The Useless Alpha’s Yandere Wife - Chapter 26

“Be good and open your mouth.”

“Miss Su, long time no see.”

The Imperial Commissioner, clad in dark crimson riding attire, strode at a measured pace and collided head-on with Su He.

Su He’s breath caught in her throat. Her lively eyes flickered toward the Commissioner before she quickly lowered her gaze.

“Greetings, Lord Miao,” Su He said, her tone distant and voice flat, utterly devoid of the coquettish charm she had displayed moments earlier.

Lord Miao, her face stern and upright, studied her intently. “What brings you here, Miss Su? Weren’t you supposed to be in the middle of the convoy?”

She stood too close, and Su He caught a faint, alluring scent from the woman—like a ripe peach, tempting one to take a bite.

Miao Fengqing frowned, scrutinizing Su He. She remembered the girl being slightly plump before, but now her chin was sharply defined.

Su He retreated uncomfortably.

“Nothing, just checking if I could find some water for Concubine Sun. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now!” Su He wanted to avoid further entanglement and escape as quickly as possible.

“Take this,” Lord Miao said without hesitation, unfastening her waterskin and handing it to Su He.

Su He glanced up, her gaze distant, but accepted the waterskin nonetheless. Nothing was more important than survival.

“Thank you,” Su He murmured, bowing her head. Her pale, delicate skin peeked through the grimy prison uniform, stirring a restless longing in the heart.

Miao Fengqing cleared her throat and averted her gaze.

“It’s been three years since we last met. I never imagined our reunion would be under such circumstances. If you need anything, just ask. I’ll do everything in my power to help,” Lord Miao said sincerely, genuinely wanting to assist her.

Su He’s lips twitched, her lowered eyes filled with inner turmoil. She stood frozen in place for what felt like an eternity.

“Lord, you can endure any hardship, but the child… Could you… could you take my younger sister with you?” Su He’s eyes softened as she looked at Miao Fengqing.

“Your younger sister? How old is she?” Miao Fengqing didn’t recall Su He having a sister.

“Just over three years old. She’s been suffering with us lately and has grown terribly thin,” Su Jinghe replied truthfully.

“Very well. Bring her to me later.” Forcing a three- or four-year-old child into exile would indeed be cruel.

“Really?” Su Jinghe hadn’t expected the man to be so accommodating now.

“Yes, I keep my word,” Lord Miao nodded.

“I can’t thank you enough, Lord,” Su He said, at a loss for any other words.

Before long, a small girl in a prison uniform that dragged on the ground was brought to Miao Fengqing. The girl, curious and bold, gazed up at Miao Fengqing.

“Thank you, Lord, for saving Afei’s life,” the girl said. She was tiny, barely reaching Lord Miao’s waist. Despite enduring days of hardship, she remained chubby, suggesting she had been a little fatty at home.

The sun had tanned her into a dark little ball, but her plump face, though slightly dry, wore an earnest expression as she offered her thanks, which Lord Miao found refreshing.

“Come, get on the horse!” Without another word, the dark little ball was hoisted onto the horse. The moment she was lifted up, her eyebrows arched with delight. The recent upheaval hadn’t yet cast a shadow on her heart, or perhaps Afei was simply a remarkably composed child.

The prisoners and guards’ rest period ended, and the entire group resumed their march under the scorching sun.

Though the midday sun could bake a person to death, it did nothing to alleviate the bone-chilling cold that gripped them at dawn and dusk, causing their legs to cramp.

Nearly ten days had passed since they left the capital. The noble group, their bodies utterly exhausted, continued to trudge forward, their legs moving more from inertia than conscious effort.

The soles of the young ladies and gentlemen’s shoes had worn through, and they were all hanging on by a thread. The atmosphere among the group grew increasingly volatile.

“I’m not going any further! Just let me die here!” A Male Qianyuan suddenly collapsed, his physical limits reached. The daily wowotou rations had grown smaller each day, and he figured a quick beheading would be less painful than this slow torment.

Seeing him stop, others immediately followed suit, collapsing to the ground, desperate for rest.

“Get up now! What’s with this tantrum? Do you think you’re nobles? You’re just a bunch of exiled convicts! Stop acting so high and mighty!” Several guards swarmed forward, their whips cracking faster than their words. The first lash landed brutally on the fallen man’s back.

Jiang Yan grabbed Tan Qiyue’s arm and quickly pulled her away from the “battlefield.” The fallen men had been right beside them, and if she hadn’t reacted quickly, the whip would have struck Tan Qiyue.

Jiang Yan glared at the fallen men with a mix of fear and resentment. If you want to die, just throw yourselves on the soldiers’ swords! Don’t drag others down with you!

The sound of whips striking flesh echoed nearby. The prisoners, pushed to their breaking points, were on the verge of rioting, while the guards, exhausted and irritable, were ready to lash out. In the end, even the man who had wanted to die scrambled to his feet, dodging the whip’s relentless strikes.

Jiang Yan glanced over. Sigh, you can’t fight fate. What’s the point?

Tan Qiyue was in no better shape. Days of relentless travel had left her utterly exhausted. If Jiang Yan hadn’t been supporting her the entire way, she would have fallen behind long ago.

Though she ate better than the others, she had to gulp down her meals hastily at night, which left her feeling unwell after a while.

The cotton padding on her feet had been soft and comfortable on the first day, but after several days of wear, it had flattened into a thin layer.

Seeing her slumped posture, Jiang Yan wanted to cook her some warm congee, but the current circumstances made such a thought nothing more than wishful thinking.

The group entered a desolate wilderness. As far as the eye could see, there were only two small hills, while thick, dark clouds pressed down from the horizon.

In the blink of an eye, the storm clouds had rolled overhead.

“Captain, it looks like a heavy downpour is coming. We need to find shelter quickly! If we get soaked and then the cold wind picks up tonight, half the group will fall ill!” Captain Lu urged, approaching Captain Wei.

“Where are we supposed to find shelter in this desolate wasteland? What kind of cursed luck is this?” Captain Wei cursed, spitting on the ground.

“We can’t worry about that now! Look, the rain’s about to start!” Captain Lu shouted, pointing at the swirling, vortex-like dark clouds above.

Before he could finish speaking, the gathering clouds grew even darker. Within moments, raindrops the size of beans began pelting down from the sky.

The guards and prisoners alike panicked, scrambling toward the hills in a chaotic mass.

“Everyone, take shelter at the foot of the hills!” Lord Miao shouted, waving his riding whip as he led the soldiers at the rear of the column.

The little girl skillfully burrowed under Lord Miao’s robes, leaving only her sun-darkened head visible as she gripped the reins tightly with both hands. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as the sky suddenly darkened.

Sensing the danger, Jiang Yan flung the iron handcuffs at Tan Qianyue, positioning himself between her and the chains. He crouched slightly, scooped his wife into his arms, and hoisted her onto his shoulder before sprinting away.

Dazed and disoriented, Tan Qianyue found herself draped over Jiang Yan’s shoulder, bouncing with each stride as he raced onward, her mind racing to guess their destination.

Behind them, bean-sized raindrops crashed down in a torrential downpour. The crowd surged forward as if racing against the heavens, yet they were soon drenched to the bone.

The autumn rain in mid-September struck with a bone-chilling cold that made people shiver violently—even colder than winter snowflakes.

This capricious weather shifted from scorching heat to biting cold without warning, leaving no time for adaptation.

By the time the crowd reached the foot of the mountain, they were all soaked to the bone, huddled together like drenched chickens. Over two hundred people stood there, dripping and dumbfounded, staring blankly at the intensifying rain.

The half-yellow, half-green leaves swayed violently under the relentless downpour. The gullies and ravines on the ground quickly merged into rushing streams, the muddy, ochre-colored water surging like a miniature flood, a terrifying sight.

“The next town is still dozens of li away. We can’t travel any further today. Quickly find shelter for the night!” Captain Wei barked, dispersing the crowd. He and his trusted men claimed a natural cave, enough to make do for the night.

Jiang Yan had just tucked her bundle under Tan Qianyue. Though both were soaked to the bone, the padded coat inside remained dry, ensuring they wouldn’t have to spend the night in wet clothes.

From a distance, the hills appeared low and gentle, but as they approached, the mountain paths proved treacherous, overgrown with thick wild grass and thorny brambles.

The soldiers and prisoners scattered at Captain Wei’s command. In this desolate wilderness, no one dared to flee. Without water or food, and with the threat of wild beasts lurking, escape meant certain death.

Everyone began searching for caves to shelter from the rain, but the group maintained its formation: officers stayed with officers, prisoners with prisoners.

Jiang Yan and Tan Qianyue were drenched to the bone, followed by Ying Hong, who limped behind, likely having twisted her ankle somewhere.

Supporting Tan Qianyue, Jiang Yan led her halfway around the mountain before finally spotting a cave nestled in a ravine, large enough to shelter seven or eight people. The cave floor was uneven, littered with tangled branches.

Yet this was enough to fill Jiang Yan with relief. She immediately helped the Eldest Miss into the cave to escape the downpour, with Ying Hong trailing behind like a tail.

Before they could even settle in, the girl who had begged for water earlier that day followed them inside.

Jiang Yan turned, her expression cold and hostile as she glared at the newcomers.

“Sister, there’s truly nowhere else outside. Could we squeeze in with you?” Su He asked, her face flushed with embarrassment. She had indeed seen Jiang Yan heading up the mountainside and urged her family to chase after them.

“Miss, it’s hardly proper to repay kindness with such audacity,” Jiang Yan retorted sarcastically.

“Then… could we at least stand at the cave entrance to block the wind for you, Sister?” Su He pleaded, abandoning all pretense of dignity. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the Qianyuan woman before her was fundamentally good—why else would she have given them water?

Jiang Yan reasoned that two extra pairs of eyes might be useful at night, despite the inconvenience.

Jiang Yan glanced at the three bedraggled figures across from her, struggling to even stand, then looked back at Tan Qianyue, who was leaning against a rock behind her, panting. With a sigh, she said, “Then stay.”

“Thank you, Sister! Thank you, Sister!” Su He repeatedly called out her gratitude from the cave entrance, her voice filled with relief.

Jiang Yan ignored her and instead forcefully snapped off a sizable tree branch at the entrance. She shook off the water droplets and stacked two or three branches together to create a makeshift screen.

Finding some dry branches inside the cave, she gathered them to use for a fire later that night.

Su He watched Jiang Yan busying herself, too timid and embarrassed to offer any help. Having a cave to shelter them from the wind and rain was already more than she could have hoped for.

After separating the two groups with the large branches, Jiang Yan immediately began changing Tan Qianyue’s clothes. She gave Ying Hong a meaningful glance, and Ying Hong turned her back to block the view, preventing the others from seeing what was happening. After all, the other group included a man, and even if he was a Kunze, it was still awkward.

Jiang Yan touched Tan Qianyue’s forehead and confirmed she had a fever.

She pulled two padded coats from her bundle. The outer layer was slightly damp, but the inner lining remained dry—far better than the soaking wet prison uniform Tan Qianyue was wearing.

With a practiced hand, she inserted a wire into the lock of the iron handcuffs and deftly manipulated it. With two crisp clicks, the cuffs sprang open as easily as a child’s toy.

Days of confinement had left Tan Qianyue’s slender, fair wrists swollen and red, as if they would ache at the slightest touch.

They needed to change her clothes quickly; the wind blowing in from outside was icy cold.

Three layers of clothing were haphazardly draped over Tan Qianyue. Jiang Yan swiftly unbuttoned all the layers, peeled off the tangled garments, and left her wearing only a green embroidered undergarment.

She then wrapped Tan Qianyue tightly in a padded jacket. After a moment’s hesitation, she reached inside to loosen the ties and pull out the delicate green undergarment.

They would start a fire soon to dry the wet clothes, though it seemed starting a fire wouldn’t be easy.

One long and one short padded jacket were used. The longer one was wrapped around the Eldest Miss’s waist, serving as a makeshift cotton skirt.

Tan Qianyue’s face flushed crimson. She kept her eyes closed and pushed Jiang Yan away during the change, but after a few soft words of reassurance, she calmed down considerably. Once dry and comfortable, her expression softened, though her cheeks remained flushed.

Jiang Yan was busy hanging the wet clothes on tree branches to dry when she turned to find the Eldest Miss’s dainty feet peeking out from under the jacket. She tucked them back in with the fussiness of an old nanny.

“Ying Hong, go start a fire. Keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn’t take off her clothes—she’ll catch a chill,” Jiang Yan instructed, her voice filled with concern.

“Yes, I’ll watch over Miss,” Ying Hong replied, huddled in a corner, soaked to the bone. Though she was sturdier than the others and unlikely to fall ill, she knew no one would care for her if she did, so she dared not get sick.

Marriage isn’t so bad after all, Ying Hong thought silently.

Inside the cave, Jiang Yan gathered dry twigs and branches, arranging them like a miniature house with gaps between the pieces. She then retrieved a thick, dead log to serve as fuel.

From the Spatial Storage’s tool basket, she pulled out a tinderbox and patiently blew on the tinder until acrid smoke began to fill the air.

Glancing back at Tan Qianyue, who was frowning in discomfort, Jiang Yan casually took the dudou she had removed from the girl’s body and draped it over her face. The damp cloth would serve as an effective smoke filter.

Ying Hong stared blankly at the cloth covering her Miss’s face, momentarily stunned.

Meanwhile, Concubine Sun’s condition had improved slightly, but she still needed Su Jing’s support to keep up. Seeing Jiang Yan starting a fire, Su He realized their brazenness in coming here had paid off. Had they remained outside in their wet clothes all night, they would surely have collapsed from the cold.

In less than fifteen minutes, the acrid smoke dissipated, and the flames gradually ignited the wrist-thick logs.

Jiang Yan produced a battered pot from somewhere, no larger than a sea bowl.

But Jiang Yan had a bundle, and who knew what it contained?

She hadn’t intended to draw attention by using these items, but Tan Qianyue was ill, and her weak stomach would feel much better with some warm congee. Fortunately, their stalkers were absent, so she didn’t need to worry about being observed.

She pretended to search for water outside, taking the thin iron pot for a walk before returning.

During her two months of vegetarian living, she had not only livestreamed her travels but also tested the capabilities of her Spatial Storage. Whenever she spotted something interesting along the way—practical pots, pans, needles, thread—she would occasionally toss a few items into her storage as stockpiles. Little did she know they would come in handy so soon. Truly, life is unpredictable.

She hadn’t stored much fresh water, only two small water tanks, purely to test if the storage could preserve it. This accidental foresight proved fortunate, though she would replenish her supply at the next water source.

The small pot was placed over the fire, and within half an hour, the rich aroma of rice filled the cave as the soft, bubbling congee permeated the air.

Jiang Yan tore two pieces of beef into shreds and tossed them into the pot, adding a touch of savory flavor.

After the beef had simmered in the rice porridge, its aroma instantly mingled with the fragrant rice, overpowering the earlier scent.

Even the women sitting nearby couldn’t contain their restlessness, though their upbringing prevented them from acting too undignified.

Jiang Yan stirred the porridge with a spoon. When it was nearly done, she lifted the small pot off the fire.

While the porridge cooked, she had been drying Tan Qianyue’s clothes by the fire, and they were now almost completely dry.

Before entering the cave, Jiang Yan had noticed several mountain lotus leaves nearby. She handed the iron pot to Ying Hong and ventured back out into the rain.

Moments later, she returned with a stack of large leaves. After shaking off the raindrops, she deftly folded them into makeshift bowls.

It happened to be a day when no guards were watching, so she cooked extra rice. The soldiers outside often prepared their own meals to replenish their strength, but the prisoners were never given such privileges.

Jiang Yan glanced at the three women ahead, who remained motionless. Am I a tiger? she thought, amused.

Yet their restraint was admirable, not at all annoying.

She ladled a spoonful of porridge for each of the three Su family members. She kept her wealth hidden not because she was stingy with food—with the System at her disposal, she would never starve—but to avoid attracting the attention of corrupt officials and opportunistic individuals. Caution was paramount.

Now that Tan Qianyue was ill, they couldn’t afford to skimp. Besides, if they didn’t eat during this opportune moment, when would they?

“Take it,” Jiang Yan said, handing the Lotus Leaf Bowls to the Su family members. “Though there isn’t much left, it’s fate that we met.” She had already given them the food; now she wanted to secure their gratitude.

“How can we accept this? This… this is truly a great kindness!” Concubine Sun, frail and trembling, was overwhelmed with gratitude.

“Don’t mention it. We live one day at a time,” Jiang Yan replied, placing the bowls before them. The cave entrance resembled a Water Curtain Cave, with heavy rain cascading down like a waterfall.

“My daughter will forever remember your benevolence, Sister,” Su He said solemnly, expressing her heartfelt thanks.

“Oh, right, Miss Su, what about the little girl who was with you?” Jiang Yan asked curiously.

“Afei is too young,” Su He replied earnestly. “The Imperial Commissioner took pity on her and offered to take her under his care.”

“Oh, that’s truly fortunate for the little girl, sparing her all the hardship of the journey. The Imperial Commissioner must be a good man,” Jiang Yan agreed, though inwardly she remained skeptical of Miss Su’s words.

She might believe the Imperial Commissioner would give the girl some steamed buns, but entrusting him with a child’s care? That sounded utterly implausible!

Without lingering further, Jiang Yan hurried back to tend to her wife.

“Eat first. I’ll go feed your Miss.”

“Allow this servant to do it, please!” Ying Hong offered dutifully.

“She’s still groggy. You might not be able to handle her!” Jiang Yan retorted, lifting the iron pot and settling across from Tan Qianyue.

After the porridge, she’d need to take her medicine.

Ying Hong didn’t insist further, taking her own bowl to the side.

Jiang Yan tested the porridge’s temperature with a spoon, ensuring it wasn’t too hot before bringing it to Tan Qianyue’s lips.

“Eat some porridge first, then take your medicine!” Whether Tan Qianyue understood or not, Jiang Yan continued to communicate with her.

“Mmm,” came a faint, listless reply.

Seeing this, Jiang Yan began feeding her the porridge.

Perhaps it had been too long since she’d tasted proper food, because even with her fever, she ate quite smoothly.

Jiang Yan also made her drink extra water. Later, she washed the iron pot at the “Water Curtain Cave” and boiled another pot of hot water to fill their water pouches.

Jiang Yan poured water from her Spatial Storage into the pot, while the others assumed she had collected rainwater.

Doctor Lu’s cold medicine came in powder form, meant to be dissolved in hot water. But why did it smell so bitter?

“Come on, drink your medicine. It’ll help you recover faster!” After working all day, even her own clothes had finally dried by the fire.

The firelight illuminated Tan Qianyue’s fair, rosy cheeks, making her look like a jade-like rose blooming in the darkness, its crimson petals glowing with an ethereal beauty.

But she wasn’t cooperating with the medicine.

“I know it’s bitter, but it’s only half a bowl. Drink it, and you’ll feel better tomorrow,” Jiang Yan fussed like an old nanny.

Tan Qianyue’s mouth clamped shut the moment it touched the bitter, Coptis-like liquid, refusing to open again.

“Be good. Open your mouth,” Jiang Yan gently nudged her cheek.

Even pinching her jaw didn’t work; she even bit Jiang Yan’s finger!

“Fine, then! Don’t drink it!” Frustrated, Jiang Yan resorted to trickery.

Hearing that she didn’t have to drink it, Tan Qianyue finally relaxed slightly.

The next moment, she sensed Jiang Yan’s presence and felt soft lips against hers. In that brief moment of relaxation, her teeth were pried open, and… the bitter medicinal broth, so bitter it made her question her life choices, flowed directly down her throat!

Tan Qianyue’s beautiful features contorted into a grimace, but her rationality remained intact. She dared not bite Jiang Yan’s tongue.

Ying Hong, witnessing the “entangled” pair, discreetly covered her eyes with her hand and turned to face the wall…