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

The Duke Mansion.

With firm assurances that her daughter would not have to marry into the Royal Family and that they would face no punishment from the court, Mrs. Xue began to openly arrange her daughter’s wedding.

The dowry had long been saved up. Fearful of shortchanging her daughter, Mrs. Xue had prepared an exceptionally lavish one.

Manors, farmlands, gold, silver, jewels, fine silks and brocades, accompanying servants... She had even purchased a private residence for her in the Capital City.

Beyond that, there were also gifts from friends and relatives to add to the dowry.

Xue Xingyao was the proper, legitimate daughter of the Duke Mansion. Although Duke Xue played favorites, he would not give people a reason to gossip on this matter.

He took ancient books and famous paintings from his private collection to bolster Xue Xingyao’s prestige.

The old madam also contributed a great deal.

A daughter’s dowry represented the standing of her maternal family. Besides, the Chen Family and the Xue Family were social equals, making this a union of two great houses. A meager dowry would be a slap in the face to their future in-laws.

Anyone who didn’t know better might assume they were unhappy with the marriage.

Although the Chen Family’s betrothal gifts had not yet arrived, they were a respectable house, a renowned noble family in their region. The gifts were sure to be comprehensive.

They might even add to Xue Xingyao’s dowry themselves, a practice not uncommon among prominent noble families.

Mrs. Xue ordered her servants to take inventory of the dowry and draft a list. The inventory revealed that the dowry was truly magnificent. When the time came, the bridal procession would surely stretch for miles, becoming the envy of countless people.

Before Mei Wanying left, she brought a gift for Xue Xingyao’s dowry.

It was a set of gold-inlaid ruby jewelry.

The craftsmanship was exquisite, the quality pure, and the gems a brilliant, vivid color. One look was enough to tell it was of high quality.

The jewelry set was recorded on the inventory list and carefully placed into a casket.

Mrs. Xue instructed Xue Xingyao, "When the Mei family’s girl gets married, your return gift must be even more generous. We cannot seem rude."

Xue Xingyao nodded obediently. "I just wonder when Ah Yin will get married."

Mrs. Xue replied, "She hasn’t considered marriage for the past three years because she was in mourning for General Mei. Now that the mourning period is over, once she returns to her ancestral home in Jiangnan, I expect the matchmakers will beat a path to the Mei family’s door."

She’s so beautiful that it’s not just men—even women find themselves captivated by her.

If the Crown Prince hadn’t interfered, and if Mei Wanying’s heart wasn’t set on Pei Yan, the eligible young men of the Capital City would have been lining up to propose long ago.

It’s good that she’s leaving the Capital City. She can get far away from those Royal Family Members and avoid being forced into a situation where she doesn’t even have the right to refuse.

Xue Xingyao’s expression was complex.

"Certain people can’t bear to see her happy. If she were to actually marry, I fear it would unleash a storm of blood and violence."

Mrs. Xue didn’t give it much thought, assuming her daughter was referring to the Crown Prince.

She whispered, "Careless words invite disaster. You must be more cautious in what you say and do from now on. Once you are married, if trouble finds you, your husband’s family won’t necessarily be on your side."

No matter how good the Chen Family is, they are not your own kin.

Even blood relatives scheme and struggle against each other, let alone those with no familial ties.

The best course of action is to not give anyone any leverage over you.

Xue Xingyao knew her mother had misunderstood, but she couldn’t explain the truth outright.

Right now, all the powerful nobles and court officials have their eyes on the position of mistress of the Prince Chen Mansion, each hoping to install their own daughter.

If that matter got out, it would bring Ah Yin nothing but harm.

For the sake of their own interests, ruthless people would not hesitate to kill.

Xue Xingyao trusted her mother. She wasn’t one to gossip.

But some things were best taken to the grave.

’And I’ll have to remind Chen Shujing to keep the secret for Pei Yan and Ah Yin.’

Pei Yan was extremely possessive. Even before, when he supposedly had no romantic interest in Ah Yin, he would scowl whenever any young man approached her, acting as if they had personally wronged him.

Now that the seeds of affection had been sown, that possessiveness would only grow more intense.

Whoever dared to marry Ah Yin would probably be risking their life.

Xue Xingyao’s feelings grew even more complicated.

’Why is Ah Yin’s fate so bitter? The men she attracts are all the type to kill without batting an eye.’

’It would be one thing if they were merely ruthless, but each one is also powerful and holds a high position.’

’Forget a young woman like Ah Yin—even if Uncle Mei were still alive, he would have a hard time opposing them.’

Xue Xingyao sighed.

Mrs. Xue said with a serious expression, "Marriage is a joyous occasion. Don’t sigh. Be careful you don’t sigh all your good fortune away."

Xue Xingyao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "Good fortune doesn’t just vanish because I sighed. My luck is perfectly fine, Mother. Don’t frighten yourself."

"Yes, yes, your fortune is good."

Mrs. Xue teased, "Heir Chen is as handsome as a jade tree in the wind, and his household is empty of concubines. You’ll be living a life of bliss when you marry him."

Xue Xingyao blushed. "Who can predict the future? Perhaps our judgment was wrong..."

"Nonsense! Don’t say such foolish things."

Mrs. Xue spat lightly to ward off the bad luck, then insisted Xue Xingyao do the same.

Having no choice, Xue Xingyao did so as well.

But inwardly, she thought, ’If Chen Shujing ever dares to wrong me, I will not simply endure it meekly.’

’I’ve seen how much my mother has suffered all these years.’

’If I were powerless and unable to live a good life without Chen Shujing, I might just grit my teeth and swallow my grievances.’

’But I’m not.’

’I have support, and this enormous dowry is enough for me to live in luxury for several lifetimes.’

’So why should I subject myself to mistreatment?’

After being thrown out of the restaurant, Xue Yunshu grew angrier the more she thought about it. She returned to the mansion to settle the score with Xue Xingyao.

Hearing that Mrs. Xue was taking inventory of the dowry, she grew curious and went straight to the main courtyard.

Seeing the chests upon chests of valuables piled high in the courtyard, Xue Yunshu felt a sour pang of jealousy.

’I wonder if any of this is for me?’ 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

With that thought, she asked directly, "Mother, I’m getting married too. What have you prepared for my dowry?"

Mrs. Xue and Xue Xingyao exchanged a look, both of them speechless.

Xue Yunshu was unruly and ill-mannered, and Mrs. Xue couldn’t be bothered to play the part of a doting mother.

Besides, no matter what she did for Xue Yunshu, she would always be the villain in the eyes of that father-daughter pair.

It was benevolent enough of her not to make Xue Yunshu’s life difficult!

She said, "Go ask your father. He has always been the one to handle your affairs. I’m sure he won’t neglect you."

Xue Yunshu bit her lip. "Father is a man. How would he know anything about preparing a dowry?"

Mrs. Xue’s tone was icy. "He’s been married twice. How could he not know? My dowry was too vast for him to remember, but surely he recalls what your mother brought with her? If he truly doesn’t know, he can just use your mother’s dowry as the standard."

Xue Yunshu’s eyes reddened with fury.

’Her mother came from a humble background and had eloped with Father. What dowry could she possibly have had?’

’This woman is doing it on purpose.’

’She’s belittling my mother and trying to humiliate me!’

Xue Yunshu raised her voice. "If you make me enter the Prince Chen Mansion empty-handed, aren’t you afraid of being blamed by the Royal Family?"

Mrs. Xue was speechless.

Xue Xingyao was, too.

’This girl is so full of herself. Does she really think that just because her mother got lucky once and changed her own fate, she can follow the same path?’

The corner of Xue Xingyao’s mouth twitched, and she had to suppress a laugh.

’At this moment, she suddenly thought that if Pei Yan really did marry Xue Yunshu, it might not be such a bad thing after all.’

’Ah Yin would be free.’

’And he... his life would be a living hell!’

A faint, mocking smile played on Xue Xingyao’s lips. "His Highness has already departed for the Border. If you want to enter the Prince Chen Mansion, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a very long time. I just wonder how many years a woman of your age can afford to wait."

Xue Yunshu hadn’t known this.

Her expression flickered.

’No, I have to go to the Border and find His Highness.’

’The situation there is perilous. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to display my medical skills.’

’Once he sees what I can do, His Highness will surely be captivated by me!’