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

Before the divorce, Chen Shujing had resorted to pestering her relentlessly. Xue Xingyao was worried he would try the same tricks again.

After all, to win back Ah Yin, Pei Yan had not only crashed her wedding but also shamelessly stayed in Jiangnan for months.

If the Emperor hadn’t passed away, forcing him to return to the Capital City to take control and ascend the throne, he would definitely still be in Jiangnan, refusing to leave.

Chen Shujing and Pei Yan were good friends; he might have learned a thing or two from him.

Fortunately, he didn’t show up.

Xue Xingyao’s tense nerves gradually relaxed. She only hoped to part on good terms with Chen Shujing and that they would never have to see each other again.

When she married Chen Shujing, the Duke Mansion had prepared a generous dowry for Xue Xingyao.

Now, that dowry had become her family’s lifeline.

For an ordinary family, it was a huge fortune, enough to ensure a lifetime of comfort without any worries about food or clothing.

But for the Xue Family, this amount of property was very little, and a sense of crisis inevitably took root in their hearts.

With their prospects for official careers gone, the sons of the Xue Family, however unwilling, had no choice but to humble themselves and learn other trades.

Before, they only needed to study and socialize with friends; others would handle everything else for them.

Now, their food, clothing, and expenses were nothing like before. They were no longer sought after when they went out, and if they ran into someone who knew their situation, they might even be subjected to a few sarcastic remarks.

Their days in the Capital City seemed like a splendid, beautiful dream...

Mrs. Xue told her sons to learn how to do business. Their family’s finances were thin, and they couldn’t just live off their savings until there was nothing left.

She didn’t agree with her daughter making public appearances, but she had fewer reservations about her two sons.

A man in this world should be adaptable.

The Xue Family had fallen. They could no longer pursue official careers through civil service exams. If they didn’t find another path, were they supposed to wait for Ah Yao to support them?

Ah Yao had already exhausted herself to save them; Mrs. Xue couldn’t bear to see her daughter suffer anymore.

Xue Xingyao had come to terms with it, feeling that making public appearances wasn’t a big deal.

’What’s more important than survival?’

But Mrs. Xue was very insistent, so she could only listen to her mother for the time being.

Xue Xingyao still had some money. They weren’t at the point of starving, and now that she had a rare chance to relax, she didn’t want to push herself too hard.

So she stayed home to recuperate.

When the Xue Family’s trouble first began, Xue Xingyao lost her child. Later, she rushed around for her family’s sake, adding injury upon injury, and her romantic life was also in turmoil.

All these things combined dealt a heavy blow to Xue Xingyao.

Her constitution was not what it used to be. If she didn’t recuperate properly, she might suffer from chronic health problems.

Mei Wanying visited Xue Xingyao every few days, bringing her medicine and nutritional supplements.

Occasionally, she would bring Ling along, saying it was so she could get to know her relatives.

Mei Wanying’s attitude was sincere, and all her help was tangible and practical. The Xue Family was truly moved.

Who didn’t know that Mei Wanying was the New Emperor’s beloved?

Who wasn’t aware that her daughter was the New Emperor’s own flesh and blood?

Her closeness to the Xue Family meant that even the local prominent noble families had to show the Xue Family some respect.

Back in the Capital City, many had kicked them while they were down. It was the Mei family who had provided them with a safe place to stay, allowing Xue Xingyao to recuperate in peace.

To the Xue Family, Mei Wanying was a great benefactor!

They didn’t know how to thank Mei Wanying. She didn’t lack gold, silver, or any other material things.

After much thought, Mrs. Xue personally made a set of clothes for Ling.

She also grew several pots of orchids to give to Mei Wanying.

In Mrs. Xue’s eyes, there was no young woman with a more noble character than Mei Wanying.

She possessed the Mei family’s integrity; though a woman, she was more than capable of shouldering the heavy responsibility of being the Mei family’s heir!

Knowing that Mei Wanying had established a Children’s Benevolence Hall in the city, Mrs. Xue went to help out every few days.

She couldn’t do heavy labor, but mending clothes for the children was a simple matter.

In her heart, Mrs. Xue felt that doing this would accumulate good karma for her own children.

Her children had suffered a huge disaster at such a young age. She only hoped their future paths would be smooth, without any more storms.

Xue Xingyao was stunned to see how quickly her mother was adapting.

She said to Mei Wanying, "I was worried Mother wouldn’t be able to recover and would be unhappy here."

Mei Wanying raised an eyebrow. "You’re underestimating her, aren’t you?"

Xue Xingyao nodded emphatically. "Could this be what they mean by ’the older the ginger, the spicier it is’?"

She knew her mother was resilient, but she never expected her to be this resilient.

Xue Xingyao was truly impressed.

At the same time, she felt a sense of relief.

If her mother kept dwelling on the past, holding onto grudges, the days ahead would surely be difficult.

Being able to let go was the best outcome.

Mei Wanying smiled. "Otherwise, who did you think you got your formidable nature from?"

Xue Xingyao lifted her chin, a look of playful pride on her face. "Definitely not from that muddle-headed father of mine!"

"I wonder if that father and daughter have seen the person they were always thinking about, down in the underworld!"

When Duke Xue was young, he eloped with a Medical Woman. Later, unable to endure a life of hardship, he returned to the Capital City.

It was clearly his own weakness, yet he blamed others for his mistakes.

He claimed he had no choice but to marry Mrs. Xue. Those who didn’t know better might have thought he was a pitiful man.

Mei Wanying knew about Duke Xue’s youth. She said, "Well, they’ve gotten what they wished for now."

Duke Xue constantly yearned for the Medical Woman, breaking the hearts of his wife and children in the process.

He also allowed Xue Yunshu to tyrannize the household, disregarding the dignity of Mrs. Xue and Ah Yao.

Xue Yunshu, too, was always going on about her own mother, feeling that the Duke Mansion had wronged them both.

Now, the three of them are truly reunited as a family.

In this life, Mei Wanying had seen Xue Yunshu’s true colors, and she couldn’t help but wonder, ’Was there a hidden story behind what happened in my past life?’

Xue Yunshu was no innocent, harmless little rabbit. To get rid of her, an eyesore, Xue Yunshu was capable of anything.

’Could Xue Yunshu have had a hand in my capture by the enemy?’

Thinking about it now was meaningless. She had a second chance, and Xue Yunshu... was already dead.

But Mei Wanying couldn’t stop her mind from racing.

’If Xue Yunshu really was involved, what would the Pei Yan from back then have done?’

’No matter what he did, it could never erase the harm done to her and her child.’

Mei Wanying thought, ’The one who’s acting like a rogue toward me now isn’t that cold and heartless Pei Yan from before.’

’They... are different.’

Xue Xingyao said, "Let’s not talk about them. It’s bad luck!"

Mei Wanying collected her thoughts and dropped the subject, asking Xue Xingyao to accompany her on a tour of her shops.

"After we check the shops, let’s go to the Ruyi Inn for a meal. Ling has been clinging to me for so many days, my mother told me to go out and clear my head."

Xue Xingyao feigned annoyance with her. "Ling is so much fun, I can’t get enough of playing with her! And here you are, complaining she’s clingy. You don’t appreciate what you have!"

A smile touched the corners of Mei Wanying’s lips. "You’ll understand when you have a child of your own someday."

Only Mei Wanying would dare say something like that. Everyone else was afraid she would think of the child she lost and be heartbroken.

Xue Xingyao had no intention of remarrying, but she didn’t plan to die alone either.

If she met the right person, she would still get married.

’So what if I stumbled with Chen Shujing?’

’It’s not like I can’t afford to lose. I’m not so fragile as to be once bitten, twice shy.’

’I can take it on the chin and move on. That’s just my style.’

The two of them chatted in the carriage, and in no time, they arrived at their destination.

As soon as they stepped out of the carriage, they ran into an "old acquaintance."

Shen Mingji also saw Xue Xingyao. "What are you doing here?"