The Useless Alpha’s Yandere Wife - Chapter 34

The pitch-black path stretched before them, the shadows of trees looming like clawing monsters.

Tan Qianyue struggled to keep up with Jiang Yan through the dry grass. With no light to guide them, their feet kept getting tangled in the wild grass, and even pulling free from the half-withered stalks required considerable effort. In the dead of night, the only sound was the weary thud of their footsteps.

By now, the prisoners were starving and freezing, their feet feeling as heavy as lead.

“Watch your step,” Jiang Yan said, turning to Tan Qianyue. “The ground is uneven. Don’t twist your ankle. If you need to, hold onto my shoulder.”

“Mm-hmm!” Tan Qianyue replied, but she didn’t reach out to Jiang Yan. She was already carrying enough.

After about four hours of relentless marching, dawn broke. Everyone was too exhausted to move, even the whip’s sting had no effect.

Captain Wei spat on the ground. “Rest here,” he barked. “Start a fire and cook some food.”

The officers behind him cheered at the prospect of rest.

Jiang Yan found an empty patch of ground and spread out a straw mat. The group sat down to rest.

She pulled out the small creature from inside her padded jacket to examine it. Its snow-white fur was clean and dry, resembling garlic cloves in texture—slightly firm, not limp and clinging to its body.

Amber eyes gleamed with a bright, intelligent light as it stared blankly at Jiang Yan.

“Let me see! It’s so beautiful,” Tan Qianyue leaned over to peek.

“Yes, its eyes are very similar to yours,” Jiang Yan replied.

“Are you calling me a dog?” Tan Qianyue glared at Jiang Yan.

“I didn’t say that!” Jiang Yan shrugged, holding up her hands in mock innocence.

“But is it really a dog? How could there be a dog in a wolf pack?” Tan Qianyue looked at the creature with confusion.

“Who knows?” Jiang Yan glanced down at the snow-white creature again. Will the wolves realize their home has been robbed?

But they’re clearly different breeds. It probably doesn’t belong to them, Jiang Yan thought secretly.

Today’s communal meal was noticeably improved. A stew of potatoes and cabbage simmered in a large pot, and the coarse-flour steamed buns were larger than usual. Everyone waited hungrily.

The twenty-odd Mess Cooks put on quite a show, setting up three massive cauldrons simultaneously. They hauled out the dough that had been fermenting overnight and began slapping coarse-flour flatbreads onto the sides of the cauldrons.

Jiang Yan carefully examined the White Puppy’s leg, gently squeezing it. The puppy whimpered weakly and nuzzled its head into Jiang Yan’s hand, proving to be quite clingy.

Jiang Yan tore several strips of ragged cloth from the tent and wrapped the injured leg securely.

While waiting for the meal to cook, she wove a muzzle out of grass and hung it on the puppy to prevent it from biting itself near the wound.

The White Puppy stared at her with discomfort, whimpering and trying to nudge the muzzle off with its small head.

“No, you can’t remove it,” Jiang Yan said sternly. “If you do, I’ll throw you into that pot to stew.”

The puppy seemed to understand. It backed away, sticking its rear end out, and pressed itself against Tan Qianyue. Tan Qianyue, delighted, scooped the puppy up, shielding it with her clothes and stroking its fur repeatedly.

“Is it hungry?” The puppy kept whimpering and nudging Tan Qianyue’s palm with its mouth.

“It’s getting dark. I’ll make some meat porridge for it, and for you too. I saved some of the wild boar meat from last time—I cut two small pieces and dried them.” After a month of travel, their reserves were depleted. Without proper nourishment, they risked weakening their bodies.

“For us too?” Tan Qianyue stared at her, a question mark etched on her face, clearly confused by the prospect of eating the puppy’s leftovers.

“I’ll eat too!” Jiang Yan said with a smile.

“Hmph.” The Eldest Miss, finally in a mood to be a bit temperamental, was clearly starting to come to terms with the recent ordeal.

Having slept only two or three hours the previous night, they took twice as long to eat today, using the time as rest.

But once the sun rose, they had to resume their journey.

Another day passed as they traversed dense forests. Along the way, they gathered wild fruits, potatoes, and even the occasional pheasant or rabbit—anything within easy reach. Of course, the officers did all the foraging; the prisoners weren’t allowed to wander freely.

One hour, two hours, three hours, four hours… From the blazing midday sun to the deepening twilight, it was time to set up camp again.

Tonight, twenty officers would take turns patrolling to prevent further wildlife attacks.

After fetching water, everyone retired early. When they passed through Yixian County, Lord Miao had provided each person with a bamboo water tube, allowing them to carry water from any source they encountered along the way.

Parched after a day’s travel, the prisoners didn’t hesitate to cup their hands and drink directly from the river, regardless of its cleanliness.

“Boil two pots of water and distribute it among everyone,” Miao Fengqing instructed Sang Yu. “Drinking too much raw water can easily cause illness.”

“What’s the point? We don’t have the means to boil water all the time on this journey,” Captain Lu sneered.

Boiling water for over two hundred people was indeed impossible unless they spent a third of their time just heating water—an impracticality.

“Every little bit helps!” Miao Fengqing retorted, refusing to look at Captain Lu’s repulsive face.

“Hmph, playing the saint now? Just grab a handful of snow when we get closer to the Northlands. Hahahaha!” Captain Lu laughed mockingly as he strode away.

“Set up the pots and boil water,” she ordered, her voice ringing with determination.

Jiang Yan was setting up her tent. The straw mat was stiff and uncomfortable, causing Tan Qianyue to toss and turn restlessly. Jiang Yan considered making a cotton quilt; winter was approaching, and they’d need one eventually anyway. It might be better to start using it sooner rather than later.

The biggest challenge was how to keep it hidden.

Just as they were settling down to rest in their tent, unexpected visitors arrived.

“Qianyue! Qianyue! It’s your aunt! Your sister and I have come to seek refuge with you. Let us in quickly—it’s freezing out here!” Xiao Concubine’s voice, as venomous as a viper’s hiss, sent a shiver down Tan Qianyue’s spine.

“Should I go out and deal with her?” Jiang Yan asked, noticing Tan Qianyue’s discomfort.

“No need. If I don’t go out, she’ll think I’m afraid of her!” Tan Qianyue opened the tent flap, and Xiao Concubine immediately tried to barge in.

Jiang Yan, standing behind Tan Qianyue, shoved her back forcefully.

“Aiyo, aiyo! Murder!” Xiao Concubine collapsed to the ground, wailing loudly.

“Shut up. One more sound and I’ll stab you,” Jiang Yan warned, pressing a small knife against Xiao Concubine’s neck.

“Y-you… how dare you treat me like this? If not for a twist of fate, I would have been your mother! Are you trying to kill your elder?” Xiao Concubine’s voice immediately softened, though she still spoke boldly.

“I have no connection to you or your daughter. Don’t make me kill you here. You know how officers treat criminals—they don’t care about anyone’s life or death,” Jiang Yan warned sternly.

“Qianyue, you’re the eldest daughter of the Tan Family. You can’t abandon us! Every other household has secured shelter, but we’re alone because we’re separated. We couldn’t even get a tent. We don’t mind if your place is small and shabby—family should stick together, right?” Xiao Concubine said, flashing a fawning smile at Tan Qianyue.

“Xiao Hong, I can’t live with wolves and tigers. Give up on that idea now. Do you think a few empty words about family will make me forget what kind of person you are?” Tan Qianyue left no room for illusion.

Xiao Concubine wore an expression of feigned incomprehension.

“Qianyue, how can you say such things? In the end, Jiang Yan was given to you by your own sister. Without her sacrifice, you wouldn’t have enjoyed this comfortable life. Xue’er is still toiling like a beast of burden for you in the Sima Family, enduring abuse from her mother-in-law. She’s suffering all this for you!” Xiao Hong glared venomously at Tan Qianyue.

Jiang Yan stepped forward, widening the distance between Xiao Concubine and Tan Qianyue. “Are you truly unafraid of death? Spouting nonsense on my territory? Get out now before I lose my temper.”

Jiang Yan’s eyes burned with fury as she stared down at Xiao Concubine, who remained seated on the ground. Her fists clenched so tightly she feared she might lose control and beat the woman half to death.

At that moment, Sima Jing approached, her gaze complex as she glanced at Tan Qianyue.

“Qianyue…” she began hesitantly.

“Take your wife’s mother away, and I’ll still acknowledge you!” Tan Qianyue looked at the pair with disdain. Sima Jing had aged ten years in the past few days, her face gaunt and haggard. Her wife’s family was proving to be nothing but trouble.

“Alright,” Sima Jing nodded.

“Let’s go, or Mother and Little Sister might have to sleep outside tonight,” Sima Jing threatened Xiao Concubine, her expression cold.

Xiao Concubine, dressed in tattered prison clothes with her hair matted into an unmanageable knot, bore no resemblance to the lady of the Prime Minister’s Residence she once was. Hearing Sima Jing’s words, a flicker of fear crossed her eyes. Though the Sima Family’s tent was cramped, being outside meant certain death by wolves.

Xiao Concubine staggered to her feet, her plan to cling to Tan Qianyue having failed. Her venomous gaze shifted, and she turned to Qianyue. “Qianyue,” she began, “before your arranged marriage, Jiang Yan was deeply infatuated with my Xue’er. He visited her several times, but I always turned him away. After all, Xue’er is a gentle, refined young woman. Marrying you was likely a compromise—no one can ever truly replace their first love.” Having failed to secure a tent, Xiao Concubine now set her sights on Jiang Yan, aiming to steal her away.

Tan Qianyue remained impassive, like a wooden doll, showing no reaction to Xiao Concubine’s provocations.

Jiang Yan’s face flushed crimson with anger.

“Let’s go back,” Tan Qianyue said, pulling Jiang Yan back into their tent.

“Wife, that old hag is slandering me! I didn’t do it!” Jiang Yan protested, her eyes reddening with anger as she glared at her wife.

“I didn’t believe her for a second. Look how worked up you are,” Tan Qianyue said, gently massaging the area around Jiang Yan’s eyes.

“I want to beat her to death! Some people are just cursed to live a thousand years,” Jiang Yan fumed, itching to punch the vile woman until she breathed her last.

“She deserves to die, but not by our hands. Calm down. I trust you know the difference between a fragrant peony and a wild weed,” Tan Qianyue said, tapping Jiang Yan’s forehead. Xiao Concubine’s words seemed to have no effect on her.

“Mm, I’m just glad Wife believes me,” Jiang Yan mumbled, still feeling wronged, relieved that her reputation remained intact.

Tan Qianyue turned away, her eyes darkening with thought. She increasingly suspected Xiao Concubine’s involvement with the medicine. Why hadn’t she used poison directly? Perhaps she lacked the courage to kill her outright? Could her mother’s death truly be unrelated? Tan Qianyue felt a growing sense of unease.

“I’ll go prepare something to eat. You two rest first. Here, play with this,” Jiang Yan said, pulling out the snow-white ball of fluff and placing it in Tan Qianyue’s arms.

“Oh? How cute!” Tan Qianyue exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she accepted the soft, furry creature.

The two women and the dog were resting inside the tent. The puppy, starved and weak, lay limp as a pancake in Tan Qianyue’s arms, still wearing a muzzle to prevent biting. The little creature whimpered incessantly, as if crying in distress.

“Jiang Yan, hurry up! I’m afraid it won’t hold out much longer,” Tan Qianyue urged.

“It’ll be fine. Skipping a couple of meals won’t hurt it. It might even be faking,” Jiang Yan replied dismissively.

Tan Qianyue stared at her speechlessly.

Jiang Yan stepped out of the tent to figure out tonight’s supper. They had rice and meat, but lacked a pot. Though they had acquired an iron pot, how could they cook porridge inside the tent? They needed an iron stand and fuel. Burning wood in such a confined space was out of the question.

Jiang Yan was stumped. But no matter how difficult, they had to eat. How could they starve while surrounded by food?

She joined the others to fetch water. Squatting by the river, she remembered something and pulled out the Burning Stone she had bartered for earlier. If it was called a Burning Stone, it should ignite, right?

Jiang Yan stared at the coal-like object in her hand, pondering how to use it. After a moment, she simply took out her Fire Starter and tried to light it directly. To her surprise, the stone ignited easily. Small flames spread from the ignition point, gradually engulfing the entire stone. Jiang Yan quickly blew it out and stowed it away.

Fortunately, the flame wasn’t blue, allowing for normal use.

Now that they had this, Jiang Yan decided to improvise a makeshift stove using some stones for the day, planning to replace it with a proper one later.

Jiang Yan returned with several stones, leaving Tan Qianyue looking puzzled.

“We need this to set up a pot so we can cook!” Jiang Yan explained, pointing to the one large and two smaller stones.

“What can I do to help?” Tan Qianyue asked, her eyes fixed on the weak, hungry puppy. She was eager to eat as soon as possible.

“No need, I’ll be quick. You should rest first—it’s too cramped here.” Jiang Yan said, already getting to work.

She placed the Burning Stone on a flat rock, then set up two smaller stones on either side to support the iron pot filled with water. With practiced efficiency, she lit the stone, placed the pot on top, and covered it, blocking the view behind her as she waited for the water to boil before adding the rice.

“What are you burning? It’s burning so quickly, and there’s no smoke?” Tan Qianyue asked. She hadn’t slept well the previous night, and her feet were swollen, aching, and sore.

“Remember the Officer we saved last night? I shamelessly borrowed some supplies from her today.”

“Uh… I’m really sorry to trouble you,” Tan Qianyue said with an awkward smile, feeling inexplicably guilty.

She took the bundle, grabbed three handfuls of white rice, and tossed them into the pot. After chopping a small piece of pork into tiny pieces, she added it to the rice and water, along with a pinch of coarse salt and a handful of wild scallions she’d pilfered from the cook. She covered the pot and waited about half an hour.

Feeling the scorching-hot stone beneath the pot, she decided not to waste the heat. She retrieved two washed potatoes from the storage room, sliced them in half, and pressed them against the stone. After finishing, she felt like a thief, anxiously waiting for the midnight snack to cook so she could devour it and erase all traces of her culinary crime.

With the fire burning in front, Ying Hong and Tan Qianyue sat obediently in the back, afraid to move and with barely any room to do so anyway.

Gradually, the small space filled with a savory aroma. The scent of meat porridge stirred everyone’s appetites, mingling with the earthy fragrance of roasted potatoes. Even the little dog, sensing the food, stopped lying like a pancake in Tan Qianyue’s arms and began waving its paws, trying to reach the pot. Fortunately, Tan Qianyue held it tightly, fearing it might jump in and become an unexpected addition to the meal.

Half an hour wasn’t long, but to the hungry group, it felt like an eternity.

“Alright, alright, get your bowls ready,” Jiang Yan said, stirring the meat porridge, which had thickened nicely.

Ying Hong handed over the small ladle—the same one they’d used earlier to drink tea. It was slightly smaller than a small bowl, but its round belly held a generous portion, and its handle made it easy to hold.

Jiang Yan peeled off a perfectly roasted potato, crispy on the outside and tender inside, and turned to find that one of their three ladles had been claimed by the dog.

“Why don’t you just eat directly from the pot?” Tan Qianyue asked apologetically, looking at Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan glanced at her, then at the dog, feeling like she’d fallen out of favor. After just one day, her status was already threatened.

“I thought you’d want a bigger portion after working so hard all day,” Tan Qianyue explained, realizing she was only making things worse.

Jiang Yan glared at the little dog sniffing around the edge of the bowl. As if sensing her displeasure, the fluffy creature backed away, its rump wiggling, but the food was right there, and it couldn’t resist. It retreated to Tan Qianyue’s leg and began nudging her.

“Why does it seem so afraid of you?” Tan Qianyue asked, scooping up the dog and placing it back in front of the bowl.

“Probably because it remembers me stepping on its paw,” Jiang Yan guessed.

“Ah, that explains it,” Tan Qianyue said, her eyes widening in understanding.

After a long day of exhaustion, sitting on the grass mat and sipping the warm rice porridge with meat felt like a double comfort, both physical and spiritual, the warmth spreading from her tongue to her heart.

The addition of wild scallions enhanced the flavor, making it even more appetizing. She picked up a roasted potato and took a bite—hot, soft, with a slightly charred exterior that offered a satisfying chewiness, its savory aroma intensifying with each bite.

“These roasted potatoes taste amazing! Why haven’t we ever had them prepared this way at the manor before?” Tan Qianyue asked, turning to Ying Hong.

“Miss, not even the farmers on our estate would eat plain roasted potatoes. Or perhaps it’s just that my Miss has a particular fondness for Mistress Jiang’s cooking,” Ying Hong replied, her tone teasing. She seemed to have grown comfortable enough with Jiang Yan to joke with her.

“Don’t you like them? Well, we have a new friend here who might appreciate them,” Tan Qianyue retorted, a bit flustered by the teasing. She nodded toward Tuanzi with her chin.

“No, no, no! I love them! I love them too!” Ying Hong quickly protested.

Jiang Yan pretended not to hear the banter between mistress and servant.

While packing up, she noticed they had used the Burning Stone sparingly. It looked like it could still be used at least seven or eight more times. This is a valuable item, she thought, setting it aside to wrap in a rag and take with her tomorrow, saving them the trouble of gathering firewood daily.

Later that night, after lying down, Tan Qianyue sat up, massaging her feet. She hadn’t noticed the discomfort while eating, but now that she was trying to sleep, her feet felt sore, swollen, and achy.

“What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable?” Jiang Yan asked, noticing Tan Qianyue sitting up instead of lying down.

“Probably just from walking too much today. They’re a bit swollen and achy,” Tan Qianyue replied, continuing to massage her feet.

“Let me take a look,” Jiang Yan said, getting up and removing Tan Qianyue’s socks. The Crystal Stone revealed nothing, only making her skin appear even redder.

“Wait here a moment. I’ll go get some hot water for you to soak your feet. That should help,” Jiang Yan said, putting on her clothes and rising to her feet.

“It’s so late already. Where would you find hot water at this hour?” Tan Qianyue protested, not wanting to cause any more trouble. But this pampered Eldest Miss had never endured such hardship and couldn’t bear it any longer.

“Don’t worry, I’ll check,” Jiang Yan replied, heading outside.

“Oh, isn’t this our benefactor?” Chen Lan, whom Jiang Yan had rescued the previous day, greeted her with a wide smile.

“Still up? I’m looking for some hot water. I missed the last batch,” Jiang Yan said, approaching familiarly.

“The fire’s still burning over there. The big pot’s empty, but there’s some left in the kettle. I’ll get it for you right away,” Chen Lan offered immediately, eager to help.

Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Yan retrieved a basin from her storage area, planning to claim she had borrowed it from Chen Lan later.

Soon, Jiang Yan returned to the tent carrying the basin.

After testing the water’s temperature, she exposed the Eldest Miss’s slender legs and tentatively lowered her foot into the water.

“It’s too hot!” Tan Qianyue protested softly.

“A little heat is good for relieving fatigue!” Jiang Yan said, though she raised her hand slightly to adjust the temperature.

“Just relax and let me massage your feet,” she said, gently pressing Tan Qianyue’s delicate foot back into the water, her fingers applying gentle pressure.

Tan Qianyue felt her meridians and energy channels open, her entire body warm and comfortable.

After finishing their tasks, Jiang Yan finally lay down. Tan Qianyue quietly scooted closer, touched her smooth cheek, and leaned in for a kiss, her lips soft and slightly springy.

“Want me to massage your shoulders? Tit for tat, right?” Tan Qianyue kept her voice low, trying not to sound too coy, though she secretly wanted to be a little playful.

“Alright, go ahead. I could really use it,” Jiang Yan said, lying on the grass mat and pulling the Eldest Miss’s hand, trying to get her to sit on her waist.

Tan Qianyue, maintaining her composure, actually sat on Jiang Yan’s hips and began kneading and pounding her shoulders.

About fifteen minutes later, Jiang Yan pulled her down to lie beside her…

Three days later, it was time for the officers to distribute the suppression pills. These pills were given out monthly and could be taken as needed.

Captain Lu scrutinized Su He, his eyes filled with blatant lewdness.

“Miss Su, the suppression pills are all gone. If you want some… you can come find me privately,” Captain Lu said, his gaze predatory.

“How come they’re all gone when it’s my turn? Lord, are you doing this on purpose?” Su He panicked, as she genuinely needed the pills urgently.

“You saw through me? So what if it was intentional? You’re already entangled with the Imperial Commissioner—granting me this favor wouldn’t be too much to ask, would it?” Captain Lu revealed his repulsive nature without the slightest attempt at concealment.

“If you don’t have it, then so be it. As you said, Lord, it’s not like I absolutely need it,” Su He said coldly, turning to leave.