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

Unable to move into the Mei Mansion, Pei Yan had no choice but to buy the residence across from them.

Standing between the two residences, Chen Shujing looked to his left, then to his right.

He was torn. Should he go and pour out his troubles to Pei Yan about his wife wanting to divorce him?

Or should he pay a visit to Mei Wanying and ask her to help mediate?

Miss Mei and Ah Yao were bosom friends, exceptionally close. Ah Yao would surely listen to anything she said.

’As the saying goes, it is better to tear down ten temples than to ruin one marriage. As long as I’m sincere and confess everything, Miss Mei will probably help me, right?’

He could understand Ah Yao making an impulsive decision in the heat of anger.

’As an outsider, Miss Mei should see most clearly what path forward is truly the best for Ah Yao.’

Chen Shujing admitted to himself that he was being despicable, trying to use the Chen Family’s power and status to save his own marriage.

’I just need to get through this.’

’I’ll make it up to Ah Yao in the future.’

Anyone else would surely advise them to make up rather than split, but when it came to Mei Wanying, Chen Shujing had no idea what she would do.

After all, she hadn’t forgiven the Crown Prince herself...

While Chen Shujing’s mind was still racing, a guard came back with a message. "Heir Chen, the Crown Prince is not seeing visitors."

Chen Shujing and Pei Yan had been friends for many years. He had been traveling when he came across Pei Yan, who was being hunted by assassins.

Pei Yan was gravely wounded, looking as if he’d been completely drenched in blood.

Chen Shujing noticed a sachet hanging from his clothes, embroidered with a plum blossom. Inside were herbs to stop bleeding.

It made him think of his own lady friend, and he guessed this man in peril also had a woman waiting for him back home.

In a moment of soft-heartedness, he decided to meddle.

He saved Pei Yan, only to bring a death sentence down on his own head.

His travels turned into a desperate flight, hiding from one place to the next.

Fortunately, Pei Yan was formidable. Even gravely wounded, once he came to, he managed to get them both to safety.

After that, they became friends who had been through life and death together.

Pei Yan might have said he was done with him, but Chen Shujing didn’t take it to heart.

He just inwardly cursed the man for his lack of loyalty.

’When he and Miss Mei had their falling out, I was the one putting in a good word for him.’

’Otherwise, Miss Mei would have thrown out the keepsake he left her long ago.’

’Who would’ve thought that when it was my turn to have problems with Ah Yao, Pei Yan would immediately cut me off, terrified of getting dragged down with me.’

’So much for loyalty!’

"What were the Crown Prince’s exact words?" Chen Shujing asked.

The guard’s face was impassive. "The Crown Prince said for you to get lost, lest you bring him misfortune."

Chen Shujing laughed, furious.

’So that’s how it is.’

’That bastard will do any shameless thing to get back in Miss Mei’s good graces!’

If he weren’t holding on to his last shred of reason, Chen Shujing would have given Pei Yan a piece of his mind.

’Who was it that told me to get on my knees and beg my wife for forgiveness?’

’Now that Miss Mei won’t forgive him, why doesn’t *he* go take a knee?’

’The next time I see him, I’m going to lay the sarcasm on thick!’

Unable to see Pei Yan, Chen Shujing wasted no more time deliberating and turned to pay a visit to the Mei family.

His arrival was unannounced, so without a formal calling card sent in advance, the gatekeeper stopped him at the entrance of the mansion.

After stating his name and family, he was shown into an outer hall to await a response.

Mei Wanying was busy gradually taking over the family business and personally nursing her daughter. She was too busy to spare a moment for Pei Yan.

After that day, the poison in Pei Yan’s system flared up again.

When Ding Xiang ran to bring him his medicine, she saw him coughing up blood.

When she returned, her description to Mei Wanying was so gory and terrifying, it sounded as if Pei Yan was at death’s door.

She waited all night, but no news came of Pei Yan succumbing to the poison.

That’s when Mei Wanying knew: he had a way to suppress the poison.

They didn’t need to concern themselves with him.

Perhaps because he was unwell, Pei Yan had been much quieter lately, no longer trying to scheme his way into Mei Wanying’s presence.

Poor Ling, however, was another matter. The moment Mei Wanying left the house, Pei Yan would show up at the door, citing his rights as the child’s father to see her.

He would say that a child so young needed at least one parent by her side.

Since Mei Wanying was busy, it was only right that he step in.

He was the Crown Prince, a man of exalted status. Aside from Mei Wanying herself, no one in the entire household dared to stop him.

At first, the moment Pei Yan tried to hold Ling, her earth-shattering cries threatened to bring the roof down.

But as she grew accustomed to his presence, Ling cried less and less.

Occasionally, when she was in a good mood, she would even reach out with her tiny hands and grab at his face.

Pei Yan would let her.

He just made sure to carefully file her little fingernails smooth.

’He knew perfectly well that his face was what Mei Wanying had liked most about him.’

’It absolutely could not be ruined!’

Anyone who wasn’t a complete fool could see what Pei Yan was up to.

Since he was getting nowhere with the mother, he was taking a roundabout approach and starting with the daughter.

Ding Xiang fretted. "Miss, the moment you leave today, that man will surely come to win over Ling. If this continues, she’ll be completely won over by him."

Most of the Mei family’s holdings were in the Capital City, but they also had shops and estates in their ancestral hometown.

Mei Wanying needed to sort out the accounts here.

She had to see if anyone had been lining their own pockets these past few years.

She had just taken over the family business, and a mountain of matters awaited her attention. She wouldn’t be at ease until she had personally reviewed the most important ledgers herself.

Her original plan for the day was to go out and inspect the shops, then return to the mansion to audit the books.

Pei Yan wasn’t appearing before her, but his fawning over Ling made Mei Wanying just as uncomfortable.

’It feels like I’m giving him an opportunity to steal our daughter away.’

Mei Wanying had only compromised and given birth to the child after reaching an agreement with the Empress.

The child would take the Mei surname and be raised in the Mei family.

No one could take her away!

Mei Wanying wished Pei Yan would return to the Capital City.

If this went on, Ling would grow attached to him, and the situation would become much more difficult.

She hesitated, wondering if she should have a frank conversation with Pei Yan.

She had once been very fond of Pei Yan. She even believed that his original intentions had never been to harm her.

Their lives had been entangled for so many years, and there were times when Pei Yan had genuinely, truly protected her.

But the pain he caused was just as real.

She couldn’t forget it.

Even if Pei Yan had a complete change of heart and would devote himself to protecting her, she was unwilling to leap back into that fiery pit.

With romantic love cast aside, Mei Wanying had never felt so clear-headed.

Pei Yan occupied a high station, his power immense. To many people, that was an irresistible temptation.

But he was also surrounded by peril.

Without love to sustain her, Mei Wanying was unwilling to bear those risks. She wouldn’t be trapped in his inner court, waiting to be neglected once more.

’Resting your happiness on someone else is a dangerous game.’

’I’ve fought so hard to get here. I have immense wealth and my daughter. I will not make the same mistake twice!’

Having come to a decision, Mei Wanying resolved to see Pei Yan.

She also wanted to ask him what he had done with Gu Xun.

Mei Wanying didn’t want any more innocent people dragged into the affair between them.

Whether Gu Xun stayed in Jiangnan or returned to the Capital City, it was his freedom to choose.

Pei Yan could not abuse his power to deliberately make things difficult for Gu Xun!

"Miss, there is a gentleman at the gate asking to see you. He says his surname is Chen."

’Chen...’

Mei Wanying could only think of one person.

Chen Shujing.

’Ah Yao is back in the Capital City, yet Chen Shujing is here. What "good deed" has he gotten up to now?’

Mei Wanying knew her best friend well. Until the Xue family’s affairs were settled, she wouldn’t be the one to bring up divorce with Chen Shujing.

Since the time wasn’t right for a divorce, why did Chen Shujing want to see her?

Unsure of what had transpired between Xue Xingyao and Chen Shujing, Mei Wanying didn’t jump to conclusions.

"Show Heir Chen into the mansion."

’I’d like to hear what other "good deeds" Chen Shujing has done, aside from hiding his past with Miss Shen!’