Co... cousin?

Prince Beimo furrowed his brows.

Why can’t he be called brother, but cousin instead?

Hmm.

Not only a cousin but a distant cousin.

Zhao Xu rode over and asked, "Is he here to take you back?"

Prince Beimo was about to nod when Princess Jing Mountain interjected, "My cousin is just passing by."

Afraid Zhao Xu wouldn’t believe her, she looked at Prince Beimo and added two words, "Right?"

An inquisitive tone, with a hint of threat in her eyes.

Only then did Prince Beimo realize why he had suddenly become a cousin rather than a brother.

In his imperial sister’s eyes, he was now no more than a distant cousin.

"Cousin, say something," Princess Jing Mountain waved her hand in front of Prince Beimo.

Prince Beimo felt heartbroken, having worried sick and rushed all the way for nothing, "I’m not just passing by, I’m here to find Mr. Zhao."

Prince Beimo had never seen Zhao Xu.

He didn’t know that the person in front of him was the very one he was looking for.

He looked at Princess Jing Mountain and said, "Cousin, lead the way."

Prince Beimo pronounced the word "cousin" with peculiar emphasis.

Zhao Xu immediately knew there was no real cousin relationship between them.

Princess Jing Mountain covered her mouth and laughed, pointing at Zhao Xu, "He’s Mr. Zhao."

Prince Beimo was taken aback.

He looked at Zhao Xu.

At first, he looked at him with gratitude as his sister’s savior, but it gradually turned into an appraising look one gives a future brother-in-law—

First critical.

Then disdainful.

Decent-looking, just average.

Zhao Xu, already irked by a brewing feeling of exasperation, couldn’t find comfort under Prince Beimo’s scrutinizing gaze.

Zhao Xu looked at Prince Beimo and said, "I wonder why you are seeking me?"

"Having heard of Prime Minister Zhao’s son’s exceptional talents, unparalleled in the world, I especially came to have a friendly competition with you," said Prince Beimo.

The guard looked at his master, thinking, wasn’t he here to express gratitude? 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Seeing the sparks fly between Prince Beimo and Zhao Xu as their gazes met,

the guard’s mouth twitched.

The princess probably messed it up again.

She doesn’t want to return to Beimo with the prince, but she didn’t have to call him a cousin.

Cousin and sister... that sounds like two innocent childhood sweethearts.

Mr. Zhao had clearly misunderstood.

The jealousy was palpable—

Let’s hope the prince can handle it.

Hmm.

Zhao Xu, usually modest, had become a little arrogant during his stay at the Marquis Mansion with Prince NanAn and his crew. Back in Nanliang, he returned to modesty.

But today, he didn’t want to be modest at all.

"Since Qingqing’s cousin wants a match, I’ll naturally oblige," Zhao Xu said.

It was the first time Zhao Xu called Princess Jing Mountain Qingqing.

Princess Jing Mountain blushed.

Prince Beimo waved his hand in front of her, "He left already."

Princess Jing Mountain snapped back to reality and only saw Zhao Xu’s retreating figure.

"Qingqing?" said Prince Beimo.

"It’s so sickly sweet when he calls you that."

Princess Jing Mountain glared at him, and Prince Beimo quickly asked, "What is his last name?"

"Zhao," replied Princess Jing Mountain.

"So quick to take his last name?" Prince Beimo said disapprovingly.

Princess Jing Mountain, "...!!!"

Who said she took Zhao Xu’s last name?!

If she knew he was a Zhao, she wouldn’t have picked that name!

Staying at the Zhao Family, she’s been mistaken countless times as Zhao Xu’s sister, even having people say they look alike.

If this was anywhere but the Zhao Family, she would’ve snapped and asked which eye they saw that resemblance with.

She put up with others misunderstanding, but she couldn’t stand her brother misunderstanding, so she glared back and said, "I didn’t know his last name was Zhao when I tried to fool him."

Prince Beimo was puzzled, "Wasn’t he instructed by the Heir of Prince Zhenbei to save you, didn’t he know who you were?"

Princess Jing Mountain shook her head.

Prince Beimo didn’t want to speak anymore.

He wanted to find out just how unreliable his future brother-in-law could get.

The Heir of Prince Zhenbei instructed him to save someone, and after saving her, he just left her there?

Even the Princess Consort Zhenbei and others thought he had failed and worried about him.

And his own imperial sister, staying at someone else’s place without even considering returning to Beimo, while their parents worried themselves sick, losing sleep and weight.

With their father’s permission, his imperial sister was copying Princess Consort Zhenbei in going out to snatch a man.

Of course, she had a decree, so she didn’t need to be as direct as Princess Consort Zhenbei, but the nature was the same.

If she picked in Beimo, that’d be fine, but how could she come to Nanliang to pick?

Beimo’s decrees don’t apply to the people of Nanliang.

Sisters grow up and can’t stay home.

Even though Zhao Xu saved Princess Jing Mountain, Prince Beimo still wanted to break them up, and he had to do it.

Unless Zhao Xu went to Beimo as a Prince Consort, how could Princess Jing Mountain marry into Nanliang?

The Prince of Nanliang wants to marry her!

Once she sees Mr. Zhao in a pitiful state, maybe she won’t like him as much.

Prince Beimo knew it seemed ungrateful, but for the sake of Mr. Zhao and his imperial sister, he had to play the bad guy today.

Prince Beimo decided to give Zhao Xu a harsh lesson.

Then—

He was the one wishing he could find a hole to crawl into.

Prince Beimo, "...."

In chess—

he lost so badly he couldn’t bear to look.

In painting—

Zhao Xu left him in the dust.

In playing the zither—

Prince Beimo was no match for Zhao Xu.

Princess Jing Mountain thought she was very clever.

Luckily, she called him cousin; if she had called him brother, she’d be utterly embarrassed.

When she went back, she had to tell her father about this.

The imperial brother was just too weak.

Prince Beimo felt he could die from shame. The guard secretly asked the Zhao Family maid, "Is your Young Master truly as skilled in all the arts as the rumors say? Is there nothing he’s bad at?"

"The Zhao Family has a scholarly tradition. In cultural arts, our Young Master has never lost," the maid said proudly.

"But what about martial arts?" the guard asked.

"His martial arts are just average."

Perfect.

Our prince is good at martial arts.

The guard whispered a few words to Prince Beimo.

Having already lost face, Prince Beimo said, "Then let’s have a martial competition."

Hmm.

The Zhao Family maid learned for the first time that their Young Master was excellent at martial arts too.

Poor Prince Beimo, who just lost face, was now beginning to sustain physical injuries.

Princess Jing Mountain urged Zhao Xu to go easy on him, Zhao Xu complied, then kicked Prince Beimo into the air.

Prince Beimo, "...!!!"

The Zhao Family Hidden Guard, who had been to Beimo, recognized Prince Beimo and rushed to inform Prime Minister Zhao.

Prime Minister Zhao came promptly, coincidentally seeing Prince Beimo lying at his feet.

Prime Minister Zhao, "...."

Prime Minister Zhao had a headache.

He was hoping Zhao Xu could form an alliance through marriage with Beimo, adding to their strength in future wars.

The excellent situation crafted by the Heir of Prince Zhenbei was undone by a few punches and kicks.

How could this end well?

Poor him, he wanted to take the chance to discuss a marriage alliance with Prince Beimo, but now he couldn’t say a word. To save Prince Beimo’s pride, even if he knew him, he’d have to pretend not to.