Chapter Eighty-Eight: The Foolish Second Young Master

He was deliberately putting on that manner for Eastward Light to see. Only if Eastward Light gradually learned to ignore him would he have more chances to help Eastward Green and gain control of the Eastward family’s power.

Sure enough, upon hearing the Ninth Prince’s answer, Eastward Light nodded with great satisfaction, then turned once more to his elder brother, Eastward Green.

“Big Brother, you see? Even the Ninth Prince thinks there’s nothing wrong with what I said. That proves you really are the disgrace of the Eastward family. The Eastward family is ashamed of you!”

As if he had received some sort of permission, Eastward Light suddenly began insulting Eastward Green in earnest.

For a brief moment, Eastward Green was puzzled as to why the Ninth Prince would not defend him, but that confusion was soon resolved.

Since he had already agreed to help him reclaim the Eastward family’s power, he could never go back on his word. Everything being done now might be laying the groundwork for that future return.

After learning how formidable the Ninth Prince was, Eastward Green’s trust in him had become almost blind. It seemed that so long as the Ninth Prince was the one acting, success was assured.

But Eastward Green did not want to remain here any longer to endure Eastward Light’s humiliation, so he bowed to His Highness and said, “This humble official still has some matters to attend to, so I shall not remain here to keep the Prince company. Please permit my withdrawal.”

Thinking of the Ninth Prince’s attitude, Eastward Green could not help wondering whether he ought to cooperate by putting on an equally unpleasant manner, so as to make it appear that the two of them were at odds.

Thus when he spoke to the Prince, he was completely unreasonable. Though he did bow, anyone could see how perfunctory the gesture was.

Looking at Eastward Green, Shen Hezhi gradually let displeasure show on his face, though inwardly he was overjoyed.

He had not expected Eastward Green to be so quick on the uptake, to understand what he meant. He had thought that without being tipped off in advance, the man would not grasp his intention at all.

So Shen Hezhi also played along with Eastward Green’s performance and said, “A man without manners, why don’t you get lost already!”

Eastward Green swept his sleeve and turned to leave.

Seeing the two of them behaving like this, Eastward Light was delighted. Yet even in his pleasure, he could not show too much on his face, and only allowed the faintest smile to appear.

After Eastward Green had gone, Eastward Light immediately took his place and hurriedly sat down in the seat Eastward Green had just vacated.

Shen Hezhi caught the movement from the corner of his eye and could not help but sneer inwardly.

Did he truly think he could compare with his brother? One was nothing but a good-for-nothing, while the other was a rare talent.

He truly did not understand why there could be such a vast difference between two people of the same Eastward family. Could it be that this one was not Old Master Eastward’s child?

In Shen Hezhi’s memory, Old Master Eastward was a remarkably wise man. Even though he had never come to the frontier, the Eastward family’s reputation had still reached the imperial capital. Thus Shen Hezhi had assumed that the man’s sons would be more like Eastward Green.

What’s more, Shen Hezhi was very curious why so much of the Eastward family’s influence had, overnight, shifted to Eastward Light.

Perhaps the people who suddenly threw their support behind Eastward Light were not really supporting Eastward Light at all. Eastward Light might only be a decoy, a puppet raised to take the fall in public, while the true patron behind him was someone else entirely.

“Your Highness, my brother is truly disappointing. He has made a laughingstock of himself before you,” Eastward Light said, pulling Shen Hezhi back from his thoughts.

For a moment, Shen Hezhi had truly forgotten there was still an Eastward Light seated beside him, having been wholly absorbed in his own musings.

“It’s nothing important. Still, for the Eastward family to have a Second Young Master like you, that is truly rare indeed!”

Shen Hezhi’s words were deliberately ambiguous. They could be understood as scolding Eastward Light, or as praising him; but most people with any sense at all would take them as an insult.

Yet after hearing this, Eastward Light smiled with obvious satisfaction and replied, “Your Highness is far too generous. Though I may be somewhat better than my brother, I am still nowhere near as capable as you make me out to be.”

“Not at all, not at all. Second Young Master, in truth, is even more outstanding than I have said. By the way, may I ask what has brought Second Young Master here today? Is there something you need my help with?” Shen Hezhi began to lead him on.

Since this Eastward Light had previously seized hold of his weakness, even if it was only something he imagined to be a weakness, he would surely look for an opportunity to exploit Shen Hezhi. Shen Hezhi did not intend to leave such initiative in another man’s hands, so he took the lead and lured Eastward Light in himself.

“Actually, it is not anything particularly important. I had originally been wondering how to bring it up to Your Highness, but I did not expect you to ask first. In that case, I can hardly keep pretending,” Eastward Light said.

“What is there to pretend about? If it concerns Second Young Master, I will certainly help. So do go on,” Shen Hezhi replied.

Eastward Light smiled faintly and glanced toward the soldiers in the camp.

“Your Highness should still remember the company commander you previously had detained.”

Hearing this, Shen Hezhi smiled inwardly. So Eastward Light had come for that company commander. It seemed the chaos on the frontier had not unfolded without his hand in it.

“Yes,” Shen Hezhi answered mildly. “Could it be that this company commander belongs to Second Young Master?”

Eastward Light laughed and shook his head.

“Your Highness flatters me. How could such an ignorant man possibly be one of mine? He is merely a friend of a friend, and in this life my friend has only ever had that one friend, so I had no choice but to come before Your Highness and plead on his behalf.

So might I ask Your Highness to release that company commander? Even if he is not restored to office, at the very least let him out of that prison.”

“I thought it was something much more serious. Why should Second Young Master trouble himself to come all the way here for such a small matter? Would it not have sufficed to send someone with a word?” Shen Hezhi asked.

At this answer from the Ninth Prince, Eastward Light’s expression instantly brightened.

“Then by Your Highness’s words, you are willing to release that company commander?”

“It is Second Young Master’s matter. How could I refuse? There is no need to be anxious. I shall have someone send that company commander to your residence shortly.”

“Many thanks to the Ninth Prince. Then there is nothing else. I still have some other matters to handle, so I shall not remain here to keep Your Highness company while you watch the soldiers drill. Farewell.”

Having said this, Eastward Light left at once, not caring at all whether the Ninth Prince had truly agreed to let him go.