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

Pei Yan brought Mei Wanying to the Prince Chen Mansion, where an Imperial Physician was already waiting.

After escorting Mei Wanying to the guest courtyard, Pei Yan departed.

Those who had witnessed Pei Yan carrying Mei Wanying into the mansion were still speculating if something was developing between their prince and Miss Mei. But his departure was utterly decisive.

Without the slightest hesitation.

He walked so fast, it was as if he were fleeing a flood or a ferocious beast.

Everyone came to the same conclusion: ’Just as we thought. His Highness still detests Miss Mei as much as ever.’

The attending Imperial Physician was highly skilled. After a session of acupuncture, most of Mei Wanying’s discomfort subsided.

Her strength gradually returned, and the sensation of insects gnawing at her flesh receded like the tide.

She would be back to normal after drinking her medicine and getting a night’s rest.

Mei Wanying breathed a sigh of relief when she didn’t see Pei Yan.

’He saved my life today. It would be wrong to treat him with such distance now; it would make me seem like an ungrateful wretch.’

’But I can’t go back to fawning all over him like I used to, trying to curry favor when he clearly doesn’t want it.’

’Better not to see each other at all than to face that kind of awkwardness.’

’That’s the best option.’

「The Main Courtyard」

As soon as Pei Yan returned, he went straight to the bathhouse. An hour later, he emerged, enveloped in steam.

He seemed somewhat refreshed, yet also a little guilty and vexed. Something was clearly off.

Pei Yan personally washed Mei Wanying’s handkerchief and hung it to dry in a place where it would be out of sight.

’Out of sight, out of mind!’

’As for returning it...’ Pei Yan thought, ’it’s not like Mei Wanying is short one handkerchief.’

’If it comes down to it, I’ll give her a few bolts of fine fabric. She can make as many handkerchiefs as she wants from that.’

’It’s not that I care about this particular handkerchief. It was just dirty, so there was no need to keep it.’

’If I eagerly hand it back to Mei Wanying, people who don’t know any better might think I’m just looking for an excuse to see her.’

’It’s just a handkerchief, and one corner is even burned.’

’I’ll throw it away in a bit!’

’Throw it far, far away!’

As he thought this, Pei Yan moved the handkerchief to the windowsill. He’d throw it away after it dried.

Having composed himself, Pei Yan summoned Wei Jue.

"How is she?"

Wei Jue could have guessed who "she" was with his eyes closed.

Even without romantic feelings, Miss Mei was clearly very important to His Highness.

When he heard Miss Mei was in trouble, His Highness had dropped everything. He had even stormed the private villa, risking the Empress Dowager’s wrath.

Wei Jue would never forget how terrifying the Prince’s aura had been at that moment.

If anything had happened to Miss Mei, His Highness would have undoubtedly raised hell!

’If he cares so much for Miss Mei, why did he say those things?’

’Something about not telling him anything unless it’s a matter of life and death...’

Wei Jue secretly decided that from now on, he would report everything about Miss Mei to the Prince, big or small, as soon as he heard it.

After all, he hadn’t reported that Miss Mei had been summoned by the Empress Dowager, and the death glare the Prince had given him could have killed him!

’Luckily, Miss Mei is alright. Otherwise, my fate would have been terrible...’

In Wei Jue’s mind, Mei Wanying’s importance had just risen by several notches.

’This is the woman His Highness cares for. I must pay close attention!’

"Miss Mei is out of danger. A night’s rest should be enough."

The darkness in Pei Yan’s eyes lessened somewhat. "Send her home."

When she was at her most frightened, she had cried about wanting to go home.

’Being in a familiar place should be better for her recovery.’ 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Wei Jue was just about to carry out the order when Pei Yan stopped him. "Actually, send her back tomorrow morning. We wouldn’t want people gossiping that she was kicked out in the middle of the night."

Wei Jue clicked his tongue in silent amazement.

’His Highness, who’s always been so uninhibited, is actually starting to care what other people think.’

’More importantly, he’s protecting Miss Mei.’

’The sun must be rising in the west!’

Wei Jue quickly replied, "I will be sure to escort Miss Mei back to her mansion with all due ceremony."

Pei Yan’s lips twitched. "I’m not marrying her. Just tell her to pack her bags and get out!"

’If I actually treated Miss Mei that way, Your Highness wouldn’t be happy at all...’ Wei Jue thought.

’A man’s heart is a needle at the bottom of the ocean.’

’And His Highness is the most fickle man I’ve ever met!’

Having reported on Mei Wanying’s condition, Wei Jue was free to go.

Before he left, he heard a command. "From now on, report anything concerning Mei Wanying to me immediately."

As if not wanting to be misunderstood, Pei Yan added, "She and her mother are the ones General Mei cared about most. I don’t want the General to be unable to rest in peace."

Wei Jue grumbled internally. ’Is it so hard to admit you care about Miss Mei?’

"Miss Mei seems to be planning to leave the capital and return to her ancestral home in Jiangnan."

Wei Jue had known this for a while but hadn’t reported it.

Pei Yan had been at the military camp, deliberately ignoring any news about Mei Wanying. If not for today’s incident, he wouldn’t have known she was planning to leave the capital either.

He rubbed his fingers together, then finally waved his hand in dismissal.

Wei Jue clasped his fist in salute and withdrew.

「The Guest Courtyard of the Prince Chen Mansion.」

After Mei Wanying was rescued, Pei Yan had sent someone to the Mei Mansion to deliver a message.

The city gates had already closed. Unsure of how Pei Yan would bring her daughter back into the city, Mrs. Mei could only wait at the entrance of her own mansion.

She waited and waited, but no one arrived.

She sent someone to inquire and only then learned that Mei Wanying had been taken to the Prince Chen Mansion.

Mrs. Mei rushed over at once.

"Ah Yin!"

Mrs. Mei entered the room, her eyes immediately finding Mei Wanying, and she hurried to the bedside.

She took her hand. "Where does it hurt?"

Mei Wanying was propped up against the headboard while a maidservant fed her some broth. Mei Wanying wanted to do it herself, but the maid had been instructed to see to the guest’s every need.

She wasn’t allowed to lift a finger, no matter how small the task.

Mei Wanying couldn’t fathom Pei Yan’s intentions, but this was his residence. Whatever his arrangements were, she would simply have to follow them.

’Just a little longer,’ she thought, ’and I can go home.’

"Mother, I’m fine. You don’t have to worry."

"How can you be fine?"

One look at her daughter’s condition told Mrs. Mei she was unwell.

But at least her spirits seemed fine.

Mrs. Mei breathed a sigh of relief. "This time it was all thanks to Ah Yan. He was very anxious when he heard you were in trouble and rushed to the villa immediately."

Mrs. Mei watched her daughter’s expression. If her daughter’s stance had softened, it might not be too late to confess to Pei Yan about what happened that night.

’Pei Yan isn’t indifferent to Ah Yin.’

’It’s just that he was always teased about being Ah Yin’s child husband, destined to marry her. He must have felt trapped, which made him rebellious.’

’Pei Yan is a cold and aloof person. If he didn’t care for Ah Yin, he never would have reacted so strongly.’

Mei Wanying pretended not to notice her mother’s probing. "Yes, it is thanks to him. His Highness is busy with his duties, so I doubt he would have time to attend a banquet even if we invited him. Let’s just donate a shipment of grain to the Border. That way, we can repay him for saving my life and also contribute to the army."

Mei Wanying’s father had been a hero who fought on the battlefield. Influenced by him, she held great admiration for the soldiers who guarded the frontiers.

She was more than willing to do her part.

Mrs. Mei deferred to her daughter’s wishes.

Seeing that she was still unwilling to reveal the truth, Mrs. Mei could only let her have her way.

The last incident where her daughter nearly drowned had been a great shock to Mrs. Mei.

She had disregarded her own life just to avoid marrying Pei Yan.

Mrs. Mei was afraid. She didn’t dare press her daughter any further, fearing she might do something foolish again.

It would be like carving out her own heart.

It would be the death of her!

Mrs. Mei asked tactfully, "Are we still going back to Jiangnan?"