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

Empress Gu wanted Mei Wanying to marry Gu Xun and have him serve as the child’s father in name.

Mei Wanying didn’t know if Gu Xun was aware of this plan.

But for Mrs. Gu to state it so brazenly made her feel as though her dignity had been stripped away and trampled underfoot.

Seeing her humiliation, a flash of displeasure crossed Gu Xun’s eyes. "Mrs. Gu, you should consider yourself fortunate that Miss Mei is willing to put you in your place."

Mrs. Gu opened her mouth, but she met the warning in his eyes and quickly lowered her head.

She had been held in high regard at the Gu Family for so long that she’d grown accustomed to throwing her weight around. Coming to another’s home and acting like this, she should count herself lucky she hadn’t been slapped.

Gu Xun’s tone was stern. "This is the Mei family, not the Gu family. Miss Mei is the descendant of loyal martyrs. If you cannot show her respect, then get out now!"

Gu Xun was well-known for his good temper; he rarely reprimanded anyone.

Cold sweat beaded on Mrs. Gu’s back. She knew this was the Mei family, but Mei Wanying, despite having no official standing, was pregnant with His Highness’s child.

Subconsciously, she regarded Mei Wanying as nothing more than a common mistress.

She had forgotten that Mei Wanying’s family was just as illustrious. If not for the Empress exerting pressure from above, Mei Wanying wouldn’t have to show deference to anyone.

Mrs. Gu panicked and forced an amiable smile. "You’re right to lecture me, Xun. I must be getting old and muddled. I deserve a scolding!"

As she spoke, she slapped herself lightly on the mouth twice.

In a tone meant to smooth things over, Mrs. Gu said, "Please, Xun, forgive me this once. I won’t make the same mistake again."

Dispensing with formalities, Gu Xun sat down beside Mei Wanying.

The position didn’t block her view of the scenery, but it clearly placed him in her camp.

Gu Xun was secretly delighted.

This was the closest he had ever been to Mei Wanying. Unlike before, when he could only watch from afar as she pursued his cousin.

’Like a rat in the sewers, secretly watching her every move.’

"The one who was offended was Miss Mei. It’s up to her whether or not to forgive you."

Having spent her entire life in a large household, Mrs. Gu naturally knew how to be flexible.

She quickly turned to Mei Wanying. "Miss Mei, as long as you and the child are well, I will stay out of everything from now on. I won’t do anything to anger you again."

Ding Xiang snapped, "You should just shut up!"

’If the Empress hadn’t interfered, this child would have been gone long ago!’

’She’s just rubbing salt in the wound! This woman is doing it on purpose!’

But on second thought, the child would be born with the surname Mei and would carry on the Mei family line. In the future, the child would be her mistress’s pillar of support. At this, Ding Xiang’s smugness returned.

’Some people can only watch with envy!’

’Who’s to blame? Pei Yan is a block of wood who doesn’t even have a female mosquito buzzing around him.’

’Now that he’s away at war, he has even less time to find a wife.’

’The precious treasure in our mistress’s belly is enough to make certain people green with envy!’

Ding Xiang gave Mrs. Gu a haughty look. To Mrs. Gu, this was a display of utter impertinence.

"I am speaking with the mistress. Is it your place to interrupt?"

’If this were the Gu Family, a little wench like her would have been dragged off to have her mouth slapped long ago.’

"I’m not trying to stir up trouble, Miss Mei, but this maid of yours is ill-disciplined. You really ought to keep her in line."

The veneer of civility had been shattered. Mei Wanying no longer felt any need to be polite.

She lifted her chin slightly. "You came uninvited, so you can hardly be considered a guest. Yet here you are, ordering my people around. I’d say that’s not just ill-disciplined, it’s downright despicable!"

"I am here on the Empress’s orders—"

"Enough!"

Gu Xun’s eyes were icy. "Do not disgrace the Gu family’s name."

Mrs. Gu’s face paled instantly. She didn’t know what came over her; the moment she saw Mei Wanying, she felt an uncontrollable urge to lecture her.

She felt that Mei Wanying was riddled with flaws, and felt uneasy if she didn’t take her to task for them.

Mrs. Gu forced a smile. "I overstepped again, Miss Mei..."

"Are you not leaving?" Mei Wanying asked coldly.

Mrs. Gu let out an imperceptible sigh and told herself not to stoop to Mei Wanying’s level.

’Once His Highness returns to the Capital City victorious, marries his principal wife, and fathers a legitimate heir, we’ll see if the Empress still cares about the child in Mei Wanying’s womb.’

’When that time comes, Mei Wanying’s dream of gaining status through her child will be shattered. She’ll have nowhere to turn to cry.’

Mrs. Gu led her attendants away, stopping at a moderate distance from the pavilion.

This was a blatant attempt to keep Mei Wanying under surveillance.

Gu Xun frowned. ’My aunt is going too far.’

’My cousin ruined Miss Mei’s reputation and got her pregnant out of wedlock. We are the party at fault, yet not only are we not atoning on his behalf, we’re openly pressuring her.’

’Isn’t this the behavior of a tyrant?’

Gu Xun took a deep breath. "Miss Mei, I apologize to you on behalf of the Gu family."

Mei Wanying knew Gu Xun meant no harm, but they were on opposing sides, and she didn’t wish to become too involved with him.

She shook her head. "This has nothing to do with you."

She would not accept his apology.

Gu Xun understood. She was a woman of clear-cut loyalties and enmities.

Glancing at the people not far away, Gu Xun suggested, "Miss Mei, why not resume your journey home?"

Mei Wanying wanted to go back and finally settle down as well.

But...

She lowered her gaze to her stomach. ’If my relatives find out, how will I ever face them?’

Knowing what she was worried about, Gu Xun said, "The person who most wants to keep this a secret is my aunt. When the time comes, they’ll be the ones expending energy to handle the situation."

’That will keep them from having nothing to do but stare at Miss Mei all day, looking for faults.’

’They clearly have too much time on their hands!’

Gu Xun looked at Mei Wanying, his eyes filled with suppressed emotion. "If you need it, I can clear the obstacles for you. I can give the child a legitimate status and protect you from vicious rumors."

Gu Xun was an official in Jiangnan. With his help, Mei Wanying would indeed be spared a great deal of trouble.

But there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Mei Wanying didn’t believe Gu Xun would help her so readily without wanting something in return.

It wasn’t that she was being paranoid. The Mei family was large and prosperous; marrying her would be no loss for Gu Xun.

Though she was no longer a maiden, what did that matter in the face of tangible benefits?

If he truly minded, he could always take concubines after they were married. There were plenty of ways to soothe his pride.

’So, what does Gu Xun want?’

His eyes were earnest, full of an unspoken affection, but Mei Wanying, lost in her own thoughts, failed to notice.

Ding Xiang, however, saw it all clearly.

She gasped inwardly. ’Could it be... Mr. Gu likes our mistress!’

’He and Pei Yan are cousins. If Pei Yan were to find out... Ding Xiang didn’t even dare to imagine how chaotic that would be!’

’With Pei Yan’s temper, wouldn’t he ambush Mr. Gu and give him a good thrashing?’

’After all, Mr. Gu was trying to cuckold Pei Yan...’

The moment the thought occurred, Ding Xiang mentally spat a few times to ward it off.

’Our mistress isn’t hung up on Pei Yan. Who she wants to be with is her own choice!’

Mei Wanying lifted her gaze, her eyes landing on Mrs. Gu and her attendants.

’I really do need to give them something to do.’

’Besides, I have to go home sooner or later. Staying here is just hiding my head in the sand.’

’I’ll face the music sooner or later. I might as well be decisive.’

Mei Wanying asked the question on her mind. "Mr. Gu, you’re helping me so much. How can I possibly repay you?"

Gu Xun’s hands, which were resting on his knees, tightened.

’He wanted to stand by her side. He wanted her gaze to linger on him.’

’He wanted to be the one who lit a lamp for her when she was lost in the dark.’

Gu Xun’s Adam’s apple bobbed. "We are both traveling from the Capital City to Jiangnan. Let’s just call it fate. There’s no need for repayment."