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

Mei Wanying didn’t read the letter, nor did she say what to do with it.

Ding Xiang had no choice but to put the letter in a casket, right next to the Jade Pendant that symbolized his identity.

’Perhaps her lady will be willing to read it someday.’

’It was just like the Jade Pendant. At first, her lady hadn’t wanted it either. She even wanted to ask Heir Chen for help returning it to him.’

Ding Xiang wasn’t married, so she had never experienced romantic love.

She was truly baffled. ’Does romance really hold such power over a person’s emotions?’

She couldn’t figure it out, so she decided not to dwell on it.

Ding Xiang placed the casket back in its original spot. If her lady wanted to read the letter, she would be able to find it easily.

In the end, Pei Yan was unable to attend Ling’s birthday banquet.

He never showed his face. No one knew whether he had returned to the Capital City or was still in the house across the street.

Seeing her daughter’s red, swollen eyes—the obvious sign she had been crying—Mrs. Mei didn’t dare bring him up.

She was afraid of upsetting her daughter and making her cry again.

Ling didn’t understand the complexities of the adult world. Her large, clear eyes scanned the room, but she didn’t see Pei Yan.

She rested her head on Mei Wanying’s lap and asked quizzically, "Daddy..."

The rest of her words were muffled, but everyone present knew Ling was looking for her daddy.

Mei Wanying froze for a moment. ’Have I made a mistake?’ she wondered for the first time.

’No matter how much I hate Pei Yan for his deceit, shouldn’t I have let him stay for Ling’s first-year banquet?’

’This is an important day for her. Ling might be little and not understand much, but she still wants her daddy with her.’

Mei Wanying gently stroked her daughter’s fine, soft hair. "Shall I have Nanny Liu take you to him?"

Her intuition told her that Pei Yan wouldn’t leave as long as Ling’s birthday banquet was still going on.

In some ways, they were equally stubborn.

’Perhaps he’s still holding out hope that I’ll suddenly change my mind.’

’He won’t give up until the very last moment.’

If Ling wanted to see Pei Yan, Mei Wanying could send someone to take her to the house across the way.

Blood ties couldn’t be changed. She wouldn’t stop Ling from seeing Pei Yan.

Ling nodded, then shook her head, and finally threw herself into Mei Wanying’s arms.

She shook her little head and said in a tiny, sweet voice, "Nooo~"

In Ling’s world, "Mama" was the most important person; if she was out of sight for even a moment, Ling would start looking for her.

As for "Daddy," he was someone who appeared and disappeared unexpectedly, nowhere near as important as Mama.

Ling didn’t cry or make a fuss about not seeing Pei Yan.

Snuggled in Mei Wanying’s arms, her eyes sparkling, she asked, "Mama, play?"

This meant it was time for the *zhuazhou* ceremony.

Mei Wanying patted her daughter’s back, then held Ling with both hands and guided her over to a low table.

Auspicious items for the *zhuazhou* ceremony were arranged in a circle on the table—a full twenty of them. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Mei Wanying told Ling to choose the one she wanted most.

Ling furrowed her tiny brow, a look of conflict on her face, and mumbled that she wanted them all.

With that, she leaned her tiny body over the low table and tried to scoop all the items into her arms.

But she was too little, and her arms were too short; she couldn’t possibly gather them all.

Ling grabbed a gold ingot and handed it to Mei Wanying, wanting her to hold it for her.

Then she grabbed a writing brush and gave it to Mrs. Mei, having her hold it as well.

The inkstone was too heavy for Ling to lift.

Finally, holding a small bow in one hand and a seal in the other, she glanced at Mei Wanying, signaling for her to help gather the rest.

That seal had been carved by Pei Yan. Mrs. Mei and Nanny Liu exchanged a look, neither daring to mention his name.

Mrs. Mei cleared her throat and praised, "Ling is so clever! She knows to grab hold of everything she wants."

Ling grinned, revealing baby teeth as tiny as grains of rice. She tilted her head back to look up at Mei Wanying, wanting her mama to praise her too.

Mei Wanying didn’t disappoint her. She knelt down and pressed a kiss to Ling’s little cheek.

’I don’t want to see Pei Yan, but I won’t stop him and his daughter from having a relationship. Nor will I forbid Ling from accepting his gifts.’

’Pei Yan carved the seal, but as long as Ling is happy, why should I be the one to ruin her good mood?’

She kissed her daughter’s other cheek as well. "Ling, you must grow up strong and healthy. As long as you are safe and sound, Mama could ask for nothing more."

Ling didn’t understand the words, but to her, her mama’s kiss was the highest praise.

Holding the small bow and the seal, she went around showing them off to everyone, including Nanny Liu and Ding Xiang.

Ling was overjoyed, and her laughter echoed for a long way.

...

As Mei Wanying had thought, Pei Yan had indeed not yet left Jiangnan.

He was waiting, waiting for Mei Wanying to have a change of heart.

Even if they didn’t reconcile right away, just being allowed to attend his daughter’s first-year banquet would have been a stroke of great fortune for him.

The man stood in the spacious, empty courtyard, facing the direction of the Mei Family’s old house.

The trees in the courtyard were bare, and he stood alone, looking utterly dejected.

Time ticked by, but no one from the Mei family came to get him.

By his calculations, Ling’s *zhuazhou* ceremony should have been over by now...

Although he had prepared himself for this, when the moment truly came, Pei Yan still felt a pang of anguish. The last glimmer of light vanished from his deep, well-like eyes.

’Will Ah Yin never forgive me?’

’Does she never want to see me again?’

The sound of hurried footsteps approached. Wei Jue reported to the cold, solitary man, "Your Majesty, the Little Princess grabbed the seal!"

’That was the one Your Majesty carved himself,’ Wei Jue thought. ’This should bring him some comfort.’

Sure enough, a flicker of life returned to Pei Yan’s deadened eyes. His lips trembled, twisting into an expression that was half-smile, half-sob.

"Ah Yin gave the seal to Lingling..."

’Does this mean there’s still a chance for us?’

’Ah Yin hates me for my deceit, but she hasn’t taken away my status as Lingling’s father.’

’I can still see Lingling. I can still raise our daughter with Ah Yin.’

Pei Yan told himself not to push Ah Yin. She had been through so much; she needed time to process her feelings.

What he had to do was be a good father to Lingling, and show Ah Yin that his heart was always with hers.

If Ah Yin didn’t want to see him, he wouldn’t cause her any more grief. But if she ever needed him, he would appear at her side in an instant.

Pei Yan made his decision. He would leave Wei Jue behind in Jiangnan.

"Protect Ah Yin and Lingling. Do not let them come to even the slightest harm. And no matter how trivial, report everything to me in the Capital City by letter."

’Even after I return to the Capital City, I must be kept aware of everything concerning Ah Yin and Lingling.’

’Ah Yin won’t write to me on her own, so I can only rely on Wei Jue’s reports.’

Pei Yan’s tone was grave. "That is my Empress and my Little Princess!"

In his heart, Mei Wanying was his wife. She always had been!

The position of Empress would be hers, if only Ah Yin would agree.

His wife could only be Mei Wanying.

That would never change.

As for Lingling, she was his and Ah Yin’s daughter. When he returned to the capital, he would issue an imperial edict to give her a proper, legitimate title.

He would not allow anyone to gossip about Ah Yin and Lingling behind their backs.

Wei Jue understood perfectly how important those two were. He also understood that the Emperor was leaving him in Jiangnan as a sign of his trust.

Moreover, the Emperor himself had declared them Empress and Princess.

The Emperor had entrusted him with a great responsibility.

Wei Jue didn’t feel slighted in the least. On the contrary, he felt he was being entrusted with a vital task.

’I must carry out this duty perfectly, so as not to betray the Emperor’s trust!’

He bowed. "This subordinate accepts your command!"