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

Xiao Jingshi is coming back!

This news was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples in Ye An'an's heart.

Holding the urgent letter, she paced back and forth in the room several times, her smile never fading. That heartfelt, silly joy was impossible to hide.

Just as she was overjoyed and planning how to prepare a welcome banquet for him, another piece of news followed.

"Your Majesty, news has arrived from outside the palace," a young eunuch from the Eastern Palace rushed in, panting. "The General of the Northern Garrison says that the Second Young Master... the Second Young Master, General Ye Feng, has also been summoned back to the capital by secret decree. Judging by the time, he should arrive in the next day or two. The General sent someone from his residence to inquire whether... you wish to return home?"

Second brother?

Ye An'an's smile froze instantly.

Her second brother, who is stationed in the northern border year-round and whom she rarely sees, and who is said to be able to kill a bear with his bare hands, is coming back too?

Moreover, they arrived at roughly the same time as Xiao Jingshi?

Ye An'an's mind went blank for a moment, a bit of a mess.

Are you happy? Of course I'm happy! She's transmigrated to this world and hasn't even met her second brother yet. The servants in the manor say that her second brother dotes on her the most.

But... the panic was genuine.

She, this "imposter," could fool her parents by taking advantage of their love for their daughter. But her second brother was different; they had grown up together and were the closest of friends. What if... what if he noticed something amiss?

More importantly, how did they end up together?

On one side is her nominal "husband," the Crown Prince, who has just achieved unparalleled feats and is about to return in triumph.

On one side are their own blood relatives, and fierce border generals who have fought their way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

If these two were to meet... just thinking about the scene makes my scalp tingle.

One is refined, the other rugged. One is aloof, the other unrestrained.

Is it possible for us to have a conversation like this?

Ye An'an was in a complete panic. She felt like she was about to face an unprecedented "social death" scenario.

"Your Highness? Your Highness, what's wrong?" Fuyun asked worriedly as she saw her expression changing.

"I'm fine..." Ye An'an waved her hand, forcing herself to calm down.

No, we can't panic. We must meet force with force and water with earth.

all will be good.

There's no use thinking about these things now. The most important thing right now is to prepare the welcome banquet.

Since we've all come all this way, let's have a welcome feast together!

Thinking of this, Ye An'an's chaotic heart suddenly found its anchor.

There's nothing embarrassing about it; a good meal can't solve it.

If so, then two meals.

She picked up her pen and paper again, looked at the long hot pot menu she had just listed, and her eyes hardened once more.

That's right, it's hot pot!

What could be more effective at bringing people closer together than hot pot?

Whether you're a prince or a general, in front of a steaming hot pot, you have to put aside your pride, pick up your chopsticks, and join in scooping food from the same pot.

The lively atmosphere of the fireworks is enough to melt away all awkwardness and barriers.

"It's settled then!" Ye An'an slammed her hand on the table, her fighting spirit renewed.

She began to make more detailed adjustments to the menu.

Xiao Jingshi loves spicy food, but not too spicy. She has to prepare the most authentic beef tallow hot pot base, but the spiciness has to be mild, fragrant and mellow, not just stimulating.

My second brother is a man from the North, so his tastes must be strong. That spicy beef tallow hot pot is just what he likes.

If the Empress and the two young princes were to come, they certainly couldn't eat spicy food. So we'd have to prepare a pot of rich white mushroom soup, simmered for seven or eight hours with old hen, pork bones, and all sorts of wild mushrooms—it had to be so delicious it would make your eyebrows fall off.

As for her... she wanted something sweet and sour. So let's make a tomato hot pot with fresh tomatoes, sweet and sour, appetizing, and delicious with anything cooked in it.

Three soup bases, three flavors, perfect!

Next are the ingredients.

For hand-cut fresh mutton, choose the hind leg of the lamb with a little bit of fat. Slice it as thin as paper, and it will cook quickly in the hot pot, making it tender and juicy.

For marbled beef, you should choose the most prized "chuck heart" cut from the cow; its marbled pattern is so tempting it makes your mouth water.

The tripe must be the freshest water buffalo tripe. It cannot be processed with alkali; it must be processed using the most traditional methods to ensure its crisp and refreshing texture.

Beef throat, duck intestines, pig brains... these are the soul of Sichuan and Chongqing hot pot, and none of them can be missing.

There are also various handmade meatballs. Shrimp paste made with fresh shrimp meat is bouncy and smooth; meatballs made with pork and water chestnuts are crisp, tender and juicy.

Vegetables shouldn't be neglected either. Chinese cabbage, garland chrysanthemum, winter melon, lotus root slices, potatoes, sweet potato noodles... they should be arranged in abundance, colorful, and festive.

Dipping sauce is the soul of hot pot.

A dipping sauce of sesame oil and minced garlic is the perfect match for Sichuan and Chongqing hot pot, as it helps to relieve the spiciness and enhance the aroma.

Sesame paste and chive blossom dipping sauce is the perfect accompaniment to hot pot in northern China, offering a rich and mellow flavor.

There's also her own secret seafood soy sauce dish, with a touch of chopped chili peppers and cilantro, it's incredibly delicious.

Ye An'an became more and more excited as she thought about it, and her pen scribbled away, soon filling three large sheets of paper. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought she was devising some kind of battle plan.

"Do it this way!" She slammed the menu on the table and gave the highest order to Fuyun and Chenzhu.

"Immediately! Go to the Imperial Household Department and the Imperial Kitchen right now! Tell them this is a welcoming banquet for His Highness the Crown Prince, and also a welcome-home banquet for General Ye Feng! Everything on the list must be included! Use the best and freshest of everything!"

"Also, bring out that largest set of bronze double-compartment pots from the storeroom! Clean them thoroughly!"

"Find a few more quick-witted eunuchs and maids to help in the small kitchen! Help them wash and chop vegetables! Everyone, get moving!"

Ye An'an, like a queen commanding her kingdom, issued her orders methodically.

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

Everyone knows that the master of the Eastern Palace is coming back.

The mistress of the palace, who could conquer the entire palace with her culinary skills, was preparing a grand and warm feast to welcome her hero.

The kitchen was filled with the aroma of cooking.

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 scent of spices.

She stopped thinking about those embarrassing scenes and stopped worrying about whether she would be exposed.

Right now, she has only one thought in her mind and eyes.

When they come back, she wants to let them eat the best hot pot in the world.