The Useless Alpha’s Yandere Wife - Chapter 25

“Don’t bite my finger!”…

In the distance, a towering tree with lush foliage loomed like a clawing monster against the night sky.

“Ah!” Several sudden screams jolted the group awake.

“What’s happening?”

“What was that noise?”

Curious voices rose from the crowd as everyone turned toward the commotion.

Startled by the screams, Tan Qianyue clung tightly to Jiang Yan’s waist, burrowing into her embrace like a docile cat.

Jiang Yan wrapped an arm around Tan Qianyue, her gaze following the crowd’s toward the source of the commotion.

“You disobedient cur! Trying to escape under cover of chaos? Watch me break your legs before dragging you away!” Several greasy soldiers seized a Male Kunze, pinning him to the ground.

“I didn’t! I wasn’t trying to escape, Officer! You’re mistaken! I wasn’t trying to escape!” The Male Kunze’s arms were twisted behind his back by the soldiers, while another officer shone a torch in his face.

“Still trying to weasel your way out? Looks like we need to take you somewhere quiet and teach you some manners. You clearly don’t know how many eyes Prince Ma has!” The officer ignored his protests, determined to drag him away to a secluded spot.

“You’re framing me! I wasn’t trying to escape at all! I just came here to find a stick,” the Male Kunze struggled fiercely, but couldn’t shake off the arm pinning him down.

“Brother, brother, let go of my brother!” A frail young woman stepped forward, trying to push away the guards pinning her brother down, but a nearby guard lifted her up like a chick.

“You must be his accomplice. Tell me, were you planning to escape together? Even as a condemned slave, you still won’t behave? I think we should take you both!” The guard spoke with feigned seriousness, his eyes raking over the pair with malicious intent.

“You’re lying! I demand to see the Imperial Commissioner!” Though suspended in the air, the woman’s gaze burned with unwavering resolve, as if she feared neither these soldiers nor bandits. Despite her delicate frame, she carried the courage of a noblewoman.

“The Imperial Commissioner doesn’t see just anyone. Dealing with trivial matters like you two is beneath her notice!” The guard sneered at them as if they were a joke.

“My sister has nothing to do with this. I’m the one who erred. If you must take someone, take me!” The male Kunze, lying on the ground, seemed to grasp the situation. He gritted his teeth and spoke with grim determination.

“Too late. We’re taking both of you. Criminals who attempt to escape deserve punishment!” The guards surrounded the siblings, their destination unknown.

“Oh? What kind of punishment? Tell me all about it!” Just as despair settled over the pair, a resonant female voice rang out from behind the crowd.

Dressed in crimson robes, a black leather belt cinching her waist, and a silver crown atop her high ponytail, Lord Miao had appeared behind the group unnoticed.

Her cold gaze swept over the officers, her stern and imposing presence freezing them in place.

“We greet you, Imperial Commissioner!” they snapped to attention, bowing in unison.

“What crimes have these two committed?” she asked casually, her eyes slicing through them like knives.

The woman who had been clamoring to see the Imperial Commissioner immediately lowered her head in shame.

“Imperial Commissioner, we’re innocent!” the man pleaded. “My sister and I weren’t trying to escape. The shelf by the bed was unstable, so we came here to find some wood to fix it.” Seeing a potential savior, he pressed his case urgently.

In this September weather, sleeping on the cold, hard ground would leave them unable to walk the next day.

“Since they were only looking for wood, let’s drop this,” Lord Miao declared, her gaze sweeping over the officers. “They haven’t even left the courtyard. No one can prove they were trying to escape. Disperse now, before you incite a riot among the prisoners!” Her eyes narrowed, as if daring anyone to object.

“Yes, yes, Imperial Commissioner, you’re right! We were too hasty!” The lead officer quickly plastered on a fawning smile.

With that, the incident was resolved.

“You all be careful too. Don’t wander off alone at night again!” Miao Fengqing said before turning to leave.

“Thank you, Lord, for upholding justice!” the male Kunze said respectfully.

The woman behind him remained silent.

Jiang Yan strained her ears to catch what she could, but her mind suddenly exploded like a thunderclap. So, what she really needs isn’t food, but weapons!

The guards hadn’t been trying to reason with the escaped prisoners. The escape was just an excuse. Only they knew where they truly intended to take them.

Sure enough, the guards slunk back to the captains’ quarters.

Captains Wei and Lu were seated at a wooden table, feasting on a plate of braised pig’s head, a dish of peanuts, two pounds of beef, a plate of mouthwatering chicken, and a jar of strong liquor. The meal smelled heavenly.

“Captains!” the guards greeted hesitantly.

“What? Couldn’t catch that rule-breaker today?” Captain Lu glanced at them sideways, then tossed two peanuts into his mouth.

“Well… we had him, but then the Imperial Commissioner suddenly appeared and let him go. What could we do? We can’t fight the Commissioner!” The guards, eager to avoid blame, quickly implicated Miao Fengqing.

“Hmph, it’s her again! Doesn’t even know the rules of the road, yet dares to meddle in our affairs. One day, I’ll lose my temper and chop her down!” Captain Lu snarled, his face twisted with arrogance.

“How many times have I told you to curb that temper of yours? You act like you want everyone to know you’re a bandit at heart,” Captain Wei said, pressing him down. “Go outside and wait.”

“Yes, sir!”

“You really can’t kill her, you know. Don’t let her low rank fool you—her family has deep roots. Don’t act rashly!” Captain Wei waved his hand dismissively.

“Hmph, every chained prisoner these days claims to have connections. But we still do as we please!” Captain Lu retorted stubbornly.

“Patience, now. We can’t kill her outright, but who’s to say what might happen? A three-month trek to the Northlands is full of uncertainties. Let’s wait a few more days and see how things develop.”

“I’ll follow your lead, Brother!”

These two captains, both of humble origins, had done all sorts of dirty work in their early years. The Imperial Court’s high-profile prisoners weren’t just pampered young ladies and gentlemen; they also included vicious murderers. Escorting convicts to the Northlands was already a grueling task, and it became even more perilous when dealing with prisoners desperate enough to kill and escape.

That’s why few were willing to take on the job, and those who did had to be ruthless enough to keep the criminals in line.

During the prisoner transport, these guards secretly pocketed gray silver, and harassing vulnerable Kunze women became an unspoken perk.

Now, Miao Fengqing’s arrival had deprived them of their entertainment, naturally making her a thorn in their side.

Jiang Yan carefully examined the medicinal powders and pills Doctor Lu had given her, finally finding the small paper packet labeled “Flowers Bloom by the Roadside.” She’d heard this powder was quite peculiar—whatever you drew on your face would remain.

Using the screen’s glow as her guide, Jiang Yan sketched a rose on Tan Qianyue’s cheek and the corner of her eye with her pinky finger. Her drawing was crude, a simplified version of a rose occupying a small portion of the right half of Qianyue’s face. To Jiang Yan, it had a certain charm, though others might not see it the same way.

“What are you doing?” Tan Qianyue asked, sensing Jiang Yan’s movements in the dark. She even wondered if Jiang Yan was flirting.

Jiang Yan put the items away, lay down, and leaned close to Tan Qianyue’s ear. “Drawing you a flower,” she whispered. “To save you from worrying the whole way. This stuff was given to me by your childhood friend. I wonder how long it’ll last.”

“Excellent!” Tan Qianyue instantly understood her meaning.

The hammock hung inside an open-air shed—the only mercy the relay station offered. Tan Qianyue fit perfectly into Jiang Yan’s embrace, petite and soft. Though several layers of cloth were wrapped around her waist, Jiang Yan could still encircle her completely, even securing her with an iron chain. Despite the iron manacles on her wrists, this arrangement made keeping her close relatively convenient.

The combined weight of the two women bowed the hammock, making them look like silkworms cocooned inside. The earthy scent of the surrounding soil drifted in from all directions, but it was still far better than sleeping on the ground.

They quietly covered themselves with a padded jacket, concealing their bodies within the hammock. The recent commotion had left everyone silent, terrified of drawing attention to themselves.

Before the rooster crowed the next morning, while it was still dark, Jiang Yan opened her eyes.

Today would be another life-or-death day. She needed to feed the Eldest Miss first; otherwise, the delicate woman would collapse from exhaustion within days.

Rummaging through her “pantry,” Jiang Yan considered meat buns a good option, but their savory aroma would attract attention. Instead, she pulled out three large steamed buns and some braised beef. Splitting the buns and stuffing them with slices of beef, she created three Chinese-style burgers—filling for herself and discreetly fragrant.

She glanced at the still-sleeping woman. Yesterday’s ordeal must have exhausted her.

Jiang Yan playfully tapped her finger against Tan Qianyue’s lips. After a few teasing taps, Tan Qianyue bit down, sucking and gnawing on her finger as if it were food. Perhaps it was?

Tan Qianyue groped in the dark and shook Ying Hong awake.

“What is it, Miss?” Ying Hong asked groggily, sitting up to look around.

Tan Qianyue quietly handed her a steamed bun filled with meat, urging her to eat quickly and keep quiet.

Ying Hong took the bun and lay back down in her hammock, face down.

As dawn broke, the group covertly finished the meat-filled buns, enough to last them through the day.

They hadn’t finished all the water from the previous day; they had stored the remainder in water pouches for later.

Jiang Yan’s storage room contained two small vats of fresh water, but they were only for experiments and didn’t hold much. They needed to conserve every drop until they found a water source.

Before the guards summoned them, everyone remained in place, resting as long as possible.

Jiang Yan secured her bundle to her body and sat stiffly beside Tan Qianyue, like a wooden doll. In reality, she was spending her gold coins, determined to acquire a weapon.

Her gaze fixed on the door that always stole her food—the one encased in thick layers of ice.

But this door didn’t seem to accept gold coins for items. So she swiped five bananas behind the icy barrier and waited silently, mentally chanting: Knife, gun, taser—anything will do, just give me one.

As expected, after the other side received the items, a gleaming golden treasure chest appeared on the screen. Jiang Yan eagerly tapped it open.

A palm-sized “keychain”? Jiang Yan examined it closely. It seemed to be a multi-functional tool—a knife combined with a miniature stun baton. The rectangular stone bar, about the length of a palm, resembled an inkstick, its tip crackling with electricity and its body a deep crimson-black.

The material matched the knife, suggesting they were carved from the same stone.

Jiang Yan frowned at the unfamiliar weapon. Could something not made of iron actually be effective? Still, she had to thank her mysterious friend on the other side. Suddenly, she realized she might have to support this friend as well, since they seemed just as short on supplies as she was.

Several whip cracks shattered the fragile peace of dawn, signaling the prisoners to resume their march.

No one dared to delay. They dutifully lined up, Jiang Yan and Tan Qianyue leading Ying Hong to the middle of the column, keeping a distance from Xiao Concubine and her group.

Sima Jing seemed to have finally woken up, her spirit renewed. She now understood the importance of water and food. Shunned by the other prisoners for being implicated by the Prince, she returned to the Old Princess Consort’s group with Tan Xue’er.

Only Xiao Concubine and Third Miss remained of the Tan Family. Xiao Concubine deliberately approached Tan Qianyue.

“Ah, Qianyue, what happened to your face?” Xiao Concubine exclaimed, startled by the sudden appearance of a red birthmark-like mark on her stepdaughter’s once flawless face.

“Oh, this? I must have been bitten by some insect last night. It’s been itching and burning all day. Is there something wrong with my face?” Tan Qianyue replied, sounding genuinely concerned as she touched the corner of her eye and her cheek.

“Hmm… it doesn’t look good. It’ll probably leave a scar!” Xiao Concubine said with a forced smile.

“It doesn’t matter anymore. We’re all exiled criminals now. What use is my face anyway?” Tan Qianyue said dejectedly.

“Qianyue, I noticed you had a padded coat covering you while you rested yesterday. Your third sister is still so young… could you… could you lend her your coat to keep warm?” Xiao Concubine took two steps closer, her gaze shifting between Tan Qianyue and Jiang Yan, sizing them up.

“Concubine, you coveted my mother’s inheritance when we were at the estate, and now you’re still eyeing my coat even in this state?” Tan Qianyue stared at Xiao Concubine in disbelief.

“It’s mine, and I won’t give it to her. Madam Xiao, you can stop scheming,” Jiang Yan said, pulling Tan Qianyue forward. Ying Hong followed closely behind.

“Mother, I told you she wouldn’t give it,” the Third Miss said, her face stiff.

“What do you know?” Xiao Concubine retorted, her gaze fixed ahead, unwilling to give up. “Without a padded coat, you’ll freeze to death on the road in two months.”

The Third Miss fell silent.

Jiang Yan noticed the “rose” at the corner of Tan Qianyue’s eye and felt a sense of satisfaction. The tip of her own finger was stained with the color of roadside blossoms, half her fingertip dyed red.

In Jiang Yan’s eyes, the rose didn’t detract from the Eldest Miss’s beauty; rather, it added an air of mystery. But others might be startled or stunned upon seeing it, after all, people are often frightened by the unfamiliar.

Days passed without incident. Gradually, the weaker Kunze began to falter, and one by one, they fell ill.

During the long, brutal three-month journey, convicts would collapse along the road one by one. A single cornbread bun and a bowl of clear water per day—even the coarse-salted cabbage soup was reserved for the guards first, and sometimes even carried the faint aroma of meat.

The prisoners’ rations were insufficient even for ordinary citizens at home doing nothing, let alone for the young ladies and gentlemen. The crowd began to stir restlessly, each seeking a way to survive.

Sensing the growing unrest, Jiang Yan remained on high alert, her nerves stretched taut.

She desperately needed to earn Sympathy Coins. Lacking everything and uncertain about the future, she knew that having food in hand was the only way to ease her anxiety.

She treated each day like a regular workday, starting her livestream as soon as she set out. Even earning a few Sympathy Coins through pity was better than nothing. The livestream’s viewing range had expanded to a ten-kilometer radius, a feature Jiang Yan found endlessly fascinating. The chat comments often revealed information about others, including the Officers.

Of course, what Jiang Yan learned depended entirely on what her “fans” were interested in.

Chat Comments:

That pitch-black food looks even worse than nutrient paste.

But they’re eating different things.

Of course they are. It’s like comparing the impoverished, gloomy bunkers to the bright, opulent Dota Castle.

Our protagonist has fallen so low she’s eating iron scraps. Ten Energy Stones donated!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Jiang Yan silently repeated in her mind.

At the rear of the group, a staggering Female Kunze fixed her gaze on the Guard bringing up the rear.

Likely one of Miao Fengqing’s guards, this soldier stood out from the other Male Qianyuan—a female warrior.

As the woman approached, she stumbled, falling perfectly into the Guard’s arms, only to be coldly pushed away.

“Watch where you’re going!” the Guard snapped.

“Sister, I’m truly exhausted. Could I… could I rest here for just a moment?” The Female Kunze’s face was pale, but her voice remained delicate.

“Move along! Don’t waste time here. If you have any other ideas, come talk to us brothers later,” a group of rowdy soldiers called out before the female soldier could respond.

One of them even cracked his whip, aiming to tear the Female Kunze’s clothes. Just as the whip struck, the female soldier seized it, glaring fiercely back at the men with a murderous aura that seemed to carry the weight of battlefield carnage. The soldiers recoiled two steps.

“Pah! Like master, like dog. Look at those yaksha-faced brutes,” the soldiers spat after the female soldier had moved on.

The woman who had been trying to ingratiate herself earlier now fell silent. Her attempt to seduce the female soldier had failed, nearly earning her a beating. But she truly couldn’t go on.

Gazing at the blazing sun overhead, she longed to collapse onto the ground and never get up.

The siblings who had narrowly escaped capture that day were the legitimate daughter and eldest illegitimate son of Academician Su Qinyu. The Su Family consisted of over a dozen members, large and small. The legitimate daughter, Su He, had been raised by Concubine Sun—Su Jing’s mother—after her own mother divorced Academician Su early on.

Concubine Sun, a woman of gentle temperament, had raised her two children to be as mild and delicate as herself. Yet Su He, despite her demure exterior, carried the fiery spirit of her birth mother within her. Beneath her gentle demeanor lay a stubborn and courageous heart.

Regardless of one’s temperament, no one could endure the relentless hunger and starvation under these harsh conditions. Su He’s once-round face had thinned, revealing a sharp chin, and her eyes seemed to have grown larger. The baby fat that had softened her features had vanished, and she was now forced to stretch into a slender, graceful figure.

In truth, Miss Su was nearly twenty years old, but her youthful, doll-like face made her appear only sixteen or seventeen.

“Mother, Mother, wake up!” Her elder brother supported their collapsing concubine, who had been weakened by chronic ailments and days of exhaustion and thirst, looking as if she might collapse at any moment.

“Mother, Mother, wake up!” Beside Concubine Sun stood a small, bean-sized girl, a three- or four-year-old child who resembled her elder sister by seventy percent. Yet her eyes carried an innate authority, making her look like an irresistibly adorable little bun.

Su He was so anxious that blisters had formed at the corners of her mouth. Concubine Sun had always treated her better than her own brother; if there was only one of something, it was always given to Su He. But her gentle nature meant she was constantly overshadowed by the Second Branch’s aunt.

“Oh, is she about to kick the bucket? Why not just bury her here and be done with it? Save yourselves the trouble,” the Second Branch’s stout aunt clapped her hands gleefully as she spotted the First Branch’s group.

If only the eldest son hadn’t committed that crime, my husband and children wouldn’t be suffering too. They were always pretending to be capable when they weren’t. They deserve to die on the road.

“Whether she lives or dies is none of your concern,” Su He retorted, glaring fiercely. “And don’t act like you’re the victim here. When you were flaunting your silk robes and feasting on delicacies, you should have remembered the meaning of shared hardship.”

“Hmph, I was just offering some friendly advice!” the Second Branch’s aunt sneered, her eyes gleaming with schadenfreude as she strode away, clanking her iron handcuffs.

Sun Shi remained unconscious. Su He stared at her parched lips, wondering if a sip of water might help.

Her gaze cut through the crowd, landing on the woman in red at the front. After a moment, she stubbornly averted her eyes.

Just then, Jiang Yan happened to pass by the group. She noticed a woman in a dazed state, being shaken repeatedly by two Kunze beside her.

“Sister, do you have a bamboo tube? Could you spare some water? My mother can’t take much more,” Su He pleaded, grabbing Jiang Yan’s arm and whispering urgently.

Jiang Yan startled, thinking, Girl, why don’t you just buy a lottery ticket?

Seeing no immediate refusal, Su He’s eyes lit up with a flicker of hope, like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse.

She had truly been desperate, grabbing the first person she saw. The guards carried bamboo tubes, but she didn’t dare approach them.

This wasn’t a time for casual kindness, yet Jiang Yan glanced again at the woman, now nearly unconscious. Before she could speak, the crack of a whip echoed from behind.

“Move along! Move along! Stop dawdling here! If she’s dying, find a place to bury her!” the guard’s callous words rang out. Lingering would mean facing the whip.

Jiang Yan spotted a stone bench nearby. “Help her over there first,” she instructed Su He, then led Tan Qianyue and her servant toward the bench at a brisk pace.

Su He understood Jiang Yan’s unspoken meaning. She picked up Little Bun, while her brother helped Concubine Sun follow them to the stone.

With the guards ahead and behind, the narrow path allowed them to quickly put a hundred meters between themselves and the officials.

Seeing the guards closing in, Jiang Yan yanked the nearly unconscious woman and the Male Kunze supporting her behind the stone.

She swiftly opened her waterskin and poured water into the woman’s mouth from a distance.

“Even if she wakes up, continuing on foot will be difficult. If she can hitch a ride, she might have a chance to survive,” Jiang Yan said, giving the girl a meaningful look.

Behind them were grain-laden carts.

“Thank you, benefactor!” the girl repeatedly thanked her.

Jiang Yan led Tan Qianyue and the others back to the center of the crowd.

“Those are all grain carts. How could the guards possibly let them put that half-dead woman on one?” Tan Qianyue glanced back at the few carts.

“Whether they can or not depends on her resourcefulness,” Jiang Yan replied, her eyes lowered, concealing her expression, her voice colder than usual.

The girl was merely a stepping stone. What Jiang Yan truly wanted to know was whether there were any shortcuts on this long and arduous journey.

Su He pondered Jiang Yan’s words. Her concubine had endured immense hardship caring for Little Sister throughout their journey, finally collapsing from exhaustion. Today, they had relied entirely on her brother to carry her, but how long could he sustain this burden on a single cornbread bun a day? The iron chains already made travel difficult enough, hindering even her own progress.

Eventually, they would all be dragged down to their deaths. Yet she couldn’t bear to bury her concubine by the roadside.

Though not her birth mother, the concubine had always treated Su He better than her own brother. She needed to find a way to ease their burdens, or they would never reach the Northlands, especially the children.

After days of grueling travel, she knew some Kunze women had secretly colluded with the guards for a single steamed bun or a bamboo tube of clean water. A dark thought suddenly formed in her mind.

This wasn’t just for her family’s sake, but for her own survival. Only by living could she have a future.

The concubine regained some clarity after drinking water, but remained terribly weak. Her brother could only carry her for short stretches before needing to rest.

Su He struggled onward, clutching Little Sister in her arms.

They finally reached mealtime, and everyone collapsed to rest.

She ate only half her cornbread bun, saving the rest for her brother. He needed the strength to carry the concubine; if he collapsed too, all would be lost.

During the break, she focused her attention on the female soldier guarding the grain supplies.

Unbeknownst to herself, the female Qianyuan had become a coveted target, yet she remained oblivious, standing guard over the grain with unwavering righteousness.

Perhaps it was her earnest, unapproachable demeanor that made her so alluring to the Kunze.

Su He possessed a delicate, charming beauty. Even with her face now gaunt, her features retained their graceful, spirited quality.

She subtly approached the grain cart, slipped a pill into her mouth, and released a sweet, fruity scent just as she planned to “accidentally” bump into the female Qianyuan by the cart’s side.

Everyone carried a few Cycle-suppressing pills, distributed even without official guards to maintain order on the road.

The Scent Enhancing Pill she had just taken was one she had traded half her cornbread for with another female Kunze the previous day, saving it for emergencies.

As the pill took effect, her pheromones remained mild, unlike typical aphrodisiacs. It wouldn’t drive the Qianyuan to lose control and assault her, but rather induce a subtle sense of fondness—a mild form of enchantment.

Just as she was about to reach out and touch the female Qianyuan’s hand, a crimson figure materialized before her.

Su He lifted her head with practiced coquettishness, but her alluring expression froze mid-motion…

“Miss Su, long time no see!”