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

Lin Qin put down the letter, a cold smile curling at the corner of her lips.

"They're joining forces to cut off my supply? Ha, they're dreaming." She quickly assembled her team and began to devise a counterattack plan.

"Since they want to play, then we'll play big with them!"

Lin Qin had long anticipated this day, and therefore secretly established her own production line in the south in advance.

She quickly mobilized goods from the south, bypassing the blockade imposed by merchants in the capital, and transported them directly to the capital.

At the same time, she also contacted merchants in other regions to cooperate with them at more favorable prices, completely breaking the monopoly of merchants in Beijing.

Several major cloth merchants in the capital watched helplessly as Lin Qin's goods were continuously transported into the city; their blockade plan had completely failed.

They underestimated Lin Qin's strength and her determination.

While Lin Qin was busy with her business counterattack, a major event also occurred in the Prince's Mansion.

Madam Li suddenly fell ill; she was pale and weak all over.

After diagnosis, the imperial physician said it was caused by poisoning.

"Your Highness, why did you poison me?" Madam Li lay weakly on the bed, pointing at Lin Qin and crying out.

The entire Prince's mansion was shaken.

Lin Qin was under immense pressure, and the Prince's mansion was filled with chaos and a sense of oppression.

"I didn't!" Lin Qin calmly retorted.

"Caught red-handed, you still want to deny it?" Zhou, the maidservant beside Madam Li, took out an empty medicine bottle. "This was found in the Princess's room, and it contained poison!"

Lin Qin looked at the medicine bottle, and her heart sank.

She knew this was a trap meticulously designed by Madam Li.

"Your Highness, you must believe me!" Lin Qin looked at Zhu Ling.

Zhu Ling looked at Lin Qin, then at Madam Li, and was momentarily at a loss for words.

Just then, Steward Wang walked in. "Your Highness, this old servant has something to say..."

Steward Wang slowly revealed his recent discovery: Zhou, the maid, was acting suspiciously, frequently entering and leaving Madam Li's courtyard, and was also secretly trading with a clerk at a pharmacy in the city.

Zhu Ling's eyes narrowed, and he immediately sent men to arrest the pharmacy clerk for interrogation.

The shop assistant confessed that he was instructed by Zhou, a maid, to put a slow-acting poison into the sachet that Madam Li used daily, and then framed Lin Qin for it.

As for the empty medicine bottle, it was placed in Lin Qin's room by the maid Zhou beforehand.

When the truth came out, Madam Li turned pale and trembled all over. She tried to argue, but was speechless in the face of irrefutable evidence.

The maid Zhou also knelt down and begged for mercy, crying that she had been forced by Madam Li.

"Your Highness, I am innocent! It was the Princess Consort, it must have been the Princess Consort who instructed them to frame me!" Madam Li cried out hoarsely, but her voice was weak and feeble.

Lin Qin sneered, "Madam Li, you still want to deny it? Do you think I don't know what you've done?"

Lin Qin exposed all of Madam Li's misdeeds in the Prince's Mansion, including spreading rumors, sowing discord, withholding the servants' monthly allowances, and even embezzling public funds.

Madam Li's face turned ashen; she hadn't expected Lin Qin to have so much evidence.

She collapsed to the ground, her previous arrogance completely gone.

Zhu Ling looked at Madam Li, his eyes filled with disappointment.

He ordered Madam Li to be confined to her quarters and to thoroughly investigate the crimes she had committed.

At the same time, the business district of Beijing has also undergone tremendous changes.

Lin Qin's goods quickly captured the market, and those merchants who had united to block her suffered heavy losses.

They then realized that Lin Qin was not someone who could be easily manipulated.

She not only possesses a sharp business mind, but also an indomitable fighting spirit.

Some large businesses that were initially hesitant have also extended olive branches to Lin Qin, hoping to cooperate with her.

With her unique business philosophy, Lin Qin successfully broke through the united blockade of Beijing merchants and even reached cooperation agreements with some large businesses.

The business community in the capital was impressed by her, and the city's markets were filled with admiration as people discussed the princess's legendary deeds.

After the turmoil at the Prince's Mansion subsided, Zhu Ling came to Lin Qin's courtyard and watched her busy figure, his heart filled with tenderness.

"Qin'er..." he called softly.

Lin Qin turned around and saw Zhu Ling standing at the door, a faint smile on her face.

"My lord, why are you here?"

Zhu Ling walked up to her, took her hand, and said, "Qin'er, you've suffered so much..."

Lin Qin smiled and grasped Zhu Ling's hand in return.

"Your Highness, I'm fine. This little storm can't harm me." Her eyes sparkled with a hint of slyness. "But Your Highness, why are you being so sentimental today?"

Zhu Ling gazed at her tenderly, pulled her into his arms, and, in front of all the servants in the courtyard, unabashedly planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Qin'er, I will never let you suffer again." Everyone gasped. This prince, who was usually so cold and aloof, was unexpectedly so blatant in spoiling his princess!

The Prince's Mansion is about to undergo a major upheaval!

Lin Qin's cheeks flushed slightly, and she glared at him reproachfully. This man is getting better and better at it!

The sweetness of this public execution was a bit too much for her to handle!

Over the next few days, Lin Qin began to deal with Madam Li's affairs.

She presented the evidence she had collected to Zhu Ling, including charges against Madam Li for embezzling public funds from the Prince's Mansion, abusing servants, spreading rumors, and so on. Each charge was supported by conclusive evidence.

Zhu Ling looked at the evidence in his hand, his face turning ashen.

He never expected Madam Li to be so audacious, and all the last bit of pity he had for her vanished.

"Guards, demote Madam Li to a commoner and expel her from the Prince's residence!" Zhu Ling's order caused an uproar in the Prince's residence.

Upon hearing the news, Madam Li collapsed to the ground, utterly devastated. She never imagined she would end up like this.

She cried and begged for mercy, but to no avail.

In the end, she was dragged out by the guards of the Prince's Palace and disappeared from everyone's sight.

After Madam Li was expelled from the Prince's Mansion, the atmosphere of the entire mansion changed.

The servants held Lin Qin in even greater awe and had even greater faith in her.

They had witnessed firsthand the princess's wisdom and shrewdness, and knew she was not someone to be trifled with.

Everyone in the Prince's mansion was completely convinced of her worth and dared not show her any further disrespect.

The once chaotic and oppressive royal palace is now filled with an atmosphere of justice and integrity.

After finishing her business at the Prince's mansion, Lin Qin returned to her own courtyard and stretched.

With all these troubles finally resolved, she can now focus on developing her career.

As she was thinking, she suddenly heard a commotion outside the door.

"Your Highness! Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!..." A maidservant rushed in, her face filled with terror...

The young maidservant knelt before Lin Qin, panting, and trembling as she said, "Your Highness, someone from the palace...someone from the palace has arrived!" Lin Qin raised an eyebrow. Someone from the palace?

So fast?

She had just established herself in the capital; could it be that the Empress Dowager was about to cause trouble again?

"What's the panic? Even if the sky falls, the Prince will hold it up." Lin Qin slowly took a sip of tea, her face calm.

The little maid was almost in tears. "Your Highness, this time it's...it's Eunuch Liu from the Emperor's side. He said...he said he wants you to come to the palace for an audience!" Lin Qin almost spat out her tea. The Emperor?

What's going on here?

When did her little temple become worthy of the Emperor personally sending someone to "invite" her?

There must be a demon in the abnormal situation!

Lin Qin straightened her clothes and followed Eunuch Liu into the palace.

Lost in thought, she noticed that Eunuch Liu looked very happy, which only confused her more.

Upon arriving at the Imperial Garden, they were surprised to find that the Emperor and Empress Dowager were both there, with others standing nearby...

凌？

Lin Qin quickly bowed, but then heard the Emperor burst into laughter, "No need for formalities! I invited the Princess Consort here today because I have some good news to announce!" Lin Qin was even more confused. Good news?

What does it have to do with her?

"I have heard that the Princess Consort is virtuous, intelligent, and has a keen business sense, making a great contribution to the economic development of our dynasty! I am very pleased! I hereby confer upon you the title of 'First-Rank Imperial Lady'!" The Emperor smiled broadly, as if Lin Qin were some kind of pillar of the nation.

Lin Qin: ??? Did she wear a fake royal robe? This plot isn't going right!

The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Princess Consort, I have long seen that you are a blessed person. Now that you have gained the Emperor's favor, I am happy for you!" Lin Qin thought to herself: Empress Dowager, aren't you being too happy too soon?

I haven't agreed yet!

The title of "Lady of Imperial Decree" sounds prestigious, but the responsibilities are heavy!

I'm afraid I won't have as much freedom in the future!

Zhu Ling walked to Lin Qin's side, gently took her hand, and whispered, "Qin'er, this is a good thing. Your father and mother mean well." Lin Qin had no choice but to thank them and accept the decree.

The imperial decree has already been issued; how could she possibly refuse?

Besides, the title of First-Rank Imperial Lady is the highest honor for women in ancient times, so why not take it!

On the way back to the Prince's Mansion, Lin Qin felt increasingly uneasy.

"Your Highness, tell me honestly, is there some kind of conspiracy behind the Emperor's sudden bestowal of this title upon me?"

Zhu Ling chuckled, "Qin'er, you're overthinking it. Father truly admires your talent." Lin Qin stared at him suspiciously, "Really?"

Zhu Ling whispered in her ear, "Of course it's true, but..." He paused, "Father does have a small request..."

"What request?"

"Father wants your help to open a larger branch in the capital, specifically to supply the palace..." Before Zhu Ling could finish, Lin Qin exploded, "What? Open a branch? And specifically to supply the palace? He might as well just rob us!" This emperor really knows how to take advantage of people!

She knew there was no such thing as a free lunch!

"Qin'er..."

"No! Absolutely not! I'm very busy right now, I don't have time!"

"Qin'er, don't panic, listen to me..."

Lin Qin angrily interrupted him, "What else is there to say! I..." She suddenly stopped, her gaze falling on the entrance of the Prince's mansion, where a familiar figure was slowly walking towards them...