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

Fearing he would upset Mei Wanying, Pei Yan could only leave the Mei Family’s old house for the time being.

He didn’t go far. He had his men buy the residence next to the old house and moved in that very day.

It was as if he was setting up a vigil over the mother and daughter.

Many people in the city were keeping an eye on the Mei family’s affairs. When they saw the Crown Prince had actually been driven out, they all marveled, wondering if Mei Wanying had grown ten times bolder.

To not even give the Crown Prince face—what audacity!

’Is she getting arrogant because he dotes on her?’

But then they remembered the Crown Prince had crashed her wedding, and suddenly, nothing seemed surprising anymore.

After this incident, everyone understood the situation clearly.

Mei Wanying’s backer was immensely powerful; she was not someone to be provoked lightly.

With Pei Yan taking up residence in Jiangnan, many people grew anxious.

Wei Jue was one of them. "Your Highness, matters in the Capital City have not been fully resolved."

For one thing, the Useless Crown Prince was still alive.

If they didn’t seize the chance to execute him, Wei Jue constantly worried that something unexpected would happen.

To Pei Yan, nothing was more important than Mei Wanying and Ling.

’Still, that man does deserve to die.’

’If he escapes, Ah Yin and Ling will be in danger.’

Pei Yan gave a few instructions, and Wei Jue immediately went to send a secret message.

’The Useless Crown Prince should have died long ago. Every day he’s kept alive is another day for a potential mishap.’

’His Highness was poisoned, so many matters were put on hold, and the Useless Crown Prince got to live a little longer.’

’He really got off easy!’

The Capital City needed Pei Yan to oversee the grand scheme of things, yet he had settled down in Jiangnan.

Those in the know said he was mad, acting like a foolish king who chose beauty over his kingdom.

Pei Yan didn’t care what others said about him.

He knew how incredibly fortunate he was just to be able to watch over Mei Wanying.

「At the Mei Family’s old house.」

Mei Wanying had just finished her postpartum confinement when she flew into a rage. The doctor told her to rest for a few more days and to remain calm, or else it would take a toll on her emotional well-being.

Aware of Mei Wanying’s condition, Pei Yan didn’t go before her and provoke her anger.

Instead, he sent a continuous stream of nourishing supplements, fine fabrics, and treasures of gold, silver, and jade to the Mei family.

Ling received her share as well.

A longevity lock, gold bracelets, a jade pendant carved with auspicious beasts, a delicate set of the Four Treasures of the Study... Pei Yan prepared everything a child could possibly use.

She was his and Mei Wanying’s only child. Pei Yan wished he could pluck the stars and the moon from the sky for her.

He even made a personal trip to a temple to pray for peace charms for Mei Wanying and the child.

Pei Yan had never believed in such things before, and he still didn’t quite believe them now, but he stubbornly clung to the idea that with the peace charms, Mei Wanying and the child would be safe and sound.

That was his greatest wish.

Pei Yan himself did not appear, but every day, gifts were delivered to Mei Wanying.

At first, Mei Wanying was furious and had her servants throw everything out.

’The Mei family doesn’t lack these things!’

Gradually, she calmed down and had the items locked away in the storehouse, telling them not to bring the gifts before her anymore.

’Rather than throw them away, it’s better to leave them for Ling.’

As for the peace charms Pei Yan had prayed for, Mei Wanying sewed Ling’s into her swaddling blanket.

Her own, she burned to ashes.

She didn’t need Pei Yan to do these things for her, and she wouldn’t accept them.

Xue Xingyao’s tone was complex. "I never thought Pei Yan would see a day like this. He used to be so arrogant."

Mei Wanying, holding her daughter and teasing her with a rattle drum in one hand, said, "He’s just being pathetic."

’It was always like this. When I took the initiative, he would retreat.’

’When I gave up, he would inexplicably appear before me again.’

’Now that I’ve completely given up hope, he’s here trying to curry favor. If that isn’t pathetic, what is?’

Recently, many letters had arrived at the residence, all from Chen Shujing, and with increasing frequency.

Xue Xingyao agreed with Mei Wanying’s assessment. "They’re two of a kind, both utterly pathetic!"

After learning about Chen Shujing and Shen Mingxiao’s past, the last trace of hesitation in Xue Xingyao’s heart vanished.

’So, it turns out I wasn’t the only one Chen Shujing was good to.’

’He would also back Shen Mingxiao up.’

’He let everyone know that even though she had no family to protect her, he, Chen Shujing, was Shen Mingxiao’s support.’

’They were a perfect match in both looks and talent.’

’I was just his second choice, a pitiful substitute.’

’In the future, if someone who looked even more like Shen Mingxiao appeared, Chen Shujing would take her under his wing too.’

Xue Xingyao imagined that scenario, and she truly couldn’t accept it.

She asked Mei Wanying, "Pei Yan is behaving so well. Will you accept him?"

Mei Wanying retorted, "Chen Shujing is running all over the Capital City for you. Will you give up on divorcing him because of that?"

Xue Xingyao sighed. "Our situations are different."

Pei Yan didn’t have any female confidantes, and besides, he and Ah Yin had a child together.

If it were before, Xue Xingyao would have warned Mei Wanying to never fall for a man’s tricks.

But after learning about Chen Shujing’s past, she felt Pei Yan’s record was relatively clean by comparison.

’Perhaps people’s qualities only stand out in comparison.’

Not wanting to talk about the men anymore, Mei Wanying took the initiative to ask about settling her assets. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Xue Xingyao had her dowry, but it was impossible for her to live the same lifestyle as before.

Xue Xingyao said, "I’ve set my sights on a three-courtyard residence and plan to buy it."

For a commoner, a three-courtyard home was more than spacious, but for a family of nobility, it was truly too small.

With her paternal family having fallen from grace, Xue Xingyao felt that being able to live in such a courtyard was already a blessing from her ancestors.

"I don’t know if my younger brother can still take the imperial exams. I need to set aside a sum of Silver Coin for him to plan for his future."

Xue Xingyao laid out her plans, having arranged everything properly for her mother and younger brother.

Mei Wanying asked, "And what about you? What will you do?"

’Putting aside whether the divorce will go smoothly, if it really happens, Ah Yao will inevitably have to endure even greater pressure.’

’She should think more about herself.’

’That sum of Silver Coin... she should keep it for her own security.’

Xue Xingyao took a deep breath. "I’ll just take it one step at a time."

Right now, all she wanted was to bring her family to Jiangnan and then divorce Chen Shujing.

"I want to make a trip back to the Capital City," Xue Xingyao said.

Although Pei Yan had given her a calming pill, she couldn’t rest easy until she saw her mother and brother with her own eyes.

"Waiting here for news isn’t a viable solution."

’I should go back to the Capital. I might run into Chen Shujing, but I can’t keep cowering like a turtle in its shell.’

’We’re getting a divorce; we’ll have to meet sooner or later.’

Mei Wanying didn’t stop her. She simply dispatched a group of household guards to escort Xue Xingyao back to the Capital City.

She knew Xue Xingyao’s temperament; she wouldn’t accept Silver Coin if offered directly.

’I can only try my best to help her in other ways.’

「New Year’s Eve arrived as scheduled.」

Pei Yan still hadn’t returned to the Capital City.

After holding back for a few days, Pei Yan shamelessly came to their door.

He missed Ah Yin so much that he couldn’t sleep at night, constantly wondering, ’Have I really been reborn?’

’Have I really seen Ah Yin?’

’Do we really have an adorable daughter?’

Only by seeing Mei Wanying could Pei Yan’s restless anxiety be eased.

Only then could he feel like a normal person again.

At the entrance of the old house, the steward braced himself to block the way. "The mistress gave specific orders, Your Highness. Please don’t make things difficult for us."

’To dare block a member of the Royal Family... I’m probably the first one.’

The steward’s scalp tingled, and he had the urge to cry.

’When these two masters are fighting, can’t they spare us the trouble?’

Pei Yan wore a gentle expression. "I won’t disturb Ah Yin. I just want to see Ling."

"Oh, and I’m Ling’s father. Her biological father."