MTSAMAPOC Chapter 26

Night fell.

The snowfall that night was light, so they continued their journey through the night.

As soon as it grew dark, the carriage was lit with candlelights.

Ying Wutu curled up in a corner of the carriage, pretending not to be there.

He remembered the wicked woman’s words from the previous night.

He shrank further, silently praying she had forgotten.

Forget… forget…

“Did you forget something?” Jiang Shouzhuo smiled at the bundle in the carriage corner.

Ying Wutu said nothing, feigning sleep.

Jiang Shouzhuo gently kicked his butt with her toe, ordering, “Open the box yourself.”

Being called out, Ying Wutu could no longer pretend. He slowly turned and pushed the box from the corner.

No matter how slowly he moved, he eventually had to take it out.

“Tonight, will you choose, or should I?” Jiang Shouzhuo asked.

“I’ll choose…” Ying Wutu regretted last night. The wicked woman was so harsh; three more lashes might end him. He couldn’t escape or kill her, so opposing her was pointless. It was better to comply and get fewer lashes.

“You’re more obedient tonight.” Jiang Shouzhuo confirmed that disobedience meant beatings for this little rabbit.

“This one.” Ying Wutu picked the thinnest whip from the box, offering it with both hands.

Jiang Shouzhuo smiled, took it, bent it to test its flexibility, and didn’t immediately use it. She watched as the little rabbit undressed himself.

“Do you know where this whip is meant to hit?” Jiang Shouzhuo asked.

Ying Wutu shook his head.

He wondered what novel method the wicked woman would use next.

In her hands, wouldn’t she hit wherever she wanted?

“It’s meant to hit there.” Jiang Shouzhuo glanced down.

Following her gaze, Ying Wutu looked at himself and quickly covered the area, asking, “Can I choose another…”

He didn’t want to be hit there.

“Always pushing your luck.” Jiang Shouzhuo’s tone showed no anger, her mood brightened.

“Don’t be mad, don’t be mad. I won’t switch, just hit where you want…” Ying Wutu covered his ears, afraid of being dragged over for another ear twisting. The morning’s twist had hurt until evening.

Jiang Shouzhuo threw the thinnest whip onto the floor. “You can switch.”

“Ah… okay…” Ying Wutu, belatedly realizing, quickly put the thinnest whip back in the box, even burying it under other items to avoid picking it out again by mistake. He sifted through the box, selecting the second thinnest whip and held it up to the wicked woman, asking, “Is this one okay?”

His eyes were filled with anticipation, like a husband following his wife while shopping, choosing a piece of jewelry, and asking if they could buy it.

That look, full of hope yet fearing rejection.

Jiang Shouzhuo took it, bent it to test its flexibility, and asked, “Where do you want to be hit?”

Letting him choose.

“I… can it be the front? It’s easier to apply medicine here.” Ying Wutu straightened his upper body.

Last night’s back wound hadn’t been treated, now red, swollen, and hot.

He couldn’t apply medicine on his own, so he endured the pain.

“Alright.” Jiang Shouzhuo raised her arm high. She saw the little rabbit close his eyes tightly.

Even his eyelashes were trembling.

Then “smack” – Ying Wutu fell to the floor, yelling, “Ah… you hit the wrong spot.”

For Jiang Shouzhuo’s whip didn’t strike his chest as promised but landed on his back, crossing last night’s wound.

Jiang Shouzhuo let out a long “Oh,” regretfully saying, “Hit the wrong spot? How about this whip doesn’t count, and we try again?”

Ying Wutu, still on the floor, frantically grabbing with his hands, gasping, “No, no… wrong is wrong, just leave it. You promised I choose, only one hit…”

How could a mistake mean another hit!

That would be extra punishment!

Jiang Shouzhuo laughed more, wiping the blood from the whip while enjoying the little rabbit’s reaction, thinking how he was becoming more adorable.

Indeed, he needed discipline.

She tossed the cleaned whip into the box, ordering, “Get up and put the box away. We’ll continue tomorrow night.”

Ying Wutu hadn’t recovered yet, still groaning in pain, silently cursing her.

The wicked woman’s skills were so good; how could she hit the back when aiming for the front?

Obviously intentional.

Feeling wronged, Ying Wutu didn’t dare speak up.

He had to silently endure.

Tonight was just one lash, two fewer than last night. Though just as painful, he could endure it better than before.

Still…

He couldn’t help but whimper.

Ying Wutu took several breaths before slowly getting up. Seeing the wicked woman watching him, he offered, “I’ll gag myself to avoid disturbing your sleep.”

Jiang Shouzhuo felt even better seeing how obedient he was.

But…

Ying Wutu faced a dilemma.

The cloth used to gag him last night was dirty.

He had used it to wipe the blood from his wounds, and now it was stained and dry, turning black.

Ying Wutu couldn’t bear to put the dirty cloth into his mouth.

Biting his hand?

But his hands were already in bad shape and couldn’t take more abuse.

Suddenly, Ying Wutu thought of something. He remembered seeing something in the box earlier. He opened the box again, taking out a finger torture device. His hands lacked strength, and he struggled for a long time but couldn’t remove the wooden bar.

“What’s this? Not enough? Want to play more?” Jiang Shouzhuo asked, seeing him fidgeting.

“No… ah… I was afraid I’d make noise and disturb you, so I thought of this. Can you help me take it off?” Ying Wutu handed the device to her.

Jiang Shouzhuo chuckled. In an unusually good mood, she easily removed the wooden bar from the ropes and threw it to the floor.

The wooden bar rolled across the floor, stopping in front of Ying Wutu.

Ying Wutu picked up the bar and bit into it, lying back down on the floor, exposing the fresh wounds on his back.

Jiang Shouzhuo thought he looked even more like a puppy with the bar in his mouth.

Ying Wutu resolved that since the new wounds were on his back, even with the medicine, he couldn’t apply it. So tomorrow, he wouldn’t play the cup-guessing game with the wicked woman and avoid the risk of being slapped.

Despite dressing as a woman for years and being used to it, he still valued his face and didn’t want it swollen again or risk being deafened by her harsh slaps.

Jiang Shouzhuo tossed and turned all night, wanting to pull the person under the bed up for a hug.

But the little rabbit was bloody, and she didn’t want to dirty the bed.

Oh well, once they returned to the capital, there’d be plenty of time to sleep.

Morning arrived.

While Jiang Shouzhuo ate breakfast, Ying Wutu was already sitting up. Though his back wounds were untreated, he no longer whimpered, though they still bled.

“Choose one.” Jiang Shouzhuo produced two cups again.

Ying Wutu shook his head, “Can I not choose? I don’t want a reward or the milk.”

“Want to die?” Jiang Shouzhuo didn’t understand.

“No… I’m afraid of getting slapped.” Ying Wutu quickly explained, fearing her anger.

Jiang Shouzhuo’s lips curved, her tone doting, “Maybe today’s punishment isn’t a slap.”

“Still… no need.” Ying Wutu carefully watched her face, and seeing she wasn’t angry, dared to stand his ground.

“Suit yourself.” Jiang Shouzhuo took both cups and drank the milk herself.

Ying Wutu licked his lips, curling up again.

A day without food wouldn’t kill him.

Even if he guessed correctly and got the medicine, he couldn’t use it, so avoiding more beatings was better.

The carriage remained in place.

After breakfast, Jiang Shouzhuo got off to inspect.

Alone in the carriage, Ying Wutu quickly took out the items given by the Fifth Prince to take care of personal needs.

Once done, he sighed in relief.

Thankfully, the wicked woman had been in a good mood last night. If she had used the thinnest whip, he couldn’t imagine the pain.

Ying Wutu warmed his hands by the brazier, waiting for a long time, but the wicked woman hadn’t returned.

Did she go off to kill someone?

Worried, Ying Wutu moved to the carriage door and carefully pushed it open…

“Go back!” the coachwoman scolded.

With his hands disabled and body covered in wounds, Ying Wutu was no match even for a child. Afraid the coachwoman would report him, he quickly retreated.

He hadn’t planned to escape in broad daylight anyway.

As he moved back, he noticed the two empty cups.

Curiosity got the better of him about today’s notes.

The wicked woman had said it might not be slaps, so what could the punishment be?

She had a mind full of tormenting ideas.

Since she wasn’t around, he decided to sneak a look.

He moved the cups, carefully unfolding the notes…

The first note read: medicine.

He wasn’t surprised.

He then picked up the second note, his heart beating faster.

What new trick did the wicked woman have?

The second note also read: medicine.

Ying Wutu stood stunned, his already weak hand dropping.

His first reaction wasn’t regret.

He didn’t regret not choosing earlier, which left him hungry today.

He was puzzled.

Why had the wicked woman prepared two identical reward notes?

Similarly, did yesterday’s morning notes both say medicine?

Maybe there was no punishment note at all?

Was the slap threat just a lie?

Footsteps crunched in the snow outside.

Ying Wutu knew the wicked woman was back. He hurriedly replaced the cups, curling back into the carriage corner.

His feelings towards her changed. Initially pure hatred, now mingled with…

Jiang Shouzhuo entered the carriage, noticing immediately that the cups had been moved.

Her expression instantly turned cold.