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

He slept soundly until the sun was high in the sky.

When Ye An'an was woken up by Fu Yun, she was still groggy. She had been kept awake for half the night by that sudden kiss, and when she finally fell asleep, she slept very soundly.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, wake up! Great news!" Fuyun's voice was filled with excitement.

Ye An'an rubbed her eyes and sat up: "What great news is it? Even if the sky falls, people still have to get some sleep..."

"Someone from the General's Mansion has come. They say that the Madam and the others have returned to the capital and are preparing for the New Year." As Fuyun spoke, she deftly combed her hair. "The Madam also sent a petition to the palace, wanting to see you."

Ye An'an's sleepiness vanished instantly: "My mother's back?"

"That's not all!" Fuyun laughed. "When Her Majesty the Empress heard about it, she granted you special permission to leave the palace and return to your maiden home for a few days. Your Majesty, you know, this is an unprecedented honor! The palace servants were so envious that their eyes almost popped out of their sockets."

Ye An'an sprang out of bed with a somersault.

Going back to my parents' home!

I can go back to my parents' home now!

She'd been cooped up in the palace for so long and was itching to get some fresh air. Especially after what happened last night, she blushed, her heart raced, and her legs went weak whenever she saw Xiao Jingshi. She was worried about how to face him.

Isn't this a golden opportunity?

"Quickly, quickly, pack your things!" Ye An'an immediately ordered. "Fuyun, Chenzhu, you two take your time packing. Take everything you need and we'll send it over later. I'll go with the people from home who are here to pick me up; my mother is still waiting at the manor!"

Chenzhu laughed and said, "Your Majesty must be missing home so much that you're not even paying attention to your appearance."

"What's with all the fuss? Why wear heavy makeup when you go home?" Ye An'an said, throwing on a random outfit as she went out. "My mother hates it when I wear makeup."

She was indeed in a hurry.

The maid sent by the General's Mansion was already waiting outside the door. When she saw her, she smiled and said, "Your Highness, Madam has been talking about you all morning."

"Let's go, let's go." Ye An'an pulled the little maid and walked out, her steps so light they almost flew.

Just as he reached the entrance of the palace, he ran into Xiao Jingshi, who had just finished court.

Eyes facing each other.

The air froze instantly.

Ye An'an's face flushed red as she recalled the kiss from last night.

Xiao Jingshi, with dark circles under his eyes, looked at her and his lips moved slightly: "Where...where are you going?"

"I...I'm going back to my parents' home!" Ye An'an said, then darted out like a rabbit, leaving behind a voice carried on the wind, "Her Majesty the Empress has granted my request!"

Xiao Jingshi stood still, reaching out his hand to grab hers, but froze in mid-air.

Watching her flee in panic, he touched his nose.

Is it really that scary?

Xiao Jingshi's face instantly darkened.

Did you go back to your parents' home?

How many more days until we can reunite?

Why don't you need to rush back?

He just kissed her yesterday!

So, she just patted her butt and left?

An indescribable, immense sense of loss and frustration instantly overwhelmed our Crown Prince.

He felt like a child who had finally saved up enough money to buy his favorite candied hawthorn.

As a result, when I excitedly ran to the stall, I found that the stall owner had packed up and gone home.

Moreover, they are not planning to come out again anytime soon.

What... what kind of situation is this?!

That heartless woman!

Did she not think of me at all?

Does she not want to spend even a little more time with me?

Did she feel nothing at all during yesterday's kiss?

Xiao Jingshi felt as if his heart was being gnawed at by ten thousand ants.

It was sour, astringent, and...sad.

He stood in the empty courtyard, looking at the small kitchen that had been filled with laughter and the sweet aroma of milk tea just yesterday, now cold and deserted.

The restlessness in his heart became increasingly difficult to suppress.

He turned around and left without looking back.

He made his decision.

He's not eating lunch today.

No, he will not eat anything from now on!

I'd rather starve to death!

……

At this moment, Ye An'an, the "heartless woman" whom His Highness the Crown Prince had muttered countless times in his heart, was sitting in the carriage on her way back to her parents' home, feeling so happy she could fly.

become free!

Finally, she could escape for a while from the man who made her feel uneasy!

God knows how nervous she was when she saw him this morning.

She was really afraid that he would start asking her all sorts of questions.

Fortunately, the Empress's decree arrived just in time, and it was practically her "lifeline".

She could finally make a legitimate "strategic retreat".

She needs time to calm down.

She needed to carefully consider what kind of feelings she truly had for Xiao Jingshi.

The carriage soon arrived at the Zhenbei General's Mansion.

As she stepped down from the carriage, she saw the familiar, imposing mansion and the old steward and servants at the gate, who had watched her grow up and were now looking at her with excitement.

A warm feeling, like coming home, instantly enveloped her.

"Miss! You're finally back!"

"The young lady is back!"

Amid cheers, she walked through the gates of the mansion.

Then she saw the elegant and dignified woman standing at the entrance of the main hall, eagerly waiting.

It was her mother, the wife of the General of the North, Madam Lin.

"mother!"

Ye An'an could no longer hold back, her eyes welled up with tears, and she pounced on him.