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

An even more important gift?

Ye An'an looked at Xiao Jingshi's face, which had a mysterious smile on it, and her heart was filled with curiosity.

What gift could be more important than this mountain of gold and silver?

Is he going to give me a whole street again?

"What gift?" she asked curiously, blinking her eyes.

"I can't tell you now," Xiao Xingshi deliberately kept him in suspense. "You'll find out tonight."

Night fell quickly.

After a day of bustling activity, Suzaku Street finally returned to calm.

After tallying the accounts and receiving the generous red envelopes from Ye An'an, the staff of "Liren Pavilion" went home satisfied.

The entire shop was now empty except for Ye An'an, Xiao Jingshi, and Changting, who was guarding the entrance.

Ye An'an originally wanted to return to the palace.

But Xiao Jingshi said that to celebrate her career success, he would hold a small celebration banquet for her here tonight.

The celebration banquet was held on the second floor of "Liren Pavilion", in a warm and elegant lounge decorated by Ye An'an.

There were no delicacies or entertainment.

There was only a small square table and two warm candlelights.

A table of home-cooked dishes prepared by Ye An'an herself.

She knew that Xiao Jingshi was tired of the exquisite but cold imperial cuisine in the palace.

What he likes is the warmth and comfort of home.

So she specially borrowed the kitchen of "Wenxianglai" next door and made several of his favorite dishes.

It has her specialty, braised pork.

There's also a dish that's sweet and sour, appetizing, and goes perfectly with rice: scrambled eggs with tomatoes.

In this era, tomatoes were called "tomatoes" because they were a rare commodity introduced from the Western Regions, and ordinary people rarely saw them.

But for Ye An'an, who has the "cheat code" of His Highness the Crown Prince, getting a few pounds of the freshest tomatoes is a piece of cake.

Golden, tenderly fried eggs, coated in a rich, sweet and sour red broth.

The color alone is enough to make your mouth water.

Looking at the simple yet warm home-cooked dishes on the table, Xiao Jingshi felt an overwhelming sense of happiness welling up inside him.

He felt that this was more enjoyable than any state banquet.

"Try it." Ye An'an placed a bowl of steaming white rice in front of him. "You're a hero today too. If you hadn't shown up in time, my 'Beauty Pavilion' wouldn't be able to open today."

"Even if I don't show up," Xiao Jingshi picked up a piece of braised pork, fatty but not greasy, put it in his mouth with satisfaction, and squinted his eyes, "you will definitely have a way to solve it."

He understands her.

She was never a parasitic vine that needed a man to protect her.

She has her own wisdom and methods.

"That's not necessarily true." Ye An'an also picked up a piece of rice with her chopsticks, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and ate it with a big smile. "With you here, I can be a little lazy."

She said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world, yet with a hint of coquettishness that was barely perceptible.

Hearing Xiao Jingshi's voice, he felt extremely comforted.

He loved her; she was completely dependent on him.

A simple dinner ended in a warm and sweet atmosphere.

Ye An'an ate to her heart's content. She leaned back in her chair, touched her slightly protruding belly, and sighed happily.

"Alright, now you can tell me, right?" She looked at Xiao Jingshi with anticipation and asked, "What exactly is that more important gift you mentioned?"

Looking at her expression, which resembled that of a curious kitten waiting to be fed by its owner, Xiao Jingshi's smile deepened.

He didn't speak, but slowly took out a long, rectangular scroll wrapped in bright yellow brocade from his pocket.

Ye An'an looked at the bright yellow scroll and her heart skipped a beat.

This color...

This format...

Could it be... an imperial edict?

He wants to send himself an imperial edict?

Under Ye An'an's questioning gaze, Xiao Jingshi slowly unrolled the scroll.

Sure enough, it was an imperial edict.

It was written in cinnabar, in the emperor's familiar, vigorous handwriting.

Ye An'an leaned closer and read it aloud, word by word.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

"Consort Ye, a concubine of the Crown Prince, comes from a military family. She is virtuous, diligent, and gentle. Since entering the palace, she has been filial to the Emperor and Empress, and harmonious with her brothers. Moreover, she is quick-witted and has the world at heart. In the south, she offered strategies for epidemic prevention, saving countless people from suffering. In the north, she created convenient military rations to alleviate the hunger and cold of the soldiers. Such achievements are recorded in history and are sufficient to make her a model for the world..."

"Now, for the sake of the peace and stability of the nation, I, the Empress, and the ancestors in the Imperial Ancestral Temple have discussed and decided on the following."

"The Crown Prince's Consort Ye is hereby conferred the title of Crown Princess."

"Bestow upon him a golden book and a golden jewel, and choose an auspicious day to hold the investiture ceremony."

"May you, sir, diligently fulfill this auspicious mandate, always remain respectful and cautious, assist the Crown Prince, and jointly uphold the ancestral temple. This is the decree."

Crown Princess...

When these three words came into view.

Ye An'an's mind went completely blank with a "buzz".

She froze, staring in disbelief at the imperial edict that exuded a faint scent of ink.

She...she became the Crown Princess?

A proper future mother of the nation?

How...how is this possible?

The position of Crown Princess has always been vacant, hasn't it?

Wasn't this position supposed to be reserved for top-tier noblewomen from illustrious families who possess both virtue and talent?

How could she, a concubine and the daughter of a military general, possibly...?

"This...this is..." Her voice trembled.

"This is the gift I want to give you."

Xiao Jingshi looked at her wide-eyed expression of shock, his voice more earnest and affectionate than ever before.

He took the imperial edict from her hand, and then knelt on one knee before her.

He looked up at her, and those eyes, which were always as clear and cold as an ancient well, were now filled with a tender and burning love that could drown a person.

"An An."

He spoke, his voice hoarse yet firm.

"I know that this imperial edict may have come somewhat suddenly."

"But this is a decision I made after careful consideration."

"I will request permission from my father and mother. I will tell them that I, Xiao Jingshi, will only have you as my wife in this lifetime."

"No one but you is worthy to sit in this position of Crown Princess."

"Your achievements, your talent, your kindness, your beauty... all of these are enough to make you and me stand side by side, as the mother of the nation."

"so……"

He looked at her, at those eyes that had unknowingly filled with tears, and slowly raised the imperial edict in his hand, which represented supreme glory.

"Ye An'an, I want you to be my wife, my only wife."

"Are you willing?"