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

Looking at the three little thieves in front of her, who looked like they had been caught stealing food, especially Ye An'an's comical appearance of trying to hide but failing, Empress Wei couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing.

Maintaining the dignity of a first lady, she spoke slowly, her voice revealing neither joy nor anger: "Rise, all of you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ye An'an and the two young princes stood up tremblingly.

"What is this?" Empress Wei's gaze finally fell on the sizzling iron plate.

Ye An'an's mind raced. She couldn't very well say that she was setting up a roadside stall, could she?

Quick-witted, she flashed a fawning smile: "Your Majesty, I...I'm researching a new dish. It's getting cold, so we should eat something hot to warm ourselves up. It's called...teppanyaki."

"Teppanyaki?" Empress Wei repeated the novel name, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"Yes, yes, yes!" The Seventh Prince, as if he had found a savior, quickly chimed in, "The Crown Prince's sister-in-law's teppanyaki is delicious! Especially the chicken wings!"

The Ninth Prince nodded like a chick pecking at rice: "Mmm! It tastes much better than the roast meat in the palace!"

The atmosphere immediately eased considerably once the two little ones spoke.

Empress Wei looked at their greasy little mouths, then at Ye An'an, and finally couldn't resist her curiosity.

"Oh? Is it really that delicious?"

Ye An'an immediately seized the opportunity; she knew this was the best time to resolve the crisis.

"Mother, you probably won't believe me just by talking about it, why don't you try some?" she said, deftly picking up clean tongs and taking a perfectly roasted honey-glazed chicken wing and a piece of grilled tofu sprinkled with a little spice from the hot plate, placing them on a clean white porcelain plate.

"I made a non-spicy version, please try this." She presented the plate with both hands.

Granny Gui immediately stepped forward, intending to test for poison with a silver needle.

Empress Wei waved her hand, saying, "No need."

She had an inexplicable trust in Ye An'an. Perhaps it was because her eyes were so clear, without a trace of gloom.

She had a palace maid take the plate from her, and then walked to the stone table and sat down.

Under the tense gaze of everyone, Empress Wei picked up her chopsticks and first took the piece of golden tofu.

The tofu skin is slightly charred, while the inside remains soft and tender. The cumin and spices are just right, enhancing the aroma without being overly pungent.

Empress Wei paused in her chewing, a hint of amazement flashing in her eyes.

This flavor... is indeed unique.

Then, she put down her chopsticks and, imitating Ye An'an and the others, picked up the honey-glazed chicken wing directly with her hand.

This action stunned the palace servants around them.

The dignified and elegant Empress, who pays great attention to her demeanor, actually... eats with her hands?

Empress Wei didn't care about that; she took a small bite.

The chicken skin is roasted until it's crispy and fragrant, with a hint of honey sweetness, while the chicken meat inside is tender and juicy, falling off the bone with a single tear.

good to eat!

It was unlike any roast chicken she had ever eaten before.

This is a more direct, purer, and more down-to-earth flavor.

After taking one bite, Empress Wei couldn't stop eating. Soon, she had devoured the entire chicken wing.

She even licked her fingers, still savoring the sauce.

After she finished doing this, she was stunned.

How long has it been since she lost her composure like this?

Ye An'an watched from the side, her heart filled with joy.

Success! Another one captivated by delicious food!

She quickly handed over a hot towel, smiling, "Mother, there's still some in the pot, would you like to try some more?"

Empress Wei wiped her hands with a towel, regaining her composure as the Empress Dowager, and coughed lightly, saying, "No need. This stuff tastes alright, it's just... not very elegant."

She said it was indecent, but her next actions told a different story.

"Pack up the rest of these and I will take them back to Fengyi Palace."

"Huh?" Ye An'an was stunned.

"What? The Crown Prince's concubine is reluctant to part with him?" Empress Wei raised an eyebrow at her.

"No, no, no, of course I can't bear to!" Ye An'an quickly shook her head, "I'm just afraid it won't taste good if it gets cold."

"It's alright." Empress Wei waved her hand, and Granny Gui and the palace maids immediately stepped forward and quickly packed up all the remaining chicken wings and tofu on the hot plate, along with the chili powder and cumin powder that Ye An'an had just made.

The scene looked like a raid on a house.

Ye An'an watched helplessly as the Empress snatched away all the "bait" she had painstakingly prepared to "fish" for the Crown Prince.

My Crown Prince, if you don't come back soon, we won't even have scraps to eat!

Empress Wei, satisfied with her "spoils of war," prepared to leave. As she reached the door, she suddenly turned back and said to Ye An'an, who was still standing there in a daze, "What is missing from your small kitchen? Make a list, and have the Imperial Household Department send it to you tomorrow."

After saying that, she left in a grand procession, surrounded by a large group of people.

Ye An'an stood there stunned for a long time before she reacted.

Is this... a slap followed by a sweet treat?

No, it's that they stole her food and then reimbursed her for the cost of the ingredients?

This old lady is truly a remarkable person.

……

Empress Wei returned to Fengyi Palace and immediately ordered the palace servants to reheat the teppanyaki that had been packed up.

She dismissed everyone around her, leaving only Granny Gui behind.

Then, she completely let herself go.

She took off her elegant ceremonial robes and changed into comfortable casual clothes. Instead of using chopsticks, she grabbed a chicken wing and started gnawing on it.

"Delicious! So delicious!" she mumbled between bites.

Watching from the side, Granny Gui wore a rare, kind smile and said softly, "Your Highness, this old servant hasn't seen you eat so happily in a long time."

"Yes." Empress Wei finished a chicken wing, picked up a piece of tofu, and sighed, "I had almost forgotten that food could taste like this. Compared to this, what I used to eat in the palace was like heaven and earth."

She picked up another chicken wing and sighed, "Think about it, in the first half of my life, I spent my time learning etiquette in my boudoir, and the second half in the palace, living like a wooden doll. Never before have I eaten so freely. Having lived half my life, what a miserable existence I've been through..."

As she spoke, her eyes reddened slightly.

Granny Gui quickly handed over a handkerchief.

Empress Wei waved her hand, finished the last bite of the chicken wing, and a smile returned to her face.

At this moment, her affection for Ye An'an reached its peak.

This daughter-in-law is not only interesting, but she also helps her rediscover a sense of being a "human being".

Just then, a eunuch's voice came from outside the hall.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

Empress Wei was startled and instinctively tried to hide what she was holding.

But it was too late.

Emperor Xiao Yuanzheng strode in with an imposing presence.

As soon as he entered, he smelled a rich fragrance. Upon closer inspection, he saw that his empress's lips were shiny with oil, and in front of her was a pile of...unidentified objects.

Xiao Yuanzheng frowned.

This is quite a contrast to his image as a dignified, well-mannered empress with a light diet.

but……

This smells amazing!

Even the emperor, who had tasted all the delicacies in the world, was tempted by this smoky, homely aroma.