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

Lin Qin stepped out of the room and took a deep breath. The scenery of the Prince's mansion courtyard did not make her feel relaxed; instead, it added a touch of tension to her heart.

The cobblestone path meandered forward, with neatly trimmed flowers and trees on both sides, which seemed to watch her solemnly like guards.

She could feel her palms sweating slightly, and she unconsciously clenched the hem of her skirt.

But she raised her head, her eyes still firm, and her steps never faltering.

Upon arriving at the Zhu Family Ancestral Hall, the heavy wooden doors seemed to separate two worlds.

As I pushed open the door, a sandalwood scent wafted out, mixed with a slightly oppressive atmosphere.

Inside the ancestral hall, all the elders of the Zhu family were already seated, and the atmosphere was so heavy that it felt like a boulder was pressing on Lin Qin's chest.

She composed herself, walked slowly to the front of the crowd, and bowed slightly in greeting.

“Your Highness, do you know that my Zhu family has been a family of scholars for generations, with all our descendants attending the Imperial Academy? Yet you want to send Ling’er’s child to that…that…” The elder at the head of the group, Zhu Ling’s grandfather, spoke with obvious reproach in his tone. He seemed reluctant to finish the sentence, as if the name of the academy was some kind of filthy word.

“Grandfather, although that academy is not the Imperial Academy, it is not some second-rate, worthless school either,” Lin Qin replied neither humbly nor arrogantly. “Its founder was a great Confucian scholar of our time, and its teaching philosophy is advanced, emphasizing practice, which is more suitable for children to develop freely.”

"Practice? Humph! What do we, the descendants of the Zhu family, need for practice? Studying the classics, passing the imperial examinations, and bringing glory to our ancestors is the right path!" another old woman said shrilly, her tone full of disdain.

Lin Qin did not refute, but turned to Zhu Ling's father, her tone softening slightly, "Your Highness, what do you think?"

Zhu Ling's father had remained silent until now, when he was called out, he slowly spoke: "Qin'er, we all understand your good intentions. But..." He paused, as if choosing his words carefully, "but the ancestral rules cannot be broken, so we hope you will think it over."

Lin Qin's lips curled up slightly, revealing a confident smile.

"Rules? Then let me tell you what true rules really are." She paused, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. "True rules are not about blindly following conventions, but about adapting to the times..."

Lin Qin spoke eloquently, starting with the shortcomings of the current education system and then listing the advantages of that university. Finally, she focused on her own child's talents and interests. Her logic was clear and her arguments were compelling, flowing smoothly and leaving the elders in the audience speechless.

“This…this…” Zhu Ling’s grandfather adjusted his reading glasses, and his tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed. “I have no way to refute what the Princess Consort has said.”

“Yes, times have changed, and we can’t cling to the old ways.” The other elders nodded in agreement, their eyes shining with approval.

Lin Qin's words not only made them understand the importance of education, but also gave them hope for the future of their family.

The old woman's initial disdain turned to amazement. She grabbed Lin Qin's hand and exclaimed excitedly, "Your Highness is truly a heroine! I... no, I was so blind!"

The atmosphere inside the ancestral hall instantly changed, the original oppressive feeling vanished, replaced by a sense of ease and joy.

Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating Lin Qin's face and giving her a golden glow, making her even more dazzling.

Zhu Ling stood quietly to the side, watching Lin Qin.

At this moment, he knew how outstanding Lin Qin was, and he also knew how much she had sacrificed for this family.

He strode over to Lin Qin, took her hand tightly, their fingers intertwined, conveying silent support and love.

Lin Qin grasped his hand in return, feeling the warmth of his palm, and a happy smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.

The elders of the Zhu family around them nodded in agreement, their faces showing a relieved smile.

They were happy for Zhu Ling and also gratified for the future of their family.

"The princess is such a good daughter-in-law!" an elder exclaimed.

“Yes, Ling’er is so lucky!” another elder chimed in.

“Your Highness,” Zhu Ling’s father said solemnly to Lin Qin, “the matter of the child’s school enrollment will be handled as you suggested.”

Lin Qin nodded, a huge weight lifted from her heart.

She knew that this was not only a victory for her baby, but also a victory for herself.

She successfully defused the pressure from her family and proved her abilities.

Just as everyone was immersed in the joyful atmosphere, a servant rushed in, breaking the tranquility of the ancestral hall.

He walked over to Zhu Ling and whispered a few words to her.

Zhu Ling's expression changed slightly, and he unconsciously tightened his grip on Lin Qin's hand.

"What's wrong?" Lin Qin noticed his unusual behavior and asked softly.

Zhu Ling looked at her,

The sudden change in the capital was like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the brief joy in the ancestral hall.

Zhu Ling gave a brief explanation, his expression grave.

Lin Qin's heart also jumped, and an ominous premonition enveloped her.

Business competitors?

At this critical juncture, it's truly a case of "when it rains, it pours"!

She felt like a sandwich filling, suffocating under the weight of two mountains.

"When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it." Lin Qin took a deep breath, trying to stay calm.

With the Zhu Family Ancestral Hall matter finally settled and the issue of Mengbao's school enrollment resolved, she must now focus on addressing business challenges.

Back in her courtyard, Lin Qin immediately summoned her trusted confidants and began to analyze the situation.

The new competitor is coming on strong, with powerful backing, and is clearly determined to go against her.

"Your Highness, the 'Rongsheng Trading Company' is backed by the Crown Prince's men. They are very wealthy and powerful, and we are afraid..." the steward said worriedly.

Lin Qin rubbed her temples. This really was a case of "when gods fight, little devils suffer!"

However, she is not someone who can be easily manipulated!

"What are you afraid of! We're not pushovers either!" A glint of shrewdness flashed in Lin Qin's eyes. "Pass down the order to contact our overseas partners immediately and tell them we have a big deal to discuss!"

The housekeeper was taken aback. An overseas partner?

The princess is going to...

He suddenly understood Lin Qin's intention, his eyes lit up, and he immediately went to make the arrangements.

Lin Qin's move was completely unexpected, catching everyone off guard.

No one expected that she would choose to cooperate with overseas forces at this time!

The news caused an uproar throughout the capital.

"What? Princess Lin actually wants to cooperate with a foreign country?" "This...this is unheard of!" "What is she trying to do? Isn't she afraid of being impeached by the censors?"

Rumors and gossip came like a tidal wave, but Lin Qin remained unmoved.

She knew that the path she was on was destined to be full of thorns, but she had to persevere, for herself and for her family.

A few days later, Lin Qin's overseas partners arrived in Beijing one after another.

These people come from different countries and speak different languages, but they all share a common goal: to cooperate with Lin Qin and jointly explore new business opportunities.

Lin Qin hosted a banquet to entertain these guests who had come from afar. Amidst the clinking of glasses, one cooperation agreement after another was finalized.

Looking at the signed agreements, Lin Qin felt a surge of confidence.

She knew she had taken the most important step.

And what she needs to do next is lead her team to create even greater miracles!

Zhu Ling watched Lin Qin's busy figure. He knew that Lin Qin was under tremendous pressure. He walked to her side and gently put his arm around her shoulder. "I'll take care of everything."

Lin Qin leaned against his chest, feeling his warm embrace, and her heart was filled with strength.

“Yes,” she nodded gently, “we’ll do it together.”

Just then, a guard rushed in to report: "Your Highness, Your Highness, someone from the palace has arrived..." [Academy Decision, New Path for Business]

Lin Qin stood in front of her food shop, her gaze passing through the bustling crowd, and saw the adorable child carrying a small backpack, walking happily into that ideal university.

Sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting a warm glow on the baby.

A sense of warmth and satisfaction welled up in Lin Qin's heart, as if all her efforts had been rewarded at this moment.

Inside the shop, business was booming.

The diners praised the food she had prepared, and bursts of laughter and applause filled the air.

Lin Qin smiled, her face beaming with pride and happiness.

Her sweat and tears finally brought her all this.

"Your Highness, business is so good, shouldn't we celebrate tonight?" the butler said with a smile, his eyes full of admiration and joy.

"Of course, I'm going to treat all the guys to a big meal tonight. You've all worked hard!" Lin Qin announced loudly, her voice filled with confidence and pride.

The staff cheered in unison, making the atmosphere in the shop even more lively.

Zhu Ling stood beside Lin Qin, holding her hand tightly and gazing at her tenderly.

"You're amazing, Lin Qin," he said softly, his voice filled with deep love and pride.

Lin Qin turned to look at Zhu Ling, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

“Together, we can overcome any difficulty,” she said softly. The two looked at each other and smiled, as if the whole world had fallen silent.

Just then, a messenger rushed in, panting, and handed over a letter.

"Your Highness, this is a letter from the academy."

Lin Qin took the letter, opened it, and frowned slightly.

The letter mentioned that the child seemed to have encountered some mysterious challenges after starting school, requiring her and Zhu Ling's attention and help.

A sense of unease rose in her heart, but she quickly said firmly, "No matter what challenges we encounter, we will face them together."

Zhu Ling stepped forward, his eyes resolute, and said, "Let's go, let's go to the academy." He took Lin Qin's hand, and the two walked side by side toward the academy. Their shadows stretched long in the sunset, appearing incredibly determined and confident.

The messenger swallowed hard and muttered to himself, "This is truly a princess not to be underestimated!" His eyes gleamed with awe and curiosity as he secretly wondered what would happen next.