I am the Holy Poisoner, the Empress advised me to calm down

The most outrageous thing is that one of them, Master Chen, actually publicly posted: "Young people nowadays are always looking for shortcuts. How can the true inheritance of Chinese medicine be so easy to master? I think this Xiao Lin has most likely stolen the essence of Wang's medicine."

Seeing this message, Liu Ying's face flushed with anger: "This Master Chen is talking nonsense! Has he ever seen your medical skills? What right does he have to say that?"

Lin Yu was very calm: "Let them talk. The clear will be clear, and the turbid will be turbid."

"But if this continues, more and more people will believe what they say." Liu Ying was still very worried.

"Those who believe will naturally believe it, and those who don't believe it will be useless even if you talk your mouth off." Lin Yu smiled, "Besides, how good is my medical skills? Isn't it enough to let the facts speak for themselves?"

At this moment, Lin Yu's cell phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number.

"Hello, is this Dr. Lin Yulin?" A middle-aged man's voice came from the phone.

"I am, who are you?"

"I'm Li Ming, the marketing director of Huakang Pharmaceuticals. I've heard you're very skilled in medicine, and our company would like to collaborate with you. Are you interested?"

Lin Yu was a little surprised: "Cooperation? What kind of cooperation?"

"Well, our company specializes in the research, development, and production of traditional Chinese medicine. We're currently looking for talented and knowledgeable traditional Chinese medicine practitioners to collaborate with us on developing new medicines. If you're interested, we can offer you very generous terms."

It sounded like a good opportunity, but Lin Yu always felt a little strange. Isn't it too coincidental that a company suddenly came to him for cooperation at this time?

"Director Li, could you please elaborate on the specific method of cooperation?"

"How about this, it's hard to explain over the phone. How about we meet and talk it over in person?"

Lin Yu thought for a moment and said, "Okay, when is convenient?"

"This afternoon at three o'clock, at the China Resources Building in the city center, our company is there."

After hanging up the phone, Liu Ying asked, "What's the matter?"

Lin Yu repeated the content of the call, and Liu Ying frowned after listening: "Will there be any problems if a company suddenly asks you to cooperate at this time?"

"I think it's a bit strange too." Lin Yu nodded, "But it doesn't hurt to go and take a look. Maybe it really is a good opportunity."

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Lin Yu arrived at the China Resources Building on time. Huakang Pharmaceutical Company was on the 28th floor. It was luxuriously decorated and looked like a powerful large company.

The receptionist enthusiastically led him to the conference room, and soon Li Ming came in. He was a middle-aged man in his forties, dressed in a suit and tie, looking very capable.

"Hello, Dr. Lin! I've long heard of you." Li Ming shook hands warmly.

"You're welcome, Director Li." Lin Yu responded politely.

"Come, come, please sit down." Li Ming invited Lin Yu to sit down. "I heard that your medical skills are very good and you have cured many difficult and complicated diseases?"

"It was just luck." Lin Yu said modestly.

"No, no, you're too modest," Li Ming said with a smile. "The truth is, our Huakang Company has always been committed to the modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Now we're looking for some truly talented Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners to collaborate with us to modernize and repackage traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions."

Lin Yu nodded and continued to listen to him.

"Your Majesty, I believe this matter is indeed suspicious," Minister of Works Li Cheng said. "The South Vietnamese have always been cunning. I'm afraid they want to use this opportunity to undermine our Daqian cotton trade."

Xu Feihong remained silent for a long time, and the atmosphere in the court grew increasingly solemn. Zhou Qing recorded everyone's words while thinking to himself. He remembered the history books he had read in his previous life. He knew that Nanyue would indeed make small moves against Daqian at this time, just to weaken Daqian's economic strength.

"Convey my order and immediately dispatch an envoy to South Vietnam to ascertain the truth of this matter." Xu Feihong made up his mind. "Also, have the border guards strengthen their defenses and be on guard against any further moves by South Vietnam."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" all the ministers responded in unison.

After the court meeting, Zhou Qing followed the empress back to the imperial study. Xu Feihong was clearly in a bad mood, frowning as she sat on the dragon throne.

"My dear Zhou, what do you think about this matter?" Xu Feihong suddenly asked.

Zhou Qing's heart skipped a beat; this was a perfect opportunity for him to showcase his talents. "Your Majesty, I believe this move by South Vietnam is more than just a simple commercial dispute."

"Oh? Tell me what you think." Xu Feihong became interested.

"I believe Nanyue has three objectives for this move," Zhou Qing said seriously, putting down his pen. "First, to use this to strike at Daqian's cotton industry and weaken our economy. Second, to test Daqian's reaction to this matter and see if it still has the might it once had during the reign of Taizu. Third, it's likely preparing for a larger conspiracy."

Xu Feihong's eyes flashed with surprise. She hadn't expected this young attendant to provide such a thorough analysis. "So, how do you think we should respond?"

"I believe we should send an embassy to negotiate, but we shouldn't hold out too much hope. We should also immediately seek new cotton buyers and not put all our eggs in one basket." Zhou Qing paused. "Most importantly, we must be well prepared militarily. The fact that South Vietnam dared to act this way shows they no longer take our Daqian seriously."

"Well said!" Xu Feihong nodded approvingly. "It seems I was right about you. Song Jiayun, pass on my order and have the Ministry of War immediately formulate a plan to strengthen border defenses."

At this moment, a eunuch hurried in to report: "Your Majesty, the South Vietnamese delegation requests an audience!"

Xu Feihong and Zhou Qing looked at each other and both felt that it was too coincidental.

"Spread it!" Xu Feihong said in a deep voice.

Soon, the South Vietnamese delegation was brought into the imperial study. Leading the group was a middle-aged man dressed in gorgeous South Vietnamese clothing with an arrogant smile on his face.

"Your Majesty the Queen of Daqian, I am Fan Wencheng, an envoy from the Kingdom of Nanyue, and I have come to pay you a visit on the orders of our king." Fan Wencheng gave a not-so-standard salute.

Zhou Qing noticed that Fan Wencheng's etiquette was obviously not respectful enough, and it was obvious that he came prepared.

"No need to be polite, envoy from Nanyue," Xu Feihong said calmly. "I wonder why the King of Nanyue sent you here?"

"Your Majesty, my king has heard that Daqian has suffered a disaster and expresses his deepest sympathy." Fan Wencheng spoke of sympathy, but his face showed no sympathy at all. "My king specially sent me here, hoping to help Daqian overcome its difficulties."

"Oh? How can I help?" Xu Feihong raised her eyebrows.

"My king is willing to provide food aid to Daqian to alleviate its urgent needs," Fan Wencheng said with a smile. "Of course, in return, I hope Daqian will cede three border cities as a gesture of friendship."

As soon as these words were spoken, the imperial study fell into an eerie silence. Zhou Qing clenched his pen, his heart simmering with rage. This wasn't even aid; it was clearly taking advantage of someone's misfortune!