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

Xue Xingyao’s gaze fell upon the box. On the very top sheet of paper was the portrait of a young woman.

It showed only a blurry profile against a backdrop of brilliant spring scenery. The young woman, dressed in a turquoise gauze skirt, was looking back over her shoulder as if gazing at something far away.

It was rendered in just a few strokes, yet it was incredibly vivid.

Xue Xingyao had only ever seen one person with such masterful painting skills: Chen Shujing.

Xue Xingyao stood frozen, not taking out the portrait, nor immediately closing the lid.

There was more than one portrait. Beneath this one, perhaps, lay a clear depiction of the woman’s face.

Xue Xingyao was no fool. She thought of Shen Mingji, the defiant youth who had once come to the Duke Mansion looking for her.

Then she recalled how particularly concerned Chen Shujing had been with the Shen family’s affairs.

He had said that Shen Mingji was the younger brother of an old friend and needed his care.

Every half a month, he would take pastries to pay respects to this old friend, allowing no one to follow.

’Who was this old friend?’

’Was it the woman in the portrait?’

All the little details that hadn’t made sense before suddenly became clear.

’So... Chen Shujing already had someone he loved.’

She had thought that, like her, this was his first time falling in love.

She had thought it was love at first sight!

Xue Xingyao stood motionless for a long time, her eyes growing vacant. A cold wind blew in through the open window lattice.

The stack of papers in the box rustled, stirred by the breeze.

As the papers fluttered, Xue Xingyao got a clear look at that cool, aloof face.

And those eyes, so similar to her own.

It was in this moment that Xue Xingyao recalled the details of her time with Chen Shujing.

Before their marriage, he would always stare into her eyes, lost in thought.

And on their wedding night, Chen Shujing had kissed her eyes again and again.

’Who was he really seeing through these eyes?’

The last of her strength drained from her body. Xue Xingyao leaned against the bookshelf and suddenly doubled over.

She couldn’t say where it hurt, only that her entire body felt as if it were being pricked by needles.

It was agonizing!

"My lady, what’s wrong?" The maidservant guarding the study door noticed something was amiss.

She rushed into the room to support Xue Xingyao.

Hearing her cry out in pain, the maid instinctively looked at Xue Xingyao’s belly.

But she saw spots of crimson, like plum blossoms, blooming on her pale white dress.

"A physician! Go get a physician, quickly!"

The maid panicked. The child in the Heir’s wife’s womb was the Young Master’s first.

If it was a boy, he would be the future heir.

Before the Young Master left, he had said to take good care of his wife, that nothing could be allowed to go wrong.

Seeing the blood, all the maids and old servants present were thrown into a panic.

They ordered someone to fetch a physician and someone else to go after Chen Shujing. They had to catch him before he got too far and bring him back at once.

But Xue Xingyao stopped them. "Don’t bring him back."

’Her family is waiting for him to save them. If Chen Shujing comes back, what will happen to them?’

As for the child in her belly... Xue Xingyao gave a bleak, twisted smile. ’It’s better that this child doesn’t come into the world.’

’Its arrival would only be a continuation of the tragedy of her own childhood.’

’What child could be happy watching their mother suffer, completely unable to help?’

’It’s better this way!’

Xue Xingyao began to sob, her hands clutching tightly at her clothes.

’It hurts so much.’

’So much pain.’

’It hurts!’

Xue Xingyao was pregnant, making her the subject of the household’s utmost protection.

The physician arrived quickly.

The elders of the family also gathered in Xue Xingyao’s courtyard.

While the physician treated her inside, the others could only wait outside.

Madam Chen was beside herself with worry. "Everything was fine. How could this happen?"

The wife of the Chen Family’s second branch had also married in from the Capital City and was very well-informed.

"She probably heard about the trouble with her family. The shock must have caused the bleeding."

Madam Chen hadn’t heard the news yet. "What happened at the Duke Mansion?" she demanded. "Tell me clearly."

The second madam lowered her voice. "That muddle-headed father of hers was investigated for treason while trying to save a daughter of unknown origins. The entire family has been thrown in prison."

If Xue Xingyao hadn’t married into the Chen Family, she would be in a cell with them right now. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Treason is no small matter. Even if they are lucky enough to keep their lives, they will be exiled to a harsh, cold land.

The women might even be branded as lowly subjects, forced into servitude for the rest of their lives with no hope of recovery.

Understanding the full story, Madam Chen spat on the ground, forgetting her decorum.

"The Xue Family has so many descendants, yet they let a fool inherit the estate. The heavens must want the Xue Family to perish!"

The second madam said, "Ah Jing rushed to the Capital City. It must have been for this."

"The Chen Family doesn’t believe in kicking a person when they’re down. We chose Xue Xingyao and brought her into our home, so we can’t abandon her now."

"That’s his wife’s family. It’s only right that he goes to help mediate. Otherwise, what would that make our Chen Family? People would think we are heartless and only know how to protect ourselves."

"That may be true," the second madam said, still worried, "but this is no ordinary matter. This is treason! If Ah Jing speaks up for them, and someone with malicious intent decides to make things difficult for him, they could accuse him of treason too. What would we do then?"

Madam Chen’s heart skipped a beat. "Then what should we do? We can’t just stand by and watch them die, can we?"

She glanced toward the inner room. "If we don’t help her family, how can she possibly rest and recover?"

And we don’t even know if the child can be saved.

Even if it is, how can she have a healthy pregnancy if she’s in such a state?

Madam Chen clasped her hands together, praying to the heavens to keep the child safe.

The second madam was quite fond of Xue Xingyao. They were both from the Capital City and got along well.

But the Xue Family’s crime was too great. If the Chen Family insisted on helping, they could bring disaster upon themselves.

She said to Madam Chen, "Sister-in-law, why don’t you write a letter to Ah Jing? Tell him to just do his best, but not to get too deeply involved..."

The Xue Family has fallen, but the many members of the Chen Family still need to live. If they get implicated, how unjust would that be?

Madam Chen sighed. "The bigger picture is what matters most. Ah Jing knows what he’s doing."

Even if Xue Xingyao’s family was ruined, the Chen Family would not divorce her. By doing this much, Madam Chen felt they had a clear conscience.

Suddenly, she remembered something. "On the day of Ah Jing’s wedding, His Highness sent a valuable gift to Xingyao. With the Xue Family in trouble this time, he should show some mercy."

The second madam recalled this as well. "His Highness and Ah Jing are good friends. It seems this fire won’t spread to us after all."

Realizing this, both Madam Chen and the second madam breathed a simultaneous sigh of relief.

Xue Xingyao was pitiable, to be sure, but they couldn’t let the entire Chen Family be dragged into danger for her sake.

As long as the Chen Family stood, Xue Xingyao’s life of wealth and honor was secure. The Chen Family had already done more than enough.

As they were speaking, the physician emerged from the inner room.

Seeing the physician’s grave expression, Madam Chen had a bad feeling. She quickly asked, "How is the child?"

The physician shook his head. "The Heir’s wife was too distressed, and the fetus was in its early stages. It could not be saved."

Madam Chen was devastated. Her body swayed, and she fell back into her chair.

Her grandchild... was gone...

Her mother-in-law’s soft sobs reached the inner room. Xue Xingyao lay on the bed, staring blankly, her thoughts unreadable.

She had a generous and kind nature, so seeing her like this, the attending maids and servants also began to whimper and cry.

"What are you crying for?"

’The child is gone, and that’s that. It won’t have to walk my old path. This is a good thing.’

Xue Xingyao turned her head to look at them. "Bring me a brush and paper. I want to write a letter."

’There is still one other person who can help me.’

’I don’t have to rely on Chen Shujing!’