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

While Ye An'an in the capital was immersed in the joy of bubble tea and the longing for her sweetheart, Xiao Jingshi, far away in Jiangnan, encountered new troubles.

The plague in Jiangzhou was successfully brought under control, corrupt officials were executed on the spot, and the river embankment repair project was in full swing. The image of His Highness the Crown Prince as decisive and compassionate towards the people quickly spread throughout the Jiangnan region.

For a time, Xiao Jingshi's reputation in Jiangnan reached an unprecedented height.

However, with increased prestige came trouble.

Previously, the local officials, gentry, and wealthy merchants in Jiangnan who kept their distance from him and avoided him at all costs were now racking their brains and trying every possible way to curry favor with him.

At first, they only sent gold, silver, jewelry, antiques, and calligraphy and paintings.

Xiao Jingshi had never been interested in these things and didn't even bother to look at them. He directly ordered Changting to return them all and announced that no gifts would be accepted during the disaster relief period, and those who violated this rule would be severely punished.

With the avenue of gift-giving blocked, those shrewd officials and wealthy businessmen started to come up with other crooked ideas.

Throughout history, what has been the most effective and direct way to curry favor with superiors?

A gift for a beautiful woman.

That evening, Xiao Jingshi had just returned from inspecting the construction site on the river embankment. Covered in dust, he was preparing to go back to his room to wash up.

The newly appointed prefect of Jiangzhou, a middle-aged man surnamed Qian who looked quite clever, greeted him with a beaming smile.

"Your Highness, you've had a long day!" Prefect Qian bowed, following behind Xiao Jingshi. "This humble official has prepared hot water and fragrant soup to help you relax."

Xiao Jingshi gave a curt "hmm" and paid no further attention. He had no liking for these local officials.

Upon entering his temporary residence in the backyard of the government office, he discovered that there was an extra person in the courtyard.

A young woman dressed in a light blue dress was kneeling beside a stone table in the courtyard, gracefully preparing tea.

She was slender and graceful, with beautiful features, and exuded the gentle and refined temperament unique to women from Jiangnan. Hearing footsteps, she raised her head, smiled at Xiao Jingshi, and said softly, "This humble woman, Su Wanwan, greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Her voice was like a nightingale singing in a valley, clear and melodious.

Xiao Jingshi's brow furrowed imperceptibly. He glanced at Prefect Qian beside him, his eyes instantly turning cold: "Who is she?"

Prefect Qian's heart skipped a beat when he saw the look in her eyes, and he quickly explained, "Your Highness, this is Miss Su, the most famous talented woman in Jiangzhou City. Her tea ceremony is superb. I thought Your Highness had been working hard for days and was exhausted, so I specially invited Miss Su to brew a cup of calming tea for Your Highness to soothe your mind."

He put it in a very high-sounding and dignified way.

Xiao Jingshi, however, knew perfectly well what was going on. This tea-making was nothing more than a different kind of "gift-giving."

He didn't even bother to glance at Su Wanwan again, walking straight past her and coldly tossing out, "No need. Let her go."

Su Wanwan's smile froze instantly. She clearly hadn't expected that her beauty and talent, which she was so proud of, wouldn't even earn her a second glance from His Highness the Crown Prince.

Prefect Qian was also stunned. He did not expect His Highness the Crown Prince to refuse so decisively and without any mercy.

"Your Highness..." He wanted to persuade him again.

"Didn't you understand what I said?" Xiao Jingshi's voice already carried a hint of impatience and anger. "Or does Lord Qian think that I have the leisure to sit here and enjoy tea?"

"No, no, no! This humble official wouldn't dare!" Prefect Qian was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat. He didn't dare to say another word and hurriedly pulled Su Wanwan away in a sorry state.

The courtyard was finally quiet again.

Xiao Jingshi entered the room, where Changting had already prepared hot water.

He took off his coat and sat in the bathtub, the warm water instantly enveloping his tired body. He closed his eyes, but his mind was a jumbled mess.

He thought of the woman named Su Wanwan from earlier. Was she beautiful? Yes, she was. Was she gentle? Yes, she was.

But for some reason, looking at her cautious and deliberately ingratiating manner, he felt a strange sense of irritation.

Unconsciously, the image of Ye An'an appeared in his mind.

That woman would never use such a fawning attitude towards him.

She was always so vibrant and real. She would beam with joy when she ate delicious food, feel smug when her plans succeeded, nag endlessly when she was worried about him, and bicker and act spoiled with him over the smallest things.

Everything she did and every word she said was so...unique.

Just like the "epidemic prevention manual" she gave herself, every word and every point of view in it overturned his understanding, yet it was surprisingly effective.

He could even imagine that if Ye An'an were here right now, she certainly wouldn't be kneeling on the ground cooking some kind of calming tea. She would probably roll up her sleeves, rush into the kitchen, make himself a bowl of steaming hot soup noodles, or bring out a plate of meat jerky that smelled so good it could steal your soul, and then proudly show off her achievement to him.

Thinking of this, a faint smile unconsciously appeared on Xiao Jingshi's lips.

He realized that he seemed to...miss her a little.

Just then, Xie Zhao's loud voice came from outside the door.

"Your Highness! Your Highness! I just saw Prefect Qian take a beautiful woman out. What happened? Did you send her away?"

Xie Zhao pushed open the door and came in, his face full of gossip.

Xiao Jingshi opened his eyes, glanced at him, and didn't say anything.

"You've got guts. I think that old guy's got a lot of bad intentions; you can't fall for his tricks."

"They can't get through my approach. If they really want me to treat them differently, they'll have to show some results," Xiao Jingshi said calmly.

"Greedy as ever," Xie Zhao pursed his lips, then whispered mysteriously, "But Your Highness, I must warn you. I've heard this is just the beginning. Many officials and wealthy merchants in Jiangzhou City are eyeing you like a piece of fat meat. I reckon in the next few days, people will be bringing you daughters and nieces so many they'll wear down the threshold of the government office."

Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Jingshi glared at him with a sharp look.

Xie Zhao awkwardly touched his nose, but his mind was already racing. He felt it was his duty to protect His Highness's chastity for the sake of the concubine. What if, upon returning to the capital, the concubine found out that His Highness was surrounded by a bunch of women here? Wouldn't she be furious? At that point, forget about eating her new dishes; he probably wouldn't even be allowed into the mansion.

Besides, the concubine's cooking skills are far superior to those of any talented woman from Jiangzhou. Just thinking about the aroma of that roasted meat jerky makes his mouth water.

Thinking about this, Xie Zhao felt his idea was even more reliable. He cleared his throat and said seriously, "Your Highness, why don't you just spread the word that... that you already have someone you love, so those people won't waste their time?"

Xiao Jingshi closed his eyes to rest and did not respond.

But Xie Zhao clearly saw that His Highness's brows relaxed for a moment.