Miss Compton clutched her chest, slowly recovering, frantically waving her folding fan as if it had wronged her.

“Damn, this shameless scoundrel,” her delicate eyebrows shot up, “Does being a Chinese official make him so great? Is robbing his wife’s dowry something to be proud of? What a disgrace to British men!—Dewen, you too, show some courage! Show some self-respect—how can you let him exploit you…”

Gao Dewen kept her head down, tears rolling down her eyelids.

Lin Yuchan said softly: “Enough.”

Emotionally speaking, Lin Yuchan inevitably harbored some resentment toward Gao Dewen. But she knew that “women not controlling their own money” wasn’t the main contradiction.

After all, the Qing hadn’t fallen yet—”women enjoying private property” was a rare thing. Just like when Mao Shunniang had secretly saved money for herself, when discovered, it still became communal property, and Lin Yuchan was powerless to help—it wasn’t that they were weak, but that the entire social atmosphere was against them.

Gao Dewen was considered strong-willed. Yet when her husband took her dowry, there was still no resistance. Her maid even voluntarily handed over the money box keys. When Gao Dewen discovered this and flew into a rage, all the household servants knelt together to persuade her, crying and wailing with chaos throughout the garden. Some even threatened to dash their heads against pillars unless she said “it’s fine, it’s proper”—only then would they move their knees.

Even if she chased after him with a knife, what then? If Ma Qingchen hardened his heart, he could directly send her to an asylum.

Miss Compton’s anger subsided somewhat, and she suddenly whispered: “Under Chinese law, can you divorce?”

After hearing Lin Yuchan’s translation, Gao Dewen immediately shook her head.

Divorce and such things only existed in novels. In this era, only husbands divorced or sold wives—nobody had heard of women successfully initiating divorce. Even if a fierce woman made a scene and got a divorce document, the woman would mostly suffer social death, with no one accepting her again.

Moreover, Gao Dewen, as a “pardoned rebel,” had a special status. Without this foreign official husband’s protection, she would probably worry daily about being liquidated.

Furthermore, what good would divorce do? Acting on momentary anger would make the money even more unrecoverable.

Lin Yuchan suddenly realized something: “Wait! According to current law, shouldn’t foreign marriages between British and Chinese people be outside Qing law jurisdiction? Miss Compton, they should follow British law, right? Does your country’s law have any…”

Miss Compton shook her head helplessly.

“As far as I know, husbands can divorce wives for infidelity… but not the reverse. Damn, in some ways Britain is as backward as the Qing.”

China and Britain hand in hand. Lin Yuchan was somewhat surprised and asked: “So your Queen also…”

“The Queen naturally enjoys immunity from all laws,” Miss Compton said without hesitation. “She can divorce if she wants. However, she and her husband live in harmony and believe all her subjects should live equally ideal married lives.”

Lin Yuchan thought that at least the Qing still had the “Seven Grounds for Divorce,” making it slightly better than Britain.

She didn’t want to delay further and bid farewell to Gao Dewen and Miss Compton.

Then she returned to the ironworks with the two managers, met with Mr. Cole, exhausted all pleasant words, and, working in harmony, secured a one-month extension on the condition of paying two percent additional interest on the final payment at market rates.

Mr. Cole felt he’d been played by the Chinese people, displeasure written on his face, too lazy for bowing and handshakes, and politely but coldly saw the Boya group off.

“Don’t disappoint my trust in Chinese people,” he said meaningfully. “This day next month, I hope to see sufficient silver pounds or dollars are also acceptable. Otherwise, don’t expect to see your new machine!”

Returning to Boya Company, Aunt Hong had just returned from the suburbs, lecturing new employees like a big sister, saying this year’s cotton was growing well, and when harvest season came, everyone would experience the thrill of making money.

Seeing Lin Yuchan enter with a dark expression and wrong aura, Aunt Hong quickly fell silent.

“Little sister, what happened? Were you robbed? Quick, quick, sit down and drink some water—were you hurt?”

Lin Yuchan shook her head and said simply: “Bullied by foreigners.”

Aunt Hong was startled, seeing Lin Yuchan’s clothes intact, sighed in relief, and smiled: “When don’t foreigners bully people? Didn’t you advise us to treat it like hearing dogs bark…”

“…They robbed two thousand taels of silver.”

Aunt Hong fell silent.

Along with several new street-running employees, their faces turned pale with hints of blue as they wondered if they should look for other employers.

Old Zhao had already spread out ink and brush, starting with the closest business partners to compose loan request letters.

Suddenly, someone knocked urgently at the door.

“Luna!” It was Miss Compton, jumping down from the carriage with the coachman’s help and rushing in frantically. “Luna, are you alright? I…”

No matter how good Lin Yuchan’s temper was, she found her somewhat annoying at this moment: “I want some quiet time alone and don’t feel like chatting now. You have so many close friends…”

“I have urgent business to discuss with you.” Miss Compton looked around. “Eh, where’s that green sofa?”

She perfunctorily greeted everyone, then unselfconsciously pulled up a stool to sit down, taking out a thick brown leather English book from her bag.

“Stolen from my father’s study,” Miss Compton beckoned her. “Quick, come look.”

Lin Yuchan said indifferently, “I’m still very busy. If you…”

“This is the British Empire Common Law key summary printed by the consulate for expatriates, revised annually, compiling some common legal precedents.” Miss Compton didn’t look up, rapidly flipping through pages. “I was so angry just now that I forgot to check the laws regarding marital property…”

Lin Yuchan’s heart suddenly jumped, and she immediately pulled up a stool to join her.

She was somewhat surprised: “What does British law say?”

“Coverture, meaning the state where a wife is under her husband’s complete guardianship in marriage. You may have heard this term.” Miss Compton shook her head, pointing with her slender finger at lines of printed English text, reading quickly. “According to Common Law, after marriage, husband and wife become one legal entity, meaning the woman loses legal independence, her rights and obligations transferring to her husband… any money she earns after marriage—whether through wages, investment, gifts, or inheritance—becomes her husband’s property. However…”

She rapidly turned pages, finding a line of fine footnotes, and excitedly reading aloud.

“Supplementary provisions of the Married Women’s Property Act… through the tireless efforts of women’s rights activists, it just passed Parliament last year. It stipulates that dowries women receive from their fathers before marriage can be exempted from coverture.”

Lin Yuchan’s eyes almost touched the paper, looking at those dense legal terms, feeling dizzy.

“You mean… under new British law, husbands have no right to dispose of their wives’ dowries?”

“Depends on when they married. If I, Miss Emma Compton, had married someone the year before last, my lucky husband could naturally enjoy my dowry. But starting last year, he no longer has that power. Luna! When did the Macartneys marry?”

Lin Yuchan’s heartbeat accelerated as she whispered: “Last year.”

Snap—Miss Compton closed the legal code, her chestnut eyes sparkling.

“Seems those greasy old men in Parliament did accomplish something real.” She smiled. “According to British Empire Common Law, Mr. Macartney has no right to use his wife’s dowry. Through litigation, I think we might be able to force him to return that silver… if Dewen is willing.”

“I’m willing!”

Gao Dewen scratched at English letters with her pencil so forcefully that she accidentally poked holes in the paper.

If she couldn’t muster even this much courage, she’d have no face to see Miss Lin again.

Gao Dewen wrote a few letters, then lost interest in studying, ran to the back row to slack off, quietly confirming with Lin Yuchan: “So I can sue my husband to get that money back, and he can’t divorce me?”

It wasn’t that she was particularly attached to marriage. In the current social environment, “divorced wife” has a devastating impact on women. When Gao Dewen married, she was a princess of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom’s “Na Wang Residence” with mighty maternal family backing—if marriage went poorly, at least she had an escape route. Now she was alone and couldn’t bear the consequences of universal abandonment.

Ma Qingchen needed her status and position to help with his promotion and certainly wouldn’t easily let her go. If they fought, only the woman would suffer.

Lin Yuchan couldn’t in good conscience encourage Gao Dewen to throw eggs at stones.

“Using legal weapons to recover the dowry” was the most beneficial thing Gao Dewen could do at this stage. It was also the fastest way for Lin Yuchan to recover her investment.

Lin Yuchan nodded: “If you’re willing to break with your husband…”

“He broke with me first.” Gao Dewen’s face darkened, her bold features all turning gloomy. “He robbed my money first. These past days, he’s been bringing gifts home daily, groveling apologies, but won’t return a single tael. I don’t believe his words anymore.”

“Have you thought it through?”

“I have.”

“It’s settled then. No backing down.”

Gao Dewen smiled bitterly. She had already disappointed Miss Lin’s trust once—Lin Yuchan’s suspicion of her now was understandable.

She habitually began swearing: “By the Heavenly Father and Heavenly Brother…”

Halfway through, seeing Lin Yuchan’s somewhat amused expression, she remembered that the Heavenly Father and Heavenly Brother had long been exterminated.

Gao Dewen slapped the table. “I’ve already moved to separate quarters. You can come anytime. How do you need me to cooperate? As long as it’s not murder or arson, I can do anything.”

Lin Yuchan quickly said, “Don’t be so tragic. Let me think…”

She recalled details from Mr. Compton’s legal consultation book, listing them one by one: “Well, I need your identity documents, family records, marriage certificate details, any witness or material evidence of dowry transfers, family asset documentation… some you might need to search carefully in your residence, avoiding people, especially don’t let your husband discover.”

The word “litigation” sounded simple, but the knowledge involved could fill a black hole. “Lawyer” was a comfortable and respectable profession in Western society—they spent their lives studying one or two sets of laws, and then could eat for a lifetime.

However, this field of study wasn’t currently open to women.

Miss Compton could read and understand some basic legal documents, but that didn’t mean she knew how to litigate.

“Maybe I could become the world’s first female lawyer,” Miss Compton ambitiously planned. “Self-taught genius, famous in one battle, defeating those formally trained lawyer gentlemen…”

Lin Yuchan helplessly handed her a fountain pen. “Not being a journalist anymore?”

“…”

The settlement had no specialized marriage lawyers, only a few intermittently operating legal consultation offices run by professionals from the Municipal Council court moonlighting for extra income.

They didn’t accept female clients.

They could only rely on self-reliance. Fortunately, Miss Compton had numerous close friends, and with slight probing, she gathered countless gossip, gradually analyzing useful information from it.

Lin Yuchan found the keys and opened the guest room on the second floor of the small foreign building. Rong Hong had studied law in Hong Kong in his early years, though unsuccessful, he had considerable collections and notes on Anglo-American legal systems. Lin Yuchan figured emergency borrowing should earn no blame from Rong Hong.

Miss Compton shrieked with delight, like a fish seeing the ocean, diving in to bury herself in the sea of books, not emerging for a long time.

After this crash course lasting a full day, the two amateurs finally understood how to litigate in the settlement.

First, two judicial systems existed in Shanghai’s settlement: the Municipal Council Court—also known as the Mixed Court—tried Chinese people or mediated conflicts between Chinese and foreigners.

If both parties to a dispute were British expatriates, litigation needed to be filed at Her Majesty’s Supreme Court for China and Japan—a British court established in the Public Settlement that exercised extraterritorial jurisdiction over both China and Japan according to the Treaty of Nanking and the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Amity and Commerce.

So occasionally, British expatriates residing in Japan and Korea could be seen bringing oddly dressed local servants, traveling dusty distances across the sea to Shanghai’s settlement to file lawsuits.

Some countries without consulates and courts in the Qing, like Denmark, Belgium, Prussia,…, their expatriates also borrowed this court for litigation.

Since British nationals uniformly enjoyed consular jurisdiction in the Qing, this “Her Majesty’s Supreme Court” operated entirely under British law, with judges wearing wigs daily—Chinese people were not permitted entry.

Miss Compton, leaning on Rong Hong’s desk, suddenly remembered a pitfall: “Dewen’s nationality…”

Lin Yuchan, buried in books without looking up, answered: “The Qing has no nationality law. According to public order, good customs, and British law, wives follow their husbands’ nationality. She automatically became British upon marriage without special procedures… though this reminds me, she should quickly obtain formal identity documents.”

If two British people litigating at Her Majesty’s Supreme Court weren’t satisfied with the results, they could appeal to the “Judicial Committee of the Privy Council” in Britain proper—the final court of appeal for British overseas territories, Crown dependencies, and some independent Commonwealth countries.

“Mrs. Butler’s husband was wrongfully dismissed by his trading company and refused to leave. The lawsuit eventually went back to Britain, taking three months.” Miss Compton scavenged material from her limited lady’s career. “I’ll visit her on Wednesday to probe for details. Though I guess a mere dowry dispute shouldn’t reach Her Majesty. Plus, the final court is enormously expensive…”

Lin Yuchan became alert: “How much does litigation in Britain cost?”

“A few pounds to tens of thousands of pounds, depending on the case amount. However, if the plaintiff wins, costs are borne by the defendant.” Miss Compton recalled, “I remember Mr. Butler ultimately won without spending a penny, only paying lawyer fees.”

Lin Yuchan: “We have no right to hire lawyers. And we must win.”

“There’s another problem,” Miss Compton bit her pen tip, frowning delicately. “Since married women have no independent personhood, theoretically, Dewen cannot appear in court, whether as plaintiff or defendant. She certainly cannot sue her husband, because legally they’re one entity… If she wants her dowry back, the only method is litigation initiated by her male relatives, preferably her father. But Dewen’s male relatives, according to you, were all executed as rebels.”

Lin Yuchan’s mind conjured Manager Macgary’s exaggerated smiling face.

—”Miss, you need a guardian…”

Contemporary women seeking to enter society faced many similar obstacles. “Opening bank accounts” was merely the most ordinary one.

Lin Yuchan immediately said, “If someone else is willing to litigate for her, and Dewen signs consent, would this be valid?”

“Yes,” Miss Compton’s curls blocked her vision, so she simply pulled a brush from the pen holder to pin up her hair, rustling through books. “But… only males… British males. Must be respectable gentlemen. He needn’t appear, could even be in Britain, but a male must step forward to litigate for her.”

Lin Yuchan fell silent. All British male nationals in the settlement totaled only a few hundred.

Ma Qingchen was a legitimate Qing official, also from a proper noble family in Britain with connections radiating in all directions. Settlement residents were mostly seasoned opportunistic adventurers. Even the most warm-hearted gentleman—how could she persuade him to risk offending Ma Qingchen and Qing officialdom to help an unrelated Chinese woman?

The room was stuffy. She opened the window, deeply breathing the humid grass and wood scents from the garden.

Gao Dewen, not knowing English, had stated that she entrusted Lin Yuchan and Miss Compton with full authority over litigation matters. She rapidly gathered needed materials, and her residence’s carriages, sedan chairs, and servants were all unselfishly lent when needed.

“When it comes time to face officials, I’ll appear when needed, absolutely no hesitation. Don’t worry!”

But… whether Qing or British, the laws didn’t allow her to appear.

Lin Yuchan randomly flipped through Rong Hong’s collection. Some books were densely covered with faded old notes.

When Rong Hong studied law in Hong Kong, he harbored grand visions of reforming the Qing’s legal system. At that time, his aspirations were naive, believing “rule of law” could solve all problems, and seriously considering many issues of Anglo-American legal systems adapting to Chinese society.

Lin Yuchan couldn’t help thinking—if only there were internet… no, even telegraph or telephone, letting her consult this legal expert now in America…

No external aid. Only two greenhorn young women are finding secret solutions themselves.

Suddenly, wind blew through wisteria leaves with rustling sounds accompanying insect chirps, striking Lin Yuchan’s eardrums with extreme clarity, forming a flash of light in her mind.

“Miss Compton,” Lin Yuchan asked rapidly, “if… just if, Dewen could find a gentleman in Britain to file suit for her. If that gentleman couldn’t spare time to come to China, couldn’t he also appoint a secondary agent to appear in court, testify, and complete litigation procedures for him?”

Miss Compton put down her pen, thoughtfully pondering for a long while.

“Should be possible.”

Lin Yuchan: “Then this gentleman’s agent needn’t necessarily be British, right? I’ve heard of trading company bosses responding to suits while overseas, so they had their Chinese compradors substitute…”

Miss Compton nodded.

“This agency relationship indeed isn’t limited by nationality. Because the legal subject of litigation remains Dewen, or that gentleman appearing for her… equivalent to hiring a foreign lawyer…”

But she became more puzzled afterward.

“But Luna, what’s the point of considering this? I don’t think Dewen knows any British gentleman besides her husband… let alone someone in Britain! Do you have relevant connections—no, no, if you were that capable, Mr. Macartney wouldn’t dare rob your money.”

Lin Yuchan: “…”

That hit the nail on the head. No need to be so direct, dear.

She smiled bitterly, then sat across from Miss Compton with full confidence, clasping her hands together.

“No,” Lin Yuchan said. “There’s a gentleman in Britain who, though unrelated to Mrs. Gao Dewen, deeply sympathizes with her plight and is willing to complete this litigation process for her. Though he’s reclusive and poor at socializing, he’s literarily gifted with an outstanding reputation—many expatriates in Shanghai’s British Settlement have read his articles. His name is E.C. Bennett.”

Miss Compton slowly covered her mouth, face paling, somewhat breathless.

“Or K. Wood. Or any of your other pen names.” Lin Yuchan’s lips curved slightly, fanning Miss Compton. “Seriously, next time you look for me, you don’t need to lace your corset so tight.”

Miss Compton snatched the folding fan from her hands, rapidly fanning herself, her artificially elevated chest rising and falling, her heart racing with excitement from Lin Yuchan’s bold conception.

“E.C. Bennett!” She giggled charmingly. “I believe many people would have favorable impressions of this seasoned, sharp journalist. Hmm… though K. Wood is kind and honest, cautious in writing, his reputation should also be good…”

“Except he’s in Britain and inconvenient to come… or unwell, or just contracted some infectious disease—anyway, inconvenient to appear.” Lin Yuchan further perfected the plan. “So he would appoint another agent to appear in court for him, and thus for Dewen, to sue Mr. Macartney.”

Miss Compton grew nervous again: “Agent? Who? Listen, Luna, I can’t let anyone know that I am—”

“Could it be me?”