The Useless Alpha’s Yandere Wife - Chapter 4

“Miss, are you feeling unwell?” Ying Hong asked worriedly, noticing that her mistress hadn’t emerged from her room for quite some time.

“…I’m fine!” Tan Qianyue replied, her face flushed crimson as if thickly rouged, her hair disheveled from tossing and turning beneath the covers.

This damned wedding night! she thought. It’s completely disrupted my cycle. I can’t suppress it no matter what I try, and even my usual pills have stopped working.

Tan Qianyue remained unaware that Tan Xue’er had poisoned her tea on her wedding day, not only disrupting her cycle but also making it even more difficult to control.

She blamed Jiang Yan for everything. It’s all because of him! Ever since our wedding night, I’ve become so sensitive, so desperate… My mind is hazy, my body burns, and my heart aches with longing.

“Ying Hong, send her up here!” An hour later, Tan Qianyue, unable to endure any longer, decided to throw caution to the wind.

“Miss, who are you referring to?” Ying Hong asked, momentarily confused.

“Go… go tell Jiang Yan to get her ass up here!” Tan Qianyue’s fingers dug into the quilt.

“Oh, I’ll go right away.”

So it’s Miss Jiang. But doesn’t the mistress despise her?

Ying Hong didn’t think twice before leading Jiang Yan to the Eldest Miss’s room, slamming the door shut behind them.

Jiang Yan, who had just finished tidying herself up and was about to enjoy some tea and play with her birds, was abruptly taken to Tan Qianyue’s chambers by Ying Hong.

The moment she stepped inside, the familiar scent of roses enveloped her, the lingering sweetness stirring a flutter in her heart.

Her keen senses immediately detected something amiss.

Colorful glass beads hung from the intricately carved moon gate. Jiang Yan cautiously advanced, step by step, her heart pounding. Through the layers of gauzy curtains draped over the opulent bed, she could faintly discern the Eldest Miss’s silhouette.

“What does the Eldest Miss require of me?” Jiang Yan asked softly, but there was no response.

Though she had a vague idea of what was happening, she had never been one to take advantage of someone in distress. She maintained her polite demeanor.

When no reply came, Jiang Yan removed her shoes and stepped onto the plush carpet, her bare feet gliding across the smooth floorboards as she cautiously ventured deeper into the room.

“May I come in?” she asked, her concern for the person inside growing.

“Come in quickly~!” Tan Qianyue’s voice was soft and lingering, unlike her usual sharp tone.

After receiving a reply, Jiang Yan lifted the gauze curtain to kneel on the bed. But before she could settle, an arm reached out from under the brocade quilt, grabbed her collar, and yanked her forward with force. Caught off guard, Jiang Yan tumbled onto a soft, fragrant mass…

Tan Xue’er had dressed with extraordinary opulence that day, adorning her hair with every precious jewel she owned. Dazzling with pearls and gems, she escorted the County Princess back to Tan Manor.

The Prime Minister, having learned of the County Princess’s visit, had remained at the manor to receive their guest.

As Tan Xue’er entered, she noticed her concubine mother’s simple attire. With the pride of a child showing off a treasure, she took a pair of ruby hairpins from Cui Liu and presented them to Xiao Concubine.

“What would I do with these? I have no fondness for such things,” Xiao Concubine said with a gentle smile, her usual frugality showing through. Seeing the expensive jewelry her daughter offered, she quickly added, “Thank you, Xue’er.”

“Daughter knows Mother has always been as serene as a chrysanthemum, but these are a token of affection from both Daughter and the County Princess. We hope Mother will accept them,” Tan Xue’er replied. Though raised to be frugal and generous, she couldn’t help but envy Tan Qianyue’s flamboyant displays.

Now that she finally had a powerful patron, she was determined to acquire everything she had previously lacked.

Despite Madam Tan’s esteemed position as Prime Minister, her humble origins left her with a meager foundation. The family’s wealth stemmed entirely from the legacy Madam Lin, her late wife, had built. Before her passing, Madam Lin had bequeathed everything to her biological daughter, entrusting her care to her younger sister, Noble Consort Lin.

Madam Tan’s daughters received none of this inheritance. Their mother, preoccupied with her political career, had never cared for such trivial matters, fueling Tan Xue’er’s deep envy toward her eldest sister.

So what if she’s beautiful and wealthy? Tan Xue’er thought. Sister Jing will still end up with me. Once I become County Princess, I’ll have everything I want!

“Mother, where’s Eldest Sister?” Tan Xue’er asked, covering her mouth with a hand as she smiled ostentatiously. “Why hasn’t she come out? Didn’t we arrange for Jiang Yan to marry into the family? Why haven’t we seen them?”

That useless woman is actually my fiancé? Tan Xue’er fumed inwardly. Mother is so biased! My sister already has so much—even her fiancé is a hundred times better than mine!

I refuse to accept this fate! Who wants to marry that handsome but brainless fool?!

“Yes, where is Qianyue?” the County Princess chimed in, her eyes darting around the room.

“She’s feeling unwell today,” Xiao Concubine replied smoothly, though a hint of impatience flickered in her eyes. “She skipped breakfast and is resting in her room.”

How had she let Tan Qianyue cling to her like this? Now, getting rid of her would be even more difficult.

Meanwhile, the two were in a state of utter chaos. Tan Qianyue, blaming Jiang Yan for her current predicament, wrapped her arms around her and lunged for her neck.

“Hey! Wait, wait! I’m not ready!” Jiang Yan twisted her head to evade the bite, her bare feet kicking frantically outside the gauze curtains.

She could easily push Tan Qianyue away, but the woman was in a fragile state, her glassy eyes flushed red as she clung to Jiang Yan like a vengeful ghost demanding repayment.

I don’t want her to remember this later and hold it against me.

Though the bed was dimly lit, the bright daylight outside made this situation even more awkward.

Hearing that she couldn’t bite Jiang Yan’s neck, Tan Qianyue, still dazed and disoriented, began kissing and nibbling behind her ear instead.

Jiang Yan stared blankly at the carved floral patterns on the bed canopy, momentarily losing her sense of gravity.

Knock, knock, knock!

“Eldest Miss, Madam requests your presence in the main hall. She says the Second Miss has returned home with the County Princess and asks you to join them.” Chunhua relayed the message from the maid outside the door to Tan Qianyue.

Inside the bedchamber, Jiang Yan stared blankly at the carved ceiling, as if all her strength and resourcefulness had deserted her. Tan Qianyue gripped her hair bun with one hand and clawed at her collar with the other, licking her earlobes, neck, and collarbones until they were glistening wet, like a puppy.

Though their struggle had a sensual undertone, Jiang Yan’s pheromone was faint, completely drowned out by Tan Qianyue’s overwhelming fragrance.

Still, Tan Qianyue seemed to have calmed down considerably. Even if she had mauled Jiang Yan into a disheveled mess, as long as she remained composed, that was all that mattered.

Jiang Yan, her hair a tangled mess from the struggle, was now facing the Eldest Miss’s resentment for her lack of cooperation.

“What do you mean by this? I summoned you here as a sign of my favor,” Tan Qianyue snapped, though her voice was calmer than before. Still, the memory of having called Jiang Yan upstairs made her uncomfortable, and the Eldest Miss’s pride stung.

“Eldest Miss, would you please look at me before you speak? How can you doubt my sincerity? Look at the bite marks on my finger, the scratches on my arm—haven’t I proven my loyalty enough?” Jiang Yan extended her disheveled hand, the clear tooth marks visible on her index finger.

Her hair bun had come undone, strands falling loose around her face, giving her a pitiful appearance.

Tan Qianyue’s gaze darted quickly across Jiang Yan’s neck before hastily retreating, her cheeks flushed.

“Alright, you may leave now. Straighten your clothes before you go,” Tan Qianyue said coldly, turning her head away without a trace of emotion.

Jiang Yan stared at her retreating figure, a sudden urge to strangle her rising within her. What a perfect display of ruthless betrayal and heartless indifference!

When Tan Qianyue sensed the silence behind her, she turned back to ask, “Why haven’t you left yet?”

“You summon me at will, then dismiss me just as easily?” Jiang Yan straightened her clothes and hair, her eyes burning with resentment.

“What else do you expect? What do you want?” Tan Qianyue glared at her, her displeasure evident. Don’t think I didn’t notice your evasiveness earlier. You were clearly stalling me.

Yet, if Jiang Yan had truly taken advantage of her vulnerable state, Tan Qianyue would have been equally displeased. Though they had shared a wedding night, they remained strangers. The events of that night remained unresolved, a mystery she couldn’t unravel.

I must have lost my mind to call her up here!

Tan Qianyue was torn. Her heart rejected Jiang Yan’s sudden intrusion into her life, yet her body seemed to be failing her, leaving her with no one else to turn to.

“I’m at least married to you now. Is it really too much to ask to eat at the table?” Jiang Yan casually requested, tired of relying on the servants to remember to bring her meals.

“I don’t want to see you at the dining table for now!” Tan Qianyue retorted bluntly, accustomed to dining alone in her room and rarely joining family meals.

Jiang Yan never considered herself short-tempered, yet the Eldest Miss always managed to provoke her. Was her appearance truly so unappetizing?

“If you don’t want to see me at the dining table, then where do you want to see me?” Jiang Yan’s gaze flicked suggestively behind Tan Qianyue, her meaning unmistakable.

“It seems you’ve been enjoying yourself these past few days? Then you can skip dinner tonight!” Tan Qianyue’s fingers tightened on her sleeve hem, her face still flushed but her expression haughty and icy as she glared at Jiang Yan.

“Fine. If I can’t win, I’ll retreat. If the Young Miss has no further business, then Jiang Yan will take her leave!” Jiang Yan had no intention of escalating the conflict and prepared to flee.

“Whatever!” Tan Qianyue snapped, refusing to look at her.

“Young Miss, Madam requests your presence in the main hall,” a maid’s urgent voice called from outside.

Jiang Yan stood motionless, while Tan Qianyue frowned deeply, unwilling to deal with those two scoundrels.

Jiang Yan was about to leave, and this had nothing to do with her. As someone not even allowed to dine at the table, she certainly wouldn’t be expected to attend any social gatherings.

“Wait!” Tan Qianyue called out, realizing she’d have to bring Jiang Yan along to confront them.

A blush crept onto Tan Qianyue’s cheeks as she stopped Jiang Yan.

“Does Miss have further instructions?” Jiang Yan asked, feigning ignorance.

“Come with me!” Tan Qianyue commanded, trying to maintain her composure.

Jiang Yan turned back, her innocent gaze now laced with silent curses.

“I promised you we’d dine together,” the Eldest Miss added expressionlessly. “Go get ready.”

The pair proceeded to the main hall, where the entire family was assembled in neat rows, their eyes fixed on the latecomers.

Tan Qianyue wore a water-red silk strapless gown, paired with a matching brocade outer robe. A colorful tassel hung from her waist, yet even this opulent attire couldn’t overshadow her natural beauty. She was born to wear jewels and finery.

There was no vulgarity, only the radiant bloom of a newlywed’s grace.

Jiang Yan, still in the blue-and-white brocade robes she’d worn from Jiang Manor, now perfectly complemented her delicate wife, making them appear like a pair of jade-carved figures.

Sima Jing was momentarily stunned. She had never noticed it before, but now that Tan Qianyue belonged to someone else, she suddenly realized she was a peerless beauty.

Yet, she quickly dismissed the thought. It’s just a pretty face, she thought. Her voice doesn’t bring me the same pleasure as Xue’er’s.

Tan Xue’er, however, paid no attention to Sima Jing’s face. She was only interested in seeing how Tan Qianyue fared with the man she had discarded. Is she enjoying her days?

“Sister, how have you been?” Tan Xue’er’s smile couldn’t conceal her petty triumph. “The County Princess and I are living in perfect harmony. I hope you’re experiencing the same!”

Jiang Yan and Tan Qianyue stood even closer now.

Jiang Yan found Tan Xue’er’s crude provocation rather amusing.

But I won’t let her enjoy the show for free, he thought.

He stepped forward, his long arm casually draping around Tan Qianyue’s waist as he drew her into his embrace.

“Thank you for your concern, Second Miss,” Jiang Yan said, his fingers idly stroking the jade pendant at Tan Qianyue’s waist. “My wife and I are like honey and oil, perfectly blended. We owe you our gratitude for this perfect match!”

The couple’s effortless intimacy stunned both women across from them into momentary silence.

Tan Qianyue stiffened slightly in Jiang Yan’s tight embrace, but she forced a radiant smile.

Could Jiang Yan’s sudden display be born of love turned to resentment toward Tan Xue’er?