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

The carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the palace gate.

Ye An'an lifted the car curtain, preparing to jump down, but then stopped.

Two men stood at the palace gate, both dressed in dark blue official robes, with upright postures, and appeared to be around the same age as Xiao Jingshi. One of them had a handsome face and a gentle, refined demeanor, while the other had deep-set eyes and a touch of untamed heroism.

They seemed to be waiting for someone. When they saw the prince's carriage stop, the two immediately came forward, their expressions showing a hint of anxiety.

"Your Highness, you're finally back." The gentle young man spoke first, his tone revealing familiarity.

Xiao Jingshi had already alighted from the carriage. He glanced at the two of them, his voice still cold: "What happened?"

"It's those old foxes in the Ministry of Revenue again," another dashing young man complained with a frown. "They're playing coy with us again over the funding for the southern water conservancy project, saying the national treasury is empty and they can't allocate a single penny."

Sitting in the car, Ye An'an listened to their conversation and roughly understood what was going on. These two must be Xiao Jingshi's trusted colleagues.

She was wondering whether she should sneak back to the East Palace first to avoid disturbing their serious conversation when Xiao Jingshi suddenly turned around and reached out his hand to her.

That hand, with its distinct knuckles, long and beautiful, remained quietly suspended in mid-air.

Ye An'an was stunned for a moment.

Is this... to help her out of the car?

She glanced at the hand, then at Xiao Jingshi's expressionless face, and felt a little amused. This guy, even though he'd offered his hand, still had that "I'm so aloof" look on his face—it was so awkwardly cute.

Without thinking twice, she placed her hand on it.

Xiao Jingshi's palms were cold but steady; with a gentle grip, he helped her out of the car.

He only let go of Ye An'an's hand after she had stood firmly. The whole process was natural, as if he had done it a thousand times.

But the other two people at the palace gate were staring so intently their eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

The gentle and refined young man is named Lu Chengyuan, the son of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and currently works in the Hanlin Academy. The dashing young man is named Xie Zhao, the heir of the Marquis of Dingbei's household, and currently works in the Ministry of War. The two of them grew up with Xiao Jingshi, and although they are said to be ruler and subject, they are more like friends.

When had they ever seen their Crown Prince, who was usually indifferent to women, be so close and considerate to any woman?

Moreover, this woman was dressed in men's clothing, with bright eyes and a lively spirit, unlike the affected and pretentious young ladies of noble families in the capital.

The two exchanged a shocked look: Who is this? When did His Highness acquire such a person by his side?

"Ahem." Xiao Jingshi seemed to notice their lapse in composure and coughed lightly, introducing, "This is the Crown Prince's concubine."

"Pfft—" Xie Zhao couldn't catch his breath and almost choked to death.

The Crown Prince's concubine?!

She is the daughter of the legendary general who was big-breasted, brainless, arrogant and domineering, who used her military merits to force her way into marriage, only to be left alone in an empty room by the prince on her wedding night.

This...this doesn't match the rumors!

The one in the rumors was supposed to be weeping and full of resentment, right? How come this one looks more carefree and happy than anyone else? And he's even dressed in men's clothing, leaving the palace with His Highness?

Lu Chengyuan was more composed than Xie Zhao. He quickly suppressed his surprise, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Your subject, Lu Chengyuan (Xie Zhao), greets the Crown Prince's Consort."

"No need for such formalities, gentlemen." Ye An'an waved her hand generously. She was in a good mood today and found everyone pleasing to the eye.

She glanced at the files they were holding, then looked at Xiao Jingshi, and said understandingly, "You have important matters to discuss, so I won't disturb you any longer. Your Highness, I'll head back now."

As she spoke, she waved to Xiao Jingshi and turned to leave.

"Wait," Xiao Jingshi called out to her.

He glanced at the large bags and packages in Changting and Chenzhu's hands, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. "With so much stuff, have them take you back."

After saying that, he seemed to remember something and said to Lu Chengyuan and Xie Zhao, "Let's talk in Jingming Hall."

This means that they should go to the study and wait first.

Lu Chengyuan and Xie Zhao were shocked once again.

Your Highness is... leaving these two people who came to ask for help in dire need of help to settle the concubine first?

Has the sun risen in the west?

Ye An'an didn't think anything of it. She glanced at the spoils she had bought and suddenly remembered something.

She took two still-warm meat pies from the paper bag that Chenzhu was holding and handed them over.

"You two look quite anxious, I suppose you haven't eaten yet? Here's something for you to tide you over, it's fresh out of the oven and tastes pretty good."

Lu Chengyuan and Xie Zhao were both stunned.

They looked at the sesame seed cake wrapped in oil paper that Ye An'an handed them, and for a moment they didn't know whether to accept it or not.

This... the Crown Prince's concubine actually gave them food?

Or is it something you buy from a street stall?

"This... thank you, Your Highness, but... it's against the rules." Lu Chengyuan politely declined. As subjects, how could they casually accept gifts from their master, especially at the palace gate?

"Oh, what's with all the formalities?" Ye An'an shoved the sesame cakes into their hands. "You're His Highness's friends, so you're my friends too. Friends shouldn't stand on ceremony. Eat up, they won't taste good when they get cold."

Her smile, with her eyes crinkling like a cunning yet generous little fox, was irresistible.

A aroma mingled with the scents of noodles and meat wafted into their nostrils, and their already empty stomachs, which had been empty from their busy schedules, began to rumble.

Xie Zhao was a straightforward person. He looked at the sesame seed cake in his hand, swallowed hard, and whispered to Lu Chengyuan, "It smells... pretty good."

Looking at Ye An'an's overly familiar manner, Xiao Jingshi's eyes flashed with a hint of helplessness, but more than that, there was a kind of indulgence that he himself was unaware of.

He didn't say anything to stop her, which was tantamount to tacitly approving of her behavior.

Seeing that the Crown Prince had not spoken, Lu Chengyuan and Xie Zhao exchanged a glance, then stopped refusing, thanked him, and accepted the sesame cakes.

"Then I'll be going now, you guys keep chatting." Ye An'an waved to them, and then led Chenzhu and Changting in a grand procession towards the East Palace.

Watching her graceful figure disappear into the distance, Xie Zhao couldn't help but take a bite of the sesame seed cake in his hand.

The next second, his eyes widened suddenly.

"Hmm!"

The outer crust of the sesame seed cake is baked until it is crispy and fragrant, while the dough inside is soft and chewy. The meat filling in the middle is a perfect balance of lean and fatty meat, savory and juicy. One bite and your mouth is filled with the taste of happiness!

"This sesame seed cake is delicious!" Xie Zhao finished one in a few bites and licked his lips with lingering satisfaction.

The two devoured the sesame cakes in a flash, feeling much of their fatigue dissipate.

"Your Highness," Xie Zhao clicked his tongue and couldn't help but ask, "This concubine... is really quite different from the rumors."

Xiao Jingshi glanced at him without saying a word, but the faint smile at the corner of his mouth showed that he was in a good mood.

"Let's go in and talk business." He said this and took the lead in walking into the palace gate.

Lu Chengyuan and Xie Zhao exchanged a glance, both seeing the same thought in each other's eyes: This Crown Prince's concubine is no ordinary woman! It seems the Eastern Palace is about to become quite lively.