After hearing what Lu Xia said, Prince Li Mang looked just as puzzled. "How about I ask Lady Daina for you? I’m not well acquainted with Lady Dain, so I can only ask Lady Daina what’s going on. But I suspect Lady Daina won’t know either. Although they’re sisters, their relationship is very complicated."

The relationships between members of the Imperial Family were rarely straightforward, and Lu Xia understood exactly what Prince Li Mang was implying.

"That won’t be necessary. I’ll find out when I meet them tomorrow. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."

"It’s no trouble at all. I’m just happy you thought of me at a time like this. While I’m not familiar with Lady Dain, I’ve heard a few things. Her reputation is decent, so I imagine the daughter she raised can’t be too bad. Go meet with them tomorrow, and if anything comes up, we’ll discuss it then."

"Alright." After finishing her chat with Prince Li Mang, Lu Xia decided not to dwell on the matter. Since she didn’t know why the other party was seeking her out, she would just cross that bridge when she came to it.

Besides, she wasn’t the type to waste energy on needless anxiety.

Moreover, her research on the Fire Spirit Gene was progressing well. It wouldn’t be long before she had the results she wanted.

During her lunch break, Lu Xia contacted her old butler to ask about Smelian’s condition.

Smelian, who was going through a difficult phase, was currently resting at home. His condition was much more stable than Grace’s had been. Although the feathers on his body hadn’t completely disappeared, his face had returned to normal. He should fully stabilize in a few more days.

Lu Xia felt relieved after confirming that he was alright.

*

The next afternoon, Lu Xia arrived at Xinglan Hall ten minutes before the appointed time. A waiter confirmed her details and showed her to her table. The other party had not yet arrived.

Lu Xia wasn’t in a hurry. She ordered a drink and sat sipping her tea at a table by the window.

At 3:00 p.m. sharp, the other party appeared in the hall. It was a very gentlemanly old butler who would have looked quite distinguished, if not for the tail swishing behind him.

She was well aware, however, that displaying such bestial traits was a status symbol among the Empire’s males.

She offered no judgment on it.

"Greetings, Duke Lu Xia. I am Lady Victoria’s butler. It’s a pleasure to meet you here."

"The honor is mine to receive an invitation from Lady Victoria. Please, have a seat. May I ask why Lady Victoria wished to see me?"

Lu Xia was being direct and had no intention of exchanging pleasantries. There was no need; they weren’t exactly friends, just strangers.

The old butler wore a respectful, mask-like smile. "Yesterday, Lady Victoria had the pleasure of accompanying Secretary-General Rheinska on an inspection of the First Military District. She saw Major General Grace and took quite a liking to him. Having heard that you are his Female Master, she is interested in proposing a trade. I wonder what your thoughts are on the matter?"

Hearing this, Lu Xia felt for a moment that she understood, yet at the same time, she didn’t understand at all.

The part she understood was that Victoria had visited the First Military District, met Grace, and developed a liking for him. What she didn’t understand was the part about making a trade with her. ’Trade for what?’

"I’m afraid I don’t understand. You say Lady Victoria wishes to make a trade with me. What exactly is she proposing to trade?"

The old butler paused, startled. He looked up at Lu Xia and, confirming that the young woman before him genuinely didn’t understand, couldn’t help but feel surprised. After all, the practice of trading husbands was exceedingly common among noblewomen.

’And Duke Lu Xia’s baffled expression didn’t look like an act. But how was that possible? Rumor had it that Duke Lu Xia was quite promiscuous. How could a woman like that not know what a "trade" implied?’

But regardless of whether Duke Lu Xia was pretending, she had asked, so he had to play along and explain. "Lady Victoria is willing to trade one of her own husbands in exchange for ownership of Grace."

"Huh?" Lu Xia finally understood. She could only think that, compared to the other women of the Empire, she was simply too virtuous. The thought had never even crossed her mind, though hearing it now, she wasn’t entirely surprised. "Then may I ask, what sort of husband is Lady Victoria prepared to offer in exchange? I trust she’s aware of how exceptional Grace is, isn’t she?"

"Naturally, you will not be at a disadvantage. If one is not enough, Lady Victoria is willing to offer two, or even three, in exchange for Grace."

The old butler wore an expression that screamed, ’Our Lady Victoria is being most generous. You are the one benefiting from this deal.’

Lu Xia nearly laughed out of pure anger. "I don’t know if all members of the Imperial Family are this absurdly arrogant and condescending, or if it’s just Lady Victoria who has an overinflated sense of self-worth. A moment ago, I thought she was doing this because she recognized Grace’s excellence. But now it seems she

has no idea how exceptional he truly is. Not only is he a Major General in the First Military District with a boundless future, he’s also a Gene Fusion Expert. His gene fusion degree has reached one hundred percent! He’s the first male in the Empire to ever achieve a one hundred percent gene fusion degree—that information just hasn’t been made public. And what’s more, he is my main husband. Is Lady Victoria trying to humiliate me?"

As her words fell, Lu Xia flung the contents of her teacup into the old butler’s face. "Get out of my sight! Go back and tell Victoria that I will be reporting this to Her Majesty the Queen! I intend to ask if being a member of the Imperial Family means she can act with such lawless impunity and humiliate me! Trying to trade her husbands for my main husband! Ptooey! The shameless bitch!"

The old butler, who had been maintaining his gentlemanly airs just a moment before, was left completely dumbfounded by Lu Xia’s outburst.

He had never imagined that the Major General Grace Lady Victoria spoke of was not merely one of Duke Lu Xia’s husbands, but her main

husband.

Not even Her Majesty the Queen would have the audacity to ask someone to trade their main husband, let alone offering mere husbands in exchange.

He didn’t even have to put himself in her shoes to know this was a grave insult. No wonder Duke Lu Xia was furious. But now, despite their disastrous misjudgment, he had to try to make amends. If Duke Lu Xia really reported this to Her Majesty the Queen, it wouldn’t just be Lady Victoria in trouble; even Lady Dain would be implicated.

"Duke Lu Xia, please, calm your anger! It was our mistake; we failed to investigate thoroughly. But please believe me, Lady Victoria had absolutely no intention of humiliating you. Please, I beg you not to blame her!"

"Hmph. A little late to be saying the right things now. If Victoria had any shame, she never would have sent you to propose this to me. I’ve already shown you too much courtesy by even listening. Go back and tell her this matter is far from over!" Lu Xia let out a cold laugh and turned to storm out of the hall.

Panic seized the old butler. He scrambled to chase after her, hoping to salvage the situation, but Lu Xia gave him no opportunity. She climbed directly into her hovercar and drove off.

Clearly, she had no intention of giving Lady Victoria any face. She was going to take this to the absolute limit!