Lady Rafaelde had naturally caught wind of the situation. However, the Rafaelde family had been a pillar of the transportation industry for many years. They wouldn’t compromise easily, even when confronted, especially since this matter concerned Duke Lu Xia.
After contacting Lu Xia and learning the whole story, Lady Rafaelde was shocked that a mber of the Imperial Family could be so shaless.
"Duke, please rest assured. The Rafaelde family will definitely stand with you."
She was prepared to firmly support Duke Lu Xia. If for no other reason, the fact that Slian was now a Gene Fusion Expert was reason enough for the Rafaelde family not to compromise.
But Lu Xia told her, "If they insist on investigating, don’t stop them. Let them. As for the ti delayed and the matter of compensation, I’ll need to trouble you to keep a careful record, Lady."
"Are you sure it’s alright? If the raw materials don’t arrive, your institutes...?"
"It’s fine. I believe Lady Victoria can afford to compensate for my losses." Lu Xia’s tone was calm, not at all like soone acting on a whim.
"Very well. If you need any help, contact anyti. Please don’t hesitate to ask."
"I know. Thank you, Lady Rafaelde."
"We’re family. It’s the least we can do." In fact, at that mont, Lady Rafaelde felt this wasn’t entirely a bad thing. At the very least, it allowed Lu Xia to see her family’s sincerity and deepened their relationship.
After ending the call with Lady Rafaelde, Lu Xia had the person in charge of her institutes post an announcent on their official website.
It was a notice regarding the complete suspension of all research at the No. 1 Institute and No. 2 Institute. Not only that, but sales of the hair growth liquid and beauty cream were also suspended. The reason given was to cooperate with an inspection by the relevant authorities.
As soon as the announcent was released, it imdiately attracted a great deal of attention—
"What’s going on? Why did they suddenly suspend research out of the blue? Even the hair growth liquid and beauty cream are suspended. What departnt is inspecting them?"
"Inspecting what? Don’t tell there’s a problem with the research at the No. 1 and No. 2 Institutes?"
"It couldn’t be that the research at the No. 1 and No. 2 Institutes infringed on soone’s interests, and now they’re being targeted with so bogus excuse, right?"
"I’ve got sothing to say! Inspect, inspect, inspect—screw your inspection! There are already so few people who do their work conscientiously, and you want to investigate them? If you have ti for this, why don’t we see the Empire’s prestigious institutions producing things we citizens actually need? They collect so much in taxes every year, and for what?"
"Insider info here! The founder of the No. 1 and No. 2 Institutes pissed soone off and is being targeted!"
"To the poster above, is that true? Who did she piss off? Who has that kind of power? It couldn’t be the Imperial Family, could it?"
"I think it’s the Imperial Family, too. I heard the founder of the No. 1 and No. 2 Institutes also holds a noble title. If so, she definitely didn’t piss off so commoner. What, does the Imperial Family have its eyes on her business?"
"Oh my god, so brave soul actually went and asked directly on the Imperial Family’s official website!"
"Hahaha, I saw that too! Soone really was brave enough to call them out point-blank! To be honest, I don’t care about the rest of it, but they can’t stop selling the beauty cream and hair growth liquid! My stockpile is about to run out. I was planning to restock in a couple of days, and in the ti it took to hesitate, they suspended shipnts! How could they do this!"
"The beauty cream and hair growth liquid are indispensable parts of my daily routine now. As long as I have these two for any event I attend, I feel completely at ease!"
"Ever since I started using the beauty cream and hair growth liquid, my Female Master has been so much more affectionate toward , praising how my skin keeps getting better. If they stop shipping these, how are people like supposed to live!"
...
A single announcent was enough to set off a firestorm of public opinion online. The comnt section on the Imperial Family’s official website was on the verge of being completely flooded.
It was hard not to attract attention.
On the other hand, Lu Xia gave all the researchers at her institutes a vacation, telling them to take paid leave or go on a trip to relax.
As for herself, she acted as if nothing had happened, content to stay ho and spend ti with her little one.
In stark contrast to Lu Xia, Victoria, the one who had caused all this trouble, was not having a good ti.
The online discussion grew more and more intense, and the speculation beca increasingly wild. This led to Lady Dain finding out about the matter as well.
"Are you insane? You’ll do anything, won’t you? Now that this has happened, how are you going to clean it up? If Her Majesty the Queen finds out, it won’t end well for either of us!"
"I didn’t expect this to happen either! I just wanted to teach her a little lesson. Who knew she would post it online?"
"Do you have any idea how much attention the research at the No. 1 and No. 2 Institutes is getting right now? Can’t you use your brain before you act? She stirred up all this public opinion just by posting a single notice about suspending research. Do you think she’s soone you can ss with lightly?"
"Then what should I do, Mother? I really didn’t think this would happen. Should I contact the dia to clarify things?"
"Are you an idiot? Contacting the dia now would be the sa as admitting it was you!" Lady Dain was exasperated. "I’ll handle this. You stay out of it!"
After the call ended, Victoria indignantly threw a tantrum at ho.
Lu Xia wasn’t surprised when she received a voice call from Lady Dain. ’Clearly, the daughter couldn’t handle the situation, so the mother has co out to apply pressure.’
Still, she hadn’t expected that the notice she posted on the website would cause such a huge commotion.
When the call connected, Lady Dain’s voice ca through. "Good day, Duke Lu Xia."
"Good day, Lady Dain." Lu Xia’s tone was flat, showing none of the deference one would expect given the other party’s status.
"I’ve called to tell you, Duke, that Victoria is immature and has caused you trouble. I have already disciplined her. How about we each take a step back?"
"Lady Dain, what do you an by that? What has Lady Victoria done? I’m afraid I don’t understand."
Lady Dain fell silent for a mont. "Duke, let’s not pretend we don’t know what’s happening. I contacted you to resolve this issue!"
"Oh, you’re here to resolve the problem? And here I thought you were calling to pressure . Your daughter first took a fancy to my main husband and tried to trade one of her husbands for him, insulting in the process. Then, with no compensation and no apology, she had my cargo seized and my institutes inspected, causing further losses. And now you’re telling we should each take a step back? As mbers of the Imperial Family, you certainly are impressive!"
"Then what do you want to make this go away?"
"First, have Victoria publicly apologize to and my main husband. Second, compensate for my financial losses. Third, write a formal letter of apology by hand for to keep on file. Do these three things, and we can consider the matter settled."
"We can compensate you for the financial losses, and we can apologize privately, but it cannot be public. It would affect the Imperial Family’s prestige among the populace. I’m sure you understand, Duke Lu Xia?"
"Lady Dain, I think you’re mistaken. Right now, you are the one asking for a favor, not the other way around. There is no room for negotiation. Furthermore, I can only wait one more day, because I am preparing to request an audience with Her Majesty the Queen to discuss this matter with her personally."
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