The crowd’s cheers surged.
Ying Wutu stared at the vat of wine before him, then turned his tear-filled eyes to Jiang Shouzhu.
He couldn’t hold his liquor, and no one could possibly drink that much.
Seeing the little rabbit gazing at her, Jiang Shouzhu even encouraged him: “Drink up.”
She had no intention of making Ying Wutu drink all that wine; she wanted to hear him beg for mercy.
Ying Wutu was always in a helpless position, showing such a plea for help to the enemy was utterly humiliating.
Ying Wutu reached out his trembling hand, picked up the ladle floating on the wine, his bandaged pinky still twisted, and filled it with wine. He closed his eyes and gulped it down.
The wine was strong and spicy. After just one ladleful, he turned to beg the wicked woman for mercy…
But he collapsed to the ground, the ladle flying from his hand.
One drink, and he was down.
The jeering stopped abruptly.
Someone questioned, “Is he faking?”
Deputy Yan stepped forward and asked, “General, should we drag him out to sober up?”
In this freezing winter, the snow outside hadn’t stopped. Throwing someone into a snowdrift was more effective than pouring a bucket of cold water.
Jiang Shouzhu shook her head and instructed, “Take him back to my tent.” As Ying Wutu was dragged out, she added, “Lock him up.”
To prevent another escape.
Without Ying Wutu, the lively atmosphere at the banquet dampened.
Jiang Shouzhu ate her meal absentmindedly.
At this moment, Ying Xiaowu called from outside, “Sister Jiang, why didn’t you invite me to the feast?”
Jiang Shouzhu signaled the guard to let him in.
Ying Xiaowu skipped in, sat down beside Jiang Shouzhu, and poured her wine, pleading, “Can I join the feast? I want to eat too…”
Jiang Shouzhu’s eyes showed no amusement, but she smiled and asked, “This is a victory feast for defeating your kingdom. You want to join?”
“Ah… I didn’t contribute, but I can perform.”
Ying Xiaowu then ran to the front, singing, dancing, playing the qin, and performing with fans, enjoying himself amid the women’s cheers.
The Fifth Prince’s talents were indeed impressive.
Jiang Shouzhu kept her eyes on Ying Xiaowu, but her thoughts were on Ying Wutu.
What would it look like if Ying Wutu were the one singing and dancing below?
Unfortunately, the little rabbit wasn’t obedient.
Just a drink, and he was out like a light.
The celebration feast continued until nightfall.
Ying Xiaowu had been given plenty of wine. Drunk, he clung to Jiang Shouzhu’s sleeve, swaying back and forth: “Sister Jiang, won’t you stay tonight?”
Jiang Shouzhu calmly pulled her sleeve back and said, “You’re drunk. Yan, take the Fifth Prince back.”
The Fifth Prince was someone the emperor wanted; Jiang Shouzhu wouldn’t touch him.
Besides… Jiang Shouzhu was more concerned about Ying Wutu.
When Jiang Shouzhu returned to her tent, she was amused, sobering up a bit.
Ying Wutu’s neck was now chained, tethered to the bed. His cheeks were flushed, and he was swaying, as if mimicking something.
“Are you dancing? Do you know how to dance?” Jiang Shouzhu walked in, casually hanging her cloak and brushing off the snow from her head.
“Um… I know martial arts! I can do military boxing! Ha!”
Ying Wutu’s eyes were blurry, still quite drunk, but he stood firmly in a martial stance, punching as he spoke.
His moves were surprisingly well-executed.
But to Jiang Shouzhu, his skills were merely child’s play.
“So impressive.” Jiang Shouzhu dragged a chair over and sat down, genuinely smiling with her eyes and mouth, “Show me what else you can do.”
“I can even do a flip…”
Before he finished speaking, Ying Wutu fell flat on the ground.
Something flew out of his sleeve.
It was a silver hairpin.
Of course, Jiang Shouzhu saw it.
Ying Wutu lay on the ground, not getting up, crawling towards the hairpin… but after a few steps, he couldn’t move further, as the chain on his neck limited his range. He stretched out his arm towards the hairpin…
His fingers strained forward, just a bit more!
But he still couldn’t reach it.
He let out a whimper and sighed.
“Where did this come from?” Jiang Shouzhu recognized it as the Fifth Prince’s jewelry.
When they captured the Fifth Prince yesterday, he had clung to her, crying and pleading not to take all his clothes and jewelry. He wanted to keep a few favorite pieces.
Seeing the Fifth Prince so desperate, wanting to perish with his pretty clothes, and remembering that the emperor wanted him alive, Jiang Shouzhu agreed. But she worried he might trick her, so she inspected everything the Fifth Prince kept.
“This is my weapon! I was going to hide it, but I couldn’t reach it. Can you help me…” Ying Wutu’s voice was breathless, clearly exhausted from mimicking those martial arts moves.
Fortunately, the carpet in Jiang Shouzhu’s tent was thick, so Ying Wutu didn’t get hurt from the fall.
“A weapon? What do you plan to do with it?” Jiang Shouzhu bent down and picked up the hairpin, but she didn’t return it to Ying Wutu.
“Of course, I want to assassinate the wicked woman! She took my sword, and I have no weapon. She’s so fierce, I can’t beat her with my bare hands!” As he spoke, Ying Wutu clenched his fists and angrily pounded the ground.
The carpet muffled the sound.
Jiang Shouzhu was amused by his actions.
She was reminded of a cat her little servant raised, a bad-tempered little cat that hissed at everyone.
Even though the cat’s hissing was meant to be threatening, it was so small that it made the act cute rather than frightening. No one was scared by the little cat’s hissing.
“And how do you plan to kill that wicked woman?” Jiang Shouzhu deliberately teased him, knowing the little rabbit was too drunk to recognize her.
Otherwise, wouldn’t he know the wicked woman he wanted to kill was right in front of him?
“I’ll stab her throat with this silver hairpin!”
Indeed, he was like a small animal hissing.
However, in his current bruised and battered state, he was no match for Jiang Shouzhu. Such bold words were laughable.
“So determined, huh? What did this wicked woman do to you to make you hate her so much?” Jiang Shouzhu sat back, holding the silver hairpin.
“She’s my enemy! She captured my king, killed my soldiers, and bullied me. I must kill her to avenge them and myself,” Ying Wutu said through gritted teeth, as if he wanted to devour the wicked woman whole.
“So spirited?” Jiang Shouzhu’s words were sincere.
When the Ying Kingdom’s palace was breached, no one resisted; they all surrendered quietly, as the king and queen had fled long ago.
The Ying Kingdom’s king, since being captured, demanded to drink the freshest tea at all times, then played chess with himself in the tent, completely resigned to his fate.
The Fifth Prince fawned over Jiang Shouzhu constantly, even eager to offer himself.
So, in the entire Ying Kingdom, the only one with any spirit was the cross-dressing Ying Wutu.
“Of course! I have great ambitions! Unfortunately…” Ying Wutu didn’t finish his sentence, unwilling to admit even in defeat that his king was not a wise ruler.
Jiang Shouzhu went to the entrance and instructed a passing soldier, “Have the kitchen prepare a bowl of sobering soup.”
When she returned, she saw Ying Wutu had rolled onto his back, lying on the carpet.
He stared at the tent’s ceiling, tears streaming down his face.
“Why are you crying?” Jiang Shouzhu sat back down and continued questioning him.
It was rare for the little rabbit to talk so much to her, likely because he was drunk.
“I remembered Lieutenant Yao… She saved my life, but I got her killed. Wicked woman, I must kill her to avenge Lieutenant Yao!”
“Did you love her? Is that why you’re so heartbroken over her death?” Jiang Shouzhu was startled by her own question.
Why did she think that?
Was it not just gratitude combined with the little rabbit’s loyalty?
“No! Lieutenant and I were comrades-in-arms, like sisters! Eh… who are you?” Ying Wutu wiped his tears and slowly sat up, leaning on the ground, looking at her with a drunken, blurry gaze.
He had been talking to this woman for a while, and it seemed he was just starting to think about who she was.
“So, who do you think I am?” Jiang Shouzhu stared at his face. In the candlelight, she saw the little rabbit’s cheeks turning even redder…
Was he getting more drunk?
“Um… you look so familiar. You’re so beautiful and handsome. Unfortunately, I’ve sworn never to marry. I want to protect my country, but I have no country now. So, I must seek revenge…”
“Huh?” Jiang Shouzhu was momentarily stunned.
The little rabbit’s words were disjointed. What did her looks have to do with his vow not to marry?
At this moment, someone from the kitchen brought a bowl of sobering soup, placing it on the ground at the entrance before leaving.
Jiang Shouzhu should have immediately fetched the bowl and made the little drunkard drink it to sober up.
But… why did the little drunkard’s rambling seem more and more adorable?
Ying Wutu was still sitting on the ground, supporting himself with his hands, crawling towards her.
A breeze blew in through the gap at the entrance, causing the candle flames to flicker.
The flickering candlelight illuminated their faces.
Ying Wutu looked more closely.
“You look like that wicked woman, but you haven’t bullied me. So, who are you? Why aren’t you speaking? That wicked woman never stops talking. She always teases me. I hate her the most. You look like her, but you’re much better. And you’re so beautiful! You’re the most handsome woman I’ve ever seen!”
Ying Wutu mumbled continuously, his eyes blinking innocently.
Jiang Shouzhu couldn’t help but reach out to touch his head…
At that moment, he looked like a well-behaved big dog, whining and rubbing against its owner’s leg for attention.
A good dog deserved a pat on the head.
But Ying Wutu moved back, avoiding her touch.
Chastity was ingrained in him, so he always kept his distance from women. How could he let a strange woman touch him?
Jiang Shouzhu’s hand stopped mid-air, touching nothing. She wasn’t embarrassed and naturally withdrew her hand. She went to the entrance, picked up the bowl of sobering soup, and walked towards the “big dog” on the ground.
“Drink this, and you’ll know who I am.” Jiang Shouzhu placed the bowl in front of him.
Ying Wutu looked at the bowl on the ground and asked, “Really?”
Jiang Shouzhu nodded, looking like she was waiting for a good show.
Ying Wutu held the bowl with both hands, his bandaged pinky avoiding the bowl. He sniffed the soup and then looked up at her with a silly smile, “It smells sweet! Do you want to take the first sip?”
He raised the bowl with both hands, offering it to her.
Despite his own hunger, he genuinely wanted to share this rare “delicious drink” with her.
