There's No One Else Here, Chairman Long. Speak Your Mind

"I take it you're Miss Ju Zi? I've long heard that His Highness the Crown Prince has a brilliant adviser at his side. At last, I've met her."

Long Wushang was the first to recover. He turned and gestured toward the office behind him.

"You've had a tiring journey, Miss Ju Zi. Please, come in and sit down. We can talk in detail."

Ju Zi inclined her head slightly, a practiced smile on her face.

"You're too kind, Chairman Long. His Highness needs all the help we can give him right now. No matter how difficult things get, I wouldn't dare neglect my duties."

She followed Long Wushang into the office, taking in everything along the way and the furnishings inside.

Only after they had entered and sat down on the sofas did Ju Zi take the Crown Prince Token from her storage ring.

"Chairman Long, His Highness has personally read the letter requesting an audience that you sent."

"He takes this matter very seriously, so he specifically ordered me to bring the token and invite you to discuss it with him in person."

Long Wushang nodded. He poured Ju Zi a cup of hot tea, then asked, "How is His Highness's injury? I have several excellent medicinal herbs that should help him recover."

"His Highness is recuperating," Ju Zi answered carefully.

"This meeting must be kept strictly confidential. It would be best not to alert anyone at the merchant guild, either."

"So if you're free, Chairman Long, why not come with me to see His Highness now?"

The smile faded from Long Wushang's face, and he leaned forward slightly.

"Of course. The merchant guild could never have established itself in Mingdu and grown as it has without His Highness's support. Some of our trade couldn't even function without his