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

Mei Wanying was far away in Jiangnan, so news from the Capital City was hard to come by.

She only knew that the former Crown Prince’s faction had been defeated and that Pei Yan had been instated as the new Crown Prince.

The Emperor was likely failing, having handed over all court affairs to Pei Yan.

If the Emperor were to pass away, Pei Yan would ascend the throne as a matter of course and become the new master of the realm.

Aside from these major, widely-known events, Mei Wanying knew nothing of the goings-on in the Capital City, nor did she care.

’Now that I’m far from the Capital City, I shouldn’t waste my energy on that place.’

’Living my own life well is more important than anything else.’

She hadn’t been paying attention to matters in the Capital City, so she was surprised when Xue Xingyao’s letter pleading for help arrived.

It was only then that Mei Wanying learned Duke Xue, in his attempt to save Xue Yunshu, had doomed everyone in the Duke Mansion!

Even though she wasn’t directly involved, she felt the injustice on behalf of the others.

’What terrible luck to be stuck with such a muddle-headed fool!’

In the letter, Xue Xingyao begged Mei Wanying to contact Pei Yan and plead for mercy for her mother and younger brother.

"Whether it succeeds or not, please ask His Highness to grant my mother a divorce. Mother has endured decades of suffering; she certainly doesn’t want to remain a ghost of the Xue family after death!"

This was how Xue Xingyao’s letter concluded.

Anyone with eyes could see the grievances Mrs. Xue had suffered over the years.

Mei Wanying understood her friend’s decision.

Ah Yao had long urged Mrs. Xue to seek a divorce, but Mrs. Xue couldn’t bear to leave her children, so she swallowed her grievances.

’Now that things have come to this, if they can’t escape unscathed, a divorce... would at least be a psychological comfort.’

Although she didn’t want to get involved with Pei Yan again, Mei Wanying still wrote a letter pleading for mercy.

Great aristocratic families always rose and fell together. Mei Wanying felt a knot of anxiety in her stomach, uncertain if she could truly help Xue Xingyao.

Ding Xiang comforted her, "You do what you can and leave the rest to fate. We are just women; how can we influence major affairs of the court? Even if you can’t help, the Second Miss won’t blame you."

The matter was too immense. Whether Pei Yan helped or not, they couldn’t hold it against him.

Duke Xue had colluded with the enemy. When one person commits such a crime, their entire clan suffers the consequences.

Mrs. Xue was the mistress of the Duke Mansion, and her son was its future heir. Extricating the two of them would be anything but easy.

’The Second Miss has probably already prepared for the worst. That’s why her final request was for her parents’ divorce.’

Mei Wanying was in the late stages of her pregnancy, and her mobility was severely limited.

She couldn’t go find Xue Xingyao and help her through this difficult time, so she could only try her best to help from afar.

When Mei Wanying’s gaze fell upon her, a chill ran down Mrs. Gu’s spine. "Miss Mei, I don’t have that kind of power."

Mei Wanying replied, "You don’t, but the person backing you doesn’t either?"

The backer behind Mrs. Gu was Empress Gu.

’Nothing in this world is absolute. If Empress Gu is willing to help, there’s still a chance to turn this around.’

’The men might be beyond saving, but there’s still hope for Mrs. Xue.’

Mei Wanying couldn’t be sure of Pei Yan’s intentions. He had a malicious streak; it wasn’t impossible that he would refuse to help her out of spite.

’After thinking it over, striking a deal with Empress Gu is the better option.’

Looking at her swollen belly, soon to go into labor, how could Mrs. Gu dare to oppose Mei Wanying?

If anything happened to her and the child, everyone would pay with their lives!

So she could only agree to pass on the message for Mei Wanying.

Having done all she could, Mei Wanying gazed at the bleak scenery outside her window and murmured to herself, "What will Ah Yao do in the Chen family?"

In the deep courtyards of great houses, there were always plenty of people who would trim their sails to the prevailing wind.

’Will the Chen family kick her while she’s down?’

’Will Chen Shujing protect Ah Yao with all his heart?’

In her letter, Xue Xingyao hadn’t mentioned her own circumstances, but Mei Wanying knew she must be in a terrible state.

With such a disaster befalling her maternal family, it would be difficult for anyone to bear.

’How will Ah Yao walk the path ahead?’

...

Gu Xun found some free time and came to visit Mei Wanying again. He visited so frequently that even though nothing had been said outright, everyone understood his intentions.

In the eyes of outsiders, Mei Wanying, having been widowed right after her wedding, was seen as a jinx who brought death to her husbands.

Furthermore, she was carrying a posthumous child. Many people couldn’t understand what Gu Xun could possibly see in her.

Mei Wanying wasn’t made of wood; how could she not sense Gu Xun’s feelings?

She intentionally avoided Gu Xun, but he could always find some excuse to pay a visit.

Sometimes, he would come to the residence to discuss official business.

Other times, he would bring her nourishing supplements for her health.

Fashionable snacks from town, amusing little trinkets... they would arrive at her residence every few days.

Even Mrs. Mei was moved, praising Mr. Gu as a thoughtful young man and saying he knew how to cherish a person more than... that other one.

As it happened more and more, Mei Wanying eventually just let him be.

She wouldn’t marry again, and Gu Xun knew this.

After being led into the main hall, Gu Xun immediately presented a wooden box to Mei Wanying.

Mei Wanying was perplexed. "Mr. Gu, what is the meaning of this?"

A suspicious blush crept onto Gu Xun’s face, and his ears were so red they looked as if they might bleed.

He stroked the box with the pad of his thumb, looked into Mei Wanying’s eyes, and said, "This is my entire fortune. Title deeds, shop deeds, silver notes... everything is in here."

Mei Wanying’s heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously tried to change the subject.

But Gu Xun gave her no chance to evade it.

’My cousin has already been named Crown Prince. Once matters in the Capital City are settled, he will definitely come to Jiangnan to find Mei Wanying. A recent letter from home said my cousin intends to transfer me back to the capital. I know he’s about to make his move. If I keep hesitating, what chance will I have left once he arrives in Jiangnan?’

There wasn’t much time left for him.

Gu Xun’s expression was serious. "I know you are unwilling to marry. I can bring my entire fortune and marry into the Mei family."

CRASH!

It was the sound of a porcelain cup falling and shattering.

Mei Wanying was so stunned that her hand trembled and the cup slipped from her grasp.

She had considered a thousand possibilities, but she never imagined Gu Xun would go this far.

Ding Xiang quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe the spilled water for her, her downcast eyes also filled with shock.

’Mr. Gu wants to become our Mei family’s son-in-law, and he’s even willing to marry into the family! This is a legitimate son of the Gu Family! Although he isn’t the eldest and won’t inherit the family estate, for him to offer to become a live-in son-in-law is still quite shocking.’

Mrs. Gu’s eyes went wide, and she wondered if she had heard him correctly.

Once she processed it, she shrieked, "Xun! How could you become a live-in son-in-law? A matrilocal husband has no dignity! Don’t be foolish and rush into being mistreated!"

Gu Xun frowned. "This is between Miss Mei and me. What business is it of an outsider to interfere?"

’I know I’m being shameless, using a trick like this to sway Mei Wanying’s heart. But I have no other choice. I can’t just sit here and wait for death, letting my cousin come to Jiangnan and snatch her away, can I?’

If Mei Wanying was unwilling to marry, then he would marry into the Mei family.

As long as he could be by her side, he would have no regrets!

Marrying into a family was no small matter. Mrs. Gu tried to persuade him earnestly, "The Empress told you to marry Miss Mei, not to marry into her family! If you make such an absurd decision, how will you answer to the elders back in the Capital City?"

The Gu Family was the Empress’s maternal family, a distinguished house of great prestige. For one of their legitimate sons to become a live-in son-in-law... if word got out, they would be mocked to death!

Gu Xun was unmoved. He pushed the box toward Mei Wanying. "Miss Mei, can you give me a chance?"