[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let":3,"chapter-a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-chapter-14":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","A Marriage in Name Only? My Stepbrother Won't Let Me Go",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1326565,1761,"Chapter 14: Mei Wanying Is His Bane","a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-chapter-14",14,"\u003Cp>Worried her mother would face trouble, Mei Wanying came to the front courtyard alone to see what was happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She ran into Nanny Liu on the way and learned that the Crown Prince was insisting on seeing her. Mei Wanying then followed Nanny Liu to the main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as she drew near, she heard what Pei Yan was saying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, she would have been overjoyed. She would have thought that Pei Yan defending her like this proved she held a special place in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after everything she had experienced in her past life, she now understood just how ridiculous she had been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan was only protecting her to repay a debt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t special at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Stop flattering yourself!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying was no fool; she wasn’t about to contradict Pei Yan at a time like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she could use Pei Yan’s influence to resolve the trouble of the Crown Prince forcing her into marriage, nothing would be better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the dust settled, she would take her mother back to Jiangnan and never return to the Capital City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And, of course, she would never see Pei Yan again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having been reborn, she was already prepared to make a clean break.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying lifted the hem of her moon-white dress slightly and stepped gracefully into the main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She entered against the light, her figure slender and graceful, her lovely face seemingly wreathed in a thin mist. Her dark hair wasn’t styled in an elaborate coiffure but was simply held back by a silk ribbon, the strands catching the light in a soft golden halo. Her long, swan-like neck was held in a delicate pose. When a breeze blew through, the simple ribbon fluttered, making her look like a goddess descending to the mortal world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan casually glanced up. The long fingers tapping on the armrest of his chair froze, and his pupils dilated involuntarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint, uniquely feminine fragrance drifted in on the breeze. Pei Yan, who was sensitive to smells, caught the scent instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the scent of orchids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faint and elegant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Utterly refreshing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Pei Yan’s breathing grew ragged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Mei Wanying really is my bane,’ he thought. ’She always makes me uncomfortable!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze swept over to the Crown Prince, whose eyes were fixed on Mei Wanying like a venomous snake’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those eyes held an obsession, a look that said he was determined to have her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan was displeased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face darkened. \"Go back!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying had prepared herself, but his tone still affected her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’What’s he so fierce about?’ she thought. ’I haven’t done anything to provoke him.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Casting a cool glance at Pei Yan, Mei Wanying didn’t argue. With him here to back her up, her mother wouldn’t be left isolated and helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan was the one telling her to leave. If the Crown Prince wanted to cause trouble, he should take it up with Pei Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that thought, Mei Wanying truly turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince spoke up. \"Miss Mei, a moment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying stopped in her tracks, a flicker of helplessness in her downcast eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the Crown Prince, a member of the Royal Family, powerful and influential. Even with Pei Yan intervening, she still felt a sense of dread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Pei Yan were to disregard their past and stop protecting her, Mei Wanying truly didn’t know what she would do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she were alone, she could fight to the bitter end, never compromising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she had her mother, and that was her weak spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying stared at the silver floral embroidery on her dress. ’I won’t pester Pei Yan anymore. I just hope that since I know my place, he’ll help me resolve this mess quickly.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Once this matter is settled, I’ll leave the Capital City.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I won’t stay a moment longer than necessary.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’And I certainly won’t appear before Pei Yan again and get in his way.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’From then on, we’ll each go our separate ways!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince concealed the aggression in his eyes and said with a smile, \"Second Brother, you can’t be so rough with a young lady. With that ice-cold demeanor of yours, it’s no wonder all the other girls avoid you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Only a blind girl like Mei Wanying would chase after Pei Yan!’ the Crown Prince thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Then again, she really does have trouble with her eyes.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hint of malice entered the Crown Prince’s eyes. \"Isn’t that right, Miss Mei?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying was disgusted at being used as a pawn in their rivalry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But alas, both were sons of the Royal Family; she couldn’t afford to offend either one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could Mrs. Mei stand by and watch her daughter be harassed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took Mei Wanying’s hand and led her forward to pay her respects. \"His Highness made a special trip to check on your health. You should thank him for his kindness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Mei Wanying was about to curtsy, the Crown Prince caught her by the arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tried to pull away instinctively, but he clamped down firmly on her wrist. A smirk played on the Crown Prince’s lips. \"Miss Mei, there’s no need for such formalities.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, his thumb traced a subtle, suggestive circle over her wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even through the fabric of her sleeve, Mei Wanying felt as if a cold, slithering snake had just crawled over her skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hairs on her arms stood on end, and goosebumps erupted across her skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying struggled harder, trying to pull her hand back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Crown Prince wouldn’t let go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with her mother present, he provoked her brazenly, showing no regard for anyone’s dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Humiliation threatened to drown Mei Wanying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’When Father was alive, no one would have dared treat me so flippantly!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying had her back to Pei Yan, but her frame was slender, and her struggle with the Crown Prince was in his clear line of sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan’s pupils constricted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flash of killing intent crossed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body reacted before his mind even caught up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shot to his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince released her at just the right moment, his expression a mask of calm. \"I wasn’t going to eat Miss Mei, Second Brother. Your reaction is a bit much.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan sneered, pulling Mei Wanying behind him. \"She is not a concubine of the Eastern Palace, nor is she one of the little songbirds you keep on the side. Show her some respect!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince’s behavior was outrageous, and many scandalous rumors circulated about him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Crown Princess Consort was too meek to restrain him, and while the Emperor punished him every time, the punishments were always severe in word but gentle in deed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor having no sons of his own had left the Crown Prince with no sense of urgency, allowing him to act with dissolute abandon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the Empress... some said that after the pain of losing her own son, she had poured all her affection onto the Crown Prince, spoiling him rotten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To spoil a son is to kill a son,\" as the saying goes, and in the past, Empress Gu had even been impeached by the court censors for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that Pei Yan had been found and returned, the Crown Prince had a sudden, terrible realization: Empress Gu had done it all on purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’She wanted to raise me to be a useless waste.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’All to make way for her own son!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In recent years, his Eastern Palace had become increasingly chaotic—one moment, someone would turn up dead; the next, some other strange incident would erupt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His reputation had plummeted as a result.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince refused to believe that Empress Gu didn’t have a hand in it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince hated them all, and Pei Yan most of all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’He was the one who was swapped out, so why didn’t he just die out there?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’And then there was General Mei. If he hadn’t saved Pei Yan, none of this would be happening now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Therefore, anything he did to Mei Wanying was justified.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’It’s her own fault for liking Pei Yan.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’It’s her own fault her name is Mei.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’She isn’t innocent. She must pay the debt!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared intently at Pei Yan, who was still shielding Mei Wanying, not yielding an inch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smile vanished from the Crown Prince’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His skin was pale, a sign of a pampered life, which now gave him an inexplicably sinister air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Second Brother, are you really going to fight me for her?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan’s tone was cold. \"She was never yours to begin with. How can it be called ’fighting’?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Mei Wanying is her own person,’ Pei Yan thought. ’She’s a living, breathing human being, not some object to be fought over.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’He shouldn’t think I don’t know what he’s planning.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’If Wanying were truly sent to the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince would torture her to death himself, without his other women even having to lift a finger.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’She’s unarmed and defenseless, her eyesight is poor, and she wouldn’t even know how to use a weapon if you gave her one.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’She’s naive and easily fooled, like a little white rabbit.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’And the more fragile a person is, the more it excites the destructive desires of others.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mere thought of certain possibilities made a fiery anxiety burn in Pei Yan’s gut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw Wanying as a younger sister. She was under his protection. While he held no romantic feelings for her, that fact changed nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Anyone who wants to hurt her will have to get past him first!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan was talking about Mei Wanying, but the Crown Prince felt his words carried a hidden meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was insinuating that his own position as Crown Prince was illegitimately obtained!\u003C\u002Fp>",1641,"2026-06-05T19:26:55.228Z",1,"novelbin.me","b24febb7637e57fc3e1840ab32560dab2ad19fca36660c8299173fcfe57ad4ce","a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-chapter-15","a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-chapter-13",175,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-cover.jpg"]