[{"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-163":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},1326539,1761,"Chapter 163: Chased by a Dog","a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-chapter-163",163,"\u003Cp>After several days of peace, several bloated corpses were dredged from the upper reaches of the city moat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, some of the city’s residents began to show symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and unceasing abdominal pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Physicians declared that if a proper cure wasn’t found in time, these people would die from exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse still, the illness was contagious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rumor began to spread that the corpses were highly toxic and that the people suffering from vomiting and diarrhea might have contracted a plague.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone grew pale at the mere mention of a plague, knowing full well how terrifying it could be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a time, panic gripped the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Useless Crown Prince had planned to poison the wells, but with the city under lockdown and extra patrols of government soldiers, his men couldn’t find an opportunity to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yu was furious and threw a tantrum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t expected something like this to happen so suddenly. It felt as if the heavens themselves were helping him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yu burst out laughing. \"The heavens are on my side! What does this mean? It means that I am the rightful heir!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What does Pei Yan think he is? He’s just a counterfeit they found halfway, he can never replace me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He’s a bringer of disaster! He brings calamity wherever he goes! How can a person like that inherit the throne?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yu’s expression was frantic. \"Go! Spread the word! Only by killing Pei Yan and his bastard child will this divine punishment end!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If they insist on fighting against the heavens, death is the only path that awaits them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s face was gloomy and pale. Having not seen the light of day for so long, he had a sinister air about him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he laughed, he looked increasingly bizarre, like a phantom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chill ran down his subordinate’s spine. He asked cautiously, \"Your Highness, is it possible... that Pei Yan is trying to trick us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the people from the Government Office knew the truth about the corpses, and the Government Office had always acted on Pei Yan’s orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t impossible that they had conspired, sent their own people to pose as poisoned citizens, and spread the rumors themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan is the Crown Prince. The forces at his command are immense, so it wouldn’t be difficult for him to pull something like this off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But their master, His Highness, had lost countless men along the way. There weren’t many forces left for him to command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clashing head-on with Pei Yan at a time like this would be like an egg hitting a rock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they were lucky enough to gain the upper hand, Pei Yan could afford to lose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But His Highness couldn’t!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had only just managed to escape the Capital City and shake off his pursuers. If things continued like this, sooner or later, he would be caught by Pei Yan’s men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had long since experienced just how ruthless Pei Yan’s methods could be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan was not a soft-hearted person. Even though His Highness was his cousin, he wouldn’t show any mercy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he hadn’t suddenly left the capital, His Highness would never have been able to escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he truly went up against Pei Yan, there would be no second chances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subordinate tried his best to persuade him. \"Your Highness, we mustn’t act rashly! Let’s wait and see if they’re just putting on a show.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yu’s expression turned frigid, a vicious glint in his deep-set eyes. \"Are my orders no longer effective?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subordinate lowered his head. \"This subordinate was wrong, but...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No buts!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was already a ruined man. The result of hiding would just be dying somewhere else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Court would hunt him down. His former subordinates... they might even turn on him, trading his corpse for wealth and glory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During his time on the run, Pei Yu had suffered immensely. When he thought back to his days as the Crown Prince, the stark contrast nearly drowned him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t want to keep hiding anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would rather face Pei Yan, even if it meant death! At least it wouldn’t be so humiliating!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yu said, \"Do as I say!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subordinate clasped his fist in his palm and accepted the order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the dim room, a bronze mirror stood in the corner. Pei Yu paced over to it, for the first time looking directly at the person inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emaciated, sickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Like a drowned dog.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tried to lift his injured arm, but even with all his might, he couldn’t raise it an inch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This arm was truly useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frustrated, Pei Yu smashed his fist into the bronze mirror, panting heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pei Yan, this won’t end until one of us is dead!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was at the other courtyard that Pei Yan had gravely injured him, crippling his arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The day he tried to seize the palace was also ruined by Pei Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps today was also a trap set by Pei Yan, but he was accepting the challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would see if he could drag Mei Wanying and Pei Yan’s bastard child down with him, to be buried alongside him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sending all his men out, Pei Yu grabbed a dagger with his good hand and hacked at his long, disheveled hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dagger cut through iron as if it were mud. Strands of half-black, half-white hair drifted to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, he lit an oil lamp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face was expressionless as he casually tossed the lamp onto the bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flames shot up instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t stay here any longer. With Pei Yan’s skills, his men would find this place soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「...」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another rumor was stirring in the city, and Mei Wanying and the others knew full well who was behind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By following the source of the rumor, Pei Yan’s men found the desolate manor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the great fire, a large section of it had collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The manor was destroyed, and with it, all traces were erased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What happened?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Pei Yan return to the estate, Mei Wanying, who had been waiting before the floral-carved gate, immediately went up to meet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the timing was off, Pei Yan still felt as though he were a husband being welcomed home by his wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the years when their relationship was good, whenever he returned to the Capital City from a campaign, Mei Wanying would even ride out of the city to greet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the feeling today was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps because they had once been married, Pei Yan always felt that Mei Wanying was his wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Say something.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the man remained silent, an impatient Mei Wanying pinched his firm, lean waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t know how he did it, but his body was hard as a rock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pinched him, only to hurt her own hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she realized what she had done, Mei Wanying’s lovely face turned completely red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blush spread, staining even her ears and neck the color of rouge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying was angry at herself, and at Pei Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’This isn’t me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’How could I possibly do something like that!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flustered, Mei Wanying immediately turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan touched the spot Mei Wanying had pinched. It didn’t hurt, but a tingling numbness spread from it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tingling sensation spread all the way to the bottom of his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His heart quivered along with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan’s eyelashes trembled. A similar scene had happened before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, Ah Yin would twist his ear and ask if he’d gone deaf, why else wasn’t he answering her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would stare at him fiercely with her big eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That scene... it was all so familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan’s eyes grew inexplicably moist. ’Is Ah Yin starting to forgive me?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man started walking, quickly chasing in the direction Mei Wanying had disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, it was a fast walk, but a moment later, the figure in black sprinted toward Mei Wanying like a cheetah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the ever-composed and reserved Pei Yan actually make such a frivolous move, Ding Xiang’s eyes widened in astonishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Pei Yan... he’s like a dog.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Just running toward our lady like that...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Xiang blinked, suspecting she had seen wrong. How could someone as cold and proud as Pei Yan act like a greenhorn kid?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My Lady, he’s catching up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lost in thought, Mei Wanying turned her head and, sure enough, saw the man’s figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She subconsciously lifted her skirts and ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Xiang: \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’No, wait, now it really looks like she’s being chased by a dog!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Xiang looked left and right, unsure if she should follow them...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At a corner of the covered walkway, Pei Yan blocked Mei Wanying’s path. \"What are you running from?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1455,"2026-06-05T19:26:55.507Z",1,"novelbin.me","b5a466e87091c16d004edf29340298a086061651b11bc76fdcae468b11ef5d04","a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-chapter-164","a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-chapter-162",175,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-cover.jpg"]