The Useless Alpha’s Yandere Wife - Chapter 17

Tan Qianyue’s face flushed crimson, then paled. It felt sinful to be thinking such things at this moment, but if she broke the connection now, all her previous efforts would be for naught. Not only would everything she’d done so far be wasted, but the consequences were something she absolutely couldn’t bear.

Noticing her strange expression, Jiang Yan asked sensitively, “What’s wrong?”

“Uh… nothing!” Tan Qianyue lowered her gaze and shook her head.

“Really? You don’t seem okay,” Jiang Yan pressed, sensing her distress.

Tan Qianyue couldn’t bring herself to explain. Her face burned with urgency, but she couldn’t tell Jiang Yan outright—even if she did, this place wasn’t suitable; the pheromone scent would linger.

At that moment, she wanted to tear Official Wu to shreds.

“Let’s hurry back. We can’t stay here long,” Jiang Yan said, reaching out to smooth her slightly disheveled hair. After a long night of work, she looked a bit disheveled herself.

The warm touch on her forehead made Tan Qianyue look up, her expression complex as she met Jiang Yan’s gaze.

“Okay… I’ll go first. Be careful on your own. I’ll get you out of here as soon as possible,” Tan Qianyue said, forced to leave.

“Alright, take care on the way back,” Jiang Yan replied with a forced, lighthearted smile.

“Mm,” Tan Qianyue replied, resolving to leave immediately and devise a plan to free Jiang Yan within days, not weeks.

After Tan Qianyue left, Jiang Yan couldn’t shake the feeling that she had held something back. She carefully put away the gifts Tan Qianyue had brought, then draped the padded jacket over her shoulders. The prison cell was indeed bitterly cold.

Though the Empress Dowager intended this to be a mere show of force, Jiang Yan couldn’t afford to wait. Under normal circumstances, a brief confinement might be tolerable, but in these critical times, every day counted—let alone ten or fifteen.

Her hatred for whoever had poisoned her burned even fiercer now. What malice drove such cruelty? What were they trying to achieve?

If the Wu family could file false accusations, so could she. Tomorrow, she would visit her mother to discuss the matter. If her mother couldn’t intervene directly, there was always Censor Jiang. Surely, he wouldn’t allow her to remain imprisoned while the true culprits sat comfortably at home.

But how would she endure the night? Though the drug’s effects had worn off, thirty days remained until its full withdrawal. What would she do until then?

In the dead of night, Tan Qianyue dismounted from her carriage and knocked urgently on Doctor Lu’s back gate.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

“Who is it? I don’t see patients at this hour,” Doctor Lu called out, her voice groggy. The insistent knocking forced her to investigate.

“It’s me, Tan Qianyue,” she replied, her voice weary.

Hearing it was the Eldest Miss, Doctor Lu perked up and hurriedly opened the door.

“Why are you here at this hour? Has something happened?” Doctor Lu asked, still in her white nightgown and without even a robe.

Tan Qianyue shot her a disapproving look. “Put some clothes on first. Is someone in your room?”

Seeing Doctor Lu’s disheveled and languid appearance, Tan Qianyue’s expression darkened further.

“Heh, just a friend,” Doctor Lu chuckled awkwardly.

“Forget it. I don’t have time to wait for you to change. Let’s talk in the courtyard. I won’t come inside. Jiang Yan has been arrested and taken to Shuntian Prefecture. I don’t know when she’ll be released. Can I take some suppressive pills?” Tan Qianyue asked, her voice filled with hope.

“She’s been arrested? The pills only work during your Cycle. You’re currently poisoned, so taking them now would be useless and delay your detoxification,” Doctor Lu replied, her own face now etched with worry.

“Are you absolutely sure you won’t consider finding a replacement?” Tan Qianyue pressed again.

“Get lost! What do you take me for?” If Doctor Lu hadn’t been so exhausted, she would have thrown a punch. Who had time for such nonsense?

“If intercourse is impossible, pheromones might work, but I’d need to see the person first,” Doctor Lu finally offered a useful solution.

“That’s the first sensible thing you’ve said. As long as I can see him, I’ll be fine. I’m leaving now.” With a solution in hand, Tan Qianyue wasted no time in departing.

At the doorway, she paused again. “Why didn’t you mention pheromone suppression earlier?”

“It’s only a last resort,” Doctor Lu replied dismissively. “Besides, you two consummated your marriage right away, didn’t you? What difference does it make?”

Tan Qianyue wanted to roll her eyes, but she didn’t have time.

“Do you have any pills to mask pheromones?” A thought struck her, and she decided to try it.

“Yes, but they can only be used after pheromones have been released. Both of you can take them,” Doctor Lu said, retrieving a small bottle from her room.

“Thank you,” Tan Qianyue said, inwardly grateful but careful not to show it. She didn’t want Doctor Lu’s ego to swell any further.

If pheromones worked, things would be much easier. Considering the time last night, she probably had about an hour left. It was fortunate that Jiang Yan had stubbornly refused to leave, even clinging to her in the middle of the night. Otherwise, she would likely have missed the twelve-hour window today.

Looking utterly miserable, Tan Qianyue returned to Shuntian Prefecture Prison. Half an hour past midnight.

The jailer, showing her some respect, granted her another half-hour.

“Why are you back again? It’s so late—it’s dangerous,” Jiang Yan exclaimed, startled to see Tan Qianyue back in the cell.

Tan Qianyue rose gently from her seat. The cell was dimly lit, with only two torches in the corridor. The jailer had left, giving the young couple some privacy.

“Something came up. I’ll explain everything after you get out,” Tan Qianyue said, knowing there wasn’t time to delve into the details now.

Behind her veil, Tan Qianyue’s eyes were captivatingly beautiful, yet her expression remained serious and composed.

“Mm, go on,” Jiang Yan said, tilting her head to offer her ear.

“You… I need your pheromones,” Tan Qianyue said, forcing herself to maintain eye contact, terrified of seeing mockery in Jiang Yan’s eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Yan asked, startled but immediately concerned.

“I’ve been poisoned. We can discuss the details later. Right now, I need your pheromones. I only have about half an hour left.” Having already revealed her need, Tan Qianyue decided to go all in, abandoning any pretense of modesty. She knew the difference between losing face for a day and losing face for a lifetime.

Hearing that Tan Qianyue had been poisoned finally answered the questions that had been plaguing Jiang Yan’s mind for days. It explained why the Eldest Miss had insisted on having her upstairs that night, despite their earlier argument. Now she understood: she was the antidote.

“But… I can’t actively release my pheromones right now. It’s difficult. And other methods won’t work here either,” Jiang Yan said, troubled.

She still couldn’t freely release her pheromones, and she didn’t know if it was a problem with the original host or with herself.

“Then what do we do? If this doesn’t work, we’ll have to find someone else. You wouldn’t just stand by and watch me die, would you?” A failed detoxification wouldn’t kill her, but it would be worse than death.

Jiang Yan choked. I just can’t control it, not that I can’t do it at all!

“How much time do we have left?” In the dim light, most of the other prisoners were asleep.

“Fifteen minutes!” Saying they’d find someone else was a lie. There wasn’t time for that. Even the streets would be deserted at this hour.

“…Kiss me!” Jiang Yan leaned closer to Tan Qianyue, her voice devoid of any flirtation.

Tan Qianyue glanced around. The cell opposite them was empty. She gripped Jiang Yan’s sleeve nervously, tilted her chin, and leaned in.

In her haste, she kissed Jiang Yan through her veil.

Behind the veil were Jiang Yan’s soft, pale pink lips, warm and faintly sweet. Even through the fabric, Tan Qianyue could feel their warmth and taste their delicate sweetness.

Jiang Yan lowered her gaze and saw the Eldest Miss’s eyes closed, her long lashes curling upward. The Eldest Miss leaned closer, her entire being radiating the fragrance of roses, yet her demeanor remained reverent and businesslike.

Jiang Yan was growing impatient. In this situation, even harboring impure thoughts felt difficult.

She pulled the Eldest Miss into a corner, pressing her against the cold stone wall, and kissed her again through the veil.

The Eldest Miss’s breathing grew heavy, and Tan Qianyue’s lips and tongue stung from the veil’s rough texture.

Jiang Yan seemed to sense something, but Tan Qianyue forced herself to ignore the distraction, mentally counting the time. Though it was difficult, with her life at stake, she tried her best to cooperate while multitasking.

When Jiang Yan’s calloused palm brushed against the smooth skin of Tan Qianyue’s waist, Tan Qianyue frowned slightly.

Why hadn’t she noticed how rough these hands were before? Had the drug masked the sensation?

Jiang Yan buried her face in the hollow of Tan Qianyue’s shoulder, her grip tightening.

Tan Qianyue nearly lost her balance, her legs weakening.

In the cramped, dimly lit space, a faint, refreshing fragrance slowly permeated the air.

Jiang Yan’s hand slid up to the Eldest Miss’s delicate neck, and a small, sharp canine tooth pierced her tender skin… Finally, the night’s mission was complete.

Fearing the pheromones would attract the attention of other prisoners, the dazed Tan Qianyue quickly stuffed a pill into Jiang Yan’s mouth and swallowed one herself.

As expected, within a few breaths, the fragrance completely dissipated.

Even if someone woke up nearby, they wouldn’t be able to pinpoint the source.

Footsteps approached from the distance—likely the jailer.

Jiang Yan adjusted Tan Qianyue’s cloak and veil, then steadied her.

“Go back and rest. I’ll find a way to get out of here as soon as possible,” Jiang Yan said, her hand resting lightly on Tan Qianyue’s waist for support.

“Mm,” Tan Qianyue murmured, unsure if it was the pheromones making her reluctant to leave Jiang Yan’s side.

What else can I do when I’m locked up in this cell?

“Miss Tan, it’s time to leave. Another hour and the rooster will crow!” the jailer announced as he entered.

He assumed they were a newlywed couple, unable to part even for a moment.

“Let’s go,” Jiang Yan said, gently pushing the Eldest Miss forward.

“Mm, take care!” Tan Qianyue replied before hurrying away with the jailer.

She boarded the carriage and returned to the manor with her maid and guards.

Inside the carriage, she removed her damp veil, her heart still pounding.

After seeing Tan Qianyue off, Jiang Yan touched her burning cheeks. Is this place a bit too stimulating? Help! When can I get out of here?

The next day, Censor Jiang went to strike the Drum of Appeal before dawn. When he grew tired, he ordered his men to continue.

“Come on, put your backs into it! Let’s see who’s strongest and can beat the corrupt officials inside into submission. There’ll be rewards for the winners!” Madam Jiang had always defied convention. Upon learning the full story, she declared that even if she had to appeal directly to the Emperor, she would secure Prime Minister Tan’s release.

“Stop! Stop! You’re a Fifth-Rank official yourself—what kind of example are you setting by leading this rabble?” The Prefect of the capital, who was on night duty, emerged, his head throbbing at the sight of Censor Jiang.

“You ungrateful dwarf! Have you forgotten who gave you your first meal, the one that allowed you to grow into the puffed-up official you are today?” Madam Jiang shouted the moment she recognized her old neighbor.

Early-rising citizens gathered, eager for a spectacle.

“What’s all the commotion? Can’t you take your grievances inside?” The Prefect had only started his night duty yesterday. He had just learned upon arriving at Shuntian Prefecture that Jiang Yan had been imprisoned under the Empress Dowager’s orders for a thorough investigation.

“Since it’s not your child who’s been arrested, you’re not in the least bit worried, are you? Hurry up and spit out all those meat pies you’ve been gobbling down!” Madam Jiang, as always, had no sense of shame.

“Come inside first! Come inside first!” The Prefect’s face flushed crimson with anger.

He forcibly ordered his men to “escort” her into the yamen.

“If it’s an investigation, why only arrest Jiang Yan? Why isn’t that grandson who got beaten up locked up in Shuntian Prefecture Prison too?”

“You said it yourself—he was beaten up. Besides, his mother is the Empress Dowager’s cousin. They said he’s recovering at home, and Shuntian Prefecture can’t force him to come here.”

“Moreover, the officers who went to the Wu Residence reported that Wu Tian’s burns from the scalding water are horrifying, like a disfigured face. And your Esteemed Niece gave him a good beating too. If we bring him to Shuntian Prefecture now, even if Jiang Yan is in the right, it’ll look like she’s in the wrong.” The Prefect, who owed the Old Jiang Family for those meat pies, counted on his fingers as he reasoned with Censor Jiang.

“It’s that serious?” Madam Jiang was taken aback.

“It’s best to wait a few more days. The burns look most gruesome right now,” the Prefect said, patting Madam Jiang’s shoulder.

“With me on duty here, I’ll ensure my niece suffers no injustice,” Prefect said, his eyes pleading with Censor Jiang.

“Then… I’ll trust you this once?” Madam Jiang wavered.