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

The entire banquet hall fell into an instant silence so profound you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone held their breath, watching the composed Crown Prince in the main seat, wondering how he would deal with this almost coerced "offering of a woman".

Prefect Qian was still lost in his daydream. He thought that his daughter was young and beautiful, and the daughter of an official, so what reason did His Highness the Crown Prince have to refuse? Even if he only took her as a concubine, it would be an immense fortune. From then on, the Qian family would be connected with the Crown Prince, and their future would be limitless.

His daughter, Qian Qianqian, straightened her back, a confident smile on her face. She was certain that with her beauty and family background, she could win the prince's heart.

However, they all underestimated Xiao Jingshi's bottom line.

Xiao Jingshi slowly put down his teacup, the bottom of which collided with the table, making a crisp "tap".

The sound wasn't loud, but it struck like a heavy hammer, hitting everyone's heart.

He didn't look at the father and daughter, but instead slowly swept his gaze across all the officials and gentry present. His gaze was cold, sharp, and carried an undeniable air of authority.

"Lord Qian." He finally spoke, his voice so calm that it was completely unwavering, yet it sent a chill down Magistrate Qian's spine for no apparent reason.

"Your subject... Your subject is here."

"I ask you, do you know your crime?"

Prefect Qian was dumbfounded.

Knowing my guilt? What guilt do I know? I gave you my daughter, which is a great thing, how could that be a crime?

"Your Highness... Your Highness, I... I am foolish and do not understand what Your Highness means by these words?"

"What do you mean?" Xiao Jingshi's lips curled into a cold smile. "I came to Jiangnan to provide disaster relief and to bring peace to the people. And you, instead of thinking about how to serve the people, spend your days scheming and putting on one sycophantic performance after another before me!"

His voice suddenly rose, filled with barely suppressed anger.

"Do you think I'm too idle? Or do you think I'd even look at you common, vulgar women?"

Upon hearing the words "commonplace beauty," Qian Qianqian's face instantly turned pale. The other officials present, who had previously harbored such thoughts, also lowered their heads in shame.

"Your Highness, please calm down. I...I just...I just feel sorry that Your Highness has no one to take care of you..." Prefect Qian was still trying to justify himself.

"Shut up!" Xiao Jingshi slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly.

Everyone in the room was so frightened that they knelt down, completely silent.

"No one to take care of him?" Xiao Jingshi sneered. His gaze seemed to penetrate the main hall and reach the distant capital, and the figure busy for him in the small kitchen.

His voice, clear and firm, resounded in everyone's ears.

"I already have a family in the capital. My concubine may not be as skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting as your daughters, but she has the world at heart and is exceptionally intelligent. The epidemic prevention methods I relied on to control the plague during my trip south came from her. Her epidemic prevention manual is invaluable, saving countless people from suffering."

"She may not speak sweet words, but she will work tirelessly, day and night, to prepare all kinds of food for my journey so that I can have a hot meal. Her culinary skills are unparalleled; she can turn the rotten into the magical. Even my father and mother praise her highly."

"She is my wise and capable wife, my confidante, and my pride."

Xiao Jingshi looked at the stunned crowd below and said, word by word:

"My concubine is unparalleled in the world. These women you sent aren't even worthy to carry her shoes!"

"Keep your filthy thoughts to yourself! From this day forward, anyone who dares to harbor such thoughts again will face my ruthlessness and be severely punished for 'obstructing disaster relief and sowing discord among the troops'!"

His words were resounding, like a series of loud slaps to the face of Prefect Qian and all those with ulterior motives.

The entire hall was deathly silent.

Everyone was completely stunned by the Crown Prince's words.

They never imagined that the usually aloof and taciturn Crown Prince would so openly and unreservedly praise one of his concubines in front of so many people.

The protectiveness, pride, and unique affection in those words are something no one can fake.

Xie Zhao knelt below, his mouth agape, wide enough to fit an egg. Looking at his brother in the main seat, radiating a powerful aura, he had only one thought: It's over, His Highness is completely finished. Finished utterly and completely by that woman named Ye An'an.

Lu Chengyuan lowered his head, a relieved smile appearing on his lips. He was happy for his friend.

Prefect Qian and his daughter Qian Qianqian were ashen-faced, slumped to the ground, trembling violently. They knew they were finished.

……

The banquet ended unhappily.

That night, Xiao Jingshi stood alone by the window, looking at the moonlight outside.

He practically shouted what he said in the main hall. Even he himself found it somewhat unbelievable afterward.

He never imagined that he would have such a high opinion of a woman and such a strong desire to protect her.

But those words came from the bottom of his heart.

Whenever he thought of Ye An'an, he felt that those ordinary women weren't even worthy of carrying her shoes.

He misses her.

Thinking about it a lot.

He walked to the desk, spread out a sheet of paper, and picked up a pen.

He wanted to tell her what had happened that day. He wanted to tell her that he had praised her in front of everyone. He imagined that when she heard these words, she would proudly raise her chin, her bright eyes sparkling with a mischievous and happy light.

He wrote for a long time, filling two whole pages.

After he finished writing, he put the letter away and called Changting over.

"Immediately, send it back to the capital by express courier, and hand it over to the concubine."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Watching Changting's departing figure, Xiao Jingshi felt that his heart, which had been restless all day, had finally calmed down.