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

Ling was Pei Yan’s first child, and his only one.

Empress Dowager Gu wanted to see her, which was only natural.

But Pei Yan did not trust Empress Dowager Gu. He could not trust her, even though she was his own mother.

The moment anything displeased her, she would make things difficult for Ah Yin and Ling.

Under the weight of imperial power, Ah Yin was powerless to resist, even if she wanted to.

Pei Yan would not allow anyone to hurt them again.

During his time in Jiangnan, he had been relaxed. The moment he stepped back into the Imperial City, all the unpleasant memories came flooding back.

A shadow of gloom hung in Pei Yan’s eyes. Only by Mei Wanying’s side could he feel like a normal person.

He refused in a cold voice. "You would do well to remain in the palace. You gave birth to me, so of course I will fulfill my filial duties."

"But should you lay a hand on mother and daughter, do not blame me for being ruthless and placing you in confinement."

He had referred to himself with the imperial pronoun, issuing a command as the Emperor.

Empress Dowager Gu’s expression shifted several times before she finally voiced the question on her mind.

"Ah Yan, did Mother do something wrong to upset you?"

In the past, Ah Yan had never been particularly close with her, but he had at least been respectful.

By comparison, he was now terrifyingly cold, like a block of ancient ice that could never be thawed.

’Empress Dowager Gu searched her heart. She had devoted herself completely to her son. If it weren’t for her, who knew how many years Ah Yan would have had to wait to ascend the throne.’

’She had laid the best of everything at Ah Yan’s feet. Surely that was enough to atone for any mistake, no matter how great?’

’So why was Ah Yan treating her this way?’

Pei Yan was blunt. "When you make Mei Wanying unhappy, you make me unhappy. My life was saved by General Mei, and Ah Yin has risked her life for me many times. I will not forget the debt I owe the Mei family."

"Most importantly, it has to be Mei Wanying! If you still consider me your son, then stop making things difficult for her. I am already using all my strength to win her back. If one day she leaves for good, I don’t know what I might do."

Pei Yan’s gaze was profound, as if it could see right through to a person’s soul.

He said, "You intercepted her letters and had people watch her every move. I do not want that to happen again."

Empress Dowager Gu’s lips trembled, and she was unable to utter a single word.

It was precisely because Pei Yan was her own son that his words struck her to the core.

’In Ah Yan’s heart, Mei Wanying’s place was far above her own.’

’No, it was more accurate to say her place was above everyone else’s.’

’Even... his entire empire!’

Heartbreak overwhelmed Empress Dowager Gu, and her eyes reddened. "Everything I’ve done has been for you, for the greater good! If I hadn’t had her watched, she would have aborted the baby! Would there even be a Ling today?"

The hand with which Pei Yan held his brush froze for a moment.

’Back then, Ah Yin had been determined to sever all ties with him; of course she wouldn’t have wanted to bear his child.’

’From the very beginning, Ah Yin hadn’t wanted to carry his child. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have sent Ding Xiang to fetch abortion medicine.’

’The existence of Ling was purely an accident.’

’In everything that followed, Ah Yin’s hand had been forced.’

’As adorable as Ling was, it couldn’t erase the injustice Ah Yin suffered by being forced to give birth.’

She had suffered so much, and every time Pei Yan thought about it, his heart ached.

He returned to reviewing his memorials, his expression impassive. "Where I stand, Mei Wanying *is* the greater good. She is not your enemy, nor has she ever obstructed you in any way. You should think before you act. What good, exactly, does it do you to struggle against her?"

Empress Dowager Gu was left utterly speechless.

Seeing that her son had no intention of saying anything more, Empress Dowager Gu turned and departed from the Imperial Study Room, looking utterly dejected.

At the sight of Mrs. Feng’s worried expression, Empress Dowager Gu’s eyes welled with tears.

"He’s guarding against me," she said, her voice like a sigh.

’All because of such trivial matters, Ah Yan had not only grown distant, but he was now wary of her at every turn.’

’But she had never actually harmed Mei Wanying.’

’When Mei Wanying was pregnant, she had sent people to serve her.’

’She had even been prepared to sacrifice her own nephew’s marriage just to give the woman and her child a legitimate status, to spare them from being condemned by the world.’

’After the child was born, Mei Wanying was not shorted on rewards.’

’For every festival, without fail, she had gifts sent across a great distance.’

’She had done so much. How had she wronged Mei Wanying in any way?’

What hurt Empress Dowager Gu most was her own son’s attitude.

’It was one thing for Mei Wanying to resent her, but for Ah Yan to not understand her either...’

’Who on earth was she doing all this for?!’

Mrs. Feng had served the Empress Dowager for many years; she knew perfectly well what Her Majesty had done regarding Mei Wanying.

’Compared to the wicked mothers-in-law of other families, Her Majesty’s actions were merely precautions, preventing Mei Wanying from holding the Emperor back.’

’That was hardly a major offense.’

’So why had the Emperor raised such a storm and grown so distant from Her Majesty?’

Mrs. Feng did not dare to say more. The Emperor had eyes and ears in both the court and the Harem. If she misspoke, she would be severely punished.

’The man in the Imperial Study Room was not the man he used to be.’

’His methods were harsher, his heart colder. If he was angered, no amount of pleading from anyone would be of any use.’

Mrs. Feng had given the Empress Dowager plenty of advice in the past, and now her heart was pounding with fear.

Only when they were back in the Empress Dowager’s chambers did she whisper, "Your Majesty, your relationship with the Emperor is what matters most. You should pay Mei Wanying no mind."

If Mei Wanying hadn’t given birth to a child, the Empress Dowager wouldn’t have bothered with her.

"Ling is still in her possession. How can I rest easy without seeing the child with my own two eyes?"

Mei Wanying had a problem with her eyes, and not a day went by that Empress Dowager Gu didn’t worry about Ling, terrified she might have inherited her mother’s condition and that it would suddenly flare up.

Besides, that was her own granddaughter. What was so unnatural about wanting to see the child?

She hadn’t demanded that Mei Wanying bring the child back to the capital. Instead, she was willing to travel the great distance to Jiangnan herself.

And yet, Ah Yan refused to allow it.

What was that, if not guarding against her?

In the past, if the Empress Dowager wanted something done, she made sure it was done.

But after her son had gone to Jiangnan to steal a bride and then shamelessly refused to return, Empress Dowager Gu didn’t dare to act rashly.

"He’s truly lost his mind over that Mei Wanying!"

’If Mei Wanying didn’t bring the child back to the capital, did that mean Ah Yan would refuse to marry and have heirs for the rest of his life?’

’What a ridiculous notion!’

The Empress Dowager was seething inside, but she didn’t dare openly defy her son at this juncture.

The relationship between mother and son was already icy. She didn’t want to make things worse.

After some thought, Empress Dowager Gu summoned Gu Xun to the palace. "I want to ask him just how that Mei Wanying has been slandering me to the two of them. How could Ah Yan make one trip to Jiangnan and return a completely different person!"

Even Xun had changed.

His temperament was no longer as warm and gentle; he had become quite cold and distant.

’Getting entangled with Mei Wanying... could this be Xun’s downfall?’

Mrs. Feng interjected, "Your Majesty, you mustn’t! Your previous attempt to marry Mei Wanying into the Gu Family is a thorn in the Emperor’s side. Seeing Lord Gu at a time like this would only remind the Emperor of that whole affair, wouldn’t it?"

"If the Emperor is displeased and his heart turns further from you, you will be the one to suffer."

’She couldn’t do this, she couldn’t do that.’

If Pei Yan were not her own son, Empress Dowager Gu wouldn’t have to be so restrained. She would simply do as she pleased.

But he was her own flesh and blood. She couldn’t simply disregard his feelings.

Empress Dowager Gu sighed. "Children are nothing but creditors you’ve brought into the world!"