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Chapter 59
The woman trembled as she spoke, her anxiety-ridden words striking the man's last nerve.
The man immediately flew into a rage and cursed, "Absurd!"
"Dare you mention divorce to me? All these years, I have provided you with food and shelter. If you leave me—"
The man raised his hand, about to slap the woman.
The woman shoved him away, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.
As the tears fell, she said in a quivering voice, "You provided me with food?"
"How did you provide? With your mouth? I've been the one doing all the chores at home and in the fields, all the farm work!"
"You've been idling about all day long, squandering your money at brothels whenever you have some. When you return home, you expect me to wait on you. How dare you say you've provided me with food?"
"Without this burden that you are, the money I earn wouldn't be snatched away by you to gift to courtesans. I'd have the strength to do needlework and support myself. Without you, I'd live a better life."
"Let's divorce! You worthless waste!"
After uttering those resolute words, the woman turned and went to pack her belongings.
The man was left standing there, his previously mocking and arrogant expression crumbling, turning into anger, bewilderment, panic...
And disbelief.
At the city gates, an eerie silence fell.
Neither the man nor the woman spoke a word!
After coming to their senses, only a few men realized they should treat their wives better.
Most of the other men hurled insults and curses at the woman, but they failed to notice that at that moment, the women in the distance looked at them no longer with reverence and reliance.
Gu Sang knew.
The long-oppressed women were awakening!
They would eventually break free from their shackles and march towards liberty!
"Well done, three-kilometer run completed."
"Everyone turn around."
"Get into the mud pit and do one hundred sit-ups. Five minutes, those who finish can rest, those who don't will do another hundred! I don't want to see any defiant expressions on your faces. Those who can't do it can leave now. Anyone want to leave?"
The actresses who had initially shrunk back were terrified to see a few insects occasionally surfacing in the muddy pit, trembling with fear.
But since they had come this far, there was no backing out now!
Get in!
If others could do it, so could they!
The ancients watched in astonishment as those screaming women, who had expressed fear, ultimately gritted their teeth and stepped into the muddy pit, overcoming their fears and striding towards victory.
The morning training ended.
When Gu Sang went to take a shower, she placed the camera in the adjacent training barracks.
It happened to be a mixed training session for the female and male soldiers there, a combat and firearm competition.
Upon seeing the modern female soldiers fearlessly engaging the male soldiers in combat on the livestream, their eyes brimming with fighting spirit, the ancient warriors were dumbfruck!
Warrior: "This... this is impossible... What fighting technique is this? A woman's physical strength is no match for a man's. How did she take the man down?"
Stuffy old soldier: "What business do women have being soldiers? Absolutely just ornaments! Beat them, give these women a good beating to teach them a lesson."
Minister: "Another... another win? What kind of strength does a woman possess? This must be a female demon."
Concubines: "Sister Sang did not deceive us. There really are female soldiers, and they are no weaker than the men. Even in war, women can hold their own!"
The citizens watched the intense training session, the fighters throwing punches without restraint.
They couldn't even find an excuse to say the male soldiers were going easy on the females.
Because they clearly saw that every soldier on the screen was giving their all!
The male soldiers looked at the females with respect, neither condescending nor patronizing. They regarded them as equal comrades-in-arms!
Pei Changying stared at the livestream, his envious eyes reddening.
To his horror, he realized the fighting techniques employed by the future warriors were completely different from those used by the ancient soldiers.
The future techniques were more focused on close-quarter combat, fast, vicious, and precise strikes.
Meanwhile, his soldiers were still brandishing long swords, thrusting and poking away.
In a one-on-one duel, his soldiers likely wouldn't even have time to raise their swords before being swept off their feet by the opponent's leg sweep!
Gu Sang hadn't shared a word about these incredible techniques with him.
"Gu..." Pei Changying was about to ask Gu Sang for these techniques, but then realized she would never tell him.
"Zhou Qichen, go and record these techniques. If you can't, you ask Gu Sang!"
Yes!
If Zhou Qichen asked, Gu Sang would surely share.
Pei Changying thought to himself, but after waiting a while, he didn't see Zhou Qichen step forward. He scanned the hall but couldn't find Zhou Qichen's presence.
"Your Majesty, General Zhou has been ill and hasn't attended court for a few days."
Pei Changying frowned in anger, "Ill? I think he's feigning illness. Immediately summon Zhou Qichen to see me!"
"All of you martial arts masters, open your eyes and learn. You must master these techniques."
Pei Changying called out a few martial arts masters to learn.
But the masters couldn't even see clearly how their opponents were throwing punches. By the time they figured it out, the match had already ended.
Pei Changying looked expectant, "Did you learn?"
The masters wore pained expressions as they knelt on the hall floor.
They cried helplessly, "Your Majesty, we couldn't comprehend! These techniques rely on spontaneity, without fixed counters. We are incompetent."
"Useless, the entire court of civil and martial officials are useless. Not one is willing to share my burden!"
"Your Majesty, why not have the Noble Consort teach us? The Noble Consort must know."
Pei Changying suppressed his rage, eyeing Gu Sang's appearance on the livestream hungrily.
Before Pei Changying could lower his supreme imperial dignity to inquire, Gu Sang on the other side of the screen curled her lip in a disdainful smile, "Pei Changying is as unteachable as a dog!"
She dared compare him to a dog?
Pei Changying was so enraged he felt like his lungs would explode. He itched to grab Gu Sang by the throat and threaten her, but was powerless to do so.
All he could do was watch helplessly as those terrifying combat techniques unfolded, envious, yearning, desperately wanting to acquire them, but knowing he never would in his lifetime!
Soon, it was noon.
Gu Sang followed the others to the dining hall for a meal.
Seeing someone sit down nearby, a soldier eating looked up and greeted cheerfully, "You must be an actress here for training?"
"You folks are in for a rough time. The instructor is the Iron-Faced King Yama, a real hardass who won't stop torturing until he's broken you."
One of the fellow soldiers at the desk said, "You always come first in training, did you have some prior experience?"
"Yes, I had a bit of experience before."
It's not that Pei Changying had a bad mind, but he liked to show off his bravery in front of the former Emperor.
Gu Sang not only had to think ahead, but also lead the troops into battle.
Several times when Pei Changying was in peril, she risked everything to charge in and rescue him.
The male soldier next to her glanced at Gu Sang, his face full of admiration as he said, "You must be around the same age as my girlfriend. I still have a year left before I'm discharged, and every month I send her my salary to save up. She says by the time I'm discharged, with her income and my severance pay, we'll have enough for the down payment on a house in the county seat."
"She's waited four years for me, and I swear she'll be the only one for me in this life, I have to marry her......"