Outside the hall, the Third Prince strode into the room in a scarlet robe, an uninhibited smile on his face.
Behind him, Rat Lord called out in his ducklike voice, "Prince Shuo has arrived!"
Many of the Thousand-Mile Green Battalion brothers did not recognize the Third Prince, but they knew Rat Lord. At his announcement, they immediately rose and knelt in greeting.
"Hahaha, dispense with the formalities!"
The Third Prince laughed, sweeping his eyes over the twenty-odd Greenwood heroes in the hall. With a generous wave of his hand, he declared, "You risked your lives to save my second brother. I am deeply grateful, and you deserve a reward. Rat Lord, give everyone here two thousand star source each...!"
"?"
Rat Lord was dumbfounded. If I pay this out, am I supposed to ask you to reimburse me afterward or not?
So all the fucking money I risk my neck embezzling is just for you two brothers to buy favors? Ah, I was too young and too hasty when I had myself cut and entered the palace...
"Long live Your Highness! A thousand, thousand years!"
All traces of perfunctory respect vanished from the Greenwood heroes' faces, leaving only utter devotion as they shouted their blessings.
"Rise, all of you. Go eat next door. I will have a few drinks with my brother Prince Huai." Dressed in his vividly colored red robe, the Third Prince walked over to Ren Ye and sat down as though they were old friends.
Ren Ye kept his head down and ate the delicacies, ignoring him completely.
Rat Lord led the others out. The Third Prince gave his brother a sidelong look. "My dear brother, I traveled all this way to see you. Why are you so cold?"
"Just looking at you pisses me off, you