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

The court was founded, and difficulties and obstacles were first encountered.

The carriage rumbled as it carried Lin Qin and Zhu Ling through the majestic palace gates.

The palace is deep and quiet, with a solemn atmosphere permeating the red walls and yellow tiles.

As soon as Lin Qin stepped off the carriage, she felt several gazes fixed on her, making her feel like she was being pricked by needles.

She glanced around calmly. The palace maids and eunuchs were all meek and obedient, as if nothing had happened, but the tension in the air was undeniable.

"Your Highness, this way please." A palace maid walked gracefully over and led Lin Qin toward the "Imperial Kitchen".

Lin Qin noticed that this palace maid was one of Consort Li's attendants.

It seems that Consort Li is indeed "hospitable," sending people to "welcome" me.

This "Imperial Kitchen," despite its fancy name, is actually just an abandoned side hall, dilapidated and covered in cobwebs.

Lin Qin couldn't help but facepalm. The emperor really thought highly of her, leaving her with such a mess.

“Your Highness, what do you think of this…” Eunuch Wang rubbed his hands, looking troubled.

"Father-in-law, is His Majesty serious about this place?" Lin Qin's lips twitched. Even a rat would shake its head at the sight of this place.

"His Majesty's intention is for you to start from scratch and build a completely new 'Imperial Kitchen'." Eunuch Wang said with a forced smile and a glint in his eyes.

Lin Qin sneered inwardly; this was meant to give her a hard time.

Subsequently, Lin Qin went to the Ministry of Works to discuss resource allocation.

The Minister of Works sat high on his throne, his face filled with arrogance.

"Your Highness, the expenses of the palace are all governed by established rules and cannot be changed at will."

“Your Excellency, this ‘Imperial Cuisine’ is specially designated by His Majesty, so it is naturally different from ordinary ones,” Lin Qin argued.

"That's true, but I'm powerless to help. Unless..." The Minister drawled out the last syllable.

Lin Qin understood immediately; this was someone asking for benefits. "What does Your Excellency require? Please speak frankly."

The Minister stroked his beard and said slowly, "I've heard that the wine brewed by the Princess Consort is truly exceptional..."

Back at the "Imperial Kitchen," Lin Qin rubbed her temples, feeling utterly overwhelmed.

This palace is indeed full of traps.

Chef Zhang blocked the doorway and said sarcastically, "Your Highness, the dishes in the palace are not something just anyone can make."

Lin Qin sneered: "Chef Zhang, I have come here today to ask you for some tips on how to cook palace dishes."

Chef Zhang was taken aback, then chuckled, "Your Highness must be joking, right? My culinary skills are not something that can be taught so easily."

Lin Qin wasn't annoyed, and simply said, "Chef Zhang, His Majesty has said that the dishes of the 'Imperial Kitchen' should be innovated and improved. If you are hiding anything..."

Chef Zhang's expression changed; he hadn't expected Lin Qin to bring up the Emperor.

As night falls, the "Imperial Cuisine Workshop" remains brightly lit.

Lin Qin sat at the table, looking at the mountain of account books in front of her, her brows furrowed.

"It seems the waters of the palace run deeper than I imagined..." she murmured to herself, picking up a pen and writing down a few names on the paper: Consort Li, Minister of Works, Imperial Chef Zhang, Eunuch Wang...

“Heh,” Lin Qin put down her pen, a cold smile playing on her lips, “The game has only just begun.”

Under the lamplight of the "Imperial Kitchen," Lin Qin carefully flipped through the account books, just like a student writing furiously in an exam hall, her seriousness comparable to that of the college entrance examination.

She meticulously analyzed all the data from the Imperial Kitchen, like a skilled butcher dissecting an ox, and quickly summarized a "perfect resource allocation adjustment plan".

This plan not only detailed all the necessary supplies, but also cleverly avoided the various traps set by the Minister of Works.

The following day, Lin Qin returned to the Ministry of Works and handed the plan to the Minister of Works.

The Minister took the plan, initially with a hint of disdain in his eyes, but as he read on, his expression gradually turned to astonishment, his face a kaleidoscope of colors.

He couldn't believe that a demoted princess could be so familiar with the workings of the court, even more so than him, a seasoned veteran!

He tried to find flaws in the plan, but found it flawless, so flawless that "you couldn't find a single flaw even with a magnifying glass."

"This, this..." The Minister of Works stared wide-eyed, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his mouth agape, unable to utter a word for a long time, and could only watch helplessly as Lin Qin implemented the necessary resources one by one.

"Your Excellency, do you have any further questions?" Lin Qin's voice was clear and melodious, like a spring breeze, but to the Minister, it was like a thunderclap.

He quickly regained his composure and gave an awkward laugh. "Your Highness, you are indeed a woman who is just as capable as any man. I admire you! I admire you!"

Carrying the fruits of her victory, Lin Qin arrived at the palace kitchen, ready to begin her grand plan to develop new dishes.

However, before she could even get a foothold, she was blocked by Chef Zhang.

"Oh, isn't this Your Highness the Princess? What, are you going to cook? This kitchen is a place full of oily fumes, I'm afraid it will dirty your precious lady." Chef Zhang said sarcastically, his tone full of ridicule, as sour as if he had eaten a lemon.

His eyes were filled with wariness and jealousy, as if Lin Qin was going to steal his job, or as if he were watching a clown and waiting for her to make a fool of herself.

Lin Qin felt a surge of anger rush to her head, but she took a deep breath and told herself to calm down, after all, "don't argue with a fool."

She glanced at Chef Zhang indifferently, as if he were a roadside weed, and walked straight to the cutting board.

"Chef Zhang, I have come here today to learn some of the essence of imperial cuisine from you."

Chef Zhang sneered; he had long expected Lin Qin to say that.

He crossed his arms, glanced at Lin Qin sideways, and said with a look of "What can you do to me?" "Since Your Majesty has said so, if this old servant were to keep something to himself, wouldn't he be punished by Your Majesty?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he took out a tattered rag and threw it at Lin Qin's feet. "This is the rag that Your Majesty needs."

Lin Qin looked at the tattered rag at her feet and smiled slightly, "Hehe, interesting."

Lin Qin bent down to pick up the rag, shook off the dust, and looked at Chef Zhang with a half-smile. "Thank you for the reminder, Chef Zhang. I'll begin now." With that, she walked straight to the stove, rolled up her sleeves, and began preparing the ingredients.

Her skillful technique and exquisite knife work were dazzling to the onlookers, flowing like clouds and water.

Chef Zhang watched in disbelief, thinking to himself: This abandoned concubine is really something!

Today, Lin Qin is going to make an innovative dish – “Crystal Hibiscus Chicken”.

This dish combines the concepts of modern molecular gastronomy, where chicken is minced, mixed with special seasonings, and then steamed using a unique method.

The finished product is crystal clear, like crystal, and inside is tender chicken. The aroma is irresistible and makes your mouth water.

When the "Crystal Chicken with Egg White" was served, the whole kitchen erupted in excitement.

Everyone rushed forward, eager to taste it.

Even the notoriously picky Chef Zhang couldn't resist picking up a piece and putting it in his mouth.

It melts in your mouth, is incredibly fresh and fragrant, and leaves a lingering aftertaste.

Chef Zhang stared wide-eyed, unable to believe that this dish was actually made by a discarded concubine.

He felt his face burning, as if he had been slapped hard across the face. All the previous mockery and disdain had now become evidence of his humiliation.

"Chef Zhang, how does this dish taste?" Lin Qin asked with a smile, her tone slightly teasing.

Chef Zhang opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word for a long time.

He could only nod awkwardly, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

That night, Zhu Ling arrived at the "Imperial Kitchen" and frowned as he looked at the busy Lin Qin.

"Qin'er, you should give up on this palace project."

Lin Qin stopped what she was doing, looked up at Zhu Ling, and asked, "Why?"

“The people in the palace are complicated, and you, a woman, can’t handle it.” Zhu Ling’s tone carried a hint of worry.

"I know, but I have already promised the Emperor, how can I give up halfway?" Lin Qin's tone was firm and left no room for doubt.

Zhu Ling sighed, "Qin'er, you're too stubborn."

"I'm not being stubborn, but I don't want to betray the Emperor's trust." Lin Qin's voice was somewhat low.

A tense atmosphere permeated the space between the two.

The next morning, Lin Qin arrived at the palace gardens to survey the terrain.

Suddenly, a figure blocked her way.

"Your Highness, this servant greets you." Eunuch Wang approached with a beaming smile, rubbing his hands together.

Lin Qin sneered inwardly. It seemed that this was the real challenge that had begun.

"What advice does Eunuch Wang have?" Lin Qin asked calmly.

Eunuch Wang leaned close to Lin Qin's ear and whispered, "Your Highness, the rules of the palace..." He paused deliberately, his eyes flickering, "You know what I mean."

Lin Qin stood in a corner of the Imperial Garden, holding blueprints in her hand, her brows slightly furrowed.

Sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The birdsong was crisp and melodious, but Lin Qin had no heart to appreciate the beautiful scenery.

Wang Gonggong's greasy smiling face lingered in her mind, like a piece of chewing gum stuck to the sole of her shoe, impossible to shake off.

"Your Highness, the layout of this Imperial Garden was left by our ancestors; it cannot be disturbed." The eunuch's voice was as annoying as a mosquito buzzing.

His small eyes darted around, as if he were plotting something.

"You're mistaken, Eunuch Wang. Since His Majesty has entrusted this Imperial Garden to me, there must be some changes," Lin Qin replied with a forced smile, thinking to herself: I'm a transmigrated woman with a system, do you think I can be manipulated by a little eunuch like you?

"Your Majesty may not know this, but every plant and tree in the Imperial Garden must be approved by the Imperial Household Department. This..." Eunuch Wang deliberately dragged out the last syllable, his eyes full of implications.

Lin Qin sneered inwardly. This old eunuch really wouldn't act until he saw the benefits.

"What does Eunuch Wang mean?"

Eunuch Wang rubbed his hands together and chuckled dryly. "Your Highness, you see, there are many rules in the palace, and bribing officials at all levels requires a lot of money..."

Lin Qin rolled her eyes inwardly. This old eunuch really dared to ask for such an exorbitant amount!

"Eunuch Wang, I am new here and my purse is empty, I'm afraid..."

"Your Highness is too kind. You are the Prince's darling. This little bit of money is nothing to him, isn't it?" Eunuch Wang's tone carried a hint of threat.

Lin Qin sneered inwardly. This old eunuch really wouldn't shed a tear until he saw the coffin.

"Eunuch Wang, although I am the prince's wife, I cannot break the palace rules. If the Emperor finds out..."

"Your Highness, are you threatening us?" Eunuch Wang's face darkened, and his tone became sharp.

"I am merely stating the facts," Lin Qin said, meeting the eunuch's gaze without flinching.

Eunuch Wang snorted coldly, "Your Highness, you should think carefully. Not just anyone can gain a foothold in this palace."

Lin Qin smiled slightly, "Thank you for the reminder, Eunuch Wang. I will be careful."

Eunuch Wang stormed off, muttering, "He who won't listen to reason will have to suffer the consequences!"

Lin Qin watched Wang Gonggong's retreating figure, a cold smile curling at the corner of her lips.

I'm a time traveler from the 21st century, do you think I'd be scared by a little eunuch like you?

As night fell, Lin Qin was busy in the "Imperial Kitchen" when suddenly a little eunuch rushed in in a panic.

"Your Highness, something terrible has happened!" the young eunuch gasped. "The tools you left in the garden have been..."