Ying Wutu groaned in pain, receiving no sympathy from Jiang Shouzhu, as she was the cause of his suffering.
He slowly got up, with trembling hands picking up the half-worn shirt to wipe a spot of water on the pillow.
He was in too much pain to take care of himself, and the water wouldn’t dry.
Jiang Shouzhu, already annoyed, saw him moving slowly and wanted to hit him again. But seeing the little rabbit in this state, hitting him again might really kill him before dawn.
“Useless waste! Stop wiping!” Jiang Shouzhu shouted in frustration, taking the half-worn shirt and quickly putting it on him. She then locked his wrist chains with two clicks and pushed him to the ground.
Ying Wutu fell from the couch to the carriage floor, whimpering in pain.
“Useless!” Jiang Shouzhu lay down on the couch, turning to see the small, curled-up figure on the floor, and warned, “Stop groaning!”
Ying Wutu wasn’t intentionally making noise, but he was in immense pain. He bit his wrist to prevent himself from crying out.
By the light of the carriage, Jiang Shouzhu saw his tightly shut eyes and trembling eyelashes. He bit his wrist hard, enduring great torment, clearly wanting to scream but too afraid, suppressing his primal urge.
Jiang Shouzhu turned away, not wanting to look.
Now, unable to take him, just watching made her feel hot.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Even if she didn’t look, the image stayed when she closed her eyes.
This demon!
Jiang Shouzhu cursed inwardly.
After being given medicine, Ying Wutu’s fever gradually subsided, and he adjusted to the stomach pain. Leaning against the low stool in the carriage, he counted his new injuries, calculating how long he had left to live.
He glared at the wicked woman’s back, filled with hatred.
She was truly too cruel!
He no longer bit his wrist, but both wrists bore the marks of his rabbit teeth. The sky was nearly light, but the teeth marks had not faded due to his earlier forceful biting.
Otherwise, he couldn’t endure it.
His wrists still chained together, he reached towards her back, pretending to choke her neck from a distance, viciously mimicking the act.
Inwardly, he vowed: One day, he would personally kill her! He would avenge all the humiliation and torment he had suffered!
Thinking this eased his pain somewhat. He lowered his hand from the imaginary choke, and as he moved…
He almost groaned again.
Despite the night’s passage, his illness had improved, and the pain had lessened.
But there was one spot that continued to torment him.
He dared not take it out himself.
Though he had just thought of killing the wicked woman, he now planned to beg her to remove it later.
The pain was becoming unbearable.
Jiang Shouzhu woke at dawn.
She sat up, seeing the figure curled in the corner on the floor, and smiled.
Seeing his humble appearance first thing in the morning put her in a good mood.
After all, he had been so disobedient last night, even trying to seduce her, which had greatly irritated her.
“Isn’t it better to be obedient? This way, you won’t get beaten. You always need to suffer to behave.” After sleeping a night, her hair was slightly messy. Usually, she kept it in a high ponytail. As she combed her hair, she suddenly looked at the person on the floor and pointed to a small box in the carriage corner, saying, “There’s a comb there. Come and fix my hair.”
Ying Wutu didn’t want to serve her, but knowing he needed her, he obediently took out the comb from the box. He looked at her, already turned around, waiting for him to comb her hair, and slowly stood up…
“Ah…”
He couldn’t help but groan, as the movement scraped against that spot.
“Idiot, getting hot first thing in the morning.” Jiang Shouzhu laughed at the sound.
Ying Wutu, both aggrieved and blushing, cursed inwardly: Wicked woman! Isn’t it all because of what you did?
But he didn’t dare say it out loud.
Disobeying her again would lead to more beatings.
In the hands of the wicked woman, she could scold and hit whenever she wanted.
So, if he wanted to survive, he needed to avoid opposing her until he could kill her.
Resistance brought no benefits.
Ying Wutu slowly combed her hair. The teeth marks on his wrists hadn’t faded, the arrow wound on his right palm hadn’t healed, and his broken little finger hadn’t mended, but none of these affected combing her hair.
“Why so obedient all of a sudden? Had a change of heart?” Jiang Shouzhu, having just scolded him, was surprised when he didn’t respond or bare his teeth.
Ying Wutu quickly finished, as her hair was fine, smooth, and shiny, clearly a sign of someone strong and healthy. He didn’t answer, and until he tied her hair back into a neat high ponytail, he kept his head down, holding the comb in his hands, waiting for her to turn around.
“Turned mute?” Jiang Shouzhu adjusted her sleeves and collar and turned to face him.
“In consideration… of my obedience, can you let me take that out first?” Ying Wutu’s voice was as quiet as a mosquito’s, afraid of rejection.
“Which one?” Jiang Shouzhu understood immediately but pretended not to know.
“That one…” Ying Wutu’s voice grew even softer as he nervously rubbed the teeth of the comb with his thumb.
“Which one? Stop talking in riddles. This is your last chance. If you don’t make it clear, I’ll gag you.” Jiang Shouzhu enjoyed threatening him; it was too much fun.
“This one…” Ying Wutu pointed, his face turning redder.
His blush wasn’t from the fever—he no longer had it—but now his whole body burned with shame, feeling even hotter than when he had a high fever last night.
“Oh… what? Do you want it?” Jiang Shouzhu deliberately twisted his words.
“No, no…” Ying Wutu was flustered, explaining, “It’s very uncomfortable. Can you take that thing out… just for a little while…”
“No.” Jiang Shouzhu flatly refused, smiling, “If you have the guts, take it out secretly. But if I catch you, just guess what will happen.”
Jiang Shouzhu didn’t specify the punishment, leaving him to imagine.
The fear of the unknown was the greatest fear, a bottomless pit.
Besides, Ying Wutu knew the wicked woman’s cruelty and endless methods of torment, so he didn’t even dare to think about it.
Deputy General Yan brought breakfast to the carriage.
Only one serving for Jiang Shouzhu.
She had never ordered food for Ying Wutu, so there wasn’t any for him.
While Jiang Shouzhu ate, the person curled up in the corner hugged his knees on the floor, burying his head.
Though he made no sound, his stomach growled constantly.
He dared not ask for food or even look at her.
He still hurt there, but the wicked woman wouldn’t let him take it out, making him feel even more wronged.
And very hungry.
“Drink this.” Jiang Shouzhu bent down, placing half a cup of warm milk on the floor, commanding him.
Initially, she planned to leave half a bun and throw it at the little rabbit’s head for him to eat.
But recalling how she had kicked his stomach and made him vomit blood last night, she decided to give him something warm to drink.
However, she wouldn’t let the little rabbit eat his fill.
A bit to stave off hunger was enough.
After eating, he’d have more energy to make trouble.
There were nine days left to reach the capital; these nine days, the little rabbit should conserve his energy.
Hearing the noise, Ying Wutu raised his head and saw the cup at his feet. Since being captured, he hadn’t had a single full meal, always in a state of hunger. Smelling the sweet milk, he swallowed and looked at her for permission before reaching out.
Seeing her approving gaze, Ying Wutu picked up the cup and drank it down in one go.
After being beaten and having his stomach bleed last night, the warm drink made his stomach feel better.
Getting a bit of kindness, Ying Wutu couldn’t help but push his luck. Just as he was about to speak…
Deputy General Yan’s voice was heard outside the carriage.
Jiang Shouzhu ordered, “Continue forward!”
As the carriage moved, Ying Wutu, sitting unstably, bumped his head and cried out, holding his head.
Jiang Shouzhu laughed at his silly behavior.
Seeing the wicked woman laugh, Ying Wutu gained a bit more courage, like a pampered puppy seeing its owner happy, daring to ask for treats.
“I’m really going to break. Don’t you still want to enjoy me? If I break, you won’t be able to play. So, can you take it out for a little while?” Ying Wutu tried to negotiate again.
“Break? Are you that useless?” Jiang Shouzhu, in a good mood from the journey’s boredom, enjoyed teasing the little rabbit in the carriage. Sitting on the chair, while he sat on the floor, she lifted her leg, tracing his lips with her shoe tip and laughing, “If that’s broken, use this. You still managed to curse me non-stop. Isn’t that mouth quite capable?”
Ying Wutu understood, his face reddening further.
Teased by the wicked woman again, but unable to resist.
Jiang Shouzhu pointed at his chest with her shoe tip, saying, “And you scratched my mark… Without this mark, of course, I’d have to remark elsewhere.”
“No, no!” Seeing her willingness, Ying Wutu quickly pulled open his collar, revealing the mark, explaining, “The mark isn’t scratched; it’s healed. Look for yourself.”
He had scratched lightly; at the time, it had bled, making the “Jiang” character look blurred. But now, the scabs had fallen off, revealing the original mark.
“Oh… so obedient.” Jiang Shouzhu’s mood improved when she saw him tugging at his collar, obediently exposing his chest for her to see. The little rabbit’s chest muscles were well-developed, a result of long-term training in the barracks, unlike the weaker bodies of average men. Seeing this, she benevolently said, “Then take it out…”
Hearing this, Ying Wutu hurriedly began to undress… But before he could, he looked up at the wicked woman, seeing her watching with great interest. He wanted to turn around but feared that action would anger her.
He had spent the entire morning being obedient, begging for mercy, and even using his appearance to earn this favor. He didn’t want to lose it now, so he gritted his teeth and endured her gaze.
After being in for a whole day and night, taking it out made him groan in pain.
Finally managing to remove it, he used his hands to fan the air, seeking relief.
It hurt terribly; fanning himself felt much better.
Jiang Shouzhu’s eyes narrowed. This action seemed like an invitation, making her suspect the little rabbit did it on purpose.
So she decided to take back her benevolence.
Her benevolence was given and taken at her will, as she had absolute control over the little rabbit.
“Ten…” she began counting.
Ying Wutu, puzzled, continued fanning himself, looking up at her in confusion.
“Nine…”
He blinked, still not understanding.
“Eight… Before I finish counting, if you haven’t returned to the original state, you’ll be in trouble. Seven!” Jiang Shouzhu explained.
“Ah! No, I just… Please give me more time…” Ying Wutu had just begun to feel comfortable and hadn’t had time to savor the feeling when she threatened to take it away.
“Six.” Jiang Shouzhu ignored his pleas and continued counting.
“Please, no… I really…” Ying Wutu’s hand fanned faster, trying to find as much comfort as possible before she finished counting.
Seeing his scarred hand fanning so quickly it almost created an afterimage, she found it even more amusing, though her countdown never stopped.
“One.”
With Jiang Shouzhu’s final ultimatum, Ying Wutu had no choice but to restore everything to its original state, sitting in the corner and crying out loud in frustration.
He had just started to feel better. How could the wicked woman be so cruel!
If he had endured all along, he might have continued to bear it. But now, it made him feel even worse.
“Don’t cry out loud.” Jiang Shouzhu poured herself a cup of tea, enjoying it while commanding him.
She preferred the little rabbit’s suppressed groans to his crying. They sounded better.
