Lu Xia's words made the air freeze. No one had expected her to say such a thing.
The pudgy-handed official from the Male Management Agency was the first to snap out of it. "Duke Lu Xia, this is against regulations. We don't…"
"I don't care what your regulations are. In short, you are not to touch or even look at my husband's body. If you can conduct your inspection under these conditions, then do it. If not, go back. I have other things to do and no time to waste on this." Lu Xia looked as if her good mood was about to run out.
This made the faces of the men from the Male Management Agency turn ugly, yet they didn't dare to lash out or speak recklessly. After all, the Female Master standing before them was none other than Duke Lu Xia, who was known for her fierce reputation.
"Very well. Since you are unwilling, Duke Lu Xia, we won't insist. We'll just give your husband a 'Pass' grade. What do you think?"
"My husband is only worth a 'Pass'?" Although she didn't know how these grades were determined, she was sure that the higher the standard, the better. For some reason, Lu Xia's competitive spirit flared up.
"Excellent! He's worth an 'Excellent'," the pudgy-handed official immediately changed his tune. He only breathed a sigh of relief after seeing that Lu Xia was satisfied. Just as the rumors said, Duke Lu Xia was capricious.
"Since there's nothing else, Butler, see them out!" Lu Xia waved her hand, turned, and went back to the dining table. This breakfast had been such a mess.
Graces watched the small female walk past him, the astonishment in his eyes yet to fade.
Just a moment ago, he'd suspected he was hearing things. Otherwise, how could he have heard Lu Xia refuse that embarrassing and humiliating physical examination on his behalf?
Even though it was treatment that every male who became a husband had to endure.
He couldn't quite understand it. 'How could this be?'
Yet the people from the Male Management Agency had obediently left, even giving him an "Excellent" rating.
"Hurry up and eat before it gets cold. Don't you have to go to work soon?"
The man's gaze on her was so tangible she couldn't ignore it. She even felt that if she didn't say something, Graces would stare a hole right through her.
She had no desire to ponder what Graces was thinking. 'It's nothing more than him being surprised that I refused the Male Management Agency's physical examination for him.
That's all.'
It wasn't entirely for Graces's sake. The main reason was that she truly couldn't accept such open and blatant humiliation. In her view, it was simply despicable.
"C-can I go to work?" Graces asked, his voice a little hoarse and tense. It was as if he hadn't yet recovered from the first surprise when another one hit him, and he seemed helpless and nervous, unable to handle the repeated shocks.
"Yes. If you don't go to work, how will you earn money to support the family? Are you planning to be a freeloader? Work hard. You're only a Colonel right now. Even as my husband, you should at least be an Admiral. So, do your best!" 'It's best if you focus all your thoughts on your career and don't waste time thinking about how to win my favor. I really can't be bothered to grant it!'
Although Lu Xia's words might have sounded like she was looking down on his low rank at first, all Graces heard was that his Female Master was allowing him to continue working!
"Thank you. I will definitely work hard and never bring dishonor to your reputation."
Faced with Graces's sudden bow of thanks, Lu Xia gave a perfunctory nod. She had finally solved one problem.
After breakfast, Graces left. Lu Xia, meanwhile, summoned the butler. According to the original owner's memories, she owned three pharmaceutical research companies. However, due to mismanagement, they were now just coasting on their past success.
As a researcher who had managed an entire potion R&D and production chain in the apocalypse, how could Lu Xia allow such a thing to happen!
Besides, ever since she woke up, she could feel that the Spiritual Spring, with its healing and purifying powers, had come with her.
'The career I couldn't complete in the apocalypse… can't I make a real splash with it in this world?'
So, Lu Xia asked the butler for the detailed files on the three research companies. Currently, two of them had gone bankrupt, and the last one was barely staying afloat, on the verge of collapse at any moment.
Because the original owner had never managed them after taking over from the previous Duke. She wasn't good at that sort of thing anyway, and as far as she was concerned, even if they all went under, her family's assets were more than enough for her to live on.
So why should she force herself to suffer? Wouldn't it be better to just enjoy life?
And so, she had enjoyed herself to death.
The old butler didn't understand why Lu Xia had, on a whim, started asking about the research institutes. Still, he answered her questions truthfully. He had expected Lu Xia to be disappointed, or perhaps find it too troublesome and just order someone else to handle it, being the hands-off manager she usually was. But instead, Lu Xia said, "Prepare the car. We're going to Institute Number One."
The old butler froze for a moment. When his eyes met Lu Xia's, he quickly snapped back to his senses and trotted out. 'Strange, so strange. Why has our Duke had a complete change in personality today!'
「As Lu Xia was on her way to Institute Number One, Graces arrived at the First Military District.」
He had just stepped out of the hovercar when he saw his adjutant running toward him from a distance. "Colonel, are... are you all right?"
Everyone in their military district knew what had happened to Colonel Graces, but they were powerless to help.
After all, the person who had sent Colonel Graces to Duke Lu Xia was his own mother, Duke Leslie.
According to the Empire's laws, a mother giving away her unmated male offspring to another was permissible. So even if everyone in the military district felt it was unfair, there was nothing they could do to change it.
They had all been prepared to never see Colonel Graces again, but to their surprise, he had reappeared at the military district.
He seemed to be in good spirits and had no visible injuries. 'Could it be that the wounds are all under his clothes?'
Thinking of the rumors about Duke Lu Xia, the adjutant couldn't hide the worry in his eyes.
Graces naturally sensed his concern and said gently, "I'm fine. You don't need to worry."
"I know." The adjutant forced a smile. How could he not know? They had worked together for so long; he knew Graces was the type to only report good news and hide the bad. 'Since the Colonel doesn't want me to know, I'll just pretend I don't.' "Are you back to process your resignation?"
Although he was reluctant to see it happen, the adjutant knew very well that most males who became husbands lost their freedom—especially someone like Colonel Graces, who was considered a 'defective product' to begin with.
'Making a living at Duke Lu Xia's residence must be even harder,' he thought.
Graces knew what he had misunderstood. "No, I'm just here for a normal day of work."
"Right, right, I understand. Sir, don't be too… what?" The adjutant belatedly realized what he had heard. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Graces. His voice trembled, but he asked cautiously, "Did you just say you're back for work? Your Female Master is willing to let you come out and continue working?"
"Yes, she is." Recalling what Lu Xia had said that morning, an unconscious smile touched Graces's lips. "Mhm, she even encouraged me to work hard."
'And become an Admiral as soon as possible.' Of course, he kept that part buried in his heart, unsaid.