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

「Capital City.」

Gu Xun was sent back to the Gu Family by Pei Yan’s men. The escorts relayed Pei Yan’s message: Gu Xun was forbidden from going to Jiangnan again.

Fearing his son would anger Pei Yan, Mr. Gu used the excuse of "convalescing" to place him under house arrest.

"His Highness arranged for you to enter the Ministry of War. He has been more than benevolent to you. You need to think hard about what’s more important—your future or a woman!"

Mrs. Gu’s heart ached for her son, and she tried to speak up for him. "You can’t blame Xun entirely for this."

’If the Empress hadn’t given her approval, how would Xun have dared to develop feelings for Mei Wanying?’

’How would he have dared to become the stepfather to Mei Wanying’s child?’

’He only ended up in this situation because he was following their arrangements.’

Mei Wanying was indeed strikingly beautiful. Back when she was in the Capital City, she had caused the Crown Prince and the Useless Crown Prince to turn on each other, coming to blows over her.

It was only natural that a young man like Xun would be captivated by such a fair lady.

’Now that His Highness has changed his mind and wants to win Mei Wanying back, he’s pushing the blame onto Xun. Isn’t that too unfair?’ 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Mr. Gu had already made up his mind. "He must reflect on his mistakes, lest he be let out only to cause more trouble for His Highness!"

Gu Xun, who had been expressionless, let out a disdainful sneer.

Full of disdain.

"Who is really causing trouble for whom?"

Mr. Gu roared, "Insolent son! After a few years away, you’ve completely forgotten your place!"

"He is the Crown Prince! His wrath and his favor are both blessings!"

Gu Xun pressed his lips together, his eyes stubborn. "He’s the one who stole my wife!"

If Pei Yan hadn’t interfered, he and Mei Wanying would already be married.

By now, he would be the rightful son-in-law of the Mei family, and Mei Wanying would be his wife.

Pei Yan ruined all of it.

’And now they’re saying *I’m* the one causing trouble for Pei Yan? Isn’t that just turning the tables and blaming the victim?’

"You wretch!"

Mr. Gu raised his hand to strike him but was stopped by Mrs. Gu. "If you hurt Xun, how is he supposed to report for duty at the Ministry of War in a few days?"

"A doting mother spoils the child!"

With that, Mr. Gu stormed out.

Mrs. Gu sighed in relief. The father and son were each more stubborn than the other.

’Both of them are stubborn as mules!’

If this continued, everyone in the Capital City would know that Xun was willing to throw away his future for a woman.

Where would that leave the Gu Family’s honor?

Mei Wanying had His Highness protecting her; outsiders wouldn’t dare speak ill of her.

In the end, wouldn’t Xun be the one left to suffer the bitter consequences?

Mrs. Gu’s heart ached for her son. She didn’t want him to have any more involvement with Mei Wanying.

She tried to reason with Gu Xun. "Mei Wanying has had a child with His Highness. They are a family now. You should stop getting involved, lest you end up being despised by both sides."

Gu Xun frowned. "She wasn’t willing."

If Pei Yan hadn’t gone to Jiangnan to find her, Mei Wanying would never have seen him again.

’How does that make them a family?’

Mrs. Gu sighed. "Who can say for sure when it comes to matters of the heart? Mei Wanying was dead set on His Highness. You’re not unaware of their past, so how could you be so foolish as to dive headfirst into this?"

Mei Wanying had declared she would marry no one but Pei Yan, a fact that was known throughout the city.

At the time, His Highness still had powerful rivals. Otherwise, for General Mei’s sake, the Empress might have granted Mei Wanying’s wish.

After all this time, they’ve gotten entangled again. Xun truly cannot get mixed up in it.

Mrs. Gu made up her mind. "Once this business with the Empress Dowager is settled, Mother will go to the palace and have your aunt choose a good match for you."

Normally, Pei Yan should have returned to the Capital City by now.

But the Empress had spread the news that he was poisoned, claiming he went to Jiangnan to seek a Divine Doctor to recuperate.

Not for the sake of a private romance.

It was the Empress Dowager who had schemed to have Pei Yan poisoned.

And the Empress Dowager... had also helped the Useless Crown Prince escape.

Upon learning the truth, those who had been impeaching Pei Yan all fell silent.

He was the only one who could stabilize the Court. They could only hope he would return to the capital soon to take charge.

Mrs. Gu didn’t want to cause trouble for the Empress at such a critical juncture. Otherwise, she would have gone to the palace at dawn the very next day to request an imperial decree for her son’s marriage.

Gu Xun refused without hesitation. "Mother, you don’t need to involve yourselves in my marriage."

"Matters of marriage have always been decided by one’s parents and a matchmaker’s words. If we don’t handle it for you, are we supposed to let you keep fooling around and become a live-in son-in-law for someone else?"

The mere mention of this sent a shiver of fear through Mrs. Gu.

Her son had come so close to being coaxed away by Mei Wanying. Not only would he have become a stepfather, but he would have been a live-in son-in-law with no dignity.

It dawned on Mrs. Gu belatedly, and she slapped Gu Xun on the back. "You child, are you trying to scare your mother to death?"

Letting Mei Wanying marry into the Gu Family while pregnant with another man’s child was already her absolute limit.

But sending her son away to be a live-in son-in-law was absolutely out of the question!

Gu Xun lowered his gaze, staring at the lines on his palm. "At least... I could see her every day."

It was his only chance.

’It’s so, so hard to get close to Mei Wanying, to become her partner.’

Gu Xun had cast everything aside, thinking his wish would finally be granted.

But reality dealt him a heavy blow.

’I’m not powerful enough, so I can’t protect Wany...’

Unable to bear seeing her son so tormented by love, Mrs. Gu said in a low voice, "You’ve been away for so long. Have you received a single letter from Mei Wanying? She doesn’t care about you at all. For all you know, she’s flirting with His Highness right this very moment!"

This was as good as saying that Mei Wanying was a social climber who latched onto the powerful.

Gu Xun frowned. "She’s not that kind of person. Mother, please don’t speak nonsense."

He knew Mei Wanying’s character better than anyone.

She valued relationships and loyalty; she was an exceptionally good woman.

She, too, had no choice in her circumstances.

Mrs. Gu poked her son’s head. "You silly boy, she’s completely bewitched you! You can’t know a person’s heart just by looking at them. Only she herself knows what kind of person she truly is."

Gu Xun couldn’t stand hearing anyone slander Mei Wanying, but this person was his own mother.

Helpless, he said, "Mother, you’re a woman too. You should understand how difficult things are for her."

Never mind that Mei Wanying wasn’t a social climber—even if she were, she would have her own unspeakable difficulties.

For the sake of the Mei family, for herself, for Ling—much of the time, she had no other choice.

Mrs. Gu was at a loss for words.

’Mei Wanying has fed Xun some kind of seductive soup!’ she cried out internally.

’He’s defending her so fiercely. It’s a good thing Mei Wanying didn’t become my daughter-in-law, or else I’d have to live my life constantly trying to please her.’

’I can’t let this go on.’

’Otherwise, Xun will fall into this pit and sink deeper and deeper, eventually disregarding even his own family.’

Mrs. Gu’s tone became firm. "Xun, you’re not young anymore. It’s time for you to marry, have children, and continue the Gu family line."

Gu Xun could temporarily refrain from seeking out Mei Wanying, but it was impossible for him to marry someone else in a haze of confusion.

If he really did that, even if he established a firm foothold in the Court, he would be too ashamed to ever face Mei Wanying again.

’She is so wonderful. A fickle man is unworthy of even a single glance from her!’

Gu Xun gave his mother two choices.

"One, I resign from my post and go to Jiangnan to be the Mei family’s live-in son-in-law! From then on, the family’s honor or disgrace will have nothing to do with me."

"Two, you stop forcing me to marry."

Mrs. Gu’s eyes grew red with anger. "After all is said and done, you’re still thinking about Mei Wanying!"

’She was the girl he fell in love with at first sight. How could he not think of her?’

Gu Xun closed his eyes, and an image of Mei Wanying’s gentle, smiling face appeared before him.

He knew Mei Wanying held no romantic feelings for him, but love was something you had to fight for.

As long as she was unmarried, he still had a chance!