Bonus Chapter. Enjoy!
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The White Tiger Dukes Mansion occupied a vast area, with pavilions and towers, carved beams and painted pillars, looking extraordinarily imposing.
Usually, there were many servants in the mansion, coming and going, everywhere reflecting the dignity and rules of a great noble Clan.
As the wife of the Duke of White Tiger, Zhu Yunqing had no shortage of attendants, with people following her wherever she went, ready to wait on her at any moment.
But now, the surroundings were completely empty. The servants had been thoroughly dismissed, and not even a single person was left to serve tea or pour water.
Inside the entire room, only Dai Hao and Zhu Yunqing were present.
Zhu Yunqing was no longer her usual elegant self; her well-maintained Face was currently twisted with ferocity.
She reached out a finger to point at the Dai Hao opposite her, her finger trembling, and her voice was so shrill it almost seemed to tear the roof off: "You... you actually want to divorce me?!"
That's right, Dai Hao had returned to the Dukes Mansion today and dismissed the surrounding servants precisely to tell Zhu Yunqing... he wanted to divorce his wife!
Dai Hao's Face was not looking good either; that resolute Face was so gloomy it seemed like water could drip from it. If it weren't for the things Zhu Yunqing had done, how could the White Tiger Clan have lost such a peerless Genius?
That child could rival a Spirit Douluo at the age of twelve; his future achievements would be limitless. If he could return to the Clan, why would the White Tiger lineage worry about not thriving?
He, this Duke of White Tiger, would not have lost so much Face at Star Luo Plaza, being forced by his own son to unleash his Martial Soul True Body in front of tens of thousands of people, only to be suppressed in public by the dean of Shrek Academy.
The source of all this was the woman before him.
His tone held no emotion as he said indifferently: "If you do something wrong, you must pay the price."
Although Zhu Yunqing hadn't gone to Star Luo Plaza to watch the competition, she had her own sources of information.
She knew that Huo Yuhao was no longer someone she could touch. That youth now had Shrek Academy standing behind him, and even the Emperor had to give him some Face. She also knew that Emperor Xu Jiawei had promised to give Huo Yuhao an explanation.
But she had always held onto wishful thinking.
She felt that as the eldest daughter of the Zhu Clan, she had the entire Zhu Clan backing her.
She felt that she had borne children for Dai Hao and managed the household for so many years; even if she hadn't achieved great merit, she had put in the hard work.
She felt that even if she had done something wrong, it would just be a few reprimands or being grounded for a few days; surely there wouldn't be any substantial punishment falling upon her.
But clearly, she had thought wrong.
What she received in the end was actually a divorce letter from the Duke of White Tiger!
Listening to these words from Dai Hao, she sneered, her well-maintained face full of madness.
She laughed hysterically, laughing until tears streamed down: "Hahaha, what a good Duke of White Tiger, saying I did something wrong?"
She abruptly raised her head, her gaze piercing towards Dai Hao like a knife.
"Ever since Huo Yun'er became pregnant, have you ever paid her any attention? Have you ever sent anyone to check on that mother and son? Have you ever known what kind of life they led in the mansion?"
Her voice grew higher and sharper: "If it weren't for this Huo Yuhao becoming a Genius of Shrek Academy, I'm afraid you wouldn't have even remembered the two of them, would you?"
She paused, her chest heaving violently.
"What? Now you want to push everything onto me with just a few words? Not a chance!"
[A/N: She ain't wrong.]
Watching his once-gentle wife now acting like a shrew, Dai Hao frowned slightly. A flash of disgust crossed his resolute face. He didn't want to say another word to this woman; he was too lazy to listen to a single syllable.
"This matter is decided." His voice was as cold as the winter wind. "I'll give you one day. Tomorrow... get out of the White Tiger Dukes Mansion!"
Looking at Dai Hao's resolute expression, Zhu Yunqing shouted sharply again: "You really dare to divorce me?!"
"The Dai and Zhu families have been married for Ten Thousand Years; if you divorce me, my brother won't agree! After this, our two families will have no more connection!"
She thought that by bringing up the Zhu Clan and the righteousness of the two clans' marriage alliance, she could make Dai Hao back down.
She thought that her brother, the head of the Zhu Clan, would definitely stand on her side.
She thought that this ten-thousand-year marriage alliance wasn't something Dai Hao could just break on his own.
Listening to Zhu Yunqing's bluster, Dai Hao just said indifferently: "Zhu Yunhao has already agreed. Divorcing you won't affect the relationship between the two clans."
This matter had been decided under the coordination of Emperor Xu Jiawei; naturally, Zhu Yunhao had no objections. A sister versus a Genius who would very likely become a Super Douluo in the future—which was heavier and which was lighter? This calculation, Zhu Yunhao, as the head of the Zhu Clan, knew better than anyone.
As long as Huo Yuhao didn't fall, he would be at least a Super Douluo in the future. Sacrificing one sister to avoid the resentment of a Super Douluo—no matter how you looked at it, it was a profit.
In these great families, Bloodline was sometimes the most worthless thing. Benefits were the only eternal thing.
Hearing this, Zhu Yunqing's expression changed instantly.
The arrogance and domineering look on her Face, the madness and resentment in her eyes, the hysterical screaming...
At this moment, they all vanished completely.
She lost her previous arrogance, and even more so, the madness from just a moment ago. Her body went soft, her legs feeling as if all their strength had been drained, and she slumped to the floor. Her eyes were devoid of spirit, staring blankly ahead, her lips trembling as she muttered: "How is this possible? How is this possible?"
Zhu Yunqing had already guessed her ending. This divorce letter from Dai Hao didn't just kick her out of the White Tiger Dukes Mansion. The Zhu Clan, I'm afraid, wouldn't welcome her either!
Dai Hao glanced expressionlessly at Zhu Yunqing on the floor and turned to leave the room.
His footsteps were steady, without a hint of hesitation, and his tall back paused at the door frame before disappearing outside.
Walking outside, Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin were standing honestly to the side.
Their faces carried a bit of apprehension and unease; clearly, they had heard the argument in the room just now.
Dai Yueheng's expression was complex, his lips moving slightly, but in the end, he didn't say a word.
He knew he had no qualification to speak on this matter. But Dai Huabin, beside him, suddenly stepped forward and fell to his knees in front of Dai Hao with a thump. His knees slammed heavily into the ground, making a dull thud.
"Father!" His voice carried a cry, his eye sockets already red. "Please, don't drive Mother away, okay? The things from before were all my fault. I can go find Huo Yuhao to apologize, I can kowtow to him, I can..."
Dai Hao swept a cold gaze over this son of his; there was no heartache in his eyes, no pity, only indifference.
He interrupted Dai Huabin: "If you want to follow your mother, then leave the Dukes Mansion together."
One sentence left Dai Huabin as if struck by lightning. He froze in place, the expression on his Face solidified at that moment. His eyes widened, his mouth slightly agape, looking at his father in disbelief. He hadn't expected that this man he had admired since childhood, this father he had always wanted to surpass, would actually say such heartless words.
Dai Hao snorted, no longer looking at the kneeling Dai Huabin, and lifted his foot to walk into the distance.
His footsteps echoed in the corridor, one by one, striking the hearts of the two brothers.
However, one sentence followed, unhurried yet carrying unquestionable majesty. "From now on, Dai Yueheng is the heir of the Dukes Mansion."
Dai Yueheng's expression didn't change much. He knew this day would come sooner or later; from the moment Huo Yuhao shouted those words on Star Luo Plaza, he had known.
He just hadn't expected his father to be so resolute. But Dai Huabin sat dazed on the ground, not rising for a long time.
His mind kept echoing his father's words from just a moment ago... "Dai Yueheng is the heir of the Dukes Mansion."
He knew, his position as the heir... was gone!
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
2 Reviews = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.