Good Man Operation Guide

Thus no matter how whimsical Shen Hu’an was, in the eyes of the many people who were paying attention to Nancheng within the capital, this ordinary Prince, who was once completely ignored, suddenly began to emerge as a dark horse.

Expelling the plague, managing the victims, and reducing the death toll to the lowest, while at the same time, his methodology was completely different from any of the officials who had been sent to deal with similar incidents in the past: where once they arrived there and found that everything was unwell, moreover, there was also a shortage of funds distributed from the court, they would hastily report back to ask for more money.

Instead, quickly and quietly, the matter in Nancheng was dealt with.

Even when the court decided to drain the Yanjiang River to Nancheng, they were also able to easily and properly resettle the whole city.

The most confusing thing was that even though the amount of time was so limited and the number of people of the city needed to be resettled was immense, even though many people had already died, within two days of the Imperial edict being issued, the Fifth Prince had already completed everything.

The four princes, who remained in the capital and waited to see the joke of their youngest brother, were thus no longer as relaxed as before. They never considered that the youngest brother might have been concealing himself, instead, through this, they realized clearly that the Fifth Prince definitely had a brilliant person on his side.

So when Shen Hu’an returned safely with a calm appearance in less than a month, whereas he was used to being treated as invisible, he was suddenly overwhelmed by the great enthusiasm of all the people around him.

It seemed that for a moment, he, the Fifth Prince, had become the best and most worthy lord within everyone’s eyes.

Although he worked hard to eat and live with the soldiers, strictly according to the letter given by that gentleman, this past month, seeing all the victims allowed Shen Hu’an to become less naïve, and after being forced to pretend to be an adult, his thoughts gradually matured.

But at the heart of it, he was still that chuunibyou.

How could he not be self-satisfied when so many people have finally found out that he had been hiding his kingly temperament for over ten years?

Especially during this disaster relief, one second before he was still at a loss for not knowing what to do with the lack of herbs, but then the next second, a businessman took the initiative to send herbs. Even though servants repeatedly expressed that the master of the Zhao family could not bear to see the suffering of the victims and had come to deliver the medicine, but the Fifth Prince still couldn’t help but think ‘Could it be because I have the temperament of a king, that what’s lacking will come to pass?’

So now that he was back in the capital, people were obviously attracted to join him by his kingly temperament.

Although he hadn’t yet to leave the palace to build his own residence, the Fifth Prince was content to buy a courtyard within the capital to house the advisors who came to join him, planning to move them all in once he receives his residence.

Yes, he was no longer the poorest Prince at last! This time, he had achieved great merits due to this disaster relief, so Emperor Father had rewarded him 10,000 taels of gold in one breath, which was more than enough to buy a mansion.

A mansion, strategists, the crowd’s praises, and even his Older Sister had hugged him with tears while lamenting ‘An’er grew up’. Shen Hu’an enjoyed the spring breeze as he walked on clouds.

***

Then one day, as he routinely came out to make his rounds in his little mansion, he received a letter through a flying pigeon.

To be honest, the capital was full of noblemen and imperial relatives living in the city, such that just by throwing a random brick, you might be able to hit a royal relative. And as we all know, everyone used pigeons to send messages.

That’s why almost every relatively competent or ambitious government official would have a pigeon loft in their home.

And there were definitely more pigeons in the capital than any other cities of the empire.

Casually shooting one down and one may see the correspondence between so-and-so minister and so-and-so official.

Of course, no one would do such a frivolous thing. After all, ancient people, who were accustomed to being silent and reserved to the bones, were all unwilling to get into trouble.

Therefore, as a mansion that didn’t keep a pigeon but received a flying pigeon, the Fifth Prince was a little startled by this event.

Thus his good and loyal subordinates were all also worried as they looked at their lord with the pigeon in his hand and asked, “Your Highness, could it be that the pigeon came to the wrong place?”

Who would send a letter with a pigeon that could fly to the wrong place?

That’s not a pigeon letter, that’s a scr*wed-up letter.

Shen Hu’an thought for a few minutes with his constantly spinning mind, then finally resolutely opened the bamboo tube tied to the pigeon’s leg.

Upon unfolding the paper inside and seeing the familiar handwriting, he breathed an instant sigh of relief.

It belonged to the unknown gentleman.

During this period, because of the wisdom within the words written on those two letters, Shen Hu’an had read them over and over several times, and even though he had now already memorized the contents of the letters back to back, he still preserved them properly.

It was, after all, the proof of his attractiveness towards wise men, so His Highness the Fifth Prince was very pleased.

Thus at that moment, having received a letter from the unknown gentleman again, he was suddenly in a better mood. Signaling for his subordinates to back away, Shen Hu’an with a ‘Heh heh heh I want to sneak a look at how the gentleman was going to his intention to surrender to me’ went and hid back in the house to begin to read the letter.

Then… He was criticized from head to toe by the person who wrote the letter, in a tone that was elegant, without the use of any dirty words or reprimands, but could make people feel ashamed, causing them to want to hit themselves against the wall.

The content was very obscure, but the general meaning was as follows:

Your Highness, do you think you’re doing a great job and that’s why so many people are joining you?

It’s not that. Twenty-five of the thirty people you raise in your house are spies from other families, and three of the remaining five just want to muddle along and wait for death. The only two that are still normal are ready to leave because you’re always coming and going.

Your Highness, did you think Your Majesty gave you 10,000 gold taels because he affirmed your victory and care for you?

You’ve thought too much. Last time, the Eldest Prince was ordered to go to Yancheng to check the flood. He just strolled around and was rewarded with 20,000 taels of gold and a concubine. Just for walking around, without even getting close to the Yanjiang river.

Did you think people love and respect only you, Your Highness?

Do you need me to count for you how many of those who boast about you are the Elder Prince’s people, and how many are the Second, Third, and Fourth Prince’s?

If I list these and you still insist that they were all genuine praise, then I can only sincerely say this to Your Highness:

You are really, really amazing.

I am sincere, as Your Highness can see.

In addition, these are the names of the two gentlemen who are normal but are about to pack up and leave. Please don’t give up on these two people. After all, even the mansion you bought was sold to you by the Third Prince.

***

The Fifth Prince, Shen Hu’an, read the letter in a daze.

There was nothing more cruel to a person than when said person was at the peak of his life with excitement, then suddenly someone popped up and told them that it was all fake.

You’re not the king of the beasts.

But a gorilla, who had been trying to disguise as a tiger, unaware that it was being watched by many people, instead simply bathing itself in complacence.

This was what the gentleman, who had helped him so much such that he had soundlessly grown dependent on the other, had said.

The unstoppable budding flower in the youth’s heart that was courageous enough to seize the throne from the Emperor withered.

He locked himself in his room and hunkered down the entire afternoon.

Outside, the guards thought he was reading, writing, or planning great events, but he just sat on the couch with his knees in his arms, having even wiped a few tears from the corner of his eyes.

He finally realized how dangerous those people were, especially now that he was without the protection of his sister.

Shen Hu’an squeezed the letter tight, his mind preoccupied for the first time in many days.

Will the gentleman hate him and give up on him?

Without the gentleman’s help, how could he defeat his four brothers, sit on the throne, support his sister, and scare the fuma?

That’s right, scare the fuma!

Shen Hu’an immediately perked up, wiped away the tears from his eyes, and got up from the couch.

He still hasn’t seen the fuma since he came back!

Even if, as the gentleman said, everything was just a mirage now, at least in everyone’s eyes, he was still in the limelight for his recent success in pacifying disasters.

If he doesn’t scare the fuma now, how much longer should he wait!?

Shen Hu’an was resurrected with high spirits. He carefully hid the letter that scolded himself until he cried in the same place as the first two letters, then opened the door.

“Someone come, help me change my clothes.”

He had to be on his best footing to meet the guy who was about to marry his sister!

***

After that, he’ll get down to business and be serious. And hope that the gentleman wouldn’t give up on him.

Shen “Overbearing” Hu’an tried to compose his appearance before he opened the door wearing his brand-new robes.

Find that fuma!

Right now!

Shen Hu’an’s search for the fuma went smoothly.

He had found out from before that the fuma was currently working in Hanlin Academy, temporarily staying in a friend’s home, and still looking for a good house to buy.

Although he was a little dissatisfied with his sister’s future husband, who was so poor that he needed to live in someone else’s house, Shen Hu’an forced down this dissatisfaction and came to Zhao’s residence to ask for an audience with Lin Shiheng while dressed in his luxurious clothes.

He also made up a decent alias for himself: ‘An Wu’.

It’s simple, bold, and well hidden.

Unlike the servants of those official families, the Zhao family’s servants didn’t ask for an appointment before letting people in. After all, their family was previously just merchants, and although the young master was admitted as second place, he was only a simple official. He wasn’t home right now, and there was no mistress to take care of the house for him. Therefore, seeing Shen Hu’an dressed in luxurious clothing while also being followed by servants and guards, they subconsciously thought he was a big shot and hurriedly took him all the way to the courtyard where Lin Shiheng lived.

The courtyard where Lin Shiheng lived was very elegant.

There were bamboo groves and rockeries, and you could tell at a glance that it was a place where a scholar lived.

No matter how complicated his mind was thinking about the future Brother-in-law who was about to steal his Sister, Shen Hu’an still appeared calm and steady.

When the servant curtsied Lin Shiheng and reported that he had a visitor, Shen Hu’an politely stepped forward and gave a brief ceremony to the man whose back was turned towards him while the other was painting.

Shen Hu’an’s face was cold and solemn, and his voice was low and full of steadiness as he opened his mouth:

“This An Wu heard that Young Master Lin had excellent talent and have come to make your acquaintance.”