The Useless Alpha’s Yandere Wife - Chapter 41

Lord Miao was still pondering the grain shortage. Captain Wei had promised to secure two cartloads of grain from the Town Defender, but how could that possibly feed over two hundred people for a month-long journey? Without sufficient provisions, even enduring the bitter cold would be a struggle, let alone traveling.

Just as she was wrestling with this dilemma, the Town Defender burst into the room, his face pale with panic.

“Disaster! Disaster, Imperial Commissioner! The bandits are back! The bandits are back!” Lord Defender gasped, breathless from running.

“Bandits? Where? Speak slowly,” Miao Fengqing said, startled by his words. What should I do? I’ve never faced a situation like this before!

“Lord, the bandits have returned! This time, they’re targeting the wealthy families in town. Sixty or seventy of them are looting the mansions as we speak—food, supplies, even the beautiful Kunze are being taken! What are we going to do?” The old man slapped his thigh in desperation, his face etched with anxiety.

“Have you sent soldiers to stop them?” Miao Fengqing asked sternly, glaring at the Town Defender, who could only slap his thigh in panic.

“We did send them, but those bandits are ruthless killers. None of the thirty-odd Yamen officers dared to approach. They’re all pillars of their families, with elderly parents and young children to support—no one wants to risk their life. If we don’t act soon, the bandits will grab what they want and flee.” Despite the freezing weather, the Town Defender was sweating profusely.

Miao Fengqing frowned inwardly, remaining silent. She wanted to help, but she wasn’t a military commander, had never been on a battlefield, and had never killed anyone. Even if all one hundred and fifty officers and Yamen constables were deployed, facing sixty or seventy bandits would inevitably lead to a bloody battle.

“Summon Captains Wei and Lu to discuss this,” Miao Fengqing suggested, shifting the responsibility to the two captains. “Even if we send reinforcements, their numbers will be crucial.” They’re all drinking buddies—why not call Captain Wei out here?

“Yes, yes, Lord Defender. I’ll send someone to fetch them immediately,” the Town Defender nodded eagerly.

Miao Fengqing stood anxiously by, waiting. Officially and personally, her responsibility lay with the exiled prisoners. But no official could stand by and watch as bandits slaughtered, burned, and looted the wealthy families of Zhuangzhen.

In the end, they would inevitably have to deploy troops.

Captain Wei’s expression darkened upon hearing the Town Defender’s report. No one wanted to be conscripted, especially to fight bandits.

“If even the Lord County Magistrate is stumped, why are you bothering us?” Captain Wei snapped, his face grim. “Go report to him immediately!”

“There’s no time! By the time we report to the Lord Magistrate, the cucumbers will be cold and the bandits will have already taken everyone!” the Town Defender exclaimed, stamping his foot in frustration.

“What do you think, Imperial Commissioner?” Captain Wei asked, rubbing his hands together as he turned to Miao Fengqing.

“We must naturally assist the Town Defender,” Miao Fengqing replied. “Leave fifty men here to guard the station, and the remaining hundred will immediately reinforce the area where the bandits are operating.” With the situation critical, Miao Fengqing had no time for political games. She simply ordered the maximum number of officers to support the local constables.

“Then let’s mobilize the men,” Captain Wei said after a moment’s thought, his face softening as he agreed to the Town Defender’s request. “Captain Lu, stay behind. I’ll accompany the Imperial Commissioner to assist Lord Defender.” Regardless of his personal reservations, helping Zhuangzhen drive off the bandits was imperative. Failure to act would subject them to lifelong scorn.

“Excellent! Excellent! Let’s move out immediately!” The Town Defender’s face lit up as he took the lead, guiding the hundred-odd officers who followed at a run.

Lord Defender had come directly from the Yamen to the Post Station. After receiving reports from the villagers, he immediately sought reinforcements, knowing he couldn’t defeat the bandits alone.

Now, with over 140 officers, they outnumbered the bandits two to one. Even if they couldn’t win outright, surely they could prevent the bandits from ravaging Zhuangzhen?

As Lord Miao mounted her horse, she suddenly missed a step. She brushed it off, focusing on the urgent need to rescue the villagers.

Though not a martial general, she was skilled in self-defense. With over twenty soldiers borrowed from the garrison at her back, she believed even the most vicious bandits couldn’t breach the safety of the villagers under the protection of over a hundred officers.

Hearing the commotion outside, Jiang Yan sensed something was amiss and rushed out to investigate.

She noticed Sang Yu wasn’t guarding the Detention Quarters, but Chen Lan was still there.

“Sister Lan, what’s happening?” Jiang Yan whispered, approaching Chen Lan. Seeing even Captain Lu, who rarely visited this area, standing guard, she knew something serious had occurred.

“Bandits have invaded Zhuangzhen,” Chen Lan explained, seeing it was Jiang Yan. “They’re raiding wealthy households for grain, silver, gold, and even Kunze—taking anything they can get their hands on.”

“Bandits? How could bandits suddenly appear here?” Jiang Yan’s dark face showed shock.

“They say bandits have been active in this area recently. Even the County Magistrate can’t handle them. It hasn’t even been a month since they last raided, and now they’re back. The Lord Defender came to ask Lord Miao for help. They sound like a particularly ruthless bunch,” Chen Lan told Jiang Yan everything she knew.

Jiang Yan frowned deeply, worried about Miao Fengqing. If these bandits were easy to deal with, why would the County Magistrate be so troubled? Miao Fengqing was their only protection on this exile journey. If anything happened to her, the entire group would fall into chaos.

Still, hearing that these bandits were burning, killing, looting, and committing all sorts of atrocities, eliminating them was urgent. Jiang Yan could only pray for Lord Miao’s safe return.

Back in the tent, Jiang Yan told everyone to put on their padded clothes and shoes. They packed up their belongings, preparing to see how the situation developed that evening.

Their possessions had grown considerably, and they couldn’t afford to lose anything carelessly. She needed to find an excuse to bring out the handcart soon. Once they passed Zhuangzhen, it would be much harder to retrieve it!

Even if she could retrieve the cart now, how would Captain Wei allow her to take it? Jiang Yan frowned at the room full of belongings.

Miao Fengqing led a hundred men, accompanied by Captain Wei and the Town Defender, to the Liu Family mansion, where bandits were looting. The air was thick with chaotic wails and sobs.

Dozens of bandits guarded the mansion, with over twenty mounted sentries stationed outside the gates. Inside, the bandits had begun hauling out grain. The officers stationed outside the street dared not advance, waiting for the Lord Defender to summon reinforcements.

“What’s the situation inside?” the Town Defender asked, approaching to inquire about the Liu Family’s condition.

“Grain, silver, gold, and valuables have been piled in the courtyard. The bandits plan to load it all onto their horses and leave immediately. They’ve already started moving things out!” An officer hidden nearby reported, his eyes fixed on the mansion’s activity.

“What about casualties?” the Town Defender pressed anxiously.

“Unclear, but casualties appear minimal!” The officer lowered his head, avoiding the Lord Defender’s gaze.

Their ragtag group numbered fewer than thirty, while the bandits were all burly men wielding broadswords, some even carrying massive iron hammers. Charging in would be suicide. What if provoking the bandits led to even more deaths?

“Do they know they’re surrounded?” Miao Fengqing asked, her gaze fixed on the Liu Family mansion.

“Uh… they’ve been openly provoking us in this area. The County Magistrate has led two expeditions to suppress them, but both ended in failure. Now these bandits are even more brazen!” The Town Defender looked at Miao Fengqing, his expression a mix of embarrassment and helplessness.

Miao Fengqing remained silent. It was clear these bandits were indeed ruthless and difficult to deal with. She no longer hoped to subdue them; her priority now was to protect the people trapped inside.

As for the grain, silver, and gold, if they couldn’t be saved in a critical moment, so be it.

“Lord Miao, what should we do? Charge in or maintain our siege?” The Town Defender had no better ideas. Without the officers’ assistance, he wouldn’t have dared confront these bandits head-on.

“What’s the point of maintaining the siege? They’re still terrorizing the people inside. With our numbers, we have to try something. We can’t retreat just because the bandits are fierce,” Miao Fengqing said. Having never faced such ruthless criminals up close before, her emotions wavered. She forced herself to remain calm.

“Should we just charge in, then?” The Town Defender turned to Captain Wei.

“You’re the Town Defender. You make the call!” Captain Wei felt he had already shown enough respect by agreeing to come at all.

“Indeed, Lord Defender must make a decision quickly!” Miao Fengqing regained her composure. They were only assisting; the final orders still came from the Town Defender.

Their discussion, though seemingly lengthy, had lasted less than fifteen minutes.

“How about this? To prevent the bandits from becoming desperate and harming more people, let’s try negotiating with them first?” Miao Fengqing gazed toward the Liu Family’s gate, where the bandits were busily looting the wealthy merchant’s estate, tossing their spoils onto their horses.

“Who would dare negotiate? Besides, bandits never listen!” The Town Defender wrung his hands in anxiety. Logically, their superior numbers should easily drive the bandits away, but no one dared step forward and risk being beheaded for playing the hero.

“Perhaps I should try first? If they refuse to leave, we can all charge in together?” Miao Fengqing felt a surge of urgency. A direct confrontation would inevitably lead to bloodshed, resulting in casualties among both the officers and the civilians.

Captain Wei shot her a sidelong glance, his expression practically screaming “You’re insane!” But the situation couldn’t be delayed any longer. Having a reckless fool volunteer was better than nothing.

“Then Lord, you go ahead and try. The moment the bandits make a move, we’ll charge in!”

“Good!”

A hundred men slowly formed a circle around Liu Manor.

“Listen up, you inside! You’re surrounded! We are officers of the Imperial Court. If you lay down your weapons and surrender, the court will show leniency!” Miao Fengqing rode forward a few steps, attempting to negotiate with the bandits.

But deep down, she knew the bandits wouldn’t believe her empty words. She simply didn’t want to risk everyone’s lives. The officers’ swords were no match for the bandits’ blades.

Su He had been restless all day, her eyelids twitching and her heart racing. Nothing had gone right since morning.

When Jiang Yan casually mentioned that Miao Fengqing had gone to confront the bandits, Su He’s anxiety surged.

How could they let her go? She… she used to be a civil official!

Su He paced frantically in the snow outside the tent, like an ant on a hot pan.

The clash of weapons rang out from beyond Liu Manor’s gates as the two sides clashed fiercely.

Having repelled the officers several times, the bandits were riding high on their arrogance. They brandished their broadswords with dizzying speed, while the officers, intimidated, dared not advance.

The twenty-odd men borrowed from the military camp bravely charged forward, breaking a gap in the bandits’ defensive line and allowing the rest of the officers to seize the opportunity and rush in as well.

In an instant, two to three hundred men were locked in a chaotic melee. Though the bandits were fierce and skilled warriors, their movements were hampered by the confined space. The bandit leader, realizing that even victory would come at a heavy cost, glared at Miao Fengqing with eyes as sharp and predatory as an eagle’s, as if he wanted to devour her whole.

Miao Fengqing had been forced into this situation against her will. She had no choice but to fight, as her attempts to reason with them had fallen on deaf ears.

Fortunately, not all the officers were cowards. Several dozen of them fought with remarkable courage, allowing them to hold their own against the bandits.

The bandit leader raised his greatsword and kicked his horse’s flank viciously, then charged toward Miao Fengqing with murderous intent.

“Lord, be careful!” Sang Yu, a veteran of the battlefield, abandoned her usual stern and reserved demeanor. Her eyes now burned with a bloodthirsty glint as she leaped from a nearby stone step, swinging her blade at the bandit’s head.

The bandit leader was no fool. He ducked low, dodging behind his horse, and swung his greatsword at Miao Fengqing on the other side.

Miao Fengqing dodged the blow and quickly grabbed a long pole lying nearby. Aiming for the bandit’s waist, she used it to knock him off his horse.

The Town Defender dared not approach directly but cleverly ordered his officers to seize the bandits’ horses. They pulled one bandit off each horse, letting the rider flee. Without the horses’ momentum, the bandits’ advantage waned, and the officers’ morale soared.

If they could capture these bandits, who had been a headache even for the County Magistrate, the rewards would be substantial. This thought fueled their determination, driving them to fight with increasing ferocity.

Seeing the situation turn against them, the bandits prepared to abandon their loot and retreat. However, the officers had surrounded them, and with half their horses gone, breaking through the encirclement proved difficult.

“Boss, what do we do?” a bandit wielding twin hammers asked the burly leader.

“Pah! Go back to Liu Manor and grab some hostages. I refuse to believe they’ll let them die!” the leader snarled.

“Right!” The subordinate obeyed instantly, darting back to Liu Manor and dragging out the twin sisters by their hands. He threw them before the bandit leader.

“Perfect! These two will do! Hahahaha!” The bandits roared with laughter as they watched the terrified girls tremble, too weak to stand.

The hammer-wielding bandit grabbed the girls by their waistbands, hoisting them up to use as human shields. Another bandit held a broadsword above their heads, threatening to strike.

The frail girl’s face turned blue as she hung upside down in the burly bandit’s grip, clearly in agony.

“Everyone, hold your positions!” Miao Fengqing ordered, her hackles rising as she watched the bandits use the two Kunze as human shields.

“Lord, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Captain Wei reminded her, his voice low and urgent. “We can’t let them go just because of two Kunze. They’ve killed far more than two in our territory!”

The bandits, whom the County Magistrate had repeatedly failed to subdue, were now on the verge of being captured. How could they let such a golden chance slip away?

“We don’t know what’s inside, but we absolutely cannot let these two die before our eyes!” Miao Fengqing’s gaze hardened, her expression taut with vigilance.

“Regardless, we must not let these tigers return to the mountains,” Captain Wei insisted, his tone growing more forceful. “If they escape this time, they’ll unleash a brutal retaliation on Zhuangzhen. It won’t be as simple as two Kunze then!”

Miao Fengqing found herself unable to refute his logic. The Town Defender, trembling beside her, nodded in agreement. Indeed, he thought, once the Imperial Commissioner’s troops withdraw, won’t Zhuangzhen become easy prey for these bandits?

Still, she couldn’t bring herself to disregard the lives of the two Kunze.

But perhaps killing the bandits would be worth a try.

As the bandits drew closer, Miao Fengqing and Sang Yu exchanged a glance, signaling their intent to rescue the hostages first.

“Everyone back off, or I’ll make these two—” Before he could finish, the hostages were snatched from his grasp with brutal force, and he was kicked twice in the chest, sending him sprawling backward.

In that instant, everyone was locked in close-quarters combat. Realizing they had lost the hostages, the bandits went berserk, slashing wildly with their knives, likely knowing their fate was sealed.

Without the hostages, the bandits were trapped in a tight circle. Everyone clamored to capture the arrogant bandits, eager to become heroes celebrated throughout the region.

The bandit leader glared venomously at Miao Fengqing, his eyes burning with hatred. He yanked the reins, charging straight toward her.

While Sang Yu dealt with the double-hammer wielder, Miao Fengqing tossed the two hostages behind her. But the girls were too weak to move on their own, forcing her to drag them away with all her might.

Just then, the bandit leader, riding a maddened horse, hurtled toward her. He hurled a bloodstained, gleaming dagger with lethal force.

Miao Fengqing’s pupils dilated instantly. With a desperate surge of strength, she spun halfway around, pulling the hostages with her. The dagger’s tip grazed the corner of her robe. Seeing her struggle, Sang Yu rushed forward to help move the hostages to safety.

At that moment, the crazed horse reared high on its hind legs, its forelegs pawing the air with a deafening whinny. As it crashed back to earth, its hooves threatened to crush Miao Fengqing into a bloody pulp.

“Ah…!” The horse’s hoof landed squarely on her right leg, and Miao Fengqing heard the sickening crack of bone.

Gritting her teeth, she twisted her body, seized the bandit’s foot, and yanked him off the horse with every ounce of strength she possessed. By then, Sang Yu and the officers had subdued the frenzied animal.

Miao Fengqing snatched up the fallen dagger and plunged it into the bandit leader’s heart. This depraved villain, who had committed countless atrocities without a flicker of remorse, deserved to die!

The white blade went in, and the crimson blade came out, again and again. Only after three or four brutal thrusts did she finally exhale in relief, collapsing into unconsciousness.

With their leader dead, the remaining bandits offered little resistance. The officers swiftly subdued them all.

“Lord, Lord!” Sang Yu quickly dragged Miao Fengqing to her feet and helped her onto a horse, urging the party back to the Post Station.

“Lord Defender, these bandits were subdued only through our combined efforts. You must guard them with utmost vigilance! If even one escapes, you’ll face dire consequences!”

“Yes, yes, yes, yes! This subordinate will remember your words. Quickly, escort the Imperial Commissioner back to the Post Station for medical treatment!” The Town Defender was equally anxious.

Yet the capture of the bandits filled him with a thrill of excitement.

Captain Wei, overseeing the aftermath, remained silent about Miao Fengqing’s fate. Those who rush to the front lines often pay a price—glory isn’t easily earned!

After delivering her warning, Sang Yu led Miao Fengqing back to the Post Station.

When Su He was called to tend to the injured, the sight of Miao Fengqing covered in bl00d instantly paralyzed her with fear. Yet she forced herself to remain calm, stubbornly rising to her feet and approaching Lord Miao.

“It’s not as bad as it looks. The bl00d isn’t hers,” Sang Yu explained from the side.

“Then why did she faint?” Su He’s voice trembled with tears, her fingertips shaking uncontrollably.

“Her leg was broken by a horse’s hoof. She probably passed out from the pain?” Sang Yu wasn’t entirely sure.

“What do we do? It must hurt so much!” Su He panicked, unsure how to help.

“We’ve sent for the most renowned physician in Zhuangzhen. He should arrive soon. Miss Su, please stay here and care for Lord Miao.”

“Yes, yes!” Su He nodded frantically, telling herself to stay calm. She’ll be alright.

The Detention Quarters were adjacent to the Post Station, so news of Lord Miao’s condition spread quickly. Jiang Yan’s heart skipped a beat when she heard that he had been carried back.

The treatment room was crowded, leaving her no chance to see him. She could only visit Su He that night to inquire about his condition. I won’t let anything happen to her.

“Doctor, how is her leg?” Sang Yu asked after the physician finished bandaging the wound.

Su He held her breath, standing silently to the side, afraid to disturb the doctor’s examination.

“Injuries to bones and tendons take a hundred days to heal. I’ve set the bone—fortunately, it wasn’t crushed. But the tendon damage is severe. She’ll need at least four months of bed rest,” the elderly physician stroked his beard, his confidence in his medical skills unwavering.

“Will she be left with a limp after she recovers?” Su He asked, her voice trembling.

If she became a cripple, wouldn’t her promising future be ruined?

“If she heals well, it won’t be noticeable. But if she doesn’t heal properly, she might end up with a limp!”

“Also, keep a close eye on her condition tonight. If she develops a fever, brew two doses of medicinal soup and force her to drink them!” the doctor instructed.

“Alright, stop frowning. Considering she was trampled by a horse, this is the best-case scenario. Count yourself lucky!” The old doctor spoke bluntly, caring only about his own satisfaction.

“Yes, yes, thank you, Doctor!” Su He snapped out of her daze and prepared to see the doctor off. She still needed to monitor Lord Miao’s condition throughout the night, and with so much to do, she had to pull herself together.

Su He sat across from Miao Fengqing, her heart aching as she watched the woman’s pale face and colorless lips.

How could she have been fine one moment and lying here the next, confined to bed for four months?!

Meanwhile, Captain Wei and the others who had accompanied them were out celebrating with drinks and meat. It was infuriating.

“You, you, you!” Su He playfully poked Miao Fengqing’s forehead from across the room, inadvertently waking her.

Miao Fengqing opened her eyes, slowly focusing on Su He. Her gaze instantly turned vulnerable.

“So hot… and it hurts so much!” She weakly gripped Su He’s little finger, her cheeks flushed with an unnatural crimson.