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

Ling went to sleep early, so she woke up early too.

She had slept her fill not long after nightfall.

When she woke up and didn’t see her mommy or daddy, she immediately started wailing at the top of her lungs.

It was rare to hear Ling cry with such vigor. Instead of being annoyed, everyone in the courtyard was delighted. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Having the strength to cry was a good thing.

Ling’s illness was finally getting better!

Mei Wanying wouldn’t let her mother enter the courtyard to see Ling, but Mrs. Mei couldn’t rest easy and came to stand at the courtyard gate every day for a while.

She came during the day, and she came at night too.

Unable to sleep this particular night, she decided to come and listen for any sounds.

When she faintly heard Ling’s cries, Mrs. Mei’s eyes grew moist.

"Just a few nights ago, Ling didn’t even have the strength to cry."

Although she received daily reports on Ling’s condition, it wasn’t until she heard the little one’s cries with her own ears that Mrs. Mei truly believed her granddaughter was getting better.

Nanny Liu was also happy. "Our Ling is a lucky charm! She’s bound to turn this misfortune into good fortune and have endless blessings in her future!"

Mrs. Mei nodded repeatedly. "When Ling recovers, we’ll set up a stall at the manor’s entrance to give out clothes and medicine. It will accumulate blessings for her."

"We should also send medicine to the Children’s Benevolence Hall. They’re all little children there. We can’t have them suffering like Ling has."

Nanny Liu: "As you wish!"

Mrs. Mei walked back, her heart at ease. The entire way, she mulled over what good deeds she could do to accumulate blessings for her daughter and granddaughter.

The Mei family was large and prosperous—a blessing from the heavens. They had to perform more acts of charity to ensure this good fortune would last for a long, long time!

...

Mei Wanying had just finished dressing when Pei Yan entered the room, holding Ling.

He held the child in one arm and a candlestick in the other, not allowing any attendants to follow him in.

The little one’s face was streaked with tears, but the moment she saw Mei Wanying, she broke into a smile.

Her expression changed so quickly that even Pei Yan had to admit he was no match.

"Lingling insisted on seeing you," Pei Yan said, his tone full of resignation.

When Ling woke up during the day, she hadn’t seen Mei Wanying.

Waking up again and still not seeing her, it was impossible for her not to cry and make a fuss.

After all, Ling was just a child who had recently turned one.

"Mommy~"

The little one called out in her baby voice. The moment Pei Yan set her down on the bed, she tried to burrow into Mei Wanying’s arms.

Afraid the girl would break her chickenpox blisters while trying to snuggle in, Mei Wanying quickly scooped her up.

She swayed back and forth, gently patting Ling. "Did you miss Mommy?"

The little one nodded. "Missed you~"

Pei Yan sat on the edge of the chaise, asking her with an expectant look, "Did you miss Daddy?"

Ling glanced at Pei Yan, a conflicted expression on her face, unsure how to answer the question.

Unable to answer, she turned and nuzzled against Mei Wanying’s chest. "Hungry~"

The meaning behind her refusal to answer was obvious.

Pei Yan was crestfallen.

’My daughter didn’t miss me at all.’

Mei Wanying looked smug. "Ling loves me the most."

Pei Yan nodded. "And I love you the most, so that makes us even."

Mei Wanying chided him, "Stop talking nonsense."

Pei Yan wasn’t talking nonsense. He was speaking from the heart.

In his heart, Ah Yin would always come first. No one could ever surpass her.

Noticing Mei Wanying squint, Pei Yan moved the candle further away, placing it on a nearby table.

It was positioned so it wouldn’t be glaring but would still allow Mei Wanying to see.

After setting down the candle, he returned to her side.

He took his daughter’s two chubby little hands in his, preventing her from scratching the blisters on her body.

Although the most dangerous period was over, the blisters hadn’t completely disappeared, so they still had to be careful.

Scratching them could leave scars.

Everyone cares about their appearance. As Ling’s parents, they should think ahead for their child as much as possible.

Holding her two little hands, Pei Yan said, "Go ahead and feed her. She won’t fidget now."

Then, as if remembering something, he stood up, fetched a damp cloth, and asked Mei Wanying to wipe herself clean first.

A blush rose on Mei Wanying’s face. Feeling very uncomfortable, she said, "Get out."

Pei Yan was perplexed. "I’m not a stranger."

Mei Wanying glared at him. "You’re so shameless!"

Pei Yan didn’t think he was being shameless. "It’s you who’s thin-skinned."

He could see that Mei Wanying was genuinely uncomfortable, so Pei Yan didn’t press her at a time like this.

"Should I have Ding Xiang come in to help?"

Mei Wanying grunted in affirmation. "Don’t go far. I have something to tell you."

She was an impatient person and wanted to have a clear, frank talk with Pei Yan as soon as possible.

If it worked, it worked. If not, then so be it.

This unclear, drawn-out back-and-forth was not her style.

Pei Yan didn’t know what Mei Wanying wanted to say, but he hadn’t planned on going anywhere to begin with.

He carefully studied Mei Wanying’s expression. Seeing that she didn’t seem to be changing her mind, he let out an imperceptible sigh of relief.

’As long as Ah Yin doesn’t kick me out, she can say whatever she wants.’

The moment Pei Yan stepped out, Ding Xiang came in to help.

Any discerning person could see what was going on between her young mistress and the Emperor.

Ding Xiang didn’t ask any questions, methodically doing what she was supposed to do.

Once Ling had finished her milk, she withdrew from the room.

The tall man was standing right outside the door, not having moved a single step away.

Ding Xiang thought to herself, ’The Emperor is really different now. In the past, he was always avoiding our mistress...’

She curtsied and left in silence.

Ling was still sick and lacked energy. After drinking her milk, she lay obediently in bed, babbling away to Mei Wanying.

She spoke incoherently, and Pei Yan couldn’t understand a word.

But Mei Wanying could carry on the conversation, responding to her daughter’s babbles without pause.

Pei Yan thought to himself, ’No wonder Ling loves Ah Yin more. As a father, I’ve really missed out on so much.’

Ling wanted to sleep with her mommy and daddy. She shifted over and lay down obediently in the middle of the bed.

She pointed to her left, then to her right, and finally stared at Mei Wanying and Pei Yan. Her meaning was perfectly clear.

Ling’s condition was improving, but the doctor had instructed them not to sleep with the child, to wash their hands frequently, and to take the preventative medicine on time.

By nursing the child herself, Mei Wanying was already taking a greater risk than anyone else.

Even if she were willing to sleep with the child, Pei Yan wouldn’t allow it.

Before, when they had stayed by Ling’s side without leaving, it was because the situation had been critical. They couldn’t leave the child.

Now that things were improving, the adults needed to be even more careful. They absolutely could not let their guard down.

Otherwise, just as the child recovered, someone else might fall ill.

Pei Yan whispered, "I’ll get her to sleep as quickly as I can."

Mei Wanying nodded, lay down beside her daughter, and gestured for Pei Yan to do the same.

The little one was very stubborn. If she wasn’t satisfied, she wouldn’t go to sleep obediently.

’In that respect, she takes after Pei Yan!’

Pei Yan lay down on the outer edge of the bed. With his wife and daughter beside him, the feeling was indescribable.

It was as if his heart had been suddenly filled to the brim, with no space left.

He stretched out his arm and laid it over Mei Wanying.

If not for Ling’s chickenpox and the need to avoid rubbing against her, he would have wanted to pull both his wife and daughter into his arms.

The little one’s big eyes stared at Pei Yan’s arm. She craned her neck to see his hand resting on Mei Wanying’s waist.

"Daddy, th... this way..."

Her little hand patted her own body, teaching him to pat her mommy to lull her to sleep.

The small gesture made Pei Yan laugh out loud.

’Lingling really loves Ah Yin so much.’

’She’s our wonderful daughter!’

Without Pei Yan needing to coax her, with her mommy and daddy by her side, the little one quickly fell asleep.

Once she was fast asleep, Pei Yan gently carried the child back to the adjacent room.

With maids and a doctor watching over her, he felt at ease.

After returning, he personally helped Mei Wanying wash her hands and re-fumigated the room with medicinal herbs.

When he had finished all this and saw Mei Wanying was still awake, Pei Yan knew that what she wanted to say was important.

She couldn’t wait a moment longer.

He asked curiously, "What did you want to talk about?"

He prayed silently in his heart, ’Please don’t tell me to leave...’