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

"Impure motives? That's just plain crazy!" Lin Qin's eyebrows shot up and her almond-shaped eyes widened, like a cat with its fur standing on end.

"Come on, Your Highness, let's go to the court and have a proper talk!"

A hint of worry flashed in Zhu Ling's deep eyes, but he firmly grasped Lin Qin's hand. "Qin'er, don't be afraid, I'm here." He exuded a cold aura, like a towering mountain sheltering Lin Qin from the wind and rain.

When the two arrived at the council chamber, the atmosphere was so heavy it seemed like water could drip from it.

The air was filled with the scent of sandalwood, but it couldn't conceal the undercurrents of tension.

Lin Qin felt an invisible pressure, like an impenetrable net, enveloping her.

"Your subject, Imperial Censor Zhao, has something to report!" Imperial Censor Zhao's shrill voice broke the silence, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.

He stepped forward, pointed at Lin Qin, and said righteously, "The Princess's disaster relief efforts, ostensibly to aid the victims, are in reality a means to gain fame and enrich herself! I beg Your Majesty to investigate!"

"Bang!" Lin Qin slammed her hand on the table, the crisp sound echoing in the council hall, startling everyone.

She sneered, her gaze sharp as a torch. "Imperial Censor Zhao, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want! Which eye of yours saw me embezzling funds? Where's the evidence? Show it to us!"

Censor Zhao was intimidated by Lin Qin's imposing manner, and his expression changed slightly, but he still forced himself to say, "Your Highness, your disaster relief efforts are so grand and costly. Where did the money come from? Could it be that..."

Lin Qin interrupted him before he could finish, saying, "Could it be what? Could it be that I embezzled money from the national treasury? Censor Zhao, your imagination is running wild! The money I used for disaster relief was all my own! What, is it wrong for me to do good deeds with my own money?"

Imperial Censor Zhao's eyes darted around. "Your Highness, where would you, a mere woman, get so much money?"

Lin Qin's lips curled into a cold smile, her eyes flashing with a hint of cunning. "Imperial Censor Zhao, you are unaware of this. Besides being a good wife and mother, I am also a businesswoman. My shops are raking in money every day, making a fortune. What's wrong with using my own money for disaster relief?"

Zhao Yushi was rendered speechless by Lin Qin's rebuttal, his face turning pale and then red.

He glared fiercely at Lin Qin, then turned to Zhu Ling, "Your Highness, the Princess's actions are truly disgraceful to the royal family! Could it be that you..."

“Imperial Censor Zhao,” Zhu Ling interrupted him coldly, his tone carrying a hint of warning, “everything Qin’er has done is for the disaster victims. If you dare to spout nonsense again, don’t blame me for being impolite!”

Censor Zhao was intimidated by Zhu Ling's imposing manner and dared not utter another word, standing angrily to the side.

Lin Qin secretly rejoiced at the sight of Imperial Censor Zhao's discomfiture.

She turned to the emperor and said loudly, "Your Majesty, this humble woman..."

"Wait!" General Wu suddenly spoke, interrupting Lin Qin.

He strode to the emperor, knelt on one knee, and said, “Your Majesty, I have something to report!”

Everyone was taken aback, not understanding why General Wu suddenly interrupted.

A hint of doubt arose in Lin Qin's heart. Could it be...?

General Wu's sudden appearance made the already tense atmosphere even more strained.

Lin Qin's heart also jumped. Could it be that the battle at the front was getting tense?

"Your Majesty, I personally witnessed the Princess's charitable deeds during this escort of disaster relief supplies to the disaster area. Her merits are immeasurable!" General Wu's loud voice echoed in the council hall, resounding with conviction.

"The princess not only funded the purchase of food, but also personally organized the disaster victims to build shelters and taught them how to grow vegetables to become self-reliant. The disaster victims were extremely grateful to the princess and even called her a 'living bodhisattva who saves people from suffering'!"

General Wu's words were like a thunderclap, causing an uproar in the imperial court.

The ministers, who had initially harbored doubts about Lin Qin, began whispering amongst themselves and discussing the matter.

Censor Zhao's face turned even uglier than if he had swallowed a fly. His lips trembled as he tried to refute, but he couldn't find any reason to do so.

Lin Qin pressed her advantage, pulling an account book from her sleeve and holding it high above her head. "This is a detailed breakdown of all my disaster relief expenses. Every single item is clearly recorded, in black and white, leaving no room for falsehood! If Your Majesty doesn't believe me, you are welcome to send someone to verify it!"

The emperor took the account book, carefully read through it, and his brow gradually relaxed.

He looked up at Lin Qin, a hint of admiration in his eyes, "Your Highness, you've worked hard."

Lin Qin smiled slightly, a huge weight lifted from her heart. She knew she had won.

Zhu Ling looked at Lin Qin's confident and radiant appearance with eyes full of doting affection.

He gently took Lin Qin's hand, offering her silent support.

Lin Qin felt Zhu Ling's warmth, and a sweet feeling welled up in her heart.

Just then, a shrill voice broke the harmonious atmosphere, "Even if the princess has done a good job in disaster relief, she is still a woman. What kind of behavior is it to show her face in public like this!" The speaker was none other than the Minister of Rites, who had been silent all along.

Lin Qin sneered, "Minister of Rites, are you saying that women should stay at home and raise children, never venturing out of their homes? Then who will care for the lives of disaster victims? Who will protect the safety of the nation?"

The Minister of Rites was so embarrassed by Lin Qin's rebuttal that he stammered for a long time, unable to come up with a coherent explanation.

"Enough!" The emperor's authoritative voice rang out, stopping the argument. "The princess has done a great job in disaster relief, and I am very pleased. As for matters of etiquette and law..." The emperor paused, his gaze deep, "I will make my own decision."

Lin Qin's heart skipped a beat. What did the emperor mean by that?

Lin Qin's heart jumped into her throat, and a chill ran from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.

She felt as if the air around her had solidified, making it hard for her to breathe.

In the Golden Palace, the candlelight flickered, casting interplay of light and shadow, as if countless eyes were staring at her, awaiting the pronouncement of her fate.

She could feel the gazes coming from all directions, some scrutinizing, some suspicious, and some simply looking for a spectacle.

"This old stubborn man is so damn annoying!" Lin Qin cursed inwardly, her nails almost digging into her flesh.

She knew that if she couldn't persuade the emperor, all her previous efforts would be in vain, and the disaster victims would once again be plunged into misery.

This feeling is like being in a game and just when you're about to beat the level, your internet connection suddenly drops – it's incredibly frustrating.

Just when Lin Qin was so anxious she was about to explode, General Wu stepped forward again.

His imposing figure stood like a wall in front of Lin Qin.

His powerful voice resounded throughout the hall: "Your Majesty, I personally witnessed the Princess Consort's tireless efforts in disaster relief, working day and night, even more desperately than the men in our army!"

General Wu's voice was extremely loud, making people's ears ring.

He continued, “The princess not only personally cooked porridge for the disaster victims, but also taught them how to build houses and cultivate wasteland. I saw with my own eyes that her hands were cracked and bleeding from the frostbite, yet she still persisted in doing her work! How could a delicate princess have ever suffered such hardship? I, a rough and uncultured man, saw it all and remember it all! If she did all this for fame and fortune, then I have lived in vain!”

General Wu's words struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer.

The ministers who had initially been skeptical of Lin Qin were now all showing expressions of shock.

They never imagined that a pampered princess could do such a thing.

Censor Zhao's face turned extremely ugly, as if he had swallowed a dozen flies.

He never expected that General Wu would suddenly appear out of nowhere, not only rendering his accusations weak and powerless, but also giving him a severe slap in the face.

Looking at General Wu, Lin Qin felt a surge of warmth in her heart.

She knew that this rugged man was proving her innocence in the most simple and honest way.

Just then, the emperor suddenly spoke: "General Wu, is what you say true?" His voice was deep and carried a hint of authority.

General Wu knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Every word I have said is true. If there is even a single falsehood, I am willing to accept punishment!"

The emperor remained silent for a moment, his gaze sharp as he surveyed the crowd in the hall, before slowly saying, "This matter will be discussed later."

As soon as he finished speaking, the emperor got up and left.

Zhu Ling gave Lin Qin a meaningful look, hesitated, and then pulled her back to the mansion.

Lin Qin held Zhu Ling's hand tightly, but her heart was in her throat. What did the emperor mean by his ambiguous words?

Lin Qin took a deep breath, steadied herself, and delivered another impassioned speech to the emperor and his ministers.

She quoted extensively from classical texts, drawing on a wide range of sources, from national and familial righteousness to the hardships of the people, and from economic development to sustainable development. Her eloquence was even better than that of a storyteller.

"My lords, you sit in the court all day, studying this and that, but have you ever truly cared about the lives of the common people?" Lin Qin stood with her hands on her hips, like a hen with explosive fighting power. "I, Lin Qin, a weak woman, can shed my blood for the disaster victims. And what about you? You all only know how to spout classical Chinese phrases. Do you want to let the people starve to death so you can all pack up and go back to farming?!"

Lin Qin's words silenced the entire court; you could hear a pin drop.

The ministers looked at each other, heads bowed, wishing they could disappear into the ground.

The emperor was stunned by Lin Qin's words. He stared at her blankly, as if he were looking at a monster.

"Your Majesty, every word I uttered comes from the bottom of my heart, and there is absolutely no falsehood in it!" After Lin Qin finished speaking, she even gave the emperor a flirtatious wink. Her playful appearance instantly petrified the ministers present.

The Emperor coughed to conceal the smile in his eyes, then cleared his throat and said with feigned majesty, "What the Princess Consort said is very reasonable! I am very pleased! I hereby issue the imperial decree that the Princess Consort has made meritorious contributions to disaster relief and shall be awarded a thousand taels of gold and a hundred bolts of silk. Furthermore, the Princess Consort is permitted to establish a disaster relief office in the disaster area and be fully responsible for post-disaster reconstruction matters!"

These words caused an uproar among the court officials.

They never expected that the emperor would actually be persuaded by Lin Qin and would even grant her such great power.

Censor Zhao's face turned as green as a green olive. His lips trembled as he tried to refute, but he couldn't find any reason to do so.

Lin Qin's lips curled up slightly, revealing a victorious smile, and the weight in her heart finally lifted.

She bowed deeply to the emperor, saying, "Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty! I will do my utmost to live up to your trust!"

The atmosphere in the council chamber instantly became cheerful.

The ministers stepped forward one after another to express their admiration for Lin Qin, and several old men excitedly held Lin Qin's hands, praising her as "a woman who is no less capable than a man".

Seeing this scene, Imperial Censor Zhao was so angry he almost fainted.

He glared at Lin Qin with hatred, wishing he could devour her alive.

Zhu Ling looked at Lin Qin surrounded by everyone, his eyes filled with pride and doting.

He walked to Lin Qin's side and gently took her hand. "Qin'er, you were amazing today!"

Lin Qin winked mischievously. "Of course! Don't you know who I am?" She turned to Zhu Ling with a sly smile. "Your Highness, when is the reward? When will I receive it?"

Zhu Ling chuckled and playfully pinched Lin Qin's nose. "You!"

“However, although this crisis has been resolved, things are not over yet.” Zhu Ling’s smile faded, his eyes becoming deep. “The situation in the disaster area is far more complicated than we imagined.”

Lin Qin nodded. "Let's go, Your Highness, we should set off."

"Hmm." Zhu Ling nodded, and was about to help Lin Qin up when she grabbed his arm. She whispered mysteriously to him, "Your Highness, I promise you, this trip to the disaster area will be an eye-opener, hehe!"

Zhu Ling looked at her smiling face, his heart stirred, and a smile crept onto his lips. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "I'm looking forward to it." With that, he swept her up in his arms and strode out of the mansion, leaving behind only the sound of hurried footsteps and a voice carried away by the wind: "Ah! What are you doing!"