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

Xue Xingyao did indeed hand the letter to Chen Shujing.

Firstly, he was someone she trusted.

Secondly, since he had already asked, she couldn’t very well refuse and put him in an awkward position.

Most importantly, Pei Yan wouldn’t be discussing state secrets with her, so there was no harm in letting Chen Shujing have a look.

The man unfolded the letter.

The letter was incredibly short. You didn’t need to scan ten lines at a time; you could read the whole thing in a single glance.

He couldn’t help but chuckle softly. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

’Pei Yan, oh, Pei Yan,’ he thought. ’Truly a man of few words.’

’I wonder if he’s like this with Miss Mei, too?’

Xue Xingyao asked curiously, "What did he write?"

She tiptoed closer, the distance between them shrinking in an instant.

A faint fragrance wafted between them.

Her meticulously made-up, round face was nearly touching the letter, and her warm breath feathered across his wrist.

It felt like a warm breeze.

The sensation was unmistakable.

Chen Shujing’s hand trembled, and he subconsciously took half a step back.

Xue Xingyao was so focused on the letter’s contents that she missed the complicated expression that flickered across Chen Shujing’s face.

She just assumed she had gotten too close and been improper.

Though they were engaged, they were not yet married. They still had to maintain a proper distance.

Smiling sheepishly, Xue Xingyao fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, her heart pounding with uncertainty.

’Will Chen Shujing misunderstand me?’

’Will he think I’m a wanton woman?’

’Heaven knows I’ve never been close to any man before, and all my friends are sheltered young ladies like myself.’

Chen Shujing recovered, a faint smile playing on his lips. His tone was light. "That rascal has made Miss Mei angry again. He wants you to write a letter to cheer her up."

Xue Xingyao’s heart eased.

Then, she grew annoyed. "He’s really got a talent for it, doesn’t he? He’s so far away and can still make Ah Yin angry. Is he her personal curse or something?"

Chen Shujing chuckled. "They say opposites attract. The way I see it, Miss Mei gives him plenty of grief as well."

Xue Xingyao’s gaze turned dangerous. "So who’s really angering whom?"

A chill went down Chen Shujing’s spine.

’Is she forcing me to pick a side?’

He was suddenly at a loss, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He quickly changed his tune. "It’s definitely him making Miss Mei angry. He’s just clueless."

No one knew what kind of life Pei Yan had as a child or what he had experienced.

After being rescued by General Mei, he spent all his time in army barracks.

You couldn’t judge him by the standards of an ordinary person.

His denseness in matters of the heart was particularly understandable; after all, his early experiences had a profound impact on his personality.

Chen Shujing didn’t say this aloud, for fear that Xue Xingyao would think he was making excuses for Pei Yan.

Xue Xingyao was satisfied. "No matter what, it’s always Pei Yan’s fault."

If he weren’t a Prince of such esteemed status, she would’ve arranged to have someone throw a sack over his head and give him a sound thrashing.

See if he’d still dare to walk around with that deadpan face and venomous tongue, making Ah Yin cry time and time again!

Chen Shujing returned the letter to Xue Xingyao. Seeing her spirited expression, her mood clearly unaffected, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

’If Xiaoxiao were still alive, and if we hadn’t ended up together, I would have told my new bride everything, without hiding a single detail.’

’But Xiaoxiao was gone.’

’Let the dead rest in peace.’

’She shouldn’t be subjected to gossip and baseless accusations now that she’s gone.’

’Xiaoxiao never came between him and Miss Xue Er, so why should her memory be wronged in this way?’

’Besides, it would only plant a thorn in Miss Xue Er’s heart.’

’What would be the point?’

So Chen Shujing thought.

’Pei Yan himself is clueless; how would he know how to resolve a situation like this?’

’If he actually knew how to solve problems, would he keep making Miss Mei angry over and over again?’

’The proof was plain to see: Pei Yan didn’t understand the hearts of young women, nor did he know how to make them happy.’

’To actually listen to his advice would be a grave mistake!’

With the wedding date approaching, Chen Shujing didn’t want to create any unnecessary complications.

’Pei Yan was just worried that Miss Xue Er would feel wronged, and that Miss Mei would in turn be upset, right?’

’Since he was going to marry Miss Xue Er, he would naturally afford her the dignity befitting a wife.’

’He would protect her.’

’He would be good to her.’

’In the future, he wouldn’t take concubines, nor would he have any female confidantes on the side.’

’He would strive to provide everything a young woman could want and be a proper husband.’

Chen Shujing felt that Pei Yan was simply overthinking things.

’Perhaps for this very reason, his attempts to be clever repeatedly backfired, making Miss Mei lose all hope in him.’

’I must take this as a cautionary tale. I absolutely cannot listen to Pei Yan!’

Seeing Chen Shujing lost in thought, Xue Xingyao’s voice was tinged with suspicion. "Are you thinking about Pei Yan?"

The question wasn’t wrong, exactly, so Chen Shujing nodded.

Xue Xingyao pressed, "Are you thinking of putting in a good word for him?"

Chen Shujing raised an eyebrow. "Why would I put in a good word for him? He’s simply too inexperienced and doesn’t know how to win Miss Mei’s favor. Let him suffer for it."

’Give it time,’ Chen Shujing thought. ’He’ll learn eventually that sometimes, you don’t need to lay your emotions bare for the other person to see.’

’A little white lie, a bit of concealment—it’s better for everyone involved!’

Xue Xingyao was oblivious to Chen Shujing’s inner thoughts.

But she certainly didn’t want Pei Yan to have an easy time.

Ah Yin had shed so many tears for him. It was about time he was the one tearing his hair out.

’What goes around, comes around!’ she thought.

Xue Xingyao looked triumphant. "I’ll write back to him right now and tell him to rest assured. He can leave everything to me. His Highness should be focused on his campaign, free from distractions. I’ll take care of Ah Yin, so he doesn’t need to worry his head about it."

She would, of course, console Ah Yin and make her happy.

’But put in a good word for Pei Yan?’

’In his dreams!’

’First, I’ll string Pei Yan along. That way, he won’t write any more letters to pester Ah Yin. It would be terrible if he made her sick with anger again.’

Ordering a maid to bring a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, Xue Xingyao first wrote a reply to Pei Yan.

Then, she began another letter, this one to Mei Wanying.

’It’s been so long. I wonder if Ah Yin is happy?’

’She’s been through so much these past few years. Her health and spirits have taken a beating, and she’s been sick so often.’

’The journey to Jiangnan is so long. Will she be able to adjust?’

’Will she be able to acclimate to the new environment?’

They were sworn sisters, true confidantes who had rarely been apart for so long.

The thought that it would be difficult to even see each other from now on made Xue Xingyao’s heart ache.

In their plans, Ah Yin was supposed to marry Pei Yan, while she would marry one of the Noble Children in the Capital from a family of suitable standing.

Even after they were married, it would have been easy to see each other.

But things didn’t go according to plan.

She had been luckier than Ah Yin, finding a good man with whom she was truly compatible.

’As for Ah Yin and Pei Yan... what would become of them?’

’After all, the hurt between them was real. It couldn’t just be erased.’

Chen Shujing sat across the table, watching Xue Xingyao sigh as she wrote her letter.

He suddenly found himself envying her. She had a close friend with whom she could share anything.

’But Xiaoxiao never did.’

’Xiaoxiao had to wear a mask, putting on an act for everyone, just to get by.’

Chen Shujing was struck once again by how different Xue Xingyao was from Shen Mingxiao.

Being watched so intently by the man before her, Xue Xingyao’s face slowly flushed red. Her heart began to pound like a little rabbit was trapped inside her chest, about to leap out.

’Is this what it feels like to like someone?’

’No wonder Ah Yin’s face always flushed and her heart and breathing went haywire whenever she saw Pei Yan...’

The atmosphere was becoming too much for Xue Xingyao to handle. She was afraid she might faint from the breathlessness.

’That would be so humiliating.’

Just as she was about to say something, a servant came to announce, "Miss Xue Er, a Mr. Shen is here to see you."

Xue Xingyao was puzzled. "Which Mr. Shen?"

"He says his name is Shen Mingji, and there is something he wishes to discuss with you privately. He said he doesn’t want you to be deceived by anyone."

Chen Shujing’s expression changed.

’I already had men escort Shen Mingji out of the Capital. How did he get back? And why is he here at the Xue Family residence?’

He was so incensed he let out a short, sharp laugh.

Chen Shujing said, "That is the younger brother of an old acquaintance of mine. He’s a mischievous sort. We can’t have him disrupting the old madam’s longevity banquet. I’ll go see what he wants."

There were still many guests in the front courtyard. It wouldn’t do to cause a scene and become a laughingstock.

This Mr. Shen had arrived uninvited, which was a grave breach of etiquette.

Xue Xingyao quickly stood up. "I’ll go with you. I want to hear what he has to say, too."