The Useless Alpha’s Yandere Wife - Chapter 23

“Eldest Sister, Her Majesty has ordered the confiscation of Prime Minister Tan’s Residence!”

“What?” Jiang Yan froze, as if she hadn’t heard clearly.

“What did you say?” she asked again, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Jiang Xun pulled her sister down to whisper in her ear, “Sister, the Tan Family’s residence has been confiscated, along with Prince Fu’an’s Manor. They’re probably surrounded by soldiers right now. You need to run!” The young girl was frantic; despite her mature demeanor, she was still only thirteen years old. Hearing that Tan Manor had been confiscated and her sister was still inside had thrown her into a panic.

Jiang Yan’s hand, where Jiang Xun gripped it, went numb. She took two deep breaths, forcing herself to remain calm.

Could it be? she thought. After only three months here, am I going to be dragged out and beheaded? And what about Tan Qianyue?

“Tell me everything in detail!” Jiang Yan’s palms grew clammy. So, the troop of soldiers she’d seen passing by earlier had been confiscating Tan Manor—her “home.”

“Sister, you have to run! Mother was summoned to the Censorate and can’t come for you. Just run!” Jiang Xun urged anxiously.

“Why was Mother summoned to the Censorate?” Jiang Yan asked, her expression grave.

“It’s probably because of Prime Minister Tan’s situation. Not just Mother was summoned, but many other officials as well. They’re likely investigating Prince Fu’an’s secret stockpiling of troops and his plot to rebel,” Jiang Xun, despite her young age, was remarkably well-informed.

“The Prince is rebelling?” Jiang Yan thought of a possibility and instantly broke into a cold sweat.

Tan Qianyue had mentioned that Prime Minister Tan and Prince Fu’an had grown very close in recent years, even overlooking the matter of their legitimate daughter’s forced marriage swap. Could it be that they only needed one daughter to marry into the Prince’s family, regardless of who it was?

“The rebellion failed, but according to Mother’s conversations with others, someone exposed his plot, and Her Majesty discovered his scheme.”

“Treason—a capital crime!” Jiang Yan’s head buzzed, as if struck by lightning on a clear day.

“Here’s a hundred-tael silver note, my last savings. Take it and flee far away!” Jiang Xun tugged at her sister’s sleeve.

Jiang Yan smiled with relief. “Silly girl, I’m already part of the Tan Manor. Where could I possibly run? If I did, you’d be the ones to suffer.” She patted the little girl’s head, surprised that this seemingly naive child had such hidden depths and even kept silver hidden away. Truly a member of the Jiang Family.

“I’m fine. It’s just a house raid. They won’t execute me. I’ll accept this silver as a token of your filial piety,” Jiang Yan reassured her while discreetly pocketing the silver note.

Whether she would actually be beheaded remained uncertain, but what choice did she have? Running away was out of the question.

Jiang Xun handed over the silver without a hint of reluctance, while the young girl wore an expression as if the sky had fallen.

“It’ll be alright, it’ll be alright. Fortune favors the fortunate,” Jiang Yan thought, resolving never to let the Jiang Family discover that the original host was no longer among the living.

“You should leave now. I have urgent matters to attend to.” Time was running out. If her absence from the manor was discovered, they would surely send men to capture her.

“Alright, I won’t delay you any longer. I’ll head back immediately!”

“Take care!” Jiang Yan gave her sister a deep look before turning and sprinting toward Doctor Lu’s clinic.

“Open up! Open up!” She burst into Doctor Lu’s courtyard, pounding fiercely on the door.

Doctor Lu’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when he saw Jiang Yan.

“Miss Jiang, what an honor to have you grace my humble abode!” Doctor Lu drawled lazily as he emerged from within.

“No time for pleasantries. Quickly, gather some common medicinal pills—pheromone suppressants, disguise pills, anything for colds or fevers. Hurry!” Jiang Yan’s expression was deadly serious.

“What do you need these for? They’re not cheap, you know,” Doctor Lu said, stepping back.

“The Tan Family is about to have their property confiscated. If you have any ready-made pills, prepare some. I have the money. I need them quickly,” Jiang Yan said bluntly.

“Confiscated?” Doctor Lu’s voice rose sharply. “How could that be?”

“I heard they were implicated by Prince Fu’an. I don’t know the details, but I need to return to the manor soon anyway.” Whether she returned voluntarily or was forced back, it was better to go quickly and check on Tan Qianyue.

“Wait here. I’ll go get them right away.” Doctor Lu hurried into the clinic and soon returned with a palm-sized bundle, which she pressed into Jiang Yan’s hands.

“No need to pay. These are for Qianyue anyway. The uses are written on the paper wrapping. Just be careful with the dosage.”

“Thank you,” Jiang Yan said, bowing slightly.

“Don’t mention it.” Doctor Lu was anxious, but she knew she couldn’t detain Jiang Yan with questions right now.

Leaving the clinic, Jiang Yan passed a steamed bun stall.

“Elder Sister, how many buns do you have left?” Jiang Yan asked, eyeing the steaming bamboo steamer.

“What? Does Miss want to buy them all?” the stall owner chuckled heartily.

“Exactly. How many are there?” Jiang Yan produced a tael of silver.

“These three baskets contain sixty meat-filled buns. We also have forty pickled cabbage buns and thirty large steamed buns inside. How many would Miss like?” The stall owner, seeing Jiang Yan wasn’t joking, figured business was good today and she might just sell everything to her.

“Take them all!” Sure enough, she’d struck gold with a generous customer.

“Inside! Quickly wrap all these buns and steamed buns for Miss!” the stall owner shouted into the shop. A man inside swiftly began packing the buns and steamed buns in oiled paper.

“Miss, meat-filled buns are five wen each, pickled cabbage buns are three wen each, and steamed buns are two wen each. That comes to four hundred and eighty wen. Round it down to four hundred and fifty wen.” The stall owner clacked away on her abacus.

“Here’s one liang of silver. Keep the change,” Jiang Yan said, handing the stall owner the silver.

Though the System provided gold coins, who knew if it might starve her? She needed to prepare for the worst.

“Oh, no, I can’t accept this! This won’t do, this won’t do!” The stall owner panicked, grabbing Jiang Yan’s arm to stop her from leaving.

“I said keep the change. Let go!” Jiang Yan glared fiercely, and the stall owner reluctantly released her grip.

Honestly, who has time to count copper coins with her?

“Inside, pack up those two roast chickens from next door for Miss,” the stall owner called out, proving she was no pushover.

Jiang Yan laughed in exasperation. “Fine, pack them all up. Pack them all up.”

She swiftly gathered everything and carried it to a secluded spot.

After days of research, she could now freely access and store items in her personal storage space. As with most pocket dimensions, hers was remarkably convenient.

After storing all the food and medicinal pills, the progress bar remained stuck at its previous position, suggesting the space inside was still quite vast.

With everything taken care of, Jiang Yan nervously approached the familiar street.

Prime Minister Tan’s Residence was heavily surrounded by soldiers wielding broadswords, their menacing presence terrifying the Tan family to the point of near-collapse. Even the sparrows in the trees scattered in a panic.

By Imperial Decree:

“Prime Minister Tan Zhixian has conspired with the rebel Sima Xing in a plot to overthrow the throne. With irrefutable evidence now confirmed, his arrest and the confiscation of his property are to be carried out immediately.” The Supervising Censor, who had come to seize the Tan Manor, delivered the Emperor’s decree with a disdainful glance at the Tan family.

Madam Tan’s eyes went blank as she stared in disbelief at the soldiers storming into her home.

“Injustice! I’ve been wronged! You must have made a mistake in your investigation. How could I possibly rebel?” Madam Tan’s heart sank with a premonition of disaster, her mind numb even as she struggled to maintain her composure.

“If you have anything to say, address Her Majesty directly. Move out!” The Supervising Censor didn’t waste a word on Madam Tan, immediately ordering his soldiers to act.

The Tan Manor’s masters and servants were herded into the courtyard and lined up.

“My lord, my lord, what are we going to do? This is a house raid and imprisonment! My lord, say something! What will become of my two daughters?” Xiao Concubine, usually as serene as a chrysanthemum, knelt beside Madam Tan, her hair disheveled and her robes stained with dust, clutching her arm and weeping.

Madam Tan remained frozen, as if deaf to the chaos around her. From a close advisor to the Empress to a prisoner in the blink of an eye—all it took was a word from Her Majesty.

The once-glorious Prime Minister Tan now looked ten years older, her gaze bleak as she surveyed the scene. How had things come to this? It must be a trap set by Sima Xing.

When soldiers dragged Tan Qianyue from her room, she couldn’t believe her ears.

“How dare you! Do you know whose residence this is?” Qianyue snapped at the soldiers who tried to seize her.

“It’s not about arresting others. We’re here for Tan Manor. Come with us now!” The soldiers dragged and shoved her forward.

“Don’t touch me! If you dare insult me, the Noble Consort will never forgive you!” Tan Qianyue, though panicked, cleverly invoked her aunt’s name.

The soldiers exchanged glances and stopped pulling her, but snarled, “The Noble Consort is claiming illness and won’t interfere in the Tan Family’s affairs.”

“The Noble Consort is ill?” Tan Qianyue frowned.

“Get out now! Don’t delay our search for the dirty silver. And take off all your jewelry—headpieces, bracelets—before we have to do it ourselves.” The soldiers’ greedy eyes raked over Tan Qianyue, forcing her to stumble back two steps in fear.

“Yes, yes, I’ll hand over everything immediately, Your Honors.” Tan Qianyue swiftly removed her pearl hairpins and jade bracelet.

A wise person knows when to yield. This was no time for defiance.

After surrendering her valuables to the officers, Tan Qianyue left the Embroidered Chamber in a light green robe. Seizing a moment when the soldiers weren’t watching, she darted to her room, grabbed the thirty thousand silver taels in banknotes, and stuffed the thick wad into her socks. She even switched to a larger pair of shoes—Ying Hong’s size—to accommodate the bulky stack.

In the courtyard stood fifty to sixty people, including masters and servants. Jiang Yan was still absent, her whereabouts unknown. Tan Qianyue’s eyes welled with tears of frustration.

Perhaps it’s better she’s not here, she thought. If only I had prepared the divorce papers earlier. What am I going to do now?

Just as she was at her wit’s end, Jiang Yan broke through the guards’ cordon, declared her identity, and was forced into the courtyard to join the others.

In the next instant, Tan Qianyue spotted Jiang Yan in her black robes. Her expression carried a mix of dependence and conflict. Is it still possible to write the divorce papers now?

Jiang Yan had seen Tan Qianyue from afar. Dressed in a pale green gauze robe that was utterly inappropriate for the occasion, her long hair had been torn into disheveled strands that fluttered wildly. All her jewelry had been stripped away, causing a sharp pang in Jiang Yan’s heart.

Seizing the chaos, she dashed to the cook’s quarters and rummaged frantically until she found a dusty, half-new, light gray robe with a white lapel. It was far more practical than Tan Qianyue’s current attire.

When Tan Qianyue saw Jiang Yan run off, the light in her eyes dimmed instantly. She knew Jiang Yan’s departure was the right thing to do.

But moments later, a loose robe was draped over her shoulders. She looked up to see Jiang Yan standing behind her. Tan Qianyue’s beautiful eyes glistened with tears, and the familiar scent of fresh grass emanating from Jiang Yan brought her a sense of comfort.

“Don’t be afraid, I’m back,” Jiang Yan said, shielding Qianyue behind her while observing the chaotic scene.

Confiscating property was a lucrative task, and the officers were busy ransacking the houses. Few were willing to remain in the courtyard to guard the “prisoners.”

The Tan family consisted of six members: Tan Xue’er, who had married out; Tan Xuesong, the youngest daughter of Tan Manor, who was studying abroad; and Madam Tan, Xiao Concubine, Tan Qianyue, and Jiang Yan, the mistresses of the household.

Also present was Madam Tan’s brother’s family, who had always maintained a low profile as relatives Prime Minister Tan had taken in. Jiang Yan had never interacted with them deeply, and now they were being detained in the courtyard along with everyone else. The four members of the Maternal Uncle Tan family were also bewildered by the sudden arrest.

The remaining detainees were maids, servants, cooks, and the old night watchman, numbering fifty to sixty people in total.

After stripping the houses bare, the officers began conducting body searches, sparing even the cooking women.

“Next! Don’t dawdle!” An officer shoved a young maid who hesitated to hand over her jewelry, some even pushing people to the ground without a second thought.

“Rip that jade hairpin out of her hair,” an officer barked at Tan Qianyue, pointing to her sole jade hairpin.

Tan Qianyue hesitated for a moment but complied, though she couldn’t help but wonder if her long hair would now hang down like a madwoman’s.

“It’s alright, just give it to him,” Jiang Yan said, carefully removing the jade hairpin from her hair and handing it to the official. After exchanging a few polite words with the official, she pulled Tan Qianyue aside, tore off half of the satin ribbon, and quickly tied Tan Qianyue’s hair into a messy, yet secure, single bun. The haphazard arrangement partially obscured her eyebrows, eyes, and cheeks.

Satisfied with the disheveled bun framing Tan Qianyue’s face, Jiang Yan positioned herself in the middle of the group. At this point, it was impossible to distinguish master from servant, as everyone was covered in dust and grime.

“Is this the mistress of Tan Manor? Why are there so few valuables? Are you hiding something? Not even a gold bracelet on your wrist?” A petty official glared at Xiao Concubine, clearly dissatisfied with the meager offerings.

“I have nothing more,” Xiao Concubine pleaded, her face twisted in distress. “The authority to manage Tan Manor’s finances doesn’t rest with a mere concubine like me. Sir, please say something!” She turned to Madam Tan for support.

Madam Tan remained impassive, seated on the stone bench.

“If not with you, then who holds the authority?” the official demanded coldly, his eyes fixed on Xiao Concubine.

“Everything is with her, the Eldest Miss. What possessions could a mere concubine like me possibly have?” Xiao Concubine betrayed Tan Qianyue without hesitation.

“Are there any other assets belonging to the Tan Manor?” The junior officer glared at Tan Qianyue with his menacing, triangular eyes.

“The Tan Manor’s daily expenses are managed by the accounting office. The gold, silver, and valuables I’ve accumulated over the years are stored in a chest in my bedroom. Beyond that, there are only about a dozen shops left,” Tan Qianyue rattled off the information like spilling beans, half-hiding behind Jiang Yan. She had already moved the most valuable items, leaving only a few superficial pieces to maintain appearances.

The only regret was the shops her mother had left behind. However, the four most valuable shops were registered under the Sixth Princess’s name. Seizing the princess’s assets would require the downfall of Her Majesty herself. Even at less than six years old, the princess remained an untouchable figure.

Aunt is ill? I wonder how that little girl is doing? But Aunt wasn’t a member of the Tan Family. Even if Mother were convicted, it wouldn’t have fatal consequences for her.

Whether Aunt lacked the power to speak on the Tan Family’s behalf or was forbidden from doing so remained unclear. Tan Qianyue could only hope that her family’s troubles wouldn’t implicate the Noble Consort.

After verifying Tan Qianyue’s statements, the officers found them to be entirely accurate. They ceased their interrogation and dispatched men to seal off the Tan Family’s shops.

After dismissing the officials, Tan Qianyue cast a cold glare at Xiao Concubine.

“Qianyue, don’t blame me. I only spoke the truth!” Xiao Concubine met Tan Qianyue’s gaze without a shred of remorse, her eyes burning with a desperate resolve that no one would escape unscathed.

Tan Qianyue withdrew her disdainful gaze, unwilling to engage in petty squabbles at such a critical moment.

After an indeterminate amount of time, the main gate crashed open, and soldiers forced the Tan Family into prison carts.

Outside, small groups of curious onlookers craned their necks, whispering and pointing.

Tan Qianyue’s nails dug into her palms, drawing bl00d, but she felt no pain. She huddled in a corner of the prison cart, Jiang Yan shielding her from the prying eyes.

Jiang Yan marveled at the ancient prison cart—it didn’t even have seats.

The sixty-odd prisoners were marched into the Imperial Prison. Prime Minister Tan was placed in solitary confinement, while Tan Qianyue, Jiang Yan, and Xiao Concubine were crammed into a larger cell.

The Imperial Prison was dark and frigid, with few other inmates besides the Tan Family. This place housed only the most heinous criminals; if it ever reached full capacity, it would signal imminent chaos across the realm.

The oppressive darkness sent a chill through their bones, and the air hung heavy with a nauseating, rusty stench—a blend of earth and bl00d.

Oil lamps burned year-round on the lamp stands outside the prison cells, casting only a dim light that barely illuminated the prisoners’ faces.

The surroundings were cold, rough stone walls. Two crude wooden plank beds, covered with moldy straw mats, filled the cell. Even taking a few extra breaths would trigger a fit of coughing.

The wails of maids and servants echoed in their ears, while the clanging of iron chains against each other served as a death knell, reminding them that they were now prisoners.

“The sky has fallen! It’s truly fallen this time!” Xiao Concubine finally realized she was actually in the Imperial Prison, facing death. “What crime could Madam have committed to condemn us all to this dark, sunless hell?”

Tan Qianyue showed no reaction, her gaze fixed with concern on Madam Tan, who sat far away. Though her mother’s affection had always been a facade—she couldn’t even remember Qianyue’s birthday or favorite foods—they were still bound by bl00d. Qianyue hadn’t resented her enough to wish her dead.

This swift imprisonment likely meant grave danger. Her own fate remained uncertain, and fear spread through her heart as she stared blankly at the dimly lit distance beyond the prison gate.

“Inside, shut your mouths! Or you’ll be sharing a bed with rats and bedbugs!” a prison guard’s warning voice boomed from outside. Xiao Concubine instantly fell silent.

“Let’s go sit in the back first. We need to protect your health above all else. You mustn’t get sick in here,” Jiang Yan said, pulling Tan Qianyue toward the wooden plank bed at the back of the cell.

The early autumn air was already chilly, and the Imperial Prison was even colder. Tan Qianyue’s thin clothes, even with the long robe Jiang Yan had found, couldn’t ward off the prison’s damp chill.

Jiang Yan’s gaze lowered to Tan Qianyue’s slender wrist, where heavy iron chains pressed against her delicate skin, their weight seeming to threaten to crush her entire frame.

The guard’s threat had successfully silenced the prisoners, and the cell grew noticeably quieter.

Jiang Yan pulled out a handkerchief she carried and tore it into two pieces. She folded the soft cotton fabric twice and tied it around Tan Qianyue’s wrist to cushion the chains.

Tan Qianyue stared at her blankly.

“You couldn’t escape either… What are we going to do?” Tears welled up in her eyes. She had dragged Jiang Yan into this mess. If she hadn’t insisted on Jiang Yan marrying into her family, she wouldn’t have been arrested too.

“What else can we do?” Jiang Yan calmly tied the handkerchief for her. “They say a hen follows its rooster, and a dog follows its master. Besides, how could a rooster or a dog ever compare to you?”

Tan Qianyue’s tears, which had been about to fall, froze mid-descent.

Xiao Concubine, standing nearby, watched the two “flirting” even in prison, her face twisting with disgust and contempt. What’s so impressive about a useless, live-in Wife-Master?

Less than two hours later, the prison door clanged open again. This time, the commotion was far greater. The entire household of Prince Fu’an’s Manor—some two hundred people—were herded into the Imperial Prison, filling the cells to overflowing. Another wave of wailing and shouting erupted.

“Move it!” A guard shoved Tan Xue’er and Sima Jing into the Tan Family’s cell. The other cells were already packed, leaving only the Tan Family’s cell with its spacious quarters and few occupants. Since they were family, the guards decided to cram the two newcomers in as well.

“Mother!”

“Xue’er?”

Tan Xue’er spotted Xiao Concubine and instantly lunged toward her, crying out her name.

“Xue’er, Xue’er, what are you doing here?” Xiao Concubine’s composure finally crumbled.

“Mother, the Princely Manor has been raided, and the Prince has been arrested! It’s all over!” Tan Xue’er, dressed in brightly colored, luxurious fabrics, stood out starkly in the prison cell. Her jewelry had been stripped away, leaving her and the fallen County Princess Sima Jing as mere prisoners.

Sima Jing glanced at Tan Qianyue and Jiang Yan inside the cell, but this was no time for pleasantries. She said nothing, merely lowered her head in despair.

Jiang Yan and Tan Qianyue didn’t exchange greetings either, sitting on the wooden plank beside them, lost in their own thoughts.

Knowing they were implicated by the Princely Manor’s downfall, Xiao Concubine’s gaze toward Sima Jing shifted from warm affection to cold disdain. Yet, as a member of the imperial family and the wife of her daughter, Xiao Concubine dared not openly show her displeasure, even now that Sima Jing was also a prisoner.

The straw mat reeked of mold. Jiang Yan tossed it aside and sat with Tan Qianyue on the bare wooden plank.

Inside the cell, Xiao Concubine and her two companions huddled together, while Tan Qianyue and Jiang Yan sat apart, a clear divide between them.

Tan Qianyue leaned closer to Jiang Yan. In the dim, frigid cell, only Jiang Yan’s presence offered her any comfort. She quietly buried her face against Jiang Yan’s shoulder.

“If you’re tired, get some rest,” Jiang Yan said, patting her slender back.

“Mm,” Tan Qianyue murmured, her voice muffled as she leaned against Jiang Yan’s shoulder, burying her face in the crook of her neck to inhale the faint scent of fresh grass that clung to Jiang Yan’s skin.

The prison finally quieted down. After about four hours, a jailer arrived with wooden buckets and baskets of food.

Jiang Yan nudged Tan Qianyue, who silently rose and retreated to the back of the wooden bed. She had no appetite.

“What is this? Is this all we get to eat?” Tan Xue’er exclaimed, her voice rising in protest as she saw the rock-hard, coarse cornbread buns.

“Oh, still think you’re some high-and-mighty noble? You should be grateful for these cornbread buns—they even come with cabbage soup! You’re accused of treason, you know. Who knows how many days you’ll even get to eat this much!” The jailer sneered as he set the prison rations on the floor.

“That’s a lie! Prince Fu’an’s Manor was framed! We’ll be out of here soon!” Tan Xue’er retorted, glaring at the jailer.

“Hmph, whether you’re innocent or not is none of my concern. Once you’re in the Imperial Prison, even princesses and princes have to eat this black cornbread.” The jailer wasn’t intimidated by Tan Xue’er, a Kunze woman now imprisoned.

“And that dress you’re wearing looks quite nice. Why don’t you take it off and give it to my wife?” The jailer grinned, his eyes raking over Tan Xue’er with a suggestive gaze.

“What do you want?” Tan Xue’er’s voice trembled with fear as she instinctively backed away.

“She is my wife,” Sima Jing finally spoke, breaking her silence. “Even as prisoners, insulting a member of the imperial family is a capital offense.”

“You’re in the Imperial Prison now—what does imperial family matter?” the jailer retorted, momentarily taken aback by Sima Jing’s words but quickly regaining his composure. “I advise you to behave yourselves, or you’ll regret it.”

“These cornbread buns are still warm,” Jiang Yan interjected smoothly, stepping forward to take two of the buns. “Let’s eat while they’re fresh!” She subtly diffused the tension, knowing that offending such a petty official could mean finding sand in their food tomorrow.

As the jailer moved on to other cells, Jiang Yan carried the two cornbread buns to Tan Qianyue and placed them in her hands. She then returned to fetch the cabbage soup.

Tan Qianyue stared at the coarse cornbread bun—hard enough to kill someone—and felt her throat tighten painfully.

Having gone a day without food, her stomach was starting to rumble, but the plain boiled cabbage tasted like dishwater.

Jiang Yan had two steamed buns wrapped in paper tucked inside her robe. She waited until they were no longer too hot to handle before taking them out, but even the coarse corn buns were edible.

Glancing at the delicate Eldest Miss, Jiang Yan held up the cabbage soup to shield Tan Qianyue as she pulled a warm, white steamed bun from her robe.

There’s no helping it, she thought. The noble lady has a delicate throat. Eating these hard, coarse corn buns might cut her throat.

Tan Qianyue stared blankly at the corn bun in her hand when Jiang Yan secretly slipped her something soft and whispered in her ear, “Eat quickly. Don’t let the others see.”

She pressed the soft object into Tan Qianyue’s hand and swiftly snatched away the corn bun.

Tan Qianyue brought the soft thing to her nose and realized it was a steamed bun.

She glanced sideways at Jiang Yan.

“Eat quickly!” Jiang Yan urged again.

“Mm,” Tan Qianyue murmured, who hadn’t planned to eat at all. But she knew she needed to be full to endure her imprisonment.

When did Jiang Yan hide these buns? she wondered. Wasn’t she searched?

The moment the fragrant aroma of steamed buns filled her mouth, Tan Qianyue realized how truly hungry she was. The subtly sweet buns were infinitely better than the hard, coarse cornbread, likely the most delicious steamed buns she had ever tasted.

Tan Qianyue glanced at Jiang Yan, who was methodically nibbling on a dark cornbread bun. She couldn’t quite describe the complex emotions churning within her.

“Is this even fit for human consumption?” Tan Xue’er, despite her outwardly modest appearance, had never been deprived by her mother, Xiao Concubine. Her food, clothing, and daily necessities were all exquisite and expensive, though their styles were deliberately understated.

The first bite of cornbread crumbled into gritty, dry crumbs that coated her mouth, making it nearly impossible to swallow.

“Pah! Pah! Pah!” Tan Xue’er spat the mouthful onto the ground and grabbed the cabbage soup to wash it down, only to find the soup even more unpalatable.

To be fair, the cornbread was edible. Jiang Yan found its rustic flavor acceptable, though its coarse texture was indeed difficult to swallow. It was understandable that the young ladies couldn’t stomach it.

The County Princess stared at the food without taking a single bite, her resolve unwavering.

The cabbage soup, however, was truly awful. Yet without it, they would have no water for the next day and night.

Jiang Yan pinched her nose and drank the cabbage soup. Seeing her manage it, Tan Qianyue also tried, but she couldn’t control herself and spat it out in a mouthful.

“If you can’t drink it, don’t force yourself. I’ll ask the guards for some clean water later,” Jiang Yan said, feeling sorry for the Eldest Miss as she grimaced and forced herself to swallow.

Tan Qianyue didn’t reply, her eyes pleading for help.

They finally made it through the day, but sleep became a problem. There were only two beds, and even if they squeezed together, one person would still be left without a place to sleep.

“Qianyue, you’re the elder sister. Why don’t you let the County Princess have the bed for the night? We’ll give you all the straw mats,” Xiao Concubine said sweetly, approaching Tan Qianyue.

“I remember when you were dumping my belongings out for the guards in the courtyard, you didn’t act like an elder then. How dare you come asking me for favors now?” Tan Qianyue didn’t have the energy for a full-blown argument, but she underestimated Xiao Concubine’s shamelessness.

“Besides, do I look like an idiot to you?” Tan Qianyue glared at Xiao Concubine as she approached.

“Even if I hadn’t told them, the guards would have found out about your shops sooner or later. It’s better we came forward ourselves,” Xiao Concubine argued.

“If they find it, I’ll hold them responsible. If you reveal it, I’ll hold you responsible,” Tan Qianyue declared, her tone resolute, brooking no argument and indifferent to their opinions.

“Concubine, don’t covet this bed. You three can squeeze together just fine,” Jiang Yan interjected.

“I don’t need it. I’ll just sit here,” Sima Jing added, her voice tinged with sorrow at having been reduced to fighting over a broken bed.

“Let’s try to sleep. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?” Jiang Yan pulled Tan Qianyue down onto the bed. The wooden planks, perpetually deprived of sunlight, emitted a faint, musty odor.

She positioned Tan Qianyue against the wall and lay down on her side at the edge, forming a protective barrier around her.

The other three couldn’t all fit on the floor, so they leaned against the wall, closing their eyes in a pretense of sleep.

Though they claimed to be resting, none of them truly slept.

Tan Qianyue’s mind raced with thoughts of Madam Tan’s fate, her own future with Jiang Yan, and the impending doom of the Tan Family. Tears welled in her eyes. If only she had been more persistent back then, could she have saved the Tan Family from this calamity? Why hadn’t she tried harder to persuade her mother?

Squeak, squeak, squeak! The sound of rats scurrying echoed from somewhere nearby.

Tan Qianyue reached out and touched Jiang Yan’s arm, pulling it close to her chest.

Seeing her clinging to his arm as if frightened, Jiang Yan wrapped his arms around her and gently patted her back to reassure her.

Though both were imprisoned, Jiang Yan suffered only physical hardship, while Tan Qianyue endured both physical and mental torment.

If I hadn’t come with her, he thought, I can’t imagine what kind of abuse she would have suffered. That Xiao Concubine is no pushover.

Three days later:

“Tan Zhixian, out of your cell for interrogation,” two guards barked, dragging Prime Minister Tan from her cell.

In the dimly lit prison, a woman in a bright yellow dragon robe sat at the center, her gaze solemn as she scrutinized Madam Tan.

“Your Majesty, this old minister is innocent!” Tan Zhixian immediately knelt and cried out her innocence upon recognizing the Empress.

“Hmph, so you still remember I’m the Emperor?” the Empress retorted. “Spare me your theatrics. Since you entered public service, we’ve supported each other. What made you think I was failing? Why conspire with those arrogant rebels to covet my throne?” Though still recovering from illness, the Empress’s eyes burned with piercing sharpness.

“This humble servant has never harbored the slightest treasonous intent,” Madam Tan insisted. “Prince Fu’an misled me, and I deserve to die for my foolishness in trusting his deceitful words. It was only through this misunderstanding that I inadvertently aided the rebels.” She stubbornly refused to admit any complicity, though Prince Fu’an had never explicitly revealed his plans to her. Even when she later realized his true intentions, she had chosen to turn a blind eye.

“It seems your rise through the ranks came too easily,” the Empress’s voice suddenly sharpened. “Having reached the pinnacle of your career, you began plotting to assist a new emperor, didn’t you?” Prime Minister Tan’s implication in the plot was unexpected; it seemed everyone was counting down the days until her death.

“Your Majesty, this old minister swears I have no treasonous intentions. I merely cooperated with Prince Fu’an in his efforts to manage state affairs. I truly had no knowledge of his scheme.”

“As Prime Minister, your failure to detect Prince Fu’an’s rebellious ambitions constitutes dereliction of duty. Moreover, your close personal ties with him and your complicity in his tyranny make you guilty of grave crimes. Even if you were genuinely unaware of his plans, you cannot escape severe punishment.” The Empress stood before Prime Minister Tan, her face etched with fatigue.

“This old minister acknowledges my guilt. I can only atone with my life, hoping to appease Your Majesty’s anger.” Sensing the Empress’s resolve, Prime Minister Tan abandoned her denials and readily confessed her crimes.

“As monarch and subject, I will remember your past merits,” the Empress said, her gaze unwavering. “But treason is a grave offense, and merits cannot offset crimes. Let us part ways here.” Their long journey of mutual support had come to an end.

“Respectfully seeing off Her Majesty. Long live the Empress, ten thousand years!” Madam Tan kowtowed heavily, her forehead striking the ground. Her ambition had led to this. Whatever punishment was decreed, she would accept it.

Several days prior, someone had reported Prince Fu’an for secretly stockpiling weapons and commissioning imperial robes, intending to seize the throne upon Her Majesty’s death. His actions already constituted treason.

Unexpectedly, Her Majesty recovered suddenly, trapping Prince Fu’an like a turtle in a jar. His arrest, the confiscation of his property, and the overwhelming evidence left no room for doubt.

Prime Minister Tan, Vice Minister of the Secretariat Wang Mian, Academician Su Qinyu, and Grand Censor Cai Yong—all implicated in Prince Fu’an’s treasonous plot—were exiled to Lingnan to quarry stone. Under constant guard by imperial officers, they would toil daily without rest, subsisting on meager rations without meat or medicine. Their survival depended entirely on fate.

Prince Fu’an himself was imprisoned in the Imperial Prison, condemned to spend the rest of his days in darkness and confinement.

The families of the condemned were exiled to the Northlands, where they would endure bitter cold, starvation, and brutal torture.

“Ah? Banished to the Northlands?” Xiao Concubine fainted on the spot upon hearing the sentence.

“Mother! Mother!” Tan Xue’er frantically pinched Xiao Concubine’s philtrum, trying to revive her.

“County Princess, what are we going to do?” Tan Xue’er cried, trembling. “The Northlands are bitterly cold. They say if you have nowhere to go at night, you can freeze to death in the streets. And the journey there… we might not even survive it. The soldiers never treat prisoners like humans. If… if we become their playthings, I’d rather die.”

“County Princess, say something!” Tan Xue’er desperately tugged at Sima Jing, her voice bordering on hysteria.

“Then go die,” Sima Jing replied calmly, her eyes blank.

Tan Xue’er stared at her in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Tan Qianyue was also panicking, unsure what to do. She had heard rumors about the Northlands’ treatment of prisoners. If those stories were true, what would become of them?