The Heroic Master Is Tough-Talking but Soft-Hearted: The Aloof Major General Has Fallen - Chapter 39

Derek’s impression of Mikhail, the child of Renzo, was also negative. It was now obvious that Mikhail was intentionally making things difficult for Asher. Derek suspected that when the boy had spoken to him earlier, he had the same malicious intent.

Recently, Cen Li’s behavior in front of Admiral Derek showed a clear change in his attitude toward Asher. Although his child had not admitted it verbally, Derek had still noticed.

“That is likely not how it happened. I asked Xiao Li this morning, and he said it had nothing to do with Asher. He chose to sleep in the guest room himself.”

Seeing Duke Yolai on the verge of an outburst, Derek spoke up for Asher, which was a rare occurrence. Mikhail was intentionally twisting the truth in front of Cen Li’s parents. Asher felt a surge of frustration, assuming everyone would simply believe the lie. After all, to the residents of the Duke’s Palatial Residence, Asher was just an outsider.

Derek’s intervention caused Asher to glance at him in surprise. Although Asher technically addressed Admiral Derek as female father, the Admiral’s attitude toward him had always been lukewarm. This was the first time he had actively spoken in Asher’s defense.

Duke Yolai gave Derek a suspicious look, though he naturally believed Derek would not lie. He simply could not understand why Cen Li would do such a thing. For a male bug to voluntarily sleep in a guest room while leaving his own bedroom to a female concubine was suspicious no matter how one looked at it. Yolai remembered that Cen Li used to dislike this female concubine very much.

Mikhail smiled, his gaze sweeping over Asher as he echoed Admiral Derek’s words. “Indeed. I do not know what kind of spell Asher has cast on Brother, but Brother seems very fond of this female concubine now. He helps him at every turn and has become almost unrecognizable.”

Everyone knew that the old Cen Li was temperamental and never gave Asher a kind look. He would beat or scold him at the slightest provocation. Even when other bugs harassed Asher, Cen Li would look the other way or even enjoy the spectacle.

Duke Yolai said in a heavy voice, “Cen Li’s actions are indeed inappropriate. He is just a female concubine. How can he be spoiled so much? If word gets out, people will gossip.”

Mikhail’s eyes darkened. “Father is right. It is just that Brother might be too reluctant to discipline him.”

Upon hearing this, Duke Yolai was incensed. A female concubine should know his place. As a male bug, one must establish absolute authority and never allow a female bug to entertain improper thoughts. Disciplining one’s female concubine was the duty of a qualified male bug. Furthermore, Cen Li was to inherit the Duke’s Palatial Residence in the future, so establishing prestige was essential. If word spread that a female concubine had usurped his room while Cen Li slept alone in a guest room, the rumors would be relentless.

Duke Yolai did not care about a mere female concubine. In a few words, he decided the other’s fate. “Then I shall discipline him properly on Cen Li’s behalf.”

A glint of success flashed in Mikhail’s eyes. Seeing that Duke Yolai had made up his mind, Derek knew it was useless to keep persuading him. He could only sigh at Asher’s misfortune for being targeted by Mikhail.

Asher stood half-hidden in the shadows. His platinum hair was cast in a dim light, his long eyelashes were lowered, and his lips were pressed tightly together. The lines of his profile appeared even sharper and colder. Upon closer inspection, Duke Yolai saw a stubbornness in Asher’s bones. This was the kind of hard bone that male bugs hated most. This type of female bug was not only boring to whip but would also never easily submit.

With just one look, Duke Yolai’s eyes filled with disgust. Compared to Quinn, this female bug was far inferior. Quinn was gentle, polite, and knew when to advance or retreat. It was clear he would prioritize his male lord in everything once married. Asher, on the other hand, lacked the proper awe a female bug should have for a male lord.

Every great family had a dedicated disciplinary room, usually located underground. A narrow window on the wall allowed those inside to see the outside, though the outside could not see in.

“Look, Major General Asher.”

“That noble and elegant female bug will become Cen Li’s first male wife, and you will always be nothing more than a female concubine who can be trampled upon at will.”

Mikhail grabbed Asher’s hair and suddenly forced his head around, making the female bug look directly at the window filled with stinging sunlight. Asher’s bloodshot eyes squinted. The basement was pitch black, lit only by a single dim yellow lamp. Facing the sudden glare, his dry and aching eyes instinctively tried to close.

Mikhail used two fingers to pry his eyelids open, preventing him from blinking normally.

“Look!”

“Why aren’t you looking?”

Mikhail’s movements were violent and without restraint. In his hands, Asher was like an object to be toyed with at will. Asher was forced to see the female bug with the gray, half-tied hair. It was the same noble female bug who had been chatting happily with his male lord yesterday. Right now, that bug was smiling warmly while talking to Cen Li.

“Do you see clearly now?”

“You will always be a lowly, commoner female concubine!”

Mikhail mocked him ruthlessly. Feeling a sticky smear of blood on his hand, he pulled away in disgust and used a clean handkerchief to wipe his palm. Watching Asher, who refused to kneel, as his breathing gradually grew weak, Mikhail’s inner cruelty finally began to subside.

Compared to Quinn’s decency, Asher was covered in blood and filth. It was as if he had been stepped into a quagmire, unable to even turn over. In the shadow of the radiant Quinn, a sense of inferiority rose within Asher at this moment.

Was it a crime to be a commoner? Did it mean one deserved to be insulted, mocked, and trampled upon? Becoming a female concubine was never a choice Asher could have made.

Asher felt utterly disheartened. Was a female bug destined to be this pitiful and pathetic? A deep sense of despair washed over him. At the same time, uncontrolled energy began to run wild throughout his body.

Mikhail’s expression changed. “Damn it, you are not having a mental strength riot, are you?”

However, Asher was so immersed in his own emotions that he could not hear Mikhail’s terrified voice.

After finally getting rid of the annoying Quinn, Cen Li looked around but could not find Asher anywhere. Was that military bug still sleeping? He had been asleep for far too long.

Cen Li placed his hand on the staircase railing, preparing to go up and check, when a voice stopped him from behind.

“Xiao Li, you aren’t looking for Asher, are you?”

Admiral Derek looked at Cen Li with hesitation. Cen Li was startled. How did Admiral Derek know? He silently lowered his hand, intending to deny it.

Derek spoke first. “He was taken away by your father and the others. He is in the basement right now.”

Upon hearing this, Cen Li’s brow furrowed tightly. “The basement? Isn’t that the place for punishing bugs?”

Derek nodded in silence and said succinctly, “He displeased your father.”

Originally, it was not a major issue; Asher was only supposed to be punished by kneeling for a while. But with Mikhail fanning the flames, Duke Yolai had the bug locked in the basement and declared that he was not to be released until three days had passed.

Cen Li’s gaze turned cold. No food or water for three days? Wouldn’t the bug starve to death?

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