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

Xue Xingyao felt conflicted.

The matter between her and Chen Shujing was entirely his fault; it had nothing to do with the Shen siblings.

Running into Shen Mingji, she didn’t know how to act around him.

Mei Wanying knew that Shen Mingxiao’s younger brother was in Jiangnan, having been sent to a military camp by Chen Shujing for training.

For Shen Mingji’s sake, Chen Shujing had even left Ah Yao and rushed to Jiangnan.

Now, seeing the look on Xue Xingyao’s face, Mei Wanying immediately knew who the young man was.

She grasped Xue Xingyao’s hand under her wide sleeve and asked Shen Mingji, "Yes?"

Shen Mingji was genuinely surprised to see Xue Xingyao here.

Hearing someone speak, he finally noticed the woman beside Xue Xingyao.

The woman had a graceful figure and a devastatingly beautiful face. He didn’t even have to guess who she was.

She was the young lady of the Mei family.

The one who had borne the New Emperor a child.

The New Emperor had even once been her child husband...

Her name was Mei Wanying. Everyone knew of her!

Shen Mingji wasn’t interested in Mei Wanying’s business,

so he averted his gaze and asked Xue Xingyao, "Is Brother Chen here?"

’Did they argue because of me?’ he wondered anxiously.

Xue Xingyao’s expression was serene. "He and I are divorced. We have nothing to do with each other anymore. If you’re looking for him, you can send a letter to the Chen Family."

"Divorced?"

Shen Mingji was stunned.

But a voice in his heart told him it was only natural. Chen Shujing had gone too far. As his wife, it made sense that Xue Xingyao couldn’t accept what he’d done.

He wanted to ask more, but Xue Xingyao had already pulled Mei Wanying into a jewelry shop.

Shen Mingji shifted on his feet, but ultimately, he didn’t follow them.

’What would be the point of following them?’

’What could I even say?’

’Apologize to Xue Xingyao?’

It wasn’t that Shen Mingji was afraid to apologize, but he felt it would be hypocritical.

She had been hurt. A few empty words wouldn’t be enough to heal the wounds in her heart.

Shen Mingji lowered his head in frustration, kicking a loose stone on the side of the road.

’How could they be divorced?’

’Does Xue Xingyao hate me?’

Just then, Xue Xingyao turned and saw his dejected display.

’He really is different from Chen Shujing,’ she thought. ’He seems so much more naive.’

She suddenly recalled their first meeting. Shen Mingji had come to her, saying he had something important to tell her.

Perhaps what he’d wanted to tell her back then was about Chen Shujing and his sister.

Unfortunately, back then she had trusted Chen Shujing too much and never gave Shen Mingji the chance to speak.

Xue Xingyao looked away, refusing to waste any more thought on Shen Mingji.

’He’s on Chen Shujing’s side. From now on, it’s best we act like strangers if we meet.’

...

「Capital City.」

Pei Yan’s rival was dead. The former emperor had passed away, and he had smoothly ascended the throne.

After the enthronement ceremony, memorials urging him to fill the Harem were delivered to the Imperial Study Room, one after another.

Pei Yan didn’t even look at them, simply telling Wei Jue to take them to be burned.

"The period of national mourning is not yet over. This is inappropriate. Anyone who brings this up again is trying to brand me as an unfilial son. I will strip anyone who mentions it of their post!"

The man radiated an authority that required no anger. This wasn’t a threat; he truly meant it.

Wei Jue spread these words.

Pei Yan couldn’t be bothered with what outsiders thought. He only had one thing on his mind.

To stabilize the imperial court, and then go to Jiangnan to see Mei Wanying and Ling.

The two locations were extremely far apart; even traveling day and night, the journey would take five days.

But as long as he could get even a single glimpse of Mei Wanying, Pei Yan felt it would be worth it.

Ah Yin was still alive, living well in Jiangnan. As long as he went there, he could see her.

That was already more than enough. What more could he ask for?

Clad in a bright yellow Dragon Robe, the man sat behind his desk handling state affairs. His majestic aura was now even more intense, making it impossible for others to look at him directly.

He had not yet finished reviewing the memorials when an Imperial Eunuch came in to announce, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is here."

Pei Yan now sat on the dragon throne. His birth mother, the former Empress Gu, had been elevated to the rank of Empress Dowager.

The imperial court and the Harem were both in their hands.

A flash of displeasure crossed Pei Yan’s eyes.

He could never forget how his own mother had tormented Ah Yin in his past life.

She had even intercepted the letters Ah Yin wrote to him.

And even in this life, that woman hadn’t stopped pressuring Ah Yin.

Pei Yan had grown up in the Mei family and held little affection for his birth mother.

Before, for the sake of their blood ties, he would visit the palace to pay his respects every so often, even if he felt no real connection to her.

But now, his perspective had changed. He no longer wanted to see anyone who had hurt Mei Wanying.

The man’s voice was cold. "I will not see her."

Empress Dowager Gu had just reached the entrance of the Imperial Study Room. Hearing his words, her expression stiffened for a moment.

She instinctively glanced at Mrs. Feng.

Mrs. Feng shook her head and whispered a reminder, "Your Majesty, you absolutely must not mention taking on consorts."

Ever since he woke up from the poisoning, His Majesty had been like a different person.

Before, they could at least maintain the facade of a ’caring mother and a filial son,’ but now, he didn’t even bother to pretend.

The way he looked at Her Majesty was utterly cold, as if she weren’t his mother, but his enemy.

Mrs. Feng couldn’t understand how a person could change so quickly.

She could only remind Empress Dowager Gu not to say anything that would displease him, lest the bond between mother and son be destroyed completely.

As Pei Yan’s own mother, how could Empress Dowager Gu not have noticed his transformation?

When her son looked at her with that icy gaze, her heart ached as if it were being sliced by a knife.

Empress Dowager Gu took a deep breath and entered the Imperial Study Room anyway.

Heeding Mrs. Feng’s advice, she didn’t mention filling the Harem.

"Ah Yan, when will you summon Mei Wanying back to the Capital City?"

It was common knowledge that her son was fond of Mei Wanying.

Now that he was Emperor, he no longer needed to marry for political gain. If he wanted to marry Mei Wanying, it was best to grant him his wish.

It would be better than letting them become estranged and grow even more distant in the future.

At the mention of Mei Wanying, a guarded look entered Pei Yan’s eyes. His tone was flat. "She is not returning to the Capital City."

Empress Dowager Gu was confused.

’Is Ah Yan not allowing Mei Wanying to return, or is she the one who’s unwilling?’

Her intuition told her it was most likely the latter.

That Mei Wanying was incredibly stubborn. Ah Yan had been entangled with her in Jiangnan for months, but she still hadn’t relented and agreed to bring their child back to the Capital City.

Now that Ah Yan was the Emperor, supreme glory and favor awaited Mei Wanying if she returned to the Capital City.

Empress Dowager Gu truly didn’t understand. What was Mei Wanying holding out for?

Meeting her son’s cold gaze, Empress Dowager Gu felt a bitter pang in her heart.

’I haven’t done anything to harm Mei Wanying or Ling. Why is Ah Yan looking at me like that?’

’Anyone who didn’t know better would think we were enemies!’

Suppressing the pain in her heart, Empress Dowager Gu asked, "If she’s not returning to the Capital City, does that mean Ling isn’t coming back either?"

Pei Yan didn’t want to waste his breath. He just wanted to focus on his official duties.

The sooner he finished, the sooner he could head to Jiangnan.

He hadn’t seen Ah Yin in so long, and he missed her terribly. Simply looking at objects that reminded him of her was no longer enough.

He had to see her.

Hold her!

Kiss her!

"If there is nothing else of importance, you may leave."

His voice was as cold as ever.

Empress Dowager Gu looked at the face before her. It was the same as it had always been, but for some reason, his entire presence had changed.

It was a coldness that seeped into one’s very bones.

A single glance from him sent a chill through one’s entire body...

Empress Dowager Gu could only concede. "Ah Yan, your mother wishes to go to Jiangnan to see Ling."