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

Days passed by, filled with the sweet aroma of bubble tea.

Ye An'an's daily life consists of researching new dishes, checking on the business at "Wenxianglai", and customizing exclusive "afternoon tea" for the palace's "big clients".

She was living such a comfortable life that she almost forgot she had a "husband" far away in Jiangnan.

That day, she had just delivered the newly developed "Fruit Pearl Milk Tea" to the Seventh Prince and the Ninth Prince when she returned to Tinglan Water Pavilion. There she saw one of Changting's trusted eunuchs, sweating profusely, anxiously waiting at the courtyard gate.

"Your Majesty! You're finally back!" The little eunuch ran over excitedly as soon as he saw her, as if he had seen a savior.

"What's wrong? What happened? Why are you so flustered?" Ye An'an's heart skipped a beat when she saw his expression, thinking that something had happened in Jiangnan.

"No, no! It's incredibly good news!" The little eunuch's face flushed with excitement. He pulled out an urgent letter stamped with sealing wax from his robes and handed it over. "Your Majesty, it's His Highness! His Highness and his entourage have returned to the capital in triumph! This is an urgent letter from the scouts at the front, saying... saying that His Highness's army is less than a hundred li from the capital! They should arrive in the capital as early as... as early as tomorrow afternoon!"

Is he coming back?

These words exploded in Ye An'an's mind like a thunderclap.

She was completely stunned, staring blankly at the letter, unable to react for a long time.

"Your Majesty? Your Majesty?" The little eunuch called out cautiously twice when she didn't respond.

"Huh?" Ye An'an suddenly came to her senses, and her heart began to pound uncontrollably.

He's coming back!

The man who left after several months is finally coming back!

An indescribable, immense joy, mixed with a touch of inexplicable tension and anticipation, instantly overwhelmed her.

She felt her cheeks burning.

When they parted, she didn't feel anything. But when she learned that he was about to return, she realized how much she missed him.

In these past few months, he has experienced floods, plagues, and infighting in officialdom, and has faced countless dangers and difficulties.

And she could only do some insignificant little things for him in the distant capital.

Now, he's finally coming back safely.

"That's great...that's great..." she murmured to herself, her eyes unconsciously reddening again.

"Yes, Your Majesty! His Highness's journey south this time has been of unparalleled merit, and His Majesty is overjoyed. He has already ordered all officials to go out of the city for ten miles to welcome him!" the little eunuch said with pride.

The entire palace was in an uproar because of this news.

Everyone was overjoyed at the triumphant return of the heroic prince.

After pounding wildly for a long time, Ye An'an's excited heart finally calmed down.

No, I can't just keep laughing like an idiot.

He's coming back, she has to prepare a welcome-back feast for him!

He's been away for so long, he must have suffered a lot. His first meal back has to be something good to make up for all the weight he's lost!

Thinking of this, Ye An'an's love-struck mind instantly switched to "food blogger" battle mode.

She rushed back to her room, grabbed a pen and paper, and began quickly listing the menu.

What should I do?

He must be missing the braised flavors of "Wenxianglai" (a restaurant name), this is a must-have.

He also loves smoked meat, so we have to prepare it in advance.

and also……

No, no, no, these are all too ordinary.

A welcome feast should look like a welcome feast! It should be lively, plentiful, and make him feel the warmth of "home" as soon as he sees it.

Got it!

A flash of inspiration struck Ye An'an.

Hot Pot!

Yes, it's hot pot!

Nothing washes away the dust of the journey and soothes a weary heart on its way home better than a steaming hot pot.

Everyone sat together, watching the red broth bubble in the pot, adding their favorite ingredients to the broth—a lively and warm atmosphere, full of the warmth of everyday life. This is what a welcoming feast should be like!

Moreover, she could prepare several different hot pot bases. If he loved spicy food, she would prepare the most authentic spicy beef tallow hot pot for him. If the empress and princes couldn't eat spicy food, she would prepare a mushroom soup hot pot made with pork bones and wild delicacies for them. As for herself, she could have a sweet and sour tomato hot pot to whet her appetite.

As for ingredients, they must be plentiful.

The finest hand-cut lamb and marbled beef must be ordered.

All kinds of fresh tripe, beef aorta, and duck intestines must be prepared.

There are also various meatballs, vegetables, and bean products...

Ye An'an became more and more excited as she thought about it, and her pen wrote very quickly. In no time, she had filled two large sheets of paper.

"Fuyun! Chenzhu!" She grabbed the menu and rushed out of the room, her eyes shining brighter than the sun.

"Yes, sir!"

"Immediately! Go to the Imperial Household Department and the Imperial Kitchen right now, and tell them that I said to prepare everything on this list, without missing a single item! It must be the freshest! The best!"

"Also, find that biggest copper pot in the small kitchen and clean it thoroughly!"

"Find a few more skilled eunuchs to help me!"

Ye An'an, like a general strategizing in the wings, began to issue one order after another in an orderly manner.

The entire Tinglan Water Pavilion was instantly enveloped in an unprecedented atmosphere of busyness and joy.

Ye An'an stood at the door of the small kitchen, watching everyone busy with her "hot pot plan," and took a deep breath.

The air seemed to be filled with that familiar, comforting aroma of cooking.