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

Pei Yan’s first words made Mei Wanying choke.

’Tattling?’

’So that’s the kind of person he thinks I am.’

Mei Wanying laughed self-deprecatingly. ’What kind of person I am has nothing to do with Pei Yan.’

’And what he thinks of me is none of my business!’

Mei Wanying curtsied to Empress Gu to take her leave. "I have been away from home for quite some time. My mother will be worried."

Empress Gu had been wanting to discuss the matter of switching candidates with her son, so she summoned a Palace Attendant. "See the young lady of the Mei family out."

Mei Wanying curtsied once more before following the Palace Attendant out.

From start to finish, she didn’t spare Pei Yan a single glance.

’She’s really not the same as before.’

Pei Yan hadn’t even taken a seat yet; he subconsciously started to follow Mei Wanying.

Empress Gu called out to stop him. "Ah Yan, wait."

The delicate figure walked out of the main hall, vanishing from his sight once more.

An inexplicable panic seized Pei Yan’s heart.

He just wanted to chase after Mei Wanying.

’She’s so naive and has no guile at all. The palace is full of treacherous people and prying eyes. I’d better keep an eye on her.’

’So she doesn’t offend someone and get into trouble again.’

Without turning his head, Pei Yan said, "We can talk about it later."

Empress Gu had no time to stop him. He was already gone, his strides long and rushed. Where was the calm composure he usually had?

Empress Gu’s expression was complicated. "Ah Yan... is he going after Mei Wanying?"

Her trusted Palace Maid replied, "He’s probably going to settle the score with her."

"The moment His Highness entered, he accused Mei Wanying of coming to tattle again. His expression was cold, and he seemed very displeased."

"Mei Wanying just left, and His Highness is leaving right after. He must be eager to go teach her a lesson."

Empress Gu’s expression grew even more complex. "He’s a grown man. Surely he wouldn’t hold a grudge against a young woman."

’So what if Mei Wanying came to tattle?’

’It has no effect on him. He could have simply ignored it.’

’And yet, he chased after her...’

’Mei Wanying has such a great influence on him. No wonder the Crown Prince would set his sights on her.’

’Wouldn’t anyone who opposed him see Mei Wanying as the perfect weak point?’

Empress Gu shook her head.

’She couldn’t tell if he was setting Mei Wanying up as a live target to draw attention away from Xue Yunshu...’

’...or if he truly cared for Mei Wanying, so much so that he couldn’t control himself and seized every possible chance to get closer to her.’

As Mei Wanying walked, she heard footsteps approaching from behind.

She was so familiar with Pei Yan that she knew who it was without even turning around.

She could even tell his mood from the sound of his steps.

Not wanting to get entangled with him, Mei Wanying subconsciously quickened her pace.

"What are you running from?"

A hand seized her wrist, and the man’s chilly presence washed over her.

Mei Wanying frantically looked around, terrified that someone might see them and start gossiping again about how she was shamelessly chasing and pestering Pei Yan.

’If that happened, a thousand explanations wouldn’t be enough to clear my name!’

The Palace Attendants escorting her were from Empress Gu’s own retinue. The moment Pei Yan appeared, they lowered their heads and backed away several steps.

Mei Wanying tried to shake her hand free, but the man didn’t release her. Instead, his grip tightened, his tall frame looming over her.

Pei Yan looked down at her delicate, lovely face and asked the same question again, "What are you running from?"

Mei Wanying’s slender brows knitted together. She didn’t understand what Pei Yan was trying to do.

’I took the hint and left. Shouldn’t he be happy?’

"Let go."

Her voice was cold, not like before, when she would use a sweet, coquettish tone whenever she spoke to him.

’Every time, it made my heart race and my breath catch in my throat. Only by keeping my distance could I return to normal.’

’Pei Yan didn’t like that strange sensation; he thought it was a symptom of some illness.’

But now, seeing Mei Wanying’s pretty face turn cold, Pei Yan still felt a sense of discomfort.

’Whenever I run into Mei Wanying, I can never feel at ease,’ Pei Yan thought.

And so, he released Mei Wanying’s hand.

His knuckles distinct, his fingers curled and then clenched into a fist. Pei Yan stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

He was tall, and beneath his brocade robes was a powerful physique. Up close, his presence was imposing.

Mei Wanying put some distance between them.

Her posture made it clear she was drawing a line between them.

A sullen feeling welled up in Pei Yan’s chest, and his words turned harsh. "I decided not to hold what happened the other day against you, and this is how you repay me? The guilty one playing the victim and pointing fingers first?"

’Knowing Mei Wanying, she must have brought up that incident, begging my mother the Empress to intervene and force me to take responsibility for her.’

’All she’s ever wanted is to marry me, to become my wife.’

’Now that she finally has a chance to force my hand, I refuse to believe she wouldn’t take full advantage of it.’

He rubbed his fingers together. ’The atmosphere in the hall just now was cordial, not tense and cold like I’d imagined. The Empress must have promised her something.’

The man’s gaze was certain, as if to say: ’Mei Wanying, stop pretending. I know exactly what kind of person you are!’

Suddenly, Mei Wanying laughed.

There was no joy in her voice, only self-deprecation and disappointment.

She didn’t want to show her vulnerability in front of Pei Yan, but this was the man she had loved for so many years.

She couldn’t remain indifferent when he so thoroughly misunderstood her.

A bitter, sorrowful ache filled her heart, the pain welling up as moisture and misting her eyes.

The corners of her eyes grew red and damp, creating a heart-wrenchingly pitiful sight.

Mei Wanying forced down the lump in her throat. "Fine, let’s just say I came to tattle. Your Highness, may I leave now?"

’Any explanation would be useless. Pei Yan wouldn’t believe me; he’d just think I was trying to argue my way out of it.’

’Since that’s the case, why bother saying anything more?’

’Once I leave the capital, we’ll never see each other again. I’ll no longer delude myself with hopes of marrying him.’

’Mei Wanying no longer cared what kind of image she had in Pei Yan’s mind!’

A thin sheen of moisture veiled her almond-shaped eyes, and her gaze upon him was filled with finality.

’It was as if... as if she wanted to sever all ties with him.’

For a moment, panic flared in Pei Yan’s heart.

The sarcastic remarks he had prepared died on his lips.

He didn’t know how to soothe Mei Wanying to make her hold back her tears.

Frustrated, he took a step aside, no longer blocking her path.

And she walked away without the slightest hesitation, not a single word left for him.

Pei Yan’s frustration only grew.

’What’s wrong with Mei Wanying? Why is she crying for no reason?’

’I didn’t even scold her.’

Pei Yan followed unhurriedly behind Mei Wanying. Regardless of whether she walked quickly or slowly, they maintained a constant distance—not too close, not too far.

Staring at the back of Mei Wanying’s head, Pei Yan grew increasingly frustrated.

’I just saved her life a couple of days ago. Even if my tone was a little harsh just now, she couldn’t be this angry, could she?’

’Crying again.’

’Ignoring me again.’

’Why is she so quick to anger?’

Mei Wanying knew Pei Yan was behind her, but she ignored him completely, not once turning back.

When she exited the palace, however, her family’s carriage was nowhere to be seen.

Pei Yan brought a fist to his lips and cleared his throat. "I sent your driver home."

Mei Wanying was furious. "What gives you the right to make decisions for me?"

Pei Yan didn’t answer. "I’ll take you home."

’The other day, he had saved a drowning Mei Wanying in front of everyone.’

’The matter needed to be handled properly.’

’Otherwise, what would happen if people started wagging their tongues after he left the capital?’

’After all, there’s no such thing as a perfect secret.’

’On the day it happened, Pei Yan felt he had been set up, and he was furious.’

’But two days had passed, and even his monumental anger had faded.’

’Mei Wanying only wanted to marry him because she loved him. She harbored no ill intentions.’

’There was no need to be so angry with her.’

Even though Pei Yan thought this, his pride wouldn’t let him back down. "Have you looked at the list of names? Tell me who you want to marry. As your elder brother, I will certainly help you achieve it."

Mei Wanying let out a cold laugh.

’No wonder he was so kind as to offer to escort me back to my manor.’

’He just wanted to discuss marrying me off to someone else.’

"Are you in that much of a hurry?"