Chapter 1269

"Today, the Second Imperial Prince of the Tianwu Empire, Li Jian, is also the current Crown Prince…"

"Your Highness." Lin Cheng rose again, raising his teacup in salute before bowing his head to show respect.

"I told you, Master, no need for such formalities—I came here seeking your help."

"I am all ears."

Lin Cheng sat back down.

Crown Prince Li Jian let out a feigned sigh of sorrow.

"Master, what do you think of the Empire's current state?"

"It's fine… the nation is peaceful, the people nearly have enough to eat." Lin Cheng was speechless.

How was he, a blacksmith, supposed to answer such a question? He could only say what those in power wanted to hear.

He didn't understand politics.

"But this is only part of it… beneath the surface of this vast Empire lie many hidden, troubling matters…" Crown Prince Li Jian began speaking in the same flattery-laden tone he used on his subordinates, listing all the Empire's flaws before launching into his grand ambitions.

He expressed his burning desire to change this state of affairs, all while subtly reminding Lin Cheng that he needed talents like Lin Cheng to help him achieve his hegemony.

But the man before him was Lin Cheng, a transmigrator from a modern era—if not for his self-control, he might have yawned outright.

Out of politeness, he refrained from interrupting Crown Prince Li Jian's speech.

Only when Crown Prince Li Jian grew thirsty from talking did he finally stop and drink his tea.

"Master, what are your thoughts on this?"

After drinking, Crown Prince Li Jian turned his sharper gaze back to Lin Cheng, expecting the young man to be awestruck by his grand vision—yet what did he see now?

A calm, unshaken expression—not the slightest trace of admiration, only boredom, his eyes fixed on his teacup, lost in thought.

He was definitely zoning out.

"No wonder you've become an Eighth-Rank Forge Master—your composure rivals even those old masters! What are your thoughts?"

Lin Cheng snapped back to awareness—luckily, though he had been distracted, he'd still caught fragments of what Crown Prince Li Jian had said.