Good Man Operation Guide

Then, the little sheep, Shen Hu’an, smoothly became the Crown Prince.

The Fourth Prince had already been scared by the inexplicable departure of his three imperial older brothers. Then recently, he was also frequently faulted by his Emperor Father and no longer even dared to make a sound.

If it were just a fight between him and Shen Hu’an, he could still compete, but now, Emperor Father, who had always maintained the balance, somehow decided to stand on Shen Hu’an’s side. He hadn’t become so tired of living as to fight against his Emperor Father.

Although he didn’t know that the Emperor Father he worshipped was already teaching Shen Hu’an how to secretly kill himself, the Fourth Prince quietly shrunk himself like a quail as he watched Shen Hu’an be conferred as the Crown Prince.

There were reasons why the Emperor wanted to settle the position so urgently. First of all, it was because his body was failing. He would always cough up blood in the middle of the night, and his eyes could not longer see clearly.

Thus in order to pave the way for his beloved son, he quickly dealt with those who opposed Shen Hu’an. This was the only way for him to feel at ease: let the Crown Prince oversee the country, while he could start recuperating himself.

Shen Hu’an wasn’t very sympathetic towards this seriously ill Emperor Father.

He didn’t quite understand how his Emperor Father was able to have someone find him a beautiful young girl to have intercourse with on his sickbed while he was still coughing up blood as if he was going to die.

At first, he just thought that his Emperor Father’s problem with lusting after women was back. After all, before he got sick, Emperor Father was like a breeding machine, walking up and down the harem, and sometimes even going outside to look for good-looking commoner women.

But when his older sister went to the palace to visit the seriously ill Emperor Father, who was still having intercourse, she came back with a gloomy face. And Shen Hu’an soon found out why.

Those beautiful young girls were more or less similar in appearance to Consort Liu, his birth mother who died young.

Although he had no impression of Consort Liu in his mind at all, he also was outright angry.

Who was he trying to insult with this?

Either you stop saying that you miss Consort Mother, or stop looking for so many girls with similar looks to his Consort Mother to bed as you claim you miss Consort Mother!

The most disgusting part for Shen Hu’an was that the Emperor was actually having sexual intercourse with several women at once.

Although he had never spoken to his Consort Mother, he was sure that if she was still alive, she would have been very disgusted as well.

The point was, the Emperor did so but still felt that he was very affectionate towards his Consort Mother.

Shen Hu’an once again felt grateful that he wasn’t like Emperor Father at all except for his appearance.

So while the Emperor was inebriated and dying, Shen Hu’an, the Crown Prince, took over full control of the court.

He worked diligently to deal with political affairs, but although he held the position of Crown Prince, his foundation wasn’t deep and he was also too young. So having to also be responsible for wrangling some few old and cunning officials, one decision of his could save tens of thousands of lives, but it might also end tens of thousands.

Shen Hu’an, who had lived cheerfully for 16 years, has thus been transformed after 3 months of being the Crown Prince.

Looking back on it now, how naïve he was back then.

By the time the Hun Crown Prince arrived, the Emperor, who barely retained a shred of lucidity, sent orders for Shen Hu’an to receive the other accompanied by the Fourth Prince.

The reception went smoothly, which was then followed by hunting activities. The Emperor was unwell, moreover, it was the Crown Prince of the Huns who came this time and not the Emperor of the Huns, so if the Emperor were to receive the other side, it was lowering themselves too much for the Huns. Thus as before, Shen Hu’an played the role of the host.

At the hunt, there was a bit of an interruption.

Hunting has always been a favorite activity of this dynasty. In addition, the Hun Crown Prince was here this time and some of the imperial relatives had to go out to support the Crown Prince, so it was very lively.

Shen Hu’an liked riding and shooting, but he was now a Crown Prince, so he couldn’t ride a horse like the others. The future Emperor should be surrounded by at least 80 people from left to right in case of accidents, and there would even be people following behind the other prince.

The Huns didn’t pay attention to these things, so the Hun Crown Prince didn’t have a problem with it. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Seeing Shen Hu’an sitting down to eat and drink, he did so as well. The Hun’s Second Prince, who was obviously 20 years old but had a dark beard, rode directly into the hunting ground. The Fourth Prince wasn’t good at riding and shooting, but as the only Prince left, could only force himself to ride. There were also some noble sons and daughters who came together to come along.

It was originally thought to be similar to the hunting activities held by the Emperor, where everyone would hunt some prey, have some people roast the prey into delicious food, then go on to chat and happily eat.

In the end, while they had that intent, the Hun’s Second Prince dragged back a lot of prey with an attitude of wanting to kill all the prey in the hunting ground.

If the animals died, then they died, no one would ask him to pay for it. As usual, they started their mutual praise, saying that the Prince’s skill was very good, how the many preys looked delicious, and how they should barbecue them later…

(TNote: 商业互吹 [shāng yè hù chuī] = lit; commercial boasting. Meaning; to praise/complement each other just to maintain a pleasant atmosphere, just like small-talk, but more toward praising.)

According to the usual pattern, it was now the turn of the Hun Prince to follow the sentiment by praising their dynasty’s Fourth Prince.

As a result, this old-looking prince with a face that didn’t match his age looked disdainfully at the small number of preys the Fourth Prince brought back, his expression was rather mocking.

“This Prince had thought that all Princes should be as brave and warrior-like as our country’s, but it seems that this isn’t always the case.”

The scene immediately stiffened.

In the past 3 months, Shen Hu’an had experienced a variety of hair-pulling and toothache inducing things, so he was already very steady. He was still holding the glass of wine as if nothing had happened as he glanced at the Hun Crown Prince sitting below him.

If the Hun Crown Prince stood up at this time to reprimand his brother, the matter could still be dismissed. But if he pretended to not hear it, then this was not just a spirited dispute between young people but that the Huns came to pick a fight.

The Hun Crown Prince didn’t respond.

After a momentary pause, someone immediately helped the Fourth Prince, whose face was red after being humiliated, to speak, “His Highness is a scholar and has never been fond of riding and shooting. When the Prince says this, you are using your strengths to attack the weaknesses of others.”

“What strength and weakness, this Prince can’t understand your words. In our country, only capable people are respected. If your country was full of people like him, I think our two countries wouldn’t need to establish any diplomatic relations.”

Pa!

Shen Hu’an face sunk like water, heavily putting down the wine glass in his hand.

He tilted his head and looked at the Hun Crown Prince, who was sitting at the bottom like a mountain. “The Crown Prince also thinks the same way?”

The Hun Crown Prince laughed, “Please forgive me, Your Highness, my brother has always been reckless and doesn’t think about his words, but he is right. We have always admired capable people. If you can’t find someone who can beat him today, I’m afraid we would also have to doubt the ability of the Shang Empire. How about this, His Highness the Fourth Prince isn’t good at riding and archery, then you can send the warriors from the Shang Empire who are good at riding and archery, as long as they beat my brother, he will naturally be convinced.”

Sitting below, Shen Huyang frowned, her face turned a bit sour.

Beside her, Lin Shiheng’s expression was still calm. He put some food on her dish and whispered, “I’m afraid they are aware of the news that His Majesty is seriously ill.”

Shen Huyang took a look at the muscular Hun Prince and understood in her heart. “He was deliberately brought here.”

“Yes, the Huns only have four adult Princes. Apart from the Crown Prince, the other three Princes have never appeared in front of us. He has a full beard, when the time comes, if the real Prince really showed up, they can just say that he had shaved.”

Lin Shiheng took a sip of tea, he couldn’t drink wine. Shen Hu’an specifically remembered to have someone prepare it.

“Be prepared, I’m afraid the riding and archery is a lie. The excuse to tear up the alliance is real.”

The scholar in blue appeared a bit indolent and leaned back, but his long fingers were tapping on the table. “The Huns do revere the martial virtues. And if they decide to break the contract because our martial artists couldn’t beat the Prince, it would be justifiable.”

Shen Huyang secretly gritted her teeth and whispered back, “What should we do now? All the children who came here are nobility. Even the guards that followed, I’m afraid, they wouldn’t be able to beat the Prince.”

“Don’t worry.”

Lin Shiheng held out his hand, patted her hand calmly, making eye contact with Shen Huyang.

“I’ll take care of it.”

With that, he coughed a little lower, stood up, and rose to salute towards the front.

“Your Highness, would you please let me have a competition with the Hun Prince?”

He had a gentle voice, a handsome appearance, and was wearing a wide robe. He looked like a weak scholar. The Hun Prince laughed scornfully from the first glance.

“It’s better to find a real warrior of the Shang Empire. Such a frail scholar, I can overwhelm you with one finger.”

Lin Shiheng’s face didn’t change as he raised his eyes slightly and narrowed them as he locked eyes with Shen Hu’an above him.

Shen Hu’an understood. Although he didn’t think his Brother-in-law could win against the Hun Prince in riding and archery, he had always been able to talk in circles, so he may be able to wrap the other person into it.

“Then please Brother-in-law and Hun Prince, give it a try.”

After he quickly agreed, he introduced the other to the Hun Crown Prince, “This is Princess Huyang’s Fuma, who has joined the Hanlin Academy.”

The Hun Crown Prince frowned slightly and was a little upset.

He knew that there were indeed some civil servants in the Hanlin Academy. When he looked at this Fuma, whether it was in the shape of his body, appearance, or his slightly pale face, he didn’t look like much at all.

It was just that if the other had nothing to offer, why would he come forward?

He was alert in his heart and winked at the ‘Hun Prince’ who stood below, telling him to be careful.

The rules of the competition were simple: shoot arrows at three targets.

Shen Hu’an had been waiting for his Brother-in-law’s tongue to fool people like before, but in the end, Lin Shiheng just stood quietly as he watched the palace servant properly set the target tree up, and took the bow that had been respectfully handed over by another servant by his side. He even tried to pull the bowstring.

Shen Hu’an, who had blindly trusted his Brother-in-law, was also a little worried. He couldn’t understand why his Brother-in-law didn’t start talking in circles.

At last, Lin Shiheng spoke.

“Prince, forgive me, I am only a civil official. If I can’t shoot properly later on, please don’t mind it.”

The ‘Prince’ laughed again and made a simple-minded and reckless face, the words came out without the slightest intention of going along with it.

“If you dare to come forward, you represent the warriors of the Shang Dynasty. Where is there the need to forgive or not to forgive?”

Lin Shiheng bowed his head and smiled as if embarrassed. He tightened the bowstring and narrowed his eyes slightly to see the target in the distance.

People in the audience couldn’t help but hold their breaths. Even Shen Hu’an, who had been hypnotizing himself, ‘I am the Crown Prince who will not compromise in the face of danger’, was anxious. His face could still barely maintain a calm look, but his hands had a death grip on the wine cup.

He learned a lot during this period of time and could naturally see the Huns’ intentions. He held this event as the Crown Prince, if the Huns took this opportunity to tear up the alliance, how would he be able to face the generals who had fought so hard to get to this point?

Under the eyes of many people, the two pulled the bowstring tightly at the same time.

When the person serving next to them opened his mouth, two sharp arrows shot out fiercely.

Shen Huyang nervously closed her eyes and bit her lips tightly.

She had intended to listen to the surrounding movement, but even after waiting for a few seconds, the surrounding area was almost silent.

She opened her eyes and saw that the arrow of the Hun Prince had hit the target.

Lin Shiheng’s arrow, however, shot straight through the other’s, pinning it dead on the Hun Prince’s target.

In the surrounding silence, the scholar in blue slowly withdrew the hand that drew the bow and smiled somewhat shyly.

“Prince, forgive me. I haven’t practiced for a long time. I unexpectedly missed the shot.”

With that, he casually picked up an arrow from the quiver aside, placed it on his bow again, and shot out again with a whoosh.

This time, it split his original arrow, and still nailed the center of the Hun Prince’s target dead on.

“Why don’t we have another match?”