The Useless Alpha’s Yandere Wife - Chapter 2

“I want her to marry into our family!”

Jiang Yan, who had been enjoying the spectacle, was stunned when the fire suddenly turned on her.

The Prime Minister was visibly taken aback by Tan Qianyue’s demand. He had risen to prominence and wealth through his late wife’s status and fortune; even this grand and luxurious residence had been acquired with her family’s wealth.

Normally, arranging a matrilocal marriage for his legitimate daughter would be perfectly acceptable. However, the Prime Minister’s Residence also housed a Qianyuan son born to a concubine. Though young and studying abroad, the Prime Minister remained hesitant.

The Prince had recently earned repeated merits before the Holy Emperor and was currently enjoying immense favor. Since the County Princess had already swallowed her pride to apologize, the Prime Minister couldn’t pursue the matter further—it wasn’t her fault anyway.

The County Princess hadn’t dwelled on the loss of her status as the legitimate daughter, so the Prime Minister couldn’t afford to show her any displeasure. He had no choice but to make Tan Qianyue swallow this bitter pill.

Still, the Prime Minister hesitated to arrange a matrilocal marriage for a Qianyuan.

The concubine standing nearby grew increasingly anxious.

“Am I making things difficult for you, Mother?” Tan Qianyue asked, her voice tinged with stubbornness and resentment as she gazed at the Prime Minister. “Leaving aside the difference in status, Miss Jiang’s achievements pale in comparison to the County Princess’s. After suffering such a great loss, can’t you even grant me this one request?”

Jiang Yan stood silently to the side, like a quail afraid to make a sound. Well, this has nothing to do with me, she thought.

According to the original owner’s memories, Eldest Miss Tan was said to be the Prime Minister’s most beloved daughter, pampered and spoiled since birth. But as Jiang Yan observed the increasingly “bizarre” turn of events, she began to doubt whether the Prime Minister’s image as a doting father was entirely accurate.

“In my opinion, we should first consult the Jiang Family,” the Prime Minister advised his daughter with a serious expression. “Although they are merely minor officials newly arrived in the capital, since you’ve already been taken to Jiang Manor, you’re now considered part of their household.”

This is truly putting me in a difficult position, he thought.

“If Mother finds this so troublesome, then I’ll seek justice from my Aunt,” Eldest Miss Tan declared. “And if she can’t right this wrong, then I’ll appeal to the Holy Emperor himself!”

Whether out of fear of airing the family’s dirty laundry or reluctance to expose someone’s schemes, the Prime Minister refused to investigate such a grave error, preferring to sweep it under the rug.

Fortunately, though she had lost her mother, Eldest Miss Tan still had her Aunt as a powerful ally.

Years ago, when the Empress was living in obscurity among the common people, it was her Aunt who rescued her. The two had even shared a brief period of childhood intimacy, which later blossomed into a legendary romance.

Now, though the Empress had many consorts, her Aunt, as the Noble Consort, oversaw all major affairs within the palace—a position second only to the Empress herself.

“Qianyue, there’s no need to let our family matters strain the relationship between the Noble Consort and the Prince. It could affect your Aunt,” the Prime Minister said disapprovingly.

“Then, Mother, do you agree or not?” Tan Qianyue’s tone was firm.

“What does Miss Jiang say?” The Prime Minister shifted the question to Jiang Yan.

“Huh? Me? I don’t mind either way!” Jiang Yan replied with a carefree attitude, looking every bit the useless fool.

Tan Qianyue glanced sideways at Jiang Yan, thinking what a waste of good looks this good-for-nothing was.

Jiang Yan now felt safer staying at the Prime Minister’s Residence than returning to Jiang Manor. Though she understood the original owner’s past, she feared slipping up in front of her relatives. This temporary reprieve was exactly what she needed.

Still, the Prime Minister’s Residence hardly seemed like a safe haven.

“So, is that a yes or a no?” The Prime Minister observed Jiang Yan’s timid demeanor and secretly despised her cowardice. Why didn’t I see this during the engagement? Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

But then he reconsidered. It’s just as well. My youngest daughter is only ten this year—still too young.

Startled, Jiang Yan quickly replied, “I’ll do whatever the Eldest Miss says.”

“Then, let’s proceed as planned. Return in three days with your belongings. I’ll explain the situation to Lord Jiang myself.” Though torn, the Prime Minister ultimately yielded to Tan Qianyue’s unreasonable demand.

“Yes, Jiang Yan understands,” she said, bowing slightly without elaborating.

She had been swept along by the current and become a live-in son-in-law at the Prime Minister’s Residence.

Sima Jing, seeing Tan Qianyue now belonging to another, felt a pang of regret. Should I have intervened? Was letting this happen a mistake?

Tan Xue’er sensed Sima Jing’s hesitation, but what she had obtained was hers now.

As the four of them left the main hall, she feigned surprise and yanked open Tan Qianyue’s collar, revealing a neck covered in kiss marks.

“Oh my! Sister, did that Jiang man lay hands on you? What are all these marks?” Her innocent eyes were filled with feigned concern.

“What are you doing? Are you crazy?” Tan Qianyue snapped, yanking her collar back into place and slapping Tan Xue’er hard across the face.

Jiang Yan, standing behind them, winced at the blow.

Sima Jing’s gaze shifted instantly from reluctance to disgust. Indeed, Xue’er is the one for me.

“Sister, why did you hit me?” Tan Xue’er looked up at her elder sister with teary, rabbit-like eyes.

“Xue’er was only worried about you, Qianyue! You’ve gone too far!” Sima Jing immediately defended her wife.

Isn’t this just trying to poison the well? Jiang Yan thought, but thankfully, the Eldest Miss Tan was more than capable of handling herself.

“Should I drag her into the street and tear open her collar so everyone can see if she was violated last night?”

“What are you saying, Qianyue? When did you become like this?”

“I’ve always been this way. You know that perfectly well. Enough. This is my home. Ying Hong, see our guests out!” Tan Qianyue had no patience for their feigned concern.

Tan Qianyue’s claim that this was her home was undeniable, as the property deeds were registered in her mother’s name.

“Sister, I was just worried and spoke out of turn,” Tan Xue’er said, her voice dripping with false grievance, though she smirked secretly behind her lowered head.

Tan Qianyue treated the pair as if they were air, turning and walking back to her courtyard.

“Are you coming or not? Do I need to have someone carry you?” she snapped, glancing back when Jiang Yan didn’t immediately follow.

Terrified of receiving another slap, Jiang Yan hurried after her.

Tan Qianyue’s Cloud Garment Pavilion occupied the prime location within the Prime Minister’s estate. The three-story embroidered tower was designed to stay cool in summer and warm in winter.

Though called a “tower,” it was essentially a self-contained mansion.

Upon entering the courtyard, the main building was encircled by exotic flowers and rare herbs. Meticulous care had been taken with the timber to prevent insects.

The ground floor featured a white jade bath large enough for ten people, with water and heating valves connected to the spring in the backyard for convenient access to clean, clear water.

Though the courtyard had few trees, a centuries-old tree at its center could perfume three entire streets when its blossoms bloomed. It was this divine tree that had originally drawn the Eldest Miss to settle here, sparing no expense to make this place her home.

Tan Qianyue’s boudoir on the second floor was lavishly decorated in red, likely in preparation for her upcoming wedding.

The smooth, red silk instantly transported Jiang Yan back to the previous night. Her mind had gradually cleared after the ordeal, and now even the smallest details replayed endlessly in her thoughts. This is too explicit, she thought, growing anxious about what the Eldest Miss might remember. Will she send me to my death?

Clang! The main door slammed shut.

The Eldest Miss turned, her gaze locking onto Jiang Yan. Guilt-ridden, Jiang Yan wanted to flee.

Her hair, which had barely held up all morning, seemed to give way under its own weight, cascading down in disarray. A crystal-clear jade hairpin fell to the floor with a soft thud.

Tan Qianyue slipped off her shoes, her bare feet stepping onto the exquisite carpet. Her long hair cascaded loosely down to her thighs.

Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, illuminating her scarlet embroidered wedding gown. Jiang Yan felt frozen like a wooden puppet, unable to tear her eyes away.

“Come here and pick up this jade hairpin for me!” She walked barefoot back to the bed and leaned against one corner of the canopy bed.

“Alright!” Jiang Yan couldn’t refuse. In her previous life, she had been too busy making money to ever date.

She thought the Eldest Miss’s aunt in the palace couldn’t possibly be as beautiful as the Eldest Miss herself. Anyone more beautiful than her must be a fairy.

Her fingers closed around the jade hairpin on the carpet. Its smooth, cool touch felt comforting, a stark contrast to its prickly owner.

Jiang Yan rubbed the hairpin between her fingertips twice before foolishly handing it to Tan Qianyue.

“Throw it away. I don’t like things you’ve touched,” Tan Qianyue said, tilting her head back. Her exquisite eyes flashed with disdain, as if Jiang Yan were some kind of filth.

Jiang Yan chuckled in anger, flipping the hairpin to grip it in her hand.

“Looking for trouble, are you? I’ve touched you too. Why don’t you throw yourself away?” She lowered her gaze, her eyebrow arching slightly in mock amusement.

“Hmph! What are you so smug about? Do you think that just because we consummated our marriage, you’ve truly become my wife? Don’t dream. Tan Xue’er’s fiancé can only be a live-in husband here,” Tan Qianyue retorted, her face flushing crimson despite her stubbornly haughty demeanor.

“Thank you for your kind words, Miss Tan!” Jiang Yan’s gaze happened to fall on Tan Qianyue’s delicate collarbone, as if recalling something dark and ambiguous. One shouldn’t indulge in such thoughts, she chided herself. She’s too easily led astray now.

But this wasn’t the time for flirtation. She still had much to sort out.

Seeing Jiang Yan’s indifferent expression, Tan Qianyue called out to the maid outside the door, “Ying Hong, prepare a room for Miss Jiang. The guest room downstairs should be fine.”

Ying Hong peeked her head in at her mistress’s summons, but her mind raced: Where’s the guest room downstairs?

“Miss, downstairs…?”

“Isn’t the room by the pond still vacant?” Tan Qianyue’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Oh, that one! Yes, it’s empty. Miss Jiang, I’ll show you down there.” Ying Hong’s innocent charm shone through her round face and large, almond-shaped eyes, making her seem an unlikely attendant for Tan Qianyue.

“Then I’ll trouble you, Miss Ying Hong,” Jiang Yan said with a slight nod.

Tan Qianyue sneered at Jiang Yan’s feigned gentleness and raised her chin haughtily.

Only after Jiang Yan was led out of the room did Tan Qianyue’s composure crumble.

She crawled under the covers, hugging her knees and weeping silently.

Though her feelings for Sima Jing were at most a matter of habit and acceptance, lacking the heart-fluttering romance described in storybooks, she had never imagined marrying anyone else, let alone becoming Tan Xue’er’s wife.

To suggest these two hadn’t been plotting together all along was simply unbelievable.

Curled up under the covers, she wallowed in her grievances until exhaustion finally lulled her to sleep, damp tear tracks lingering at the corners of her eyes.

Yet even in sleep, she was cursed to dream of Jiang Yan. She reached out, tugging at the woman’s precarious wedding robes, and pressed kisses down her slender neck.

That Jiang woman was truly vile, pinning her wrists above her head and treating her with utter disrespect.

Tan Qianyue seemed to stand beside them, itching to strike the lecherous woman, her fury burning as she watched helplessly.

Then, she grabbed a nearby red silk sash and blindfolded herself, unable to bear the sight of the scandalous scene.

Tan Qianyue seemed trapped in this dream, unable to escape.

Ying Hong led Jiang Yan to a room downstairs.

Pushing open the door, Ying Hong didn’t enter, instead instructing Jiang Yan to rest alone while she went to fetch a quilt.

Surveying the spacious room cluttered with miscellaneous items, Jiang Yan understood immediately.