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

Mei Wanying’s heart skipped a beat.

Mrs. Mei, who was waiting for her in the carriage, paled as well. Her heart hammered in her chest, threatening to leap out of her throat.

Who in the Capital City didn’t know that the Empress Dowager was the Crown Prince’s staunchest supporter?

This was because the Crown Prince’s biological father was the Empress Dowager’s eldest legitimate son!

Had he not been assassinated, it was anyone’s guess who would be sitting on the throne today.

Wealthy families valued their eldest sons and grandsons, and this was doubly true for the special affection grandparents held for their grandchildren. It was no secret that the Empress Dowager favored the Crown Prince.

The Empress Dowager’s interference was also the reason why Pei Yan, despite being acknowledged by the Royal Family, had not immediately been installed as the Crown Prince.

Mei Wanying had never once appeared before the Empress Dowager, yet she had received an imperial decree. The reason for it was self-evident.

Mrs. Mei quickly dismounted from the carriage and squeezed her daughter’s hand reassuringly.

When she felt how cold her daughter’s fingertips were, Mrs. Mei’s heart shattered with pain.

Xue Xingyao also stood by Mei Wanying’s side, her own sorrow forgotten, her eyes filled with nothing but worry.

Mei Wanying quickly composed herself.

She had a premonition. ’I probably won’t be able to leave today.’

The eunuch’s distinctive, grating voice rang out, "The Mei family has a daughter who is chaste, quiet, virtuous, gentle, and obedient. This Dowager Empress is unwell and finds no peace. You are hereby specially summoned to attend to me and serve my medicinal broths!"

Her premonition had come true. Mei Wanying’s heart plummeted, sinking to the depths of despair.

But she had no room to defy the decree.

A sense of powerlessness washed over her again. ’I just want to leave the Capital City, to leave this place of endless strife. Why is it so difficult?’

"Miss Mei, accept the decree."

"Your subject accepts the decree!"

The eunuch smiled at her. "Miss Mei, I see you’ve already packed your luggage. Shall you accompany me to the palace, then?"

They could have come at any time, but no, they had to arrive to announce the Empress Dowager’s decree just as Mei Wanying was about to leave the city.

She had just seen a glimmer of hope, only for it to be ruthlessly snuffed out.

This was a message to Mei Wanying: ’You cannot escape!’

Even with the Crown Prince under house arrest, as long as he refused to let go, Mei Wanying could forget about simply walking away!

Mrs. Mei slipped a few silver notes into the eunuch’s hand. "If you would be so kind as to oblige, I’d like to have a word with my daughter."

This was a perfectly natural request.

The eunuch felt the silver notes, and the smile on his face became a little more genuine. "Please, go ahead."

With that, he dismissed the people around them and took a few steps back himself.

Mrs. Mei had seen her share of turmoil, so she remained relatively calm.

She said to Mei Wanying, "Don’t panic. I will immediately send someone to the military camp with a message for Pei Yan. He won’t ignore you. You just need to follow the Empress Dowager’s wishes and ensure your own safety."

Mei Wanying didn’t want to be entangled with Pei Yan any further, but the current situation didn’t allow her to act tough.

’Pei Yan had been raised by the Mei family. As long as I don’t insist on marrying him, it’s not out of the question to use him in other ways.’

’Besides, if it weren’t for Pei Yan, the Crown Prince wouldn’t have targeted me in the first place.’

’There’s no need for me to be stubborn and make things harder on myself!’

"Mother, please send him the message as quickly as possible."

In the end, Mei Wanying was just a helpless young woman. Facing the powerful and influential Royal Family and sensing their malice, how could she not be terrified?

Right now, the only person who could help her was Pei Yan. If she were to remain hesitant, it would mean she wasn’t taking her own safety seriously.

Mrs. Mei squeezed her daughter’s hand tightly. "Don’t be afraid. Mother is here."

’If anything happened to her daughter, there would be no reason for her to live on. She would risk her own life to get justice for her.’

’Even the Royal Family had no right to forcibly take a woman!’

Xue Xingyao wanted to help but was afraid she would only cause more trouble for Mei Wanying.

All she could do was comfort her. "Pei Yan will definitely come to save you."

Mei Wanying nodded. "Don’t worry too much. I will protect myself."

’The worst-case scenario is being forced into the Eastern Palace. As long as I’m alive, there’s still a chance to turn things around.’

Having died once before, Mei Wanying cherished the chance to live.

She prayed silently, hoping that Pei Yan, for the sake of their past connection, would come rescue her quickly.

"Miss Mei, the hour grows late. Shall we depart now?"

Urged on by the Palace Attendant, Mei Wanying had to leave, no matter how reluctant she was.

Watching her daughter leave, Mrs. Mei’s tears fell without warning.

"My poor child..."

Ah Yin had been so close to freedom.

Why did the Royal Family have to make things so difficult for them?

If the General were still alive, would the Crown Prince dare to persecute Ah Yin like this?

Mrs. Mei was consumed by self-blame. "It’s my fault. I failed to protect Ah Yin, letting her suffer so many grievances. The General must be so worried, watching from the heavens!"

Xue Xingyao said urgently, "Aunt Su, you must send someone with the message quickly! A life is at stake!"

If the Crown Prince decided to use force, how could Ah Yin protect herself?

Knowing her temperament, she would rather fight until she was bloodied and broken than live with the shame!

Xue Xingyao hated Pei Yan to the core.

He was nothing but a jinx. He had made Ah Yin sad in the past, and now he was bringing danger upon her.

Uncle Mei never should have saved him, never should have taken him in and raised him.

Without Pei Yan, who knows how wonderful Ah Yin’s life could have been!

But no matter how much Xue Xingyao hated Pei Yan, she still had to rely on him to save Mei Wanying.

She sent her own people to deliver a message to the Prince Chen Mansion in the name of the Duke Mansion.

It was a two-pronged approach, hoping that Pei Yan would receive the news and rush back to the city to save Ah Yin!

The letter bearing the Mei family’s mark was sent out with utmost speed.

The person dispatched by Xue Xingyao also arrived at the Prince Chen Mansion and was, unsurprisingly, stopped by the guards at the gate.

Even invoking the name of the Duke Mansion was not enough. Outsiders could only enter the Prince Chen Mansion after submitting a formal request and receiving permission.

Fortunately, the person Xue Xingyao had sent was quick-witted. He claimed to have an urgent message concerning Prince Chen that the guards needed to relay.

Since it involved the master of the mansion, the guards had to take it seriously. They soon brought Wei Jue out.

Upon learning that Mei Wanying had been summoned to the palace by the Empress Dowager, Wei Jue was conflicted. Should he send a message to His Highness, or should he wait and see how things developed?

After all, His Highness had said that unless it was a matter of life and death, he was not to bother with Mei Wanying.

But His Highness had also said that if the Mei family was in need, Wei Jue should lend them a hand.

’The messenger was so anxious, so the Mei family must be in need.’

Wei Jue had always thought that His Highness’s feelings for Miss Mei were special. But the last time His Highness escorted Miss Mei home, something must have passed between them, because His Highness’s mood had been completely off afterward.

His face had been dark, and he was clearly displeased.

’It seems he even burned something in his study.’

’He even ordered that nothing related to Miss Mei was to appear before him ever again.’

The relationship between His Highness and Miss Mei was clearly deteriorating.

And now, His Highness was holing himself up in the military camp, not even returning to the mansion. With his departure from the capital imminent, he hadn’t even thought about spending a few more days with Miss Mei.

Wei Jue mulled it over and decided to have his informant in the palace keep an eye on Mei Wanying and, if necessary, step in to help her.

If the situation grew more urgent, then he would have no choice but to ask His Highness to intervene personally.

’His Highness might be displeased, but she was a daughter of the Mei family. His Highness was indebted to them, and in this lifetime, he would likely never be able to sever his ties with Miss Mei.’

’No matter how annoyed His Highness was with Miss Mei, he would not stand by and watch something happen to her.’

Of this, Wei Jue was certain.

He immediately dispatched more men to watch for any activity in the Empress Dowager’s palace. Nothing could happen to Miss Mei.

Otherwise, His Highness and the Crown Prince would end up in a fight to the death.

And now was not the right time for them to have a complete falling out!