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

The carriage collecting Mei Wanying took a detour, bypassing the palace and heading straight for the city gates.

Mei Wanying suppressed the unease in her heart and asked, "Sir, where are we going?"

"The Empress Dowager is unwell and has gone to the Royal Villa to recuperate. Miss Mei, you won’t need to enter the palace."

Mei Wanying’s eyelid twitched.

’If I were going to the palace, I could still find a way to ask the Empress for help.’

’With so many people and prying eyes there, I could have found a chance to turn the tables.’

’But now that I’m being taken to the villa, what will I do if Pei Yan doesn’t come to save me?’

Ever since her rebirth, Mei Wanying had avoided Pei Yan at every turn. She never imagined a day would come when she would so desperately long for his appearance.

’If I had known this would happen, I should have coaxed Pei Yan into personally escorting me from the Capital City.’

Mei Wanying was filled with regret, but it was useless to dwell on it. She could only take things one step at a time.

’Thankfully, Pei Yan hasn’t left for the Border yet. Otherwise, I’d truly be without hope.’

Sitting in the carriage, Mei Wanying lifted a corner of the curtain. Her stunning eyes swept over the scenery outside, her expression pensive.

The eunuch noticed her action but didn’t stop her.

’Unless the Empress Dowager gives the word, does she really think she can escape? That would be defying an imperial edict!’

’No one has that kind of courage.’

’As long as Prince Chen doesn’t come and make trouble, this Miss Mei will certainly become the Crown Prince’s woman.’

’To be fancied by the Crown Prince is a blessing for her.’

He chuckled and said, "The spring scenery is lovely. Miss Mei, you should enjoy the view. Don’t disappoint the Empress Dowager’s kind intentions."

Mei Wanying’s chest tightened, the weight of Imperial Power suffocating her.

She didn’t even have the energy to put on an act.

Her slender hand went limp, and the curtain fell, concealing her beautiful face once more.

The eunuch clicked his tongue internally. ’This Mei family’s girl has quite the temper.’

’Anyone else would have been showering me with compliments by now, trying to indirectly curry favor with the Empress Dowager.’

’But not her. She’s brazenly showing her displeasure.’

’Attending to the Empress Dowager during her illness is a tremendous honor, yet she’s not even grateful!’

’No wonder she can’t win Prince Chen’s favor. With a temper like that, she might as well be a revered ancestor!’

He spoke with a sarcastic edge, "Miss Mei, you’d best check that temper of yours when you’re before the Empress Dowager. Otherwise, not even the Crown Prince will be able to protect you."

A derisive smile touched Mei Wanying’s lips, her eyes turning to ice.

’So it really is about the Crown Prince!’

Her tone was flat as she replied, "Thank you for the reminder. To be noticed by the Empress Dowager is my honor."

"That’s the right way to think, Miss Mei."

The closer they got to the Royal Villa, the tighter Mei Wanying’s clasped hands became.

’Has Pei Yan received the news? When will he get here?’

「Military Barracks.」

Pei Yan was about to depart the Capital City and had a great deal of official business to handle.

He had been staying at the barracks, hoping to arrange his affairs as quickly as possible before heading to the Border to resolve the trouble there.

His power base was in the military. If the Crown Prince wanted to fight him, he would surely try every means possible to plant his own men within the army.

While he was away from the Capital City, he couldn’t give others an opportunity to exploit any openings.

Immersed in this work, the emotions Mei Wanying had stirred up in him gradually dissipated.

It was only in the dead of night, when he saw the handkerchief embroidered with an orchid, that his heart would stir again.

A corner of the handkerchief had been burned, and the embroidered character for "Yan" had vanished.

’The evidence of Mei Wanying’s designs on me is gone,’ Pei Yan thought. ’So now it’s just an ordinary handkerchief. There’s no need for me to pick a fight with a handkerchief. That would just make me seem petty.’

And so, he had kept the item as a matter of course.

He even carried it with him.

Pei Yan decided he would go see Mei Wanying on the day of his departure to return her things.

’If she leaves it with me any longer, she can’t blame me if I set it on fire!’

The letter from the Mei family arrived while Pei Yan was in a meeting with several generals.

The messenger placed the letter in Pei Yan’s office and withdrew.

By the time the meeting ended, four hours had passed.

On the desk were official documents and two stacks of letters. One stack pertained to Court affairs.

The other was for routine matters.

Sitting behind his desk, Pei Yan, for once, didn’t immediately turn to his official duties.

He took out Mei Wanying’s handkerchief and stared at it for a long time.

The bloodstains on it had been washed clean.

’It’s not right for a young lady’s possession to remain with me. Perhaps I should go return it to her now?’

’Once my military affairs are in order, I’ll head straight for the Border. That way I won’t have to waste time seeing Mei Wanying.’

’She’s spoiled, and she loves to cry.’

’She cries when she’s happy.’

’And she cries when she’s not.’

’Every time she sends me off, she cries until her eyes are red and swollen.’

’Her eyes are already weak. If she cries too much, they might be ruined before she’s even old.’

’I have no intention of being Mei Wanying’s crutch when I’m old and gray!’

A voice in his heart told Pei Yan to go see Mei Wanying at that very moment.

First, he could return her things.

Second, today could serve as their farewell.

Mei Wanying didn’t know when he was leaving the Capital City. If she didn’t come to the city gates to see him off, she probably wouldn’t cry.

Pei Yan let out an imperceptible sigh.

’Being Wanying’s guardian is so troublesome. I always have to think about these things for her.’

’Let her cry if she wants to cry. It’s not my eyes that will be hurt, anyway.’

’But if I don’t let Wanying see me off, she’ll just write letters scolding me again!’

Mei Wanying had done that sort of thing before.

’Fine, one more meeting it is. I’m going to the Border soon enough. Then I’ll finally have some peace and quiet.’

Having made his decision, Pei Yan tucked the handkerchief close to his chest.

He sat up straight and began to read through his letters, occasionally taking up his brush to pen a few confidential replies.

After finishing one stack, the man rose and walked outside.

By now, the sky had grown dark.

Pei Yan’s face was a mask of nonchalance, but his steps were quick.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince’s men are making a move!"

Pei Yan’s steps halted. He rubbed his fingers together, his expression turning dark and unreadable.

Finally, he patted the spot on his chest.

’Holding on to it for Mei Wanying a while longer isn’t such a difficult task.’

Turning on his heel, Pei Yan headed back the way he came.

...

「Royal Villa.」

After Mei Wanying arrived, she did not see the Empress Dowager. Instead, she was led to a remote courtyard.

The villa was heavily guarded, yet this particular courtyard was unnervingly desolate.

Inside was only a Mute Maid, who brought Mei Wanying food at mealtime.

Mei Wanying tried to ask her for information but found that the maid was not only unable to speak, but also could not hear.

The courtyard was utterly silent. There was no one to even talk to.

After nightfall, there were no candles, no lanterns. The entire small courtyard was enveloped in darkness.

Mei Wanying was afraid of the dark.

Terrified.

Unable to see, she was like prey that had fallen into a trap.

Tumultuous waves crashed within Mei Wanying’s heart. It felt as though she were walking along a cliff’s edge, with not a shred of security.

When one’s eyes cannot see, one’s ears become exceptionally sharp.

Mei Wanying could even hear her own heart, pounding like a drum.

In spring, the rain comes without warning.

A clap of thunder exploded across the sky. The deep RUMBLING grew closer, accompanied by the PATTER of raindrops.

It masked any sound of movement nearby.

Mei Wanying couldn’t see, nor could she clearly hear the commotion at the door. Every nerve in her body grew taut.

She had never experienced anything like this. An unknown fear began to spread.

’What are they trying to do? Are they trying to torture me this way, to make me break down?’

Mei Wanying clutched a butterfly hairpin in her hand and murmured, "Pei Yan, when will you come?"