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

Pei Yan inexplicably coughed up blood, a sharp pain twisting in his heart as if he were about to faint.

This had never happened before.

Everything in the dream had been too real, as if he had personally lived through that nightmare.

Looking at the blood in his palm, he thought of Mei Wanying’s blood-stained cheeks and neck.

The blood spread, then dried, leaving only an unsightly trace.

She lay quietly in his arms, eyes shut tight, unresponsive no matter what he said.

The man casually wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand and sneered. Mei Wanying was fine in Jiangnan.

She wasn’t pregnant.

She hadn’t come to the Border.

She was doing so well she could even write letters cursing him.

’Damned nightmares are the opposite of reality!’

Pei Yan told himself this, but his mind spun out of control, connecting all the dreams he’d had.

He had dreamed of marrying Mei Wanying, of their passionate entanglement before he left.

As he left the bridal chamber, Mei Wanying had wanted to see him off, but he had spoken harshly to her.

She clung to the carved door, her body swaying precariously, tears glistening in her eyes.

She didn’t ask him to stay.

Nor did she see him off.

’She must have been truly heartbroken.’ In the following months, Mei Wanying hadn’t written him a single letter.

Not a single one!

He was angry, which made it even more impossible for him to be the first to yield.

The next time they met, it was in that scene: Mei Wanying, silent and pregnant, arriving at the Border to find him. He’d been blind with rage.

Until the very end of the dream, he had never shown Mei Wanying a kind expression, nor had he spoken a single gentle word to her.

Pei Yan told himself again, ’It’s just a nightmare. It’s fake!’

The man rose. His steps were unsteady as he walked into the inner tent, wiped the blood from his hands, and took out the clothes Mei Wanying had made for him, draping them over his shoulders.

It wasn’t enough. The ache in his chest hadn’t subsided; he desperately needed Mei Wanying to soothe it.

But she wasn’t there. He could only comfort himself with these things.

He also put on the shoes and socks she had made.

Those that wouldn’t fit, he held in his arms.

The tall man’s figure was hidden in the darkness, lost in thought.

’In the dream, he hadn’t brought a single thing related to Mei Wanying with him to the Border.’

Pei Yan caressed the small plum blossom—the Little Mei Hua—on the inside of his sleeve. It was a mark Mei Wanying had intentionally left for him.

He sneered again.

’Mei Wanying made this for me, and I brought it! The complete opposite of the dream!’

Clenching the Little Mei Hua, murderous intent surged in Pei Yan’s eyes. He would not spare anyone who had harmed Mei Wanying.

’Even if it was just a dream, he wouldn’t allow anyone to touch her!’

In the dream, he had been cruel to Mei Wanying, making her sad and driving her to tears. After this war was won, he would go find her.

This time, he wouldn’t argue back. Mei Wanying could do whatever she wanted to him.

He would let her hit him, let her curse him.

Pressing a hand to his aching chest, Pei Yan clearly recognized Mei Wanying’s importance.

They had known each other since childhood, their lives entangled for many years. Mei Wanying had long since become a part of his very blood and bone.

To forcibly remove her would be to lose his life.

’And he didn’t want to remove her!’

「Before dawn, the army prepared to march.」

Pei Yan, clad in cold, hard armor and holding a long spear, had a stern expression and an invincible air.

In everyone’s eyes, he was the War God who dominated the battlefield. No one knew he had just been spitting up blood moments before.

The traitor had been caught, and the scattered morale had reconsolidated. With spirits high, it was the perfect time to dispatch the troops.

Pei Yan vaulted onto his horse. "Eradicate the bandits and restore peace to the people!"

His call was met with a hundred roars.

The soldiers’ cheers were deafening as the great army advanced toward the enemy’s encampment.

「...」

"You useless thing! Keeping you alive is a waste of food!"

Xue Yunshu was kicked to the ground. With a SPIT, she coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood.

Her attacker was a man—a General trained in martial arts for years. Not even a man could have withstood such a kick.

Every breath Xue Yunshu took was laced with pain. She felt as if several of her ribs were broken.

She was a complete mess, but ignoring the pain, she knelt and begged, "He really did choose me! He said he wanted to marry me and make me his Princess Consort! I don’t know why he isn’t coming to save me..."

"I’m innocent! Please, let me go back! If you let me go, I’m willing to be your spy and gather intelligence for you!"

When she was first captured, Xue Yunshu had spoken with such certainty, as if she and Pei Yan really were that close.

Furthermore, the fact that Pei Yan’s men were escorting her back to the capital was an undeniable truth.

The enemy General had believed her, intending to use her to lure Pei Yan in. They would then set a trap, either capturing him alive or negotiating with him for benefits.

But unexpectedly, the letter they sent out vanished without a trace. There was no reply at all.

’Who would believe that Pei Yan actually cared about this woman in front of them!’

He kicked her again.

The heavy blow landed on Xue Yunshu’s shoulder. With a sickening CRACK, the bone seemed to dislocate.

Excruciating pain washed over her. Lying prone on the ground, Xue Yunshu broke out in a cold sweat.

She was in agony and terrified, her body trembling uncontrollably.

’Why isn’t Pei Yan coming to save me?’

’I helped expose the traitor! That’s a great contribution! How could Pei Yan disregard my life?’

In that moment, Xue Yunshu’s heart filled with hatred.

She hated Pei Yan for his heartlessness. Hated him for giving her hope, only to plunge her into despair!

Tears and snot streamed down Xue Yunshu’s face. "My father is the Duke! He dotes on me! Send him a message! He’ll agree to any condition!"

"I beg you, spare my life!"

She was truly terrified. These men had said that if she couldn’t lure Pei Yan, they would force her to become a Camp Prostitute.

And once she had no value left, they would kill her.

’I’m the precious daughter of the Duke Mansion! How can I suffer such humiliation?’

’If I lose my virtue, how will I ever marry, even if I’m rescued?’

Xue Yunshu racked her brain, desperate to make them see her value.

It was the only way she could stay alive.

The only way to protect her virtue!

Seeing her spineless display, the men present looked on with contempt. "She’s such a coward. How tough can her old man be? Fine, let’s give it a try. Let’s see what he’s willing to trade for his precious daughter!"

As soon as he finished speaking, someone rushed in to report, "Pei Yan is attacking with his army!"

Lying on the ground, a light flashed in Xue Yunshu’s eyes. She knew it! Pei Yan wouldn’t abandon her.

’He’s come to save me!’

When two armies fought, they were bound to watch each other’s every move. They had noticed some movement among Pei Yan’s troops a few days ago, but they hadn’t expected him to actually launch an attack.

"They all say he’s invincible. I’d like to see for myself! Let’s see if he’s still capable of winning battles without that old bastard surnamed Mei backing him up!"

"All troops, on my command! Prepare to meet the enemy!"

He took a few steps out, then stopped and ordered his men to lock Xue Yunshu up.

’She might be useful when the time comes!’

With broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder, Xue Yunshu was drenched in sweat from the pain as she was dragged out of the main tent.

She didn’t know why her fate was so bitter. She had clearly come to save lives and heal the wounded, yet she had to endure such a terrible ordeal.

Then, the thought of Xue Xingyao and Mei Wanying, whom she despised, enjoying lives of luxury surrounded by servants thousands of miles away, made her seethe with hatred. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

’Why should she be the one to suffer?’

’Why didn’t they capture Mei Wanying and Xue Xingyao instead? Those useless wastes only know how to enjoy themselves. What’s the point of them even being alive?!’