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

Xiao Jingshi's expression went blank for a moment.

Those eyes, which were always as clear and cold as an ancient well, were now filled with disbelief.

He chewed slowly, as if savoring this unprecedented taste sensation. The soft, chewy pork skin melted in his mouth, its rich collagen sticking to his lips, bringing a wonderful sense of satisfaction. The lean meat, meanwhile, was braised until it was thoroughly infused with flavor, savory and rich, with a lingering aftertaste.

"How was it, Your Highness?" Ye An'an leaned closer and asked in a low voice, like a primary school student waiting for praise from the teacher.

Xiao Jingshi didn't say anything, but silently finished the pig's trotter in his mouth. Then, to everyone's astonishment, he reached out his chopsticks and picked up a second piece.

Actions speak louder than words.

"Hahahaha!" Xie Zhao burst into laughter upon seeing this. "I knew it! I knew even His Highness couldn't resist such delicious food! Come on, everyone, don't be shy, let's eat!"

With the crown prince taking the lead, no one was restrained anymore.

In an instant, chopsticks flew across the stone table, and a silent "food-grabbing battle" officially began.

"Hey, Xie Zhao, don't just eat pig's trotters, try this braised pork intestine, it's absolutely amazing!" Ye An'an picked up a piece of braised pork intestine and put it into Xie Zhao's bowl.

Xie Zhao stared at the dark, unappetizing substance in the bowl, his face filled with resistance: "Your Majesty, this... this is really not suitable for me..."

"Trust me, just one bite! If you don't like it, spit it out!" Ye An'an coaxed patiently.

Xie Zhao picked up the piece of fatty intestine with a mixture of disbelief and skepticism, and put it into his mouth with a death-defying air.

The next second, he froze completely.

The pork intestines were braised until extremely tender, almost melting in the mouth with minimal chewing. The rich, savory aroma of the braising sauce, mixed with the fragrance of the oil, instantly filled the entire mouth. Far from having any unpleasant odor, it possessed a unique and addictive flavor.

"Ugh..." Xie Zhao's eyes instantly reddened, whether from emotion or from being overwhelmed by the delicious taste, it was hard to tell. "Your Majesty, I was wrong... I shouldn't have judged a book by its cover... This stuff is so delicious!"

After saying that, he directly reached for the plate of braised pork intestines with his chopsticks.

Lu Chengyuan looked at them, shook his head helplessly, picked up a piece of fatty intestine, and savored it carefully. Then, his eyes lit up with amazement.

We ate braised dishes until the moon was high in the sky.

The three large plates of braised dishes were devoured in a flash, and Xie Zhao even used the remaining braising liquid at the bottom of the plates to mix with a bowl of rice.

The three men were all slumped in their chairs, rubbing their round bellies, their faces showing a mixture of satisfaction and utter despair.

"Your Majesty," Lu Chengyuan put down his teacup and said sincerely, "Today's meal has truly broadened my horizons. To turn the mundane into the miraculous, Your Majesty is truly a divine being."

"Yes, yes!" Xie Zhao nodded vigorously in agreement. "I've decided! From now on, I'll be Your Majesty's most loyal 'diner'! Whatever you cook, I'll eat!"

Although Xiao Jingshi didn't speak, his relaxed brows and carefree posture showed that he was in a very good mood.

Ye An'an felt extremely smug looking at them like this.

She glanced at the remaining braised food in the pot, her eyes lit up, and an idea struck her.

"Brushing clouds, sinking pearls."

"This servant is here."

"Go, pick out the best of the remaining braised dishes and pack them up. Send one box to the Empress Dowager so she can try them. Pack another box and send it to the Emperor."

Since we're going to engage in "food diplomacy," we can't forget the two biggest bosses in the palace.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Fuyun and Chenzhu immediately went to do it.

Hearing her words, Xiao Jingshi glanced at her, a hint of approval in his eyes. This woman, though unconventional in her actions, was extremely tactful in her dealings with others and knew how to grasp the key points.

……

Inside the Phoenix Palace, Empress Wei was just about to retire for the night.

Ever since she ate Ye An'an's teppanyaki, she has become increasingly uninterested in anything sent from the imperial kitchen.

Just then, a palace servant announced that a maid from Tinglan Water Pavilion had brought a midnight snack.

Empress Wei immediately perked up.

As soon as the food box was opened, a rich aroma of braised meat filled the entire bedroom.

Her eyes lit up when she saw the dark red, glistening pig's trotters and chicken feet on the plate.

"What kind of new gadget is this?"

She picked up a chicken foot and, just like last time, started gnawing on it with her hands.

"Mmm!" The melt-in-your-mouth texture and rich, savory flavor made her squint her eyes in pleasure. "Delicious! This is even better than the teppanyaki I had last time!"

She picked up another piece of pig's trotter; its rich collagen made her reluctant to put it down.

"Granny Gui, look at this. Eating this will definitely improve your complexion," she said to Granny Gui beside her as she ate.

……

Meanwhile, in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Emperor Xiao Yuanzheng was still reviewing memorials.

Gao Jin carefully carried a bowl of ginseng soup inside.

"Your Majesty, it's late. Please have some ginseng soup."

"Take it away." Xiao Yuanzheng didn't even look up; he was annoyed by the smell of these bland, watery things.

Just then, a young eunuch came in to report that the Crown Prince's concubine had sent someone to deliver a midnight snack.

"The Crown Prince's concubine?" Xiao Yuanzheng was somewhat surprised. He remembered the spicy chicken wing that had given him such a "goosebump" last time.

"Bring it here."

As soon as the food box was opened, the same domineering aroma of braised food wafted out.

Xiao Yuanzheng frowned as he looked at the few unremarkable braised dishes on the plate.

"What is this?"

"Your Majesty, the palace maid who delivered the food said it's called... braised pig's trotters and braised pork intestines," Gao Jin replied softly.

Pig's trotters? Pig intestines?

Xiao Yuanzheng's brows furrowed even deeper. These things...can they be eaten?

With a hint of skepticism, he picked up a piece of pig's trotter with his chopsticks. Looking at its glossy color, he hesitated for a moment, but still put it in his mouth.

The next second, his expression was exactly the same as when his son Xiao Jingshi ate it for the first time.

First came shock, then enjoyment.

"Hmm...it tastes good." He chewed, giving a fair assessment.

Then, his chopsticks reached for the plate of braised pork intestines.

Gao Jin watched from the side, his heart pounding in his chest. Your Majesty, that's…fat intestines!

Xiao Yuanzheng picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.

Soft, glutinous, and fragrant, it melts in your mouth.

"Hmm!" Xiao Yuanzheng's eyes suddenly lit up.

He quickly devoured the entire plate of braised dishes, then reluctantly put down his chopsticks.

"Gao Jin".

"Your servant is here."

"Go and convey my decree. Tomorrow, have the Crown Prince and his concubine come to the palace to have lunch with me."