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

The moment Xiao Jingshi uttered that seemingly magnanimous remark, the atmosphere instantly became somewhat delicate.

Ye Feng, a straightforward military general, didn't understand the subtle implications. When he heard that His Highness the Crown Prince had actually offered to give him the recipe for the legendary, even more delicious sauce, he was overjoyed.

"Really? Your Highness! That...that's wonderful!" He rubbed his hands together excitedly, his eyes filled with gratitude as he looked at Xiao Jingshi. "On behalf of the brothers at the border, this humble general thanks Your Highness!"

Xie Zhao and Lu Chengyuan, two shrewd individuals, exchanged a glance, both seeing a barely suppressed smile in each other's eyes.

They know Xiao Jingshi too well.

Your Highness, this is hardly magnanimity.

This is clearly jealousy; it's a roundabout way of asserting sovereignty!

He was telling General Ye: Look, I know all the things your sister knows, and she always cooked them for me first. Now, I'm granting you permission to have them too.

This possessiveness is both childish and adorable.

As for Ye An'an, when she looked at Xiao Jingshi's seemingly calm face and his eyes that were staring intently at her, her heart skipped a beat.

Who is she? She's a modern woman who's read countless CEO romance novels!

Does she think she can't see through a man's little scheme?

Is he...jealous?

Is he unhappy because he got along too well with his second brother and because he gave him the secret recipe?

The moment this thought popped into Ye An'an's head, she didn't think he was stingy at all; on the contrary, she felt as sweet as if she had honey on her heart.

So, it turns out that this aloof Crown Prince also has such a... down-to-earth side.

She suppressed a laugh, pretending not to understand, and gave Xiao Jingshi a sweet smile.

"Your Highness is right! Your Highness is so thoughtful!" She flattered him, "Second Brother, later I'll also write down the recipes for mushroom meat sauce and crab roe sauce for you. Those two sauces are even simpler to make and go better with rice! I guarantee the soldiers will love them!"

"Great! Great!" Ye Feng was already immersed in the joy of about to obtain more gourmet recipes, completely unaware of the undercurrents between the two people on the other side.

Looking into Ye An'an's bright, seemingly expressive eyes, and seeing how cooperative she was with him, Xiao Jingshi felt a great deal of sour dissipate in an instant.

Instead, there is a sense of pride and satisfaction that "my woman understands me."

A seminar on "instant noodles" concluded successfully in a wonderful atmosphere.

The group returned to the stone table and continued their hot pot feast.

However, the atmosphere was completely different from before.

Xiao Jingshi changed his previous aloof and indifferent demeanor and started to actively stir up trouble.

"Um, um." He pointed to the pot and said casually, "How long should we cook that tripe?"

"Seven up, eight down, fifteen seconds is enough," Ye An'an answered subconsciously.

"Oh," he replied, then picked up a piece of tripe and slowly cooked it in the pot for a full minute.

By the time he fished it out, the tripe was as tough as rubber.

He put it in his mouth, chewed for a long time, and then frowned.

"It doesn't taste good," he commented.

Ye An'an: "..."

Brother, you've been cooking it for so long, no wonder it's not going to taste good!

She was just about to start lecturing him when she saw him pick up another piece of hand-cut mutton.

"And this one?" he asked again.

"You can eat it when it changes color, in three seconds!" Ye An'an quickly said.

Then, she watched as Xiao Jingshi boiled the mutton in the boiling pot for a long time until the meat shrank into a small ball.

He commented again, expressionless, "It's not tasty either."

Ye An'an finally realized what was happening.

He's not that he doesn't know how to joke around, he's doing it on purpose!

He just wanted to cause trouble and get all my attention on him!

What a childish brat!

Ye An'an was both annoyed and amused.

Xie Zhao and Lu Chengyuan, standing nearby, were barely able to contain themselves. Looking at their prince's clumsy, attention-seeking, arrogant demeanor, they felt their understanding of him had been completely redefined once again.

So, when a man falls in love, no matter what his status is, he becomes... this childish?

Looking at his expression, Ye An'an decided to play along.

Who told him to be a great hero who had just returned victorious from the front lines?

Just spoil them.

She put down her chopsticks and sat down next to Xiao Jingshi.

"Oh dear, Your Highness, how can you be so clumsy?" Her tone carried a hint of reproach and undisguised doting. "Seeing you like this, I feel sorry for all this good food. Come, come, let me feed you."

As she spoke, she actually picked up a slice of the tenderest marbled beef, gently cooked it in his pot, dipped it in his favorite sesame sauce, and then directly offered it to his lips.

"Open your mouth," she said, as if coaxing a child.

This stunned not only Xiao Jingshi, but also the other three people at the table.

No one expected that Ye An'an would be so bold, so... unruly.

In front of so many people, including her own brother, she personally fed the prince.

This...this is outrageous!

Xiao Jingshi's face flushed red again.

He felt his heart skip a beat.

He looked at the piece of steaming meat being offered to his mouth, and at Ye An'an's smiling, mischievous eyes.

His mind was blank.

All he knew was that he seemed unable to refuse.

To everyone's astonishment, he slowly opened his mouth and ate the piece of meat.

The meat was very fragrant and tender.

But what truly captivated him was the soft, warm touch of her fingertips when they inadvertently brushed against his lips.

And the faint, pleasant fragrance emanating from her.

At that moment, he felt as if he were drunk.

He was intoxicated by her gentle, domineering, and unique pampering.

"Is it good?" Ye An'an asked with a smile after seeing him eat.

"...Hmm." He squeezed out a single word from his throat.

"From now on, I'll cook all the dishes for you, okay?"

"……good."

Then, in the time that followed, an extremely bizarre scene unfolded on the table.

Ye An'an, the Crown Prince's concubine, completely disregarded the lives of others and devoted herself wholeheartedly to guarding Xiao Jingshi's side, becoming his personal "hot pot maid."

She dips one slice in the broth, and he eats one slice.

The two worked together seamlessly, oblivious to everyone else around them.

Completely ignored, Ye Feng, Xie Zhao, and Lu Chengyuan, holding their bowls, looked at the loving couple across from them and suddenly felt that the hot pot in front of them didn't smell so good anymore.

I even feel a bit... full.