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

The dancers brandished their daggers, pointing them directly at Lin Qin!

At the critical moment, Zhu Ling suddenly pulled Lin Qin behind him, drew his sword, and with a flash of cold light, blocked the flying dagger.

"Your Majesty, what does this mean?" Zhu Ling's voice was icy, carrying a hint of danger.

The Empress feigned surprise, covering her face and exclaiming, "Oh dear, what's going on with these dancers? How dare they attempt to assassinate the Princess! Guards, seize them immediately!"

Despite saying this, the Empress made no attempt to stop the dancers.

The guards swarmed forward, but seemed to be deliberately holding back, engaging the dancers in a fierce and evenly matched battle, creating chaos on the scene.

Lin Qin knew that this was the Empress's conspiracy!

Her gaze was firm, her mind racing as she considered a solution.

Suddenly, a shrill voice pierced the chaotic banquet hall: "Your Majesty! I have something important to report!" A magnificently dressed concubine rushed in, pointing at Lin Qin and shouting, "I saw her steal the palace treasure with my own eyes!"

"What?!" Everyone gasped, their eyes all turning to Lin Qin.

Lin Qin sneered inwardly, "Just as I thought."

She calmly replied, "Your Highness, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. You say I stole a treasure, do you have any evidence?"

The concubine pointed at Lin Qin's sleeve and said sternly, "The evidence is in your sleeve! Guards, search her!"

Several guards immediately stepped forward, preparing to search Lin Qin.

Lin Qin took a step back, avoiding their hands.

"Wait!" Lin Qin shouted. "I am a princess consort, how dare you search me at will? Unless you have the Emperor's decree!"

The emperor, who had been observing coldly, finally spoke slowly: "Empress, what's going on?"

The Empress looked aggrieved: "Your Majesty, I didn't know either! This concubine saw it with her own eyes, and I was only trying to maintain order in the palace..."

The emperor pondered for a moment, about to speak, when Lin Qin suddenly said, "Your Majesty, I can prove my innocence." She paused, her gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on the concubine who had accused her. "However, before proving my innocence, I would like to ask this lady a question."

"Ask away!" the concubine said smugly, as if she had already won.

Lin Qin smiled slightly, but her tone carried a hint of coldness: "Are you sure you saw me steal something, and not... someone deliberately framing me?"

Lin Qin's eyes were sharp as knives as she stared directly at the concubine.

The concubine's expression changed, her eyes flickered, and she dared not meet Lin Qin's gaze.

"I……"

"How dare you!" Zhu Ling roared, interrupting the concubine's words. He stepped forward, shielding Lin Qin behind him, his gaze sharp as he swept over the surrounding crowd. "I know best what kind of person the Princess Consort is! Anyone who dares to slander her is going against me!"

Everyone fell silent, and even the Empress's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

Lin Qin knew that now was not the time to reveal the truth.

She needs more evidence to bring the mastermind behind this to justice.

She took a deep breath and slowly said, "Your Majesty, I can prove my innocence, but it will take some time..."

"Very well, I'll give you time." The emperor nodded in agreement, "But if..." He paused, his gaze falling on Lin Qin, "If you are ultimately proven innocent, I will reward you handsomely! But if..."

The emperor did not continue speaking, but the warning he conveyed was self-evident.

Lin Qin understood. She smiled slightly and said firmly, "This subject understands."

Lin Qin turned to look at Zhu Ling, and the two smiled at each other, everything understood without words.

At this moment, Eunuch Zheng hurriedly entered and whispered a few words in the Empress's ear.

The Empress's expression changed for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure and bowed gracefully to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, I suddenly remembered that I have some matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."

The emperor nodded, and the empress left the banquet hall with a group of palace maids and eunuchs.

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

The fun has just begun...

"Your Highness, let's go too," Lin Qin said, turning to Zhu Ling.

Zhu Ling nodded, and the two left the banquet hall side by side, leaving everyone looking at each other in bewilderment.

Outside the banquet hall, the night was as dark as ink, dotted with countless stars.

Lin Qin looked up at the starry sky and felt a sense of peace.

"Your Highness, who do you think is behind tonight's events?" Lin Qin suddenly asked.

Zhu Ling was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Besides the Empress, who else could it be?"

Lin Qin nodded; she thought so too.

“However,” Zhu Ling paused, “what happened tonight is probably not that simple…”

Before he could finish speaking, a dark figure suddenly darted out from the shadows, a cold glint flashing in his hand...

The dagger in the shadowy figure's hand stabbed straight at Lin Qin!

In the blink of an eye, Zhu Ling swiftly pulled Lin Qin into his arms and simultaneously struck the shadowy figure with his palm.

The black shadow groaned, flew backwards, and fell heavily to the ground.

"Who goes there?!" Zhu Ling shouted sharply.

The dark figure struggled to get up; it was none other than the concubine who had previously accused Lin Qin of stealing treasures!

Her hair was disheveled, her face was contorted, and she no longer possessed any of the demeanor of a concubine.

"You wretch! It's all your fault! You're the one who ruined me!" the concubine roared, lunging at Lin Qin again.

Zhu Ling's eyes turned cold, and he was about to make a move when Lin Qin stopped him.

"Your Highness, please calm down," Lin Qin said calmly. "I believe she will tell us everything."

Lin Qin walked up to the concubine, looking down at her: "Speak, who ordered you to do this?"

The concubine's eyes flickered, and she dared not look directly into Lin Qin's eyes.

"Not going to talk? That's alright." Lin Qin smiled slightly. "I have plenty of ways to make you talk."

Lin Qin took out a slip of paper from her sleeve and waved it in front of the concubine: "Look what this is?"

The concubine's face changed drastically, and her eyes widened in horror.

"This is evidence of your conspiracy to frame me," Lin Qin said calmly. "It clearly states that if you successfully frame me, you will receive a large sum of money. So, do you want me to hand it over to the Emperor?"

The concubine trembled all over, finally breaking down, crying out, "It was the Empress! It was the Empress who ordered me to do this! She said as long as I..."

Before the concubine could finish speaking, she was interrupted by a sudden voice.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

The emperor walked over, surrounded by a group of guards, his face grim and his eyes piercing.

"What happened?" the emperor asked in a deep voice.

Lin Qin handed the note to the emperor and explained the whole story in detail.

After reading the note, the emperor flew into a rage and ordered the arrest of all the palace maids and eunuchs around the concubine and empress.

The empress was also confined to her quarters and lost all face.

Everyone looked at Lin Qin with admiration.

This seemingly frail woman possesses such wisdom and courage that it is truly admirable.

Zhu Ling walked up to Lin Qin and looked at her with deep affection: "Qin'er, are you alright?"

Lin Qin shook her head and smiled slightly: "I'm fine. With you here, I'm not afraid of anything."

Zhu Ling pulled Lin Qin into his arms and, in front of everyone, said affectionately, "Qin'er, I love you! Will you marry me?"

Lin Qin nodded shyly, and enthusiastic applause and blessings immediately rang out around her.

The banquet was filled with a romantic atmosphere, as if the air itself was filled with sweetness.

Lin Qin leaned against Zhu Ling's chest, feeling his warmth and love, her heart filled with happiness.

Suddenly, she sensed something was amiss, abruptly raised her head, and looked behind Zhu Ling...

"My lord, be careful!"

A dark figure flashed out from behind Zhu Ling, a cold light flashing in his hand, aiming straight for Zhu Ling's back!

Lin Qin reacted quickly, shoving Zhu Ling aside, but she herself took the blow.

The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh was clearly audible. Lin Qin groaned and collapsed into Zhu Ling's arms.

"Qin'er!" Zhu Ling's eyes were bloodshot, and his hands holding Lin Qin were trembling.

He suddenly looked up, his eyes piercing the assassin like knives.

The assassin, masked and agile, missed his first strike and turned to flee.

"Where do you think you're going!" Zhu Ling roared, handing Lin Qin over to the guards and leaping after them.

The assassin was highly skilled, weaving and dodging through the crowd, but Zhu Ling was faster. In a few leaps, he caught up with the assassin and knocked him to the ground with a single palm strike.

The guards swarmed forward and surrounded the assassin.

The emperor also approached, his face ashen, and demanded in a stern voice, "Speak! Who sent you?"

The assassin remained silent, clenching his teeth, looking as if he were ready to die.

"Qin'er, how are you?" Zhu Ling anxiously returned to Lin Qin's side, feeling heartbroken at her pale face.

Lin Qin, enduring the pain, shook her head: "I'm fine, just a superficial injury..."

The imperial physician rushed over and bandaged Lin Qin's wounds.

The emperor also inquired about Lin Qin's situation with concern and ordered a thorough investigation to find the mastermind behind it.

The atmosphere at the banquet suddenly became tense, with everyone discussing and speculating about the assassin's identity and purpose.

"Your Majesty, I have a request to make," Lin Qin said weakly.

"Speak," the emperor said, looking at her with concern.

"Your Majesty, I would like to request permission to offer suggestions for the commercial development of the palace."

Everyone was stunned, not expecting that Lin Qin could still think of these things under such circumstances.

The emperor pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement: "Very well, I grant it."

Lin Qin forced herself to stand up and explained her plan to the emperor in detail.

She was articulate, quick-witted, and drew upon a wide range of sources, which drew frequent nods of approval from the audience.

The emperor was even more impressed with Lin Qin's talent and insight, and immediately ordered that Lin Qin be given full authority over the reform of the court's commerce.

Lin Qin thanked him, but secretly remained vigilant.

She knew that her actions today had undoubtedly put her in the spotlight.

The struggles within the palace were far more complex and brutal than she had imagined.

But she doesn't regret it. Having chosen this path, she has to keep going.

After the banquet, Lin Qin and Zhu Ling returned to the Prince's Mansion.

"Qin'er, you took too much risk today." Zhu Ling looked at Lin Qin's wounds with heartache.

Lin Qin smiled and said, "I know, but some things have to be done."

"Don't do this again." Zhu Ling hugged Lin Qin tightly. "I don't want to lose you."

Lin Qin leaned against Zhu Ling's chest, feeling his warmth and love, her heart filled with sweetness and happiness.

Suddenly, a guard rushed in to report: "Your Highness, Your Highness, something terrible has happened! The shop..."

The guard, panting and looking anxious, cried out, "Your Highness, Your Highness, something terrible has happened! The shop... the shop is packed with customers!"

Lin Qin and Zhu Ling were both taken aback. Business was booming? What was going on?

The guard quickly explained, "The princess's performance at the banquet was witnessed by all the officials, who greatly admire her talent and insight. Now, everyone is rushing to the princess's shop to buy the goods she makes herself; the shop is almost bursting at the seams!"

Lin Qin and Zhu Ling exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise and astonishment in each other's eyes.

"It seems we underestimated Qin'er's charm," Zhu Ling said with a smile.

"This isn't my charm, it's my strength." Lin Qin winked playfully.

The two immediately headed to the shop, only to find it packed with people and bustling with activity.

The nobles lined up in long queues, eagerly anticipating buying Lin Qin's shop's products as soon as possible.

"Your Highness, you've finally arrived!" The shopkeeper greeted her excitedly. "Today has been so lively, we're almost overwhelmed with work!"

Lin Qin smiled and reassured the shopkeeper, then personally took charge of serving customers and answering their questions.

Her professional knowledge and enthusiastic service have won unanimous praise from customers, making the store's business even more booming.

When the news reached the palace, the emperor was overjoyed and praised Lin Qin's business acumen. He decreed that Lin Qin's shop be named "Royal Shop" and bestowed upon her a golden plaque as a reward.

Driven by the royal banquet, Lin Qin's business empire expanded rapidly, and her reputation spread throughout the streets and alleys, making her a well-known business prodigy.

Standing in the center of the banquet, looking at the lively scene around her, Lin Qin felt a great sense of accomplishment.

She knew that she had finally gained a foothold in this world.

However, Lin Qin also understood that this was just the beginning.

The road ahead is long, and the struggles within the court are far from over.

She must remain vigilant at all times in order to continue navigating this challenging world.

As night fell and the banquet ended, Lin Qin and Zhu Ling left the palace hand in hand.

Inside the carriage, Lin Qin nestled in Zhu Ling's arms, feeling his warmth and love.

"Your Highness, thank you for always being by my side," Lin Qin said softly.

"Silly girl, we're husband and wife, we should support each other." Zhu Ling gently stroked Lin Qin's hair. "From now on, no matter what happens, I'll be by your side."

Lin Qin felt a warmth in her heart and hugged Zhu Ling tightly.