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

The carriage procession moved into the distance. This time, Mei Wanying was truly gone.

Xue Xingyao stood for a long time, not preparing to head back until the procession was completely out of sight.

For the sake of their reputations, she and Chen Shujing rode in separate carriages.

As they parted ways at the city gates, Chen Shujing said to Xue Xingyao, "I will send an urgent message home! The marriage proposal will come in a few days. Just you wait for me."

Xue Xingyao had been worried before. ’What if Empress Gu takes a liking to me?’

Now that the problem was solved, she wasn’t afraid in the slightest.

She couldn’t wait to get home and tell her mother the good news, lest her mother keep worrying.

As for Xue Yunshu?

’Hmph, let her be delusional.’

’Her chances of marrying Pei Yan were already slimmer than climbing to heaven. Now that Pei Yan is starting to come to his senses about romance, it would be a miracle if he married Xue Yunshu.’

The thought of Xue Yunshu’s behavior at the restaurant made Xue Xingyao want to laugh.

’I really don’t know where some people get the audacity to think Pei Yan would ever be interested in them.’

’This is such juicy gossip. If I don’t go home and tell Mother all about it, I’ll burst!’

She gave Chen Shujing a brilliant smile. "Heir Chen, I will wait for you."

He was the first person to make her heart flutter. Their families were of equal status, and their elders approved of the match.

Xue Xingyao felt very lucky.

She resolved to study hard and learn new skills in the coming days.

Once she married into the Chen Family, she would be a competent Main Wife, giving the Chen family elders no reason to find fault.

The men of the Chen Family were not allowed to take concubines. When the time came, she would have a few children, and her life would be complete.

No concubines or bed-warmers in the household—just thinking about how easy it would be to manage the estate made Xue Xingyao happy.

She waved at Chen Shujing, lowered the carriage curtain, and her carriage entered the city first, heading toward the eastern district where the noble families resided.

Chen Shujing had a private residence in the western district. Before he could even step inside, his steward rushed out to greet him.

"Princely Heir, Mr. Shen has snuck out again!"

Chen Shujing’s expression changed slightly. "Go find him. When you do, tie him up and drag him back!"

The Mr. Shen the steward mentioned was named Shen Mingji.

The Shen family and the Chen Family were old family friends. Shen Mingji had an older sister named Shen Mingxiao.

She was a fine young woman of both virtue and talent.

Unfortunately, in the year of her coming-of-age ceremony, she fell gravely ill and passed away, her life tragically cut short.

Shen Mingji and Shen Mingxiao were full siblings, but he was a little tyrant who loved to fool around.

On this trip to the capital, he was led astray by some profligate sons of rich families, taken to a gambling den for some "fun," and lost a huge sum of Silver. Too afraid to let his family know, he wrote to Chen Shujing for help.

Chen Shujing had come personally to grab him and take him from the capital back home.

He hadn’t expected that in the short time he was out meeting a friend, Shen Mingji would manage to sneak out again.

Shen Mingji was too unruly. He had caused countless disasters over the years, and every time, it was Chen Shujing who had to clean up his messes.

Before, it was frequenting pleasure quarters and fighting with others over the top Oiran.

Now, he’d gone so far as to frequent gambling dens!

It had happened so many times that Chen Shujing was exasperated by his failure to live up to expectations, but whenever he thought of Shen Mingxiao, his anger would vanish.

He pressed the spot between his eyebrows.

Ultimately, he turned and walked back out.

’This is Xiaoxiao’s family. I can’t just stand by and watch Shen Mingji descend into ruin.’

’I’ll help him as much as I can. If it really comes to it, I’ll send him to the army to have his temperament beaten into shape.’

’He used to be so well-behaved, always following Xiaoxiao around with a cheerful smile.’

’If Xiaoxiao knew he was like this now, she would be terribly worried up in heaven.’

Chen Shujing made up his mind. This time, no matter what Shen Mingji said, he could not go soft on him.

He had to punish him severely, make him understand his mistakes, and get him to study hard and become a better person in the future!

...

Everyone was busy, and Pei Yan was no exception.

Before leaving for the Border, he first made a trip to the palace to speak with Empress Gu about Chen Shujing.

"Chen Shujing is a dear friend to your son. He has yet to marry, and his family elders are very anxious. He wishes to marry Xue Xingyao, so please grant him this wish."

Empress Gu actually had taken a liking to Xue Xingyao.

She had recently sent people to make inquiries and found the young woman to be decent, with no devious intentions.

The only unfavorable point was that she was friends with Mei Wanying.

But Mei Wanying had already left the capital. Even the strongest friendships could fade with time, so this was not a problem.

Empress Gu said, "You are so willing to help others fulfill their wishes, but who will help you fulfill yours?"

A smile flashed in Pei Yan’s eyes, and the corners of his mouth curved uncontrollably. "I don’t need anyone else’s help."

’Mei Wanying already likes me. She dreams of marrying me.’

’All I have to do is nod.’

’When she sees the Jade Pendant I left her, Mei Wanying will probably go mad with joy.’

’Given her shameless nature, she’ll surely wear it day and night, unable to bear taking it off.’

’She might even clutch it while she sleeps.’

’Before long, I’ll receive letter after letter from her, filled to the brim with words.’

This was Mei Wanying.

Give her an inch, and she’d take a mile, leaving you utterly helpless against her.

Imagining Mei Wanying’s vibrant and spirited appearance, a sense of anticipation grew in Pei Yan’s heart.

’I hope her letter arrives soon.’

’I want to see what she’ll write.’

’If it’s like last time, with just two cold sentences, then when I get back from the Border, I’ll have to press her down at the writing desk and make her fill in all the missing words.’

’The writing desk...’

A sensual entanglement suddenly flashed into his mind, and the tips of Pei Yan’s ears began to burn.

’Damn it, why can’t I forget that dream!’

’It haunts me like a ghost!’

’I think of it when I eat, I think of it when I sleep, and it pops into my head at other random times too.’

’It must be because of that dream’s influence that I did... that, and even got seen by Xue Xingyao.’

’That woman is such a blabbermouth, she can’t keep anything in. She hasn’t told Mei Wanying, has she?’

The tips of Pei Yan’s ears grew scorching hot, and his face felt like it was on fire. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

If it weren’t for his wheat-colored skin, he would undoubtedly be blushing crimson right now.

He prayed in his heart that Mei Wanying would never find out.

’Otherwise, how smug would she be?’

’She’d be so smug her tail would be up in the clouds!’

’And I... would be too embarrassed to face her. I’d feel so guilty that I’d have no choice but to let Mei Wanying walk all over me.’

Empress Gu, unaware of her son’s little thoughts, was still complaining. "He could have asked for her hand at any time, but he just had to ask you at this critical juncture. He didn’t do it on purpose, did he?"

You see, her preferred daughter-in-law was Xue Xingyao!

He knew Xue Xingyao was a candidate, yet he still asked to marry her.

’This Chen Shujing dares to snatch a woman from Ah Yan. What nerve!’

’Even if he liked her that much, he should have waited until Ah Yan made it clear he wasn’t interested in Xue Xingyao before bringing up a marriage proposal.’

Empress Gu was displeased with Chen Shujing, but her son was a Prince, destined to one day ascend to that position. To fall out with a good friend over a woman would make him seem far too narrow-minded.

It would not benefit him.

It was just a woman. If Ah Yan was willing to give her up, then so be it.

However, there was another troublesome matter.

Empress Gu said, "Xue Yunshu cannot be your Main Wife. If you really like her, just take her in first. Let her accompany you to the Border. With someone to serve you, your mother can be more at ease."

"She happens to know some medicine, so having her by your side wouldn’t be a complete drag on you."

Once the Border is pacified, more people will support Ah Yan.

Even if the path ahead is perilous, he must go!

Her words grew more and more absurd, and Pei Yan’s buoyant mood was instantly ruined.

"I don’t like her."

Not only did he not like her, he found her repulsive.

’Who does she think she is, daring to mock Ah Yin with such veiled sarcasm?’

’How ridiculous!’