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

"His Highness isn’t lacking for people to pray for him. I came here for myself."

The woman’s voice drifted over.

’So stubborn.’

Pei Yan thought to himself.

When Mei Wanying was angry, she had a habit of saying the opposite of what she meant. It looked like she still hadn’t completely let go of the unpleasantness in the Capital City.

Pei Yan’s expression grew troubled. He didn’t know what he could do to make Mei Wanying happy again.

He knew he had gone too far—not only had he given Mei Wanying the cold shoulder, but he had even tried to marry her off to another man.

Worst of all, he had agreed to take a wife.

Thinking back on it now, he wanted to slap himself across the face.

’Was I out of my mind back then?’

Mei Wanying couldn’t tolerate the slightest betrayal; she would never willingly become a thorn in another’s side.

If he were to take a wife, she would surely leave and go far away.

Pei Yan let out a breath. He had to make things clear to Mei Wanying.

He didn’t love any other woman!

He had agreed back then for two reasons. First, his elders were pressuring him relentlessly, telling him to consider the bigger picture.

Second, he’d thought it didn’t matter whom he married; it would just be one more person in the household.

It was his own stubbornness, his inability to see his own heart, that had caused Mei Wanying so much pain and disappointment.

’Never again.’

Once he dealt with the Crown Prince and no one dared to harm Mei Wanying again, he would bring her back to the Capital City.

Remembering all the things he had done, Pei Yan felt a profound sense of guilt.

No wonder Mei Wanying was still so angry.

Putting himself in her shoes, if Mei Wanying were to marry another man, he would definitely lose his mind.

He would stop at nothing to take Mei Wanying back.

She had simply left quietly, swallowing all her grievances. She was far more dignified than he was.

Pei Yan’s thoughts ran wild.

The two people inside the hall were still talking. Gu Xun had just mentioned the word "cousin."

Mei Wanying cut him off. "Mr. Gu, it’s been over between His Highness and me for a long time. Please don’t mention him again."

Pei Yan: "..."

’Since when were we over? How did I not know about this?’

’Mei Wanying, could you stop spouting such nonsense!’

Her expression was serious; she didn’t look like she was just speaking out of anger.

Gu Xun’s eyes lit up, and his hands, hidden beneath his wide sleeves, trembled with excitement.

He tried his best to restrain himself, not wanting to make his feelings too obvious.

Heaven knows how anxious he had been on the way here, terrified that Mei Wanying’s heart would soften toward his cousin.

Afraid she would go back to him...

She was carrying his cousin’s child. If she went back to him, and he managed to wake up, he would certainly marry Mei Wanying.

At that point, he would lose even the right to look at Mei Wanying.

Thankfully, she hadn’t softened.

Gu Xun knew he shouldn’t be gloating, not when his cousin’s life hung in the balance. This was no time to be thinking about love.

But he couldn’t help it.

He silently apologized to Pei Yan. ’It was my cousin who failed to cherish Mei Wanying. You can’t blame me for disregarding our brotherly bond and scheming to marry her myself.’

General Mei had never taken a concubine in his entire life; surely, Mei Wanying would appreciate that kind of man.

Gu Xun thought, ’I could also refrain from taking concubines. I would even dote on this child as if it were my own flesh and blood.’

As long as he could stay by Mei Wanying’s side, he would ask for nothing more in this life.

With Pei Yan grievously injured and in a coma, Mei Wanying hadn’t lost her composure. This gave Gu Xun a glimmer of hope.

’If I just try a little harder, maybe Mei Wanying will finally notice me?’

He dug his nails into his palm, his jaw tightening. He had always borne a slight resemblance to Pei Yan, but in that moment, the similarity grew even more distinct.

Mei Wanying averted her gaze.

After offering incense, donating incense money, and lighting a Peace Lamp, she was ready to go rest.

It was getting late, too late to descend the mountain.

Mei Wanying was pregnant and shouldn’t overexert herself. The temple was perfectly quiet, so she decided to stay for a couple of days before returning to the city.

Listening to the masters lecture on the sutras might grant her some new insight.

Having donated a large sum of merit money, Mei Wanying was given rooms in the guest courtyard.

The environment was quiet and serene, perfect for recuperating both body and mind.

Gu Xun also took up lodging at the temple. Male and female pilgrims were housed in separate courtyards, but to him, this was already very close to Mei Wanying.

He was content.

The temple only served vegetarian meals, but Mei Wanying wasn’t picky. As long as it filled her stomach, she was fine.

In her last life, she had gone to the Border to find Pei Yan, encountering trouble on the way and even going hungry.

She could live through good times, and she could endure the bad. That was Mei Wanying’s current state of mind.

Her eyesight was poor. Back at the manor, lanterns would be hung in the courtyard and candles lit the moment dusk fell.

The candles in her bedchamber wouldn’t be extinguished until she was settled for the night.

Here in the mountains, everything was simpler. It was impossible to light so many lamps, and the light was dim. Afraid that Mei Wanying might fall, Ding Xiang never left her side.

"You’ve had a long day too. Go get some rest. I’ll call if I need anything."

Ding Xiang was still worried. "I’ll go rest after you’ve fallen asleep, my lady."

Mei Wanying, who had already lain down, didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "I’m not a child. If I need to get up in the middle of the night, I will certainly call for someone to light a lamp."

She gestured with her chin toward the doorway, where Mrs. Gu’s servants stood motionless.

Mei Wanying said, "Just let them keep watch. You get a good night’s sleep and build up your energy. You can accompany me to the sutra lecture tomorrow morning."

Ding Xiang’s heart felt warm. Her lady was just doting on her, unwilling to let her suffer any hardship.

She turned to glance at the women standing stiff as wooden poles and snorted.

Mimicking Mrs. Gu’s tone, she said, "You keep a proper watch tonight! If anything happens to my lady or the child, the lives of you little wretches won’t be enough to pay for it!"

After the tirade, she felt utterly refreshed.

’No wonder Mrs. Gu is always picking fights with me,’ she thought. ’Letting out your anger is what really works!’

’No need to be merciful to the ’enemy’—otherwise you’ll just suffocate from holding it all in!’

Mrs. Gu and the others had been sent by the Empress, and they considered the child in Mei Wanying’s womb more important than life itself.

To put it bluntly, these people probably cared more about the child in her belly than their mistress did.

The women who had been berated looked at one another, but none of them dared to make a sound.

Even Mrs. Gu was no match for this mistress-and-servant pair and often found herself on the losing end. What could they do but endure it?

Seeing their meek and submissive expressions, Ding Xiang felt deeply satisfied.

She tucked in the corners of Mei Wanying’s blanket, arranged the pillows for her back, and added detailed instructions, "If you feel uncomfortable, just call me. I’ll come help you turn over."

Pregnancy was difficult. The bigger the belly grew, the more uncomfortable it became, and the harder it was to get a good night’s sleep.

Ding Xiang had never borne a child, but to better serve Mei Wanying, she had gone out of her way to learn these things.

Mei Wanying was being looked after very well. Her health was gradually returning, and she was in much better shape than she had been in her previous life.

Realizing she was thinking about her past life again, Mei Wanying quickly reined in her thoughts.

She sent Ding Xiang off to rest, asking her to blow out the lamp before she left.

Mei Wanying’s eyesight was poor, but she couldn’t sleep soundly with a lamp lit.

As soon as Ding Xiang left, Mei Wanying was alone in the room.

The air was so quiet she could hear the wind blowing through the mountains.

Mei Wanying felt herself slip into another daze.

In her past life at the Border, the sandstorms had also been fierce. Her pregnancy had become unstable, forcing her to rest. Lying in Pei Yan’s large tent, she could hear the WHOOSH of the wind every night.

He would sleep in the outer chamber, and sometimes, in the dead of night, she could hear him moving pieces on his sand table, arranging his troops for battle.

’Could anyone really harm a battle-hardened man like Pei Yan?’

Mei Wanying turned over in bed.

She muttered to the empty air, "If he’s dead, he’s dead..."

She wouldn’t have to worry about her pregnancy being exposed anymore, nor would she have to fear Pei Yan trying to take the child from her.

As for everything else... she would deal with it as it came.

Pei Yan, who had been listening to Mei Wanying’s every move, felt his handsome face turn as black as the bottom of a wok.

He had rushed here, traveling day and night, only for Mei Wanying to treat him like this!