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

Having resolved the internal affairs of the Eastern Palace, Ye An'an finally had some free time. Xiao Jingshi, on the other hand, remained extremely busy, spending every day in his study and the Imperial Study, often staying up until dawn, and the dark circles under his eyes grew heavier day by day.

Although she felt sorry for him, she knew she couldn't help with important state affairs, so she could only try her best to make him delicious and nutritious meals. But recently she noticed that no matter what kind of ginseng soup or bird's nest she made, Xiao Jingshi would still feel sleepy when reviewing memorials.

"I need to think of a way to perk him up," Ye An'an pondered.

That day, as usual, she went to the imperial kitchen to "inspect" it, hoping to see what fresh ingredients were available. The head steward of the imperial kitchen, Liu, was now incredibly attentive to her, as if she were a god of wealth.

"Oh, Your Highness, please just tell us what you'd like to eat, and we'll bring it to Tinglan Water Pavilion for you!"

"I'm just browsing." Ye An'an said with her hands behind her back, like a queen inspecting her territory.

In a corner of a warehouse piled high with tribute goods from the Western Regions and Southeast Asia, her gaze was drawn to a burlap sack. The sack was open, and inside it was filled with a bag of small, dark brown, oval beans.

A very familiar, rich, and slightly burnt aroma wafted towards her.

Ye An'an's eyes lit up instantly!

She hurried forward, picked up a few beans from the bag, held them to her nose, and took a deep breath. Yes! That's the smell!

Coffee beans!

Good heavens! Coffee beans exist in this day and age?! She was so excited she almost jumped for joy. As a seasoned office worker who used to drink at least three Americanos a day, she hadn't smelled this soul-stirring aroma for over two months!

"Manager Liu!" she cried, rushing out with the beans in her hand. "What's this?"

Steward Liu leaned over and sniffed it, then immediately frowned in disgust: "Your Majesty, these are 'black wind beans' that were brought as tribute from Java two years ago. They are said to be able to refresh the mind. But when we boiled them and drank the water, it was black and bitter, like medicine. It was awful."

He waved his hand, "Later it was just left here and nobody wanted it. Your Majesty, why are you asking about this? It smells really strange."

"Disgusting?" Ye An'an rolled her eyes inwardly. What do you mortals know? This is liquid gold that can drive the whole world crazy!

"I want this one!" Her eyes lit up.

"Your Highness, if you like it, you can have the whole bag!" Steward Liu couldn't wait to get rid of this space-consuming garbage.

Ye An'an was overjoyed and immediately had Chenzhu and Fuyun carry half a bag of coffee beans back to Tinglan Water Pavilion.

As soon as she entered the small kitchen, she rolled up her sleeves and got to work.

She found a clean, thick-bottomed iron pot, poured in the coffee beans, and began roasting them over a low flame. As the temperature rose, the beans changed color from green to light brown, and a raw, green aroma gradually transformed into an intoxicating grain fragrance.

As the coffee beans turn a beautiful chocolate color, an incredibly rich and complex aroma, a blend of caramel and nutty notes, bursts forth from the pot, filling the entire small kitchen.

"Good heavens! Your Majesty, what is that smell? It smells amazing!"

Fuyun and Chenzhu, who were in the courtyard, were lured over by the fragrance. They leaned over the doorway, sniffing the air with infatuation on their faces.

Soon, the unusual fragrance attracted even more people. Several passing palace maids and eunuchs couldn't help but stop and peer inside.

"What kind of divine fragrance is this?"

"I've never smelled anything like it before! It smells even better than the incense from the Imperial Fragrance Bureau!"

Ye An'an smiled smugly. She let the roasted beans cool, then found a stone mortar and pestle to grind them into a fine, dark brown powder.

Then, she began the most crucial step: brewing.

She boiled water in a copper kettle with a narrow spout, then found an exquisite glass cup and lined the rim with the finest gauze. She poured coffee grounds onto the gauze, lifted the kettle, and slowly poured water in a circular motion.

The moment the hot water touched the coffee grounds, the powder immediately puffed up like fermenting dough. An aroma a hundred times stronger than before burst forth!

"My God!" Fuyun exclaimed, her eyes wide.

The deep brown, crystalline liquid dripped drop by drop into the glass, a sight that was simply breathtaking.

When the first cup of pure black coffee was brewed, the entire Tinglan Water Pavilion was enveloped in its powerful aroma. Even the palace servants in the neighboring courtyard curiously peeked out.

"Chenzhu, go and call Steward Liu over." Ye An'an's eyes darted around, and she smiled slyly.

A moment later, Steward Liu came running over, all excited: "Your Majesty, are you looking for this servant?"

"You just said that the water boiled with 'black wind beans' is bitter and awful?" Ye An'an picked up the cup of coffee and swirled it under his nose.

Manager Liu was about to nod, but when the rich, almost overwhelming aroma filled his nostrils, he froze: "This...this is...those black wind beans? How...how can they smell so good?"

"Want to try it?" Ye An'an raised an eyebrow.

Manager Liu swallowed hard, took the cup, and carefully took a sip. The next second, his eyes widened in shock, and his face showed an expression of utter astonishment!

"This, this..." he stammered, "This servant has never tasted anything so, so special! Although it's bitter, the fragrance after the bitterness... Heavens, this servant can't describe it, I just feel completely refreshed!"

He looked at the cup in his hand, slapping his thigh in regret: "This servant was truly blind! Such a fine treasure, and it's just been left to gather dust in the storeroom! Your Majesty, you are truly a Midas touch!"

Ye An'an smiled without saying a word. She then brewed another cup of stronger coffee and carefully carried it to the study.

Xiao Jingshi was buried in a mountain of memorials, his brows furrowed and his eyes filled with exhaustion. The candlelight illuminated his gaunt profile, making Ye An'an's heart ache.

"Your Highness, take a rest." She placed the steaming glass beside him. "Try something new I made for you."

Xiao Jingshi looked up and was immediately drawn to the domineering yet alluring fragrance he had never smelled before. He looked at the ink-black liquid in the glass and frowned slightly.

"What is this?"

"This is called coffee," Ye An'an said with a smile. "It's more effective at refreshing the mind than any ginseng soup."

Xiao Jingshi picked up the cup with some skepticism and took a small sip.

The next second, his usually calm face revealed an extremely complex expression for the first time—his brows furrowed, then slowly relaxed, and a hint of amazement flashed in his eyes.

Bitter! Extremely bitter! The bitterness struck his taste buds like lightning, instantly invigorating him.

But just as the bitterness dissipated, a mellow, slightly fruity sweetness began to rise slowly from the back of the tongue. It was an extremely layered and complex flavor that left a lingering aftertaste.

Even more miraculously, he felt his brain, which had been foggy from staying up all night, become much clearer instantly after drinking the black liquid. He felt as if a clear spring had been poured into him, and his whole body was filled with unprecedented refreshment and vitality.

He was stunned for a while, then picked up the cup and took a second and third sip... Before he knew it, the cup of coffee was gone.

"This thing..." He put down the empty cup, his eyes filled with amazement, "is truly amazing."

Then he looked up at Ye An'an, a burning light gleaming in his deep eyes: "An'an, you always manage to surprise me."

Just as Ye An'an was about to speak, Xiao Jingshi suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her to sit down beside him.

"Is it good?" she asked, her eyes crinkling with a smile.

"Hmm." Xiao Jingshi nodded, then his tone suddenly became serious and domineering, "From now on, this can only be made for me alone."

Ye An'an was taken aback for a moment, then laughed out loud: "Your Highness, it's just a drink..."

"No." Xiao Jingshi interrupted her, tightening his grip on her wrist. "I don't care. All the good things you make can only be given to me."

He leaned closer to her, his nose almost touching hers, his voice deep and earnest: "You are my Crown Princess, and everything you do can only belong to me."

The candlelight flickered, illuminating his face, which was serious to the point of obsession. Ye An'an's heart skipped a beat.

This man's possessiveness can sometimes be endearingly childish.

"Okay, okay." She nodded, suppressing a laugh. "It's just for you, alright?"

Xiao Jingshi then released his grip with satisfaction, but immediately said, "Give me another cup."

Ye An'an was both amused and exasperated: "Your Highness, this stuff is a stimulant; if you drink too much, you won't be able to sleep at night..."

"It's alright." Xiao Jingshi pointed to the memorials on the table. "I need to review this rare document all night tonight. This is just what I need."

Ye An'an had no choice but to make him another cup.

Seeing Xiao Jingshi holding a coffee, sipping it while reviewing memorials, looking much better, she felt a surge of warmth in her heart.

She suddenly thought, perhaps she could promote coffee? It's a great way to refresh the mind, and those officials who often stay up late would probably need it.

And... her eyes lit up – this was another great opportunity to make money!

But we can talk about these things tomorrow. Today, she stayed with her Crown Prince, watching him drink the coffee she made herself while dealing with the endless political affairs.

The moonlight outside the window was as clear as water, while the candlelight inside the room was warm.

These kinds of times are actually quite nice.