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

Mei Wanying witnessed, once again, just how thick-skinned Pei Yan was.

’Seriously, where does he get the nerve? Shouting that name without even batting an eye!’

Mei Wanying repeatedly told herself to ignore him, to distance herself from him, and not to let him get to her.

But she still couldn’t help but be infuriated.

She said sarcastically, "Your mother is in the Capital City, Your Highness. Don’t go around claiming mothers left and right, lest you become a laughingstock and break your real mother’s heart."

Mei Wanying had experienced just how much Empress Gu doted on Pei Yan in her past life.

In Empress Gu’s eyes, no one was worthy of her precious son.

The purpose of him marrying was, one, to bring her son political support and help him secure his power over the realm.

And two, to bear his children and manage his household.

Any woman who could marry her son was considered incredibly lucky!

The Mei Wanying of her past life had been clueless. Even under those circumstances, she had happily married into the Prince Chen Mansion.

Looking back now, Mei Wanying felt she must have been an idiot.

Pei Yan couldn’t stand her, Empress Gu saw her as a burden—how could she possibly have had a good life after marrying into the Prince Chen Mansion?

Even if she gained temporary protection that kept the Useless Crown Prince at bay, other problems would have emerged over time.

Perhaps Pei Yan would have grown to despise her even more, leaving her to fend for herself.

Or perhaps she would have stood in someone’s way and been eliminated.

All in all, the path she took in her past life was a difficult one.

She had plunged headfirst into it, doomed to heartbreak and a bloody end.

Pei Yan didn’t know what Mei Wanying was thinking. He said, lacking confidence, "I was supposed to be the Mei family’s son-in-law. It was decided back then..."

’Back then I was a fool who didn’t know what to cherish.’

’Now, all I can do is shamelessly fight for it.’

’If I back down just because Ah Yin scolds me a little, then I’ll truly have no chance with her in this lifetime.’

Having lost Mei Wanying once, there was nothing more important to Pei Yan than her.

’Face, dignity... He could cast it all aside!’

Mei Wanying reminded him coldly, "Nothing was decided."

Pei Yan said, "Everyone in the Capital City knows I was your child husband."

A title he once found humiliating now gave Pei Yan a sense of confidence.

Seeing the two were about to start bickering again, Mrs. Mei felt a headache coming on.

"Your Highness, I truly am not worthy of being called ’Mother’ by you. Please, don’t say things that will shorten my life."

Never mind that Ah Yin wasn’t married to Pei Yan; even if she were, she still couldn’t bear being called "Mother" by him.

For one, it was against protocol.

For another, if word of this reached the palace, who knew how furious the Empress would be.

And when that happened, it would be the Mei family who would suffer.

The mention of shortening her life left Pei Yan unable to argue. In his past life, after Ah Yin and the child were gone, Mrs. Mei had been dealt such a blow that she, too, had passed away.

Pei Yan fell silent, his expression a mixture of confusion and helplessness, like a child who had done something wrong.

Mrs. Mei sighed to herself.

’He’s truly realized his mistakes far too late. Ah Yin has already been completely heartbroken.’

’Now that she’s back in Jiangnan, has inherited the family business, and has Ling... now that she’s had a taste of freedom, how could Ah Yin possibly marry him?’

’If not for all the barriers between them, perhaps Ah Yin might have compromised, for the sake of their childhood connection.’

’Unfortunately, the damage has already been done.’

’Ah Yin won’t be turning back.’

The atmosphere grew tense, but Mrs. Mei pretended not to notice.

She turned to business. "Your Highness, your search for Ah Yin is no secret. I imagine the Useless Crown Prince has already received word."

"He is your mortal enemy. It won’t be long before he comes looking for trouble."

Pei Yan didn’t shirk his responsibility. "I’ve already arranged for men to guard the old residence. Hidden Guards will also follow Ah Yin when she goes out."

When he first awoke from the poison, all he wanted was to see Ah Yin immediately.

Then he heard that Ah Yin was going to marry Gu Xun, and in a fit of panic and rage, he lost his senses.

He hadn’t expected the Useless Crown Prince to escape. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come looking for Ah Yin in such a high-profile manner.

In his past life and in this one, he could never bear to let Ah Yin be in danger.

Mrs. Mei felt a little more at ease. Pei Yan’s Hidden Guards weren’t ordinary bodyguards; with them around, Ah Yin and Ling would be safer.

Mei Wanying also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She cherished her life. She didn’t want anything to happen to her, nor to her mother and Ling.

Mei Wanying knew full well that if she agreed to let Pei Yan’s men follow her, her every move would be reported back to him.

She didn’t want to live under Pei Yan’s constant watch, but for the sake of safety, Mei Wanying didn’t object to his arrangement.

’These are special circumstances. I just have to endure it.’

’Once the Useless Crown Prince is dealt with, I’ll make Pei Yan’s men leave immediately.’

Pei Yan had been watching Mei Wanying’s reaction. When she accepted his arrangement without getting angry, he subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

When Ah Yin had first left the capital, he had sent men with treasures from his storehouse to find her.

Later, thinking she was ill, he had even arranged for an Imperial Physician to take her pulse.

Ah Yin had been furious at the time, finding his men an eyesore and even writing him a letter to curse him out.

Thinking of that letter, Pei Yan still felt a small urge to laugh.

’Ah Yin being willing to scold him was a good thing.’

Pei Yan then remembered something else. At the time, the Imperial Physician had taken Ah Yin’s pulse and said she was merely suffering from anxiety and agitation.

But Ah Yin had already been pregnant then, and she wasn’t in her early stages. It would have been impossible for an Imperial Physician not to detect the pregnancy pulse.

Pei Yan’s gaze grew searching. ’How did she manage to hide it?’

Mei Wanying felt the hair on her back stand up under his stare. She subconsciously wanted to glare back but was afraid Pei Yan would misinterpret it.

She simply averted her gaze, giving him no response whatsoever.

Pei Yan rubbed the tip of his nose. He didn’t mean to settle old scores; he was just curious how Ah Yin had deceived the Imperial Physician.

’Could it be... that the Imperial Physician didn’t take *her* pulse?’

Mei Wanying was pregnant out of wedlock; a matter like that couldn’t possibly be made public.

There were only a few people who would have helped her cover it up.

’Ding Xiang is around the same age as Ah Yin. It looks like she had a hand in this.’

Pei Yan felt a mix of pride at Mei Wanying’s cleverness and disappointment that Ah Yin had actually hidden such a huge thing from him.

If his mother, the Empress, hadn’t interfered, Ling might not even exist today.

Pei Yan knew better than anyone just how much Mei Wanying had loved him.

For her to make such a decision proved that she had been truly, deeply hurt in their past life.

Pei Yan stared infatuatedly at Mei Wanying. As a bystander, Mrs. Mei felt embarrassed for him.

’This man truly knows no shame.’

’Staring at Ah Yin without blinking, just like a creep.’

’I wonder if Ling will inherit his bad habits. Will she be rooted to the spot every time she sees a handsome young man in the future?’

’How mortifying.’

Mrs. Mei gave a false cough. "What are your plans? Tell me, so I can help if necessary."

The memory of her daughter’s imprisonment left Mrs. Mei deeply fearful.

She, too, wanted the Useless Crown Prince dealt with as quickly as possible.

If anything else were to happen to her daughter and granddaughter, she definitely wouldn’t be able to bear it.

Pei Yan wasn’t a man of many words, but he answered all of Mrs. Mei’s questions one by one.

When she heard they planned to "lure the snake from its hole," Mrs. Mei immediately objected. "Are you using Ah Yin as bait? Or Ling? No, that’s too dangerous! I won’t allow it."

Mei Wanying explained, "The man is a lunatic. He’s been severely weakened, which actually makes him easier to deal with."

"I don’t want you to take such a risk."

Mei Wanying’s beautiful eyes were filled with resolve. "I still haven’t paid him back for what he did last time. Besides, he won’t let us live in peace anyway."

Mrs. Mei was speechless.

She said, resigned, "You’re as stubborn as your father. Fine, we’ll do it your way. But I have one condition: you and Ling must be safe."

As for whether Pei Yan lived or died, Mrs. Mei wasn’t particularly concerned.

Every mother dotes on her own child.

Even if the heavens were to fall, she would stand by her daughter and granddaughter!