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

Pei Yan was buried in state affairs; he couldn’t just up and leave whenever he pleased.

Before going to Jiangnan to see Mei Wanying and Ling, he had to take care of all his political duties.

He also had to plan a hundred steps ahead for every one he took, resolving any potential issues in advance.

Pei Yan was already devoted to matters of state, but in his eagerness to see Mei Wanying and Ling in Jiangnan, he now burned the midnight oil processing official documents every night.

He rested for only two hours each night.

His diligence made the ministers below him nervous, fearing that the Emperor would find fault with any misstep they made.

And what about past events? They wondered if the Emperor would dredge up old scores.

Would he strip them of their positions?

This emperor was different from the last. He possessed formidable methods, held the military firmly in his grasp, and though he hadn’t been on the throne for long, his position was incredibly secure.

No one dared to cross Pei Yan.

Suddenly, the court officials were all bustling with activity, and the matter of pushing women into the Harem was temporarily forgotten.

Pei Yan was very satisfied with this.

He wanted only Mei Wanying. Once she gave the nod, he would lay the best of everything at her feet.

’What Ah Yin doesn’t want, I will not give to anyone else, even if it means leaving it empty!’

He carried the letter Ling had written to him at all times.

Whenever he had a spare moment, he would take it out and look at it for a while.

Although he couldn’t understand what his daughter had written, Pei Yan firmly believed they were all good things.

’Our daughter is so well-behaved, just as likable as Ah Yin.’

’She can write letters at such a young age, just as clever as Ah Yin.’

Pei Yan was a man of flesh and blood, not a tireless stone. When he felt exhausted, looking at his daughter’s letter gave him renewed motivation.

Pei Yan hoped Mei Wanying would write him a letter too. If she did, he would seal it and preserve it forever!

A few days later, another letter arrived from Jiangnan.

Although it wasn’t written by Mei Wanying, the contents of the letter were her exact words.

Pei Yan’s heart soured. ’Is some Shen Mingji really worth Ah Yin’s concern?’

’He’s just an outsider...’

The last few times they had fought, Ah Yin had also taken the initiative to approach him for the sake of Xue Xingyao and Gu Xun.

’She’s truly too soft-hearted.’

’When will such a soft-hearted Ah Yin show some of that softness to me?’

But then the man had another thought: ’Ah Yin must love me so much to have such strong emotional reactions.’

’If she had no reaction at all, that would mean she had truly given up on us.’

’Ah Yin still has me in her heart.’

At this thought, Pei Yan cheered up again.

He immediately rescinded his previous order.

It was rare for Ah Yin to make a request of him, so of course he had to satisfy her.

’What does Shen Mingji matter?’

’He’s just some young punk. Ah Yin would never like him.’

’As for Lingling mistaking someone for me... it must be because Lingling misses me so much that everyone she sees looks like me.’

’My daughter is thinking of me. I should be happy!’

Pei Yan finally had a legitimate reason to write to Mei Wanying.

He had done everything she asked.

At the end of the letter, Pei Yan nervously wrote a sentence: "My wife Ah Yin, I am yours to command!"

He had originally wanted to write the two words "your husband," but he was afraid of angering Mei Wanying.

Ah Yin didn’t acknowledge him as her husband, but in his heart, Ah Yin was his wife!

Pei Yan had arranged for a dedicated courier for the letters traveling between Jiangnan and the Capital City.

The letter was quickly delivered into Mei Wanying’s hands.

Mei Wanying didn’t open it. The letter sat on the table for a long time until Ling, waking from her nap, playfully tore the envelope and pulled out the paper inside. Only then did Mei Wanying glance at it.

With that one glance, she saw the two words "My wife."

Mei Wanying spat, "Shameless!"

Ling copied her, spitting as well, then held the letter up to Mei Wanying. "Mama, read..."

Mei Wanying pinched her daughter’s little cheek and said chidingly, "He really is your birth father!"

Pei Yan wasn’t physically in Jiangnan, but he had taken over all of Ling’s expenses for food, clothing, and daily needs.

Mei Wanying put in the effort while he provided the silver; they were raising their daughter together.

Under these circumstances, the people in the old residence inevitably mentioned Pei Yan. Ling wasn’t a fool; having heard his name so many times, she naturally remembered him.

Ling grinned, revealing her baby teeth, and shook the letter. "Papa?"

"Yes, it’s him."

Ling sat on Mei Wanying’s lap and pushed the letter forward again, looking at her mother with pleading eyes, wanting her to read the contents.

Mei Wanying was still hesitating.

Ling: "Mama~"

The little one squirmed in her arms, wheedling nonstop in the most adorable way.

Mrs. Mei came to get her little granddaughter, intending to take her to the ancestral hall to offer incense.

Seeing this, she teased, "You’re just taking advantage of the fact that Ling is illiterate. In another three to five years, even if you wanted to read her letters, Ling wouldn’t need you to."

Mei Wanying’s lips curved. "While she’s still illiterate, shouldn’t I take the chance to tease her a little?"

Ling understood.

With a hmph, she slid off Mei Wanying’s lap and ran toward Mrs. Mei, letter in hand.

"Grandmother, read..."

Mei Wanying had only seen the two words "My wife"; she had no idea if the letter contained anything else embarrassing.

That man, Pei Yan, was so thick-skinned, he was capable of saying anything.

If there really was something, and someone else read it, she would want to find a hole to crawl into!

She quickly tried to coax Ling, "Come back, Mama will read it to you."

The little one huffed again. "No~"

She wanted Grandmother to read it, not Mama!

Afraid her mother would snatch the letter away, the little girl stumbled forward with unsteady steps.

She giggled as she ran.

She was clearly being mischievous, deliberately teasing Mei Wanying.

Mei Wanying pretended to go after her. The little girl glanced back, then yelped nervously, "Help, help..."

Mrs. Mei bent down and caught the little one as she threw herself into her arms.

She shot her daughter a reproving glance. "She’s just a little baby. Why are you scaring her?"

Mei Wanying: "She was the one being naughty first."

Mrs. Mei: "That’s just the nature of children. You were much naughtier than Ling when you were little. Before you could even walk steadily, you were trying to climb trees to raid birds’ nests."

Back then, General Mei was still alive and doted on Mei Wanying. The first thing he did every time he returned to the manor was to hold his daughter.

General Mei was tall and imposing. He would lift his daughter high up, letting her touch the flowers and leaves on the trees, and even talked about taking her to raid birds’ nests.

Influenced by her father, Mei Wanying was a real rascal as a child.

She dared to climb trees for birds’ nests and wade into the water to catch fish.

Her attendants were on pins and needles every day, having to watch her without blinking for fear that she would get bumped or bruised at any moment.

Mei Wanying was lively and cheerful, the complete opposite of Pei Yan’s personality.

Later, as she grew up, began to read and write, and studied music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, Mei Wanying’s boisterous nature gradually subsided.

But compared to the noble ladies of other families, she was still not gentle or composed enough.

But as the only daughter in the family, she was spoiled by General Mei and Mrs. Mei. General Mei, in particular, was extremely protective, and outsiders didn’t dare to speak ill of Mei Wanying.

It was only after all she had been through that Mei Wanying developed her current personality.

The mention of the past made Mrs. Mei feel melancholy, but thankfully, with the little bundle of joy that was Ling, her sadness didn’t last long.

She sat her little granddaughter on her lap, holding Ling with one arm and the letter with the other.

Just as she was about to read it to the little one, the letter was snatched away by Mei Wanying.

"Allow me."

Mrs. Mei smiled. "Alright. Mama doesn’t want to get a stye."

Mei Wanying: "..."