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

Mei Wanying said nothing, merely watching Pei Yan with her beautiful almond eyes.

The guest rooms at the temple were all spartan, but with Pei Yan’s resources, it wouldn’t have been difficult for him to procure a soft couch.

’He’s doing this on purpose.’

’Maybe... he even has *that* on his mind!’

Although they had been intimate and even had a daughter together, Mei Wanying was dead set against Pei Yan trying to cross that line again.

’This man is the type to take a mile if you give him an inch. If I give him an opening, he’ll definitely do something even more outrageous!’

Stared down by Mei Wanying’s all-seeing gaze, Pei Yan rubbed the tip of his nose.

To Mei Wanying, this was a clear sign of a guilty conscience.

She reminded him expressionlessly, "Don’t push your luck."

’Agreeing to share a room is already my limit.’

Pei Yan thought to himself, ’But Ah Yin was the one who said I couldn’t leave her side for a moment...’

Afraid she’d kick him out, Pei Yan didn’t dare provoke Mei Wanying. He casually strolled to her side. "Shouldn’t Lingling be crying by now?"

They had left with the "baby," and the fact that it hadn’t cried at all was indeed unusual.

Neither of them could be sure where the Useless Crown Prince might be hiding.

Only by perfecting every detail could they make their ruse convincing enough to lure the snake from its hole.

Mei Wanying hadn’t considered this detail. "You’ll cry?" she asked uncertainly.

A baby’s cry is unique. Even though she spent every day with Ling, she couldn’t imitate it.

The corner of Pei Yan’s mouth twitched.

’The only thing that could make him shed tears is losing Ah Yin.’

’Any other time? Don’t even think about it.’

’He would sooner bleed than cry!’

He asked Mei Wanying with a smirk, "A man doesn’t shed tears lightly. What’s in it for me? I’ll have to see if the temptation is great enough."

Mei Wanying wasn’t falling for his act. "Don’t forget who brought this trouble on. You’re not helping me; I’m helping you solve your problem."

"Ultimately, you’re the one who stands to gain the most from this," Mei Wanying said, her mind perfectly clear as she eyed his handsome face. "You’ve already gotten your way, so you should be content. The greedy end up with nothing."

Mei Wanying could be persuaded by a soft approach but not a hard one. When it came to Pei Yan, however, she responded to neither.

’Pei Yan wasn’t helping her.’

’She kept this point firmly in mind, which naturally prevented any strange feelings of gratitude from developing.’

’And it would keep her from foolishly compromising with him.’

She was always so lucid. Pei Yan had to wonder, even if he pursued Ah Yin for a lifetime, would she ever truly come back to him?

A sense of loss spread through him.

’It was his fault. He had made Ah Yin’s heart grow cold. No matter how she treated him now, he deserved it!’

The man went to the window and tapped his fingers on the sill. A moment later, a Hidden Guard appeared inside the guest room.

Mei Wanying knew Pei Yan’s Hidden Guards were highly skilled, far beyond what ordinary bodyguards could compare to.

But she was still shocked to see one vault silently into the room.

If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she doubted she would have even noticed if one had passed right through the room.

No wonder the Useless Crown Prince was so adept at hiding, evading the Court’s pursuit time and again. He must have skilled people by his side as well.

’If Pei Yu were to give up his struggle against Pei Yan, perhaps he could truly erase his tracks and start over somewhere else.’

’Unfortunately, the man was a lunatic.’

’He would rather risk his life than pass up a chance to land a devastating blow on Pei Yan.’

The sound of a baby’s cry emanated from the guest room, sounding particularly loud in the quiet of the night.

The crying carried far, far into the distance.

Ever since the day Ling was born, she had shared a room with Mei Wanying.

Even on the day Mei Wanying had recruited a son-in-law, she had only temporarily entrusted Ling to her servants.

Once the formalities were over, she had intended to bring Ling back to her side.

She had arranged everything perfectly, never expecting that when her bridal veil was lifted, the person standing before her would be Pei Yan.

It was an outcome she had never imagined.

But there he was. And he had been stubbornly lingering in Jiangnan ever since, refusing to leave.

He seemed determined to wear her down, no matter what it took.

He had abandoned everything in the Capital City. In the eyes of others, she was probably seen as a siren, a harbinger of ruin.

Listening to the cries, Mei Wanying’s thoughts drifted. She thought of many things, but in the end, they always came back to Ling.

This was the first time she had been separated from Ling for so long, especially at night...

’When Ling wakes up and doesn’t see me, she’s bound to cry.’

She had faintly heard crying as they left the manor, and she didn’t know if Ling had managed to fall back asleep.

’When morning comes, she’s sure to cry again.’

’A child so young can’t be without her mother for even a day.’

Having a child meant having a constant anchor for her heart.

And Mei Wanying couldn’t bear to be apart from Ling, either.

The mere thought of her daughter crying, refusing to drink her milk, refusing to sleep, made her sick with worry.

She wished she could sprout wings and fly back to her daughter’s side that very instant.

She secretly resolved that after this was over, she would never be separated from her daughter again, not even if the sky itself were to fall.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the baby’s cries gradually faded.

Then, silence returned.

Mei Wanying didn’t know if the Useless Crown Prince’s men had heard, but she was thoroughly impressed by the Hidden Guard’s abilities.

The area was surrounded by Pei Yan’s Hidden Guards, so the Useless Crown Prince’s men couldn’t get close enough to verify the situation.

Mei Wanying felt that this should be enough to deceive them.

All that was left was to wait and see.

...

Pei Yan and Ling had been labeled as bringers of misfortune, so he sought out the temple’s Abbot to appeal for justice and clear his and his daughter’s names.

For several days running, Pei Yan brought his "daughter" with him to discuss spiritual matters with the Abbot.

A suspected epidemic broke out in the city. Those suffering from vomiting and diarrhea were quarantined at the infirmary.

One piece of bad news followed another.

Terrified that the illness would befall them, many people flocked to the temple to burn incense and pray for divine protection.

Perhaps the Useless Crown Prince was mingling among them.

Mei Wanying stood at a vantage point with a clear view, watching for a long time, but she didn’t spot anyone suspicious.

She could only give up on trying to find the Useless Crown Prince and instead wait for him to reveal himself.

Pei Yan held his "daughter" in the meditation hall, listening to the Abbot’s lecture.

After the pilgrims dispersed, Mei Wanying went alone to the Grand Hall to pray for her mother and for Ling.

She also offered an ever-burning lamp for her father.

Every time she came to the temple, Mei Wanying would make a generous donation, and this time was no exception.

Kneeling on the rush mat, Mei Wanying once again prayed to the heavens for her family’s protection.

A low, raspy male voice spoke from nearby. "Patron, please draw a fortune stick."

She opened her eyes to the sight of a dark, navy blue fabric.

It was the dark blue robe of a temple monk.

Mei Wanying looked up and could only see the monk’s profile. His skin was coarse and weather-beaten.

He wasn’t anyone she recognized.

She had never seen him before.

Mei Wanying lowered her gaze again, took the bamboo container of fortune sticks in both hands, and shook it.

With a CLATTER, a bamboo stick fell to the floor.

Mei Wanying reached down to pick it up, just managing to read the four words inscribed on it: "Dangers At Every Turn."

The monk took the stick from her and handed her the corresponding slip of paper.

"Patron, it is the most inauspicious fortune," he said, his voice holding a strange hint of amusement.

Mei Wanying’s head snapped up. The face was unfamiliar, but the sinister glint in his eyes was identical to that man’s.

Even if he were reduced to ash, Mei Wanying would have recognized him by those eyes alone.

’It’s the Useless Crown Prince.’

’Pei Yu!’

He had actually shaved his head and disguised himself as a monk. It was a possibility neither she nor Pei Yan had ever considered.

’Pei Yu... he really is a lunatic!’

Mei Wanying started to scream, but a handkerchief was clamped over her mouth and nose.

The man’s voice was laced with a smile. "I’ve been waiting a very long time... for you to be alone."