CHAPTER 2 – The Duke's PTSD
492 Words
Xiao Jingxing was reading border reports when his study door slammed open.
He didn't look up. He already knew who it was. Only one person in this manor treated doors like a personal insult.
"Wife," he said flatly. "You're supposed to be in bed recovering from your theatrical suicide attempt."
"I recovered," chirped a voice that was way too cheerful. "And I brought you a gift!"
Jingxing finally looked up.
His wife was standing in his doorway. Holding a steaming bowl. Smiling at him.
Like he was her long-lost soulmate.
It was deeply unsettling.
"…What's in the soup?" he asked carefully.
"Love! Affection! A heartfelt apology for three years of terrible behavior!"
She practically skipped to his desk. Set the bowl down like it was holy.
"Please, Your Highness. Accept this. I'm a new person. I've seen my errors. I want to be a good wife."
Jingxing stared at her for ten solid seconds.
He'd survived battlefield ambushes. Assassination attempts. A famine winter that killed half his battalion.
But this. This was different.
"You tried to poison me," he said.
"Only once! And just a mild laxative!"
"You released my koi."
"The fish were holding you back, Your Highness. You needed to let go."
"You called the Empress's shoes ugly."
"They were ugly. But I shouldn't have said it out loud."
He pressed his fingers to his temples. A headache was forming. Same one that appeared whenever she opened her mouth.
But something was different this time. This time, she wasn't yelling. Wasn't throwing things.
She was apologizing.
"I don't believe you," he said.
"That's fine." She didn't flinch. "I'll prove it. Drink the soup. It's safe. I swear."
"Your word means nothing to me."
"Fair." She picked up the bowl. Took a sip. Handed it back. "See? Not poisoned. Just chicken. Ginger. Love."
Jingxing reluctantly took it. Sniffed.
It smelled good. Actually good.
He took a tentative sip. The broth was rich. Warm. The ginger was perfect.
He took another sip. And another. Finished the whole thing.
"…Acceptable," he said, setting it down.
Wanwan beamed.
"High praise, Your Highness! I'll take it! I'll be back tomorrow with something even better!"
She turned and skipped out. Closed the door gently.
Jingxing stared at the empty bowl. His stomach felt warm. His head still hurt.
But less.
"What is she planning?" he muttered to himself.
【HE DRANK IT. HE ACTUALLY DRANK THE SOUP.】
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Back in her chambers, Wanwan was doing a victory dance. Arm-flailing. Hip-shaking. Complete chaos.
"Chat, that was just the opening. Tomorrow we fix this entire household."
She pointed at her reflection.
"Operation KPI. Dawn. Let's go."
【What's KPI?】
【Key Performance Indicators. She's going to corporate the ancient world.】
【I'm so here for this.】
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