Chapter Three: Shock.

The moment Lu Xia spoke, the air seemed to freeze; no one had expected her to say such things.

It was the pig-tailed officer from the Male Management Agency who first recovered and said, “Lady Lu Xia, this is against regulations; we have no—”

“Whether you have regulations or not is none of my concern. In any case, you are neither to touch nor look at my husband-servant’s body. If you can conduct your inspection under these conditions, then do so; if not, leave. I have other matters to attend to and no time to waste on this nonsense.” Lu Xia’s cheerful tone gave the impression she was about to run out of patience.

The men from the Male Management Agency all looked displeased but dared not lose their composure or speak out of turn. After all, the one standing before them was no ordinary mistress—she was the infamous Duchess Lu Xia.

“Very well. Since Lady Lu Xia is unwilling, we won’t insist. We will just give your husband-servant a passing rating. How does that sound?”

“A passing rating for my husband-servant?” Though she had no idea what these standards entailed, Lu Xia knew higher ratings were better. Unbidden, her competitive spirit flared.

“Excellent. He deserves an excellent rating.” The pig-tailed officer hastily corrected himself, visibly relieved when Lu Xia nodded in approval. Indeed, the Duchess Lu Xia was as mercurial as the rumors suggested.

“Since that’s settled, have the butler escort our guests out!” Lu Xia waved her hand and turned back to the dining table, where she resumed her breakfast in small, measured bites.

Grace watched the small female walk past him, his eyes still wide with disbelief.

At that moment, he even wondered if he had imagined it—how could Lu Xia have refused that humiliating and degrading physical inspection on his behalf?

Even though such treatment was standard for every male husband-servant.

He couldn’t fathom why.

Yet the officials from the Male Management Agency obediently left, awarding him an excellent score.

“Hurry up and eat. It’ll get cold. Don’t you have to head to work later?”

The man’s gaze felt almost tangible, impossible to ignore. She felt as if Grace could bore a hole right through her if she didn’t say something.

She had no intention of pondering what was on Grace’s mind. It was simply that he hadn’t expected her to reject the Male Management Agency’s inspection of him.

Her refusal wasn’t entirely for Grace’s sake, though. Mainly, she couldn’t accept flaunting such humiliation openly—it was, in her eyes, utterly dishonorable.

“I—I can go to work?” Grace spoke hesitantly, his voice hoarse and tight, as if still reeling from the earlier surprise and unable to endure another. His nervousness betrayed his uncertainty.

“Yes. How else will you earn a living? Do you plan to freeload? Work hard. You’re only a colonel now, but even as my husband-servant, you should be a general by rank. Put your heart into your career! And stop wasting time thinking about how to gain favor from me—I’m done with that!”

Though Lu Xia’s words seemed to scorn his low rank, to Grace’s ears they meant his mistress permitted him to continue working.

“Thank you. I will work hard and never disgrace your reputation.”

Faced with Grace’s sudden bow of gratitude, Lu Xia pretended to nod solemnly. One problem solved.

After breakfast, Grace left, and Lu Xia summoned the butler. According to the previous lady’s memories, the family owned three pharmaceutical research companies, all poorly managed and now merely surviving on old assets.

As a scientist who had overseen the entire drug development and production chain in the apocalypse, Lu Xia would never allow this neglect!

Moreover, she sensed the healing and purifying spirit spring had accompanied her since awakening.

The unfinished business of the apocalypse could now be fully realized in this world.

Lu Xia requested detailed reports on the three research companies from the butler. Two had gone bankrupt, and the last barely stayed afloat, always on the verge of collapse.

The previous duchess had never managed these businesses after inheriting them from the former duke, and she herself was no expert in such matters. After all, even if all failed, the family’s assets would still suffice for her needs.

Why bother struggling? Why not just enjoy life?

And so she indulged herself thoroughly.

The old butler was puzzled by Lu Xia’s sudden interest in the pharmaceutical affairs but answered her questions honestly. He expected her to be disappointed or to dismiss the matter to subordinates, as the previous duchess had done, but Lu Xia declared, “Prepare the car. We’re heading to Research Institute Number One.”

The butler hesitated, meeting Lu Xia’s determined gaze. Snapping back to attention, he hurried out. Strange—what had come over their duchess today?

As Lu Xia made her way to the first research institute, Grace had already arrived at the First Military District.

He had barely stepped off the hovering car when his adjutant ran up from a distance. “Colonel, are you alright?”

Everyone in the military district knew of Grace’s ordeal but felt powerless.

After all, it was his maternal duchess, Duke Leslie, who had handed over the unmarried male cub to Lu Xia.

Imperial law permitted such transfers by maternal duchesses, so no matter how unfair others thought it, nothing could be done.

They had resigned themselves to never seeing Colonel Grace again, yet here he was, back in the district.

He looked well, with no visible injuries—perhaps they were hidden beneath his clothes?

Thinking of the rumors surrounding Duchess Lu Xia, the adjutant’s worried eyes could not be concealed.

Grace sensed the concern and replied softly, “I’m fine. No need to worry.”

“I know.” The adjutant forced a smile. Having worked with him so long, he understood Grace’s tendency to share only good news. If the colonel didn’t want him to know, he would pretend ignorance. “Are you here to process your resignation?”

Though reluctant, the adjutant understood most male husband-servants lost their freedom, especially those like Grace, who was considered “defective.”

Life under Duchess Lu Xia’s roof would surely be even harsher.

Grace corrected the misunderstanding: “No, I’m here to work as usual.”

“Ah, I understand. But you—wait, what?” The adjutant realized what he’d heard and widened his eyes in disbelief. His voice trembled yet remained cautious. “Did you say your mistress allowed you to continue working?”

“Yes,” Grace smiled faintly, recalling Lu Xia’s words from that morning. “She even encouraged me to work hard.”

To strive to become a general someday—though he kept that ambition quietly to himself.