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

Xiao Jingshi set the date for his expedition three days later.

Over the past three days, the atmosphere at Tinglan Waterside Pavilion has become somewhat heavy. Ye An'an is no longer as cheerful as before; she speaks less and stays by Xiao Jingshi's side every day without leaving his side.

She put all her heart and soul into preparing his luggage. She even sewed several thick yet lightweight inner armors for him by hand.

She stuffed the softest and warmest goose down into her inner armor. She was afraid the nights in the southern borderlands would be cold, and she was afraid he would get hurt on the battlefield.

She also prepared a large medicine chest for him. It was filled with all sorts of wound medicines, hemostatic powders, and some herbs that could clear heat and detoxify and prevent plague.

She even slipped him a "skin-nourishing cream"—the latest product developed by "Liren Pavilion"—that had sun protection and repairing effects.

"The sun is strong in southern Xinjiang, you'll get sunburned," she said to him softly, her face flushed.

Xiao Jingshi watched her busy figure taking care of him, and saw that her usually bright eyes were now filled with reluctance and worry.

He felt a mix of warmth and sadness in his heart, and reached out to pull her into his arms, holding her tightly.

"An'an," he rested his chin on the top of her head, his firm chest radiating a steady, powerful heartbeat, his voice hoarse yet full of longing, "I'll be back soon."

The familiar scent of ambergris emanating from him enveloped her, a fragrance that brought her peace of mind.

"Mmm." Ye An'an greedily absorbed the warmth of his embrace, burying her face even deeper, and responded with a muffled sound, like a wronged kitten. Her fingers, gripping the fabric of his waist, tightened unconsciously, her knuckles turning white, as if she could keep him there.

The two embraced quietly for a moment, the sorrow of parting fermenting in the air. Ye An'an suddenly took a small step back from his embrace, sniffed, and tried hard to hold back her tears.

She mysteriously put her hands behind her back, and when she stretched them out again, she was holding a bright yellow, hard 'short stick' that looked like it could be used as a weapon, which she handed straight to him.

Xiao Jingshi was still immersed in his sorrow at parting, and he was clearly stunned when he saw this thing. He looked down at the strangely shaped "short stick," then looked up at her face, which was trying to suppress her grief but also trying to appear mysterious. His deep eyes were filled with great doubt: "...What is this?"

A parting gift, a stick? What does this mean? Is he to take it to the battlefield for self-defense?

"The military rations I prepared for you are also...weapons." Ye An'an winked mysteriously.

Xiao Jingshi took the bread, which was about the thickness of his forearm. It was heavy in his hand and as hard as iron. As a military general, he had amazing strength in his hands. He tried to break it with a little force, but the "wooden stick" did not budge. Instead, it hurt his palm.

A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes: "What is this? How can it be so hard?"

Ye An'an proudly raised her chin and ordered Fu Yunduan to bring a bowl of piping hot meat soup. She took the "King Kong Baguette" and skillfully broke it into several pieces, then threw them into the soup.

Under Xiao Jingshi's astonished gaze, in just a short while, the rock-solid bread block quickly absorbed the soup, becoming soft and swollen, emitting a rich aroma of wheat and meat.

Ye An'an picked up a piece, blew on it to cool it down, and held it to his lips: "Try it."

Xiao Jingshi took a bite with some skepticism, then his eyes widened in surprise. The bread melted in his mouth, juicy and flavorful, with a rich wheat aroma, a strong meaty fragrance, and a unique chewy texture that was more comforting than any delicacy.

"This thing... is simply an invaluable treasure for an army!" He instantly understood its worth. It could be stored for a long time, was easy to carry, provided energy and taste quickly, and could even be used for self-defense in a critical moment!

He looked at Ye An'an, his eyes filled with shock and admiration. His little princess always brought him unexpected surprises.

"Don't be so moved yet, there's an even more amazing treasure I have to show you." Ye An'an took his hand and smiled mischievously. "But we need to go somewhere else."

The two arrived at the most secluded corner of the courtyard. Ye An'an ordered all the servants to step back a hundred paces, and then presented a tightly sealed black ceramic jar as if it were a treasure.

"Here lies my 'secret weapon,' which I've prepared for you." She smiled like a sly fox.

Xiao Jingshi became even more curious. What could be so important that it required such a solemn gesture?

Ye An'an gestured for him to step back a few steps, then took a deep breath and suddenly peeled off the wax seal on the pottery jar.

In an instant, an indescribable, terrifying odor, seemingly a mixture of rotten fish and shrimp, pickled cabbage that had been fermenting for a thousand years, and stagnant ditch sludge, exploded out like a tangible shockwave!

Even though Xiao Jingshi, the crown prince, had experienced the plague, he was stunned by the smell, which was like a biohazard. His stomach churned, and he subconsciously took three big steps back. For the first time, a crack appeared on his usually calm and cold face.

"Ugh... An An, did you... blow up the cesspool?" He covered his mouth and nose, his voice distorted.

The guards stationed in the distance were so overwhelmed by this "domineering aura" that their eyes rolled back, and two of them couldn't help but vomit while leaning against the wall.

Ye An'an, who was already prepared, covered her face with a handkerchief, suppressed her laughter, and quickly put the lid on, which slightly reduced the earth-shattering smell.

Seeing Xiao Jingshi's disheveled and shocked appearance, she laughed so hard she almost fell over: "How was it? How powerful was my 'biological weapon'?"

It took Xiao Jingshi a full minute to calm down the nausea that shot straight to the top of his head, but his face was still pale. The look in his eyes as he looked at the pottery jar had changed from curiosity to deep fear.

"This thing... isn't very lethal, but it's extremely insulting," Ye An'an explained with a smile. "Imagine using a catapult to smash hundreds of these things into the enemy camp, especially while they're eating... tsk tsk."

Xiao Jingshi's breath hitched.

This isn't just insulting; it's a psychological attack! It's a top-tier, overt strategy that subdues the enemy without a fight!

"Or, during a night raid, smear it on their usual route and throw it into their water supply..." Every word Ye An'an spoke was like the devil's whisper, opening a door to a new world for him.

Xiao Jingshi stared blankly at his smiling wife, his heart churning with turbulent emotions.

He always thought he had married a delicate flower that needed careful nurturing, but little did he know that she was actually a treasure trove containing boundless wisdom and power. Behind these seemingly "malicious" and whimsical ideas lay her deepest concern and protection for his safety.

He stepped forward, ignoring the lingering odor, and pulled Ye An'an into a tight embrace, his strength so great it seemed he wanted to meld her into his very bones.

"An'an," his voice was slightly hoarse and trembling, "thank you."

Thank you for doing so much for me.

Ye An'an snuggled against him, her playful expression fading, and whispered, "I can't go to the battlefield with you, but I can use my methods to make you suffer less and increase your chances of winning. Promise me you'll come back safe and sound."

"I promise you." Xiao Jingshi lowered his head, kissed her forehead, and solemnly made the most important vow of his life.

She knew the journey was long and arduous, and the battlefield was ever-changing. She didn't know how long she would have to wait to see him again, and she didn't even dare to think about the worst-case scenarios.

She could only pray in her heart again and again: pray that he would be safe and return in triumph.

……

The day of parting finally arrived.

That day, the sky was overcast. Outside the ten-mile-long pavilion in the capital, officials and commoners from all over the city stood to see him off.

Banners fluttered, and the army stood in solemn formation. Xiao Jingshi, clad in silver armor, rode a magnificent warhorse.

He stood upright, his face was stern, and he exuded the majesty and ruthlessness of a crown prince.

Unlike other soldiers who went to war, he did not engage in a touching farewell with his family.

He only took one last deep look at the petite figure standing in the crowd, dressed in plain clothes, with a slightly protruding belly, before he left.

Their eyes met, and a thousand words were transformed into silent entrustments and concerns.

Then, he yanked the reins sharply and shouted without turning his head, "Let's go!"

The army set off, raising clouds of dust.

Ye An'an stood there, watching his resolute figure recede into the distance until it disappeared at the end of the official road. Tears finally broke free and streamed down her face.

……

Xiao Jingshi is gone.

The entire East Palace seemed to have lost its central pillar in an instant, becoming empty and desolate.

After two days of grief, Ye An'an quickly composed herself. She knew she couldn't collapse; she was now the mistress of the Eastern Palace, and she was carrying his child. She had to protect this home for him.

She began to devote all her energy to her career. "Liren Pavilion" continued to be incredibly popular, and "Wenxianglai" received widespread acclaim for its various new products.

She was so busy every day that she barely had time to breathe, using her busyness to numb her heart, which had become empty from missing him.