C8 To Deceive

Over the next thirty minutes, the common folk of the capital city witnessed an unprecedented spectacle. Tiger General Lee Mingshan, barefoot and beleaguered, ran back and forth in front of his own home. His pace had to be kept up, for if he slowed, First Wang and his crew were quick to lash out with their whips. Their disdain for Lee Mingshan was palpable, and they showed no mercy in their punishment.

Gao Shaoyi, embodying nonchalance, found a comfortable spot to sit, while the locals even hauled their own lounge chairs to the scene.

"Marquis, isn't this enough? His feet are raw," someone called out as Lee Mingshan shuffled by, leaving a trail of bloodstains that First Wang couldn't help but notice.

First Wang's concern wasn't for Lee Mingshan, but rather for Gao Shaoyi. As the Tiger General under the Imperial Court, any repercussions from the court could spell trouble for Gao Shaoyi.

"We're far from done! I want all of the capital city to understand that from this moment on, anyone who crosses me will end up just like Lee Mingshan," Gao Shaoyi declared, making Wang Wu's understanding crystal clear.

Gao Shaoyi was soon to depart for an official post elsewhere, but his sister and her family would remain in the capital. This display served as a preemptive warning to any potential adversaries: only those confident in their resilience should dare approach.

Hearing this, Lee Mingshan wished he could just collapse and end his misery.

Twenty minutes later, Lee Mingshan could no longer move. Despite Third Wang's relentless strikes to his back, he refused to rise.

Gao Shaoyi surveyed the crowd, now several thousand strong, and knew that by sunrise, the events at the General's Mansion would be the talk of the town.

"If only I had foreseen today's events, I would have never started this," he mused. "The debt owed for my sister's injured foot was one thing, but for the slap to her face, we'll settle with your finger."

With a swift motion, Gao Shaoyi pulled a dagger from First Wang's belt.

The onlookers gasped at the sight. The Young Marquis was not one to be trifled with. Yet, First Wang and his brothers wholeheartedly supported the show of force. If establishing dominance in the capital city meant dealing with a scoundrel like Lee Mingshan, they were prepared to see it through to the bitter end.

"You... you can't do this... I am an official appointed by the Imperial Court. If you dare harm my hand, you'll regret it," Lee Mingshan gasped out, his eyes wide with terror.

"Since when have I ever shirked responsibility? If I'm bold enough to sever your finger today, I'll face whatever consequences the Imperial Court deems fit. That's not for you to worry about..." Gao Shaoyi's voice was cold as he spoke the final words, and with a swift motion, he sliced off the little finger of Lee Mingshan's right hand. He then casually wiped the blade on Mingshan's clothes before tossing the knife to First Wang.

In that moment, the Wang brothers looked on with unabashed reverence. Was this not the old marquis reborn?

Yet, what had become of the Young Marquis in recent years? He had been down on his luck for so long, and now, suddenly, he seemed transformed.

"By this time tomorrow, I'll return with my men to take possession of the house. You have one day to move your family out. If anyone is still squatting here by then, don't expect any mercy from me," Gao Shaoyi declared from atop his horse, looking down at Lee Mingshan, who lay crumpled like a discarded rag.

The local commoners, far from feeling sorry for Mingshan, actually clapped and cheered. Who asked him to betray his own people and act so superior?

The master and his servants rode off, leaving behind the pitiful cries of Lee Mingshan.

Word of the incident spread like wildfire through the capital within just a couple of hours.

Whether noble or common, everyone struggled to believe the news. Yet, as the story was corroborated by multiple sources, it became undeniable that Lee Mingshan had indeed lost a finger.

Notably, Ryoji Otomo, the Envoy from East Di Country, had also been bested by Gao Shaoyi.

Even as night fell and the lamps were lit, there was no word of Otomo lodging a protest at the Yamen for Prime Minister's Affairs.

Under normal circumstances, they would have already made their grievances known, possibly even threatening war. But for now, the embassy of the East Di Country remained eerily quiet.

In the Golden-purple Hall of Efficiency, Emperor Yongde listened with a face of panic to the report from his subordinate. Initially, he was so furious with his nephew that he could have strangled him. Why provoke the people of East Di Country of all possible adversaries? Did he think they were merely toying with us? Over the last two decades, they've encroached on who knows how much of our land.

"Are you suggesting that Ryoji Otomo has simply let it go?" Emperor Yongde asked, incredulous.

The East Di Country was notoriously difficult to deal with among the world powers, quick to threaten with military force. Could they really just swallow the bitter pill of such a significant setback?

"Your Majesty, it seems he has endured it for now, but who can say what he might be planning for the future? The actions of the Young Marquis were indeed excessive," Eunuch Lee reported. As the head of intelligence for the capital city, he had reconstructed the events with near-perfect accuracy. No one in recent decades had pushed the boundaries as Gao Shaoyi had.

"Your Majesty, should we summon the Young Marquis for questioning?" Eunuch Lee inquired after a lengthy silence from the Emperor.

"You imbecile, why would we bring him here? Wouldn't that signal that I'm aware of the incident? Ryoji Otomo has kept silent; we shall do the same and act as if nothing happened," Emperor Yongde declared, slamming his hand on the table, clearly averse to engaging with these foreigners.

"But Lee Mingshan has already lodged a report with the Bureau of Military Personnel..."

"That scoundrel has the audacity to lodge a complaint after mistreating my niece," the Emperor fumed. Gao Shaoyi's sister was, after all, the Emperor's own niece. He had considered dismissing Lee Mingshan from his post, but the thought of Ryoji Otomo made him hold his tongue.

"Send a message to the Bureau of Military Personnel. If the East Di Country doesn't intervene, tell them to handle the matter discreetly and close the case," Emperor Yongde commanded, lacking the resolve to dismiss Lee Mingshan outright. Even with Lee Mingshan branded as a traitor, the Emperor dared not cross these powerful foreigners.

With the Emperor's directive in hand, the officials at the Bureau of Military Personnel knew exactly how to proceed.

Although Gao Shaoyi was often the butt of jokes among the capital's nobility, he was, after all, the Emperor's nephew. Was it really appropriate to summon him for questioning?

Besides, no one truly looked down on Lee Mingshan's character, so the matter was simply dragged out. Without any interference from East Di Country, it could potentially be postponed for three to five years.

However, the scene outside Gao Shaoyi's residence was far from pleasant. Lee Mingshan's mother, accompanied by a group of weeping women and children, sat in front of the Marquis Mansion, demanding that Gao Shaoyi provide an explanation...