MTSAMAPOC Chapter 31

Jiang Shouzhuo had no idea there was such a big dog hole in the mansion.

But Ying Wutu found it.

Now, his body was stuck in the dog hole, head outside and bottom inside.

He couldn’t get out, nor could he back in.

Jiang Shouzhuo sent away the clingy attendants and returned to her room to drink tea while waiting for good news. When a servant reported the situation, she laughed so hard she almost choked on her tea.

Crawling through a dog hole? That was quite something.

She grabbed the prepared box and headed to the back garden.

Seeing the little rabbit stuck in the dog hole with his bottom sticking up, she couldn’t help but lift her leg and give a gentle kick.

So soft.

How could he be even cuter like this?

“Ugh…” Ying Wutu knew he had been found, and in the Jiang household, the one who would kick him there was undoubtedly the wicked woman.

Jiang Shouzhuo waved the servants away, placed the box on the ground, and nimbly flipped over the wall.

Squatting down outside the wall, she admired the little rabbit’s expression.

Ying Wutu, having been kicked, was flushed red. Hearing a sound, he saw a pair of exquisite shoes appear in his view.

He didn’t need to think to know who it was.

He closed his eyes, thinking it was over.

“Don’t want to be human? Want to be a dog? Why crawl through a dog hole?” Jiang Shouzhuo asked, seeing the little rabbit playing dead. She twisted his ear, forcing him to look at her, feigning regret, “Too bad your butt’s too big, got stuck. Otherwise, you might’ve made it. Why have such a big butt?”

Ying Wutu wanted to explain it wasn’t his butt but his hips, but he didn’t dare.

He wanted to die.

But he couldn’t.

“Speak! Do you enjoy being a dog?” Jiang Shouzhuo raised her voice.

“No…” Ying Wutu mumbled.

He thought: Haven’t you treated me like a dog?

“Then why the dog hole?” Jiang Shouzhuo asked.

“Just… wanted to take a walk,” Ying Wutu made a lame excuse, feeling more ashamed after saying it.

He knew it wouldn’t fool the wicked woman.

After the medicine and fever broke, feeling stronger, he tried to slip out to send letters.

The wicked woman hadn’t come all day yesterday; she probably wouldn’t today, so he took a chance.

But why had she returned so early?

And this dog hole looked big, but he got stuck.

Struggling too much, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Ying Wutu dared not call for help, trying to crawl back.

But before he could, he was caught.

“Want a walk? In the capital, dogs without a leash are captured. Want to be caught?” Jiang Shouzhuo teased.

“I’m not a dog…” Ying Wutu protested softly, unable to resist her.

“Not a dog, then why the dog hole?” Jiang Shouzhuo asked.

Ying Wutu fell silent, letting her twist his ear, knowing punishment was inevitable.

“Not talking again, huh? Fine. Either you stay stuck here until you die, or you can be a little dog, and I’ll get you out. Your choice.”

Ying Wutu knew it.

He had no choice but to respond in the lowest voice, “Not staying stuck.”

“And what will you do instead?” Jiang Shouzhuo insisted he say it himself.

“Be a little dog…” Ying Wutu said, biting his lip in humiliation.

Wicked woman, wicked woman…

Once I get in touch with my sisters, I’ll escape and kill you!

“That’s better.” Jiang Shouzhuo released his ear and patted his head like a dog, then drew a dagger from her waist and struck the stone that had trapped him.

The dagger was incredibly sharp, shattering the stone instantly.

Ying Wutu, exhausted, collapsed to the ground as the stone holding his hips broke.

Finally free.

But not truly free.

Still in the wicked woman’s grasp.

“Stop playing dead!” Jiang Shouzhuo agilely flipped back over the wall, nudging his bottom with her shoe, urging, “Get up.”

Ying Wutu pressed his palms to the ground, trying to rise slowly, but his body was too weak and his legs numb from being stuck. He couldn’t sit up.

Jiang Shouzhuo pointed to a nearby box, saying, “That’s the gift I prepared for you. Open it.”

Ying Wutu thought he misheard.

He tried to escape and wasn’t being punished, but rewarded?

What trick was the wicked woman playing now?

Knowing his hands were weak, Jiang Shouzhuo kindly opened the box, revealing exquisite chains, asking, “Do you like them?”

Ying Wutu: “…”

Who would like being chained?

Wicked woman!

“Speak!” Jiang Shouzhuo, not seeing the reaction she wanted, grew displeased.

“I like them…” Ying Wutu lied.

He knew he was in her hands, having just been caught trying to escape. Defying her would only mean another beating.

So he had to play along.

“I knew you would. Crawl over, I’ll put them on you.”

Ying Wutu now understood why she measured his wrists and ankles last night.

It was for these chains?

With clear “clicks,” his neck, wrists, and ankles were all shackled, and… there was an iron ball on his ankle!

The neck and wrist chains were detachable. Holding the chain, Jiang Shouzhuo asked, “Coming back with me?”

Ying Wutu realized she wanted to lead him like a dog.

“Don’t…” he whispered.

He knew it was useless.

With so many people around the mansion, he didn’t want to crawl like a dog.

“Scared now? Why not when you crawled through the dog hole?” Jiang Shouzhuo looked down at him.

“Please… at least not in front of others… I’ll crawl in your room, do whatever you want…” Ying Wutu timidly tugged her skirt, willing to endure anything in her presence but couldn’t bear the humiliation before others.

“Oh? Just for me, not others?” Jiang Shouzhuo was only teasing.

Playing with him was fun; he was her toy.

“Yes… please…” Seeing hope, Ying Wutu bowed his head lower.

“But you can’t stand or walk. How will you get back? Or stay here and freeze?” Jiang Shouzhuo pretended to ponder.

Ying Wutu was stumped.

His legs were numb, unable to stand.

After a moment, he said, “I’ll rest here, regain strength, then return… I won’t run again.”

Still worried, he feared freezing in the cold garden after being stuck for an hour, risking illness again.

He didn’t want to die from this.

“Planning to escape again?” Jiang Shouzhuo asked.

“No, no…”

“No, I must punish you now. You can wait, I can’t.” Jiang Shouzhuo bent, lifting him and placing the iron ball in his arms.

She carried him, he held the iron ball.

Just like that, they returned.

Ying Wutu, previously anxious about persuading her and avoiding freezing, was now… being carried?

Carried back?Ying Wutu wasn’t forced to crawl on the ground like a dog, nor left in the cold to wait until he could walk again.

The wicked woman was unpredictable, her actions equally so.

But…

Ying Wutu curled up slightly.

He had been stuck and freezing for an hour.

Beijing winters were not as snowy as those in the northern desert, but just as bone-chilling.

Yet now, the wicked woman’s embrace was warm and secure.

He had never been carried like this before.

His first time being carried was by the wicked woman.

He cautiously looked up at her. She was indeed beautiful, a thought he’d had since their first meeting. No wonder she appeared in his dreams.

Now, pressed against her chest, carried by her.

Warmth filled his heart, his eyes crinkling in an almost smile, though he dared not.

Seeing the iron ball on his stomach, attached to his ankle, now in his arms, it seemed lighter than the previous one but still heavy.

And…

Why was there a drawing on the ball?

A little rabbit?

Did the wicked woman draw it?

So it was… a gift.

Was the gift the chains, the iron ball, or the drawing?

He thought it was the drawing.

The wicked woman not only wrote beautifully but also drew well.

She was so… good.

“What are you daydreaming about?” Jiang Shouzhuo glanced down, seeing his blissful face, wondering if he was scared senseless.

“Nothing…” Ying Wutu snapped back to reality, embarrassed by his wandering thoughts.

How could he fall for her again?

He was about to be tortured by the wicked woman.

Her smiling face was a prelude to mischief.

Caught escaping today, who knew what awaited him?

Ying Wutu sighed softly.

Back at the room, dusk had not fully settled.

At the door, Jiang Shouzhuo dropped him to the ground.

Ying Wutu groaned, hurt, expecting to be carried inside, but left at the threshold.

“Crawl in yourself,” Jiang Shouzhuo entered first.

Ying Wutu’s legs were still numb from being stuck. Dragging his chains, he crawled inside and closed the door.

But…

The iron ball remained outside.

Opening the door again, he tried pulling the ball in but lacked the strength. Looking helplessly at the wicked woman.

She sat, sipping tea, watching with interest.

No intention of helping.

Ying Wutu gave up, sitting at the door, ball outside, thinking even if she beat him, he couldn’t help it.

“Idiot, crawl forward a few steps to bring it in. Have you gotten stupid? Are you the same clever rabbit from the battlefield?” Jiang Shouzhuo, seeing his struggle, couldn’t hold back.

“Oh…” Ying Wutu belatedly realized, crawling two steps forward, pulling the ball in.

Finally, he closed the door.

As the ball crossed the threshold with a “thud,” his heart echoed the sound.

 

What did the wicked woman just say?

Was she praising him again?

It wasn’t the first time she’d praised him.

Ying Wutu lowered his head, secretly pleased, but dared not let her see it.

The room was silent, with Jiang Shouzhuo drinking tea and writing. Ying Wutu grew increasingly anxious.

Her inaction made him more nervous.

He wondered if she was planning something with the captives again.

She had promised to spare them and choose ten to come to the Jiang household.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

It was a servant bringing Ying Wutu’s evening medicine.

The door opened, the servant placed the bowl on the floor, and left, closing the door behind them.

Ying Wutu cautiously observed the wicked woman’s expression. Seeing no directives from her, he crawled to the door, carefully holding the bowl of medicine and sipping it slowly.

The medicine was bitter and astringent but very effective.

Of course, it was high-quality medicine.

Wanting to survive, he drank it while it was hot.

After finishing, the bitterness numbed his tongue as if scalded. He couldn’t help but open his mouth, panting to relieve the taste.

“Acting like a little dog, huh? Sticking your tongue out like that?” Jiang Shouzhuo had finished her tea and mocked him as he struggled with the taste.

Ying Wutu immediately shut his mouth. He hadn’t been sticking his tongue out on purpose; she was just bullying and humiliating him.

His panting was because the medicine was too bitter, and he couldn’t help it. But in her eyes, it seemed like he was pretending to be a dog.

He wasn’t!

Wicked woman!

“Unhappy about it, huh? I’ve spoiled you too much.” Jiang Shouzhuo finally stopped writing, folding the paper into a small bird and blowing it towards him.

The paper bird fluttered through the air, and Ying Wutu caught it.

He didn’t understand the meaning behind it.

“Open it and read it aloud,” Jiang Shouzhuo continued sipping her tea.

Ying Wutu’s fingers were weak, and the paper bird was complexly folded. It took him a while to unfold it and lay it flat on the ground. He hesitated, then began to read aloud, word by word:

“I am Jiang Shouzhuo’s little dog.”

Tears fell onto the paper.

“Not happy? What do you want to be?” Jiang Shouzhuo asked.

“Can I not be a dog?” Ying Wutu tried to negotiate.

“How about a little rabbit?” Jiang Shouzhuo showed rare patience.

“A rabbit is better,” Ying Wutu thought being a rabbit was preferable.

“Fine, bring it here, I’ll change it.” Jiang Shouzhuo extended her hand.

Ying Wutu picked up the paper, trying to stand but failing. He had to crawl to the table and placed the paper there.

Jiang Shouzhuo crossed out “dog” and wrote “rabbit,” then tossed the paper back on the floor, asking, “Satisfied now?”

“Yes.” Ying Wutu looked at the words and, without her prompting, read aloud again, “I am Jiang Shouzhuo’s little rabbit.”

“Good.” Jiang Shouzhuo patted his head, then called out, “Someone, come here.”

Ying Wutu’s eyes narrowed slightly, enjoying the sensation of being patted on the head.

The housekeeper, a woman in her forties who had worked at the Jiang residence since she was young, entered and stood by the door, placing a set of coarse cloth clothes on a bench.

Ying Wutu glanced at her but felt nervous. Sitting on the ground by the table, with the wicked woman seated behind it, he unconsciously inched closer to her. Despite the constant danger and bullying she represented, being near her brought a strange sense of safety.

The housekeeper spoke, “The lowest servants in the household start work at dawn. They clean the young lady’s courtyard, fetch water, chop wood, and wash clothes for the concubines. If the work isn’t done by dusk, they’re punished according to the remaining tasks.”

“Ah?” Ying Wutu was stunned. He knew being brought to the wicked woman’s home meant suffering, but with his hands disabled, he couldn’t even hold a cup or bowl without using both hands. How could he possibly do any work?

“Do you have an objection?” Jiang Shouzhuo nudged his shoulder with her leg, seeing him stunned.

“I… I…”

“Impudent!” The housekeeper scolded, “You, the lowest servant, who allowed you to ‘I’ and ‘you’ with the young lady? You should refer to yourself as ‘this servant’ and address the young lady as ‘master’.”

Jiang Shouzhuo nodded, “I’ve indeed spoiled you. I should hand you over to the housekeeper for a proper lesson.”

“No, please…” Ying Wutu, fearing another beating, clung to her skirt, looking up at her with pleading eyes, “Can’t we discuss this? It’s not that… this servant does want to work… but my hands are disabled; I can’t do these tasks.”

He wasn’t trying to be lazy; he genuinely couldn’t handle a broom, washboard, or axe. The tasks assigned by the housekeeper were impossible for him.

“What kind of work can you do? This household does not support idlers.” Jiang Shouzhuo’s gaze fell on his skirt hem, noticing his hands were indeed weak, unable to hold the fabric firmly. She had personally rendered him powerless; she knew this well.

“The slave…” Ying Wutu really couldn’t think of any work he could do. He sighed, understanding the wicked woman was just finding an excuse to punish him. Claiming tasks must be completed with penalties for unfinished work was a facade; he couldn’t resist. Better to think practically, he asked the stern housekeeper, “Then… what are the punishments for not finishing the work?”

Might as well know in advance how the wicked woman would torment him.

The housekeeper’s expression changed, looking at the young mistress again.

That earlier speech was given to her by the young mistress. She had worked in the household for years but didn’t know of any punishments. This play was orchestrated by the young mistress, playing both good cop and bad cop. She didn’t understand the young mistress’s intentions but followed instructions.

The Jiang household, managed by Jiang’s father, was well-ordered and did not abuse servants. Lazy workers might lose wages or be confined to the woodshed for two days without food, or sold. Thieves were handed over to authorities.

Thus, the household had no specific punishments.

Moreover, from her experience watching the young mistress grow, the young mistress had never cared so much for any man. Even though this one was treated like a little dog, he was different. So she dared not speak beyond the young mistress’s instructions.

A moment of silence filled the room.

Jiang Shouzhuo suddenly put on a fierce expression, saying, “You’ll find out. There will be consequences.”

“Consequences.”

Ying Wutu shuddered at these words.

Last time, it had been excruciating. The wicked woman would be worse this time.

He silently lowered his head, looking like a dog robbed of its bone, only daring to lie in its den.

The housekeeper said, “If the young mistress is finished, shall I take him to the woodshed?”

“Does the slave live in the woodshed?” Ying Wutu asked again, feeling aggrieved.

A woodshed sounded broken and definitely less comfortable and warm than the wicked woman’s room.

“Don’t want the woodshed? Want a doghouse?” Jiang Shouzhuo teased.

Ying Wutu quickly shook his head, feeling even more wronged, “The woodshed is fine, but… Master… didn’t you promise to let the slave rest for three days? Today isn’t over yet. Can the slave stay here and go to the woodshed tomorrow?”

Saying “Master” was difficult for him, but he didn’t dare resist her.

“You’re pushing your luck? You seem fully recovered, able to crawl through a dog hole in the garden.” Jiang Shouzhuo said.

Ying Wutu shook his head faster, quickly saying, “No, the slave will go to the woodshed now…”

Better to escape quickly.

With night falling, if the wicked woman remembered previous events and became bestial, what if she “devoured” him?

And he was already “incapable.” If she wasn’t satisfied and got angry, remembering all her ways to torment, he didn’t want to suffer more.

“Go then.” Jiang Shouzhuo waved.

Ying Wutu lowered his eyes, knowing he couldn’t bargain today. Not being beaten for trying to escape was already fortunate.

 

His legs were able to stand, but were still numb, causing him to limp as he walked out, clutching the coarse linen clothes at the door. These were presumably the slave clothes he was to wear from now on.

Sigh…

The thought of all the work awaiting him tomorrow filled him with despair.

Why did the wicked woman make so many excuses? It would be better to punish him directly every day.

Holding the clothes, dragging the iron ball on his ankle, he limped behind the housekeeper to the woodshed.

The woodshed was small, filled with firewood, with only a tiny empty space.

It was drafty, slightly better than the freezing outdoors.

The housekeeper left after closing the door.

The door wasn’t locked, but Ying Wutu knew he had no chance to escape for now.

The dog hole would be sealed, and he couldn’t climb the wall.

Before contacting his sisters, he’d have to lay low.

But thinking of the tasks ahead…

He doubted he’d survive to see revenge.

He tidied the woodshed, taking off his clothes and putting on the coarse linen ones, at least having something to cover himself instead of sleeping directly on the ground.

Cold and dark, he began to miss the wicked woman’s embrace. Holding the iron ball with the little rabbit drawing against his chest.

Still not enough, he took out the folded paper bird, trying to refold it but failing. He held the crumpled paper in his palm, imagining the wicked woman nearby, providing a small sense of security.

Curled up, he slept fitfully.

At dawn, the housekeeper suddenly opened the shed door, shouting, “Get up and work!”

Startled, he hurriedly rose, stumbling after the housekeeper. He hadn’t even had breakfast; at least during his recovery, he’d had three meals a day.

The housekeeper threw a broom at him, saying, “Work quietly, don’t wake the young mistress.”

He knew this was an impossible task. How could sweeping the yard make no noise…

Clearly, this was another trick by the wicked woman.

Seeing the housekeeper leave, he cautiously asked, “Do slaves get breakfast?”

He was still hungry.

“Finish today’s work, then you’ll get food.”

He understood; that meant no breakfast.

The wicked woman was so cruel, even dogs weren’t starved like this!

He might as well starve to death!