C3 Marriage Gift

Gao Shaoyi sprinted at top speed all the way to the Tiger General's Mansion.

"By imperial decree, officials below the third rank must dismount upon entering the General's Mansion."

Before Gao Shaoyi could utter a word, several guards from the mansion preemptively approached him.

Recognizing Gao Shaoyi as the brother of the General's former wife, the guards showed no respect, choosing instead to give him a hard time.

Their disdain stemmed partly from Gao Shaoyi's reputation as a laughingstock among the capital's nobility.

Additionally, Lee Mingshan had divorced his wife and was soon to wed the sister of the Envoy from the East Di Empire.

Wang Wu's whip cracked, leaving a red welt on the face of the insolent guard.

"Insolence! The Marquis is a noble of the Empire, and the current Emperor is his maternal uncle. Even the highest-ranking officials must kneel before the Marquis. And you, what are you in comparison?"

With a sidelong glance from Gao Shaoyi, Wang Wu struck again. The burly guards, one now nursing a mark from the whip, remained silent, while the others hurried over to pay homage to the Marquis.

Despite being the butt of jokes among the elite, Gao Shaoyi was not someone these mere guards could afford to antagonize.

Yet, it was unusual for Gao Shaoyi to show such fury; what had changed today? And the company he kept was no longer the usual riffraff.

At the Tiger General's Mansion?

Gao Shaoyi let out a cold snort, drew the twin revolvers from his belt, and opened fire on the signboard. Moments later, it was riddled with holes like a honeycomb.

The gunshots drew the attention of everyone within the mansion and the vicinity.

What kind of pistol was this?

Many onlookers were baffled by the silver revolver in Gao Shaoyi's hand, wondering if the weapon could fire repeatedly.

The West had indeed developed revolvers, but they were plagued with issues and in need of refinement.

Thus, such firearms were rare even in the more progressive Western nations, much less in the comparatively undeveloped Qian Empire.

"What's your game here? Your sister and I are divorced. Why the commotion? Do you want to be the laughingstock of the entire capital?" Lee Mingshan emerged, unfazed, having never regarded Gao Shaoyi as a threat.

"You have no right to strike my men. That's illegal!" Lee Mingshan's voice was firm, his gaze fixed on his henchman's bruised face amidst the crowd. With the backing of the Envoy of the East Di Empire, he saw no reason to fear Gao Shaoyi.

To the crowd's astonishment, Gao Shaoyi ended the life of the battered man. Blood spattered onto Lee Mingshan, who stood too close to the scene. Gao Shaoyi had committed murder in broad daylight!

The locals, terrified, quickly retreated to a safer distance. It had been over a decade since the capital, once under the joint occupation of the Windsar and Galru Empires, had witnessed such an act of violence. The city's security had improved significantly since then.

"By the laws of the Qian Empire, anyone who unjustly offends a noble is to be beheaded in the street, their family exiled for three thousand miles. If you hadn't mentioned the law, a whipping would have sufficed. But since you did, I shall act accordingly," declared Gao Shaoyi with unwavering conviction. His statement, though extreme, was in line with the Qian legal code.

Lee Mingshan was at a loss for words. His trusted aide had been executed right in front of his mansion, and he could not muster a single retort. How had Gao Shaoyi become so well-versed in the laws of the Qian Empire?

Lee Mingshan knew Gao Shaoyi's reputation for indulgence in life's vices, never having committed to any serious endeavor. What had changed today?

"Insolence!" In response, over twenty armed guards charged from the mansion. The Qian Empire still favored traditional weaponry, but Wang Wu and his companions were undeterred. They readied their revolvers, shielding Gao Shaoyi. Guns aimed at Lee Mingshan's household troops, they were outnumbered but not outmatched, ready for a confrontation if necessary.

A new rifle? How could that be possible? Lee Mingshan was drawn by the sound of bullets being chambered.

Lee Mingshan, formerly of the Ministry of War, had only recently been reassigned to the Yamen for Prime Minister's Affairs. He was well aware of the formidable nature of these new rifles; his men surely couldn't stand a chance against them.

Yet, the importation of these rifles was extremely limited. Aside from the imperial guards, only select guards from the royal mansions were armed with them. How had he managed to acquire one?

"Don't do anything rash!"

Lee Mingshan swiftly assessed the situation, realizing that if a conflict arose, he wouldn't have much to gain.

"So, let's assume you're right. What brings you here today? Your sister and I are no longer connected. You are not welcome in my home."

Truth be told, Lee Mingshan had been bested in the previous encounter, but with so many onlookers, he had no choice but to swiftly shift to another subject.

The onlookers weren't naive; they looked at him with a hint of scorn.

His confidant had been killed in broad daylight, and despite having the upper hand in numbers, he was backing down?

"By the laws of the Qian Empire, a wife must have her dowry returned upon divorce. My sister left without a penny. Have you kept her dowry and our parents' gifts for yourself? If you keep marrying, will you not become the wealthiest man in the capital?"

Gao Shaoyi wasn't truly there to reclaim the dowry; he sought vengeance. Nonetheless, it was a perfectly valid pretext.

Once upon a time, Lee Mingshan was merely a top scholar without influential support. His rise to officialdom in the Qian Empire was entirely orchestrated by Gao Shaoyi's father.

Although Gao Shaoyi's memory was hazy, he knew the dowry was substantial.

"He divorces his wife and keeps the dowry? Who does that?"

"It appears that those from the General's Mansion are quite covetous."

"The General's Mansion may look noble, but I never imagined they'd be so avaricious."

Lee Mingshan found himself at a loss for words amid the murmurs of the crowd.

If Gao Shaoyi had brought up any other issue, he could have made a clear case. But the dowry? That was indefensible.

Back in the day, his father-in-law had been incredibly generous to him. Without any support in the capital, everything he had came from his wife's father.

From purchasing a home to furnishing it, Gao Shaoyi's father had footed the bill. The total value of these items was no less than tens of thousands of imperial silver coins.

Lee Mingshan was the envy of many, as his bride-to-be had brought a substantial dowry.

Now that he had divorced, he had no ties to his wife, and was obligated to return her dowry.

But he had nearly spent all the money. Lee Mingshan's recent reassignment to the Yamen for Prime Minister's Affairs was a direct result of squandering his wife's dowry, nearly forcing him to sell off the entire General's Mansion.

Lee Mingshan fixed a stern gaze on Gao Shaoyi. Despite appearing like a brute stirring up trouble, his points were valid. He acknowledged his mistake with the dowry. Now, the question was, what should he do next?