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

Granny Liu's sharp and sarcastic voice was like a thorn, making Lin Qin's heart tighten.

"Oh, isn't this our Princess Consort? What, you've finally decided to return from your idyllic paradise?" She looked Lin Qin up and down, her eyes searching for something filthy.

Lin Qin was no pushover. With a smirk, she retorted, "Is Granny Liu hoping I won't come back? Afraid I'll steal your job?"

Zhu Ling frowned and said coldly, "Granny, you mustn't be rude."

Liu Mama's eyes darted around, and she immediately put on a fawning expression: "Your Highness, please forgive me, this old servant just spoke without thinking." She turned to Lin Qin and said sarcastically, "Your Highness, you must be tired from your long journey. This old servant will take you to rest now."

Lin Qin followed Granny Liu with a forced smile as they walked through the winding corridors. The stark contrast between the extravagance of the Prince's mansion and her small farm made her feel suffocated.

This prince's mansion was strange in every way, and an unsettling atmosphere permeated the air.

When Lin Qin arrived at the so-called "resting place," she was dumbfounded.

This isn't a room; it's clearly a storage room!

The room was filled with old and worn-out furniture and clutter, and the air was thick with the smell of mildew.

Granny Liu smiled, her face crinkling with wrinkles: "Your Highness, please make do for now. We'll find you a better place once things are settled."

Lin Qin sneered, not exposing her little trick, and went straight to the courtyard, moved a chair and sat down, and began to direct the servants to clean the storage room.

The servants looked at each other, none of them daring to move.

Granny Liu fanned the flames from the side: "Your Highness, what are you doing? These are not the kinds of rough jobs you'd do."

Lin Qin gave her a half-smile: "Granny Liu, if I, as a princess, don't do manual labor, do you expect me to do it? Or do you want me to live in this storeroom forever?"

Granny Liu's face stiffened, and she had no choice but to order the servants to start working.

Lin Qin watched the busy servants, but her heart grew increasingly uneasy.

This palace was like a giant cage, trapping her tightly.

She turned to look at Zhu Ling standing to the side, only to find him staring at her with a complex and unreadable expression.

"Zhu Ling..." Lin Qin had just opened her mouth when she heard Zhu Ling say in a deep voice, "...Come here."

Lin Qin walked to Zhu Ling's side, and was about to speak when Granny Liu interjected sarcastically, "Your Highness, the Princess Consort is of noble birth, how can we let her live in such a place? If word gets out, won't people laugh at our manor?"

Lin Qin sneered, "Granny Liu, are you worried about me, or about yourself? Where I live is none of your business." She stared sharply at Granny Liu, "But you, so diligently 'taking care' of me, what are you really up to?"

Granny Liu's expression changed: "Your Highness, what do you mean by that? This old servant is utterly loyal, heaven and earth can bear witness!"

"Loyalty?" Lin Qin scoffed. "If you were truly loyal, you wouldn't have assigned me to this storage room. Tell me, whose bribes did you take to treat me like this?"

Granny Liu trembled with rage: "You...you're spouting nonsense!"

Lin Qin looked around, her gaze landing on the several trembling servants: "If any of you know anything about Granny Liu's 'loyalty,' please tell me, and I will reward you handsomely!"

A young maidservant stepped forward timidly and whispered, "This servant...this servant saw Granny Liu accept money from Consort Li..."

As soon as these words came out, the whole place was in an uproar.

Granny Liu's face turned deathly pale instantly. She pointed at the little maid and cursed, "You...you're talking nonsense!"

Lin Qin raised an eyebrow and looked at Granny Liu: "What? Did I hit the nail on the head? It seems your 'loyalty' really is a matter of the highest bidder!" She turned to Zhu Ling and said, "Your Highness, do you still want to keep such a 'loyal servant'?"

Zhu Ling had remained silent until now, when she finally spoke slowly: "Granny Liu, is there anything else you want to say?"

Granny Liu fell to her knees with a thud, crying out, "Your Highness, spare me! This old servant was confused for a moment!"

Looking at Liu Mama's ugly behavior, Lin Qin felt no pleasure, but rather a sense of sorrow.

She didn't want to make enemies, but some people will take advantage of you if you don't fight back.

She took a deep breath and said to Zhu Ling, "Your Highness, I want to go back."

Zhu Ling suddenly looked up, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes: "Go back? Go back where?"

Lin Qin did not answer, but turned and left, leaving Zhu Ling with a resolute back view.

"Stop!" Zhu Ling's voice rang out from behind...

Zhu Ling strode up to Lin Qin, pulled her into his arms, and hugged her tightly.

"Qin'er, don't go..." His deep voice trembled slightly as it rang in her ear.

Lin Qin leaned against Zhu Ling's chest, feeling his strong heartbeat, and her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

Seeing this, the servants around all lowered their heads, their eyes filled with envy.

Granny Liu turned deathly pale, collapsed to the ground, and was filled with remorse.

She never imagined that all her scheming would backfire so badly.

Lin Qin took a deep breath and gently pushed Zhu Ling away. "Your Highness, let me go."

Zhu Ling was taken aback, a hint of hurt flashing in her eyes. "Qin'er, are you still angry with me?"

Lin Qin shook her head. "It's not that I'm angry, it's just..." She paused, unsure how to express her feelings.

"Your Highness, this manor is not suitable for me."

Zhu Ling looked at Lin Qin with heartache and reached out to stroke her soft hair.

"Qin'er, I know you've been wronged. I will never let anyone bully you again."

Looking into Zhu Ling's sincere eyes, Lin Qin felt a little wavering.

Just then, she inadvertently noticed that the window of Zhu Ling's study was half-open, and something inside seemed to be glittering.

"Your Highness, may I go in and take a look?" Lin Qin asked, pointing to the study.

Zhu Ling nodded. "Of course." He took Lin Qin's hand and led her into the study.

The study was filled with books and calligraphy and paintings, and the air was filled with a faint scent of ink.

Lin Qin's gaze was drawn to a potted plant on the desk.

It was an ordinary pot of wildflowers, yet it bloomed exceptionally beautifully.

"This is..." Lin Qin looked at Zhu Ling in confusion.

Zhu Ling smiled. "I transplanted this from your farm. Do you like it?"

Lin Qin felt a warmth in her heart. She thought of the flowers and plants she had planted on the farm, and she never expected Zhu Ling to be so thoughtful.

At this moment, Lin Qin noticed a stack of papers on the desk, covered with neat handwriting.

She picked it up and saw that it was a poem written for her by Zhu Ling.

"Holding your hand, we will grow old together..." Lin Qin recited the poem softly, her eyes slightly moist.

She finally understood that Zhu Ling's feelings for her were not feigned.

Lin Qin put down her poems, turned around, and hugged Zhu Ling tightly. "Zhu Ling, I..."

"Qin'er..." Zhu Ling hugged Lin Qin tightly, feeling her warmth, his heart filled with happiness.

Just then, there was a burst of hurried footsteps outside the door.

"Your Highness, something terrible has happened..." A guard rushed in in a panic.

"What's the matter that you're so panicked?" Zhu Ling asked, frowning.

The guard glanced at Lin Qin, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "His Majesty...His Majesty has passed away..."

Lin Qin and Zhu Ling were both stunned upon hearing this. "What?!"

The news of the Emperor's death was like a bolt from the blue, leaving Lin Qin and Zhu Ling stunned and speechless for a long time.

Zhu Ling's face turned deathly pale. He staggered back a few steps, muttering, "How could this be..."

The sudden turn of events shattered the newly warmed atmosphere of intimacy, and the air in the study seemed to freeze.

Lin Qin felt a mix of emotions as she looked at Zhu Ling's heartbroken appearance.

After a brief silence, Zhu Ling took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.

"Qin'er, I must go to the palace immediately."

Lin Qin nodded, understanding the urgency of the situation. "I'll go with you."

Zhu Ling shook his head. "No, the palace is too chaotic right now. You can't go." He paused, his tone pleading. "I'll come find you after I've dealt with things in the palace."

Seeing his anxious eyes, Lin Qin knew that nothing she said would make a difference, so she had no choice but to agree.

"Then be careful."

Zhu Ling gave her a deep look, then turned and left in a hurry.

Lin Qin stood there, watching Zhu Ling's departing figure, her mind filled with countless thoughts.

The Emperor's passing undoubtedly brought tremendous changes to the Prince's Palace and the entire country.

She didn't know what would happen next, nor what her future would hold with Zhu Ling.

Back at her small farm, Lin Qin couldn't calm down.

She began to reflect on her relationship with Zhu Ling.

She longed for freedom and an unrestrained life, but the Prince's mansion felt like a gilded cage, suffocating her.

However, she could not deny that she had feelings for Zhu Ling.

His gentleness, his thoughtfulness, and his deep affection were all irresistible to her.

"Sigh, it's such a tangled mess!" Lin Qin lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, and let out a long sigh.

Just then, the system's childlike voice suddenly rang out: "Host, congratulations on completing the mission! The reward has been issued, please check it!"

Lin Qin immediately perked up and quickly opened the system panel to check the rewards.

"Wow, the rewards this time are so generous!" Lin Qin smiled as she looked at the pile of rewards.

With these rewards, she can better develop her career and become stronger.

Over the next few days, Lin Qin devoted herself entirely to the construction of the farm.

She expanded the planting area, introduced new crop varieties, and opened agritainment businesses, attracting many tourists to visit and experience the area.

Lin Qin was living a wonderful life, while Zhu Ling in the Prince's Mansion was living a life of misery.

After finishing his business in the palace, he rushed to the farm to find Lin Qin as soon as possible.

"Qin'er, have you thought it through?" Zhu Ling looked at Lin Qin, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Lin Qin smiled. "Your Highness, I've made up my mind."

Zhu Ling's heart leaped into her throat. "Your answer is..."

Lin Qin paused, then said firmly, "Your Highness, I cannot go back to the palace with you."

Zhu Ling's face turned deathly pale instantly, as if she had suffered a tremendous blow.

"Why? Is it because I didn't do well enough?"

Lin Qin shook her head. "No, Your Highness, you are very good, it's just..." She took a deep breath. "I need freedom. I don't want to be confined to the palace."

Zhu Ling remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, "I understand." His tone carried a hint of melancholy. "If you change your mind, you can come to me anytime."

After saying that, Zhu Ling turned and left, leaving Lin Qin with a lonely silhouette.

Lin Qin watched Zhu Ling's departing figure, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

She didn't know if her choice was right or wrong, but she knew that this was the life she wanted most at that moment.

The road ahead is long, and she will continue to work hard and live a wonderful life!