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

As night falls and the lanterns are lit, the palace is filled with singing and dancing, with wine cups and tokens mingling and creating a lively scene.

However, beneath the glamorous facade, undercurrents are surging.

Lin Qin knew that this banquet was not as calm and uneventful as it seemed on the surface, but rather fraught with danger.

Her gaze swept across the room, keenly capturing the tense atmosphere that permeated the air, like the calm before a storm.

According to court rules, everyone attending the banquet was required to showcase their talents.

When it was Lin Qin's turn, everyone was curious about what abilities this demoted concubine had, and whispers filled the air.

She walked gracefully to the center of the banquet, surrounded by scrutinizing and suspicious gazes; the tense atmosphere bound her tightly like invisible ropes.

Lin Qin took a deep breath and tried to remain calm.

She knew this was her chance to prove herself, and the beginning of her counterattack.

"Ms. Lin, since you're here, why don't you show everyone your talents?" The Empress's gentle voice carried a hint of barely perceptible provocation.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Lin Qin curtsied slightly, her tone respectful, but her eyes gleamed with confidence.

She glanced around, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I am but a humble servant, and have made a fool of myself."

Just then, a shrill voice rang out: "I've heard that the Lin family's needlework is quite good. How about they embroider a 'Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix' design?" It was Eunuch Zheng speaking, looking at Lin Qin with a forced smile.

Lin Qin sneered inwardly; this was clearly an attempt to embarrass her.

The "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" embroidery is complex and cannot be completed in less than several months. Asking her to embroider it on the spot is simply making things difficult for her.

“Eunuch Zheng is too kind,” Lin Qin replied calmly. “My embroidery skills are crude, how dare I embroider before the Emperor and Empress? The talent I have prepared is…” She paused deliberately, her gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on the Emperor, “…a dance.”

"Oh? Dancing?" The emperor raised an eyebrow with interest. "What kind of dance is it?"

Lin Qin smiled slightly, but instead of answering directly, she turned around and gave a few instructions to the palace maid beside her.

The palace maid obeyed and left. Soon after, melodious music began to play. Unlike the elegant music usually played in the palace, this tune was cheerful and bright, with a touch of exoticism.

Everyone looked at Lin Qin with curiosity, wondering what kind of dance she was going to perform.

She slowly raised her hands, and her graceful dance moves were particularly captivating under the lights.

"What...what kind of dance is this?" The Empress's expression changed slightly. This dance was completely different from the traditional dances in the palace, and it was full of vitality and dynamism.

The emperor was also captivated by the dance; he had never seen such a unique dance before. He couldn't help but ask, "Lin, what is the name of this dance?"

Lin Qin parted her lips slightly and slowly uttered two words: "A stunning beauty".

After she finished speaking, her dance suddenly quickened, spinning and leaping like a butterfly in flight, stunning the entire audience.

When the music ended, the entire audience was completely silent, all stunned by Lin Qin's breathtaking dance.

"Excellent! What a stunning dance!" The emperor was the first to applaud, praising her highly. "Lady Lin, your dance is truly breathtaking!"

The Empress's face darkened. She hadn't expected Lin Qin to have such a trick up her sleeve. She had originally intended to embarrass her, but instead, Lin Qin had stolen the limelight.

At this moment, Young Master Sima walked up to Lin Qin, his eyes full of admiration. "Madam Lin, your dance is absolutely wonderful. I have never seen such a wonderful dance before."

Lin Qin smiled slightly and replied politely, "Young Master Sima, you flatter me."

Just then, Eunuch Zheng spoke up again: "Madam Lin, although the Dance of the Startled Swan is wonderful, it is just a dance and there is nothing new about it."

Lin Qin sneered inwardly; this old bastard really was a persistent ghost.

Just as she was about to retort, she saw the painter Fang walk over, holding a scroll in his hand, and respectfully present it to the emperor. "Your Majesty, I have painted a portrait of Madam Lin. Please take a look."

The emperor took the scroll, unfolded it, and his expression instantly changed...

"This……"

"Your Highness," Lin Qin lowered her voice and whispered in Zhu Ling's ear, "Look..." After Lin Qin finished her dance, everyone was still immersed in the shock they had just experienced.

She twirled gracefully, her skirt billowing, like a fluttering butterfly, or a celestial maiden descending to earth, stunning everyone present.

This isn't dance, it's celestial music!

"What...what kind of dance is this?" The emperor broke the silence first, his eyes filled with amazement.

He had seen countless court dancers, but he had never seen such a novel dance. The dance was unrestrained yet elegant, passionate yet dignified, forming a stark contrast to the usual dullness of the court.

Although the empress wore a smile, a shadow of gloom flashed in her eyes.

I originally wanted to see Lin Qin make a fool of herself, but I didn't expect her to be able to pull off this amazing trick.

You really underestimated her!

"Your Majesty, this dance is called 'The Startled Swan'," Lin Qin said with a slight curtsy, her demeanor graceful and poised.

"A stunning name! What a beautiful dance!" The emperor clapped his hands and laughed heartily, his praise overflowing.

"Rewards! There are rewards for many!"

Young Master Sima stepped forward excitedly, his eyes sparkling: "Madam Lin, your dance is absolutely exquisite! I have never seen such a wonderful dance before! It's simply... divine!"

Lin Qin responded with a faint smile, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Zhu Ling in the crowd.

He gazed intently at me, his eyes filled with pride and love.

Their eyes met, and it was as if pink bubbles were rising in the air, so sweet it was almost cloying.

Those around them also noticed the feelings between them, exchanging knowing glances and enjoying the gossip.

This display of affection really caught me completely off guard!

"Your Highness," Lin Qin lowered her voice, leaned close to Zhu Ling's ear, and said with a sly smile, "Look, they've all been captivated by me!"

Zhu Ling affectionately ruffled her hair: "Of course, my princess is naturally both beautiful and talented, unparalleled in the world."

The two were oblivious to their surroundings, showing off their affection without noticing that in the corner, Eunuch Zheng was staring at them with a sinister look. It was clear that someone was deliberately framing them!

"What...what's going on?!" the emperor roared, his face contorted with rage, his eyes blazing as he scanned the entire room, trying to find the mastermind behind this.

Everyone was shocked and dared not utter a sound, for fear of getting into trouble.

The Empress feigned surprise, covering her face and exclaiming softly, "How could this be? This...this is clearly someone deliberately slandering Madam Lin!"

Young Master Sima also looked incredulous. This painting was completely different from the Lin Qin he had seen, and there must be something fishy about it.

Lin Qin remained unusually calm, as if she had expected this all along.

She smiled slightly, her eyes clear and without a trace of panic.

"Your Majesty, I have a plan to find the mastermind behind this," Lin Qin said calmly as she stepped forward.

Everyone looked at her curiously, wondering what clever plan she had up her sleeve.

Lin Qin's gaze fell on Eunuch Zheng, and a meaningful smile appeared on her lips: "Eunuch Zheng, how about we ask you to cooperate with me?"

Eunuch Zheng's heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition surged into his mind.

He forced a calm demeanor and forced a dry laugh, saying, "Madam Lin is too kind. How could a mere servant like me be of any help?"

Lin Qin pressed on relentlessly: "Eunuch Zheng is too modest. You have been in the palace for many years and are very knowledgeable. You will surely be able to lend me a hand."

Eunuch Zheng was caught in a dilemma and had no choice but to agree.

Lin Qin walked to the center of the banquet and said to everyone, "I'm sure you all still remember my 'Dance of the Startling Swan' just now. I once taught this dance to someone, and that person was..."

She paused deliberately, then her gaze fell on Eunuch Zheng again. "Eunuch Zheng!"

The crowd gasped in disbelief, unable to believe their ears.

Eunuch Zheng can actually perform the Dance of the Startled Swan?

How can this be?

!

Eunuch Zheng's face turned deathly pale, and he trembled all over as if he were being shaken.

Lin Qin's lips curled into a cold smile: "Eunuch Zheng, why don't you also perform a 'Dance of the Startled Swan' and broaden everyone's horizons?"

Eunuch Zheng was sweating profusely. How could he possibly know how to perform the "Dance of the Startled Swan"?

This was clearly a trap set by Lin Qin for him!

He was speechless, wanting to explain, but didn't know how to begin.

"What? Is Eunuch Zheng unwilling?" Lin Qin pressed on, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Could it be... that you're feeling guilty?"

Eunuch Zheng's face was deathly pale, his lips trembled, and he couldn't speak.

Seeing this, Lin Qin became even more certain of her guess.

She turned to the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, I humbly request that Your Majesty grant permission for Eunuch Zheng to perform a 'Dance of the Startled Swan'!"

The emperor watched this scene with great interest, and he vaguely guessed what was going on.

He nodded: "Approved!"

Eunuch Zheng felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave; he knew he was finished…

“Madam Lin, you…you…” Eunuch Zheng pointed at Lin Qin, his fingers trembling, but he couldn’t say anything.

Lin Qin sneered: "Eunuch Zheng, do you still want to argue now?"

Eunuch Zheng's face was ashen, and he was covered in cold sweat. Of course, he couldn't dance the Dance of the Startled Swan.

He had just confidently declared that Lin Qin's "Dance of the Startling Swan" was nothing new, but now he couldn't even perform a single step. This was undoubtedly shooting himself in the foot, a truly embarrassing situation.

"Eunuch Zheng, you don't look too well. Are you perhaps feeling unwell?" Lin Qin looked at him with a half-smile, her eyes full of mockery.

Grandpa Zheng stammered, unable to speak for a long time, his old face turning a deep liver color.

"Since Eunuch Zheng is unwell, let me explain for you." Lin Qin turned to the Emperor and said calmly, "This painting was clearly done intentionally to frame me! And that person is none other than the painter Fang, who colluded with Eunuch Zheng!"

These words caused an uproar. Everyone turned to look at the painter, Fang.

The painter's face changed drastically, and he immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, please understand! I'm innocent! I've never colluded with Eunuch Zheng! This painting... this painting is by Her Majesty the Empress..."

"How dare you!" the emperor roared, interrupting the painter Fang. "How could the Empress do such a thing! Stop talking nonsense!"

The painter was so frightened that he trembled and dared not say another word.

"Your Majesty, I have evidence!" Lin Qin calmly took out a letter from her sleeve. "These are the correspondence between Painter Fang and Eunuch Zheng, which clearly record their plan to frame me!"

The emperor took the letter, read it carefully, his face turned ashen, and his eyes were filled with rage.

"You arrogant eunuch Zheng and painter Fang! How dare you act so recklessly!" The emperor was furious. "Guards! Drag these two out and give them one hundred strokes of the cane!"

When Eunuch Zheng and Painter Fang were dragged out, they kept begging for mercy, but the emperor had already made up his mind and was unmoved.

Upon seeing this, everyone looked at Lin Qin with new respect.

She was not only exceptionally talented, but also meticulous, and was able to see through Eunuch Zheng and Painter Fang's conspiracy so easily.

The atmosphere at the banquet also underwent a subtle change. The people who were originally hostile to Lin Qin were now full of admiration and respect for her.

Lin Qin, however, did not become complacent because of this.

She glanced around discreetly, her gaze settling on the Empress, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.

"Your Majesty," Lin Qin's voice was clear and resonant, "did you enjoy the performance?"

The Empress's expression changed slightly, but she forced herself to remain calm: "Madam Lin, what are you saying? I don't understand."

"Is that so?" Lin Qin pressed on, "Then let me be clearer. This Eunuch Zheng and Painter Fang are merely your pawns. The real mastermind is you!"

"You...you're spouting nonsense!" The Empress's face turned deathly pale as she pointed at Lin Qin, her finger trembling.

"Whether it's slander or not, Her Majesty the Empress knows best," Lin Qin sneered. "I advise you, stop playing these petty tricks, otherwise..."

Lin Qin didn't finish speaking. Instead, she gave the Empress a meaningful look and turned to leave.

The Empress watched Lin Qin's departing figure, her face dark and gloomy.

"Lin Qin, you...you just wait!" the Empress said through gritted teeth.

Lin Qin walked to Zhu Ling's side, took his arm, and said softly, "Your Highness, let's go."

Zhu Ling nodded, and the two left together, leaving the others looking at each other in bewilderment.

After the banquet, Lin Qin returned to her palace, only to find... a letter on the table.