A Marriage in Name Only? My Stepbrother Won't Let Me Go

Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Never Considered Xue Yunshu a Thorn in the Side

Though Mei Wanying was far away in Jiangnan, news from the Capital City still trickled in.

After Pei Yan’s return to the Capital City, the imperial court was thrown into a new round of upheaval.

A batch of capital officials were either reassigned to remote posts or dismissed from office. An Imperial Prince was even struck from the Royal Family’s records and exiled Outside The Border.

When Pei Yan first ascended the throne, he had been ruthless in his methods to restore order to the court.

After so long, the various factions had all believed the situation had stabilized. They never expected another purge.

Mei Wanying knew then that when Pei Yan had gone to get her a peace charm, he truly had been targeted for assassination.

He had called it "a small bit of trouble"—he had been lying to her.

A wave of fear washed over Mei Wanying in hindsight.

’Thank goodness he was alright and made it back to the Capital City safely!’

Given Pei Yan’s unique status, he faced enormous risks every time he came to Jiangnan.

Not only was his personal safety under threat, but opportunistic people in the Capital City would also seize the chance to stir up trouble, risking chaos in his absence.

It wasn’t easy for Pei Yan to make even a single trip to Jiangnan.

Mei Wanying’s determination wavered a little.

’This relationship can’t be maintained by Pei Yan’s efforts alone, but I’m just so unwilling to enter the palace...’

’But on second thought, the person who forced me to leave the Capital City is already dead.’

’The General Mansion is still in the Capital City, as are the Mei family’s businesses. It wouldn’t be out of the question for me to take Ling back for a visit once in a while.’

’One, I can inspect the family’s businesses.’

’Two, I can broaden Ling’s horizons.’

’And three, I can see Pei Yan while I’m at it.’

’He won’t keep me detained in the Capital City. What am I afraid of?’

Having thought it through, Mei Wanying relaxed again.

’I’m too busy lately to find the time. Even if I decide to go back to the Capital City, it will have to wait for a few months.’

"I hear the Emperor is recruiting talented individuals from all over and has promoted many newcomers. The entire power structure in the Capital City is about to be upended."

The Governor’s Wife had come to the mansion for a visit and was chatting with Mei Wanying about matters in the Capital City.

Her face was beaming with joy. "Thanks to the Emperor’s favor, my husband is moving to the Capital City! He’s joining the Ministry of Revenue as an Assistant Minister!"

"Once he finishes handing over his official duties, we’ll be setting off. I don’t know when we’ll see you and the Little Prince again, Miss Mei."

Mei Wanying had a gentle nature and never put on airs, so the Governor’s Wife loved spending time with her.

The Capital City was full of noble and powerful families; the wives there might not be as easy to get along with as Mei Wanying.

The Governor’s Wife came from a merchant family. Although her maiden family was the wealthiest in the region, she couldn’t compare her pedigree with that of the noble ladies in the Capital City.

’I wonder what it will be like once I’m in the Capital?’

’As long as my husband is favored by the Emperor, and I have plenty of Silver, those high-society ladies in the Capital City won’t necessarily outshine me.’

’Who cares what they think? I’m on good terms with Miss Mei!’

’Can any of them compare to Miss Mei?’

Back then, the Useless Crown Prince had not hesitated to harm innocent civilians in order to force Mei Wanying and Ling out of the city.

It was thanks to the Lord Governor’s excellent cooperation that they were able to turn the plot back on him and eliminate the Useless Crown Prince for good.

He had protected the common people, performed a meritorious service, and his administrative record over the years had been outstanding. His promotion was to be expected.

Mei Wanying smiled. "People have legs. If we wish to see each other, we’ll always find the right time."

If people don’t want to meet, they can be right next to each other and still never cross paths.

Those who are determined will overcome any obstacle.

The Governor’s Wife also smiled. "You’re right, Miss Mei. We will see each other again."

’Our roots are here. When we come back to pay respects to our ancestors, we can still visit Miss Mei and the Little Prince.’

’The Emperor treasures Miss Mei. She could enter the palace anytime she wanted.’

’Perhaps we’ll meet again in the Capital City.’

The Governor’s Wife lowered her voice. "My husband told me the Emperor is truly serious this time. He’s even cleaned out a batch of the deadwood from the Imperial Hospital. The Emperor has already decreed that as long as they possess true skill, female doctors can become Medical Officers after passing an examination."

Pei Yan wrote to Mei Wanying every day, but he never mentioned matters of state.

In that regard, the Lord Governor was better informed than Mei Wanying.

All of a sudden, Mei Wanying remembered something Pei Yan had said.

Her hand, resting on her lap, curled and tightened its grip on the handkerchief she held.

’Pei Yan is paving the way for Ling.’

’He hadn’t just been saying those things.’

Mei Wanying’s mind had drifted, and she didn’t respond to the Governor’s Wife right away.

Seeing this, the Governor’s Wife thought she had misspoken, and a flash of regret filled her eyes.

There had been a rumor a few years ago, back when the Emperor was still a Prince. Empress Dowager Gu was selecting a consort for him, and the Prince had casually pointed to a young woman.

That woman was from the Duke Mansion and was skilled in medicine.

When the Emperor was pacifying the Border, that woman had even pursued him there.

Unfortunately, she ended up colluding with the enemy.

The Duke Mansion was implicated as well, and that great, flourishing tree of a family came crashing down.

’Miss Xue is already dead. For the Emperor to suddenly start promoting female doctors... could it be that he still holds a place for her in his heart?’

At that thought, the Governor’s Wife wished she could bite off her own tongue.

’They say disaster comes from an unguarded tongue. Why did I have to bring up something so inappropriate?’

’Hearing the two words "female doctor," Miss Mei must have been reminded of that traitor who colluded with the enemy.’

’And then, remembering the grievances she suffered in the Capital City all those years ago, she must feel awful.’

’If a rift forms between Miss Mei and the Emperor because of this, I’ll have caused a huge disaster!’

The Governor’s Wife was on pins and needles, but she couldn’t just get up and leave.

She hastily tried to backtrack. "The Emperor has given women a chance to display their talents. When he ascended the throne, he also issued several benevolent decrees. He is a truly enlightened ruler."

"Today, female doctors have been given an opportunity; tomorrow, it could be female teachers or female generals..."

Finally, she added lamely, "There’s nothing special about female doctors. Perhaps the Imperial Medical Bureau is just short-staffed, and that’s why they were the first to receive the Emperor’s favor."

Her underlying meaning was clear: the Emperor’s decision had nothing to do with that dead Medical Woman.

’I hope she doesn’t read too much into it...’

Mei Wanying truly wasn’t reading too much into it. She had never paid Xue Yunshu any mind.

In her past life, when she mistakenly believed Pei Yan liked Xue Yunshu, her immediate reaction was to return to the Capital City, stop clinging to Pei Yan, and demand a separation!

Even then, she had never targeted Xue Yunshu or seen her as a thorn in her side.

Now, reborn and having seen Xue Yunshu’s true nature, she was even less likely to waste any time on her.

Mei Wanying hadn’t been thinking about it at all, but when her eyes met the Governor’s Wife’s regretful gaze, she had a sudden flash of insight and understood the reason for her guest’s vexation.

She was caught between amusement and exasperation. "For women to have their own careers to pursue... I couldn’t be happier."

Mei Wanying had been through a great deal and knew the hardships women faced.

’When my father passed away, didn’t our relatives travel all the way to the Capital City, scheming to seize the family fortune from the last of its line, all because they saw a woman they thought was easy to bully?’

Fortunately, she had people protecting her, which allowed her to survive and preserve her family’s businesses.

"I don’t have to look far. Take Ah Yao, for example."

"Ever since she started teaching for the Xu Family, her entire spirit has changed."

"It’s a wonderful thing for young women to have another path in life."

Mei Wanying’s tone was laced with a smile. "The Emperor is wise."

Seeing the genuine smile in her eyes, so unlike someone just putting on an act, the Governor’s Wife finally relaxed.

’She silently cursed her own narrow-mindedness for thinking Miss Mei was just like her.’

’I was so, so wrong.’

’Miss Mei is so magnanimous. No wonder the Emperor dotes on her, braving wind and rain just to get a peace charm for her.’

’A woman this wonderful deserves such honor and favor!’