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

Chen Shujing didn’t dare mention Mei Wanying again, fearing Pei Yan would fly into a rage and actually make him divorce Xue Xingyao.

From the day he decided to marry Xue Xingyao, he had never once considered divorce.

Even after the Xue Family fell, such a thought had never crossed his mind.

Xue Xingyao was his wife, and she always would be.

They would spend the rest of their lives together, treating each other with polite respect.

Not wanting Pei Yan to interfere in his marital affairs, Chen Shujing made his stance clear. "I will not divorce Ah Yao, so Your Highness needn’t concern yourself."

Pei Yan was curious. "And what if she wants to divorce you?"

"Impossible."

Chen Shujing was certain that Xue Xingyao had romantic feelings for him; it wasn’t just a simple marriage alliance.

She loved him, and she had married him. Why would she ever think of leaving?

Chen Shujing deliberately ignored the unease in his heart.

’Even if Ah Yao found out about Xiaoxiao, she wouldn’t divorce me.’

’If she left the Chen Family, where else could she go?’

Pei Yan sneered. "The fact that she can get along with Mei Wanying proves she’s no pushover. I advise you to confess quickly. She isn’t an unreasonable person; she might even forgive you."

"If all else fails, get on your knees and beg for her forgiveness. It’ll save you from getting kicked to the curb one day with nowhere to turn to cry."

’Mei Wanying has quite a temper. If she doesn’t get her way, she’ll bristle and scratch.’

’Xue Xingyao is probably the same.’

’After being deceived like that, it’d be a wonder if she didn’t get angry.’

Pei Yan felt smug, thinking how wise he had been to go to Jiangnan to find Mei Wanying and explain everything clearly.

’I don’t like other women.’

’And I won’t marry them.’

’I’ve already made it very clear. Mei Wanying shouldn’t misunderstand me anymore.’

’Without any misunderstandings, we can finally live our lives in peace.’

Chen Shujing’s mouth twitched. "What’s this talk about kneeling? How improper. Your Highness, please stop giving me such terrible ideas."

Pei Yan raised an eyebrow. "You can’t stop a man who’s courting death. Suit yourself."

Chen Shujing felt that Pei Yan was cursing him.

’If this gets out, Ah Yao might be heartbroken. She might give me the cold shoulder, but it wouldn’t lead to divorce.’

’Xiaoxiao is gone. She can’t affect us.’

’Why get worked up over someone who’s no longer here?’

Since Chen Shujing was feeling miserable, he wanted to make Pei Yan miserable too.

"Miss Mei has been unwilling to return to the Capital City. It seems she doesn’t want to be with you. I wonder if Your Highness were to get on your knees, would it be enough to make Miss Mei have a change of heart?"

The smug look on Pei Yan’s face vanished.

’Me, kneel to Mei Wanying?’

’He must be insane...’

"We were childhood sweethearts, with nearly twenty years of history between us. There’s no deception between us. You have no need to meddle in our affairs."

Chen Shujing shook his head. "Have you forgotten all the ways you used to bully Miss Mei?"

Pei Yan’s expression darkened.

Seeing this, Chen Shujing felt he had finally scored a point. "My business with Xiaoxiao happened before I met Ah Yao. After marrying Ah Yao, I have never done anything to wrong her."

"But the pain you’ve caused Miss Mei is real and will forever stand between you. It can never be erased."

"Since Your Highness wants to win Miss Mei’s favor, you should focus your efforts on her, not hurt others as a roundabout way of currying favor."

Saying any more wouldn’t do him any good.

Chen Shujing cupped his hands in a salute, then followed Pei Yan’s men to the prison to see Duke Xue.

’I need to finish my business in the Capital City as soon as possible so I can go home and be with Ah Yao.’

’Having lost the child, she must be the one who is suffering the most.’

’At a time like this, she must want her husband by her side.’

Pei Yan remained seated, once again affected by Chen Shujing’s words.

’Has Wanying really not calmed down yet?’

Pei Yan touched his face. The day they met, Mei Wanying had slapped him twice.

She’d slapped him hard, too, hard enough to leave marks.

’Wasn’t that enough to let off some steam?’

He recalled how he had insisted on seeing her belly to check if she was really pregnant, and the sight of Mei Wanying lying on the bed, sobbing until she was out of breath. A wave of guilt washed over Pei Yan.

He had just managed to coax her, and in the next moment, he had made her furious again.

’I got slapped for nothing!’

He summoned Wei Jue. "Has Mei Wanying written to me?"

’As long as she writes, I’ll take it, even if she’s just cursing me out,’ Pei Yan thought.

Wei Jue sighed silently. "No."

’The day His Highness returned, he brought back a treasured pillow and seemed to be in an excellent mood.’

’I even thought that His Highness and Miss Mei had reconciled.’

’His Highness probably thought so, too.’

’But it’s been so long, and not a single letter has come from Miss Mei. Could it be... we were overthinking things?’

Wei Jue chose his words carefully. "With such major events unfolding in the Capital City, Miss Mei must know. Perhaps she’s afraid of distracting you, and that’s why she hasn’t written."

Pei Yan was skeptical. "Really?"

’How would I know if that’s true? I can never figure out what Miss Mei is thinking.’ Wei Jue thought.

’Back when she used to chase after His Highness, she’d be happy one moment and sobbing the next.’

’I really don’t get where she gets all these emotions.’

’Then again, thinking about my own master’s mercurial temperament, I suddenly feel they’re actually a pretty good match.’

’One gets angry, the other coaxes.’

’Always in a state of chaos... a normal person couldn’t handle that kind of drama...’

Wei Jue steeled himself and nodded. "Miss Mei is very understanding. That must be what she’s thinking."

The corners of Pei Yan’s mouth curved up.

’Fine. Whatever she’s thinking, if Mei Wanying won’t write to me, I’ll take the initiative.’

’Gu Xun is still in Jiangnan. I have to warn Wanying properly not to fall for certain people’s tricks.’

’She’d best stay away from scheming men, lest she foolishly get taken advantage of while I’m not around.’

’Before New Year’s Eve, I will definitely get to Jiangnan and celebrate the New Year with Wanying.’

’This is our first year together. It’s incredibly significant.’

Pei Yan ordered Wei Jue to take inventory of the treasures in his storehouse. "Make a list. I’m taking them all to Jiangnan."

Wei Jue was astonished. "Are you going to propose to Miss Mei?"

Pei Yan flicked a glance at him. "Can’t I?"

Wei Jue shook his head repeatedly.

He asked weakly, "Will the Emperor and the Empress agree?"

’If Their Majesties disagree and stir up trouble again, wouldn’t that just be giving Miss Mei hope, only to plunge her into despair?’

’If she feels like she’s being toyed with, Miss Mei will definitely refuse to ever speak with His Highness again.’

’At that point, there’d be no turning back.’

Pei Yan caressed his teacup, his deep eyes full of determination. "Whether they agree or not, I am going to marry Mei Wanying."

In this life, he had only one weakness, and that was Mei Wanying.

Other than her, no person or thing could hold any power over him.

The letter Mei Wanying sent to Pei Yan was intercepted by Empress Gu’s people. Along with the letter she had addressed to the Empress, both were delivered to the Central Palace.

Empress Gu opened the letter for Pei Yan first.

She scrutinized it word by word. After confirming that Mei Wanying wasn’t playing any tricks or trying to expose the child’s existence, Empress Gu breathed a sigh of relief.

"If they don’t communicate for a long time, their feelings will fade. Continue to keep a close watch on Mei Wanying. Any letter for Ah Yan must be brought directly to me."

Mrs. Feng said, "Secrets have a way of getting out. If His Highness finds out, he will surely fly into a rage."

’Hiding the truth about the child is one thing, but to intercept her letters as well... The Mei family did His Highness a great service, and he still has a soft spot for Mei Wanying.’

’If he knew how difficult her situation is, he would certainly be furious.’

"Once he marries the Crown Princess Consort, I will stop meddling in his affairs," said Empress Gu.

’At that point, even if the child’s existence is revealed, it won’t have much of an impact.’

’Mei Wanying will have lost her chance to be his principal wife.’