The moment Xiao Jingshi appeared, the air in the entire courtyard seemed to freeze.
Steward Liu’s legs went weak and he almost knelt on the spot. He quickly bowed. “Th-this servant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince!”
Cui Die was even more terrified. Her whole body trembled as she lowered her head, not daring to make a sound.
Xiao Jing shi ignored them.
His gaze passed over the crowd and landed directly on Ye An’an.
Today, she was completely different from the woman in the elaborate wedding dress and heavy makeup yesterday. Her bright red dress made her skin look like snow.
There was a vivid, lively charm in her features—sweet and spirited.
A strange, indescribable feeling flashed through Xiao Jing shi’s heart, but he quickly suppressed it.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
Before Ye An’an could speak, Steward Liu rushed to complain first. “Your Highness, the Crown Prince’s consort wants to drive Cui Die out of the palace. This servant thought the matter was sudden and wanted to ask for the reason.”
“That is her courtyard. There are many palace maids. If this one doesn’t suit her, she can replace her.” Xiao Jing shi looked at Steward Wang, his eyes carrying a questioning look.
Ye An’an crossed her arms and spoke calmly. “It’s nothing serious. She made decisions on her own and used something I made to curry favor with Your Highness. My Tinglan Pavilion has simple rules. I can’t afford a servant with so many ideas, so I wanted her to find work elsewhere. But Steward Liu thought I was making a fuss and insisted on coming to ‘uphold justice’ for me.”
In just a few sentences, she explained everything clearly, including Steward Liu overstepping his authority.
After hearing this, Xiao Jing shi turned to Steward Liu expressionlessly. “The Crown Prince’s consort is the mistress of the inner court. How she handles the people in her courtyard is her decision. From today onward, your duties will be handed over to Steward Zhang.”
Later, when Steward Zhang heard the news, he was so happy he almost jumped three feet high. The consort was truly his lucky star. He immediately ordered that whatever kind of servants she wanted, he would find them.
Xiao Jing shi’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried natural authority.
Steward Liu broke into a cold sweat and kowtowed repeatedly. “This servant knows his mistake! I will never dare again. Please give me another chance!”
“As for you.” Xiao Jing shi looked at Cui Die, his gaze icy. “Disrespecting your master and acting on your own. You are expelled from the Eastern Palace and will never be employed again.”
This punishment was even harsher than Ye An’an’s.
Cui Die’s vision went black and she collapsed to the ground.
After dealing with the two of them, Xiao Jing shi looked back at Ye An’an and spoke awkwardly. “The servants in the Eastern Palace lack discipline. If you encounter such people again, deal with them directly. I’ve been busy recently and neglected supervision.”
He was… apologizing?
Not only Ye An’an, but Chen Zhu, Fu Yun, and even Chang Ting behind Xiao Jing shi were stunned.
When had their proud Crown Prince ever apologized?
Ye An’an quickly recovered.
She waved her hand casually. “It’s nothing. A small matter. Your Highness is so busy—why did you come personally?”
Xiao Jing shi was momentarily speechless.
Why had he come?
Even he couldn’t explain.
Perhaps it was because after Chang Ting returned, he had looked at him with great regret, muttering nonstop, “So fragrant,” “So delicious,” and “Your Highness really missed out.”
Or perhaps he had developed a trace of curiosity about this nominal consort.
He pressed his lips together and stiffly changed the subject. “You… were having breakfast?”
He had smelled it. The courtyard still carried that rich aroma he had noticed in the study earlier.
“I already finished.” Ye An’an answered simply. “But I’m about to make lunch. If Your Highness hasn’t eaten, why not stay and have something simple?”
She was just being polite and hadn’t expected him to agree.
After a moment of silence, Xiao Jing shi nodded. “Alright.”
One word, concise and clear.
Ye An’an: “…”
Looking at this serious, aloof Crown Prince, she suddenly found him a bit amusing.
“Fine then. Your Highness, go sit inside and have some tea. I’ll be ready soon.” She pointed to the main room.
Xiao Jing shi went in as told.
Chang Ting followed, so excited he almost walked with both hands and feet moving together.
There was hope! Absolutely hope! His master had finally awakened!
Ye An’an shrugged and returned to the small kitchen.
She had originally planned to eat spicy hot pot skewers. The food in this era was bland, but now her ingredients could be richer.
She told Chen Zhu to fetch the freshest tripe, aorta, luncheon meat, shrimp paste, and various mushrooms and vegetables from the Imperial storehouse.
Meanwhile, she began preparing the spicy base.
She added beef tallow to the pot, plucked all the chilies from the courtyard, heated the oil, then added large amounts of dried chilies, Sichuan peppercorns, fermented bean paste, and over a dozen secret spices. She stir-fried them slowly over low heat.
Soon, a domineering spicy aroma mixed with rich sauce fragrance drifted out of the kitchen—more soul-hooking than the pancakes that morning.
Inside the room, Xiao Jing shi paused with his teacup.
What was this smell?
Spicy, yet not harsh—rather, it carried an irresistible magic.
In his twenty-one years, he had never smelled anything like it.
Half an hour later, Ye An’an had lunch set up on the stone table in the courtyard.
A large copper pot sat in the center, filled with bubbling red broth and colorful ingredients.
“Your Highness, please,” she said.
Xiao Jing shi came out. For once, confusion appeared on his calm face.
“This is…?”
“Malatang.” Ye An’an picked up a pair of long chopsticks and began eating enthusiastically.
Looking at the red-oil-coated food in his bowl, Xiao Jing shi’s severe cleanliness instinct made him want to refuse.
But the smell was too tempting.
After hesitating, encouraged by Ye An’an’s gaze, he finally picked up a slice of tripe and put it in his mouth.
The next second, his eyes widened.
The tripe was crisp and springy.
The numb, spicy, fresh, and fragrant broth exploded in his mouth, creating an unprecedented and powerful taste experience.
Delicious.
That was the only thought in Xiao Jing shi’s mind.
For the first time, his face showed something called “shock.”
Ye An’an watched him and laughed proudly.
“Well? Not bad, right?”
Xiao Jing shi said nothing. Sweat formed on his forehead as he ate another bite, blowing on it while nodding.
She was in a great mood and started eating heartily too.
The sun was warm, the breeze gentle.
In the courtyard, the usually cold Crown Prince and the Crown Prince’s consort sat together, each with a steaming bowl of malatang, eating happily.
Though they didn’t speak at all, the rising steam seemed to draw them closer.
Watching from afar, Chang Ting thought with satisfaction: In the face of truly good food, all aloof immortals and gentle ladies were nothing!
He could already see the bright future where his master would be completely won over by the Crown Prince’s consort’s cooking.