would surely be the one to pay the price.

"Big sister, don't worry. I'm grown up now, I won't act like a child. You can rest easy."

Once she was out of sight, his eyes took on the sharpness of a cheetah's.

"Go fetch Wang Wu and the others."

In the Marquis Mansion, a mere dozen servants remained, among them four bodyguards. These men, once protectors of his father, were highly skilled. They had been relegated to the front courtyard by Gao Shaoyi for persistently urging him to choose the straight and narrow. But now, their presence was crucial.

They arrived promptly.

"Marquis."

They were aware of her plight, yet they doubted Gao Shaoyi's nerve to seek vengeance.

Their respect for him was lacking; they saw him as a coward who only bullied the weak—a genuine scoundrel.

"Will you join me in confronting Tiger General's Mansion?"

After Gao Shaoyi spoke, they sensed a change in him.

Gone was his former frivolity; a newfound earnestness flickered in his eyes.

"Marquis, we will follow your command."

Wang Wu responded. She had been wronged, and if they failed to demand justice from Tiger General's Mansion, the Marquis Mansion would become the laughingstock of the capital city. If even he, known for his timidity, dared to challenge the Tiger General's Mansion, how could they not?

"Do you know how to handle this rifle?"

Gao Shaoyi tossed a rifle to Wang Wu.

Wang Wu recognized it as the latest model bolt-action rifle, and he was incredulous.

The guards of the Marquis Mansion, including Wang Wu, were well-connected with those in other estates of the capital. Some prestigious households had acquired a few such rifles, but it was astonishing that the modest Marquis Mansion possessed one, and theirs appeared even newer.

The truth was, the bolt-action rifles imported by the Qian Empire were all prototypes. The Windsar Empire had deceived them; these rifles were not brand new. But the rifles Gao Shaoyi had managed to obtain were indeed fresh from the factory.

"Young Master, this rifle seems different from the ones at King Lu's Mansion."

Wang Wu noticed that the rifle Gao Shaoyi gave him could load several full metal jacket bullets at once, unlike the single-paper cartridge rifles used by the guards at King Lu's Mansion.

A rifle cost twelve imperial coins, and naturally, he would choose the best one available.

Gao Shaoyi grabbed the rifle and fired off a few rounds to the side, startling his men. They had never seen a rifle that could hold several bullets at once. Weren't rifles supposed to hold just one? Yet, the Young Master had just fired three shots in rapid succession.

It was a Model 1971 Mauser Rifle, the version finalized in 1884, with an eight-round magazine.

The Mauser 98K could be loaded with five bullets at a time, but this rifle had to be loaded more slowly. Still, it was considered the most advanced rifle in the world at that time.

"Come with me to Lee Mingshan's residence. Those who are faint-hearted may stay behind."

Gao Shaoyi sported two silver revolvers at his waist, the only firearms that could be exchanged without needing to unlock them in the system. Each revolver was valued at ten imperial silver coins.

Without hesitation, Wang Wu and his brothers briskly followed Gao Shaoyi.

Their young master was finally showing a semblance of the old master's presence, and Wang Wu was visibly moved.

Had the old master been alive, would Lee Mingshan have dared to disrespect their young mistress? He would have been severely punished for such insolence.

"Young Master, please hold on. Lee Mingshan has become an official in the Yamen for Prime Minister's Affairs. You're about to leave for the frontier, and the young mistress wanted to pledge her jewelry to fund your journey, which Lee Mingshan found out about. He beat her for it. Lee Mingshan learned of Envoy Ryoji Otomo's intentions to marry his sister to him, seeing it as an opportunity to forge a strong alliance, especially with you away at the border and the Marquis Mansion unable to assist. Our young mistress has been sent back. Young Master, we must tread carefully; the East Di Country's envoy is not someone we can provoke."

The butler had thoroughly investigated the news. It wouldn't be a significant issue if their intent was merely to discipline Lee Mingshan. However, involving foreigners could spell trouble, especially since these foreigners held a status even above the emperor of the Qian Empire.

Gao Shaoyi was seething with anger and shame upon hearing this. His sister had cherished him since childhood, never once distancing herself despite the troubles he caused. Instead, she had always been his steadfast caretaker.

Money had always been tight for him. As he prepared for his journey to the frontier, his sister had considered pawning her jewelry to fund his travels. Yet, for her troubles, she received a slap from Lee Mingshan. Had Gao Shaoyi been the pillar of support for his sister like their father, would Lee Mingshan have dared to divorce her? Lee Mingshan's lack of compassion was appalling.

"I don't care if he's the Envoy from East Di Country. I'll teach a lesson to anyone who crosses me," Gao Shaoyi declared.

With a forceful shove, he brushed past the butler attempting to restrain him and mounted his steed, galloping off. The Wang family's four brothers flanked him, their loyalty unwavering. They had been inspired by their young master's commanding presence and were ready to lay down their lives for him. The East Di Country, once a trivial entity centuries ago, now dared to challenge them.

The butler, overcome with anxiety, paced in circles, uncertain of his next move. The East Di Country's citizens strutted around the capital with impunity, their ordinary merchants disregarding the Qian Empire's officials, to say nothing of their own dignitaries.

"Has the marquis lost his mind? Galloping wildly through the inner city!" one bystander remarked.

"Are you unaware that the lady of the Marquis Mansion has divorced her husband?" another replied.

"With only his marquisate, can he really secure justice for his sister?"

"It's difficult to predict. Perhaps he might just pull it off."

The divorce of the Marquis Mansion's young lady had become the talk of the capital within hours. Gao Shaoyi, typically seen as a bully who preyed on the weak, was now charging towards Lee Mingshan's residence on horseback—a turn of events that caught everyone off guard.

Judging by the Young Marquis's determined gaze, it was believed that not even Lee Mingshan's dogs would be spared his wrath.