The Useless Alpha’s Yandere Wife - Chapter 28

Xiao Concubine dragged the disheveled Third Miss toward Tan Qianyue, her body hunched under the weight of iron chains. A flicker of malice lurked in her eyes as she glared at Tan Qianyue.

Her shouts drew the attention of patrolling officers. Three or four of them turned toward Tan Qianyue, initially drawn by her beauty. But when she turned her other cheek, they recoiled in shock. A dark red mark covered half her face, its grotesque appearance sending shivers down their spines.

“What’s all this commotion? Get down here now!” the officers barked, their interest quickly turning to annoyance.

Tan Qianyue glanced at her bundle, her mind racing. She knew it contained the supplies that had kept her and Jiang Yan alive on their journey. What if she risked bringing it out of the cave only to have it seized by the officers?

Just then, Xiao Concubine, ignoring the officers’ warnings, forcefully dragged Tan Xuesong to Tan Qianyue’s side.

“Qianyue, how could you abandon your sister and me? Tan Manor has so few of us left. You can’t just leave your sister to die while you save yourself!” Xiao Concubine’s eyes burned with a ferocious intensity, as if Tan Qianyue had stolen her daughter’s chance at survival.

Tan Qianyue frowned in disdain. “What nonsense are you spouting here? Your daughter is over ten years old—do you expect me to carry her on my back? If she’s unwell, she can go to Tan Xue’er. You, Concubine, who never even left me a warm meal, dare to expect blessings from me? Now that Mother isn’t here, there’s no need for us to keep up this charade!” When Qianyue was younger, she had to manage the family’s shops outside the manor. Upon returning home, she would find no dinner prepared for her, forced to wait an hour for a new meal to be made.

For years, both women had maintained a facade of civility in the manor, relying on their shared dependence on the Mother. Yet Xiao Concubine had never missed an opportunity to undermine Tan Qianyue behind her back.

“You are the Legitimate Daughter of Tan Manor! How can you abandon your own sister like this? I’m just a concubine—I understand if you disregard me—but A-Song is your own flesh and bl00d!” Xiao Concubine stared at her in disbelief, as if Tan Qianyue had committed an unspeakable crime.

“Concubine, your words are laughable. How am I supposed to care for her? I’m like a clay bodhisattva crossing a river—barely able to save myself. What do you expect me to do? She has a mother and an elder sister. In your eyes, I’m nothing but an outsider.” Tan Qianyue met Xiao Concubine’s relentless gaze, her heart utterly unmoved. This trio had never shown her a single shred of kindness.

“The weather has turned bitterly cold,” Xiao Concubine said, reaching out to grab Tan Qianyue’s arm. “Your sister… she still lacks a winter coat. Please, have some pity on her—she’s still so young.”

Tan Qianyue swiftly dodged the concubine’s grimy, mud-stained hand, knowing she meant no good.

“I won’t give her anything,” Tan Qianyue retorted. “She can wait until she’s on her deathbed!” With that, she turned and walked away from the mother and daughter.

“Tan Qianyue, you stubborn, ungrateful wretch! How dare you curse my daughter!” Xiao Concubine’s facade shattered completely, her long-held resentment toward the legitimate daughter finally erupting.

She lunged forward to grab Tan Qianyue, startling Su He, who stood nearby. Su He hesitated, torn between helping Miss Tan and respecting her position as the concubine. She decided to wait and see, watching the drama unfold like a spectator at a show, ready to intervene if Tan Qianyue fought back.

Concubine Sun had always treated her well, but Su He knew not all concubines were kind. Her loyalty was divided.

The heated exchange, though seemingly lengthy, lasted only a few moments. Meanwhile, Ying Hong remained in the cave, guarding their bundles.

At that moment, an officer watching the commotion from below sauntered forward, whip in hand. Bored and freezing in the bitter cold, he was looking for something to do.

“Quiet down, all of you! Do you think you’re still in your precious mansions, where you can cause a ruckus whenever you please?” The officer cracked his whip indiscriminately, lashing out at both women.

Seeing the officer raise his whip, Tan Qianyue scrambled down the mountain, hoping to blend into the crowd below.

But the reckless Xiao Concubine refused to let go of her, completely ignoring the officer’s whip behind her. Tan Xuesong stood frozen in terror, while Ying Hong, hearing the commotion, emerged from the cave with the bundle on her back. In an instant, the group descended into chaos.

The whip struck Xiao Concubine mercilessly, yet instead of frightening her, it only made her grip Tan Qianyue’s sleeve tighter, determined to drag her down with her.

Tan Qianyue glanced back at Xiao Concubine’s twisted, fanatical expression and shoved her away. Losing her footing on the steep slope, she slid and tumbled down the mountain.

“Miss?” Ying Hong’s voice echoed from halfway down the slope. Su He, consumed by guilt, rushed out to check on Miss Tan’s condition.

The guard, seeing someone fall down the slope, dismissed it as a minor incident and vented his frustration by lashing Xiao Concubine twice more.

Tan Qianyue’s fall was relentless, a chaotic tumble that sent her hurtling straight toward the foot of the mountain. Jiang Yan, having gathered a large bundle of peanuts tied with vines, was returning home, carrying the bundle in her hand.

Jiang Yan’s heart tightened as she saw a figure tumbling down the mountainside ahead. Though she couldn’t make out the person’s features, she knew this spot was where only their group had been resting.

Jiang Yan tossed aside the peanuts and sprinted down the slope, intercepting the falling figure just two meters from the bottom. As she caught her, she recognized Tan Qianyue. No wonder I felt so uneasy, she thought.

“Qianyue?” Jiang Yan wrapped her arms around Tan Qianyue’s waist and lifted her up.

Tan Qianyue looked up and relaxed when she saw it was Jiang Yan. She was dizzy from the tumble, but thankfully her thick clothing and the gentle slope had cushioned the fall. Only her knees had taken a few scrapes.

“How did you fall here?” Jiang Yan asked anxiously, her gaze fixed on Tan Qianyue. Then she noticed the officers behind them, whips in hand. Her hand instinctively moved to the multi-functional dagger at her waist, her eyes flashing with a hint of murderous intent.

She assumed Tan Qianyue had been forced off the slope by the officers. Every cell in her body seemed to awaken with battle memories. If a conflict erupted now, she feared she’d have no choice but to eliminate the threat completely.

“I’m fine,” Tan Qianyue said, gripping Jiang Yan’s hand. “Xiao Shi was harassing me, and I accidentally lost my footing. Let’s move quickly to a crowded area. We don’t want to become the officers’ punching bags.”

This life, where one could be whipped at any moment, was truly unbearable.

Hearing that the officers had come because of a dispute with Xiao Concubine, Jiang Yan felt a slight relief. It was better to avoid being targeted by the authorities. Even if Xiao Concubine had claimed Jiang Yan had “disfigured” her, there was no absolute certainty of punishment. Still, Jiang Yan dared not let her guard down.

The faint sounds of Xiao Concubine’s wailing could still be heard from above.

“Wait, what’s that in your hand?” Jiang Yan was about to help Tan Qianyue leave when an officer halfway up the mountain stopped them.

Jiang Yan lowered her head slightly, concealing the hostility in her eyes.

“Officer, these peanuts were requested by the Imperial Commissioner,” Jiang Yan said, bowing slightly and adopting a tone of feigned deference and nervousness. “They were found in the forest over there. There are many more.”

The officer glanced at the peanuts in her hand, then scrutinized her mud-stained face. He considered seizing the peanuts, but upon hearing they were ordered by the Imperial Commissioner, he waved Jiang Yan and Tan Qianyue away. The officer then turned and headed toward the peanut field Jiang Yan had indicated.

Once the officers were gone, Jiang Yan straightened up, relaxed her guard, and led Tan Qianyue back to the cave, carrying the peanuts. Ying Hong, relieved to see Jiang Yan return with the Third Miss, handed over the bundle she had been protecting.

At the foot of the mountain, officers were still searching for escaped prisoners.

Xiao Concubine lay collapsed to one side, having been whipped several times. Tan Xuesong knelt beside his mother, his face a mixture of fear and anxiety, unsure what to do.

“Eldest Sister, how cruel can you be? Are you only satisfied when you see my mother die?” The ten-year-old boy had clearly learned his mother’s tricks of framing others.

“Did I whip your mother? What do I care whether she lives or dies?” Tan Qianyue tossed these words over her shoulder as she passed, wanting nothing more to do with the pair.

Xiao Shi had been secretly undermining her for years. If not for her powerful backing and assertive nature, Tan Qianyue would have been devoured alive by this mother-daughter trio long ago.

She had never felt strongly about Tan Xuesong—neither liking nor disliking him. But seeing his blind loyalty to Xiao Concubine, mirroring her own unreasonable nature, Tan Qianyue’s last shred of sympathy vanished.

“I’m going to tell Xue’er-jiejie! I’m going to tell Xue’er-jiejie! Just you wait!” Tan Xuesong shouted, abandoning Xiao Concubine and running off. Tan Qianyue scoffed indifferently, grabbed Jiang Yan’s hand, and left the cave.

Since they weren’t leaving that day, Jiang Yan hid the bundle of peanuts in the cave before heading down to the foot of the mountain to join the others.

At the foot of the mountain, the officers continued to shout orders at the prisoners. One by one, the fugitives who had hidden in the mountains the previous day were herded back into the open area, their brief taste of freedom extinguished.

Jiang Yan pulled Tan Qianyue to stand in the middle of the group, with Ying Hong following behind. Not far away stood the three members of the Su Family First Branch. The formation seemed somewhat chaotic.

Su He realized that traveling with Jiang Yan and her group was remarkably convenient. Though she suspected she was taking advantage of their kindness, she couldn’t afford to worry about such things now. She would remember this debt of gratitude, and if the opportunity arose…

As the officers counted heads, Jiang Yan spotted Lord Miao’s figure. Remembering the peanut field, she knew she had to inform her.

The Imperial Commissioner appeared different from the two captains—at least she seemed more upright. Jiang Yan felt she could try to curry favor with her.

When you’re under someone’s roof, you have to bow your head. Since she had some connection to Miss Su and even Tan Qianyue, why not seize this lifeline and reach the Northlands safely?

“Stay here,” Jiang Yan instructed. “I’ll go up ahead and see what’s happening. I need to tell the Imperial Commissioner something. Can you manage on your own?” She figured that as long as they didn’t attract the officers’ attention, the others posed no threat.

Jiang Yan glanced back at Su He and her family.

“I’m fine. Go ahead,” Su He replied. Her earlier fall had been deliberate.

“I’m going now. Be careful, I’ll be back soon,” Jiang Yan cautioned before slowly moving toward the edge near the Imperial Commissioner.

Today’s circumstances—the favorable weather, terrain, and timing—presented an excellent opportunity to forge a connection with the officers.

Entrusting her life to those brutes was too risky. She needed to align herself with the Imperial Commissioner. Whether it would work or not, she had to try.

Although she had told the officers about the peanut field, it was vast enough to provide each person with a handful. Peanuts could be eaten raw, so no firewood was needed.

Moreover, they were highly nutritious, something the prisoners desperately needed right now.

“Lord Miao, I am Miss Tan’s Wife-Master. We met this morning,” Jiang Yan said, subtly sidling up to Miao Fengqing.

Miao Fengqing scrutinized Jiang Yan with a cold expression. Having been away from the Capital for some time, she didn’t recognize this person.

She remained silent, merely casting a questioning glance at Jiang Yan.

“I recently discovered a large peanut field behind this mountain. The officers and prisoners are starving, having been unable to cook today. Why not gather peanuts together to stave off our hunger?” Jiang Yan’s sincere tone, combined with her pure and gentle features—even now, smeared with mud—made her proposal compelling.

“Peanuts here?” A hint of delight flickered across Miao Fengqing’s face.

“Yes, Lord,” Jiang Yan assured, patting her chest. “If you’re interested, I can lead the way.”

Provisions were a critical matter. Their food supplies were dangerously low. Though five carts followed them, two were already empty, leaving only enough rations for about twenty more days. By the time they reached the next county, they would have to appeal to the local government for donations.

The long journey through the Northlands made it impossible to carry all the necessary provisions, hence the established custom of requesting supplies from passing government offices.

“Sang Yu, go with them and take a look,” Lord Miao instructed, glancing at one of her female soldiers.

“Yes, Lord. Lead the way,” Sang Yu replied, her expression earnest and slightly stiff. She had returned to Lord Miao’s service after retiring from military duty to return to her village.

While strict with the prisoners, the soldiers never humiliated or looked down on them.

Jiang Yan led Sang Yu and a dozen soldiers to the peanut field. The officers who had been there earlier were gone, leaving the ground patchy like a mangy scalp, with bare patches where peanuts had been yanked out. Fortunately, more than half the crop remained.

Meanwhile, after the headcount, it was confirmed that no prisoners had died, aside from a few weakened by colds. Once the roll call was complete, the prisoners were dismissed.

After Tan Xue’er was found by Tan Xuesong, she learned that her mother had been whipped by the officers because of Tan Qianyue and was now lying half-dead halfway up the mountain. She immediately rushed to check on her with Sima Jing.

“Mother, Mother, wake up! Wake up!” Tan Xue’er cried out as she found Xiao Concubine, who was covered in bloody whip marks.

“What… what should we do? Can my mother and sister stay with the Sima Family?” Tan Xue’er pleaded.

“If you can take care of them, I have no objection. After all, the Sima Family is barely holding on themselves, as you know.” With over twenty members, including the Princess Consort and Old Princess Consort, and no servants, the family desperately needed help.

“I can take care of them!” Tan Xue’er hesitated for a moment, but she still wanted to keep her mother and sister together. Having family to rely on would also prevent them from being bullied by others in the Sima Family.

“Then it’s settled!” After a brief discussion, they brought Xiao Concubine and Tan Xuesong into the Sima Family’s group.

Tan Xue’er still wanted to settle accounts with Tan Qianyue, but now wasn’t the time. Prisoners couldn’t cause trouble; the officers wouldn’t hesitate to kill any who disobeyed, treating them like chickens or ducks.

Tan Qianyue had been avoiding those fools, but they still hadn’t given up. She quietly led Ying Hong back to the cave; it was safer there.

Jiang Yan had gone to find Lord Miao, so she should be safe. Qianyue decided to wait for her patiently in the cave.

“Miss Su, are you coming back?” Tan Qianyue glanced at Su He behind her. More people meant greater security.

“Yes!” Su He nodded gratefully. She felt guilty for not being able to help Miss Tan earlier. She never imagined the concubines of Tan Manor could be so disgraceful—compared to her own concubine, they were practically demons from hell.

The group hurried back to the cave to avoid being overtaken by others.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yan and the others were working up a sweat, clearing the peanut field in no time.

After the rain stopped, a north wind howled, gradually drying the soaked leaves and branches.

“Lord Miao said we should prepare a meal tonight no matter what. I think boiling some peanuts would be perfect,” Sang Yu said, a rare smile softening his usually stern face as he chatted with Jiang Yan.

“That sounds excellent. An autumn rain brings a chill, and having some food in our bellies will make things much better,” Jiang Yan replied. He hoped everyone would reach the Northlands safely. Whether for public duty or personal reasons, strength in numbers was crucial. Who knew what awaited them in the Northlands?

To ingratiate himself with the group, Jiang Yan led Sang Yu and the others to gather firewood. Regardless of their allegiances, everyone has emotions, and emotions can be found everywhere.

Sure enough, fortune favors the persistent. They managed to start a fire for dinner and even discovered a freshwater pool fed by a spring a short distance away.

Two large iron pots were set up, and the prisoners gathered to shell peanuts. For the first time, a glimmer of hope flickered in their despairing eyes.

“Lord Miao, I never expected your subordinates to be so capable,” Captain Wei said with a sly smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Securing food on this exile journey is a critical matter. We’ve always been plagued by worry, with no good solutions. Your arrival has truly been a stroke of luck for our entire group. We’ll likely need to rely on you heavily for food supplies from now on.”

“What skills do I possess?” Lord Miao replied, though she wasn’t particularly tactful, she wasn’t foolish either. “Captain Wei is the true expert on this exile route. I still have much to learn from you.” She recognized the captain’s cunning attempt to foist the responsibility of securing food onto her.

“It’s good for young people to be ambitious,” Captain Wei said with a knowing smile.

Jiang Yan returned to check on Tan Qianyue and her servant, finding nothing amiss. He then went back to the iron pot to wait for mealtime.

Tan Qianyue and the others weren’t idle either. They shelled all the peanuts they had gathered and wrapped them in mountain lotus leaves. Soon, the cave was filled with the sound of cracking shells.

Once the task was finished, Su Jing took the peanut vines outside to “dispose of the evidence,” restoring calm to the cave.

By then, the communal meal was ready. The coarse grain porridge, mixed with sorghum, red beans, corn grits, and peanuts, was generously seasoned with coarse salt and simmered until soft and mushy. The irresistible aroma of the grains filled the air, a scent that nothing could replicate. Some people even started salivating from a distance.

Miao Fengqing instructed Sang Yu to serve everyone, partly to prevent the officers from taking all the porridge and leaving only the dregs for the prisoners.

At mealtime, everyone had to line up, with the officers taking priority over the prisoners. Still, a half-bowl of the coarse grain peanut porridge was enough to satisfy the prisoners, leaving them feeling warm and content.

How could salted peanuts taste so incredibly delicious?

Jiang Yan leaned against Tan Qianyue, the two of them squatting at the foot of the mountain with bowls in hand, eating alongside the others. They exchanged a glance, instantly suppressing a mix of amusement and bitterness. One’s face was half-covered in red welts, while the other’s dried mud crumbled into her porridge with every movement.

The scene was both heartbreaking and absurd. Yet, even in this state, they were better off than most. It was hard to say whether this was luck or misfortune.

As dusk deepened, those not on watch hurried to rest. Captain Wei and his men found their own entertainment. As long as they didn’t openly bully anyone, Lord Miao couldn’t intervene.

After all, they were all exiles. Even if they were deliberately harassed on the road, they had no recourse. The fact that the guards were currently restrained was largely due to Miao Fengqing’s “villainous” presence.

The question remained: how long could her icy demeanor maintain this fragile peace?

“Lord, I boiled these eggs for you,” Sang Yu said, holding out two warm eggs like precious treasures.

“You’re thoughtful,” Miao Fengqing replied. She didn’t require special meals every day, but Sang Yu always prioritized her, determined to keep her from collapsing.

Miao Fengqing clutched the warm egg in her hand, her thoughts drifting to Su He’s cold demeanor. Why was the girl so distant? She used to follow Miao Fengqing around so happily, though at the time, Miao Fengqing had resented the girl’s clinginess.

Now, Su He had suddenly grown up, no longer clinging to her… or even willing to glance her way. Miao Fengqing fidgeted uneasily, holding the two eggs.

She gave one to the little darling in the carriage and rose to find Su He.

Upon hearing about the discovery of a water source, Tan Qianyue seemed to develop an allergy, her entire body itching and restless.

“What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?” Jiang Yan watched her squirm like a caterpillar.

“It’s nothing, just a bit itchy all over.” In the past, Tan Qianyue had practically lived in water, and this deprivation was truly unbearable. Yet she couldn’t admit she wanted a bath.

Her uncooperative body was just as troublesome, acting up at the mere mention of water.

After a long while, Tan Qianyue could no longer endure the discomfort.

“Smell my hair,” she pleaded, gazing pitifully at Jiang Yan. “Does it smell bad?”

“It doesn’t matter whether there’s any or not. We’re all the same,” Jiang Yan said, still not understanding what the Eldest Miss meant.

“Heh, right, right. Do whatever you want!” Tan Qianyue forced a smile and turned away.

“Do you want to take a bath?” Jiang Yan suddenly realized.

“Heh, no, I don’t have any such thoughts,” Tan Qianyue said, embarrassed to admit it. Saying so would only make things difficult for Jiang Yan.

“Wait here. I’ll figure something out.”

“It’s not that itchy. I can endure it,” she said, though her hopeful gaze betrayed her true feelings.

At the same time, she felt conflicted. Asking Jiang Yan for such a favor made her feel like two little figures were tugging at her heart.

“Never mind. I won’t take a bath.”

“How about this? Getting hot water is indeed difficult, but… if… just…” Jiang Yan slowly leaned closer.

“Just what?” Tan Qianyue asked, looking at her with innocent eyes.

“If you give me a kiss tonight as payment, it won’t be difficult at all,” Jiang Yan said, tilting her head.

A face as beautiful as flowers and the moon slowly flushed crimson, becoming utterly charming.