A Marriage in Name Only? My Stepbrother Won't Let Me Go Chapter 102: How About I Grant You a Divorce?

When Pei Yan left the Gu Family’s residence, he heard that Chen Shujing was requesting an audience and knew at once what it was about.

Whether he did so willingly or was coerced, Duke Xue had indeed colluded with the enemy.

He and his daughter, Xue Yunshu, had been trading insults in prison. In a slip of the tongue, Xue Yunshu had confessed to other matters as well.

While in the enemy camp, she had been so desperate to survive that she had even considered becoming a spy for them.

It was now impossible for the Xue Family to hold on to its glory and riches.

As soon as they t, Chen Shujing wasted no ti in explaining the purpose of his visit.

Finally, he brought up his family matters. "I received a letter from ho. My wife was so worried about her family that... she lost the baby."

As he spoke, a dull ache pierced Chen Shujing’s heart, as if stabbed by a needle.

That was his own flesh and blood. It was impossible for him not to feel sorrow.

He had looked forward to the child’s birth, wondering if it would be a boy or a girl, and had even imagined what their baby would look like.

He had even been on the verge of choosing a na with a beautiful aning for the child.

He never imagined that he would barely have left ho before the child was lost.

How could he not be heartbroken?

How could he not be filled with regret?

The child was gone, but other matters could not be delayed. So instead of turning back, he spurred his horse on and rushed to the Capital City.

Only by resolving the Xue Family’s affairs could Ah Yao recover in peace.

’As for the child... we can have another one in the future.’

’This one... it just wasn’t ant to be.’

’Next ti Ah Yao is pregnant, I will stay by her side every mont. I won’t let anything happen to her again.’

Chen Shujing said, "My father-in-law is a fool. For the muddled things he’s done, he doesn’t deserve sympathy even in death. As for Xue Yunshu, she is incorrigible. Whatever she did has nothing to do with my mother-in-law."

He gave Pei Yan a deep bow. "Your Highness, on account of my mother-in-law and younger brother-in-law knowing nothing of this, I beg you to be lenient."

Pei Yan was unmoved.

"Don’t great families live by the principle of ’one thrives, all thrive; one falls, all fall’? It makes no sense to enjoy the good tis together, only to claim innocence when disaster strikes."

"If I set such a precedent, everyone would follow suit. Whenever trouble arose, they would simply push one person forward to take the fall. Wouldn’t that lead to chaos?"

Chen Shujing understood the logic, but for Xue Xingyao’s sake, he still wanted to lobby for a lighter sentence for the Duke Mansion.

But no matter how much he argued, he couldn’t get Pei Yan to budge.

Seeing no other way, he changed his request. "Your Highness, may I see the mbers of the Xue Family?"

He needed to get the details straight before he could figure out his next move.

This ti, Pei Yan agreed.

But with one condition: "Tell Xue Xingyao to keep her mouth shut and not to bother i Wanying."

’By my calculations, i Wanying’s ’baby’ is due soon. Her ’pregnancy’ has been so arduous, and now she has to worry about Xue Xingyao’s affairs.’

’What if she wears herself out?’

Chen Shujing sighed. "Ah Yao is the type to only share good news, never the bad. She didn’t even write to tell she lost the baby. How could she possibly go and trouble Miss i, making Miss i worry along with her?"

If his mother hadn’t sent him a letter, he wouldn’t have even known the baby was gone.

Ah Yao had swallowed this bitter pill all by herself simply because she hadn’t wanted him to be distracted.

At this thought, a dull ache throbbed in Chen Shujing’s heart once more.

She was his wife, after all. He couldn’t remain indifferent to her suffering.

In a bid for a sliver of hope, Chen Shujing added, "Ah Yao and Miss i are bosom friends. If she feels she has nowhere left to turn, she might very well ask Miss i for help."

"For Miss i’s sake, Your Highness, could you possibly grant the Xue Family a lenient sentence?"

Pei Yan was well aware of how much i Wanying cared for Xue Xingyao.

In the past, he was often away and had never t Xue Xingyao in person, but he frequently heard i Wanying ntion her.

Sotis when i Wanying wrote to him, Xue Xingyao’s na would appear in her letters.

Pei Yan had even suspected that Xue Xingyao must have put so kind of curse on i Wanying.

Otherwise, why would i Wanying, who was no relation to her, care so much about her?

Once these doubts arose, he naturally had to seek answers.

He had sent n to investigate Xue Xingyao and only relaxed after learning that she was very protective of i Wanying.

Pei Yan leaned back against his chair. "That’s not how you use i Wanying’s favor."

’If Xue Xingyao were asking for sothing else, I might consider it.’

’But letting the Xue Family off the hook? Impossible.’

’If word got out, how would i Wanying face the world?’

Pei Yan wasn’t afraid of gaining a reputation for being blinded by a beautiful woman; he wasn’t a good person to begin with, after all.

He didn’t care what anyone said about him.

But i Wanying was different. She was a good girl with an untarnished reputation who had never once interfered in the affairs of the court.

He couldn’t give anyone an opportunity to attack i Wanying.

Pei Yan reiterated, "It would be useless even if i Wanying ca to plead with herself."

’What do the Xue Family’s affairs have to do with her?’

’Just because she’s friends with Xue Xingyao, she has to risk the i family’s good na?’

’The price would be too high for i Wanying to pay.’

Chen Shujing had long known Pei Yan to be a cold and heartless man, but he hadn’t expected him to be this way even toward i Wanying.

If it were him, and Xiaoxiao pleaded before him, Chen Shujing felt he could not be so resolute.

"No wonder Miss i stays in Jiangnan and is unwilling to return to the Capital City. If she receives no special treatnt from you, how could she possibly believe your feelings for her are genuine?"

Pei Yan’s eyes snapped open, his expression resolute. "You truly don’t understand i Wanying."

"When it cos to matters of great principle, i Wanying has her own moral compass."

"For Xue Xingyao’s sake, she might speak up and ask for help."

"But regardless of the outco, i Wanying would never hold it against ."

’She’s just that wonderful.’

’So understanding.’

The thought of i Wanying made Pei Yan’s heart soften.

He missed her.

More and more with each passing day.

’Once I’m done with all this damn business, I’m going to Jiangnan at once to bring her back.’

’Bring i Wanying back, get married, and never spend another night alone!’

Chen Shujing said, "Your Highness, being rational is a good thing, but being too rational can sotis seem cold and unfeeling. A young woman always wants to feel she is special, and Miss i is no exception."

Pei Yan was displeased that this man kept bringing up i Wanying.

He hadn’t forgotten the leverage he had over Chen Shujing.

He asked suddenly, "Have you confessed to Xue Xingyao?"

Chen Shujing was confused for a mont before he realized what Pei Yan was talking about.

His expression shifted. "Why let the past affect the present?"

"So you haven’t confessed." Pei Yan’s long fingers tapped lightly on the wooden armrest.

"You yourself said that Xue Xingyao and i Wanying are good friends. i Wanying will only be happy if her friend is living well. With you deceiving Xue Xingyao like this, she’ll surely be unhappy when the truth cos out."

"And if she’s unhappy, i Wanying will be unhappy..."

Chen Shujing’s eyelid began to twitch. He had a feeling Pei Yan was cooking up so malicious idea.

He quickly cut him off. "Shen Mingji has gone to the military camp and isn’t causing trouble anymore. I no longer have to manage his affairs. What difference does it make whether I confess or not?"

Instead of answering, Pei Yan posed a question. "The Emperor, my father, has appointed regent. Tell , if I were to use his na to grant you two a divorce and bestow so gifts upon Xue Xingyao, would i Wanying be happy?"

Chen Shujing: "..."

’Is this man insane?’

’He and Ah Yao have a harmonious marriage. Why on earth would he make them divorce for no reason?’

’So people,’ he thought darkly, ’can’t stand to see others happy just because they can’t have Miss i.’

’Could it be jealousy?’

He ground out through clenched teeth, "Your Highness, it is better to tear down ten temples than to ruin a single marriage!"