After returning to the capital to farm, the abandoned concubine made a comeback.

The baby's cries were like a fine needle, piercing Lin Qin's mind and disrupting her grand plans to make money.

She stopped abruptly; that sound…

Was the sound coming from her thatched hut?

Could something have happened to the baby?

!

With a sudden realization, Lin Qin turned and ran back, abandoning even her trip to the Prince's residence.

If anything happens to my child, no matter how much money she earns, it won't matter!

When Lin Qin rushed to the gate of her dilapidated courtyard, she realized that the crying wasn't Zai Zai's, but rather...

A baby crying?

She carefully pushed open the rickety wooden door and saw a baby lying in swaddling clothes on a tattered straw mat in front of her house!

The little one's face was flushed, and he was crying his heart out, his little fists clenched tightly, looking extremely pitiful.

Lin Qin was stunned. Where did this child come from?

Could someone have left it at her doorstep?

How can people be so cold-hearted these days!

She quickly picked up the baby, and it was shockingly light in her hands. The little body was burning hot, as if it were on fire.

"Oh dear, the baby has a fever!" Lin Qin touched the baby's forehead with heartache. The poor little thing had been lying here for who knows how long.

After bringing the baby inside, Lin Qin examined him carefully and found that the child was not only burning hot, but also had several purplish-blue marks, as if he had been abused.

"That's so cruel!" Lin Qin was so angry that she gritted her teeth. What kind of bastard would treat a child like that!

She quickly called Zai Zai over, "Zai Zai, go and get some hot water to wipe this little guy's body."

Although the little one was young, he knew that the baby was pitiful, so he obediently went to boil water.

As Lin Qin wiped the baby's body, she wondered what to do.

This child can't just stay with her forever, can he?

But where should we send it?

She herself is penniless, how could she possibly support another child?

What's worse is that the child has such a high fever; we need to see a doctor immediately.

But seeing a doctor costs money!

Thinking about this, Lin Qin couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

She only has a few coins left, what can she do with that?

"Mommy, the hot water is here!" The little boy carefully carried a basin of hot water over.

Lin Qin took the hot water and wiped the baby's body, which finally brought down the fever a little.

Looking at the weak baby in her arms, Lin Qin gritted her teeth.

No matter what, we must save the child first!

She picked up the baby and said to the little one, "Little one, stay home and wait patiently. Mommy will take this little guy to see the doctor!"

The little boy nodded understandingly: "Mommy, be careful on the road!"

Lin Qin, carrying the baby, hurriedly ran towards the village.

She needed to find someone to help her quickly, to see if she could borrow some money...

Just as they reached the village entrance, they ran into Widow Liu.

When Widow Liu saw Lin Qin holding a baby, her eyes widened immediately: "Oh, isn't this Lin Qin? Where did this...child come from?"

Widow Liu looked Lin Qin up and down and at the baby in her arms, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.

"This child...could he be the prince's? Tsk tsk tsk, you've been demoted to this godforsaken place, and you're still not settling down?"

Lin Qin rolled her eyes, too lazy to pay attention to the gossipy woman's nonsense.

"Widow Liu, if you're so bored, go plant some vegetables in the field and stop gossiping here."

"Oh dear, I'm just worried about you!" Widow Liu covered her mouth in feigned surprise. "This child's origins are unknown. What if he's an unlucky person who brings you bad luck?"

Lin Qin sneered, "My affairs are none of your concern. Get out of my way, I need to take my child to see a doctor."

Widow Liu stopped Lin Qin and said sarcastically, "See a doctor? Do you have enough money to see a doctor? Don't end up losing money on the child and yourself too."

Lin Qin was too lazy to waste words with her and simply walked past her.

Widow Liu, however, persisted, shouting at the top of her lungs, "Everyone, come quick! Lin Qin has picked up a wild child, and who knows whose heir it is! He might be some kind of ominous person, so everyone be careful!"

This shout immediately attracted a large crowd of villagers to watch.

The crowd pointed and whispered among themselves about Lin Qin.

"That Lin Qin is really shameless. Even after being demoted to this place, she's still fooling around with some wild man!"

"This child looks sickly; could he be some kind of ominous person?"

"I think Lin Qin is definitely trying to use this child to gain the prince's sympathy so she can go back to the palace and enjoy a life of luxury!"

Lin Qin felt annoyed as she listened to these idle gossips.

She took a deep breath, suppressed her anger, and quickly left with her child in her arms.

Back home, Lin Qin placed the child on the bed and carefully examined him.

The child's fever has subsided somewhat, but his breathing is still a little rapid.

Lin Qin suddenly remembered that she had read some traditional Chinese medicine knowledge online before, so she went to the mountain to pick some herbs, crushed them, and applied them to the child's skin.

After doing all this, Lin Qin finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Looking at the child's weak state, she felt a surge of inexplicable pity.

She gently stroked the child's face and whispered, "Little one, don't worry, I'll take good care of you."

It was late at night, and the child was sleeping soundly, but Lin Qin couldn't fall asleep at all.

She gazed at the bright moonlight outside the window, her mind filled with countless thoughts.

She didn't know if what she was doing was right, nor did she know what the future held.

But she knew she couldn't give up the child.

Suddenly, a knock on the door broke the silence of the night. "Who is it?" Lin Qin asked warily.

"It's me." A deep male voice came from outside the door.

Lin Qin was stunned for a moment. That voice...

Is it Zhu Ling?

!

Why did he come here?

She quickly got up and opened the door, only to see Zhu Ling dressed in black, standing quietly outside.

"Your Highness..." Lin Qin was somewhat surprised.

Zhu Ling's gaze fell on the baby behind Lin Qin, and her brows furrowed slightly: "This child..."

"I found him on the road," Lin Qin quickly explained. "He was very sick, I..."

"Hmm," Zhu Ling responded faintly, then walked into the house.

He walked to the crib, looked down at the sleeping child, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

Lin Qin looked at him nervously, wondering what he was thinking.

Suddenly, Zhu Ling raised her head, staring intently at Lin Qin, and said, "I want to take this child with me."

Lin Qin looked at the adorable baby sleeping soundly in her arms, and her heart melted completely.

The little guy's tiny hands gripped her fingers tightly, as if grasping at a lifeline, which strengthened her resolve to take good care of him.

"My poor little thing, you'll stay with me from now on. I promise I'll never let you suffer again." Lin Qin gently stroked the baby's face, a surge of maternal love welling up inside her.

But reality soon gave her a resounding slap in the face.

Lin Qin sighed as she touched the few coins she had left in her pocket.

This amount of money isn't even enough to buy a bowl of hot porridge, let alone treat an illness.

The baby's stomach started growling, and Lin Qin smiled helplessly: "Looks like we're both going to go hungry."

Just then, the system's childlike voice suddenly rang out: "Host, an emergency mission has been triggered! Please earn one hundred coins within one hour! Mission reward: A mysterious gift pack!"

Lin Qin's eyes lit up: One hundred coins!

This is money that could save a life!

"Little one, let's go! Let's go make money!" She picked up her adorable baby and rushed out of the house with high spirits.

Under the big tree at the village entrance, Widow Liu was chatting and gossiping with a group of women while eating sunflower seeds.

Seeing Lin Qin come out carrying the child, Widow Liu immediately perked up: "Oh, isn't this Lin Qin? Where are you going? Are you taking the child to beg for food?"

Lin Qin rolled her eyes at her: "Widow Liu, if you're so free, why don't you go home and embroider a few more handkerchiefs? You could earn some money that way."

Widow Liu choked for a moment, her face immediately turning ugly: "You..."

"What do you mean, 'I'? I need to go make money, I don't have time to waste with you here." After saying that, Lin Qin picked up the adorable baby and left.

Widow Liu watched Lin Qin's retreating figure, a sinister glint flashing in her eyes: "Hmph, let's see how long you can be so smug!"

Lin Qin carried the adorable baby and ran all the way to town.

She placed the baby in a safe place and then began looking for opportunities to make money.

She first tried to sell some of her own embroidery, but because of her rough craftsmanship, no one bought them.

She tried running errands for others, but because she was unfamiliar with the area, she couldn't find suitable work.

Time ticked by, and Lin Qin grew increasingly anxious.

With an hour almost up, she still hadn't earned a single penny.

Just when she was about to despair, she suddenly saw a crowd gathered in front of her, seemingly watching something exciting.

"Come on, little one, let's go take a look!" Lin Qin, holding the adorable baby, squeezed into the crowd.

In the center of the crowd, a quack doctor was selling miracle cures, claiming they could cure all diseases instantly.

Looking at the powerful pills in the quack doctor's hand, Lin Qin suddenly had a bold idea...

She walked up to the quack doctor and whispered, "Brother, how much are your 'power pills'?"

The quack doctor looked Lin Qin up and down and said, "Ten coins per pill."

"Ten coins?" Lin Qin frowned. "Too expensive!"

The quack doctor chuckled: "Young lady, my miracle pill is a family secret recipe that can cure all diseases. It works instantly and is only ten coins, which is not expensive at all!"

Lin Qin suddenly smiled mysteriously: "Big brother, are you sure your strength pill is really that magical?"

Holding the adorable baby, Lin Qin sped to the town's clinic, enduring the villagers' intense stares.

Upon entering, a strong smell of medicine hit her nose, almost making Lin Qin faint.

An old man with a white beard sat in the clinic, resting with his eyes closed, looking like a wise and sage.

"Doctor, please take a look at this child!" Lin Qin cried out anxiously.

The old man slowly opened his eyes, glanced at the adorable baby in Lin Qin's arms, and then slowly took her pulse, remaining silent for a long time.

Lin Qin was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. Could this old man have Alzheimer's?

Finally, the old man spoke: "This child is weak, has caught a cold, and is also somewhat malnourished."

"Doctor, please prescribe the medicine quickly!" Lin Qin said hurriedly.

The old man stroked his beard, slowly wrote out a prescription, and handed it to Lin Qin: "Go and get the medicine."

Lin Qin took the prescription and almost fainted when she saw it.

The medicinal herbs listed above include ginseng, deer antler, and lingzhi...

This isn't a prescription, it's practically an exorbitantly priced menu!

The few coins she had in her pocket weren't even enough to cover the small amount!

"Doctor, could you make this medicine cheaper?" Lin Qin asked cautiously.

Upon hearing this, the old man glared and puffed out his beard: "You think it's too expensive? If you think it's too expensive, then don't treat me! This is a family secret recipe, honest and reliable!"

Lin Qin was on the verge of tears. Why was this old man so stubborn?

Just as she was about to try again, she suddenly heard a commotion outside the door.

"Lin Qin! You shameless bastard, you actually stole my child!" A sharp voice shattered the tranquility of the clinic.

Lin Qin turned around and saw Widow Liu leading a group of villagers storming in aggressively.

Widow Liu pointed at the adorable baby in Lin Qin's arms and shouted, "Everyone come quick! This woman stole my child! She even wanted to take the child to see a doctor; she definitely wants to sell the child!"

Upon hearing this, the villagers immediately erupted in discussion, pointing and whispering among themselves about Lin Qin.

Lin Qin was speechless; how could she have been accused of stealing a child?

Just then, a cold voice came from outside the door: "What's going on?"

Everyone turned around and saw Zhu Ling standing at the door, dressed in black and expressionless.

As soon as Widow Liu saw Zhu Ling, her expression changed completely. She ran to Zhu Ling, sobbing, and said, "Your Highness, you must do justice for me! This woman stole my child and is trying to sell him!"

Zhu Ling's gaze fell on the adorable baby in Lin Qin's arms, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

He walked up to Lin Qin, took the baby from her, and examined him carefully.

“This child…” Zhu Ling suddenly spoke up, “is mine.”

"What?!" Lin Qin and Widow Liu exclaimed in surprise at the same time.