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

Pei Yan had grown up in the Mei family, so Mrs. Mei was stunned when she heard that something had happened to him.

Like Mei Wanying, Mrs. Mei had also believed Pei Yan was capable of anything, certain that he would eventually ascend to that position.

Pei Yan had just won a major battle. It should have been a moment of boundless glory, a time to use his victory to gain an upper hand on the Crown Prince. No one expected something like this to happen.

With him severely injured, there was no telling how the political landscape would shift.

But no matter how it changed, it was bound to stir up a bloodbath.

The General’s old subordinates were in Pei Yan’s camp. If he fell, they would all be doomed.

Even Ah Yin might be captured and dragged back by the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince would never allow Ah Yin to have another man’s child, especially when that child’s father was Pei Yan!

The moment Mrs. Mei considered what he might do, she felt as if her world was about to collapse.

One was her daughter, the other her grandchild. She couldn’t bear the thought of either of them getting hurt.

Nothing could be allowed to happen to Pei Yan!

Only if he lived would they have a chance at a peaceful life.

Pei Yan’s ties to the Mei family ran too deep. Even though the Mei family no longer had any kin serving in the imperial court, in the eyes of outsiders, they were all in the same boat.

To say nothing of distant threats, their own relatives were already eyeing them covetously, eager to seize the family’s assets now that there was no male heir.

They only held back out of fear of Pei Yan.

If Pei Yan died, those people would lose all restraint. There was no telling what shameless acts they would be capable of then.

No matter how she looked at it, they were in the same boat as Pei Yan.

They would prosper or perish together!

Since she couldn’t help Pei Yan directly, Mrs. Mei decided to go to the temple to pray for him.

Sincere prayers are answered. With the General watching over him from the heavens, she hoped Pei Yan could turn this misfortune into a blessing.

Mrs. Mei was about to leave to pray for Pei Yan, but her old illness flared up, leaving her bedridden.

Two days passed with little improvement. The physician said she needed quiet rest and should not overthink or worry.

Mei Wanying was personally helping her mother take her medicine when she finally said, "I’ll go."

’She just didn’t want to see Pei Yan again; she didn’t actually want him to die.’

’In their past life, they were both at fault, which was how they ended up in that hopeless situation.’

’She didn’t want to resent Pei Yan anymore.’

’Since heaven had given her a second chance at life, it was a new beginning.’

’I can’t let myself be trapped in the past,’ Mei Wanying thought.

’If Pei Yan died, her life would be even more difficult.’

She understood her priorities clearly.

Praying might not actually work, but at least it would offer some peace of mind.

’If Pei Yan really dies... well, that’s just fate,’ Mei Wanying thought.

’Birth, aging, sickness, and death are beyond anyone’s control.’

’Just like in her past life, she never imagined that a trip to the Border would cost her her life.’

’In her mind, the worst possible outcome had been a complete break with Pei Yan.’

’She hadn’t wanted to die.’

’But she’d had no choice. Could she really have let the enemy tie her up and display her on the front lines to force Pei Yan to surrender?’

’She would rather die than tarnish the Mei family’s honor!’

From the moment she decided to leave the capital, Mei Wanying had prepared herself to walk the road ahead alone.

Without Pei Yan as her Amulet, the path forward might be rough, but that too was her fate.

’You can’t rely on others forever. Depending on yourself is the only long-term plan.’

Mrs. Mei stared at her daughter for a long time. Seeing her calm expression, devoid of panic or worry, she couldn’t quite grasp what Wanying was thinking.

"If you’re worried about Ah Yan, you can write a letter and ask about his condition. You two grew up together, with a bond of nearly twenty years. People aren’t made of stone. It’s understandable for you to be worried about him at a time like this, and Mother understands."

Their entanglement ran too deep. For as long as Mei Wanying could remember, Pei Yan had been a part of her life.

Letting go of the past was incredibly difficult!

Mei Wanying shook her head. "A letter won’t change anything. He has physicians and trusted aides with him; there are people to arrange everything for him."

Mrs. Mei asked, "Then why are you going to pray for him?"

’Isn’t that just a sign that you’re worried about Ah Yan?’

Mei Wanying lowered her gaze, her raven-like lashes hiding the emotion in her eyes.

"I’m going to pray for my own sake."

’Pei Yan being alive is more beneficial to me than not.’ Mei Wanying told herself this was the reason she wanted him to live.

Ding Xiang subconsciously glanced at Mei Wanying’s fingers.

Unless you looked very closely, you wouldn’t see the tiny needle prick.

’Does Miss really not care if Pei Yan lives or dies?’

Ding Xiang didn’t think so.

’Otherwise, why would she have zoned out and pricked her own finger?’

...

Mrs. Gu was relieved to hear that Mei Wanying was going to the temple to pray.

She very much approved.

’If something happens to His Highness, the child in Mei Wanying’s womb will be his only flesh and blood.’

Realizing this, Mrs. Gu stopped making things difficult for Mei Wanying. She no longer even felt that the unmarried pregnancy was a disgrace.

Strangely, she even felt a little grateful to her.

’Grateful that Mei Wanying was carrying His Highness’s bloodline. Whether he pulled through or not, as long as his lineage continued, there was hope!’

’The Empress in the palace wouldn’t be so devastated that she could never recover.’

’This child is too important. It must be protected at all costs!’

Mrs. Gu watched Mei Wanying’s expression and suggested carefully, "Miss Mei, how about letting Xun accompany you? He and His Highness are cousins. Now that His Highness’s life is hanging by a thread, I’m sure Xun also wants to do something to help him wake up."

’With Xun accompanying them, Miss Mei and the child would have an extra layer of security.’

’How perfect!’

Mei Wanying despised people who acted presumptuously.

She also hated it when people did things against her will under the guise of acting "for her own good."

The last time Gu Xun helped her, she had already repaid him with a lavish gift.

Unless it was a matter of extreme urgency, she had no intention of troubling Gu Xun again.

’What kind of person seeks help from others at the drop of a hat?’

’She wasn’t a child anymore. She could walk her own path!’

Mei Wanying shot Mrs. Gu a cool glance. "Mind your own business."

Mrs. Gu fell silent, feeling wronged.

’And just who was she doing all this for?’

’How could Miss Mei be so ungrateful!’

Ever since their last falling-out, Miss Mei’s words were always barbed, showing her no respect at all.

Mrs. Gu had the distinct impression she was being treated like a punching bag.

’That girl Ding Xiang was plenty talkative and did foolish things from time to time, so why didn’t Miss Mei ever scold her?’

’It was pure favoritism!’

She shot a glare at Ding Xiang. "You are to follow Miss at all times. If anything happens to her or the child, not even a hundred of your lives would be enough to pay for it, you little wench!"

Ding Xiang was speechless.

’She was the Miss’s personal attendant. What right did that old crone Gu have to lecture her?’

She rolled her eyes and muttered, "Old hag!"

Mrs. Gu was about to retort, but she looked up and met Mei Wanying’s icy gaze, and silently swallowed her words.

’When you’re under someone else’s roof, you have to bow your head.’

’She didn’t dare provoke Mei Wanying any longer.’

The temple was located in the mountains. The carriage could only go as far as the main gate, from which one had to climb several thousand stone steps to reach the summit to pray and make a wish.

Fortunately, there were pavilions and small shrines along the path where one could stop and rest.

Otherwise, in her pregnant state, Mei Wanying’s body would never have been able to handle the strain.

The mountains were cold, so Mrs. Mei had people prepare thick clothing for her.

Just in case, the Household Doctor was to be brought along as well.

After half a day of packing, Mei Wanying left the city by carriage at the crack of dawn the next day.

At the city gate, her carriage passed a man on horseback traveling in the opposite direction.