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

With Mei Wanying’s life on the line, Pei Yan dared not make a single rash move.

He tested Pei Yu’s defenses, inching closer and closer until he finally found the perfect opening.

The window of opportunity was fleeting; there was no time for hesitation.

Pei Yan sprinted toward Mei Wanying, moving faster than he ever had in his life.

Faster.

Even faster.

’If anything happens to Ah Yin, I won’t go on living without her.’

’The days without her were agonizingly, bone-chillingly cold. He would never go through that again!’

"Your Highness!"

The Hidden Guards’ hearts nearly stopped as they watched Pei Yan’s figure vanish over the edge with Mei Wanying.

They were all highly trained, having survived life-or-death battles to earn the right to serve by Pei Yan’s side.

Yet in that moment, not a single one of them could match his speed.

Someone grabbed Mei Wanying, and the sensation of falling abruptly lessened. She gasped for air, her heart still pounding with terror.

After that trip to death’s door, she was drenched in a cold sweat, as if she’d been submerged in water.

Her heart hammered against her ribs, threatening to burst from her chest.

Tears streamed down Mei Wanying’s face. She looked up through her blurry vision and saw Pei Yan’s tightly clenched jaw.

He was straining so hard that the veins on his neck bulged.

Pei Yan had caught her, but he’d also managed to grab hold of a pine tree growing from a fissure in the rock face.

The branch was groaning, ready to snap at any moment.

Mei Wanying’s hands were bound; she couldn’t help even if she wanted to.

To lower Pei Yu’s guard, Pei Yan had dislocated one of his own arms.

Now he was holding her, bearing both their weights. The mere thought of it made Mei Wanying ache in sympathy.

She smelled the acrid scent of blood and saw a dark red stain spreading across Pei Yan’s robes.

A sticky fluid smeared against her cheek. The metallic scent filled her nostrils—it was his blood.

’He’s hurt.’

’Badly hurt.’

Mei Wanying wanted to ask if he was in pain, but her throat felt like it was clogged with something, and she couldn’t utter a single word.

All she could do was cry.

’What was he thinking, chasing me off a cliff without a moment’s hesitation?’

’How could she possibly hate him, detest him, or be annoyed with him after this?’

’The man who had left her to fend for herself in the rear courtyard, who had shown her no tenderness even when she was carrying his child... that wasn’t the man before her now...’

’How was she supposed to face him after this?’

Hearing Mei Wanying’s tear-choked gasps, Pei Yan soothed her, "Don’t be afraid. I won’t let go."

"Just hold on a little longer. They’ll pull you up."

Pei Yan had brought more than enough men with him when he left the city, terrified he wouldn’t be able to protect Mei Wanying.

Thankfully, he hadn’t let her fall.

’We’ve faced death together this time,’ Pei Yan thought. ’A bond like this deepens the connection between us.’

Pei Yan chuckled softly. "Ah Yin, you’ve helped me eliminate a huge threat. That’s a life-saving favor. I’ll have to repay you by dedicating my life to you."

Through her blurry tears, Mei Wanying found herself crying even harder.

’Did he really have to say things like that at a time like this?’

When Pei Yan’s guards arrived and saw that the two of them were still alive and not dashed on the rocks below, they let out a collective, heavy sigh of relief.

They quickly threw down several ropes. A few agile Hidden Guards rappelled down, securing Pei Yan and Mei Wanying.

"Get my lady up first."

Pei Yan’s tone was absolute, leaving no room for argument.

Mei Wanying shot him a fierce glare. ’Even in a situation this dangerous, he’s still trying to get a one-up on me with his words!’

Once she was pulled onto the clifftop, the ropes binding her hands were cut. All the strength left Mei Wanying’s body, and her limbs went weak.

Finally, she crumpled to the ground.

She was the woman Pei Yan had claimed as his own. Barring exceptional circumstances, no one dared to touch her.

The Hidden Guards exchanged uncertain glances before tacitly looking away, leaving Mei Wanying on the ground.

’We’ll wait for His Highness to get up here before we decide anything...’

But they wouldn’t get a decision from Pei Yan. From the moment he learned Pei Yu had abducted Mei Wanying, his mind had been a raging storm.

The extreme emotional turmoil had caused the latent poison in his system to flare up.

Pushing himself to save Mei Wanying had already taken him far beyond his physical limits.

Seeing Mei Wanying safe, Pei Yan finally allowed himself to relax—and promptly lost consciousness.

This was the first time Mei Wanying had ever seen him look so fragile.

He looked even more vulnerable than the last time the poison had flared.

Even an unarmed person could have taken his life in that state.

Mei Wanying’s mind went blank, her heart leaping into her throat. "Get a physician, quick!"

He was wounded; they needed a physician here immediately.

...

At the old residence, Mrs. Mei prayed day and night for the safe return of Mei Wanying and Pei Yan.

They had been gone for many days with no word. Ling had lost weight from the ordeal, and Mrs. Mei had sprouted countless new white hairs from worry.

Ling lay on a playmat, a rattle-drum and a cloth tiger resting beside her. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

When Wanying was around, the baby was always lively, her little head turning this way and that as she waved her arms and kicked her feet.

But now, Ling’s round eyes were fixed on the doorway, unblinking.

She wasn’t crying or fussing. She just stared, vacant. The sight was enough to break Mrs. Mei’s heart.

She gathered her granddaughter into her arms, rocking her gently. "Just a little longer, sweet girl. Your mommy and daddy will be back safe and sound."

’The General spent his life performing good deeds, accumulating so much good fortune for Ah Yin. Ah Yin will surely live to be a hundred!’

At the words "mommy and daddy," Ling twisted her head to look toward the door again.

Seeing no one there, a look of disappointment actually crossed her tiny face.

Mrs. Mei’s heart ached all the more.

If her little granddaughter hadn’t needed her, she might have lost control and gone searching for her daughter outside the city herself.

’If they were to die, they would die together. She would never let Ah Yin face danger alone again.’

"Madam, the young lady is back!" an old maidservant cried, running in. "The young lady has returned! She’s back, and she’s alive!"

"That traitor is dead! His body was brought back to the city, and now everyone knows! His Highness and Ling were framed!"

"His Highness saved the entire city! If not for his wisdom, that traitor would have destroyed us all!"

Mrs. Mei shot to her feet, overjoyed. "Ling, your mommy is really back!"

’That’s all that matters!’

A baby couldn’t understand words, but she could understand tone.

She could feel her grandmother’s joy.

Her little mouth moved, letting out a stream of babbles. Her tiny arms and legs kicked with all their might, as if she were trying to go welcome her mother.

Ling was like a wriggling fish; Mrs. Mei could barely hold on to her.

Ding Xiang took the baby. "Madam, I want to go and greet the young lady."

Mrs. Mei declared, "We’ll all go!"

Nanny Liu immediately went to support Mrs. Mei, and the group hurried toward the manor’s entrance.

When she saw Pei Yan being carried into the manor, unconscious and hovering between life and death, Mrs. Mei’s heart sank.

"Where is Ah Yin? Is she hurt?"

Mei Wanying, who was a step behind, ordered the men to take Pei Yan to the guest courtyard. "Mother, I’m fine."

She was terrified, but Pei Yan was the one bleeding and injured. As was her habit, Wanying reported only the good news and hid the bad.

Before she could say another word, the little baby in Ding Xiang’s arms puckered her lips and burst into tears.

She reached out her arms, wanting Mei Wanying to hold her.

Seeing that her daughter had gotten thinner, Mei Wanying’s heart broke.

She took the baby and tried to soothe her for a long while, but she couldn’t get Ling to stop crying.

Mei Wanying held the child upright, gently patting her back. The little one clung tightly to her neck, sobbing inconsolably.

Tears, snot, and drool smeared all over Mei Wanying.

The baby’s cries were a storm of heartbreak and grievance.

After a long time, Mei Wanying took out a handkerchief and wiped Ling’s tears.

"Come on," she murmured. "Let’s go cry your daddy awake."