[{"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-36":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},1326587,1761,"Chapter 36: Give Her Back to Me","a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-chapter-36",36,"\u003Cp>Mei Wanying had an eye affliction, but between her doting parents and protective friends, no one had ever called her a little blind girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps some had said it behind her back, but the Crown Prince was the first to say it to her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying had long since accepted her disability, but at this moment, her face turned deathly pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her skin, as white as snow, was completely drained of color.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Provoked again and again, a vein throbbed on Pei Yan’s temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Mei Wanying was who she was.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’So what if she can’t see well?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Aren’t you supposed to sleep when it gets dark anyway?!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’If she wanted to see at night, she could just light dozens, even hundreds of lamps.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Even if she were completely blind, what right did an outsider have to criticize her?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Mei Wanying’s devastated expression, what little reason Pei Yan had regained vanished once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rage boiled over, carrying with it the force to destroy everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’The bigger picture? To hell with the bigger picture.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’What’s the worst that could happen? Everyone dies together?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’No one lives forever anyway!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying’s distress was becoming more apparent. Her eyelashes fluttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pei Yan, I want to go home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was faint, like a feather brushing against the tip of his heart, and it had the strange effect of calming him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s expression turned cold and grim, his eyes as still as an ancient well, as if he weren’t the one who had been consumed by rage just moments before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Give her back to me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince laughed. \"Return her to you? She’s not yours, Second Brother. You’d best not meddle. An hour of a spring night is worth a thousand gold pieces. Don’t spoil my fun with Miss Mei.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every word plucked at Pei Yan’s already taut nerves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could have used brute force, but with Mei Wanying held hostage, he was afraid... afraid he might hurt her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was General Mei’s only child. Pei Yan had been raised by the Mei family. Even if it meant his own death, Mei Wanying had to live.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mei family had shown him immense kindness. This was a debt he owed her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’He could give her anything. Anything except marriage.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Even his life!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan’s grip on his sword tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every muscle in his body tensed as he fought to restrain the reckless impulse to charge forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tried to soothe Mei Wanying. \"Don’t be afraid. If you die, I swear I’ll make him join you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying’s lips moved, but she couldn’t utter a single word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’But I don’t want to die!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was no time to argue with Pei Yan, so Mei Wanying remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan held no romantic feelings for her, but Mei Wanying was certain that he would not abandon her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With him here, the worst that could happen was some cuts and bruises. She wouldn’t have her dignity utterly crushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Besides, the Empress Dowager is in the villa. She won’t let things get so out of hand that someone dies.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying’s limbs grew weak. It felt as if insects were gnawing at her from the inside, a torment like a dull knife sawing through flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to suppress the agonizing discomfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan caught the small movement. ’She’s not well...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no desire to waste time on the Crown Prince to begin with. Now, his patience was completely gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sword in hand, he advanced on the Crown Prince step by step. His robes were stained with blood, a surging tide of crimson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the Hidden Guards mobilized, forming a wall in front of the Crown Prince as if facing a formidable foe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince’s cavalier smile vanished. \"You don’t want her to live? Aren’t you afraid General Mei won’t be able to rest in peace in the netherworld?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan scoffed. \"Every injustice has a perpetrator, and every debt has a debtor. I’m not the one trying to kill her, so why should I feel guilty?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince’s lips drew into a thin line. His gaze sharpened, trying to see through to Pei Yan’s true intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Does he really not care if Mei Wanying lives or dies?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He yanked Mei Wanying behind him. Already weak-limbed and unable to see, she unsurprisingly stumbled and fell again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince saw Pei Yan’s jaw clench even tighter, and a muscle seemed to jump at his temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if he had discovered something extraordinary, the Crown Prince began to laugh with abandon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’So Mei Wanying really is Pei Yan’s weak spot!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wave of excitement washed over him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since you don’t care if she lives or dies, Second Brother, then I shall grant your wish and get rid of her for you. You’ve grown tired of her constant pestering, haven’t you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Either way, the goal is to drive Pei Yan mad. Making him watch Mei Wanying die with his own eyes... what a fine way to do it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’It was a pity about Mei Wanying, though. A peerless beauty, yet she’d never get to enjoy the advantages that came with it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Perhaps, this is her fate.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince felt a pang of regret, but compared to the goal of driving Pei Yan mad, a beautiful woman’s life was of little consequence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, his initial reason for targeting Mei Wanying was simply to make Pei Yan miserable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan responded with action, proving he would not be threatened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’If Mei Wanying dies, he’ll make every last one of them join her in death!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One by one, the Hidden Guards fell. The small space filled with the smell of blood, so thick and acrid it was nauseating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying’s brows knitted together. She felt so ill she could die. She dry-heaved twice, but nothing came up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan saw her, but he had no intention of stopping. Some things, once begun, could not be stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’The more he hesitated, the more danger she was in. Better to end this quickly.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’He’d said it before: if it came to it, they would all die together!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince was ruthless enough, but he was too accustomed to a life of privilege. His martial skill was no match for Pei Yan’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with his Hidden Guards for protection, the arm he had used to grab Mei Wanying was severely wounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp blade sliced down from his shoulder and across half his back—a ghastly sight!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan was striking to kill!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he hadn’t come prepared with enough men, he might have died by Pei Yan’s sword today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan commanded great prestige in the army. It was said that on the battlefield, he was King Yanluo himself—invincible and unstoppable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having now experienced Pei Yan’s terrifying power firsthand, the Crown Prince was horrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’The rumors outside weren’t just flattery!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His opponent was far stronger than he had imagined. How could the Crown Prince possibly remain calm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’He had to finish Pei Yan off now, before any other complications could arise.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan couldn’t command the men at this villa. He had come in such a rush that he’d brought only a few guards with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince was another story. He had allies, and he had brought plenty of his own men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’A voice in his head screamed frantically: ’Kill Pei Yan! This is the perfect chance!’’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kill him!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At any cost!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan’s eyes were full of contempt. A cold, thin smile touched his lips. \"We’ll just have to wait and see who dies first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the chaos, a eunuch’s high-pitched voice cried out, \"Her Majesty, the Empress Dowager, has arrived!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager had been notified the moment Pei Yan entered the villa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince’s presence here was also thanks to her assistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Her beloved grandson wanted Mei Wanying. It wasn’t an outrageous request, so why not let him have his way?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had assumed the brothers would have a spat and that would be the end of it. She never expected them to come to blows, to fight to the death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’The struggle for power has always been perilous.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’The path to the throne is paved with blood.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she had long been prepared for such a thing, now that the moment was here, the Empress Dowager still found it difficult to accept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both of them were her own grandsons. It was like choosing between the palm and the back of her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would be devastated no matter which one of them died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the Royal Family, some choices were made for you. Pei Yan had his own parents to protect him, whereas the Crown Prince... he only had her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Pei Yan’s sword lunge toward the Crown Prince, the Empress Dowager’s heart leaped into her throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop this at once!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Causing such a scene over a woman! You’ve utterly shamed your ancestors!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A femme fatale, turning you brothers against each other. In my opinion, her death would be no great loss!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1506,"2026-06-05T19:26:55.228Z",1,"novelbin.me","7f307f95599170206e23603c67cd13733bab373ae2ae6e23c758310f95926992","a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-chapter-37","a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-chapter-35",175,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-cover.jpg"]