MTSAMAPOC Chapter 37

After Ying Wutu finished kissing, he suddenly realized what a foolish thing he had done!

How could he dare to kiss her? And to initiate it?

Was he out of his mind?

Jiang Shouzhu opened her eyes and saw Ying Wutu’s nervous and frightened expression. She patted his head.

“Don’t be afraid.”

It was rare for her to comfort someone.

Ying Wutu’s heart pounded as he saw that the bad woman wasn’t angry. He ventured further, “Where did they go?”

Jiang Shouzhu’s face instantly turned cold, and she asked, “Didn’t get enough just now?”

Ying Wutu dared not say another word.

Jiang Shouzhu sat up and dressed herself, looking at the little bunny who was still unable to put on clothes, “Your account is still unsettled. Focus more on yourself first.”

Ying Wutu shrank his shoulders. He remembered the bad woman’s words—she said to “deal with them,” which likely meant they were killed.

He blamed himself for causing the deaths of his people again.

Even though those people had wanted to throw him into a well.

Jiang Shouzhu, fully dressed, opened the door and instructed the kitchen to prepare some food and send it over, then returned to the bed.

Ying Wutu had been secretly watching her, and when she walked back, he quickly closed his eyes.

“Tell me, how did they bully you, this little saint?” Jiang Shouzhu asked, pulling out a key from her pocket and swiftly unlocking the chains on Ying Wutu’s wrists, ankles, and neck.

The little bunny was too injured to get out of bed, so she decided to be kind to him for now and not let him suffer with the chains.

Ying Wutu was shocked. Was the bad woman going to release him?

Jiang Shouzhu noticed the red and swollen marks on the little bunny’s ankles, though they hadn’t broken the skin.

“Being stubborn again?” Jiang Shouzhu initially intended to grab his ankle but withdrew her hand, making a fist mid-air before pulling back.

After all, the little bunny had suffered enough today—being beaten and bullied by the Ying Kingdom people and then harshly dealt with by her. So today, she wouldn’t bully him.

Ying Wutu had thought of many excuses to defend them, but seeing the bad woman’s gloomy expression, he feared angering her and mumbled softly, “It’s not bullying, actually it didn’t hurt at all.”

“You’re saying they beat you like this, and it didn’t hurt at all?” Jiang Shouzhu suspected the little bunny had been abused so much that he’d gone mad.

“Um… yes?” Ying Wutu nodded.

Jiang Shouzhu laughed in exasperation, “Alright, you say it doesn’t hurt, right? Then I’ll hit you like that every day and see if it hurts.”

“Okay,” Ying Wutu agreed.

Jiang Shouzhu: “…”

She was speechless.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. The kitchen had brought dinner.

Jiang Shouzhu went to the table to eat. She saw the little bunny looking at her with eager eyes and asked, “Do you want to eat?”

Ying Wutu hadn’t had a bite to eat since morning, so he nodded. But when he tried to move, his whole body hurt, and he couldn’t get out of bed. How could he eat then?

Jiang Shouzhu brought over a bowl of porridge, sat by the bedside, and helped the little bunny sit up against the headboard. She then placed the bowl in his hands and went back to the table to continue her dinner.

Ying Wutu held the bowl of porridge and sipped it slowly.

After a whole day without food, his stomach finally got something warm, and he felt a bit better.

Actually… sometimes the bad woman was quite good.

Thinking about the day, his food had been taken by his people, leaving him nothing—not even a bun. His people weren’t starving; they bullied him on purpose.

But the bad woman?

Ying Wutu drank the porridge silently, tears rolling down his cheeks.

Jiang Shouzhu noticed the sound and put down her chopsticks, looking over, “Why are you crying? Is it not good?”

Ying Wutu shook his head, finished the porridge, and licked his lips with satisfaction, “I’m crying because it tastes good.”

“You really are stubborn… Are you full?” Jiang Shouzhu had heard from the housekeeper that Ying Wutu’s food had been taken, so she guessed one bowl of porridge might not be enough. For someone her size, it wouldn’t be enough.

Ying Wutu wasn’t full, but he hesitated, holding the empty bowl.

“Little men shouldn’t be so shy. If you’re not full, speak up!” Jiang Shouzhu said impatiently.

“I’m not full…” Ying Wutu bravely admitted.

Jiang Shouzhu filled another bowl of porridge for him, still sounding gruff, “Don’t be so shy around me! Do you think I would starve you?”

Ying Wutu, scolded by her, was surprisingly less afraid. His heart, which had been pounding with nervousness, calmed down.

Though the bad woman spoke coldly, she had given him another bowl of porridge with her own hands.

Ying Wutu continued drinking the porridge. The warm porridge eased even the pain in his body.

After dinner, Jiang Shouzhu brought a medical kit to the bedside and sat on a chair nearby, instructing, “Change your own bandages. Don’t think I’ll pity you.”

Ying Wutu, having regained some strength after two bowls of porridge and with his injuries already treated earlier, could move a bit. He opened the medical kit and began applying ointment to his wounds.

Jiang Shouzhu said, “This is your last chance. Tell me honestly, how did they bully you? Don’t anger me; my patience is limited.”

She had overheard the housekeeper mention that Ying Wutu had discussed some “plan” with the Ying Kingdom people.

But those people hadn’t listened and had beaten Ying Wutu unconscious instead.

So Jiang Shouzhu wanted to know what the plan was, even though she doubted the little bunny could stir much trouble.

Ying Wutu carefully applied the medicine and said softly, “Actually, it was my fault.”

“Oh?”

“Yes… My ambitions were high, thinking I could turn the tide and save the situation, but I still failed.” Ying Wutu paused in his medicine application, looking up to meet Jiang Shouzhu’s eyes, his expression filled with more grievance. “I’m not a traitor. I nearly succeeded in my ambush several times.”

Jiang Shouzhu didn’t expect the little bunny to say such words. She asked, “Did you really think you could win?”

It was a doomed battle from the start.

“Yes.” Ying Wutu knew he was outnumbered, but he had to deceive himself into believing he could win; otherwise, how could he convince others?

“You have quite the ambition.” Jiang Shouzhu wasn’t angry. Instead, she praised him.

Ying Wutu’s eyes immediately lit up. He felt the pain in his body intensify.

Why did the bad woman praise him again?

He couldn’t handle it!

He bit his lip, afraid he might cry.

“You know, if you were a woman born in the Jin Kingdom, you’d surely make great achievements,” Jiang Shouzhu said seriously, then abruptly changed her tone, laughing. “But you’re a man, and my defeated subordinate, so you can only obediently be my little bunny.”

Ying Wutu looked down at his crippled hands. He was unwilling to accept this, but since his people found out he was a man, they treated him as an enemy. Without allies, he couldn’t accomplish anything.

Besides… as the bad woman said, only by staying obediently by her side could he be safe.

Today, didn’t he almost get beaten to death by his people?

“Finished applying the medicine? Then tell me, what plan did you discuss with those Ying Kingdom people?” Jiang Shouzhu didn’t expect the little bunny to be so resilient, still thinking about some plan after being tortured like this.

“Uh…” Ying Wutu’s heart, which had just calmed a bit, leapt into his throat again. “No plan, just thinking about the whereabouts of the other people from my tribe, wondering if they’re still alive and if they can be contacted.”

He didn’t dare mention any rebellion plans.

Looking at it now, he couldn’t even rebel.

“Still thinking about them? Are you really that despicable?” Jiang Shouzhu felt the little bunny wasn’t telling the truth, but she didn’t care. He was crippled and couldn’t do anything with those Ying Kingdom captives. Instead, they wanted to kill him, so she had nothing to worry about.

“Maybe.” Ying Wutu also felt he was despicable. Last night, he hurriedly brought buns, fearing they had no food, but the buns were snatched away. Today, they forced him to work and almost beat him to death. Despite being bullied like this, he still protected them, refusing to complain to the bad woman.

He believed that if he complained, the bad woman would probably support him.

But he wouldn’t complain. One’s own people don’t fight one’s own people.

Even though they didn’t consider Ying Wutu one of their own.

So he felt he deserved to be bullied.

“Admitting it? Then you won’t have a chance to see them again. If you want to be despicable, be despicable towards me,” Jiang Shouzhu said.

“Where did they go?” Ying Wutu tentatively asked.

Jiang Shouzhu suddenly grabbed the back of the little bunny’s neck, pulling him close and biting his cheek. She threatened, “Don’t mention others in front of me again.”

Ying Wutu winced in pain, his eyes reddening.

The bad woman was not only bad but also domineering.

At that moment, a servant knocked on the door, “Miss, Young Master Wu says he’s having trouble adjusting to the new environment and had a nightmare. He’s uneasy and requests you to check on him.”

Jiang Shouzhu looked annoyed, “If he’s uneasy, get the doctor to prescribe some calming medicine. I can’t cure him. Tell him to stop causing trouble.”

The servant quickly left to deliver the message.

Ying Wutu heard this and thought, “Young Master Wu? Could it be the Fifth Prince?”

Wasn’t the Fifth Prince given to the Jin Kingdom Emperor?

Jiang Shouzhu saw the little bunny’s thoughtful expression and said directly, “Yes, the Fifth Prince. The Emperor gave him to me. He wants me to stay with him tonight. Do you want me to go?”

Ying Wutu subconsciously moved his hand, wanting to hold onto the bad woman’s sleeve to stop her.

Today, he had been severely bullied, both by his people and the bad woman.

But he wanted the bad woman to stay by his side, so he could feel secure.

Yet he was unwilling to say it out loud.

The bad woman said he was despicable, and he also thought he was despicable.

Being abused by the bad woman and still wanting to rely on her.

What else could it be but despicable?

“If you don’t say anything, I’ll really leave,” Jiang Shouzhu said, having noticed his little movements and intentionally teasing him.

She wasn’t going anywhere.

Ying Wutu’s voice was barely a whisper, “Don’t leave.”

“Alright, since you don’t want me to leave, I won’t.” Jiang Shouzhu climbed into bed, tossed the medical kit aside, and embraced the little bunny, lying down with him. “From now on, if anyone bullies you, you must complain to me. You’re my dog, and even a dog deserves respect from its owner’s enemies, understood?”

Ying Wutu only replied with a soft “Mm,” burying his face in the crook of the bad woman’s arm.

His body might be close to her, but his heart was even more conflicted.

What was this?

Why did he like the bad woman more after she saved him?

Why did he feel a stronger sense of belonging after the bad woman did that to him, even though it hurt?

He could only conclude: he was indeed despicable.

He still wanted to ask the bad woman about the fate of those ten people but ended up not asking.

Why bother? They’d only come back to steal his food, beat him, and maybe even throw him into a well.

He thought about what the Fifth Prince’s messenger had said earlier.

When he disguised as a woman and led troops, he couldn’t win battles, suffering defeat after defeat, even making his soldiers hate him.

But as her boy toy, he could steal the Fifth Prince’s favor.

The Fifth Prince was beautiful, proficient in all arts, a man any woman would adore.

And him? Beaten black and blue, with a face that surely wasn’t attractive, a body hardened by years of training, not the least bit soft. Yet, the bad woman would claim him fiercely, and she seemed satisfied with him.

Did he choose the wrong path from the start?

Which identity was the right one?

Ying Wutu was torn. Should he continue to resist, or curl up at her feet and be a compliant pet?

Resistance seemed like a joke now.

But how would he explain the deaths of his people?

Those people were killed by her.

Ying Wutu felt heavier in his heart, unable to explain, so he buried his face deeper in her arm, rubbing his cheek against it…

Jiang Shouzhu pushed him away, asking, “Are you drooling too… oh, it’s tears. Why are you crying now? I didn’t bully you again.”

Wasn’t she just holding him?

Ying Wutu sobbed, cautiously asking, “Can we… do it again?”

He was upset, unable to bear thinking about those things. He wanted nothing more than for the bad woman to “bully” him harshly.

That way, he would be happy and forget everything.

“You’ve grown fond of it?” Jiang Shouzhu didn’t expect the little bunny to cry out of frustration.

He truly was depraved.

“Yes, I really want it.” Ying Wutu didn’t care anymore. He just wanted to give all his feelings to her and couldn’t bear them himself.

He wanted to hide in her shadow, illuminated by her glow.

He wanted to be enveloped by her body heat.

“No, you depraved little bunny, the doctor said you must abstain for three days, or you’ll get hurt. Wait until you’re better. Don’t cry anymore, or I’ll spank you. Crying over such a small thing, how disgraceful.” Jiang Shouzhu used the corner of the blanket to roughly wipe his tears, finding his behavior amusing. Despite her scolding, her actions were doting.

Ying Wutu felt even sadder.

Why was the bad woman so good?

His conscience struggled even more.

——

For three consecutive days, Jiang Shouzhu didn’t let the housekeeper arrange for Ying Wutu to work, allowing him to rest and recover in her room.

This morning, on the third day, the doctor came for Ying Wutu’s follow-up examination.

The doctor noticed something unusual while taking his pulse, examined him a bit longer, and then turned to Jiang Shouzhu, who was sitting nearby, with a smile, “Congratulations, General. Not only has he recovered, but he is also expecting.”

Ying Wutu was stunned.

Jiang Shouzhu was initially shocked and then suddenly burst into laughter.

“Good, good! Quickly give the doctor a reward!” Jiang Shouzhu said, lifting the little bunny from the bed and spinning around.

She hadn’t expected to have a child in her lifetime!

After losing her previous child unexpectedly, she had thought she was destined to remain childless and unable to enjoy such blessings.

But who would have thought, her next child would be carried by her little bunny.

Thinking back, over the years, her desires had been weak; many times, she would just cuddle men like warm, soft pillows to sleep, without touching them. But with the little bunny, she couldn’t help but engage in that act whenever they were together, except while eating.

The housekeeper, seeing the young mistress spinning with the pregnant husband, quickly exclaimed, “Young Mistress, be careful! Don’t hurt the baby!”

Ying Wutu was dumbfounded.

Realizing her mistake, Jiang Shouzhu hurriedly placed the little bunny back on the bed. She pinched his cheek and asked, “Are you so happy that you’re stunned? Why aren’t you moving?”

Ying Wutu’s eyes reddened. He moved his lips but couldn’t speak.

How did he end up carrying her child?

He touched his belly, feeling both happy and ashamed.

How was he supposed to face this child?

Jiang Shouzhu ran to share the good news with her parents.

Jiang Mother and Father Jiang  were delighted—the Jiang family finally had a successor.

Jiang Mother said, “Given the situation, let’s give him a proper title and arrange suitable accommodation.”

After all, they couldn’t let the Jiang family’s grandchild live in the servants’ quarters.

Father Jiang  added, “Yes, A’Zhu, now that he’s carrying your child, you should stop tormenting him, at least until the child is born.”

After all, anything the housekeeper knew, Father Jiang  would know as well.

“Don’t worry, Mother and Father,” Jiang Shouzhu said confidently. “Those captives from Ying Kingdom have taken a toll on him, and he’s become much more obedient. Now that he’s carrying my child, I won’t harm him anymore. As for his status, let’s wait until after the child is born and see if he’s deserving.”

Because Jiang Shouzhu still needed to attend the court, she initially wanted to check on the little bunny again but had already delayed too much time this morning. She decided to go to court first.

Once she returned from court, she would hold the little bunny and give him a good kiss.

 

——

Hugging his knees, Ying Wutu curled up in the corner of the bed, looking at the empty chains by the bedside.

Since the bad woman had unlocked the chains three days ago, she hadn’t restrained him again.

He gently touched his flat belly, feeling even more conflicted.

Why had he ended up pregnant with the bad woman’s child?

The worst had come to pass.

Someone knocked on the door; it was the kitchen delivering some prenatal medicine.

Since the bad woman left this morning, people had been coming non-stop with deliveries.

Even before he’d finished the fish maw soup and bird’s nest from earlier, new supplements were brought in.

Ying Wutu was made to drink the prenatal medicine under watchful eyes. When he was alone again and on the brink of tears, the door opened once more.

The housekeeper entered with two tailors to take his measurements.

Previously, Jiang Shouzhu had only allowed him to wear coarse hemp garments to torment him. These thin, rough clothes provided no warmth and chafed his skin.

Now, with him being pregnant, Father Jiang  had ordered warm, comfortable winter clothes to be made for him swiftly, so the Jiang family’s heir wouldn’t suffer the cold.

Ying Wutu let the tailors do their work, feeling even more heavy-hearted.

Why had it come to this?

He’d rather be whipped by the bad woman.

Only then could he justify himself to his fallen comrades.

But now, while his comrades rested eternally in the snowy ground, a new life grew within him.

He truly felt he was despicable.

How could a wretched life like his deserve to carry her child?

He even considered seeking out the Fifth Prince.

The Fifth Prince had all kinds of drugs and could be asked for an abortion pill.

That way, he wouldn’t have to face this dilemma.

Or, he could roll off the bed onto the floor—the child was newly conceived and not yet stable; a fall could end it.

In the end, he did nothing. He just hugged his knees, curled up, and cried.

He couldn’t bear to lose this child.

For years, disguised as a woman, he’d forgotten he was still a young man. It was only after being captured by the bad woman that he truly realized, beneath his strong facade, he still had the heart of a young man.

By noon, the bad woman hadn’t returned.

Ying Wutu’s tears had almost dried up, and he made a decision.

Snow fell heavily outside. Ying Wutu found a set of the bad woman’s clothes from the wardrobe.

Luckily, he was taller than most men, so her clothes weren’t too large on him. Carefully, he climbed out the window and headed to the kitchen.

Every noon, countrywomen would deliver firewood to the kitchen, leaving in the morning and arriving by noon, then taking away the kitchen’s trash.

Ying Wutu had seen the carts coming and going while fetching water at noon.

So, when the kitchen was busy at noon, he climbed onto the firewood cart and hid in the trash bin.

Unable to face these matters and without a better plan, he decided to escape secretly.

Taking advantage of the bad woman’s lax guard and the unlocked chains.

This was his only chance to escape.

The firewood cart left the Jiang residence, exiting the city and heading towards the countryside.

Ying Wutu’s heart pounded as the cart bumped along. He stayed curled up in the bin, protecting his belly, afraid the jostling might harm the child.

——

Jiang Shouzhu finally returned home, after a tumultuous session in court where an official was impeached, leading to heated debates.

Standing in the front row, Jiang Shouzhu was anxious, eager to rush home and check on the little bunny carrying her child. But with the intense arguments in court and the Emperor’s displeased expression, she didn’t dare leave early. She had to stay until the dispute was resolved by the Emperor around noon.

Jiang Shouzhu initially planned to ride her horse home, but the midday crowd made it forbidden to ride through the bustling streets. So, she led her horse and ran home.

Upon arriving, she didn’t see her little bunny but found the house in chaos.

The entire Jiang residence had been turned upside down.

“A’Zhu, don’t worry, I’ve already contacted the commander and had the city gates sealed. He won’t escape the city”, her mother said, patting her shoulder.

Jiang Shouzhu looked at the empty chains by the bedside and clenched her fist.

“Running away with my child? How disobedient!”