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

As they spoke of heartbreaking matters, tears began to stream down Xue Xingyao’s face.

She was clearly the family’s legitimate first-born daughter, but because of her father’s favoritism, she had suffered countless injustices in silence.

And her mother had it even worse. Constrained by her position as the matriarch of the household, she had to plan for Xue Yunshu’s future, even though she disliked her.

Xue Yunshu was defiant and had their father to back her up, so their mother lived in constant fear that Xue Yunshu would cause trouble outside and bring shame upon the Duke Mansion.

It was utterly revolting!

Xue Xingyao had been the one comforting Mei Wanying, but now their roles were reversed.

Mei Wanying had to console her for quite some time before she finally stopped crying.

Xue Xingyao dabbed the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. "It’s perfect that you don’t want Pei Yan anymore. A rotten fish for a rotten shrimp, a broken pot for a broken lid—they deserve each other! Let’s see what kind of happy life they can have!"

With a personality like Xue Yunshu’s, if she really marries into the Prince Chen Mansion, she’s sure to turn the entire household upside down.

Besides, the Empress will certainly never approve of Xue Yunshu.

She’ll get what’s coming to her soon enough!

Whenever it came to Xue Yunshu, Xue Xingyao couldn’t think straight.

Seeing the fury on her friend’s face, Mei Wanying sighed. "It’s you I’m worried about."

"Don’t worry. Even if Xue Yunshu successfully marries up, she can’t do anything to me. The most she can do is be a nauseating pest. It’s not like she can have me beaten to death."

Imagining Xue Yunshu’s smug, gloating face, Xue Xingyao grew even more furious.

Her anger spread to Pei Yan. ’He’s taken Xue Yunshu’s side! He’s her backer now!’

Xue Xingyao had already been displeased with Pei Yan, but now her feelings had escalated to outright loathing.

’From now on, those two are my enemies!’

’Pei Yan better not regret this. If one day he wants Ah Yin back, I’ll be there to stop him. I won’t let him get what he wants!’

Mei Wanying said, "That’s not what I meant."

"Then what do you mean? Aren’t you afraid she’ll bully me?" Xue Xingyao asked, her voice thick with grievance.

Mei Wanying explained, "The Empress may want a bride from the Duke Mansion, but that doesn’t necessarily mean she wants Xue Yunshu."

Xue Xingyao wasn’t stupid. With Mei Wanying having spelled it out so clearly, she’s be the biggest fool on earth not to understand the implication.

The color drained from her face. She gripped Mei Wanying’s wrist. "I will not marry Pei Yan! I’m going back to the mansion right now to tell my mother. I’ll have her arrange an engagement for me immediately!"

The news that Pei Yan had chosen Xue Yunshu was being kept tightly under wraps. The only reason Mei Wanying knew was that Empress Gu had let her find out, hoping she would back down on her own.

No one in the Duke Mansion knew yet.

Mei Wanying soothed her. "Don’t be so hasty. You have to be careful someone doesn’t take advantage of the chaos to harm you."

"Besides, he chose her himself. You know his temperament; once he makes a decision, he rarely changes it. Not even the Empress can necessarily sway him."

Xue Xingyao nodded. "Don’t worry. With my mother watching over things, I’ll be fine. It’s you I’m worried about. Even though ’that person’ is under house arrest, you still need to be extra careful. He’s a complete madman when he gets going. And don’t forget, he has powerful backing."

The Crown Prince was adopted from a branch of the Imperial Family. He is the Emperor’s biological nephew and the Empress Dowager’s biological grandson.

The Crown Prince’s birth parents were assassinated over twenty years ago.

The Empress Dowager treasures this grandson dearly.

The two share a deep bond. The Empress Dowager dotes on the Crown Prince even more than she does on Pei Yan.

Though reluctant to part with Mei Wanying, Xue Xingyao said, "If you can, leave the Capital City as soon as possible."

She herself had so many people protecting her, yet she often felt powerless over her own fate.

Just like now—she knew her mother would protect her, and her maternal family would pull strings to help, but she still felt a knot of unease in her heart.

’Ah Yin’s situation is so much more difficult than mine!’

Xue Xingyao was in a hurry to return to her own mansion and didn’t go to the main courtyard to bid farewell to Mrs. Mei.

"Ah Yin, please tell Aunt Su for me. Once we’re both settled, I’ll come to Jiangnan to visit you."

Mei Wanying blinked, her expression relaxed. "Or I could come attend your wedding feast after you and that Mr. Chen tie the knot."

Xue Xingyao blushed. "Nothing is even close to being settled yet. Stop teasing me."

Mei Wanying chuckled lightly. "I’ll be waiting for your good news."

Xue Xingyao felt a sudden wave of sadness. She sniffled. "We don’t have to part just yet. Don’t say things that will make me sad."

If they kept talking like this, she might actually start crying from sadness.

Xue Xingyao climbed into her carriage and lifted the curtain. "Once the date is set, be sure to let me know. I want to see you off."

Mei Wanying nodded. "I will."

Mei Wanying stood there for a long time, watching the carriage disappear into the distance. She didn’t move until long after it was gone.

She had grown up in the Capital City, and now that she had to leave, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness.

This very house held all her memories.

The happy ones.

The painful ones.

Mei Wanying would never forget a single one.

She stood at the entrance, gazing at the plaque of the General Mansion for a long while.

She had only just recovered from a serious illness and had also made a trip to the palace. A deep weariness was etched between her brows.

Ding Xiang whispered, "Miss, let’s go back inside."

Mei Wanying collected her thoughts. "Regarding our return to Jiangnan, make sure all the servants keep their mouths shut."

Secrets rarely stay secret for long, but hiding this from Pei Yan would be easy enough.

He would never take the initiative to ask about her.

As long as she kept her servants in line and no one tipped him off, she could probably return to Jiangnan without Pei Yan ever finding out.

...

「Duke Mansion.」

The moment Xue Xingyao stepped out of her carriage, she hurried toward the main courtyard.

On the way, she ran into Xue Yunshu and Duke Xue. It seemed the two of them were about to head out.

A bitter feeling welled up in Xue Xingyao’s heart, and her nose began to tingle.

’Father has never taken me out alone.’

But more important matters were at hand. Xue Xingyao offered a brief curtsy and tried to be on her way.

But Xue Yunshu stopped her. "Father says the palace is holding a flower-viewing banquet soon. Since I don’t have my own mother to help me prepare, I had to ask Father to take me to buy fabrics and jewelry. Sister, you have such good taste, why don’t you help me pick some things out?"

"You know I only know how to work with herbs; I don’t understand all those things young ladies concern themselves with. Please, Sister, won’t you help me?"

Xue Xingyao cursed Xue Yunshu’s shamelessness in her head. ’One moment she’s playing the victim, making it seem like Mother neglects her.’

’The next, she’s subtly putting down other ladies to make herself seem special.’

’That shameless creature!’

She couldn’t stop herself from rolling her eyes. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

She was immediately reprimanded by Duke Xue. "Your older sister is speaking to you! What kind of look is that? Have you forgotten all your manners?"

Xue Xingyao felt even more aggrieved.

’Father saw me roll my eyes, but how could he not see how nauseating Xue Yunshu is being?’

’He’s just pretending not to notice!’

"Father, you’re just playing favorites!"

Tossing those words behind her, Xue Xingyao ran to the main courtyard with tears in her eyes.

Xue Yunshu tsked to herself.

’My little sister is far too delicate, crying at the slightest provocation. Pei Yan is a General who has seen war; it’s no wonder he’d never be interested in her!’

Thinking of Pei Yan naturally led her to think of the Mei family’s daughter.

That woman was Xue Xingyao’s best friend and Pei Yan’s childhood sweetheart.

Xue Yunshu couldn’t fit into the circles of noble young ladies, not that she cared to associate with them anyway.

Thus, she had never interacted with Mei Wanying directly, only hearing bits and pieces about her.

’Now that my portrait has been sent to the palace and I have a chance to marry Pei Yan, Mei Wanying is my rival.’

’Everyone knows how shamelessly Mei Wanying pesters Pei Yan.’

’I need to find a chance to meet this Mei Wanying and see what she’s capable of, besides having the face of a beautiful vixen.’

’Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will win a hundred battles!’