Feng Ziqian then told Lin Jin he had tried hiring other Rank 4 beast appraisers but all of them turned him down mercilessly. Of course, they didn't reject him outright because they had to mind the third prince's reputation. Hence, they gave all kinds of excuses not to meet him.
Still, their reason for doing so couldn't have been any more obvious. They weren't fools. If they chose to go with Feng Ziqian at a time like this, that would be equivalent to taking sides in the princes' war for the Heavenly Spiral's throne.
No one should be hasty in taking sides, and even more so when the contender seemed incapable of winning. Feng Ziqian probably had the lowest chances of securing the throne right now, so who in the right mind would go with him?
Rank 4 beast appraisers may be reputable, but they would never make enemies if they could help it. Especially when they risked provoking other more powerful princes, among whom one would one day rise to become emperor.