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

Mei Wanying took Ling to Pei Yan’s courtyard, and Ding Xiang naturally followed along.

Mrs. Mei and Nanny Liu exchanged a look. "What does Ah Yin mean by this?"

Mei Wanying had never denied Pei Yan’s identity—he was Ling’s biological father.

But she had never admitted it, either.

This was the first time Mei Wanying had used the address "daddy" when talking about Pei Yan with her daughter!

Mrs. Mei was genuinely surprised and couldn’t quite figure out her daughter’s thoughts.

’What does Ah Yin mean?’

’Has she forgiven Pei Yan?’

’Does she want to reconcile with him?’

Nanny Liu said, "I’m afraid something must have happened recently to make Ying change her mind."

"The Crown Prince was brought back injured, while Ying was completely unharmed. He must have protected her with his life. It’s only right that she treats him a little better."

Who didn’t know what Pei Yan was capable of?

He didn’t get injured easily.

Nanny Liu thought that the plan to lure the snake out of its hole must have worked, and that traitor had gone after Ah Yin. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

With Ah Yin there, Pei Yan’s hands were tied, which was why he was injured.

Hearing this, Mrs. Mei had mixed feelings.

Pei Yan was the Crown Prince, the future ruler of the realm. If Ah Yin went head-to-head with him, what would happen if she angered him?

’It’s better to be respectful towards him.’

But with her daughter’s attitude softening, Mrs. Mei was also worried.

They had already established themselves back in their hometown. Ah Yin didn’t need to marry; she had the backing of a huge family enterprise and she had Ling...

Such a good life—how many women could ever have something like this?

’She shouldn’t give it up so easily!’

Pei Yan had come to Jiangnan to win Ah Yin back. If Ah Yin relented, he would definitely take her and Ling back to the Capital City.

Mrs. Mei didn’t want her daughter to go back.

Feelings were fickle. If Pei Yan’s affection for Ah Yin were to fade one day, how would Ah Yin spend the rest of her life in that place of flashing blades and shadowy swords?

On one hand, a stable and prosperous life.

On the other, the rest of a life that might be magnificent but was fraught with danger at every turn.

Mrs. Mei hoped her daughter would choose the former.

But Pei Yan was a stubborn mule; he wouldn’t let go easily.

They couldn’t possibly keep him here and have him marry into the Mei family, could they?

He was the Crown Prince!

If they actually dared to do such a thing, they would not only be condemned by the entire world, but also targeted by the Pei Family.

Mrs. Mei fretted. ’What path should Ah Yin take now?’

Seeing Mrs. Mei stop in her tracks, Nanny Liu asked, "Ma’am, aren’t we going to check on the Crown Prince?"

Pei Yan’s status was noble. Now that he had gotten into trouble on their property, it was only right and proper for them to pay their respects and inquire after him.

However, Pei Yan had an Imperial Physician with him, as well as Wei Jue and others.

If they went, they would only be getting in the way.

Mrs. Mei sighed. "Forget it. Let Ah Yin make her own decision."

Nanny Liu nodded silently. "Ying isn’t a fool. Let’s wait and see for now."

As for that other great Buddha, he was beyond their control.

He had planned his every move, first winning over Ling, then moving into the old residence under the pretext of protecting Ying and her daughter.

Unless he chose to leave on his own, no one could do anything about him.

「The Guest Courtyard.」

The Imperial Physician was performing acupuncture on Pei Yan, while the attendant decocted medicine in the courtyard. The bitter scent filled the air.

Mei Wanying held her child, sitting on a chair not far from the daybed.

Ling was a little smarty. She covered her mouth and nose with her tiny hands and, sitting on Mei Wanying’s lap, burrowed into her mother’s embrace as if to escape the smell of medicine wafting into the room.

Mei Wanying’s tense mood was eased by Ling’s actions. Even a tiny baby like this knew that medicine smelled bad.

No wonder her mother always praised Ling; she too felt her daughter was very clever.

When the Imperial Physician finished applying the needles to Pei Yan, Mei Wanying quickly asked, "When will he wake up?"

The Imperial Physician shook his head. "It’s uncertain when he will wake. The Crown Prince’s arm is severely strained, he suffered an impact that injured his internal organs, and the residual poison is still acting up. His condition is truly serious."

The moment they fell off the cliff, Pei Yan had used his own body to shield Mei Wanying.

Outside the city, Mei Wanying had already seen Pei Yan’s injuries. Besides the strain, a large piece of flesh had been scraped off his arm.

To satisfy the Useless Crown Prince, he had even dislocated one of his arms. It was now set back in place, but she didn’t know if there would be lingering problems.

Mei Wanying’s heart pounded. "Is his life in danger?"

Even a common cold could be fatal. With Pei Yan so heavily injured and with residual poison in his system, it was hard for her not to worry.

The Imperial Physician was very confident. "Miss Mei, please rest assured. With more rest, the Crown Prince will wake up."

Seeing that the Imperial Physician wasn’t alarmed, Mei Wanying’s anxious heart relaxed slightly.

She said, "If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to send the manor staff to get it."

The Imperial Physician nodded.

’The Crown Prince has finally broken through the clouds to see the moonlight!’ he thought.

He clasped his hands in a salute and backed out of the room.

Only the three of them were left in the room. Mei Wanying placed Ling next to Pei Yan’s pillow.

She whispered, "Say something to your daddy. Tell him to wake up soon."

Ling babbled a few baby words. When Pei Yan didn’t respond, she reached out to pat his face.

’This little temper... I wonder who she gets it from.’

Mei Wanying was quick. She caught her daughter’s little fist. "Your daddy is hurt. Just talk to him, don’t hit him."

Although Ling couldn’t understand the words, she knew her mother was stopping her.

People said Ling was a stubborn little mule, and it was absolutely true. Mei Wanying held one of her little hands, and the little one immediately shot out the other.

It slapped right onto Pei Yan’s face.

She even let out a cry in her baby voice, as if scolding him for not waking up yet.

Not daring to let the little one cause any more trouble, Mei Wanying had no choice but to pick Ling up.

Pei Yan’s previous efforts had not been in vain. Ling still remembered him and was willing to play with him.

The moment Mei Wanying picked her daughter up, the little one squeezed her eyes shut and began to wail without tears.

She didn’t want to leave.

Her mouth hung open, and drool trickled down, dripping onto Pei Yan’s flawless face.

Mei Wanying’s expression changed slightly, and she hurriedly used her handkerchief to wipe the man’s face.

She cooed softly to her daughter, "Your daddy is hurt. You can’t bully him."

Pei Yan’s coma this time wasn’t as severe as when he was first poisoned; he simply hadn’t woken up because his body was too weak.

Of all the people looking after Pei Yan, no one dared to make a loud noise. Only Ling dared to cry her lungs out next to him.

The commotion was too much, and it finally affected Pei Yan.

Hearing the baby’s cries, Pei Yan subconsciously thought of his and Mei Wanying’s daughter.

’What’s wrong with her?’

’Why is she crying?’

Anxious, Pei Yan struggled to wake up.

He opened his eyes a crack. The first thing he saw was a pair of fair hands. Something wiped across his face, carrying the faint, elegant scent of orchids.

It was Mei Wanying’s scent.

The child’s cries, her gentle, soothing voice... they were all nearby.

Pei Yan paused, suspecting it was a hallucination.

He closed his eyes and opened them again.

Still there.

Mei Wanying was holding the child with one arm while trying to wipe the man’s face with her other hand. In the moment she turned her head, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.

She turned her head and met the man’s deep, dark eyes.

Pei Yan stared at her blankly, not speaking or reacting in any other way.

It was as if he didn’t recognize her.

Mei Wanying felt uncomfortable under his gaze and tried to pull her hand back, but he only held it tighter.

He actively pressed his face against her handkerchief, closing his eyes. "Ah Yin, it’s not clean yet."