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

The sight of 1,200 taels of gold, heavy and imposing, was incredibly impactful.

Ye An'an feels that this is not just money, but also the confidence she has to make a living in this world, and the capital for her to realize more of her culinary dreams.

But Xiao Jingshi saw much further ahead.

Looking at the box full of gold and silver, and then at Ye An'an's flushed face from excitement, he gained a completely new understanding of the word "business" for the first time.

It turns out that money, if used properly, can have such tremendous power.

"What do you plan to do with this money?" Xiao Jingshi asked, putting down the gold ingot in his hand.

"Hmm..." Ye An'an thought for a moment, picked up a small silver ingot and tossed it in her hand, then said with a grin, "Of course, we'll distribute the profits first! Changting, the apprentices in the kitchen, and the shop assistants will all get a share! We can't let our heroes feel disheartened."

She then looked at Xiao Jingshi: "As for the rest, Your Highness, you can decide what to do with it. Whether you use it to fill the hole in your water conservancy funds or save it as a secret treasury for the Crown Prince, it's all fine."

Her indifference to money, as if it were just a fun game, stirred something within Xiao Jingshi.

He found that he could understand this woman less and less.

She loves money, yet she is not greedy. She acts unconventionally, yet she is also insightful.

"I understand." Xiao Jingshi nodded, closed the box, and handed it to Changting. "Do as the concubine says. Also, make a copy of the accounts and send it to Minister Wang of the Ministry of Revenue."

"Huh?" Changting was stunned. "Your Highness, this...this exposes us, doesn't it?"

"No need to write the source, just let him know that the Crown Prince's Palace is not short of money." A cool smile appeared on Xiao Jingshi's lips.

He wanted to show those who wanted to see him fail that Xiao Jingshi could still solve problems without using a single penny of the national treasury.

Ye An'an couldn't help but laugh at his somewhat cunning expression.

Sure enough, those who become crown princes are all incredibly cunning.

"Wenxianglai" business is still booming, Ye An'an's money-making plan is going smoothly, and her life in the East Palace is becoming more and more comfortable.

Every day, he researches new recipes, teases the two little princes, and occasionally "teases" the hypocritical Crown Prince. It's practically a god-like retirement life.

However, this peaceful and beautiful period was soon shattered by a report delivered by express courier from the south.

Several prefectures in southern China were hit by torrential rains, causing rivers to burst their banks and floods to spread. Tens of thousands of people were displaced and their homes were destroyed.

When the news reached the capital, it caused a stir in the court and among the people.

The atmosphere during the morning court session was so heavy it seemed to drip water.

Xiao Yuanzheng sat on the dragon throne, his face ashen as he looked down at the ministers below who were arguing like a pot of soup.

"...The most urgent task is to immediately allocate funds and dispatch imperial envoys to the disaster area to provide relief and comfort to the victims!"

"But the national treasury is empty. Last year's war in the north depleted our reserves. Where can we possibly come up with so much money and supplies now?"

"We can raise funds and provisions from wealthy merchants in various regions. The most crucial issue right now is who to send! This flood is no small matter, and it could easily trigger a plague afterward. The imperial envoy must be a person of high moral character, outstanding ability, and capable of maintaining order!"

"In my humble opinion, His Highness Prince Jing is benevolent and loves the people, and is suitable for this position!" an official stepped forward and suggested.

Immediately, someone retorted: "While Prince Jing is kind and benevolent, he is also too indecisive. I'm afraid he won't be able to control those deeply entrenched local officials in the south!"

The argument went on and on, and no one could convince anyone else.

Just then, a clear and firm voice resounded throughout the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

"Father, I am willing to go."

It was Xiao Jingshi.

He stepped out of the queue and stood in the center of the hall, dressed in court robes, his posture upright, his expression solemn like never before.

His words instantly silenced the entire hall.

All eyes were on him.

Xiao Yuanzheng looked at his son, his brows furrowed.

He knew, of course, that Xiao Jingshi was the best choice. He was intelligent, decisive, and had the status of the crown prince; sending him would be the most effective way to stabilize morale.

However… the disaster-stricken areas in the south are not only plagued by natural disasters, but also by man-made ones. Those local officials are all powerful figures, deeply entrenched in their networks; a single misstep could plunge them into a quagmire. Moreover, there is the possibility of a plague following the disaster…

That's too dangerous.

"Nonsense! You are the Crown Prince, the foundation of the nation. How can you easily leave the capital and put yourself in danger?" Xiao Yuanzheng refused without even thinking.

"Precisely because I am the Crown Prince, it is all the more my duty to share the Emperor's burdens and alleviate the suffering of the people." Xiao Jingshi's tone was neither humble nor arrogant, but filled with an undeniable determination. "If I were to disregard even the lives of the common people, what face would I have to sit comfortably in the Eastern Palace?"

"Father, the floods in Jiangnan are a matter of utmost urgency. My journey here is not only for disaster relief, but also to investigate the whereabouts of funds allocated for riverbank repairs over the years. This matter has far-reaching implications, and it is difficult to thoroughly investigate without the personal presence of a prince. I beg Your Majesty's permission!"

He spoke each word with conviction.

The hall was completely silent.

Xiao Yuanzheng looked at his son kneeling below, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He knew that his son had grown up and had the responsibility and ambition of a crown prince. He should be gratified, yet he couldn't help but worry.

Finally, he waved wearily.

"Let me think about it some more."

……

The news that the Crown Prince had volunteered to go to Jiangnan for disaster relief spread like wildfire throughout the entire palace.

When Ye An'an heard the news, she was in the small kitchen researching new flavors of ice jelly.

"What did you say?" The spoon in her hand clattered to the ground, spilling ice jelly all over the floor.

"Your Majesty, it's absolutely true." Fuyun's face was also a little pale, and her voice was trembling. "It's all over the palace now. They say that His Highness the Crown Prince made a pledge in court that he must go to Jiangnan. The Emperor is still hesitating."

Ye An'an's heart sank instantly.

Disaster-stricken areas in southern China.

That's not a trip for sightseeing.

Floods, famine, and most terrible of all... plague.

In ancient times, when medical conditions were extremely poor, a plague was enough to claim the lives of tens of thousands of people.

How could he go to such a dangerous place?

Ye An'an's mind was in chaos. For the first time, she felt a real sense of panic and fear.

She realized that she could no longer treat Xiao Jingshi as an insignificant "meal buddy" like she had at the beginning.

She would worry about him, and be afraid that something would happen to him.

This emotion came on so suddenly that it caught her off guard.

She paced anxiously around the room several times, and finally, after gritting her teeth, made a decision.

She was going to Jingming Palace to find him.

She wanted to ask him herself why he insisted on taking this risk.

She even thought that she should try to persuade him to give up the idea.

However, when she rushed to Jingming Hall, she found the study brightly lit, with Lu Chengyuan and Xie Zhao both there, their expressions unusually serious.

They were clearly discussing some confidential and important matter.

Ye An'an stopped at the doorway.

She suddenly realized that she... didn't seem to have the right to interfere with his decision.

He is the crown prince, the future emperor. He has his responsibilities and his ambitions.