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

On the way back to Beijing, the sun shone brightly, and the scenery was beautiful. But for Xie Zhao and Lu Chengyuan, the whole world was gray.

The final mushroom and meat sauce ended in a highly ritualistic and tragic manner. This meant that their last source of "spiritual sustenance" was gone.

Xie Zhao lay listlessly on the horse's back, feeling like he had lost his way in life. His mind was filled with all the delicious food Ye An'an had made: braised pig's trotters, fried stinky tofu, mushroom meat sauce, spicy beef jerky... He was so eager to eat it that his mouth watered and tears streamed down his face.

"Chengyuan," he said weakly to Lu Chengyuan, who also looked utterly dejected, "tell me, what is the purpose of life?"

Lu Chengyuan replied expressionlessly, "I used to think it was to realize my ambitions and bring peace and prosperity to the country."

"And now?"

"Now I think it's so that I can eat another bite of the food cooked by the concubine."

The two looked at each other and simultaneously let out a long, sorrowful sigh.

Even the usually aloof Xiao Jingshi, though outwardly expressionless, felt a sense of emptiness within. It wasn't that he craved the food; rather, the dishes Ye An'an had prepared seemed to have become an invisible companion and comfort throughout his journey. Once the food was finished, it was as if some connection with her had been temporarily severed.

The team's morale was lower than ever before.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out on the official road ahead.

A luxurious-looking carriage was parked haphazardly by the roadside, one of its wheels deeply stuck in a mud pit. Several men who looked like servants were pushing the carriage, sweating profusely, but to no avail.

A maidservant dressed in a bright green dress was pacing anxiously around the carriage, repeatedly urging, "Hurry up! If you delay Miss's arrival, you'll be in big trouble!"

Changting stepped forward and asked, "Your Highness, there are carriages blocked ahead. Should we take a detour?"

Xiao Jingshi didn't want to meddle in other people's business; he just wanted to get back to the capital as soon as possible. Just as he was about to say "go around," the carriage curtain was gently lifted by a slender hand.

A beautiful, ethereal face, so delicate and pitiful, peered out from the car window.

The girl was about sixteen or seventeen years old, with skin as white as snow, eyebrows as dark as distant mountains, and almond-shaped eyes that were brimming with water, as if they could drip water at any moment. She wore an elegant white dress, and her temperament was as graceful as an orchid, like a fairy who had stepped out of a painting.

"Sir," she spoke softly to Xiao Jingshi, who was at the forefront, her voice clear and melodious like the tinkling of a spring, "I am Liu Ruyan, from Jiangnan, on my way to the capital to visit relatives. Unfortunately, my carriage and horses are stranded here, and with nightfall approaching and no village or inn in sight, I am truly terrified. I wonder... I wonder if you gentlemen could be so kind as to lend a helping hand?"

As she spoke, her gaze remained fixed on Xiao Jingshi, her eyes conveying a perfect blend of vulnerability, helplessness, and a subtle, almost imperceptible admiration.

Xie Zhao's eyes widened instantly.

He had been listless just moments before, but now he was as energetic as if he'd been injected with adrenaline. He immediately sat up straight, leaned close to Xiao Jingshi, and whispered, "Your Highness, look! What an absolute beauty! Her气质 (qi zhi - a combination of temperament, bearing, and aura) and appearance are exactly like Lin Daiyu described in those stories!"

Xiao Jingshi didn't even lift his eyelids; he disliked this deliberate feigned weakness. In his view, this frail appearance was far less vivid than Ye An'an wielding a large ladle in the kitchen, her eyes shining brightly.

However, since the other party has spoken up and is a lone woman, it is neither morally nor logically acceptable for us to stand by and watch her die.

"Changting," he ordered calmly, "send a few men over there to help them push the cart out."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Several guards from the Eastern Palace immediately stepped forward and quickly lifted the carriage out of the mud pit.

"Thank you, sirs." The woman named Liu Ruyan leaned out of the carriage again and bowed gracefully to Xiao Jingshi. "I cannot express my gratitude enough. May I ask your honorable name and address? When I arrive in the capital, I will certainly prepare generous gifts and visit you to express my thanks."

Her question was rather inappropriate.

What kind of woman would so bluntly ask a complete stranger for his name and address?

Xie Zhao listened from the side and couldn't help but laugh. He thought this "Lin Daiyu" was quite interesting and had a lot of courage.

Xiao Jingshi frowned; he disliked this kind of roundabout probing.

"It was nothing, no need for thanks. Farewell." He coldly uttered these words, spurred his horse, and prepared to lead his men away.

"Oh, benefactor, please wait!" Liu Ruyan was anxious. She actually got off the carriage and blocked Xiao Jingshi's horse.

Her maidservant quickly followed, saying anxiously, "Miss, why did you come down? It's windy outside!"

"It's alright." Liu Ruyan waved her hand, raising her tear-streaked face to look pitifully at Xiao Jingshi on horseback. "My benefactor, my group consists of only a few weak servants, and now our carriages and horses are damaged. The road ahead is long, and bandits roam freely... I am truly frightened. I see that you and your group are all heroes, righteous and awe-inspiring; you must be officials on your way to the capital. I wonder... I wonder if it would be permissible for my group to follow behind, just to... to put my mind at ease?"

As she spoke, her eyes reddened, a sight that would soften even the most hard-hearted man.

Xie Zhao's heart had already melted. He quickly advised, "Your Highness, look at her, she's a weak woman, truly pitiful. Let's give her a ride, it's on our way anyway, consider it an act of kindness."

Looking at the woman in front of him, who was crying her eyes out, Xiao Jingshi felt a strange sense of irritation.

He doesn't like women who cry and whine.

Ye An'an never cried. No matter what happened, her eyes were always bright and sparkling, either thinking about food or how to make money. That vibrant life force was far more moving than any affected tears.

"Your Highness?" Xie Zhao urged again.

Xiao Jingshi hesitated for a moment. It wasn't that he was soft-hearted, but he felt that leaving a weak woman in this desolate wilderness was indeed inappropriate. If something were to happen to her, it would damage the reputation of his Eastern Palace.

"Fine." He finally waved his hand impatiently. "Let her come along. But she should behave herself and not cause any trouble."

"Thank you so much, benefactor! Thank you so much, benefactor!" Liu Ruyan immediately stopped crying and smiled. Her smile was as beautiful and charming as a lotus flower after the rain.

She gave Xiao Jingshi another curtsy, her watery eyes never leaving his handsome face.

Xiao Jingshi ignored her completely and rode off on his horse.

The caravan resumed its journey, and a magnificent carriage followed not too far behind.

Xie Zhao's mood instantly soared from hell to heaven. He felt that having such a beautiful woman accompany him made the tedious journey home seem more interesting.

He even began to fantasize that when they arrived at the post station to rest, he could compose poems with this talented woman and talk about romance.

However, he soon realized that he had been overthinking things.

Because this "Lin Daiyu" had only one goal from beginning to end.

That was the Crown Prince, who walked at the very front of the procession, as aloof as a mountain of ice and snow.