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

Shen Mingji had yet to reach the Northern Land when he received a new order: return to Jiangnan.

Wiping non-existent sweat from his brow, Shen Mingji thought, ’Is this what they mean by the Emperor’s will being unpredictable?’

’The Emperor changes his mind so fast, it’s like flipping through a book...’

Shen Mingji couldn’t help but wonder. ’Since the Emperor is sending me back to Jiangnan, does that mean the whole business with the Little Prince’s mistaken identity is over and done with?’

Although he missed the people in Jiangnan, Shen Mingji was more eager to go to the Northern Land and build a name for himself.

He had nothing to his name right now. Others had to worry about his every affair, and even the Shen family was about to fall into the hands of a concubine’s son.

He was running out of time and could no longer afford to hesitate.

It wouldn’t be too late to return to Jiangnan and see the person he wanted to see once he had made something of himself.

Shen Mingji asked someone to pass on a message for him. "I wish to go to the Northern Land to build a name for myself. Please ask the Holy Emperor to grant me this one chance."

The messenger was willing to do Shen Mingji this favor. After all, for the Emperor to have noticed him, he must have something special about him.

He relayed Shen Mingji’s request to Pei Yan.

Prior to this, Pei Yan had received a letter from Chen Shujing, who begged him to show mercy and not send Shen Mingji to his death in the Northern Land.

He wrote that Shen Mingji was the only family member Shen Mingxiao had cared for, and if anything happened to Shen Mingji, he would have failed the trust of his departed friend.

Pei Yan finally remembered: this Shen Mingji was the younger brother of Chen Shujing’s sweetheart.

He had even met him once, a long time ago.

At the time, Chen Shujing was in marriage negotiations with Xue Xingyao, yet his purpose for coming to the Capital City was to help Shen Mingji solve a problem.

Two years had passed, and to think Chen Shujing was still worrying about Shen Mingji’s affairs.

’No wonder Xue Xingyao divorced him.’

Pei Yan clicked his tongue.

’Trying to win back Xue Xingyao while also fussing over his sweetheart’s younger brother,’ he thought to himself. ’Isn’t he tired?’

’No wonder Xue Xingyao won’t forgive him.’

’Serves him right!’

Pei Yan pressed a hand to his chest, a look of lingering fear on his handsome face.

’Good thing I’ve never loved anyone else. Otherwise, Ah Yin would surely find me filthy and never forgive me.’

Not bothering to deal with Chen Shujing, Pei Yan granted Shen Mingji’s request.

’A man’s ambition should lie in all corners of the world. It’s a good thing to be daring and determined. If he’s always held back, when will he ever truly grow up?’

’If Chen Shujing is worried, that’s his own problem.’

Pei Yan mused that Chen Shujing was indeed a good person. Back then, they were complete strangers, yet Chen Shujing had chosen to save him.

’Shen Mingji is his sweetheart’s younger brother. If he were to ignore him completely, he wouldn’t be Chen Shujing.’

After some thought, Pei Yan did end up writing a letter back to Chen Shujing.

He informed him of Shen Mingji’s own wishes and, at the end, even praised him as a rare philanthropist.

Upon receiving Pei Yan’s letter, Chen Shujing felt the other man was being passive-aggressive and mocking him.

’If I were such a good person, how could I have hurt Ah Yao?’

Staring at the letter for a long time, Chen Shujing zoned out.

’It seemed like everything he did was based on his own wishful thinking.’

’Ah Ji didn’t need him to plan his future.’

’And Ah Yao didn’t need him to compensate her for anything.’

Chen Shujing had the mistaken impression that nobody needed him anymore.

’He had been abandoned...’

The letter Xue Xingyao wrote to Madam Chen had worked. The Chen family elders were now pressuring Chen Shujing; if he didn’t return home soon, they would arrange a new marriage for him.

They had already found a suitable candidate.

It was a daughter from a concubine of the Shen family, one who bore a resemblance to Shen Mingxiao.

The Shen family and the Chen Family were of equal social standing. As the heir, Chen Shujing was, by rights, out of reach for a concubine’s daughter.

Even when choosing a second wife, he had many options.

This concubine’s daughter’s only advantage was her resemblance to Shen Mingxiao.

Madam Chen stated bluntly in her letter that his true love was still Shen Mingxiao, and his refusal to let go of Xue Xingyao was merely due to an inability to adapt.

Once he entered a new marriage, he would naturally be able to let go of the person from his past.

She also said the young lady from the Shen family was gentle and lovely, with a personality and temperament very similar to Shen Mingxiao’s, and that he would surely like her once he met her.

A vein throbbed on Chen Shujing’s temple. He had said it so many times—he would not take a second wife! ’Why won’t they listen?!’

’And they even found a concubine’s daughter from the Shen family. Are they trying to anger me to death?’

If he were to agree to this marriage, Xiaoxiao would surely come curse him in his dreams.

Ah Ji would also cut off all ties with him.

And Xue Xingyao... she would think he was a fickle man, that all he cared about was a face that resembled Xiaoxiao’s.

Chen Shujing’s expression was grim as he crumpled the letter in his hand.

It was only at this moment that he was struck by the realization: he was attracted to Xue Xingyao, and her eyes, so similar to Xiaoxiao’s, were not the main reason.

If it weren’t Xue Xingyao, no matter how much someone else resembled Xiaoxiao, he would not have been moved.

Unfortunately, he had realized it too late. Xue Xingyao had already lost hope in him.

With a cold, grave expression, Chen Shujing ordered his horse to be prepared.

After he took care of this mess, he would return to Jiangnan and have an honest, open talk with Ah Yao.

’If she comes back to me, we’ll live a good life together.’

’But if she doesn’t...’ A dull ache spread through Chen Shujing’s chest. ’I can’t just keep pestering her relentlessly. That would be too vexing.’

He didn’t want to be despised by Xue Xingyao.

...

Xue Xingyao was busy. So busy she had no time to think of Chen Shujing, nor to pay any mind to his whereabouts.

If Mei Wanying hadn’t brought him up, she would have nearly forgotten he even existed.

After watching Xue Xingyao for a long moment, Mei Wanying said, "You’re already over Chen Shujing."

It was a statement, not a question.

Xue Xingyao lifted her chin. "Men are a dime a dozen. What’s so special about him?"

Chen Shujing was handsome, learned, and from a prominent family.

Any one of those traits alone would be enough to make many young women’s hearts flutter.

Having experienced great ups and downs, Xue Xingyao had gained a much clearer perspective. Chen Shujing’s dazzling qualities no longer held any appeal for her.

Seeing Xue Xingyao’s relaxed expression, completely devoid of regret, Mei Wanying cursed Chen Shujing in her heart for getting what he deserved.

’Don’t think I don’t know,’ she thought. ’Chen Shujing sent a letter to the Northern Land, trying to find someone to look after Shen Mingji.’

Mei Wanying couldn’t judge whether Chen Shujing was right or wrong, but the fact remained that his inability to let go of the past had caused her dear friend to suffer.

"He’s only suited to be a friend, not a partner," Xue Xingyao said.

Mei Wanying asked casually, "What kind of person is suited to be a partner, then?"

"Someone like yours, of course."

Xue Xingyao took a calm sip of tea. "He stays away from other women, he only has eyes for you, he’s willing to yield to you on any matter, and he would never let you suffer any grievance."

Mei Wanying and Pei Yan had had a falling-out and still hadn’t reconciled.

Other than Xue Xingyao and Ling, no one dared to mention Pei Yan in her presence.

He had been back in the Capital City for a long time now.

When he left, the land was frozen solid; now, the summer sun blazed.

Over such a long period, even if Mei Wanying’s anger had been as vast as the heavens, it would have calmed down by now.

Her beautiful, almond-shaped eyes filled with confusion. "But I can’t forget the past."

’If Pei Yan had no memory of it, I could treat them as two different people.’

’But he does.’

’I can’t find any reason to excuse him.’

Xue Xingyao gripped Mei Wanying’s hand. "That’s *your* past. If you can’t forget it, then hold on to it tightly. The moment ’you-know-who’ reverts to his old ways, you make the first move and dump him ruthlessly!"

"You have beauty and you have wealth. There are plenty of men who aren’t afraid to die for the chance to marry into your family."

"..."

In the private room next door, Pei Yan gritted his teeth, nearly crushing the porcelain cup in his hand.

’Here we go again.’

’These people are trying to convince Ah Yin to cheat on me again!’