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

Mei Wanying didn’t know why she was running, but when Pei Yan blocked her path, she suddenly grew annoyed.

She gave him a shove.

The man’s feet seemed rooted to the spot; she couldn’t move him.

When he had first arrived in Jiangnan, she had definitely been able to push him.

’Could it be... the poison in Pei Yan’s body has been completely purged?’

Mei Wanying had never paid much attention to his condition, only that Pei Yan had brought an Imperial Physician to help him recuperate.

After he moved into the old manor, the scent of medicine would occasionally drift from the courtyard.

Composing herself, Mei Wanying glared at the man before her. "Pei Yan, are you doing this on purpose?"

"What have I done?" The man wore a faint, teasing smile. "You’re the one who started it."

Whether it was a moment ago or right now, Ah Yin was the one who had made the first move.

Pei Yan looked the picture of innocence.

Mei Wanying couldn’t stand seeing him like this. "A good dog knows not to block the path!"

The man let out a soft chuckle. "Ah Yin, this is the second time you’ve used that line on me."

He could actually still laugh. Mei Wanying couldn’t help but ask, "Can’t you have even a shred of shame?"

Anyone else, having been called a dog, would have been red in the face with embarrassment by now.

But not only was he not ashamed, he looked positively delighted.

’This man must be sick in the head!’

Just as Mei Wanying had this thought, she heard the man say, "I think I’m your dog, too. You don’t even have to toss me a bone; I’ll come running on my own."

Even during those most awkward years, as long as Ah Yin so much as beckoned with a finger, he would put on a cold front, but his body was always honest.

He would always find a way to get close to her...

His words were utterly scandalous.

No normal person would call themselves a dog, let alone a Prince, the Crown Prince!

Mei Wanying felt that Pei Yan had truly gone mad.

So mad he’d cast aside all his dignity.

If these words were to reach the Empress’s ears, she would probably be skinned alive.

"I can’t be bothered with you!"

With that, she tried to move around Pei Yan.

But the man seemed determined to antagonize her, blocking her no matter which way she went.

Faced with such a childish antic, Mei Wanying gritted her teeth in frustration. "If you’re sick, go get treated!"

Pei Yan also felt he was sick.

The moment Mei Wanying showed him a bit of kindness, he wanted to take a mile after being given an inch.

He had repeatedly warned himself to take things slow, to not be hasty.

But he just couldn’t control himself.

The sensation of her pinch still lingered on his waist, and his heart was pounding wildly.

If not for the last shred of his reason, he might have already pulled his beloved woman into his arms.

’Ah Yin clearly has feelings for me, otherwise she wouldn’t initiate physical contact.’

’Why can’t she just accept me and let us mend our broken relationship?’

Pei Yan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. In the end, his reason won out.

He said, "I’ll stop teasing you. Let’s talk business."

Mei Wanying’s frustration was caught in her throat, a tight, uncomfortable knot.

This man was always like this. When she wanted to talk business, he would spout nonsense.

When she wanted to leave, he would use business to make her stay.

Mei Wanying was thoroughly annoyed. She desperately wanted to pinch Pei Yan again but was afraid he’d get the wrong idea and shamelessly latch onto her again. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

If it were any other matter, Mei Wanying would have simply walked away.

But this concerned the safety of her and her family. Even though she was furious, she couldn’t let her emotions get the best of her.

Mei Wanying turned her head and let out a long breath, calming her nerves.

Her expression became calm and distant as she started walking toward the front hall.

Pei Yan rubbed the tip of his nose, uncertain if he had actually angered her.

Not daring to ask, he silently followed behind.

「In the front hall」

Mrs. Mei was already waiting there. Nanny Liu had been sent to take Ling for a walk in the garden.

Seeing Pei Yan, she asked the same question as Mei Wanying, "How did it go? Did you capture the traitor?"

Mrs. Mei’s tone was anxious.

The death of a relative had shown Mrs. Mei the Useless Crown Prince’s true nature.

He was the type to disregard human life completely. If he found an opportunity, Ah Yin and Ling would be in grave danger.

He had to be eliminated as soon as possible.

Pei Yan explained the situation to them. "Pei Yu escaped. He set the fire himself, intending to erase his tracks."

"A few of his guards were left alive. They’ve been taken to the prison for interrogation. We might be able to get something out of them."

Mrs. Mei was deeply worried. "He’s truly cunning, like a slippery eel. Why is he so hard to catch?"

Mei Wanying silently agreed.

Ever since the Useless Crown Prince had been rescued, the Court had dispatched men to hunt him down.

Pei Yan had added his own men to the pursuit, and she had even asked her father’s old subordinates for help.

For him to still escape under such an inescapable net, he really was no different from a slippery eel.

Pei Yan had been watching Mei Wanying the whole time. Seeing her agree with Mrs. Mei’s words, he couldn’t help but think, ’In Ah Yin’s mind, Pei Yu isn’t even human.’

’To be coveted by such a ’thing’ must be utterly nauseating for Ah Yin.’

’I have to take care of him quickly.’

’I can’t let Ah Yin feel disgusted any longer.’

Pei Yan said, "He spread those rumors to force us out of the city. I will arrange for two body doubles to leave with them and draw Pei Yu out."

This plague business was no small matter. They knew the truth, but the common people in the city did not.

In a state of extreme panic, they really might start seeing Pei Yan as a jinx.

Even though he was the Crown Prince, at a moment of life and death, it wasn’t certain the city’s populace would protect him.

If someone took the lead, the calls to drive him out would only grow louder.

When people are afraid, they inevitably do irrational things.

Pei Yan staying in the city would only bring trouble to the Mei family.

Taking this opportunity to leave with two body doubles was a perfectly logical move.

Pei Yan heavily emphasized the two words "body doubles," then added, "They are just human shields. Ah Yin, don’t misunderstand me."

In their last life, he had used Xue Yunshu as a human shield, and unexpectedly, Ah Yin had misunderstood.

She hadn’t questioned him, choosing instead to leave the military camp.

Pei Yan didn’t blame Mei Wanying. She was kept in the dark, ignorant of everything. How could she have made the right decision?

It was all his fault, the cause of their last life’s tragic ending.

This time, he wouldn’t hide anything from Ah Yin.

He had to explain every single step he took to her.

Firstly, to prevent Ah Yin from misunderstanding him again.

Secondly, by knowing his plan, Ah Yin could better cooperate with him, preventing any slip-ups that might cost them the perfect opportunity to lure the snake from its hole.

To prevent any spies in the residence from letting Pei Yu know that the ones leaving the city were decoys.

Pei Yan said, "As for the servants and stewards in the manor, don’t let them leave or have contact with outsiders for the time being. Wei Jue will arrange for all their food and supplies."

As long as the news didn’t get out, even if there really were spies in the residence, there was nothing to fear.

Hearing the two words "human shields," Mei Wanying’s expression shifted once more.

She thought of their past life.

Back then, she’d had no contact with Xue Yunshu. Her only knowledge of the woman came from what Ah Yao had told her.

She had thought that Pei Yan just liked unconventional women.

Having interacted with Xue Yunshu in this life and seen her true colors, Mei Wanying felt that there was no way Pei Yan would actually like her.

’Could it be... he used Xue Yunshu as a human shield for me and our child in our last life, too?’

The moment the thought arose, Mei Wanying snuffed it out.

The Pei Yan from their last life detested her so much, never once showing her a pleasant expression. How could he possibly have gone to such great lengths to set up a human shield for her?

The Pei Yan of the past was not the same as the Pei Yan before her now.

’He wasn’t that good...’