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

The Useless Crown Prince demanded to see Pei Yan’s sincerity, but everyone knew full well that this was just empty talk.

If he were so kind, he wouldn’t have orchestrated all of this.

Mei Wanying was Pei Yan’s weak spot, and the Useless Crown Prince was only using her to torture him.

No matter what Pei Yan did, no matter how much "sincerity" he showed, Pei Yu would never let Mei Wanying go.

The outcome today was destined to be a life-or-death struggle.

Mei Wanying’s heart leaped into her throat. Pei Yu was a complete madman, and there was no telling how he would torment Pei Yan.

Her life was entirely in Pei Yan’s hands. Only if Pei Yan lived would she have a chance to survive.

And then there was Ling, Pei Yan’s own flesh and blood.

As long as Pei Yan was alive and well, no one outside would dare to harm Ling.

Mei Wanying’s hands were bound, making the contents of her sachet useless.

She could hardly protect herself, so all she could do was suppress her emotions and avoid showing fear, lest she make things more difficult for Pei Yan. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

With one useless hand, Pei Yu’s movements were ultimately hindered.

He stood very close to Mei Wanying, wary of a sudden attack from Pei Yan.

He appeared relaxed on the surface, but his hand gripping the dagger was clenched so tightly that the veins bulged.

This was a man who had been on the battlefield. Even holding Mei Wanying’s life in his hands, Pei Yu didn’t let his guard down for a second.

’If Pei Yan dares to try any tricks, I’ll cut the rope and take Mei Wanying’s life immediately!’

One of Pei Yu’s arms hung limp in a strange position, and Pei Yan noticed the abnormality at a glance.

’It must not have healed properly after that time at the villa,’ Pei Yan thought. ’Then it was injured again multiple times, and now it’s completely useless.’

Now he understood why Pei Yu had rushed to Jiangnan to seek his own death.

Noticing Pei Yan’s gaze on his useless hand, Pei Yu’s pride was stung, and his face darkened.

"Second Brother, if you don’t show some sincerity soon, the person you hold dearest is going to die."

The dagger pressed against the rope, and Pei Yu gave it a malicious shake.

Mei Wanying bit her lip hard to keep from crying out in alarm.

But her face was ashen, her breathing heavy, and her forehead beaded with sweat. She didn’t even dare to open her eyes; it was clear she was terrified.

The rope was so thin, frighteningly so, swinging precariously with Mei Wanying’s life hanging from it.

Without hesitation, Pei Yan dislocated one of his own arms. His expression didn’t change, as if he weren’t the one who was injured.

The man’s gaze fell upon Mei Wanying, the veins at his temples throbbing.

Yet his tone was still calm. He said, "My life for Ah Yin’s."

As he spoke, Pei Yan slowly walked forward. "How about I jump off the cliff myself?"

Pei Yu knew Mei Wanying was Pei Yan’s weakness, but he hadn’t expected him to care this much.

’No wonder people say he’s a romantic fool. To jump off a cliff for a woman... he really is deeply in love!’

As his rival, Pei Yu knew better than anyone just how cold and cruel Pei Yan was to the core.

If it weren’t Mei Wanying dangling from the cliff, Pei Yan wouldn’t have spared a second glance.

And he certainly wouldn’t be threatened by him!

In the blink of an eye, Pei Yan had drawn closer. Pei Yu’s voice turned cold. "Second Brother, one more step, and Mei Wanying will breathe her last."

Pei Yan was a veteran of the battlefield, capable of taking an enemy general’s head from amidst an army of thousands. Pei Yu couldn’t let him get close.

Otherwise, the tables would turn.

The killing intent in Pei Yu’s eyes was undisguised. He would really cut the rope; this wasn’t just a threat to scare Pei Yan.

Pei Yan stopped and calculated the distance in his mind.

He was calculating how fast he would need to be to take care of Pei Yu and catch Mei Wanying at the same time.

Pei Yan had dislocated an arm, but in Pei Yu’s eyes, an injury like that was not enough to quell the hatred in his heart.

His arm was crippled, but Pei Yan’s was not.

How could the two possibly compare?

A vicious expression appeared on his face. Pei Yu suggested with a smirk, "Second Brother, your sincerity is still lacking. Why don’t you... chop off your arm?"

Pei Yu grew excited. The ruler of the world could not be a cripple.

As long as Pei Yan did it, the position of Crown Prince that he had schemed so hard to steal would no longer be his.

On one hand was Mei Wanying’s life; on the other, absolute power.

Which would Pei Yan choose?

No matter his choice, as long as he lost one of them, Pei Yu would be happy.

He changed his proposal. "You chop off your arm, and I’ll let Mei Wanying go. How about it?"

Pei Yan raised an eyebrow. "You’ll keep your word?"

Pei Yu replied, "Try it and see."

Pei Yan said, "Then as you wish."

Pei Yan held out his hand, and a Hidden Guard placed a weapon in his palm.

Mei Wanying, who had been silent all this time, wasn’t sure if Pei Yan was serious.

Reason told her he was not an impulsive man.

’This must be a move to lower Pei Yu’s guard,’ she thought, ’to find an opportunity and break through his defenses in one fell swoop.’

But thinking of the madness in Pei Yan’s bones, Mei Wanying’s confidence wavered.

She opened her mouth, her voice trembling slightly. "He won’t let me go. Don’t fall for his trick."

No matter how well Mei Wanying controlled herself, her trembling voice betrayed her fear.

Watching the woman he loved suffer before his very eyes, Pei Yan once again felt the sensation of needles piercing his heart.

He couldn’t lose Mei Wanying.

As long as he could save her, he would be willing to give not just an arm, but his very life.

He soothed Mei Wanying, "Be good, Ah Yin. It’ll be over soon."

Mei Wanying said, "Nothing can happen to you."

If something happened to Pei Yan, the entire Mei family would suffer.

Although she found Pei Yan an eyesore, she had never wanted him dead.

That Mei Wanying still cared for his safety at a time of life and death brought a dampness to the corners of Pei Yan’s eyes.

’My Ah Yin is so good. How could the old me ever have borne to make her sad?’

The man imperceptibly took two more steps forward and said, "Ling must miss you."

The name "Ling" made Pei Yu hesitate for a moment.

A few breaths later, he realized this was the bastard child Mei Wanying had borne for Pei Yan.

His own children were all dead, but Pei Yan’s bastard was still alive and well.

’It’s not fair!’

The atmosphere between Pei Yan and Mei Wanying seemed to have no room for a third person, and Pei Yu’s face darkened completely.

He hadn’t come this far just to watch how "in love" they were!

The cynical amusement vanished from his face. Pei Yu barked, "Enough nonsense! I’ll count to three. If you can’t bring yourself to do it, don’t blame me for being merciless!"

"One..."

"Two..."

Pei Yan ignored him. With the sharp sword in his hand, he said to Mei Wanying, "Looks like the contents of the sachet will have to be for me."

’A sachet?’

’What’s inside it?’

’Pei Yan can still smile. Something is clearly wrong.’

The tension in Pei Yu’s body tightened further. His hand on the dagger didn’t move as he tilted his head slightly, his gaze searching Mei Wanying.

Sure enough, there was a sachet hanging from her waist.

Looking closer, he felt that something about the sachet was off.

But he only had one good hand. To grab the sachet, he would have to pull back the dagger he had pressed against the rope.

He caught movement from the corner of his eye and subconsciously turned his head, about to shout at Pei Yan to stop.

But then he saw two cold glints of light hurtling through the air.

A short blade, aimed straight for his face.

And an arrow, fired by the Hidden Guard in the distance, was flying toward his heart.

Pei Yu was terrified. His body moved faster than his mind, and his hand holding the dagger swiped hard.

As the sharp arrow pierced his body, the impact sent Pei Yu falling off the cliff.

At the same moment, the thin rope snapped, and Mei Wanying’s body plunged downward.

A feeling of weightlessness washed over her, and Mei Wanying couldn’t help but cry out in terror.

’I don’t want to die.’

’I want to go home and see my mother, and see Ling!’