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

The next morning, the sun shone brightly, dispelling the chill of the night.

Lin Qin changed into a clean and neat outfit, bid farewell to Xiao Bao and her farm companions, and headed straight for her shop in the city – "Qinyuan Kitchen".

As soon as I stepped into the store, a familiar aroma wafted towards me, and enthusiastic greetings rose and fell.

"Mr. Lin, you've arrived!" "Mr. Lin, what would you like to eat today?" The customers greeted her warmly, their faces beaming with smiles.

Lin Qin responded with a smile, but a bittersweet feeling welled up in her heart.

Looking at the bustling shop, she felt a pang of reluctance.

This is not just a place to make money, but also a world she has painstakingly built up.

She walked slowly back and forth in the shop, her eyes filled with longing.

From the neatly arranged tables and chairs to the dazzling array of dishes, every detail reflects her dedication.

The shop has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, like a big, loving family.

Manager Zhang came out of the kitchen and, seeing Lin Qin, quickly went to greet her: "Boss Lin, what brings you here?"

Lin Qin sighed and said, "Manager Zhang, I may have to go back to the Prince's Mansion."

Upon hearing this, Manager Zhang was stunned, and the account book in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

He hurriedly picked up the ledger, his face full of anxiety: "Boss Lin, this won't do! This shop can't do without you!"

He began to recount the competition and difficulties his shop had recently faced. The newly opened restaurant next door had taken away a lot of business, and several regular customers had also complained about some minor issues.

Lin Qin listened quietly, her heart growing heavier and heavier, a feeling of oppression welling up inside her.

She understood Manager Zhang's concerns and knew that running the shop was not always smooth sailing.

But she had more important things to do, and she couldn't stay here forever.

"Manager Zhang..." Lin Qin was about to speak when she heard a commotion outside the door.

She turned her head and saw a group of people striding in aggressively, led by...

Lin Qin was in a state of turmoil, thinking about the possibility of losing her freedom to run the shop after returning to the Prince's Mansion.

She created "Qinyuan Xiaochu" from scratch, putting a lot of effort into everything from site selection and decoration to menu development.

Now that her business is booming, how can she be willing to give it up?

Moreover, what kind of place is the Prince's Mansion?

A place that eats people without spitting out the bones!

She didn't want to go back to those days of living in constant fear.

"Ugh, this is so frustrating!" Lin Qin muttered under her breath, pacing back and forth, almost making a hole in the ground with her feet.

Seeing this, the shop assistants didn't dare to breathe, each one silent as if trembling with fear, afraid that they might accidentally become the boss's punching bag.

There was a tense atmosphere in the air, like a taut string that could break at any time.

Just then, the cute little system popped up: "Host, don't worry! This system has detected that your anxiety level has exceeded the limit, and hereby issues an emergency mission: help 'Qinyuan Little Chef' overcome the difficulties, the reward is generous!"

Lin Qin's eyes lit up, and she quickly opened the system panel, where she saw a series of task prompts: launch new dishes, hold promotional events, and provide delivery services...

"Brilliant!" Lin Qin slapped her thigh, instantly perking up.

She immediately summoned Manager Zhang, explained the strategies provided by the system one by one, and made adjustments based on the actual situation.

"We launched the 'Countryside Meal Set' to emphasize health and green living, attracting health-conscious customers; we held a 'Foodie Challenge' to stimulate consumption and increase brand awareness; and we partnered with nearby businesses to offer delivery services, expanding our business scope..."

Lin Qin spoke eloquently, leaving Manager Zhang dumbfounded. The account book in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud" once again.

This time, he wasn't just shocked; he was completely impressed by Lin Qin's business acumen.

"Boss Lin, you are truly amazing! I admire you so much!" Manager Zhang said excitedly, his eyes shining with admiration.

Lin Qin smiled slightly, her heart filled with a sense of accomplishment.

With these strategies, she believes that "Qinyuan Xiaochu" will definitely be able to defeat its competitors and continue to thrive.

Just then, a commotion arose outside the shop, and a familiar voice rang out: "Excuse me, is Miss Lin Qin here?"

Lin Qin's heart tightened, and a premonition welled up in her mind... She slowly walked towards the shop entrance.

Lin Qin slowly walked towards the shop entrance. The commotion outside gradually subsided, and a familiar voice rang out again: "Miss Lin Qin, are you there?" She looked up and saw Zhu Ling standing there, holding a bouquet of bright flowers in his hand, his eyes gentle as water, as if they could penetrate all the troubles in her heart.

Lin Qin was shocked and overjoyed.

"Your Highness..." Lin Qin was about to speak when Zhu Ling stepped forward with a smile and handed her the flowers. "These are specially prepared for you. I hope you like them." Those around them, seeing this, showed expressions of envy and whispered among themselves, "This is truly a match made in heaven!"

Lin Qin accepted the flowers, feeling a surge of warmth in her heart. However, she immediately thought of the shop she was about to leave, and a sense of reluctance and inner conflict welled up inside her.

She turned to look at the shop assistants, expecting them to try and persuade her to stay, but to her surprise, everyone had an understanding smile on their face.

"Mr. Lin, please go ahead without worry. We will take good care of the shop." Manager Zhang stepped forward, his tone firm yet warm.

“Yes, Mr. Lin, whenever you come back, this will always be your home.” The young men echoed, their eyes filled with sincerity and gratitude.

Lin Qin was deeply moved. Her eyes welled up with tears. She nodded and bowed deeply to everyone: "Thank you all. I will be back as soon as possible. Please feel free to contact me if you need anything."

Manager Zhang stepped forward and gently patted her shoulder: "Boss Lin, don't worry, we will do our best to make 'Qinyuan Kitchen' even better."

A surge of warmth and strength welled up in Lin Qin's heart. She turned to look at Zhu Ling, her smile firm: "Your Highness, let's go. There are some things I must take care of."

Zhu Ling smiled and nodded, taking her hand. The two figures looked exceptionally harmonious and warm in the sunlight.

The shop was filled with an atmosphere of understanding and respect, and customers outside also offered their blessings.

Lin Qin and Zhu Ling walked out of the shop side by side, facing the morning light, embarking on a new journey.

After Lin Qin finished explaining the last few tasks, Manager Zhang nodded repeatedly like a primary school student facing a teacher, promising to take "Qinyuan Kitchen" to the next level, strive to open a branch as soon as possible, and reach the pinnacle of his life!

Lin Qin patted his shoulder with satisfaction, feeling a sense of pride that "my son has grown up."

She stood at the shop entrance, looking at the "Qinyuan Xiaochu" signboard, lost in thought.

Back when she first transmigrated, she was penniless and had no relatives or friends. If it weren't for this little shop, she would have starved to death on the streets long ago.

Now, her shop is thriving and its reputation is widespread, but she has to leave, and she can't help but feel a little reluctant.

"Alas, all good things must come to an end!" Lin Qin sighed, a hint of sadness in her voice.

At this moment, Zhu Ling walked over, gently put his arm around her shoulder, and said softly, "Are you reluctant to part with me?"

Lin Qin nodded, then shook her head. "It's true that I'm reluctant to leave, after all, I've poured so much effort into this place. But I know I can't stay here forever; I have more important things to do."

Zhu Ling gazed at her affectionately, his eyes filled with love. "I know your concerns. Don't worry, I won't force you to do anything you don't like. Whatever decision you make, I will support you."

Lin Qin felt a warmth in her heart, leaned on his shoulder, and felt his warm embrace.

At that moment, she felt incredibly safe and secure.

"Let's go," Zhu Ling said softly, taking her hand.

Lin Qin nodded and followed him out of "Qinyuan Kitchen".

The two walked side by side down the bustling street, attracting envious glances from passersby.

Lin Qin looked at the tall and handsome Zhu Ling beside her, but her heart was still filled with contradictions and entanglements.

She didn't know what her feelings for Zhu Ling were—was it love?

Or gratitude?

Or is it simply that I've gotten used to his company?

She recalled how Zhu Ling had cared for her in every way, showing her meticulous attention, and even defying the Emperor for her sake.

These little things touched her deeply.

However, she could never be sure if she had truly fallen in love with him.

"What are you thinking about?" Zhu Ling noticed her absent-mindedness and asked with concern.

Lin Qin snapped out of her reverie and forced a smile. "It's nothing, I was just thinking about some things."

Zhu Ling didn't press for details, but simply held her hand tightly, offering her silent comfort and support.

Unbeknownst to them, the two arrived at the gate of the Prince's Mansion.

Zhu Ling stopped and turned to look at Lin Qin, her eyes filled with tenderness and expectation.

"Let's go inside," Zhu Ling said softly.

Lin Qin took a deep breath, nodded, and followed him into the Prince's Mansion.

As soon as they stepped through the gates of the Prince's mansion, a sharp voice rang out: "Oh, isn't this our Princess Consort? What, you've finally decided to come back?"

Lin Qin looked up and saw Granny Liu standing at the door, her eyes unfriendly and a mocking smile on her lips...