I started as a concubine, and I made the crown prince cry with my delicious food.

Looking at Empress Wei's guilty conscience, which she couldn't hide, and the somewhat "rough" food in front of her, Xiao Yuanzheng was not angry at all. Instead, he found it rather novel.

His empress, from the moment she married him, was like a perfect piece of jade—dignified, proper, and flawless, yet also cold and lifeless.

He hadn't seen such a vibrant expression on her face for many years.

"What good stuff is the Empress using? She didn't even know I was here." Xiao Yuanzheng's tone was slightly teasing, but his eyes were fixed on the plate of chicken wings.

Empress Wei quickly regained her composure. She gracefully wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, rose, and curtsied: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

"No need." Xiao Yuanzheng waved his hand, walked directly to the table and sat down, looking at the food on the plate with interest. "What is this? It smells quite delicious."

Empress Wei's heart skipped a beat, and she felt an instinctive urge to protect her food.

She had worked so hard to "snatch" this from her daughter-in-law, and she hadn't even had her fill yet!

Her eyes darted around, and she deliberately picked up a honey-glazed chicken wing, offering it to the emperor with a gentle smile: "These are some snacks sent by the Crown Prince's concubine, something like teppanyaki. Your Majesty is busy with state affairs every day, and I suppose you're not used to such common snacks, so I won't offend Your Majesty's palate."

She said "no" but her hand steadily handed it over.

This coy attitude only piqued Xiao Yuanzheng's curiosity even more.

"Oh? Made by the Crown Prince's concubine?" Xiao Yuanzheng then remembered that he had a newlywed daughter-in-law.

He was not entirely satisfied with the marriage, feeling that the daughter of the General of the State was too flamboyant and not a good match for his aloof son. But since he had personally arranged it to balance the political situation, he had no choice but to accept it.

Unexpectedly, this daughter-in-law would make such things to please the Empress.

That shows they put their heart into it.

He didn't ask any more questions and took the honey-glazed chicken wing directly from the Empress.

Just as he was about to take a bite, Empress Wei seemed to suddenly remember something, and picked up another chicken wing from the plate. It looked darker and was covered in red powder, and without saying a word, she replaced the one in his hand.

"Your Majesty, please try this." She smiled like a fox that had just stolen some fish. "This one has a much stronger flavor."

There were only two spicy dishes on the plate, which she herself couldn't bear to eat, but now she was using them all to "pay tribute" to the Emperor.

Xiao Yuanzheng, unsuspecting, picked up the spicy chicken wing that looked "not to be trifled with" and took a big bite.

The next second, his expression froze.

An overwhelmingly spicy sensation, like a flood bursting its banks, instantly swept over his entire mouth!

Next came the complex aroma of cumin and various spices, which strongly stimulated his taste buds.

A blush quickly rose to his usually stern face, and sweat began to bead on his forehead.

"Cough...cough cough..."

Even His Majesty the Emperor, who was usually unfazed by the collapse of Mount Tai, was choked and coughed by this sudden "attack".

"emperor!"

The head eunuch, Gao Jin, who was standing nearby, turned pale with fright and was about to shout in a shrill voice, "Quickly! Summon the imperial physician! Quickly summon the imperial..."

"Shut up!" The emperor raised his hand to stop him, his voice hoarse from coughing, but his authority remained undiminished.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the spiciness, and then... took a second bite.

Something strange happened.

After the initial burning sensation subsided, what remained was an exhilarating pleasure. The spicy and fragrant flavor seemed to possess a magical quality, making him want to eat more and more, unable to stop.

Gao Jin and Granny Gui watched in stunned silence.

Their emperor, his face flushed and sweating from the spiciness, occasionally gasping for breath, ate with relish, quickly devouring a chicken wing clean.

After finishing his meal, the emperor picked up his teacup, took a large gulp, and exhaled a long breath.

"That was awesome!"

He actually said the word "enjoyable"!

Gao Jin felt that he must not have slept well today.

Empress Wei smiled smugly as she looked at the emperor's discomposure.

"Your Majesty, I told you, you don't like the food, do you?" she asked knowingly.

"Who said I can't get used to it?" Xiao Yuanzheng glared at her, then picked up a piece of sizzling tofu from the plate. This time he learned his lesson and blew on it before putting it in his mouth.

The tofu had a relatively mild flavor, but its unique spice aroma still caught his eye.

"This is indeed quite good," Xiao Yuanzheng commented after finishing his meal. He looked at Empress Wei and asked, "Was this made by the Crown Prince's concubine?"

"Yes," Empress Wei replied slowly, "I went to Tinglan Pavilion today and happened to see her making this in the courtyard. She was eating with the seventh and ninth princes, and the three of them were eating with gusto, their mouths greasy."

As Xiao Yuanzheng listened to the Empress's description, a vivid picture appeared in his mind.

He always felt that his son, Xiao Jingshi, was too aloof, and the entire Eastern Palace was lifeless.

Now it seems that having such a vibrant and alluring concubine in the Crown Prince's household might not be such a bad thing after all.

At least, it can add a touch of life to that cold and desolate palace.

……

The next day, Ye An'an slept until she woke up naturally.

She was still upset about being "robbed clean" by the Empress yesterday, and was thinking about what she should do today to soothe her wounded heart.

As soon as he got up, Gao Jin, the chief steward of the Imperial Household Department, personally arrived with his men, bringing two large boxes of things.

Upon opening it, one finds a wide variety of top-grade spices, unlike anything one has ever heard of, ranging from cumin from the Western Regions to premium Sichuan peppercorns from Sichuan.

"Your Highness, this is a gift from the Emperor and the Empress." Gao Jin smiled obsequiously. "Your Highness, please see if there is anything you need. Just tell me and I will take care of it."

Ye An'an stared wide-eyed at the two large boxes of treasures.

My God, this is a windfall!

Yesterday I was heartbroken that my bait was stolen, but today I received a fishing rod made of gold and a whole pond of fish fry!

This was a great deal, a huge profit!

Ye An'an was in a great mood. She had everything ready except for one crucial step—leaving the palace.

She dismissed Gao Jin and immediately went to find Xiao Jingshi.

Xiao Jingshi had just finished the morning court session and was reading in his study.

At the gate pavilion, someone was about to announce their arrival when Ye An'an raised her hand to make a shushing gesture. She leaned closer and whispered, "Don't make a sound. I'll go in and find His Highness myself."

Changting was stunned for a moment. Looking at the Crown Prince's concubine's sly smile, she didn't dare to say anything and could only step aside.

Ye An'an straightened her clothes and gently knocked on the door.

"Come in," came Xiao Jingshi's cool voice from inside.

"Your Highness, can I discuss something with you?"

Pushing open the door, a faint scent of ink filled the study. Xiao Jingshi sat at his desk, holding a memorial to the throne, his expression focused.

Xiao Jingshi looked up and saw that it was her. A hint of tenderness, which he himself did not realize, flashed in his eyes.

"What is it?"

"Would you take me out of the palace for a stroll?" Ye An'an asked bluntly.

Xiao Jingshi paused in his actions, looked up at her, and frowned slightly: "Leaving the palace?"

"That's right." Ye An'an walked to his table, placed her hands on the edge of the table, and looked at him with a smile. "I need to buy some things that you can't buy in the palace."

Xiao Jingshi put down the memorial, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment: "What do you want to buy?"

"I've run out of spices, so I have to go out and look around myself to find the authentic ones."

She omitted the fact that the Empress had given her gifts yesterday, only saying that she had used them all up.

Just as Ye An'an was about to say something more, she heard him slowly speak: "The Crown Prince's concubine is not allowed to leave the palace without an imperial decree."

"I know," Ye An'an blinked. "That's why I came to see Your Highness. If you say the word, who would dare to stop me?"

Xiao Jingshi didn't reply, but tapped his fingertips lightly twice on the table.

She thought she would have to go through a lot of explaining, and even prepared Plan B and Plan C.

To everyone's surprise, Xiao Jingshi simply looked at her quietly for a moment, then put down the book in his hand and stood up.

"it is good."

He only said one word.

Ye An'an swallowed back all the words she had prepared.

He... he just agreed like that?

So decisive?

"Change your clothes, and meet me at the palace gate in a quarter of an hour." Xiao Jingshi said this and walked straight into the inner room, obviously to change into casual clothes.

Ye An'an stood there, stunned, blinking, still somewhat incredulous.

Happiness, did it come so suddenly?

Without thinking twice, she quickly turned around and ran back to Tinglan Water Pavilion, where she changed into men's clothing that was easy to move in as fast as possible.

Fifteen minutes later, she excitedly ran to the palace gate.

Xiao Jingshi had also changed into a moon-white brocade robe, losing some of the crown prince's majesty and gaining more of the refined elegance of a noble young master. He stood quietly in the shadows beneath the palace gates, waiting for her.

The two exchanged a glance, and Xiao Jingshi nodded slightly.

"Let's go."

A simple and unassuming carriage was quietly parked outside the hall.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Ye An'an nimbly jumped onto it.

The carriage was not spacious, with soft cushions and a small tea table. Xiao Jingshi sat to one side, looking relaxed.

"Your Highness, where are we going?"

"Weren't you going to buy spices?" Xiao Jingshi glanced at her. "To the West Market."

Ye An'an's eyes lit up.

She had heard of the West Market; it was the liveliest place in the capital, where all sorts of strange and unusual things could be found.

The carriage slowly started moving.

Chenzhu sat on the carriage shaft, while Changting rode alongside on horseback.

Ye An'an lifted the curtain and looked outside. People were coming and going on both sides of the street, and the cries of vendors rose and fell.

"Candied hawthorn berries, so sweet and sour!"

"Freshly baked ghee balls, just out of the oven!"

"Meat pie, three coins each!"

Ye An'an swallowed hard.

She couldn't get these things in the palace.

"Want some?" Xiao Jingshi's voice came from behind.

Ye An'an turned around and met his cold, clear eyes.

"A little," she admitted honestly.

Xiao Jingshi didn't speak, but simply lifted the curtain and said to Changting, "Stop the carriage."

The carriage stopped by the roadside.

Before Ye An'an could react, all the things she had seen were sent to the car.

She handed one of the strings to Xiao Jingshi.

"Try it."

Xiao Jingshi was stunned for a moment, then took the candied hawthorn.

The bright red hawthorns, coated in a glistening sugar coating, shimmered in the sunlight.

He took a bite, and the sweet and sour taste exploded in his mouth.

"Isn't it delicious!" Ye An'an said with a look of enthusiastic recommendation.

Xiao Jingshi looked at her satisfied expression and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

The carriage continued on its way.

The further you walk, the more bustling the streets become.

But the carriage slowed down more and more, and gradually became crowded, with a commotion coming from ahead.

"You spendthrift woman! I told you to buy meat, why did you bring back all this junk!"

A rough male voice rang out, accompanied by a woman's sobbing.

Ye An'an frowned and lifted the curtain to look outside.

A burly man was seen grabbing a woman's hair, while a little girl of about seven or eight years old was crying in fear beside him.

The woman was carrying a basket filled with chicken feet, pig's trotters, and offal.

"Honey, the butcher shop is sold out of meat. I don't have enough money, so this is all I can buy..." the woman explained, crying.

"Bullshit!" The burly man slapped him across the face. "You just want to steal money!"

The woman staggered as she was hit, her basket fell to the ground, and her belongings scattered all over the place.

A crowd had gathered around, but they were all just watching the spectacle and no one stepped forward.

People tried to stop them but were stopped. Bystanders advised that this was a family matter and that even an upright official would find it difficult to settle family disputes.

Ye An'an couldn't stand it anymore.

Before she could speak, Xiao Jingshi had already given instructions to Changting.

"Long Pavilion".

"Yes."

Changting strode up to the burly man and took out a silver ingot from his pocket.

"Brother, my master wants these things."

The burly man froze, staring wide-eyed at the silver ingot.

"This...this is ten taels of silver!"

"Take it." Changting stuffed the silver into his hand, then squatted down, picked up the things on the ground, and put them back in the basket.

The woman knelt beside the carriage, kowtowing repeatedly.

"Thank you, young master! Thank you, young master!"

Xiao Jingshi didn't speak, and Changting followed him back to the carriage.

Then he said, "Life is not easy for ordinary people, and it is even more difficult for common women."

Ye An'an looked at him, and a strange feeling suddenly welled up in her heart.

This man is usually cold and aloof; I never expected him to notice the woman's plight.

"Your Highness, do you often do this?"

"What?"

"Leave the palace to help people."

Xiao Jingshi was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "Occasionally."

Changting added from outside, "His Highness leaves the palace several times a month to observe the people's conditions."

Ye An'an's heart stirred.

No wonder he is so familiar with the capital.

A prince like this will surely be a good emperor in the future.

However, looking at that basket of offal...

The carriage continued its journey and soon arrived at the West Market.

This place is much livelier than the street we just left, with stalls lining the streets and selling all sorts of things.

The car couldn't move, so we had to get out and walk.

After putting on the hat, Ye An'an jumped off the bus; there wasn't enough of a view to take it all in.

"Your Highness, I'm going for a stroll!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she tried to squeeze into the crowd, but Xiao Jingshi grabbed her.

"Stay close to me."

His hands were cold, but his grip was tight.

Ye An'an was stunned for a moment, her heart inexplicably skipping a few beats.

The two walked through the crowd, with Chenzhu and Changting following closely behind.

West Market really has everything.

Selling silk, selling porcelain, selling spices, selling jewelry...

There were also many merchants from the Western Regions, dressed in exotic costumes, performing acrobatics on the street.

A man from the Western Regions was swallowing fire, flames spewing from his mouth, drawing gasps of amazement from the onlookers.

Ye An'an was engrossed in watching, but Xiao Jingshi pulled her along to continue walking forward.

"Let's get down to business first."

"oh."

The two arrived at a spice shop.

The shop wasn't big, but it was filled with all sorts of spice jars.

The owner was a lean, middle-aged man who immediately greeted customers with a smile as they entered.

"What would you two like to buy?"

Ye An'an walked to the counter and carefully examined the spices.

Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon, cloves...

She smelled them one by one, and finally chose a few.

"I'll take them all."

The shopkeeper's eyes lit up, and he quickly weighed and packaged it.

"Two taels of silver in total."

Changting stepped forward and paid the money.

Ye An'an held the spices, completely satisfied.

"Your Highness, shall we stroll around some more?"

Xiao Jingshi glanced at her, and surprisingly did not refuse.

"what ever."

The two continued strolling around the West Market.

Ye An'an wanted to buy everything she saw: candied hawthorns, ghee puffs, meat biscuits...

Xiao Jingshi didn't stop her, but just silently followed beside her.

Ye An'an stopped as she passed a jewelry stall.

The stall was filled with all sorts of trinkets: hairpins, earrings, bracelets...

She picked up a silver hairpin with a small flower carved on it, exquisitely crafted.

"How much is this?"

"Fifty coins," the stall owner said with a smile.

Just as Ye An'an was about to take out her money, Xiao Jingshi suddenly spoke up.

"Too expensive."

The stall owner was taken aback.

"Young master, this is pure silver!"

"Twenty coins," Xiao Jingshi said calmly.

The stall owner's expression changed, and he was about to refuse when Xiao Jingshi turned to leave.

"Never mind, I won't buy it."

"Hey, hey, don't go!" the stall owner cried out anxiously. "Twenty it is!"

Xiao Jingshi then turned around and had Changting pay the bill.

Ye An'an held the silver hairpin and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Your Highness, you can even bargain?"

Xiao Jingshi glanced at her.

"You think I can't?"

Ye An'an suddenly felt that this person was quite down-to-earth.

The two continued walking forward when they suddenly heard a commotion ahead.

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"

A child rushed out of the crowd, clutching a money bag in his hand.

A fat merchant followed behind, panting heavily.

"Thief!"

The child ran very fast and was about to bump into Ye An'an.

Xiao Jingshi reacted quickly and pulled her behind him.

The children brushed past them and disappeared into the crowd.

When the fat merchant caught up with Xiao Jing, he was stunned.

"Young master, which way did you see that thief run off to?"

Xiao Jingshi pointed in a direction.

The portly businessman thanked him and continued his pursuit.

Ye An'an then realized that she was still being protected in Xiao Jingshi's arms.

He had a faint, pleasant scent of ink on him.

"Your Highness..."

Xiao Jingshi released his grip, his ears turning slightly red.

"It's good that you're alright."

Ye An'an's heart skipped a few beats.

The two continued walking, and the atmosphere suddenly became somewhat awkward.

As Ye An'an passed a stall selling sesame cakes, she stopped.

"Your Highness, I want to eat this."

Xiao Jingshi glanced at the greasy sesame seed cake and frowned slightly.

But in the end, Changting still bought two.

Ye An'an took a bite and squinted her eyes in satisfaction.

"Delicious! Your Highness, would you like to try some?"

She handed the sesame seed cake to Xiao Jingshi.

Xiao Jingshi looked at the sesame seed cake she had bitten, and his ears turned even redder.

"Need not."

"Don't be shy," Ye An'an said with a smile. "This is the best sesame seed cake in the capital."

Xiao Jingshi remained silent for a moment, then finally took the sesame seed cake and took a small bite.

Ye An'an looked at him and suddenly felt that this person was actually quite cute.

The two continued strolling, and before they knew it, it was getting late.

The lanterns in the West Market lit up, bathing the entire street in a warm yellow glow.

Ye An'an held a pile of things, completely satisfied.

"Your Highness, shouldn't we head back?"

Xiao Jingshi nodded.

The carriage was parked not far away.

The two got into the car, and the atmosphere suddenly fell silent.

Ye An'an secretly glanced at Xiao Jingshi and found him staring out the window, seemingly lost in thought.

The carriage slowly started moving and headed towards the palace.

As night deepened, fewer and fewer streetlights appeared.

Ye An'an leaned against the carriage and suddenly felt a little sleepy.

She yawned, her eyelids growing heavier.

She didn't know how much time had passed when she felt something gently covering her.

He opened his eyes and found that he was wearing Xiao Jingshi's outer robe.

He was sitting opposite her, his outer robe seemingly glistening with something. A faint blush appeared to cross Ye An'an's face, and her eyes darted around nervously.

After a while, the sound of the carriage wheels stopped. They arrived at the main gate of the palace and saw two men dressed in dark blue official robes.