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

Xue Xingyao went to the main courtyard with red-rimmed eyes.

One look was all Mrs. Xue needed to know why. That father and daughter had just left; they must have run into each other.

’She was sick with worry.’

She could swallow her own grievances, but she couldn’t bear to see her children suffer the same injustice.

Her two sons were fine. They were the men of the family, the ones who would one day support the Duke Mansion, so everyone in the Xue Family, from top to bottom, valued them.

But Ah Yao was different. Her father ignored her, and the old madam was fixated on marrying her into a higher-status family to benefit the Xue Family, placing strict demands on her.

In contrast, no matter what Xue Yunshu wanted to do, Duke Xue would support her.

With the Duke’s intervention, it was useless even if the old madam objected. She would always end up compromising with her own son.

Just like this time—it was the old madam who made the decision, giving Xue Yunshu the opportunity to have her portrait sent to the palace.

Mrs. Xue had never thought of marrying her daughter up into the Royal Family, but the actions of the old madam and Duke Xue chilled her to the bone.

’This is putting Xue Yunshu on equal footing with Ah Yao!’

Years ago, the Duke had eloped with someone. When he could no longer stand a life of hardship, he had come slinking back.

A child born out of wedlock had no name or status.

Unless he never came back at all!

For so many years, Mrs. Xue had yielded at every turn, never imagining that in return, Duke Xue and Xue Yunshu would only grow more audacious.

Even at her age, she found it disgusting, let alone the young and spirited Ah Yao.

"Just now, your father brought her here. He wanted the gold and ruby headpiece set from my dowry to give Xue Yunshu some prestige. I refused. Those things are to be left to you."

This made Xue Xingyao even angrier.

"No wonder she was so smug, saying Father was taking her to buy jewelry and fabric!"

Mrs. Xue soothed her, "Let them be. It’s not worth getting angry over. With the way she is, it doesn’t matter what fine clothes she wears or what beautiful jewelry she puts on. She’ll still look out of place and just end up a laughingstock!"

But Xue Xingyao still felt miserable.

’If Xue Yunshu really marries Pei Yan, her ego will be bigger than the sky!’

"Mother, I don’t want to marry Pei Yan, and I don’t want Xue Yunshu to marry him either."

Mrs. Xue knew that her daughter and Mei Wanying were good friends, and Prince Chen was the man Mei Wanying loved.

Ah Yao could marry anyone else, but she was resolute about never marrying Pei Yan.

As for not wanting Xue Yunshu to marry him, it was to prevent the other from climbing over her head.

That was only human nature.

Mrs. Xue understood her daughter’s feelings.

"I don’t want her in the Prince Chen Mansion either," Mrs. Xue said. "Look at her, with no upbringing at all. Forget bringing any benefit to the Duke Mansion, we should thank our lucky stars if she doesn’t drag us down with her!"

"Your grandmother must be getting senile to believe your father’s nonsense. Saying that submitting both sisters would increase the chances of one being chosen, and that no matter who marries Prince Chen, the Duke Mansion would benefit."

"He doesn’t even stop to think what kind of character his own bastard has. How could she compare to you? How could she compare to the young ladies of other families?"

"In my opinion, neither the Empress nor Prince Chen will think much of her. Let her make a fool of herself. In the end, it will all come to nothing."

"It will be a good chance for her to see herself clearly. She shouldn’t think she can do as she pleases just because she has the Duke backing her!"

Even ordinary families looked for a good match in social standing when arranging a marriage, to say nothing of the Royal Family choosing a daughter-in-law.

Every single aspect had to be considered.

Xue Yunshu had no maternal family to support her, and she was always out showing her face in public.

Perhaps some men might find her "special" and be attracted to her, but when it came to actually marrying her, not only would their elders disapprove, but they themselves would likely have second thoughts.

It was only Duke Xue who thought Xue Yunshu was perfect in every way.

’If she’s really so wonderful, why didn’t the Duke want the Medical Woman who acted just like her?’

’He’s just putting on a hypocritical act to cover up his true nature as an irresponsible man who loves them and leaves them.’

’It’s disgusting!’

Xue Xingyao’s expression was complicated. "Pei Yan... Prince Chen personally chose her."

Mrs. Xue wondered if she had heard correctly.

She asked uncertainly, "He chose whom? Xue Yunshu?"

Xue Xingyao nodded.

She said in a low voice, "Ah Yin went to the palace today and heard the news from the Empress."

Mrs. Xue knew what kind of person Mei Wanying was.

Many people outside said she was unladylike, shamelessly chasing after Prince Chen.

But Mrs. Xue thought she was bold and refused to be swayed by gossip.

Sometimes, Mrs. Xue truly envied Mei Wanying’s disposition.

She wouldn’t spread baseless rumors; of that, Mrs. Xue was certain.

She subconsciously twisted the Jade Bracelet on her wrist, her expression growing grave.

"Logically, Prince Chen and Xue Yunshu don’t know each other. Why would His Highness choose her?"

’His Highness is such a cautious person; he wouldn’t be reckless with his marriage.’

’Could he be plotting something?’

Mrs. Xue couldn’t figure it out.

In her eyes, Xue Yunshu was truly unpresentable, even worse than a girl from a minor family!

After a moment of thought, Mrs. Xue summoned someone. "Go and investigate whether Prince Chen and Xue Yunshu have had any contact."

After sending the person away, Mrs. Xue comforted her daughter, "Nothing is set in stone yet. Don’t you worry."

Xue Xingyao bit her lip. "Mother, the Empress doesn’t even approve of Ah Yin, so she certainly won’t agree to let Xue Yunshu into the Prince Chen Mansion. I’m afraid... what if the Empress takes notice of me? What should I do?"

This wasn’t just an idle worry; it was a real possibility!

Anyone else would have been overjoyed to be noticed by the Empress and would have immediately started planning their next move.

But Mrs. Xue didn’t want to send her daughter into the Prince Chen Mansion to struggle in the vortex of power struggles for the rest of her life.

The inner quarters of a noble house were already dangerous enough; the rear courtyards of the Royal Family were a life-and-death battleground.

Mrs. Xue truly couldn’t bear to send her daughter off to suffer.

The Duke Mansion had deep foundations. Even if her daughter didn’t marry into the Royal Family, the Xue Family’s honor wouldn’t be diminished in the slightest.

Why let greed cloud her judgment and send her own flesh and blood to a place where she might never see the light of day?

Mrs. Xue saw the worry and fear in her daughter’s eyes.

She patted the back of Xue Xingyao’s hand and reassured her, "Don’t worry. Madam Chen is very pleased with you. She has privately asked me if we’d be interested in a marriage alliance."

But a child’s marriage was not something Mrs. Xue could decide on her own.

She had rushed her daughter back to the capital specifically to discuss it with the old madam.

Now, with the situation so urgent, Mrs. Xue couldn’t wait another moment. "I’ll go talk to your grandmother right now and have the Chen family send a marriage proposal as soon as possible!"

Xue Xingyao was a little worried. "There’s no definite news from the palace yet. If we rush into marriage discussions with the Chen Family, will the Empress be displeased?"

That was indeed a problem.

Mrs. Xue pondered for a moment. "Leak the news to Xue Yunshu."

Xue Xingyao was a bit confused, but she would do as her mother said.

Still, she felt unhappy.

"Pei Yan is the man Ah Yin loves. It’s just disgusting that he’s getting mixed up with Xue Yunshu!"

Mrs. Xue said earnestly, "His identity now is that of a Prince. He’s no longer the adopted son of the Mei family, and certainly not Mei Wanying’s child husband. You must watch what you say. You cannot repeat such treasonous words. Offending Prince Chen will only bring disaster upon yourself!"

"I just can’t stand it."

Mrs. Xue replied, "You are just an unmarried young lady. It’s not your place to stand up for Mei Wanying!"