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

Zhu Ling's face was ashen, and the letter in her hand made a slight cracking sound as she gripped it.

Lin Qin's heart sank suddenly; she instinctively sensed that something bad had happened.

"Your Highness, this letter..." she began tentatively, her voice trembling slightly.

Zhu Ling's eyes were like ice as he stared coldly at her. "The letter said that someone saw me secretly seeing other women, and even mentioned your name!" His voice was deep and dangerous, like that of an enraged beast.

Lin Qin's heart raced; she knew this was no baseless accusation.

She quickly recalled and realized that there had indeed been some strange things happening recently.

Whenever she was with Zhu Ling, strange rumors would always circulate, and Natasha's name would always appear in these rumors.

"Your Highness, there must be some misunderstanding. I will go and investigate this matter immediately," Lin Qin said firmly, her eyes shining with determination.

Zhu Ling frowned. He could clearly sense Lin Qin's unease, but the anger in his heart was hard to quell.

"Investigate? What can you possibly find out? Don't you know these rumors have already spread throughout the entire Prince's mansion?"

Lin Qin did not back down. She said softly, "Your Highness, give me some time. I will find out everything."

Zhu Ling's gaze softened slightly, but he remained vigilant.

He nodded and released Lin Qin's hand. "Okay, I'll give you time, but if you can't find out, I'll find out the truth no matter what!"

Lin Qin made up her mind and quickly left the palace to investigate the source of these rumors.

She first found several servants in the palace and learned from them that most of these rumors were spread by Natasha's attendants.

A thought struck her, and she immediately decided to go to Natasha's place to find out what was going on.

As night fell, the streets outside the palace were quiet. Lin Qin, dressed in plain clothes, tiptoed to Natasha's residence.

Through the window, she saw Natasha plotting with several attendants, a cold smile on her face.

"That Lin Qin, how dare she steal the prince's heart! We must teach her a lesson!" Natasha's voice sounded particularly cold in the night.

A surge of anger welled up in Lin Qin's heart, but she did not rush in impulsively; instead, she quietly retreated.

She knew that now was not the time for a direct confrontation; she needed a more subtle way to let Zhu Ling see the truth for himself.

Back at the Prince's residence, Lin Qin already had a plan in mind.

She quietly entered Zhu Ling's study and saw him still sitting at his desk, his brows furrowed.

“Your Highness,” Lin Qin called softly, her eyes flashing with determination, “some things are better seen with our own eyes.”

Zhu Ling raised her head, her eyes filled with doubt and expectation.

Lin Qin smiled slightly, picked up a pen, and began to write down a few names on the paper before handing it to Zhu Ling.

"Your Highness, look."

Zhu Ling took the paper, his gaze lingered on the name for a moment, and suddenly his eyes sharpened.

Lin Qin felt a sense of relief.

She gently took Zhu Ling's hand and said softly, "Your Highness, there is only one truth."

Zhu Ling's gaze softened. He held Lin Qin's hand tightly and nodded vigorously, secretly resolving that no matter what happened, he would never let any rumors hurt Lin Qin again.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the door, and a maid rushed in, holding a letter in her hand.

She said in a low voice, "Your Highness, this is a letter that Ambassador Natasha just sent."

Zhu Ling took the letter, unfolded it, and a cold smile appeared on his face.

Lin Qin knew perfectly well that this letter was Natasha's last resort.

She tightened her grip on Zhu Ling's hand.

"Your Highness, let's face all of this together," she said gently but firmly.

Zhu Ling nodded, then suddenly stood up and looked out the door, as if he were ready to face a new challenge.

"Come on, Natasha, I want to see what other tricks you have up your sleeve!" Zhu Ling said with a cold laugh, his voice filled with unwavering determination.

The paper Lin Qin handed to Zhu Ling had several names written on it; they were the same names of Natasha's followers who spread rumors.

Zhu Ling's face darkened. He had long sensed Natasha's hostility towards Lin Qin, but he never expected her to be so bold as to plot against him.

He ordered his men to "invite" Natasha to the palace.

When Natasha arrived, she still maintained her haughty demeanor, as if she had everything under control.

But when she saw the piece of paper in Zhu Ling's hand with the names of his attendants written on it, the smile on her face froze instantly. She forced herself to remain calm and asked, feigning ignorance, "Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?"

"What do you mean? Ambassador Natasha, your people are spreading rumors and slandering the Princess. What do you mean by that?" Zhu Ling's tone was icy, carrying a hint of oppression.

Natasha turned pale; she hadn't expected things to be exposed so quickly.

She stammered, trying to explain, but Zhu Ling interrupted her, "The facts are undeniable, what else do you have to say?"

Lin Qin stood aside, quietly watching Natasha's performance, her heart unmoved.

She knew that the moment the truth came out would be Natasha's end.

Natasha's entourage was brought in, and they dared not hide anything, revealing Natasha's entire plan.

Natasha's face turned from white to green, then from green to purple, and finally, she collapsed helplessly to the ground, her eyes vacant, as if she had lost her soul.

Zhu Ling felt no pity for Natasha when she saw her disheveled appearance.

He coldly announced the punishment for Natasha, then turned to look at Lin Qin.

He walked up to Lin Qin, gently embraced her, and said tenderly, "Qin'er, I'm sorry you had to suffer like this."

Lin Qin leaned against Zhu Ling's chest, feeling his warm embrace, her heart filled with sweetness.

She raised her head, looked into Zhu Ling's affectionate eyes, and softly said, "Your Highness."

The two embraced, their love growing stronger in their hearts, and the air around them became sweeter.

The servants of the Prince's mansion all lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at this heartwarming scene.

Suddenly, Lin Qin remembered something, broke free from Zhu Ling's embrace, and said, "Your Highness, there's one more thing..."

Lin Qin frowned slightly. Although Natasha had been dealt with, the delegation from Country B was still there, and the task of culinary diplomacy still rested on her shoulders. Time was of the essence, which made her somewhat anxious.

She took a deep breath to calm herself and said to Zhu Ling, "Your Highness, although the crisis has passed, the matter of culinary diplomacy is urgent, and I am worried..."

Zhu Ling held Lin Qin's hand, giving her a reassuring look. "Don't worry, I've got you covered." He paused, then continued, "How about we host a small food tasting event tonight and invite ambassadors from various countries?"

Lin Qin's eyes lit up; this was indeed a good idea.

She immediately began preparations, and the servants of the Prince's mansion also got busy.

As night fell, the gardens of the royal palace were brightly lit, and envoys from various countries gathered together, looking forward to the gourmet feast that evening.

Lin Qin meticulously prepared dishes one by one and served them on the table. Each dish was full of creativity and had a perfect combination of color, aroma, and taste.

There are exotic spice-roasted chickens, tender and juicy honey-glazed roasted ducks, refreshing cold dishes, and a variety of exquisite pastries.

"Wow, this dish is absolutely delicious!" one of the envoys exclaimed.

“Yes, I have never eaten such delicious food!” another envoy echoed.

The envoys enjoyed the food, their faces beaming with satisfaction.

Lin Qin felt a great sense of accomplishment as she looked at their expressions of enjoyment.

She approached an envoy from country B, smiled, and asked, "What do you think of these dishes?"

The envoy put down his chopsticks and exclaimed, "Madam Lin, your culinary skills are truly superb! These dishes are not only delicious but also full of creativity. I have never tasted such unique cuisine before."

Lin Qin smiled slightly and said, "Thank you for your praise. I hope these delicacies can promote friendly exchanges between our two countries."

“Of course, of course!” the envoy said excitedly. “Madam Lin, on behalf of the delegation from Country B, I hope to reach a cooperation agreement with you to bring these delicacies back to our country.”

Envoys from other countries also expressed their willingness to cooperate, and Linqin's culinary diplomacy made significant progress.

The atmosphere was lively, filled with excitement and joy.

Lin Qin looked at all this, her heart filled with joy and pride.

She knew this was just the beginning, and many more challenges awaited her in the future.

Suddenly, a maid hurried over to Lin Qin's side and whispered a few words in her ear.

Lin Qin's expression changed slightly. She turned to Zhu Ling and said, "Your Highness, the envoys from Bing and Ding countries wish to discuss cooperation with me privately..."

The brightly lit gardens of the Prince's Mansion now seem to have transformed into a sea of ​​delicious food.

Lin Qin moved gracefully among the envoys from various countries, chatting and laughing with ease, exuding elegance and confidence in every gesture.

The envoy from Country C was a burly man with a thick beard. He wolfed down the honey-glazed roast duck while giving a thumbs-up: "Madam Lin, this roast duck is absolutely amazing! We in Country C love this kind of satisfying feeling of eating meat in big bites!" With that, he waved his hand, "Cooperation, we must cooperate! I want to take this roast duck back to Country C so that the whole nation can taste this delicacy!"

The envoy from Ding was a refined middle-aged man. He savored a cold dish, closing his eyes as if appreciating its exquisite flavor.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, his eyes full of admiration: "Mrs. Lin, this dish has a rich and layered flavor that is unforgettable. It is simply a work of art!" He elegantly put down his chopsticks and smiled: "Our Ding Kingdom values ​​food culture. I believe that our cooperation with you will surely create even more wonderful sparks."

Lin Qin had a pleasant conversation with the two envoys and quickly reached a preliminary business cooperation agreement.

The news spread, and the scene erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers.

Ambassadors from various countries raised their glasses to congratulate Lin Qin, praising her business acumen and diplomatic skills.

Standing in the center of the crowd, Lin Qin felt the praise and admiration of everyone, and her heart was filled with glory and pride.

In the distance, Tom, who had been watching Lin Qin closely, looked increasingly grim.

He originally thought that with his country's strength, he could easily secure the cooperation with Lin Qin, but he didn't expect that other countries would beat him to it.

He gripped the wine glass tightly, his knuckles turning white. No, he absolutely couldn't let this sure thing slip away!

Tom strode up to Lin Qin, forcing a fake smile. "Mrs. Lin, congratulations on such a successful collaboration." His tone carried a hint of sourness, which made everyone uncomfortable.

Lin Qin responded politely, but a sense of unease lingered in her heart.

Tom paused, then continued, "Mrs. Lin, our country, Jia, is also very interested in your cuisine and hopes to discuss the details of our cooperation with you in more detail." He emphasized the word "more detail."

Lin Qin smiled slightly and said calmly, "Of course, Mr. Tom, we welcome you anytime."

"Then, how about tomorrow morning?" Tom asked impatiently.

Lin Qin nodded. "No problem."

Tom gave a barely perceptible sneer and turned to leave.

He secretly plotted to show Lin Qin the strength of Country A tomorrow and make her submit obediently.

He walked to a corner and whispered to his attendant, "Go, find out everything about Lin Qin. I need to know everything about her!"

After the banquet, Lin Qin returned to her room, still feeling somewhat uneasy.

She always felt that Tom's smile was a bit strange, as if it hid some kind of conspiracy.

She rubbed her temples and muttered to herself, "Tom, what exactly are you trying to do..."