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

"hot pot?"

Ye Feng was completely dumbfounded by the steaming scene in the small kitchen.

He was a rough man who was used to eating coarse grains and dried meat at the border. He had never seen such a scene before.

Inside those three enormous copper pots, three completely different colored broths were bubbling.

It's bright red, covered with dried chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns, and looks incredibly fiery.

It was milky white, thick like cow's milk, and you could see large pieces of bone and mushrooms inside.

Another one is a beautiful tomato color, with a sweet and sour aroma that goes straight into your nose.

Next to the pot, there were all sorts of ingredients, some he recognized and some he didn't.

Lamb rolls sliced ​​as thin as cicada wings, beautifully patterned red and white beef slices, and various odd-looking but thoroughly cleaned offal.

On the other side, there were colorful vegetables, emerald green cabbages, snow-white winter melons, and tender pink lotus root slices, all arranged neatly like a painting.

This...this isn't a meal! This is more like a war!

"These... these are all for eating?" Ye Feng's eyes widened in disbelief. He felt his understanding of the world had been severely shaken.

"Of course!" Ye An'an said proudly, hands on her hips. "In a little while, we'll put all these things into this pot, blanch them briefly, and then we can eat them. We can cook whatever we want!"

Ye Feng was stunned. He felt that his younger sister, whom he hadn't seen for three years, seemed to have become... even more powerful.

Just as the brother and sister were enthusiastically introducing the place and dumbfoundedly touring it, another series of hurried footsteps came from the courtyard gate.

Changting's trusted eunuch scrambled in, his voice trembling with excitement.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! His Highness... His Highness's entourage has arrived at the palace gate! His Majesty has ordered that you... you also go to Chengtian Gate to welcome him!"

He is back!

Ye An'an's heart skipped a beat.

She subconsciously touched her cheek and straightened her clothes.

She had just tidied up that morning, but at this moment, she still felt that something about herself was not perfect.

"I understand." She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

She turned to Ye Feng and said, "Second Brother, His Highness the Crown Prince is back. I need to go pick him up. Are you... are you going to wait here with me, or...?"

"I'll go with you," Ye Feng said without hesitation.

He could see his sister's excitement, and he wanted to go with her! He was afraid he wouldn't be able to resist eating the tempting hot pot.

……

Outside Chengtian Gate, banners fluttered and officials stood solemnly.

Emperor Xiao Yuanzheng and Empress Wei stood atop the city tower, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the emperor.

Ye An'an, Ye Feng, and the two young princes stood at the front of the officials, also waiting.

Finally, under the watchful eyes of everyone, a banner embroidered with a golden dragon appeared at the end of the official road in the distance.

Immediately afterwards, a team clad in armor and exuding an imposing aura slowly appeared in everyone's sight.

Leading the group was a young man dressed in a dark, close-fitting outfit, riding a magnificent black horse.

He stood tall and straight, his face stern. His months-long trip to Jiangnan had given his skin a healthy tan, and made his clear, cold eyes even more profound and sharp.

It is a kind of dignity and demeanor that can only be cultivated after being tempered by blood and fire, and after the struggle for power and strategy.

He was Xiao Jingshi, the crown prince of the Great Liang Dynasty.

"His Highness is back!"

"Long live the Crown Prince!"

A thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd.

Xiao Jingshi sat on his horse, his gaze calmly sweeping over the officials and common people who were bowing down to him, his face expressionless.

His gaze swept over the crowd and landed precisely on the petite figure standing at the forefront of the officials, dressed in a light green ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress).

In that instant, time seemed to stand still.

In his world, all sounds and all sights disappeared.

Only she remained.

She stood there quietly, her little face tilted up, looking at him.

Her eyes were still so bright, as bright as the stars in the sky.

Her face bore the familiar expression he knew—a vivid mix of joy, anticipation, and a hint of nervousness.

I hadn't seen her for a few months, and she seemed... to have lost even more weight. Her chin was sharper, and her waist was thinner.

Is it the food from the palace that you don't like?

Or was it because he wasn't there that she didn't eat properly?

Xiao Jingshi's heart clenched for no apparent reason.

All he wanted was to rush to her right now, hold her tightly in his arms, and ask her how she had been these past few days.

Ye An'an was also looking at him.

He's lost weight and gotten darker.

But his eyes were brighter and more spirited than before. He also exuded a calm and reassuring strength.

He was no longer the aloof crown prince who only reviewed memorials in his study.

He is a true hero who can protect the people.

Their eyes met, and a thousand words were left unsaid, all turning into silent longing and yearning.

Xiao Jingshi dismounted and handed the reins to Xie Zhao beside him.

He walked step by step toward Ye An'an.

He walked each step with a steady and firm demeanor.

There is no room for anyone else in his eyes anymore.

He did not first pay his respects to his father and mother on the city wall, nor did he pay attention to the civil and military officials kneeling on both sides.

He walked straight up to Ye An'an.

Amidst the shocked and incredulous gazes of everyone.

He stopped in his tracks.

He looked at her, and his eyes, which were always as clear and cold as an ancient well, were now filled with a tender smile that was almost overflowing.

"An'an," he said, his voice hoarse yet incredibly clear, "I'm back."

Ye An'an looked at him, at herself reflected in his eyes, and her nose tingled; tears almost welled up in her eyes.

She nodded vigorously, smiled, and replied, "Yes, welcome home."

At this moment, everything around me became the background.

In their world, there was only each other.

Ye Feng, standing beside Ye An'an, took in the entire scene.

He looked into the Crown Prince's undisguised, loving gaze, and into his sister's equally affectionate eyes.

His heart, which had been hanging in suspense for his sister, was finally, completely at ease.

He knew that his sister had not married the wrong person.

This man truly loves her.

Just then, a rich, domineering, numbing and spicy aroma wafted over from the direction of the East Palace on the wind.

That smell instantly whetted everyone's appetite.

Having just experienced a touching reunion, Xiao Jingshi smelled this familiar scent, and his stomach, inappropriately, growled.

He looked into Ye An'an's smiling eyes, and his handsome face visibly flushed.