Zhao Xu looked utterly bewildered.

That casual tone made him feel like he had misheard.

"Joking...?" His voice wavered significantly.

Several members of the Prince NanAn gang stared at him, not knowing why he had the illusion that they were joking.

Prince NanAn was the first to react, saying, "Quick, quickly stop the guards of Prince Beimo."

"Wait until they see us beat someone up, otherwise Prince Beimo might think we haven’t touched him at all."

"... "

Zhao Xu felt this comment was even more like a joke.

However—

The guards of Prince Beimo had already left Zhao Family, but they were stopped and brought back.

He thought Zhao Xu had a letter for him to deliver to Princess Jing Mountain.

Just out of the study, he remembered, intending to ask about it, but after thinking, wouldn’t that be encouraging Young Master Zhao and the princess to correspond?

Being called back now felt completely normal to the guard.

After all, making the trip wasn’t easy; carrying a letter wouldn’t make coming day and night in vain.

As soon as he stepped into the study, he saw Chu Shun picking Zhao Xu up from the chair, saying to him, "Watch closely, we’re going to beat him."

"When you think it’s about right, tell us to stop."

The guard, "..."

Just as he was about to speak, Prince NanAn’s fist had already flown towards Zhao Xu.

The punch landed, and Zhao Xu’s eyes saw stars from the pain.

The guard was stupefied.

The words he wanted to say got stuck in his throat.

Right in the study, Prince NanAn’s group gave Zhao Xu a brutal beating.

The guard remembered when Zhao Xu beat him and his master, any sympathy vanished instantly.

Beating a guard might be fine, but beating their prince was unforgivable.

The guard wasn’t sure how much of a beating Prince Beimo had received, as he himself couldn’t manage at the time, but seeing the bruises, it was definitely serious.

Adding his own portion to it, the guard felt it was about enough and said, "That’s enough."

Prince NanAn’s group ceased, saying, "First, return the beating meant for the first brother-in-law, the second part will wait until his mission is accomplished before we help beat him again."

The guard, "..."

Beating Zhao Xu felt great.

But now, Zhao Xu is not yet the Emperor of Nanliang. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Waiting until he ascends to the throne and beating him again would certainly feel even better.

Chu Shun lifted Zhao Xu up.

Zhao Xu looked at him.

Chu Shun laughed, "We’re all brothers, thanking us would be too formal."

Zhao Xu, "..."

Honestly.

He almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.

Were they really his brothers or Prince Beimo’s brothers?

The Heir of Marquis Beining said, "The guard is eager to return to Beimo to report, Brother Zhao, don’t you have any letters to deliver to Princess Jing Mountain?"

Zhao Xu’s mouth twitched, "My arm is dislocated, can’t write."

"Is it dislocated already?"

"Brother Zhao, you’re much more fragile in Nanliang than when you were at the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion."

"..."

Zhao Xu didn’t want to speak anymore.

At the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, he hadn’t been beaten by all four of them together.

During training, he sparred with the servants of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, and if he couldn’t beat them, he could still dodge.

The study was so small, with Prince Beimo’s guards watching, he certainly shouldn’t have beaten Prince Beimo, could he dodge or fight back?

The Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo grabbed his arm gently, moving his hand bit by bit.

The sound of a click.

Zhao Xu screamed continuously in pain.

Though the cry was quite miserable, the effect was good, his dislocated arm was restored.

Zhao Xu moved slightly, his forehead twitching.

Thoughts of severing ties with his brothers climbed from time to time, unable to be suppressed.

Sure enough, they were not wrong, staying together long enough, every day there would be thoughts of breaking off with brothers.

The Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo helped him sit in the chair, handed him a pen, and after Zhao Xu accepted it, the four of them sat there, drinking tea and eating fruits leisurely.

Their carefree attitude seemed as if they weren’t the ones who had just beaten someone.

After half a cup of tea, Zhao Xu finished writing the letter, put it in an envelope, and handed it to the guard.

What more could the guard say?

Prince NanAn’s group’s genuine sincerity in helping to marry the princess didn’t contain a shred of falsehood.

So sincere it’s outrageous!

Your own brother, and you just beat him up without hesitation.

The Eldest Prince even envied Young Master Zhao for having such good brothers and wanted to befriend them. If he did, he’d probably get beaten up sooner or later.

The guard didn’t dare stay any longer, took the letter, and bid farewell.

After making sure the guard had gone far, Prince NanAn and the others all looked at Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu rubbed the corner of his mouth and said, "You guys were too rough."

Prince NanAn looked at him and said, "Who told you to beat up your future brother-in-law for no reason? Without being rough, how could you dispel the grudge in his heart?"

"Now that you’ve taken this beating, your marriage to Princess Jing Mountain is set in stone."

If Prince Beimo didn’t know they were serious, who knows if there would be any variable in this arranged marriage.

After all, it is a political marriage between two countries, and Princess Jing Mountain is the most beloved princess of King Beimo.

What if King Beimo can’t bear to let his daughter marry far away and changes his mind?

After all, they are not the official envoys of Nanliang, nor have they formally sent engagement gifts. If they really change their mind, no one can do anything about it.

These four are so ruthless they even beat their own brothers.

If Prince Beimo dares to mess with them, he’ll never have a good day in his life.

This beating is as good as putting an end to Beimo’s thoughts of breaking the engagement.

They even got a taste of beating up a future emperor.

Killing two birds with one stone.

"Alright, don’t feel bad," Chu Shun comforted him.

"Prince Beimo was already quite lucky. If you had beaten up Brother Su, let alone taking a couple of beatings, he could play you half to death."

"....."

Thinking of Su Chong—

Zhao Xu thought of his cousin.

He is at least better than his cousin.

Also marrying a princess, the heavy burdens on his cousin will never be lifted in his life.

Princess Jing Mountain is marrying far away to Nanliang, Beimo with its distant mountains and rivers, even if King Beimo and Prince Beimo wanted to do something against him, they wouldn’t be able to.

With this comparison, Zhao Xu felt much better.

The Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion patted Zhao Xu’s shoulder and said, "I reckon if you hold on for another month, Beimo will come to Nanliang for an explanation."

The Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion didn’t use much force, but Zhao Xu’s shoulder had just been beaten, and it hit right on the wound, causing him to gasp in pain.

No one beats someone up and then pats the wound.

But taking a beating for peace of mind is worth it.

Although the beating was rough, Prince NanAn and the others didn’t use inner strength; they were all superficial wounds. It hurt, but after applying some medicine and resting for a few days, it would be fine.

Prince NanAn threw the ointment for removing bruises to Zhao Xu.

At this moment, the door creaked open.

Dong Chenglang came in, glanced at Prince NanAn and the others, and was stunned.

Another glance, seeing Zhao Xu’s bruised and swollen face.

He quickly stepped forward and said, "What happened?"

"It’s nothing," Zhao Xu said.

"Why did you come over?"

Dong Chenglang touched his nose and said, "The maid heard sounds of fighting inside, was afraid something happened, didn’t dare to come in, so my father-in-law asked me to come and take a look."

Prince NanAn came over and put a hand on his shoulder.

Dong Chenglang looked at him, and Prince NanAn wrapped an arm around his neck, saying, "Come on, I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a while."

With that, he pulled him out.

Dong Chenglang looked back at Zhao Xu. Once they were out the door, Prince NanAn said, "Do all you Nanliang people especially like beating up your brothers-in-law?"

Dong Chenglang looked at him, "Why do you say that?"

"I saw you chuckling just now," said Prince NanAn.

"...."

"When did I chuckle?" Dong Chenglang denied it.

"No such thing!"

"...."

"I’m telling you, next time you snicker, it’s not enough to just cover your mouth. Even your eyes were about to burst with laughter."

"...."

Dong Chenglang felt guilty, looking at Prince NanAn and said, "Was it that obvious?"

Prince NanAn gave him a sympathetic look.

Zhao Xu beat up his brother-in-law, and he is also a brother-in-law himself.

Having just been beaten up for marrying someone else’s sister, and now the person marrying his sister is secretly laughing.

If Dong Chenglang doesn’t get beaten up, he wouldn’t know how hard it is to be a brother-in-law.

"Don’t worry, you’re getting married tomorrow, Brother Zhao won’t let you marry with a bruised face," Prince NanAn comforted him.

"But in a few days, it might be uncertain."

"...."