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

The Crown Prince’s hoarding of weapons had become a major scandal. Even though he pushed forward a scapegoat, he still incurred the Emperor’s wrath.

The Crown Prince was put under house arrest in the Eastern Palace.

The court’s factions were deeply entrenched, and the nation faced both internal and external threats. It was a delicate situation where a single move could upset the entire balance. If not for this, the Crown Prince’s punishment would have been far more severe than mere house arrest.

As a result, the lake outing naturally fizzled out.

This was exactly what Mei Wanying wanted.

She simply lacked the energy to deal with the Crown Prince and his circle. All she wanted was to get far, far away from this land of strife.

Mei Wanying knew full well that given the relationship between Pei Yan and the Mei family, anyone from an opposing faction trying to trip him up could easily target her and her mother.

The Crown Prince wasn’t Pei Yan’s only enemy.

For her and her mother, leaving was the best choice.

She had no desire to marry anyone in the Capital City, nor did she aspire to be the wife of a high-ranking noble. Consequently, there was no reason to take such a risk.

Once she let go of these burdens, Mei Wanying felt a sense of relief, and her health recovered with remarkable speed.

Two days later, she was well enough to leave the house.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Mei had sent a formal request to the palace and was now simply waiting for Empress Gu to summon Mei Wanying for an audience.

「In the palace.」

"She wishes to see me. For what reason?"

Empress Gu had already learned of the incident at the Mei residence two days prior, even though Mrs. Mei had ordered everyone in the household to keep their mouths shut.

Mei Wanying fell into the water, and Ah Yan rescued her in full view of everyone.

That meant they’d had intimate physical contact!

’If the Mei family uses this to pressure him,’ she thought, ’knowing Ah Yan’s character, he’ll probably agree to marry Mei Wanying and bring her into his Prince Mansion.’

’Given the debt he owes them for raising him, Ah Yan wouldn’t make Wanying a Concubine.’

’Even if he can’t stand her, he’ll have to just grit his teeth and accept it.’

’If Wanying takes the position of the primary wife, what noble lady from any other family would be willing to serve as a concubine under her?’

’Isn’t this just harming Ah Yan?’

’Mei Wanying is a stumbling block. I should have dealt with her sooner.’

’Sending her away from the Capital City would have been fine.’

’Even agreeing to the Crown Prince’s request would have been better.’

’In any case, I can’t let Mei Wanying ruin Ah Yan’s important plans.’

Empress Gu’s face was cold and severe, a stark contrast to her usual kind and dignified appearance.

Her trusted Palace Maid replied uncertainly, "Could it be... she’s come to the palace to ask for your intervention, Empress, to make His Highness take responsibility for her?"

The maid’s words struck the very heart of Empress Gu’s concerns.

’Thinking of the shameless way Wanying used to chase after my son,’ Empress Gu thought, ’she’s clearly just trying to seize this opportunity to secure her position.’

’Everyone in the Capital City knows that Mei Wanying has sworn to marry no one but Ah Yan!’

Having been immersed in the Harem for the better part of her life, Empress Gu had seen every kind of scheme.

By comparison, Mei Wanying’s objective was far too obvious, and her methods were amateurish.

Empress Gu clicked her tongue. "I underestimated her. I thought she was just a simple-minded beauty, all looks and no cunning. Since she was content to chase after Ah Yan, I let her be. For the sake of her sincerity, for the way her heart and eyes were filled with nothing but Ah Yan, I even considered letting her be his Concubine. It would have guaranteed her a life without worry."

"I never expected Wanying to be so greedy. Because I wouldn’t approve her marriage to Ah Yan, she used falling into the water to force his hand. The sheer audacity!"

Empress Gu snorted. "She’ll scheme against anyone, it seems. I’ve been far too gracious with her!"

’My son is one in a million, the finest man there is.’

’How could a mere pretty face like Wanying ever be worthy of him?’

’The woman who marries Ah Yan must have exceptional qualities. She must be proficient in everything from her family background and talents to managing a household and its accounts.’

’Only the most outstanding woman is barely worthy of standing by Ah Yan’s side.’

As a future mother-in-law, Empress Gu naturally had to be selective and choose only the best.

In her mind, her son was perfect. Whoever married him would be receiving the blessing of a lifetime!

The Palace Maid chimed in, "Empress, you ought to teach her a lesson. It would be a disaster if she gets her way. The Mei family has already been handsomely rewarded over the years for the grace of raising His Highness. To now scheme to marry him as well... isn’t their ambition a bit much?"

Empress Gu had no intention of letting Mei Wanying succeed. She still had a flower-viewing banquet to arrange to select a wife for her son.

If Wanying managed to beat her to it, she would die of frustration.

Empress Gu would never approve of Mei Wanying becoming Pei Yan’s primary wife. Her fear was that her son would fall for the Mei family’s ploy and take the initiative to request an imperial decree for the marriage.

Pei Yan was strong-willed and resolute in his words and actions. On top of that, Empress Gu felt a sense of guilt toward her son, so she truly wouldn’t be able to refuse his request.

With mockery in her eyes, she said, "She’s come pleading to me. I suppose Ah Yan didn’t fall for her act, so she’s out of options and has to call for reinforcements."

The Palace Maid said, "Then she’s truly a fool. You are His Highness’s own mother. How could you possibly take her side and force His Highness to marry her?"

"If she weren’t a fool, would she have been so oblivious, clinging to Ah Yan all these years?"

Other girls her age, even if not yet married, would have been engaged long ago.

It was understandable that Mei Wanying hadn’t married, as she had been in mourning for three years.

But Empress Gu knew that Mei Wanying had never discussed marriage with anyone else.

The only man in her life was Ah Yan.

She had truly given her whole heart to Ah Yan.

Empress Gu sighed. "If not for the fact that her father is gone and there’s something wrong with her eyes, I wouldn’t mind letting Ah Yan marry her."

Others might scheme against Ah Yan, but Mei Wanying wouldn’t. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

She loves Ah Yan, and considers him more important than her own life. That is Wanying’s greatest virtue!

At this thought, Empress Gu’s dissatisfaction with Mei Wanying dissipated somewhat.

"Summon her to the palace. I want to hear how she plans to perform this little drama of hers. And while she’s at it, I’ll let her see the potential wives I’m considering for Ah Yan. Hopefully, she’ll have the sense to see the difficulty and retreat."

"For the sake of her genuine feelings for Ah Yan, as long as she shows some sense, I won’t make things difficult for her."

For her audience with the Empress, Mei Wanying’s attire was meticulously chosen.

She wore a crimson brocade dress, and beneath its hem were satin embroidered shoes, with intertwined lotuses embroidered so vividly they looked alive.

She wore her hair in a coiffure for an unmarried maiden, her temple curls jet-black. Tucked in her hair was a peony golden hairpin, exuding an air of nobility.

With a fine brow and delicate eyebrows, her almond-shaped eyes sparkled. Her cherry-red lips were as tender as petals, and her fair skin was flushed like a peach. She was, in truth, a divinely beautiful woman.

Mei Wanying had mourned for three years, shedding her childish air. Now that she no longer had to wear plain clothes, her bright and beautiful attire made her so stunning that people couldn’t look away.

The beautiful woman approached with a graceful, ethereal bearing.

Pei Yan had entered the palace to discuss matters. Having finished his official business, he ran into Mei Wanying head-on in a palace corridor on his way out.

Pei Yan froze for a moment.

He seemed to barely recognize the gorgeously dressed woman before him.

From a distance, his hawk-like, sharp eyes took in every detail of the woman, finally resting on her slender, willow-like waist.

’Soft.’

’Slender enough to wrap a hand around.’

Images from his dream flooded his mind without warning, and Pei Yan sharply tore his gaze away.

The distance between them grew smaller and smaller. Mei Wanying saw Pei Yan.

She also saw him turn his head away.

Her hands, clasped before her stomach, tightened slightly, and a ripple stirred in her heart.

’Pei Yan really does despise me.’

’It was the same in my past life, and it’s the same in this one. That’s never changed.’

She let out an imperceptible breath, and the ripple in her heart subsided. Mei Wanying performed a proper curtsy to Pei Yan.

With her eyes downcast, she drew near, carrying a woman’s unique, sweet fragrance, and then walked past.

She passed him with her eyes fixed forward, as if he didn’t even exist.

Pei Yan felt an inexplicable sense of loss. After he came to his senses, his expression tensed, and his pace quickened.

In the end, he still turned back for a look.

He was only in time to catch a glimpse of a crimson skirt hem.

And in the blink of an eye, she was gone.