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

The matchmaker, Wu, was breathless and spoke rapidly: "People from the capital...people from the capital have come! They say...they say they've come to investigate the Prince...to investigate the Prince!"

Lin Qin's heart sank. Zhu Ling's identity was special, and it was no small matter for someone from the capital to come and investigate him.

Could it be that their marriage plans have been leaked?

She forced herself to remain calm and reassured her, "Sister Wu, don't rush, tell me slowly."

The matchmaker, Wu, took a breath and continued, "They say... the Emperor... the Emperor is seriously ill, and he misses... misses the Prince..." She secretly glanced at Lin Qin's expression and added, "He also... he brought quite a few rewards..."

Lin Qin felt a sense of relief; it made sense that the Emperor was seriously ill and missed his son.

But the reward...

It feels a little strange.

She turned to Zhu Ling, who had also been awakened inside the room, and said, "It seems we have to make a trip to the capital."

Zhu Ling looked grave. The Emperor had always been in good health, so his sudden illness must have some hidden reason.

This trip to Beijing is likely to end badly.

He held Lin Qin's hand, his eyes firm: "Don't be afraid, I will protect you."

The procession heading to Beijing was grand and imposing, but Lin Qin had no interest in appreciating the scenery along the way.

She was thinking about expanding the sales channels for her food.

Now her "Qinyuan Kitchen" is quite well-known locally, but she is not satisfied with that.

She wants to promote her food to more distant places so that more people can taste her cooking.

But how easy is that?

First of all, transportation is a major problem.

Given the inconvenience of transportation in ancient times, how did they ensure the freshness of ingredients?

Secondly, publicity is also a challenge.

In the pre-internet era, how could she let more people know about her food?

Lin Qin racked her brains, and suddenly a brilliant idea struck her!

Since we're going to Beijing anyway, why not take this opportunity to open a branch here?

The capital city is under the emperor's nose, and high-ranking officials and nobles gather here. If you can gain a foothold in the capital city, why worry about sales?

She excitedly told Zhu Ling about her idea, and Zhu Ling readily agreed.

He knew Lin Qin's talent well and believed that her cuisine would definitely shine in the capital.

Upon arriving in Beijing, Lin Qin immediately began preparations for the branch store.

She searched for a suitable shop, recruited cooks and helpers, and everything was proceeding smoothly.

However, just as the branch was about to open, an uninvited guest came knocking – Chef Qian.

"Oh, isn't this Madam Lin? What's wrong? Couldn't make it in the countryside, so you've come to the capital to embarrass yourself?" Chef Qian said sarcastically, a hint of smugness on his face. "The capital isn't the countryside; it's not a place where just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can get by."

Lin Qin sneered, "Chef Qian, did you come here specifically to congratulate me on my opening?"

Chef Qian's expression changed: "Congratulations? You're dreaming! Let me tell you, Beijing is my territory, don't even think about stealing my business here!"

"Is that so?" Lin Qin raised an eyebrow. "Then we'll see."

Chef Qian snorted coldly and turned to leave.

Lin Qin watched his departing figure, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes.

It seems this culinary battle has only just begun...

On the eve of the opening, Lin Qin stood at the entrance of the new store, looking at the brightly lit street, her heart filled with anticipation.

Suddenly, a dark shadow flashed by...

Lin Qin gazed at the bustling streets of the capital, her heart pounding like a rabbit's.

This is right under the emperor's nose, a place where every inch of land is precious. The opportunity to open a branch is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, but what if it fails? Wouldn't that be a double loss?

She's not just someone who's single now; she has a baby crying for food and a bunch of employees relying on her!

"Scared?" Zhu Ling's voice came from behind, tinged with a hint of mockery.

Lin Qin turned her head and shrugged casually, "How could that be! I was just thinking... about how to make the gourmets of the capital fall at my feet... no, at the feet of my delicious food!"

Zhu Ling chuckled and pulled her into his arms: "Just go ahead and do it. If the sky falls, I'll hold it up." He paused, then added, "I've already arranged for people to preserve the ingredients with ice to ensure fresh delivery. In addition, I've contacted some merchants in Jiangnan; they're very interested in your specialty dishes."

Lin Qin looked up in surprise: "Really? When did you do all this?"

Zhu Ling gently pinched her nose: "My wife, focus on your career. Leave the logistics to me."

With Zhu Ling's support, Lin Qin immediately felt more confident.

She rolled up her sleeves and threw herself into the final preparations with great enthusiasm.

Tasting dishes, training staff, setting up the store...

Busy as a spinning top, but enjoying it nonetheless.

On the eve of the opening, Lin Qin stood at the entrance of the new store, looking at the brightly lit street, and took a deep breath.

Beijing, here I come!

Suddenly, a dark figure flashed past her eyes, and Lin Qin's heart skipped a beat. "Who?!"

The shadowy figure moved with incredible speed, disappearing into the crowd.

Lin Qin became wary. Could it be Chef Qian's doing?

She dared not let her guard down and immediately strengthened the store's security.

On the opening day, the Beijing branch of "Qinyuan Xiaochu" officially opened.

The air was filled with the sounds of gongs and drums, and the crackling of firecrackers, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

Guests came in a steady stream, and the restaurant was packed.

Lin Qin's signature dishes, such as "Crystal Shrimp Dumplings," "Beggar's Chicken," and "Buddha Jumps Over the Wall," are in high demand and short supply.

Chef Qian hid in the crowd, watching Lin Qin's business thrive, and was so angry he wanted to grind his teeth.

He had intended to give Lin Qin a hard time while she was still establishing herself, but he hadn't expected her to be so popular.

No, he had to find a way to ruin her reputation!

Chef Qian learned that Lin Qin had contacted several wealthy merchants from Jiangnan and was preparing to sell her delicacies there.

He rolled his eyes and figured it out.

He secretly approached the merchants and exaggeratedly spoke ill of Lin Qin: "Let me tell you, this Lin lady looks respectable, but she's incredibly filthy behind the scenes! The dishes she makes use stale ingredients, some of which are even of dubious origin! Eating her food will at least give you diarrhea, and at worst... hehe, you know what I mean!"

The Jiangnan merchant was skeptical: "Really? Lin Niangzi's vegetables look quite clean."

Chef Qian swore confidently, "Why would I lie to you! I saw it with my own eyes! If you don't believe me, go ask the residents nearby; everyone knows her little workshop is dirty and chaotic!"

Upon hearing this, the Jiangnan merchants began to have doubts.

They traveled all the way to the capital, not to get a stomachache.

Lin Qin quickly noticed that the attitude of the Jiangnan merchants had changed.

The cooperation that was originally going well suddenly became uncertain.

She realized that someone must be behind this.

"Chef Qian, you're playing with fire!" Lin Qin was furious.

She decided to take the initiative and expose Chef Qian's conspiracy to the public.

She invited businessmen from Jiangnan to visit her farm kitchen and demonstrate her food preparation process.

From the selection of ingredients to cleaning, processing, and cooking, every step is open and transparent, allowing businesspeople to witness her dedication and hygiene firsthand.

"Everyone, seeing is believing, hearing is deceiving. My ingredients are all the freshest, and the preparation process is absolutely clean and hygienic. If you still have any doubts, please feel free to ask," Lin Qin said confidently.

Looking at the clean and tidy kitchen and smelling the enticing aroma, the Jiangnan merchant's doubts gradually dissipated.

Chef Qian watched this scene from a distance, his face turning ashen.

He hadn't expected Lin Qin to be so bold as to let them tour the kitchen.

Now, his plan has completely fallen through!

Just then, a merchant pointed to a basket of ingredients in the corner and asked, "Madam Lin, what are those?"

Lin Qin followed the merchant's finger and her expression changed drastically. Those ingredients... were clearly...

“Those are…” Lin Qin paused, “Those are…”

"What is it?" the merchant pressed.

Lin Qin took a deep breath, "That is..."

Those are...

New ingredients supplied to the capital!

"Lin Qin, quick-witted as ever, put on a smile and said, "These ingredients are rare varieties picked from deep in the mountains and forests. They're delicious and nutritious; most people can't afford them!"

Upon hearing this, the Jiangnan merchant immediately became interested: "Oh? Such a rare ingredient? What is it?"

Lin Qin smiled mysteriously, "This is called 'Seven-Colored Lingzhi,' and it is..." She glanced at Chef Qian hiding in the crowd, her eyes darting around, and an idea came to her, "It's the Prince's... the Prince's favorite! I wouldn't dare to take it out for just anyone!"

Upon hearing that it was a dish the prince loved to eat, the merchants from Jiangnan immediately became respectful.

They all expressed their desire to taste this "seven-colored Ganoderma lucidum".

Lin Qin chuckled inwardly. This Chef Qian had really shot himself in the foot. Now let's see how he tries to slander her!

In fact, the basket of ingredients was just some ordinary wild mushrooms, but Lin Qin exaggerated and called them "seven-colored Ganoderma lucidum," which can be considered a clever way of turning the tables.

Chef Qian nearly fainted from anger upon hearing Lin Qin's words.

He originally intended to use this opportunity to expose Lin Qin's "true colors," but unexpectedly, he ended up promoting her instead.

He stomped his feet in anger, but there was nothing he could do.

Merchants from Jiangnan, after tasting Lin Qin's "Seven-Colored Lingzhi"—which is actually a wild mushroom—were full of praise and decided to cooperate with her.

Chef Qian's scheme failed once again, and he could only slink away in disgrace.

Lin Qin watched Chef Qian's retreating figure, a smug smile playing on her lips.

She knew this was just the beginning.

Chef Qian won't let this go; he'll definitely come looking for trouble with her again.

However, she wasn't afraid of him.

She would meet force with force and water with earth; she refused to believe she couldn't defeat him!

Lin Qin successfully expanded the sales channels for her food, and orders poured in like snowflakes.

She looked at the mountain of orders, feeling both happy and worried.

The good news is that business is booming, but the bad news is that production can't keep up.

"It seems we need to find a way to increase production," Lin Qin muttered to herself.

She turned to look at Zhu Ling, "Your Highness..."

Zhu Ling put down the ledger in her hand and looked at her gently: "What's wrong?"

Lin Qin walked to his side and whispered in his ear, "I have a bold idea..."