A Marriage in Name Only? My Stepbrother Won't Let Me Go

When Pei Yan left the Gu Family’s residence, he heard that Chen Shujing was requesting an audience and knew at once what it was about.

Whether he did so willingly or was coerced, Duke Xue had indeed colluded with the enemy.

He and his daughter, Xue Yunshu, had been trading insults in prison. In a slip of the tongue, Xue Yunshu had confessed to other matters as well.

While in the enemy camp, she had been so desperate to survive that she had even considered becoming a spy for them.

It was now impossible for the Xue Family to hold on to its glory and riches. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

As soon as they met, Chen Shujing wasted no time in explaining the purpose of his visit.

Finally, he brought up his family matters. "I received a letter from home. My wife was so worried about her family that... she lost the baby."

As he spoke, a dull ache pierced Chen Shujing’s heart, as if stabbed by a needle.

That was his own flesh and blood. It was impossible for him not to feel sorrow.

He had looked forward to the child’s birth, wondering if it would be a boy or a girl, and had even imagined what their baby would look like.

He had even been on the verge of choosing a name with a beautiful meaning for the child.

He never imagined that he would barely have left home before the child was lost.

How could he not be heartbroken?

How could he not be filled with regret?

The child was gone, but other matters could not be delayed. So instead of turning back, he spurred his horse on and rushed to the Capital City.

Only by resolving the Xue Family’s affairs could Ah Yao recover in peace.

’As for the child... we can have another one in the future.’

’This one... it just wasn’t meant to be.’

’Next time Ah Yao is pregnant, I will stay by her side every moment. I won’t let anything happen to her again.’

Chen Shujing said, "My father-in-law is a fool. For the muddled things he’s done, he doesn’t deserve sympathy even in death. As for Xue Yunshu, she is incorrigible. Whatever she did has nothing to do with my mother-in-law."

He gave Pei Yan a deep bow. "Your Highness, on account of my mother-in-law and younger brother-in-law knowing nothing of this, I beg you to be lenient."

Pei Yan was unmoved.

"Don’t great families live by the principle of ’one thrives, all thrive; one falls, all fall’? It makes no sense to enjoy the good times together, only to claim innocence when disaster strikes."

"If I set such a precedent, everyone would follow suit. Whenever trouble arose, they would simply push one person forward to take the fall. Wouldn’t that lead to chaos?"

Chen Shujing understood the logic, but for Xue Xingyao’s sake, he still wanted to lobby for a lighter sentence for the Duke Mansion.

But no matter how much he argued, he couldn’t get Pei Yan to budge.

Seeing no other way, he changed his request. "Your Highness, may I see the members of the Xue Family?"

He needed to get the details straight before he could figure out his next move.

This time, Pei Yan agreed.

But with one condition: "Tell Xue Xingyao to keep her mouth shut and not to bother Mei Wanying."

’By my calculations, Mei Wanying’s ’baby’ is due soon. Her ’pregnancy’ has been so arduous, and now she has to worry about Xue Xingyao’s affairs.’

’What if she wears herself out?’

Chen Shujing sighed. "Ah Yao is the type to only share good news, never the bad. She didn’t even write to tell me she lost the baby. How could she possibly go and trouble Miss Mei, making Miss Mei worry along with her?"

If his mother hadn’t sent him a letter, he wouldn’t have even known the baby was gone.

Ah Yao had swallowed this bitter pill all by herself simply because she hadn’t wanted him to be distracted.

At this thought, a dull ache throbbed in Chen Shujing’s heart once more.

She was his wife, after all. He couldn’t remain indifferent to her suffering.

In a bid for a sliver of hope, Chen Shujing added, "Ah Yao and Miss Mei are bosom friends. If she feels she has nowhere left to turn, she might very well ask Miss Mei for help."

"For Miss Mei’s sake, Your Highness, could you possibly grant the Xue Family a lenient sentence?"

Pei Yan was well aware of how much Mei Wanying cared for Xue Xingyao.

In the past, he was often away and had never met Xue Xingyao in person, but he frequently heard Mei Wanying mention her.

Sometimes when Mei Wanying wrote to him, Xue Xingyao’s name would appear in her letters.

Pei Yan had even suspected that Xue Xingyao must have put some kind of curse on Mei Wanying.

Otherwise, why would Mei Wanying, who was no relation to her, care so much about her?

Once these doubts arose, he naturally had to seek answers.

He had sent men to investigate Xue Xingyao and only relaxed after learning that she was very protective of Mei Wanying.

Pei Yan leaned back against his chair. "That’s not how you use Mei Wanying’s favor."

’If Xue Xingyao were asking for something else, I might consider it.’

’But letting the Xue Family off the hook? Impossible.’

’If word got out, how would Mei Wanying face the world?’

Pei Yan wasn’t afraid of gaining a reputation for being blinded by a beautiful woman; he wasn’t a good person to begin with, after all.

He didn’t care what anyone said about him.

But Mei Wanying was different. She was a good girl with an untarnished reputation who had never once interfered in the affairs of the court.

He couldn’t give anyone an opportunity to attack Mei Wanying.

Pei Yan reiterated, "It would be useless even if Mei Wanying came to plead with me herself."

’What do the Xue Family’s affairs have to do with her?’

’Just because she’s friends with Xue Xingyao, she has to risk the Mei family’s good name?’

’The price would be too high for Mei Wanying to pay.’

Chen Shujing had long known Pei Yan to be a cold and heartless man, but he hadn’t expected him to be this way even toward Mei Wanying.

If it were him, and Xiaoxiao pleaded before him, Chen Shujing felt he could not be so resolute.

"No wonder Miss Mei stays in Jiangnan and is unwilling to return to the Capital City. If she receives no special treatment from you, how could she possibly believe your feelings for her are genuine?"

Pei Yan’s eyes snapped open, his expression resolute. "You truly don’t understand Mei Wanying."

"When it comes to matters of great principle, Mei Wanying has her own moral compass."

"For Xue Xingyao’s sake, she might speak up and ask me for help."

"But regardless of the outcome, Mei Wanying would never hold it against me."

’She’s just that wonderful.’

’So understanding.’

The thought of Mei Wanying made Pei Yan’s heart soften.

He missed her.

More and more with each passing day.

’Once I’m done with all this damn business, I’m going to Jiangnan at once to bring her back.’

’Bring Mei Wanying back, get married, and never spend another night alone!’

Chen Shujing said, "Your Highness, being rational is a good thing, but being too rational can sometimes seem cold and unfeeling. A young woman always wants to feel she is special, and Miss Mei is no exception."

Pei Yan was displeased that this man kept bringing up Mei Wanying.

He hadn’t forgotten the leverage he had over Chen Shujing.

He asked suddenly, "Have you confessed to Xue Xingyao?"

Chen Shujing was confused for a moment before he realized what Pei Yan was talking about.

His expression shifted. "Why let the past affect the present?"

"So you haven’t confessed." Pei Yan’s long fingers tapped lightly on the wooden armrest.

"You yourself said that Xue Xingyao and Mei Wanying are good friends. Mei Wanying will only be happy if her friend is living well. With you deceiving Xue Xingyao like this, she’ll surely be unhappy when the truth comes out."

"And if she’s unhappy, Mei Wanying will be unhappy..."

Chen Shujing’s eyelid began to twitch. He had a feeling Pei Yan was cooking up some malicious idea.

He quickly cut him off. "Shen Mingji has gone to the military camp and isn’t causing trouble anymore. I no longer have to manage his affairs. What difference does it make whether I confess or not?"

Instead of answering, Pei Yan posed a question. "The Emperor, my father, has appointed me regent. Tell me, if I were to use his name to grant you two a divorce and bestow some gifts upon Xue Xingyao, would Mei Wanying be happy?"

Chen Shujing: "..."

’Is this man insane?’

’He and Ah Yao have a harmonious marriage. Why on earth would he make them divorce for no reason?’

’Some people,’ he thought darkly, ’can’t stand to see others happy just because they can’t have Miss Mei.’

’Could it be jealousy?’

He ground out through clenched teeth, "Your Highness, it is better to tear down ten temples than to ruin a single marriage!"