CHAPTER 176: CHAPTER 176 GETTING BEATEN

Training ground, on top of the wall.

A ladder was set up, and Young Master Su was standing on it, watching the battle.

In the dueling arena—

Xie Jingchen was fighting two people by himself.

He wasn’t at a disadvantage.

Another man joined in.

Xie Jingchen was now fighting three.

Chu Shun and the others, who had been leisurely eating sunflower seeds, stopped.

"Too much!"

"We’re all brothers, and yet his martial arts are this good," said the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion.

"I really didn’t realize my brother-in-law’s martial arts were this high, though still slightly below mine," Su Chong said happily.

Chu Shun glanced at him, "Brother Su, you shouldn’t praise yourself like that."

Prince NanAn patted Su Chong’s shoulder, saying, "Brother Jingchen’s internal poison hasn’t been completely resolved; once it is, his martial arts might even be better, who knows."

"So, your gap will be even wider than it is now," Su Chong returned the pat on the shoulder.

"...."

Prince NanAn was internally upset.

One after another, they are so demoralizing!

Can’t a person enjoy life in peace?

"Stop chatting, quick look, he’s about to get beaten," the Heir of Marquis Beining said excitedly.

"...."

They truly are good brothers.

After half a cup of tea, the fight ended.

Xie Jingchen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, looking unsteady on his feet.

Of course, his opponents weren’t any better off.

Xie Jingchen rubbed his shoulder, sat down for a cup of tea, and planned to return home.

As soon as he stepped out, Young Master Su handed him a silver mask, "Put it on, it’s a token of appreciation from your brother-in-law."

Xie Jingchen glanced at Young Master Su.

Young Master Su furrowed his brow, "Don’t presume everyone’s motives like that, or you’ll lose the brother-in-law who cares about you most."

Xie Jingchen, "...."

Taking the mask, Xie Jingchen put it on.

Young Master Su escorted him out of the mansion.

Then—

They were stopped by Commander Tie.

Although by physique it was clear he was the Eldest Young Master of Duke Zhen, the Emperor had instructed them to guard Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Everyone going in and out needed to be verified.

"Please remove the mask," Commander Tie said.

"...."

Young Master Su said, "He really is my brother-in-law."

"Just fulfilling my duties, I hope Young Master Xie understands," Commander Tie replied.

"...."

Xie Jingchen removed the mask.

Seeing the bruising at the corner of his mouth, Commander Tie felt a pang of regret.

He looked towards Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Half an hour ago he went in fine, why did he come out beaten?

This is the son-in-law.

When a son-in-law visits, shouldn’t he be treated with good food and drinks?

At Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, no removal of the mask means no exit; at Duke Mansion, no removal means no entry.

Xie Jingchen was annoyed, "My voice is not recognizable, can’t you tell either?!"

The servants at Duke Mansion shrunk their necks, intending to make way.

Just then, Xie Jingchuan rode in, saying, "It’s definitely my brother’s voice, but voices can be imitated. The servants are just following house rules; why trouble them? If something goes missing from Grandfather’s study, no one can bear the consequence."

The Duke held military power, and his study was the most important place in Duke Zhen’s Mansion.

Xie Jingchen ignored him and stepped into the mansion.

The servants dared not stop him, but Xie Jingchuan would.

He leapt towards Xie Jingchen and grabbed his shoulder.

Xie Jingchen dodged, and before Xie Jingchuan could react, he swung a punch at his eye.

Perhaps he didn’t expect Xie Jingchen to move so quickly; Xie Jingchuan took the punch, seeing stars from the pain.

The servants were stunned.

After all, in their eyes, the Eldest Young Master shouldn’t fight casually; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been taken back to Dongxiang Marquis Mansion by the Eldest Young Madam.

Xie Jingchen retracted his fist and put a hand on the door, feigning weakness.

Xie Jingchuan, fuming, wanted nothing more than to retaliate, but he didn’t dare.

If Xie Jingchen spat blood, he couldn’t afford the responsibility.

Xie Jingchen removed the mask, exposing his beaten face.

Xie Jingchuan, "...."

The servants, "...."

"Can you see clearly now?" Xie Jingchen said coldly.

The servants didn’t dare speak.

They were puzzled as to why the Eldest Young Master suddenly wore a mask; turns out he’d been beaten.

Xie Jingchen put the mask back on, glanced at Xie Jingchuan, and said, "After getting beaten, I hope second brother can manage without wearing a mask out and about. If you can’t, whoever tells you to remove it, you remove it."

Leaving this, Xie Jingchen turned and entered the mansion.

Xie Jingchuan clenched his fist tightly, bones creaking.

Agarwood Pavilion, the inner room.

Su Jin was eating swallow’s nest porridge, and Xingxing was eating pastries.

Outside, a maid’s voice came, "Eldest Young Master."

"Miss, your husband is back," Xingxing said, mouth full.

"I heard."

After a while, Xie Jingchen walked in.

The silver mask was particularly eye-catching.

Seeing it, Su Jin was slightly taken aback, then smiled, "Why are you wearing a mask all of a sudden, is someone on the street trying to snatch you away again?"

Xie Jingchen, "...."

"It’s the Eldest Young Master’s mask," Xingxing said.

"Was the son-in-law beaten?" Xingxing asked.

"...."

Su Jin lightly tapped Xingxing’s head, "You really don’t know how to talk."

Xingxing rubbed her unharmed head.

Su Jin looked at Xie Jingchen and said, "Take off the mask, let me see how your injuries are."

Xingxing, "...."

Miss, can’t you speak properly too?

Even through the mask, she could feel her son-in-law’s dark mood.

Xie Jingchen felt his face hurt even more, and he turned and left.

Xingxing looked at Su Jin, "Miss, you’ve upset your husband."

"What do you mean I upset him? We both did it half and half," Su Jin said.

"...."

"I’ll get some ointment," Xingxing said.

"Get the new scar-removing ointment I mixed," Su Jin instructed.

Xingxing ran to the backyard to fetch the ointment.

Su Jin went to the study.

Inside the study, Xie Jingchen had removed the mask, showing bruises at the corner of his mouth and eye.

Su Jin felt a bit remorseful; such a stunning face, how could anyone have the heart to hit it?

Xingxing ran in quickly through the side door and handed the ointment to Su Jin, "Miss, I brought the ointment."

Su Jin opened the ointment, handed it to Xie Jingchen, and said, "Apply it, this will help your face recover quickly and won’t leave scars."

Xie Jingchen didn’t take the ointment.

Without a copper mirror, he couldn’t apply it himself.

Xingxing brought water, and Su Jin helped him clean the wound and apply the ointment.

Her hands, pale as scallion stalks, with a touch of creamy ointment on her fingertips, gently spread over the wound.

Her eyes shone brightly, more brilliant than the stars on a summer night.

He saw his reflection in her eyes, the gloom in his gaze resembling wet ink, not too deep, not too shallow, with a touch of gentle brightness.

"Did the Old Madam give you a hard time?" he asked.

"She did make it difficult, just wasn’t successful," Su Jin replied.

"...."

Xingxing couldn’t help but chime in, "From what the Marquis and Madam say, the Old Madam is a very good person; but being with her, she’s not at all like what they said. I don’t know who spread that unreliable news; when the Marquis returns, I’ll definitely ask him to punish them."