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

Pei Yan had been seriously poisoned and remained in a coma, the news kept tightly under wraps.

Empress Gu claimed that Pei Yan had gone on a secret tour among the people to observe their lives.

Many did not believe this reason.

The realm was not yet stable, the Emperor was gravely ill, and the Useless Crown Prince and his partisans had not yet been executed.

Replacements had not yet been found for the key positions left vacant in the Court.

So many matters required Pei Yan’s personal attention; how could he possibly leave the Capital at a time like this?

No matter how hard they thought, it seemed impossible that Pei Yan would go on a tour at this moment.

Those in the know were silenced, and no one dared to leak the secret.

A few well-informed individuals had, however, caught wind of some rumors.

But they couldn’t be sure if his fate truly hung in the balance or if... he was staging another grand play, hoping to bait the fish hiding in deep waters.

He had used this very trick before to force the Useless Crown Prince into making a desperate move.

In the end, he had logically secured the position of Crown Prince.

There was no guarantee he wouldn’t use the same old trick again.

Everyone was watching and waiting, not daring to make a rash move, terrified of falling into Pei Yan’s trap and being the next to be purged.

Empress Gu was genuinely relieved that the widespread chaos she had anticipated never materialized.

’It confirmed once again that my son is a fortunate one,’ she thought. ’He was destined to ascend to that position and sit securely on his throne!’

To accumulate blessings for her son, Empress Gu thought, ’Perhaps I should find an opportunity to tell him about the child?’

’If he wants to marry Mei Wanying, I’ll let him.’

’Even without Ah Yan making an appearance, no one dared to cause trouble. That’s proof enough that Ah Yan is more than capable of securing his position.’

’There’s no need for him to take wives and concubines to solidify his status!’

With Pei Yan in a coma, Chen Shujing could find no opportunity to see him and plead for the Xue Family.

Fortunately, the sentence had not yet been passed. The Xue Family was locked in prison, and though they would surely suffer, their lives were safe for the time being.

As long as they were alive, there was still a chance to turn things around.

Chen Shujing was worried about his wife at home, uncertain of how her recovery was progressing.

He decided to make a trip home.

He would leave people in the Capital to continue working on the Xue Family’s behalf. He wouldn’t give up on them until the very last moment.

’It didn’t matter if the foolish ones were saved, as long as I can protect my mother-in-law and young brother-in-law.’

Worried that the Xue Family would grow anxious and restless in prison and do something foolish again, Chen Shujing decided to visit them one last time before leaving the Capital.

To the Xue Family, Chen Shujing was now their only lifeline.

When Duke Xue saw him arrive, his eyes lit up.

"Ah Jing, has His Highness shown mercy? Has he pardoned us?"

’I was truly innocent,’ he thought.

’If I had known the letter contained evidence of treason, I wouldn’t have dared to send it, not even if I had ten times the courage.’

’No matter how important Xue Yunshu was, how could she be worth more than the lives of the hundred-plus people in the Duke Mansion?’

’Besides, she was just a conniving wretch, full of schemes. Who knows where she learned it from?’

’If I had known what kind of person she was, I never would have brought her back to the Duke Mansion, let alone favored her.’

Duke Xue felt he had been completely duped.

Deceived by a lowly Medical Woman in his youth, and now, after inheriting his title, used by that same woman’s daughter.

Her unconventional behavior in the Capital was all just a way to climb the social ladder.

Just as expected, a bastard’s child is still a bastard.

’Her head is filled with nothing but social climbing. It’s utterly disgraceful!’

Meeting Duke Xue’s expectant gaze, Chen Shujing shook his head. "Treason is a grave crime. Perhaps you should consider if the Duke Mansion has any past merits that could be used for atonement."

In Duke Xue’s generation, the Xue Family was still large and prosperous, with his sons from concubines and his second legitimate son all having their own accomplishments.

But the crime of treason was too severe; those achievements were not nearly enough to make up for it.

However, their ancestors did have the Contribution from the Dragon...

Duke Xue hesitated. Even if their lives were spared, the Xue Family’s glory and wealth would be gone.

Though he lacked confidence, he still asked Chen Shujing, "Can the Contribution from the Dragon preserve the Xue Family’s title? At worst, the sons of the Xue Family can refrain from entering official careers in the future and just live as idle men."

Chen Shujing pressed his lips together, experiencing for the first time what it meant to be truly speechless.

’Their lives are hanging by a thread, yet he’s still thinking about glory and wealth. Such insatiable greed!’

He said, "I will plead with His Highness and try to use the Contribution from the Dragon to trade for the safety of my mother-in-law and young brother-in-law."

As soon as he said this, the expressions of not only Duke Xue but also Xue Yunshu and Madam Xue in the adjacent cell changed drastically.

Xue Yunshu shrieked, "Why are you only saving them? I’m part of the Xue Family too!"

Although Madam Xue was afraid of death, she considered her advanced age and felt it was better to give the chance to her grandsons.

They were male heirs.

The continuation of the Xue family line!

If some of the bloodline remained in the world, she could face her ancestors when she passed on.

Closing her eyes, she snapped at Xue Yunshu, "You have no right to speak. Shut your mouth!"

’We never should have let this wicked creature back into the Duke Mansion! She’s a curse who has brought us nothing but ruin!’

Facing life and death, Xue Yunshu threw all caution to the wind.

"Why should I shut up? I’m not the one who committed treason! I’m a victim too!"

Her voice was loud. Annoyed by the shouting, Mrs. Xue, who was worriedly planning for her own son and daughter, slapped Xue Yunshu hard across the face.

"Shut your mouth!"

Perhaps it was the coldness in Mrs. Xue’s eyes, or perhaps it was the stinging pain from the slap, but Xue Yunshu did not shriek again.

Covering her face, she began to cry softly.

"Your whole family is a curse! If you hadn’t brought me back, I would have been living freely in the countryside. I could have had a perfectly good life as an ordinary Medical Woman."

"How could I have ended up like this..."

Hearing her shift the blame again, Duke Xue’s face flushed with anger.

"If it weren’t for your nonsense, sneaking off to the Border, would the Xue Family be facing this calamity?"

Xue Yunshu retorted, "I went to save lives and heal the wounded! I did nothing wrong!"

If the two cells hadn’t been separated, Duke Xue would have rushed over to slap her a couple of times himself.

Since he couldn’t do it himself, he ordered Mrs. Xue to do it.

"Wife, you are the mistress of this house. This wicked creature has defied you time and again. Feel free to discipline her as you see fit."

A flash of mockery crossed Mrs. Xue’s eyes.

Not to disappoint Duke Xue, she slapped Xue Yunshu hard twice more.

"’To raise a child but not teach them is the father’s fault.’ Xue Yunshu, you are truly ill-bred!"

Not wanting to appear like a madwoman in front of her son-in-law, Mrs. Xue subtly exhaled.

She straightened her sleeves, trying her best to appear more dignified.

She said to Chen Shujing, "You and Ah Yao have already done your best. No matter the outcome, Mother doesn’t blame you. This is my fate, and the fate of your young brother-in-law."

Chen Shujing was visibly moved.

’It was precisely because his elders-in-law were so good and understanding that he couldn’t give up so easily.’

’I don’t care as much about whether the others live or die.’

’But the people Ah Yao cares about... I have to save them, even if it takes everything I have.’

’I will consider it compensation for Ah Yao.’

’She lost our child for me and suffered immensely.’

’Besides, when it came to Xiaoxiao, I was ultimately in the wrong.’

’Saving the people she cares about is the best way to make it up to her.’

He bowed to Mrs. Xue. "Please take good care of yourself. When this storm passes, Ah Yao and I will come to take you home."

Chen Shujing’s tone was respectful, his attitude unchanged despite the Xue Family’s fall from grace. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Mrs. Xue felt a great sense of relief.

’Ah Yao married a good man,’ she thought. ’Even without her family to back her, her husband won’t let her suffer any grievances.’

Mrs. Xue’s eyes grew moist. She urged Chen Shujing, "Tell Ah Yao not to worry. Mother is not afraid."