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

Xiao Yuanzheng put down the empty glass bottle and smacked his lips with lingering satisfaction.

He had to admit that this "bubble tea" did have its unique aspects. The taste was novel, the texture was interesting, and most importantly, it could provide a moment of relaxation and pleasure on a dreary afternoon.

It is a hundred times better than those bitter ginseng soups and bland teas.

He glanced at Empress Wei, who was secretly pleased with herself, cleared his throat, and calmly commented, "Hmm, acceptable."

"Just passable?" Empress Wei raised an eyebrow. "I noticed that Your Majesty drank every last drop."

Xiao Yuanzheng's old face flushed slightly. He coughed lightly, forcibly changing the subject: "Ahem, I just feel that this thing... is quite refreshing. It has a little bit of use in refreshing the mind."

He spoke in such a grand and dignified manner, as if what he was drinking wasn't dessert, but some kind of stimulant.

Empress Wei chuckled inwardly at his insincere behavior but didn't expose him.

"Since Your Majesty finds it useful, I still have some in my palace. I'll have someone fetch you another bottle."

"No need," Xiao Yuanzheng immediately waved his hand, putting on airs and saying calmly, "I am the Son of Heaven, how can I indulge in such culinary desires? Indulging occasionally is already the limit."

He spoke with righteous indignation, but his eyes unconsciously glanced at the empty bottle again.

Empress Wei suppressed a laugh and nodded: "Very well then, since Your Majesty doesn't want to drink, I'll take them all back with me."

After saying that, she got up and made a move to leave.

"Wait a minute." Xiao Yuanzheng finally couldn't help but call out to her.

"Does Your Majesty have any further instructions?"

A hint of unease flashed across Xiao Yuanzheng's face. He hesitated for a moment before saying in a consultative tone, "Well... I think that since this thing can refresh the mind, then tomorrow... tomorrow afternoon, please send over another bottle. Consider it... a medicinal drink."

"Pfft..." Empress Wei finally couldn't help but laugh.

Xiao Yuanzheng was utterly humiliated. He glared at her and said, "What are you laughing at! I'm doing this for the sake of the country!"

"Yes, yes, yes, for the sake of the country." Empress Wei replied with a smile and left satisfied.

She felt as if she had found a new way to manipulate the emperor.

Meanwhile, Gao Jin, the chief eunuch of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, was completely dumbfounded.

He had served the emperor for decades and had never seen the emperor show such great interest in any food.

Even with the spicy chicken wings that the Crown Prince's concubine made last time, the Emperor only ate a few more bites.

But today, the Emperor not only finished his bubble tea, but also... wanted a refill?

Moreover, they used such a lame excuse as "for the sake of the country"?

Gao Jin thought that this concubine of the Crown Prince was simply a vixen.

A culinary enchantress who can use her culinary skills to bewitch everyone in the palace, from the empress to the princes and the emperor...

The next afternoon, Empress Wei indeed sent someone to deliver a bottle of bubble tea to the emperor.

Xiao Yuanzheng said "This is the last time," but his body betrayed him. He took the drink and finished it off in no time.

After finishing the drink, he still felt unsatisfied.

He frowned as he looked at the glass bottle, which was not much larger than an ordinary teacup.

"Gao Jin".

"Your servant is here."

"Don't you think this bottle is a bit too small?"

Gao Jin was stunned for a moment, not understanding the emperor's meaning.

Xiao Yuanzheng pointed at the bottle with some impatience: "What I mean is, this little bit will be gone in two gulps. How can it possibly have the effect of 'refreshing'? It's simply a drop in the ocean!"

Gao Jin understood instantly.

Your Majesty... thinks it's not enough!

He quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty is right! It was our oversight! This kind of 'good medicine' for refreshing the mind should indeed... be given in larger doses!"

"Hmm." Xiao Yuanzheng nodded in satisfaction. "Go, go to the East Palace yourself."

"Yes."

"Tell the Crown Prince's concubine that... I find her 'medicinal drink' quite effective. However, the dosage is too small, so the effect is not obvious. Tell her to use a larger container in the future."

Gao Jin's lips twitched involuntarily.

Use a larger container...

Your Majesty, why don't you just say you want a large cup? Why go through all this trouble?

"This servant... obeys the decree." Gao Jin suppressed a laugh and left to carry out the order.

When Gao Jin arrived at Tinglan Water Pavilion with the emperor's "oral decree," Ye An'an was leisurely sunbathing in the courtyard.

Upon hearing Gao Jin's retelling, she was first stunned, and then almost burst out laughing.

She could perfectly imagine the emperor, high and mighty, putting on airs while secretly craving milk tea.

So...cute.

"Steward Gao, rest assured," Ye An'an said to Gao Jin with a smile, "Please go back and tell Father that I understand. From now on, any 'medicinal drinks' sent to Father will be served in the largest cups to ensure maximum efficacy!"

She deliberately emphasized the pronunciation of the words "medicinal drink" and "medicinal effect".

Gao Jin couldn't help but chuckle. He thought that in the entire palace, the only person who would dare to joke with the emperor like this was probably the Crown Prince's concubine.

Moreover, the emperor just happened to fall for her act.

After Gao Jin left, Ye An'an immediately asked the kitchen to find the largest glass teapot they could find in the palace, which could hold enough for seven or eight cups of milk tea.

She personally made a large pot of it and had it delivered to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

He also added a note: "Father, please take your medicine slowly today. Do not drink too much, lest the 'medicine' be too strong and you cannot sleep tonight."

That evening, Gao Jin cautiously told the people sent by Ye An'an that the Emperor was overjoyed when he received the large pot of milk tea.

Although he said it was "nonsense," he couldn't hide the smile on his face.

Moreover, the Emperor finished that pot of milk tea all by himself in one afternoon.

After hearing this, Ye An'an laughed so hard she rolled around on the bed.

She felt as if she had found the most interesting way to survive in this palace.

That is, to feed this family of adorable, arrogant monsters with delicious food.