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

Inside the banquet hall, cold lights flashed, and the atmosphere was as tense as a fully drawn bowstring, ready to snap at any moment.

Lin Qin watched as Zhu Ling took the dagger, and her heart tightened. What kind of trouble was this guy up to now?

Just when she thought a bloody battle was about to unfold, Zhu Ling casually tossed the dagger onto the table. "Slicing meat? Only barbarians like you could play such a simple game."

His tone was languid, as if he were simply saying that the weather was nice today.

Tom's face turned ashen instantly, Natasha's eyes were filled with displeasure, while Minister Li and the others sneered from the side, eager to see Lin Qin and Zhu Ling make a fool of themselves.

"Zhu Ling, what do you mean by this? Are you afraid of losing?" Tom provoked.

Zhu Ling curled a wicked smile and glanced at him contemptuously. "Afraid of losing? That word doesn't exist in my dictionary."

He walked to Lin Qin's side, gently put his arm around her shoulder, and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, I'm here for you."

Looking at the confidence in his eyes, Lin Qin felt a little calmer. She knew that Zhu Ling was not a reckless person, and he must have his reasons for doing this.

Just then, Translator Wang rushed in, pale-faced, and stammered, "No, something terrible has happened! Minister Li, Minister Li, is in court, strongly advising the Emperor to stop, to stop the food diplomacy!"

These words caused an uproar in the banquet hall. Tom and Natasha looked at each other in bewilderment, while Minister Li and the others showed smug expressions.

Lin Qin's face darkened. Just what she feared had come to pass; she knew those conservatives wouldn't let her off easily.

"What did they say?" Zhu Ling asked coldly, her tone tinged with anger.

Translator Wang trembled with fear and stammered, "Minister Li said that gourmet diplomacy is a waste of resources and manpower, an act of sycophancy towards foreigners, and will shake the foundation of the country. He also said, he also said..." He stammered and dared not continue.

"What else is there to say?" Lin Qin asked sharply.

Translator Wang swallowed hard and forced a smile, saying, "They also said that your delicacies are all unorthodox and unfit for public display, even morally offensive. In short, they said a bunch of nonsense, making you and the Prince seem worthless!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Qin was filled with rage. This Minister Li was simply an old stubborn man. It truly proved the saying: either he would erupt in silence or he would perish in silence.

"Outrageous!" Zhu Ling roared, his aura suddenly dropping. His eyes were like knives as he swept over everyone present, his gaze seeming to want to devour them alive.

Although Minister Li and his men were alarmed, they still stubbornly retorted, relying on their numbers, "Does Your Highness intend to bully us? We are only stating the facts!"

"Facts? What a fine fact!" Zhu Ling sneered, saying each word clearly, "Today, I'll see how you conservative old fogies manage to distort the truth!"

He grabbed Lin Qin's hand and strode out, leaving a group of people looking at each other in bewilderment. They only heard Zhu Ling's last, almost indistinct words, "Come on, the show has only just begun!"

Zhu Ling pulled Lin Qin straight to the imperial kitchen and ordered all the imperial chefs to leave, leaving only the dumbfounded Chef Zhao behind.

Lin Qin didn't waste any words and rolled up her sleeves to start preparing the ingredients.

Today she's going to make a fusion dish that combines the essence of Chinese cuisine with some Western elements. She wants to show those old fogies what real gourmet food is!

"Your Highness, what is this...?" Chef Zhao asked cautiously, completely baffled as to what Lin Qin was up to.

"Of course, it's cooking!" Lin Qin answered without looking up, her hands moving with fluid grace, leaving Chef Zhao completely stunned.

Zhu Ling stood aside, silently watching Lin Qin's busy figure, his eyes full of doting affection.

He knew that Lin Qin was about to unleash another powerful move.

In less than an hour, a delicious "fusion of Chinese and Western cuisine" was freshly prepared.

This dish is based on roast duck, paired with spices and fruits from the Western Regions, and drizzled with a special sauce. The aroma is irresistible and makes one's mouth water.

"Go and invite Minister Li and the others over," Lin Qin instructed Chef Zhao.

Although Chef Zhao was apprehensive, he still did as instructed.

Before long, Minister Li and his entourage arrived in a menacing manner. As soon as they entered, they were stunned by the rich aroma.

"What is this? It smells quite nice," Minister Li said, frowning.

"Why don't you try it and see?" Lin Qin said with a smile. She served each person a bowl and then quietly watched them.

Minister Li and the others took a bite with some skepticism, and then their expressions became quite interesting.

First came surprise, then confusion, and finally enjoyment.

"This...this taste..." Minister Li's eyes widened. He had lived most of his life and had never tasted such delicious food.

Other officials nodded in approval, and even the notoriously picky Chef Zhao couldn't help but give a thumbs up.

"Your Highness, this dish is absolutely amazing! This old minister is completely outdone!" Chef Zhao said excitedly.

Lin Qin smiled slightly.

After Li Shangshu and his entourage finished eating, they had nothing to say. They had originally come to cause trouble, but they were won over by the delicious food.

"Your Highness, I have offended you greatly before, please forgive me," Minister Li said, bowing.

Lin Qin waved her hand, "Lord Li, you flatter me. It is a virtue to admit one's mistakes and correct them."

Seeing Li Shangshu's discomfiture, Zhu Ling's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. He gently took Lin Qin's hand, his eyes filled with tenderness.

"Looks like I'll be busy tonight..." Zhu Ling murmured. Lin Qin looked up and met his deep gaze.

Lin Qin won the first round, but undercurrents still flowed.

Several stubborn old men outwardly yielded, but secretly sabotaged the imperial kitchen by cutting off its food supply.

"Your Highness, what should we do? There are no ingredients for tomorrow's banquet. Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice!" Chef Zhao was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

When the news reached Lin Qin's ears, she frowned slightly, but did not panic.

"It's nothing, just a trivial matter." A confident smile curved her lips. "If the imperial kitchen can't be relied upon, we still have experts among the common people!"

Instead of seeking help from the royal family, Lin Qin contacted some small suppliers she had previously met.

Although these small suppliers are not large in scale, their ingredients are fresh, of high quality, and each has its own unique skills.

The news left even the palace stewards dumbfounded.

"Your Highness, what are you doing? How can those small vendors compare to the royal chefs?" the steward earnestly advised, fearing that Lin Qin would break the rules and get herself into trouble.

"A mountain is not famous for its height, but for the immortals who dwell there; water is not sacred for its depth, but for the dragons that inhabit it," Lin Qin calmly explained. "Ingredients are not judged by their origin, but by their quality. Rest assured, I, the princess, know what I'm doing."

The next morning, the entrance to the Prince's Mansion was bustling with activity.

Rows of small carts were loaded with fresh vegetables, fruits, fish, meat, eggs, and poultry—everything imaginable was available.

The vendors were enthusiastic, their faces beaming with simple smiles, as if they were not there to deliver goods, but to participate in a grand festival celebration.

"Your Highness, the colorful pheasant you ordered is freshly made!" A lean young man carried a brightly colored pheasant and ran over excitedly.

"Your Highness, these are wild mushrooms I just picked from the mountain. I guarantee they're incredibly delicious!" An old farmer chuckled as he handed over a basket of plump mushrooms.

Looking at these fresh ingredients, Lin Qin and these small vendors, though of humble status, possess the purest enthusiasm and the most sincere intentions.

Unlike the oppressive atmosphere of the imperial kitchen, this place is full of vitality and hope.

Lin Qin seemed to see a vibrant pastoral painting, and she was the creator of this painting.

"Your Highness, look..." Zhu Ling appeared beside her at some point, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry.

Lin Qin smiled mysteriously, "Your Highness, the show has only just begun..."

At Lin Qin's command, the folk masters displayed their unique skills.

With cleavers flying and spatulas dancing, the Wangfu kitchen instantly transformed into a spectacular culinary performance.

The air was filled with various enticing aromas, making one's mouth water.

Lin Qin, with composure and skill, skillfully blended modern cooking techniques with traditional cuisine, creating a series of amazing dishes.

The first dish presented was "French foie gras with Chinese pancakes".

The succulent foie gras is pan-fried until golden brown, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Paired with paper-thin spring pancakes and a special sweet bean sauce, each bite is an explosion of delicious fusion of East and West, making it irresistible.

Next up is "Spicy crayfish with spaghetti".

Bright red crayfish, plump and meaty, spicy and fragrant, paired with chewy Italian pasta, is simply a delicacy.

Tom was sweating profusely as he ate, hissing from the spiciness but unable to stop. "This is amazing! It's the best lobster I've ever eaten!"

Natasha watched Tom praise Lin Qin, and a burning flame of jealousy raged in her heart.

She gracefully picked up a piece of "rose cake," but secretly crushed it violently, as if it were Lin Qin's face.

"Hmph, what's there to be so smug about? We'll see!"

The atmosphere of culinary diplomacy is growing stronger, with envoys from various countries praising Lin Qin's cooking skills.

Even Minister Li and others had to admit that Linqin's cuisine was indeed unique, and this culinary diplomacy could be considered a partial victory.

After the banquet, Zhu Ling walked over to Lin Qin and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead, saying, "You've worked hard."

Lin Qin smiled gently, "What's a little hardship for the sake of Your Highness?"

The two smiled at each other, their eyes full of tenderness and love.

However, Natasha, who was hiding in the shadows, witnessed this entire scene.

A glint of malice flashed in her eyes, and a cold smile curled at the corner of her lips. "Trying to show off your love? I won't let you have your way!" Natasha turned and left, her figure disappearing into the night, leaving behind only a meaningful look...

"Your Highness, look at this letter..." A maid rushed over and handed a letter to Zhu Ling.

Zhu Ling took the letter, unfolded it, and his face instantly turned ashen.

He suddenly looked up, his eyes blazing, staring intently at Lin Qin. "What does this mean?"