The Useless Alpha’s Yandere Wife - Chapter 7

Jiang Yan reluctantly followed the group to Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion. According to the original host’s memories, this place was more than just a restaurant and bar.

But there was no turning back now. Having been pushed into this situation, she decided to play along for now.

As a newcomer, acting too out of character would only draw unwanted attention. She could gradually distance herself from these people later.

The six of them settled into their usual private room. The waiter, familiar with their routine, quickly brought out wine and dishes. Moments later, four alluring Kunze entered to serve drinks, leaving Jiang Yan dumbfounded.

She knew Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion had its secrets, but she couldn’t recall the specifics—her mind drew a blank.

For a moment, she could only mask her confusion by drinking.

“Jiang Yan, you must have a few more cups! We were so happy for you when you went from being a concubine’s daughter to the legitimate heir,” a tall, talkative Female Qianyuan said, raising her wine cup for a toast.

“Really? Don’t tease me!” Jiang Yan replied with a practiced smile, lifting her own cup for a toast. She lowered her head slightly, frowning as she swallowed the wine.

Fortunately, the wine wasn’t too strong. She estimated she could keep up for a few rounds.

“Why isn’t Jiaojiao here today? Does she look down on our Sister Jiang?” Jiang Yan, who had hoped to quietly get through the meal, paused mid-chopstick.

In her memory, Jiaojiao was a young Kunze whom the Original Host often patronized. The Original Host had initially rescued the girl after witnessing her being beaten and abused. Later, as everyone else found companions, Jiaojiao’s solitary existence made her feel out of place. That’s why the Original Host had invited the girl for dinner twice and even mentioned wanting to buy her freedom and arrange a proper future for her.

No matter what kind of person the Original Host was, she would never have developed romantic feelings for a girl who was only fourteen or fifteen years old. Inviting Jiaojiao over was simply convenient; the Original Host could use the girl’s youth as an excuse to deflect unwanted advances and teasing.

The Original Host was

The Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion was notorious for its ruthless practices in the pleasure district.

“Official Wu paid triple the usual price to take her to the Painted Barge,” the waiter revealed, emboldened by Jiang Yan’s interest. “Whether he wanted her to sing or dance is his business.”

“Isn’t Miss Jiaojiao too young for the Combing the Hair Ceremony?” Jiang Yan asked, thinking of how the original host had cared for the girl for so long. It seemed cruel that the newly married girl was being forced to earn money.

“Miss Jiaojiao went willingly,” the waiter replied, glancing meaningfully at Jiang Yan. “Aunt Xiang loves money, but if Jiaojiao had resisted or someone had intervened, she wouldn’t have been forced to go.”

Jiang Yan wanted to curl up and hide. What a mess! Her life at home was already in shambles, and now this “red-faced confidante” situation had surfaced. Can’t I catch a break?

Since the incident wasn’t happening before her eyes, and Jiang Yan wasn’t a deity, there was nothing she could do to help.

Seeing the entertainment had fizzled out, the tall, slender woman urged Jiang Yan to find another companion.

“Ming Shu, are you deliberately trying to embarrass me?” Jiang Yan retorted, half-joking. “You know I’m newly married, yet you keep suggesting these awful ideas. Unlike you, I actually have a home.”

“Heh, even without a family, I’m still better than a live-in husband like you,” Ming Shu retorted, hitting Jiang Yan where it hurt most.

“I’m a live-in husband, and I’m happy about it,” Jiang Yan snapped back, using Tan Qianyue as her shield—now was the perfect time to play that card.

“Quiet down, you two,” Zhou Yun interjected, asserting her authority as the group’s leader. “I can’t even hear the pipa music anymore. Why don’t you two go perform yourselves?”

When the bill came, Jiang Yan’s heart ached. Madam Jiang had stuffed five hundred taels of silver notes into her unfilial daughter’s luggage, and this meal alone had cost nearly a hundred taels. This is highway robbery! she thought. I’m cutting ties with these people the moment I get back. No more!

Just as the group was about to descend the stairs, a woman rushed in like a whirlwind, spotted Jiang Yan, and threw herself into her arms, knocking her off balance.

“Sister Jiang, please save me!” The woman was none other than Jiaojiao, whom they had been discussing earlier.

Her face was bruised, a faint trail of bl00d trickled from the corner of her mouth, and her hair and clothes were disheveled.

Jiang Yan quickly pulled the woman off her.

“What happened to you?” Jiang Yan asked, noticing several burly men—likely thugs—chasing Jiaojiao up the stairs.

“Where is she? Where did she run off to?”

“Sister Jiang, save me!” Miss Jiaojiao cowered behind Jiang Yan, trembling with fear.

Though Jiang Yan wanted to tell her, “You can run on the first day of the lunar month, but you can’t hide on the fifteenth,” her limited sense of morality prevented her from standing by and watching the young girl fall victim to these thugs.

Originally just looking for entertainment, the group’s interest was immediately piqued by the dramatic situation. They all turned their gossipy gazes toward Jiang Yan.

Official Wu’s men were determined to drag Miss Jiaojiao back to their master to vent his anger. But now that the matter had come to their doorstep, how could they simply hand her over? How would they maintain their reputation in the future? Naturally, they refused to let the servants take her. For once, the six of them were united against a common enemy.

Jiang Yan initially suggested settling the matter with money, but the men were set on torturing the disobedient girl, fueling the group’s resolve.

When Tan Qianyue ascended the stairs, she saw Jiang Yan holding a stool leg in her left hand, shielding a young girl with her right. A scratch marred her handsome face, and several servants lay sprawled on the floor. The girl clung tightly to Jiang Yan’s sleeve.

At that moment, Tan Qianyue cared nothing for her usual entourage of beauties. The thought that this might be the person who had drugged her filled her with disgust. She saw this disheveled state as Jiang Yan’s true nature.

What good could come from someone who spends her days mingling with the dregs of society?

Jiang Yan felt a chilling gaze circling her. When she looked up, she spotted a familiar figure at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion. Though the woman wore a thin veiled hat, her haughty bearing left no doubt: it was Tan Qianyue.

Jiang Yan instantly wanted to disappear into the floor. Her companions exchanged awkward glances, unsure who this sudden arrival was.

Tan Qianyue lifted her veil, revealing a face that could topple empires. She regarded Jiang Yan with cool indifference.

Only then did the others realize that the woman before them—with willow-leaf eyebrows, phoenix eyes, and lips like cinnabar—was none other than Jiang Yan’s newlywed wife, the Eldest Miss of Tan Manor. This promised even more drama.

“Can we leave now?” Tan Qianyue’s eyes narrowed, as if reluctant to spare them another glance. Her aloof arrogance was on full display.

The group held their breath, afraid to even breathe. Jiang Yan desperately wanted to abandon her troubles and follow the Eldest Miss back to the manor.

“Sister Jiang, I’m scared!” The young girl trembled, her small body shaking.

“Go wait for me outside. It’s chaotic here. I’ll be down in a moment.” Jiang Yan tried to gently pry Jiaojiao’s grip loose, but the child clung tightly.

Tan Qianyue cast her a cold glance before turning and leaving.

Only after the woman descended the stairs did Jiang Yan dare to breathe deeply. What was she doing here? What terrible timing!

“Is that your wife? You’ve struck gold!” Ming Shu, who was traveling with her, stared enviously, her eyes wide.

“I need to get back first. This… this Miss Jiaojiao, who can take her in for a few days?” Jiang Yan’s forehead was damp with anxiety.

“We don’t have anywhere to put her. You’ll have to figure it out yourself!” The others shook their heads.

“Ugh! Just come with me for now!” Leaving the girl here would make today’s efforts a complete waste.

“Really?” Jiaojiao’s round eyes sparkled.

“I’ll go plead with the manager.” Clutching her coin pouch, Jiang Yan dejectedly went to plead with the manager of the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion.

In the end, she paid fifty taels of silver to cover the damages and another fifty to take Jiaojiao into hiding for a few days. The future could wait.

After swiftly settling everything, Jiang Yan led the still-shaken Jiaojiao out of the pavilion, only to find no carriage waiting. Tan Qianyue hadn’t even bothered to wait for her.

Jiang Yan had no choice but to walk Jiaojiao home. But bringing her home so openly would be like inviting death.

Yet she couldn’t just dump the girl at Jiang Manor, could she? If the Tan Family or Tan Qianyue found out, it would be even harder to explain. Aiyo, what a mess!

“Sister Jiang, where are we going?” Jiaojiao asked cheerfully, trailing behind her.

“I don’t know either!” Jiang Yan lowered her head even further.

“Why did you agree to go to the Painted Barge?” Jiaojiao still had a year before her Combing the Hair Ceremony. Having arrived at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion at a young age, she believed the manager wouldn’t dare punish her if she firmly refused.

“My younger sister at home fell ill again,” Jiaojiao explained softly. “My mother had no choice but to ask for my help. I thought I could help this once and then cut ties, but I regretted it as soon as I got to the barge.” The young girl was soft-hearted and still worried about her family.

“Now that you’ve angered that scoundrel, have you thought about what you’ll do?”

“If there’s no other way… I’ll find a rope,” Jiaojiao whispered.

Jiang Yan turned and glared at the girl, snapping, “I’m the one who should be finding a rope to hang myself!”

In the end, she had no choice but to leave Jiaojiao at Jiang Manor. She absolutely couldn’t bring her before Tan Qianyue. She asked her mother to look after the girl for a few days while she continued cleaning up the Original Host’s mess, hoping to find a way out for Jiaojiao.

Jiaojiao was of average looks, so if Jiang Yan wanted to buy her freedom, the manager wouldn’t dare demand an exorbitant price.

After settling everything, Jiang Yan finally entered Tan Qianyue’s courtyard, her footsteps barely audible.

“Oh, what are you doing sitting here?” Jiang Yan tried to act as if nothing had happened.

As soon as she entered, she met a pair of icy eyes. Tan Qianyue, dressed in an elegant pale-colored gown that trailed on the floor, sat upright on a drum stool. Having shed the vibrant red of the past two days of wedding celebrations, she now exuded an even more aloof and striking beauty.

“Waiting for you,” Tan Qianyue replied, her crimson lips barely parting, her expression still indifferent.

“Let’s talk,” Tan Qianyue said, her beautiful eyes piercing Jiang Yan with a sharpness that made her feel like she was about to be held accountable for something.

Jiang Yan’s clear eyes flickered, and she obediently sat down across from Tan Qianyue.

“You were originally engaged to Tan Xue’er. Now, through a twist of fate, you’ve married me. Do you harbor any resentment?”

“My lady jests,” Jiang Yan replied earnestly. “You haven’t punished me, so how could I dare harbor resentment? Besides, I only met the Second Miss once and have no feelings for her. Since I’ve married you, I will serve you wholeheartedly!”

Jiang Yan spoke these flattering words with utmost sincerity, yet Tan Qianyue’s brow furrowed slightly instead of showing any pleasure.

Tan Qianyue had already grown displeased when Jiang Yan addressed her as “My lady,” but lacking a more suitable term, she reluctantly tolerated it for the moment.

“Wholeheartedly? Like you did at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion?” Tan Qianyue asked, her gaze fixed on Jiang Yan with a hint of mockery.

“It’s all a misunderstanding,” Jiang Yan insisted. “I never wanted anything to do with those women again. But when they came to the manor today, I didn’t want to disturb the peace, so I thought I’d go outside and clear things up. As for that young girl, I only helped her a couple of times in the past because she was living such a miserable life. Today, I just happened to witness an injustice—it was purely coincidental.” Jiang Yan was telling the truth, but she didn’t know how to make the Eldest Miss believe her.

“I’m not interested in your petty affairs,” Tan Qianyue said, observing Jiang Yan’s expression. “But one thing’s for sure: if you ever dare bring the scent of Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion’s courtesans into this house, I’ll never forgive you.” Tan Qianyue watched Jiang Yan closely, but even at the mention of the courtesans’ perfume, she detected no hint of guilt in the woman’s demeanor.

“Never! Absolutely not! You can rest assured, I’ll remain completely pure and devoted.”

“I’ve assigned you to the side chamber. Did you object?” Tan Qianyue continued to probe.

“I’ll follow your arrangements, Mistress!” Jiang Yan quickly affirmed.

Tan Qianyue remained silent, inwardly reducing her suspicion by two points.

Jiang Yan found Tan Qianyue’s behavior today rather strange. Perhaps it was simply because she hadn’t known her for long; it was only natural that there were things she didn’t understand.

The air suddenly grew still. After a long silence, as dusk began to fall outside, the Eldest Miss finally spoke, her voice clear and precise: “Bathe thoroughly tonight and come to serve me. Remember to use the pool.”

“Ah?” Jiang Yan’s innocent, watery eyes widened in shock. D-don’t we need to cultivate our feelings first?