It was the man who had pulled her up from the ground earlier...
Who exactly was he? He was able to make Figge, a General of the first rank, bow his head in such deference.
Seeing this, Bai Zhu felt a surge of suspicion.
"Miss Bai!" The housekeeper called out when he noticed Bai Zhu had suddenly stopped in her tracks.
Hearing this, Bai Zhu immediately averted her gaze and said, "It’s nothing. My foot cramped for a moment."
The housekeeper asked no further questions.
Inside the study, Figge stood before the desk and took a deep breath. "Commander, this is the report from today’s execution. Everyone related to Bai Qing by blood has been cremated. The total count is one hundred and thirty-one."
The man nodded.
He was Fu Hechen, the supreme Commander of the Ansai Empire. He had been invited today to attend Figge’s promotion banquet and had taken the opportunity to inquire about the incineration of the Bai family.
Fu Hechen lowered his lashes, scanning the photographs on the document.
The images showed the faces of the deceased along with their personal information.
After taking Bai Zhu away, Figge had ordered someone to find a death row inmate to stand in as a replacement.
Figge had doctored all the data regarding Bai Zhu in the files. In his view, Bai Zhu was merely an insignificant daughter of the Bai family who rarely appeared in public; altering her profile picture and information slightly would likely go unnoticed.
A moment later, Fu Hechen looked up and met Figge’s eyes. "You have done well."
Only then did Figge let out a sigh of relief.
Fu Hechen found a chair in the study and sat down. Remembering his encounter outside earlier, he said, "Have you hired any new maids recently?"
Figge felt a chill run down his spine.
Could it be... had the Commander discovered something?
"How would I have time to hire new maids?" Figge replied with an awkward smile.
Recalling how clumsy Bai Zhu had been—tripping while carrying a bucket of clothes—a faint smile played on Fu Hechen’s lips. "Is there no vetting process for your staff, General Figge? Just now, while I was outside getting some air, I ran into a maid in your estate carrying an iron bucket. She tripped while walking and seemed quite inept. I assumed she was a new hire."
Figge’s heart tightened.
He hadn't expected the Commander to run into Bai Zhu on his very first visit to the estate.
Fortunately, it seemed the Commander hadn't thought much of it.
Figge smiled and said, "Now that you mention it, I shall look into it, Commander."
"That maid was quite a beauty, though it’s a pity she’s a servant. She was very dirty and didn't look well," Fu Hechen said, lighting a cigarette. "When you have the time, ask around and find her for me. Have her cleaned up tomorrow and brought to my palace."
Figge’s expression darkened.
The Commander’s intentions were self-evident.
A large part of the reason the Ansai Empire remained standing on Planet SA was the formidable military power of this Commander.
Fu Hechen had been secretly groomed by the previous Commander since childhood. To make him stronger, the previous Commander had injected him with a series of drugs, allowing him to dominate on the battlefield, where he had remained unrivaled to this day.However, his modified body also brought some hidden complications for Fu Hechen.
For instance, he had no sexual desire for anyone who tried to climb into his bed.
He had tested this with many people, all to the same result.
Yet now, he suddenly felt the urge to try Bai Zhu.
"This… Commander, how could a maid from my estate be worthy of entering your palace?" Figge hurried to say.
Although the probability of Bai Zhu being able to arouse Fu Hechen was practically zero, if any accident were to happen…
Moreover, for some unknown reason, Figge felt a deep resistance to the idea of Bai Zhu climbing into anyone else's bed.
"I am the Commander. The rules are what I say they are," Fu Hechen sneered.
He then stood up and walked toward the door.
Before pushing it open, he glanced at Figge: "I will trouble you, Admiral Figge, to make the arrangements. See that you don't bring me the wrong person tomorrow."
Hearing this, Figge knew that Fu Hechen’s mind was made up. He had no choice but to accept the order: "I understand, sir."
On the other side, Bai Zhu had been led to a bedroom by the butler.
It was immediately obvious that the room was intended for servants—the facilities were spartan, consisting only of a bed and a table.
The shower room was next door. Bai Zhu asked the butler for some clean clothes, then headed straight for the shower and turned on the tap.
She hadn't bathed in a long time, and having done such rough labor, she felt dirty even to herself.
As the water droplets hit her skin, she felt a wave of relief wash over her.
"Knock, knock."
Just then, someone knocked on the shower room door.
Bai Zhu was puzzled. "What is it?"
A maid's voice came from outside: "Miss, the butler has instructed that you should groom yourself well tonight."
Groom herself well?
Why were there so many rules…
Bai Zhu thought to herself, though she agreed out loud: "I understand."
Ten minutes later, she stepped out of the shower room and pushed open the bedroom door.
She hadn't paid much attention to what the maid said; in any case, she didn't want to look particularly attractive in front of Figge.
So, she closed her eyes and fell straight to sleep.
When she woke up, it was still dark. She blinked, looking around.
She found a group of servants gathered around her bed.
Bai Zhu was startled and sat up in bed immediately.
The butler stood in the center, holding a mobile screen displaying various makeup styles, and presented them to her: "Miss Bai, how would you like to be styled today?"
Bai Zhu was completely bewildered. "What?"
Seeing her confusion, the butler explained: "The Commander wishes to see you today."
The Commander?!
Bai Zhu was at a loss for what to do.
"Why does the Commander want to see me all of a sudden?" she asked, looking dazed.
Could it be… that he had discovered her true identity?
The butler cleared his throat and said: "Miss Bai, your appearance is very much to the Commander's taste."