[{"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-2":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},1326553,1761,"Chapter 2: Not Marrying Pei Yan","a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-chapter-2",2,"\u003Cp>Mei Wanying was resolute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Mei burst into tears. \"It’s come to this. What good would refusing to marry him do now? You have no other choice!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know Pei Yan. He will certainly take you as his official wife. He won’t let you suffer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Mei had another reason for taking this drastic step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan had been acknowledged by the Royal Family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the eldest son of the Empress of the Central Palace. At birth, he had been swapped with a stillborn infant. All children born in the palace thereafter were princesses; there were no more princes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under pressure, the Emperor had adopted an Imperial Prince and installed him as Crown Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that Pei Yan was back, he had become a thorn in the Crown Prince’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the heart is partial. Between one’s own son and a nephew, anyone would naturally choose the former.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince’s position was no longer secure!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince’s insistence on pursuing Ah Yin was partly a way to contend with Pei Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw Ah Yin as a prize to be won and would stop at nothing to have her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The families who understood the situation were unwilling to align with the Mei family through marriage, fearing they would get caught in the crossfire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if some spirited young gentleman were willing to take the risk, he wouldn’t be able to protect Ah Yin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other than Pei Yan, there was no second candidate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Mei had approached the Empress to beg a favor for her daughter, but the Empress had put her off with excuses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As things stood, the Mei family was of no help to Pei Yan, so the Empress looked down on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Mei had also voiced her concerns to Pei Yan. He had assured her that he would protect Mei Wanying, but he would not marry her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw Mei Wanying as a sister and held no romantic feelings for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan was naturally aloof; once his mind was made up, he rarely changed it. Mrs. Mei was at her wit’s end with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had intended to find a way, slowly but surely, to make Pei Yan agree to the marriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Crown Prince was closing in, having already petitioned the Emperor for an imperial edict to grant the marriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor had neither agreed nor refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this critical juncture, she heard that the Empress was planning to select a wife for Pei Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Mei only had one daughter. She couldn’t wait until they were truly desperate to take a final, drastic measure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she decided to go all in and force Pei Yan’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He might be furious, but in time, even the greatest anger would dissipate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the Mei family had shown him great kindness, and he and Ah Yin were childhood friends who had known each other for over ten years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that her plan had succeeded, for some unknown reason, her daughter was no longer willing to marry Pei Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’What a tragedy!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overcome with anxiety, Mrs. Mei pressed, \"A woman’s virtue is paramount! If you don’t marry him, who else can you marry?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying averted her gaze, her slender fingers wiping away a tear. \"Then I won’t marry. I’ll remain a spinster my entire life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nonsense!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her emotions in turmoil, Mrs. Mei’s chest heaved. \"The Crown Prince is a tyrant. Do you think you can fend him off just by saying no?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having just been reborn, the memories of her past life were tangled with the events of the present day, leaving Mei Wanying’s mind in chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t calm down enough to think clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pei Yan won’t just stand by and watch. I... I don’t want to trap him. You can’t force happiness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Mei’s heart ached so much she wanted to cry. ’Our Ah Yin is too kind, too naive.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’She was just one step away from getting everything she wanted, yet she’s still considering Pei Yan’s feelings.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying felt her mother’s arms wrap around her slender shoulders and heard her mutter, \"It was I who was foolish. I’ve ruined you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother and daughter cried heartbrokenly. Nanny Liu’s heart clenched in sympathy; she was Mei Wanying’s wet nurse and shared a deep bond with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We can hide this from outsiders, but not from *him*. Otherwise, our Ying will be the one to suffer. He...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying cut her off before she could finish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grasping her mother’s hand, Mei Wanying pleaded, \"Mother, don’t let him find out. Let’s just pretend none of this ever happened.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’In my past life, Pei Yan married me, but he also despised me utterly.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’On the second day of our marriage, he left for the Border, leaving me to languish alone in that vast residence.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’That cold war was like death by a thousand cuts. It can kill you just the same!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying didn’t want to experience that a second time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she certainly didn’t want to compete with other women for his affection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t want to be despised and die in that treacherous, man-eating inner court!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying was the family’s only daughter and had been doted on since childhood. She was innocent and endearingly silly, almost always seen with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only two people had ever made her cry this heartbrokenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was her late father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other was Pei Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Mei’s heart felt as if it were being sliced by a knife. She had panicked and made a reckless move, and now there wasn’t even a chance for regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She closed her eyes. \"I can’t protect you forever. You must marry Pei Yan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan’s status was noble and his abilities were extraordinary. He was the best possible match for Ah Yin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying pulled out a hairpin and, just as she had in her dreams, pressed it against her neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Either way, there is no good ending for me. I might as well end it now!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Mei’s face went pale with shock. She snatched the hairpin from her daughter’s hand and threw it to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She only had one daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was her lifeblood!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hugged Mei Wanying tightly. \"We won’t get married, we won’t. I won’t force you anymore...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A long while later, Mei Wanying was finally sent back to her own courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had an eye condition that made it difficult for her to see at night, so her courtyard was lit with more lanterns than others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The small courtyard was brightly lit, and Mei Wanying finally felt a sense of peace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Mei Wanying’s red-rimmed eyes, the servants didn’t dare ask any questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was the anniversary of the General’s death. Every year on this day, their mistress would have a long cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After preparing the hot water, Ding Xiang helped Mei Wanying to the bath, reminding her to watch her step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they reached the bath chamber, Ding Xiang moved to help Mei Wanying undress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Mei Wanying stopped her. \"Go wait outside. I want to be alone for a while.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Xiang didn’t dare argue, afraid of upsetting her further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was a difficult day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She laid out the bathing supplies and then withdrew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Xiang didn’t go far. She stood just behind the curtain so she could hear the slightest sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying slipped out of her clothes. Below her collarbones, her skin was dotted with marks like tiny red plum blossoms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her skin was so fair that it couldn’t hide the slightest mark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the worst spots, the faint marks of fingers remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’He really was forceful.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her past life, looking at these marks had made Mei Wanying feel cherished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anything from Pei Yan, no matter how painful, she had accepted with pleasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, however, the sight of them was horrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’That beast,’ she cursed inwardly. ’Pei Yan pretends to be so aloof and ascetic, but in truth, he’s a wild animal who wanted to devour me whole.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying suddenly recalled their wedding night in her past life. Pei Yan had slept in his study, causing her immense humiliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just before leaving, he had suddenly appeared in the bridal chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the red silk bed-curtains, Pei Yan had been silent, his actions rough enough to tear her apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, he had left her with a few ice-cold words and walked away without a backward glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sour, aching feeling swelled in Mei Wanying’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’If I hadn’t been so foolishly persistent, would Pei Yan have been a good older brother to me?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She let out a long breath, trying to dispel the gloom in her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Heaven hasn’t been cruel to me. It’s given me a second chance.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’If I keep chasing after Pei Yan, I’d be an absolute fool!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she sank into the tub, the water made certain spots sting with pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying’s expression tensed. She remembered something and hurriedly called for Ding Xiang. \"Get me a brush and paper. I need you to fill a prescription for me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying had picked up some basic medical knowledge from the physician who treated her eye condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Xiang asked with concern, \"Miss, are you feeling unwell? Shall I call for a physician?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying shook her head. \"I probably just caught a chill. I have a slight stomachache.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Xiang mentally counted the days; it was still a few days before her mistress’s monthly courses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Could her emotional distress have affected her cycle?’\u003C\u002Fp>",1582,"2026-06-05T19:26:55.228Z",1,"novelbin.me","463f94824b1cbe4cc6533e9379d785c23e516635239b05f683cd7087e723af12","a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-chapter-3","a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-chapter-1",175,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-cover.jpg"]