"The martial artists defy the law! And I wish to place a shackle upon these people, a shackle of the law.
However, I cannot achieve this alone, so I have come to discuss a collaboration with Your Highness.
I wonder if Your Highness is interested?"
Lin Yan's words greatly appealed to Prince Chu, as this was not only Lin Yan's idea but also the royal family's.
No one wanted to have people under their rule who were disobedient and could threaten their safety.
"Lady Lin's ambition is truly lofty, earning my utmost admiration!" Prince Chu stood up and bowed to Lin Yan.
Hearing Lin Yan's words, he genuinely began to admire the young woman.
A woman, who lived in a martial arts sect and was deeply cherished, possessed such breadth of vision. It was truly commendable.
Lin Yan calmly accepted Prince Chu's bow. "May I ask how Your Highness views this collaboration?"
Prince Chu sat back in his chair. "I fear the person Lady Lin wishes to collaborate with is not me, am I right?"
"Your Highness is wise. This matter is of great importance, and naturally, it is not something that you or I can decide alone. However, you are the highest-ranking official I can approach."
"Oh? Why doesn't Lady Lin seek out officials with real power? After all, they would be more reliable than I, a prince without an official post."
"But Your Highness is more trusted by His Majesty, are you not? Moreover, Your Highness is not as simple as you appear on the surface."
"Is that so? However, this collaboration cannot be sealed with just Lady Lin's words.
Lady Lin's ideal is excellent, but the capabilities of Lady Lin alone, or even the entire Lishan Sword Sect, are insufficient?"
Prince Chu toyed with the thumb ring on his hand. He could not take her to see the Emperor based solely on her words.
Even if the Emperor trusted him, he could not gamble on this person being entirely safe.
"I understand. Therefore, I can offer other things. Although the Lishan Sword Sect's capabilities are not strong, it serves as an opening into the martial world. I believe the court must have some thoughts regarding the martial arts, isn't that so?"
"I admit, Lady Lin's words are tempting, but this is indeed not something I can agree to on my own. I need to discuss it with my imperial brother.
However, whether I can persuade my imperial brother will depend on whether Lady Lin can offer something substantial enough!"
Prince Chu knew that his imperial brother would likely agree. He was an emperor with great strategic vision, always wishing to bring the martial world under his control and make it serve him.
But he was unwilling to agree directly with Lin Yan at this moment, as that would place the initiative in the woman's hands.
"I believe His Majesty will agree. However, this collaboration cannot be finalized for now. Let us discuss another business."
"What business?"
"Your Highness's health."
Sitting in the carriage, Prince Chu had not expected his emotions to fluctuate so greatly due to a woman's words.
He recalled her confident face, which seemed to have everything under control, and her ambitious eyes. Yet, her ambition did not evoke disgust.
However, the business she mentioned was indeed somewhat tempting.
"My health?" Prince Chu was somewhat confused.
His condition had been diagnosed by all imperial physicians as having damaged his foundation, rendering it incurable. He could only manage it with careful recuperation and perhaps live past thirty.
His imperial brother had found many famous doctors for him over the years, but all had shaken their heads, deeming it beyond their ability. For years, he and his imperial brother had accepted their fate.
Yet now, this person claimed she could save him. He felt a flicker of doubt, but also a spark of hope.
"Yes, Your Highness's health. If Your Highness trusts me, allow me to take your pulse, and then I can tell you how confident I am in curing you."
Lin Yan was actually ten-tenths confident. After all, she had the spiritual spring water capable of cleansing marrow and the system store. Thus, no matter the state of Prince Chu's health, she could cure him.
However, she still needed to put on a show and understand his condition better to determine what she needed to use.
"Oh? Lady Lin is also skilled in medicine? But if you are not certain, how can you claim to be able to treat me?"
"I have confidence in my medical skills," Lin Yan extended her hand. "Does Your Highness trust me?"
"Since Lady Lin is confident, how can I not believe? My body can't get any worse anyway." Prince Chu extended his hand, placing it palm up on the table.
Lin Yan placed her fingers on Prince Chu's wrist and listened to his pulse with concentration.
Prince Chu felt as though butterflies were landing on his wrist, so delicate he dared not disturb them. At that moment, he felt as though this person could truly cure him.
Not for any other reason, but because he wished to live longer.
A moment later, Lin Yan released his hand. Prince Chu longed to grasp the fingers that had left his wrist.
"How is it?" Prince Chu subtly withdrew his hand. Then, under the table, he gently rubbed the spot where Lin Yan had touched him with his other hand.
"Your Highness was poisoned some years ago. This poison is difficult to remove. Moreover, due to the delayed detoxification, the residual poison has deeply penetrated your internal organs, hence it is incurable.
However, the physicians who have been treating Your Highness's body over the years are very skilled, which has allowed Your Highness to appear normal. But this is merely treating the symptoms, not the root cause. This poison still erodes Your Highness's lifespan."
Lin Yan had accurately described Prince Chu's condition. However, this was a situation she could cure. With the spiritual spring water and some medicinal herbs, it should not be more difficult than her father's old injuries.
"Lady Lin speaks the truth. Do you have a method?"
Prince Chu was surprised that Lady Lin of the Lishan Sword Sect possessed such medical skills. This greatly increased the hope in his heart.
"Yes, I am confident I can treat your illness and restore you to true health."
"Then what does Lady Lin require?"
Prince Chu's hand under the table clenched tightly, but he did not show it on his face. After so many years, this was the first person who claimed to be able to cure him.
If her request was not excessive, or even if it was only mildly so, he would be willing to try. After all, he was tired of his frail body!
"What I require is actually very simple, and for Your Highness, it might be just a matter of a few words."
"Please, tell me."
"Does Your Highness know of Zhu Yun?"
"Zhu Yun?" Prince Chu pondered for a moment, seemingly with no recollection.
"Zhu Yun is my mother's business, a shop that deals in rouge and powder. We recently wish to open a shop in the capital, but the environment here is too complex. As outsiders, it is very difficult for us to establish ourselves here.
Therefore, we have decided to find a backer. Your Highness, would you be willing to be our backer?"