MTSAMAPOC Chapter 21

Ying Wutu wished he could find a hole to crawl into.

“Are you… having a miscarriage?”

Jiang Shouzhu had a favorite servant who she adored nightly. The servant got pregnant but continued to be with her, which eventually led to a miscarriage due to excessive activity. That was Jiang Shouzhu’s first child. The servant was heartbroken and later became a nun in a temple. Since then, no man in her household had conceived.

Seeing this scene reminded her of that servant.

“No… it’s not that. I’m having my period. Please don’t hit me, I didn’t do it on purpose.” Ying Wutu, feeling he was about to be beaten, cautiously reached out to tug at her clothes.

“Which one?” Jiang Shouzhu didn’t understand.

“That one…” Ying Wutu was embarrassed to say it outright.

After a while, Jiang Shouzhu understood.

“Forget it.” Instead of getting angry, Jiang Shouzhu remembered the servant and felt a bit of pity for the little rabbit.

It was, after all, her first child, and she had even discussed naming the child with her mother if it had been a daughter. Unfortunately, there were no more children afterward.

“Someone, come here.” Jiang Shouzhu opened the carriage door and gestured to Deputy General Yan.

Ying Wutu curled into a ball, thinking he was going to be killed.

What about his sisters? Would they be buried alive too?

Before Ying Wutu could think of a way to calm her, Deputy General Yan returned with a new blanket.

Jiang Shouzhu threw the new blanket over Ying Wutu’s head, covering him completely.

“Make the bed,” she ordered.

Ying Wutu poked his head out of the blanket, looking at her in confusion.

“Didn’t you understand? You dirtied my bed, now remake it!” After speaking, Jiang Shouzhu sat on the bench, waiting for Ying Wutu to work.

Ying Wutu finally understood and quickly started making the bed.

Removing the blood-stained blanket, his stomach still hurt, but he didn’t dare delay.

He skillfully made the bed while secretly observing her expression.

Why wasn’t she angry?

She didn’t even scold…

When did she become so good-tempered?

Ying Wutu finished making the clean bed and awkwardly shrank back into his corner, watching her carefully.

Jiang Shouzhu lay back on the bed, throwing the stained blanket onto the floor of the carriage, saying, “This blanket is yours. Until we return to the capital, you are not allowed on my bed.”

Then she lay down.

Ying Wutu once again found himself with a blanket over his head. It took him a moment to realize what had happened.

Was the wicked woman… showing care?

Was she really this considerate?

Ying Wutu wrapped himself in the blanket like a small dumpling.

His clothes weren’t warm, but with the thick blanket, his body gradually warmed up, and his abdominal pain eased considerably.

And then…

Ying Wutu buried his face in the blanket and took a deep breath.

It was filled with her scent, a pleasant smell.

It felt reassuring.

It still carried residual warmth, her body heat.

Ying Wutu grew increasingly happy…

At that moment, Jiang Shouzhu suddenly turned over, her tone colder, saying, “You are allowed to take that out.” Then she turned back again.

Ying Wutu thought she was talking in her sleep. He blinked several times, trying to confirm if it was an act of grace or if he had misheard.

Jiang Shouzhu, not hearing any movement, turned over again and asked, “Are you dead from the pain?”

She intended to sit up and check.

“No, no, still alive…” Ying Wutu quickly replied, confirming he hadn’t misheard.

He didn’t know why the wicked woman was suddenly being so kind, but he didn’t dwell on it. The priority was to remove the thing causing him so much torment.

Then the carriage was filled with heavy breathing.

Ying Wutu finally felt some relief.

Listening to the sound made Jiang Shouzhu feel a bit restless.

Ying Wutu wanted to ask why the wicked woman was suddenly acting differently, but he didn’t dare.

He endured until dawn.

With the warmth of the brazier and the blanket, his abdominal pain eased considerably through the night.

In the morning, the army stopped to rest and eat.

This time, Jiang Shouzhu specifically requested an extra cup of milk—a full cup—all for Ying Wutu.

Ying Wutu was moved to tears, but he also wondered if his sisters were getting milk. The wicked woman likely wouldn’t give all the captives precious milk, would she?

Having finished the milk, his stomach felt much better. Seeing that the wicked woman seemed to be in a good mood, he tried to push his luck, “Um… can I see thePrince? We’re both men, and with my current… situation, I need to take care of it. Otherwise, I’ll dirty your carriage floor as well.”

As Ying Wutu spoke, his voice trembled, as if he feared not only being rejected but also being hit.

But he was most afraid of the note under the cup being discovered.

“Men are such trouble.”

Jiang Shouzhu complained, stepping out of the carriage to call for the Fifth Prince.

Ying Xiaowu had been traveling alone in his carriage, bored to death, and had repeatedly tried to join Jiang Shouzhu’s carriage but was never allowed. Now, to his delight, Sister Jiang herself called for him.

However, Jiang Shouzhu coldly said, “Get in there and help him.”

After all, they were both little men and understood each other better.

Ying Xiaowu’s smile froze as he pointed inside the carriage, asking, “Help with what?”

Jiang Shouzhu, lacking patience to explain, said, “You’ll see when you get in.”

Worried, Ying Xiaowu opened the door to see the wretch curled up in a blanket in the corner.

Jealousy burned like a flame in his heart.

No wonder Sister Jiang ignored him—this wretch was hiding in the carriage!

The wretch even feigned innocence!

Seeing this enraged him!

Ying Xiaowu wanted to refuse but didn’t want to seem disobedient in front of Sister Jiang, so he reluctantly boarded the carriage.

He intended to see what tricks the wretch was up to.

Jiang Shouzhu didn’t stay near the carriage, instead walking a bit away with Deputy General Yan.

Listening to the morning’s pigeon message report.

As Jiang Shouzhu listened, she recalled her acts of kindness to the little rabbit the night before. Her gaze turned toward the capital.

But all she saw were snowy mountains.

She didn’t immediately approach the carriage but stood with Deputy Yan.

Give the little rabbit some time. After all, everything was under her control.

And she was very curious.

——

 

In the carriage, Ying Wutu saw the visitor and was overjoyed. He quickly reached out…

“What are you doing?” The Fifth Prince evaded, irritated.

“Fifth Highness, please listen. I have contacts outside who have a box of gunpowder, but they can’t get close to Jiang Shouzhu’s carriage, and I’m imprisoned here, unable to act. I need you to steal two uniforms from their soldiers so our people can approach Jiang Shouzhu’s carriage. This is our only chance for revenge!”

As Ying Wutu spoke, the taste of milk lingered on his tongue, and the blanket wrapped around him still carried warmth.

But an enemy is an enemy.

Always an enemy.

Ying Xiaowu, distracted, listened absentmindedly, his gaze fixed on the silver hairpin on the floor.

Wasn’t that the hairpin he lost? How did it end up here?