"Nonsense! My brother-in-law is a true man, how could he do such a thing!" Just then, a crisp, delicate voice rang out from the side.

Gu Xing turned around and saw a young man with red lips and white teeth standing to the side, looking at him angrily. Next to him was a young girl with wheat-colored skin.

"So it's Young Master Chu and Miss Murong." Having lived in the capital for so many years, the Gu brothers naturally recognized the two: one was the heir of the Mingyue family, and the other was the apple of the Murong family's eye.

Chu Youzhao had no intention of letting him off the hook: "Hey, Gu, what nonsense were you spouting here just now?"

Murong Qinghe, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but say, "Speaking ill of others behind their backs is certainly not the behavior of a gentleman!"

She naturally wanted to help her brother Chu. During this time, she had been in contact with Zu An, who had helped her save her cousin, and she couldn't help but develop a good impression of him.

Gu Xing said, "I would say the same thing even in front of Zu An. I'm just telling the truth, so what's there to be embarrassed about?"

Gu Heng also stepped forward and said, "Young Master Chu, I remember that the Chu family seems to have already expelled Zu An from the family. Your constant use of 'brother-in-law' is really damaging to your sister's reputation."

"It's none of your business what happens in our family!" Chu Youzhao roared. "I can't stand you talking badly about my brother-in-law behind his back. Believe me, I'll tear your mouths apart!"

Gu Heng's face darkened: "Young Master Chu, we only show you respect because of the Qin family. Do you really think we brothers are afraid of you? This is the Crown Prince's territory, and it's not your place to point fingers."

As soon as he finished speaking, the warriors of the Bi family stepped forward.

Bi Linglong frowned, feeling somewhat troubled. Logically speaking, whether it was the Qin family or the Murong family, they were both core forces of the Prince Qi's faction, so she should definitely help the Gu brothers, who were also on the Crown Prince's side.

But since they were indeed standing up for Zuan, she felt embarrassed to put them in a difficult position.

"What's going on?" Just then, a group of young gentlemen walked over. It turned out that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess were the focus of attention today, and everyone was watching them. Noticing the commotion, they came to see what was happening.

Even Bi Linglong couldn't stay calm now, and hurriedly put on a formulaic smile and said, "Greetings, gentlemen."

The people in front of them were none other than the scions of the Liang Prince's Mansion, the Liu family, the Meng family, and the Pei family, who were accompanying the Crown Prince into the secret realm to complete the mission.

Those people repeatedly said, "We dare not," and "Greetings, Your Highness and Your Highness the Crown Prince and Princess."

A group of people hurriedly bowed.

The youngest son of the Prince of Liang, Zhao Xi, was also a fat man, but unlike the Crown Prince, whose fat jiggled when he walked, he was more like a strong man with thick eyebrows and big eyes. He was broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, like a fierce general on the battlefield.

He was known for his rough manner, and being a member of the royal family, he didn't hold back much and said directly, "Princess Consort, why are you only arriving now? We've been waiting here for quite some time."

Before Bi Linglong could answer, Gu Xing interrupted, "The Crown Princess is waiting for Lord Zu An. She even went to Lord Zu An's house, but unfortunately she still couldn't find him."

"Zu'an?" Zhao Xi laughed. "The guy who beat Zhao Zhi so badly he's been bedridden ever since? Haha, where is he? I've only heard of him these past few days, never seen him in person."

The Liang King's lineage has always been close to the Emperor's side and doesn't get along well with the Qi King. In addition, Zhao Zhi, relying on his talent, always acts arrogantly, which has long annoyed him. Unfortunately, he can't beat the other party, so he can only suppress his anger. When he learned that Zhao Zhi had been badly beaten by Zu An, he laughed uncontrollably at home and ate three extra catties of meat and five jars of wine at dinner that night.

Sensing his goodwill towards Zu An, Gu Xing dared not speak carelessly lest he incur trouble. Instead, Gu Heng said, "We have been searching for Lord Zu for the past few hours, but we have yet to find him."

"Has something happened?" Zhao Xi frowned. "That's strange. With his cultivation level, who could deal with him so easily?"

At this moment, a sinister sneer came from the side: "Is your brain all muscle? You don't really think that the young Zu'an can beat Zhao Zhi, who is only at the eighth rank, do you? Besides, he has Han Fengqiu, who is at the peak of the ninth rank, next to him. Our intelligence personnel have already investigated and found out that there should have been a mysterious expert at the scene. So Zhao Zhi's defeat was purely coincidental."

The speaker was a slick-haired man with an effeminate appearance. His triangular eyes were as sinister as a snake's, and his lips were redder than a woman's lip gloss.

However, despite his effeminate demeanor, his every move was not at all effeminate; it was just that kind of gloomy feeling that made people uncomfortable.

"Meng Pan, you always seem to be at odds with me. Could it be that you've fallen in love with me?" Zhao Xi laughed heartily.

This effeminate man was Meng Pan, the person the Meng family had sent this time. Upon hearing this, he immediately covered his mouth, looking as if he was about to vomit: "Pah! You should look in the mirror yourself. You look neither like a winter melon nor a gourd. Even if I liked men, would I be interested in you? If I were to like someone, I would prefer someone like Young Master Chu, with his fair skin, tender flesh, red lips and white teeth, who would make my heart flutter just by looking at him."

"Ew~" Chu Youzhao got goosebumps all over after being looked at by him. Murong Qinghe, who was standing next to her, also protected her and stepped back. The two of them couldn't help but show their disgust.

"Brother Chu, let's go back first." Murong Qinghe was really afraid that Meng Pan would make a move on her sweetheart. She knew that there were rumors circulating in the capital that Meng Pan liked to play around with men, and she dared not take the risk.

Chu Youzhao originally wanted to speak up for her brother-in-law, but Meng Pan's gaze made her very uncomfortable. In addition, these people were all confidants of the Crown Prince's faction, and they felt out of place staying there. So she followed Murong Qinghe and left.

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