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

When he received news that Mei Wanying had been abducted, Pei Yan tossed aside the doll he was holding.

His face grim, he gave chase toward the back mountain.

’Ah Yin has Hidden Guards with her. How did Pei Yu manage to trick them and get to her side?’

’The man has some real nerve!’

The path was littered with the bodies of men in black, lying every which way, utterly silent.

They were Pei Yu’s Hidden Guards, eliminated one by one by Pei Yan’s men.

Pei Yan didn’t pause. The aura around him grew increasingly cold, as if it could freeze his surroundings solid.

’Ah Yin must be terrified. I have to find her quickly.’

’Faster.’

’Even faster!’

’Only if Ah Yin is alive and well does anything have meaning.’

’Otherwise, what’s the point of eliminating countless enemies and seizing ultimate power?’

’Ah Yin, wait for me!’

The man’s figure vanished down the rugged path, swift as a cheetah.

Pei Yu had lost more than half his men in their last clash.

Now, he had almost no Hidden Guards left.

In choosing to abduct Mei Wanying, he had already prepared for death.

As far as Pei Yu was concerned, there were only two paths left for him in life.

Either become the master of the world, standing at the pinnacle of power and controlling the fates of all...

Or die.

He refused to become a prisoner or live out his days in obscurity like a coward!

He’d rather die!

’I was going to die anyway. Having Mei Wanying to accompany me on the road to the underworld isn’t such a bad deal.’

’After all, this is the woman Pei Yan loves most.’

’No matter how stubbornly he denies it, he can’t change that fact.’

’If Mei Wanying dies, Pei Yan will be plunged into agonizing grief.’

’They all say Pei Yan is hopelessly devoted, willing to do anything for a woman. I wonder if he’ll kill himself for her once she’s dead?’

The men of the Pei Family were all fundamentally insane, willing to do anything to get what they wanted.

And now, Pei Yu wanted Mei Wanying dead.

He was willing to take any risk to make it happen!

"Your Highness, they’re catching up," said the Hidden Guard protecting Pei Yu, his expression anxious.

"We’re outnumbered, and Pei Yan’s men are all elites from the Dark Guard Camp. We can’t hold them off for much longer."

There was a cliff at the summit, but a small path to the side offered a chance of escape.

With any luck, they just might make it out alive.

The Hidden Guard urged anxiously, "Your Highness, you must go! I will cover your retreat."

Pei Yu didn’t look back. He could hear the sounds of fighting in the distance.

’With Pei Yan’s abilities, he’ll probably catch up in less than a quarter of an hour.’

He touched his crippled hand. ’I’m a ruined man now. How far could I possibly run?’

’I refuse to be so pathetic!’

He ordered his men to put Mei Wanying down. "Hang her over the edge of the cliff. I want to see if Pei Yan will kneel and beg me!"

’It’s rare for the Pei Family to produce such a devoted man. Mei Wanying is his greatest weakness!’

’Perhaps... he really will kneel.’

A flicker of anticipation in his eyes, Pei Yu stopped trying to flee. Instead, he sat on a rock at the cliff’s edge, calmly awaiting Pei Yan’s arrival.

The cold mountain wind stirred Mei Wanying awake.

When she realized she was dangling over the edge of a cliff, she broke out in a cold sweat.

She squeezed her eyes shut, not daring to look down.

’I just have to remember what Pei Yan said. No matter what happens, don’t give up. He will definitely come save me.’

’This time, I’ll trust him!’

Pei Yu leaned forward and saw Mei Wanying’s pale face. A smile touched his eyes.

"If you had just come with me from the start, you wouldn’t have to suffer like this."

Mei Wanying couldn’t bring herself to show weakness. Her tone was mocking. "Your Crown Princess Consort in the Eastern Palace, your Concubines, and all those children... are any of them still alive?"

’Gone.’

’All of them... dead...’

’The Crown Princess Consort tried to flee with the children, but Empress Gu’s people hunted them down.’

’Pei Yu had once sent a pregnant Palace Maid away from the capital, but she, too, had died at Empress Gu’s hands.’

He didn’t care whether those people lived or died, but Mei Wanying’s words still struck a nerve.

It made him feel like a complete failure.

’Unable to protect anyone!’

The playful look on the man’s face vanished, replaced by a terrifying gloom.

He said nothing, fiddling with a sharp dagger in his good hand.

The dagger was sharp enough to cut through iron as if it were mud. The slightest pressure from him, and Mei Wanying would instantly lose her life.

The mountain wind was cold, but beads of sweat broke out on Mei Wanying’s forehead.

’I can’t die.’

’Mother and Ling are waiting for me to come home.’

Mustering her courage, she opened her eyes and tried to get a clear look at her surroundings.

’If there’s an opportunity, I have to save myself.’

A few sparse pine trees grew from the crevices in the cliff face. The nearest one was just below her.

But its branches were too thin; even if they caught her, they would never support her weight.

A drop of sweat trickled from Mei Wanying’s temple. Whether from the strain of hanging or from sheer terror, she was drenched in a cold sweat.

Pei Yu was very satisfied with her reaction.

A weak and pitiable Mei Wanying was far more endearing than the sharp-tongued version.

If not for the circumstances, he would be loath to let such an exquisite beauty die.

Pei Yu’s lips curled into a smirk. "Don’t be afraid. Once we’re in the underworld, I’ll still marry you. Even if your face is smashed to a pulp, I won’t mind."

"Your eyes are poor; you go blind at nightfall. I can forgive our past grievances and be your walking stick in the afterlife."

"I have never put so much effort into any woman, Wanying. It is only fitting that you die with me."

The thought of Mei Wanying as his sacrificial offering sent a thrill of excitement through Pei Yu.

’Pei Yan must be absolutely furious!’

’This man is a lunatic, even crazier than Pei Yan.’ Mei Wanying didn’t dare provoke him any further.

She said with genuine sincerity, "I don’t want to die."

Pei Yu froze. He had expected her to beg for her life or perhaps continue to taunt him.

But instead, she had calmly stated that she didn’t want to die.

It left Pei Yu at a loss for words.

The sounds of battle drew nearer.

Before Pei Yu could think of a reply for Mei Wanying, Pei Yan appeared in his line of sight, radiating a murderous aura.

He held a sword in his right hand, its tip still dripping blood. He had already broken through the Hidden Guards’ line of defense.

When he saw Mei Wanying dangling over the vast abyss below, Pei Yan’s pupils contracted violently.

A wave of panic washed over him, threatening to drown him.

The hand holding his sword trembled. "Let Ah Yin go," he said. "I’ll agree to any condition."

When one’s beloved is in mortal danger, even the most rational person can lose control.

This time, Pei Yan made no attempt to hide his feelings. He cared about Mei Wanying.

He cared so much it was killing him.

He would do anything to get Ah Yin back alive.

"Ah Yin, it’s okay to cry if you’re scared."

Mei Wanying was indeed terrified, but she refused to show fear in front of her enemy.

Pei Yan’s words made her nose sting with the urge to cry.

Her eyes burned.

Tears welled up and streamed down her face, mixing with her sweat.

She bit her lip hard, but still didn’t make a sound.

Pei Yan’s hawk-like eyes narrowed, and he tightened his grip on his sword.

Finally, he tossed his weapon aside. "Let Ah Yin go. I’m at your mercy."

Pei Yu held his dagger to the rope. If Pei Yan made a single move, he would instantly sever it and have Mei Wanying join him in death.

He was prepared to die, so he had nothing to lose.

The worst that could happen was death.

And he didn’t care about that. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Hearing this, Pei Yu sneered. "Second Brother, let me see this sincerity of yours!"