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

Realizing her mistake had led to her lady’s pregnancy, Ding Xiang’s face turned deathly pale.

Fear and self-blame washed over her, and she couldn’t help but sob aloud.

Nanny Liu, standing near the doorway, heard the commotion.

She berated her in a low voice, "The young lady and Mrs. Mei are vexed enough. If you must cry, do it elsewhere."

Ding Xiang entered the room and fell to her knees before Mei Wanying with a THUD.

Steeling herself, her face a mask of grim resolve, she said, "My lady, punish me. I wasn’t the one who went to get the medicine that night."

Mei Wanying had always suspected that she’d written down one of the medicinal herbs incorrectly, which was why the abortion soup hadn’t worked.

She never imagined something had gone wrong along the way.

A moment’s thought was all it took to realize who had gotten the medicine instead.

Her eyelashes trembled.

’Does Pei Yan know the original prescription was for contraception?’

’He probably doesn’t.’

’Otherwise, he would have flown into a rage long ago...’

Ding Xiang confessed everything. "That night, I ran into His Highness on the way. He said you had a stomachache and ordered me to fetch medicine, but then His Highness took the prescription away."

She truly didn’t know what happened after that. At the time, she also thought her lady was just having a normal stomachache.

When His Highness brought the medicine back, she brewed it and gave it to her lady to drink.

Ding Xiang asked, "Could it be that His Highness showed the prescription to a doctor, explained your situation, and the doctor thought something was wrong and adjusted it for you?"

Mei Wanying pressed her temples. She had thought only the few of them knew about that night, never expecting the prescription would be seen by someone else.

If someone with an agenda wanted to investigate, this would be the perfect lead.

Fortunately, that doctor was also from the General Mansion, usually responsible for managing medicinal supplies.

When they left the Capital City, the mansion had released a batch of servants from their contracts, given them silver taels, and told them to return to their hometowns.

That household doctor had taken the silver, said he was going back to his hometown to open a pharmacy, and had likely left the Capital City by now.

Mei Wanying’s heart hammered in her chest. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she had left a vulnerability, a weakness that could be exposed at any moment.

Pressing a hand to her heart, she thought, ’Surely I can’t be that unlucky.’

Mrs. Mei also hadn’t expected such a twist in the middle of it all.

She sighed. "This is a tragic fate between you two—impossible to cut, a tangled mess to sort out. This child came into being by a strange twist of fate. How innocent is it? Ah Yin, you should just keep it."

This was her own grandchild, and Mrs. Mei truly couldn’t bear to lose it.

If her daughter’s constitution was strong and the abortion could be guaranteed to be safe, then if Ah Yin didn’t want the child, she would absolutely stand by Ah Yin’s side.

One problem was yet to be resolved, and now another had been dragged into it. Mei Wanying was a mess of frustration.

"Mother, I don’t want this child!"

If she was destined for a tragic end, then so be it.

She would accept her fate!

...

「Capital City.」

Before Mei Wanying had even left the Capital City, Empress Gu had sent people to investigate the matter between her and Pei Yan.

She was afraid Mei Wanying would use some trick to obstruct Pei Yan’s brilliant prospects.

At first, the investigation turned up nothing, but Empress Gu felt something was off and ordered them to investigate a second time.

Unexpectedly, they actually found something.

"His Highness went to get a prescription for Miss Mei. Our people found the doctor and, through threats and bribes, finally got him to tell the truth."

Mrs. Feng’s expression was disdainful as she recounted the story vividly, "Initially, His Highness presented a prescription for contraception, but then he changed his story and asked for medicine to treat a stomachache."

"After getting the medicine, His Highness went to Miss Mei’s courtyard."

Who needed contraception? Wasn’t it obvious?

And why would she need contraception?

She had climbed into His Highness’s bed!

A vein throbbed on Empress Gu’s temple. "This Mei Wanying, she truly dares to play games with me. No wonder Ah Yan suddenly decided against getting married again. She must be the one behind it!"

Mei Wanying was a master at manipulating Ah Yan’s heart; for the past few years, she’s had him wrapped around her little finger.

While she was in mourning, Ah Yan wouldn’t discuss marriage.

He wouldn’t set foot in any event where other women were present.

He never even gave another woman a single glance.

Ah Yan clearly detested Mei Wanying, yet his actions unconsciously gravitated toward her.

It was as if he was under Mei Wanying’s spell, completely tamed by her!

’To put it bluntly, what’s the difference between him and a tail-wagging... dog?’

As long as Mei Wanying beckoned, he would obey her command, even with a cold look on his face.

On the surface, it was Mei Wanying chasing him to his endless annoyance. In reality, he was the one repeatedly compromising and putting her matters first.

His actions didn’t match his words. It was utterly humiliating!

If this weren’t her own son, she would have certainly given him a good, sarcastic lecture.

Having such a son, Empress Gu didn’t know whether she should be proud or ashamed.

He was of noble status, yet all he did were such subservient things.

If his attitude had been firm, would Mei Wanying have dared to pester him for so many years?

It was a good thing his personality was cold and he hadn’t fully come to his senses. Otherwise, he would have been completely played by Mei Wanying!

Mrs. Feng asked, "Miss Mei left the Capital City in such a hurry. Could it be that there’s movement in her belly? Is she planning to hide somewhere to give birth, then make a surprise comeback and use the child to secure her status?"

The Mei family had done His Highness a great service. If Mei Wanying gave birth to his child, His Highness would be obligated to give her a proper title.

Otherwise, if word got out, His Highness’s reputation would be ruined, and he would be condemned by the entire world.

That Miss Mei is so young, yet so calculating!

Empress Gu thought the same. If she had trusted Mei Wanying, she wouldn’t have had her investigated over and over again.

"Ah Yan doesn’t even have a single serving woman by his side, let alone any children. If Mei Wanying is pregnant, this child must be born."

This is Ah Yan’s own flesh and blood. No matter how unbearable Mei Wanying is, that fact cannot be changed.

Ah Yan’s bloodline is so noble. Regardless of whether it’s a boy or a girl, it must be born.

Empress Gu had another worry in her heart. The Emperor had done something immoral and was now unable to sire any more sons.

She was afraid that if Mei Wanying lost the child, Ah Yan would follow in that scoundrel’s footsteps.

Mrs. Feng asked, "Miss Mei has an eye ailment. If the child takes after her, wouldn’t that be bad?"

Empress Gu had previously considered letting Mei Wanying enter the Prince Chen Mansion as a Concubine and giving her a bowl of sterilization soup to end any possibility of her bearing children.

But now, the situation had spiraled out of her control. If Mei Wanying was truly pregnant, how could she let her have an abortion?

That would be her first grandchild, its significance was extraordinary!

"Her parents are both normal people; she’s the only anomaly. It probably won’t be a major issue. And even if there is a problem, this child is still beyond precious. I won’t allow anyone to gossip about it."

Thinking this way, Empress Gu even felt a little expectant. She wasn’t young anymore, and she too wanted to have her own grandchildren doting on her.

’The Empress has become obsessed,’ Mrs. Feng thought to herself. ’Her desire for a grandchild can’t lead her into Mei Wanying’s trap!’

"If she really has a child, I’m afraid His Highness will want to marry her as his primary wife..."

Empress Gu’s face darkened. "Ah Yan’s primary wife cannot be her!"

Mrs. Feng said, "His Highness values sentiment and righteousness. If he finds out about the child, for the child’s sake, he will definitely marry his benefactor’s daughter."

Empress Gu’s gaze turned cold.

Mei Wanying could not be Ah Yan’s primary wife, but if she had his child, the child must be born.

And not just born—it had to be raised somewhere she could see it.

Fiddling with her Jade Bracelet, Empress Gu sighed, "It seems we can only wrong Ah Xun."