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

The atmosphere of the state banquet reached an unprecedented climax, enhanced by the roast duck.

Everyone was immersed in the ultimate pleasure brought by the delicious food, clinking glasses, laughing and chatting, creating a scene of peace and prosperity.

Emperor Xiao Yuanzheng was overjoyed.

Looking at the assembled officials and the foreign envoys who were completely captivated by a single roast duck, a sense of pride as the monarch of a great nation welled up within him.

And all of this stems from his daughter-in-law, who always brings him surprises.

He picked up his wine glass and raised it towards Ye An'an, his eyes filled with undisguised praise and admiration.

Ye An'an saw it too, and she quickly stood up and returned the toast.

Xiao Jingshi sat next to her, watching this scene, a faint, proud smile playing on his lips.

Just then, an envoy dressed in exotic attire, who appeared to be of high status, stood up from his seat.

He was a prince from the Western Regions, from a country called the Yuezhi.

He first bowed to Emperor Xiao Yuanzheng with a hand on his chest in somewhat broken Chinese.

"Your Majesty the Emperor of Great Liang," he proclaimed, "it is an unparalleled honor for me and for our Great Yuezhi Kingdom to attend such a grand banquet and savor such exquisite delicacies today!"

"In particular, your country's dish called 'Peking Duck' is simply the most delicious thing I've ever eaten in my life! Its taste is a hundred times better than the fattest whole roasted lamb from our grasslands!"

His words were sincere and heartfelt, which drew good-natured smiles from everyone present.

Hearing this flattery, Xiao Yuanzheng was even happier. He stroked his beard and laughed, "Your Highness flatters me. Our Great Liang is a vast and resource-rich land with a long and rich culinary culture. A mere roast duck is nothing to boast about, nothing at all."

He said "It's nothing to brag about," but his expression clearly said, "Quick, praise me a few more times."

The Yuezhi prince was clearly a shrewd man. He saw through the emperor's thoughts, his eyes darting around, and continued, "Your Majesty, you are too modest. In my opinion, the chef who can create such delicious food is your country's true, priceless treasure!"

As he spoke, his gaze fixed intently on Ye An'an.

"I just heard that this divine dish was actually made by the beautiful Consort of the Crown Prince. This is truly unbelievable! Her Majesty's wisdom and talent shine brighter than the stars in the sky!"

His words were rather blunt.

A foreign official, in front of so many people, so openly praised the emperor's daughter-in-law, even with an undisguised, burning...greed in his eyes.

The atmosphere in the main hall instantly became somewhat subtle.

Ye An'an also felt that gaze that made her somewhat uncomfortable, and she subconsciously moved closer to Xiao Jingshi.

Xiao Jingshi's face darkened.

He looked at the Yuezhi prince who was staring at his woman, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

However, the prince seemed completely oblivious to the change in atmosphere.

He actually stepped forward again and made a shocking request to the emperor.

"Your Majesty the Emperor!" he said earnestly, "Our Yuezhi Kingdom, though not as wealthy as yours, is willing to offer our most precious gifts—one thousand of the finest Akhal-Teke horses, and ten of the most fertile grassland pastures!"

"We only beg...we only beg Your Majesty to bestow upon us this concubine with the hands of a god!"

"We guarantee that she will be treated as our country's most honored guest! She will be treated like a queen!"

The moment he uttered those words, the entire hall fell silent.

Everyone was stunned by his outrageous remarks.

Kidnapping people?

Or was it in front of the Emperor and the Crown Prince that she tried to steal the Crown Prince's concubine?

Is this prince insane? Or is he just drunk?

Xiao Yuanzheng's smile froze instantly.

He looked down at the arrogant prince below, a flash of anger crossing his eyes.

But he was, after all, the emperor, and could not easily lose his composure.

He was about to speak and say a few words of rebuke.

A cold, emotionless voice rang out before he could.

It was Xiao Jingshi.

He slowly put down the duck roll he had just rolled for Ye An'an.

He didn't even stand up; he just sat there calmly in his seat.

He raised his eyes and looked at the Yuezhi prince. His clear, cold eyes seemed to be holding the promise of an ice storm about to erupt.

"Your Highness," he said, his voice calm yet carrying a chilling sense of oppression.

"I also have a question for you."

"Please...please speak." The prince felt a sudden jolt in his heart as the prince was being stared at.

Xiao Jingshi looked at him, a cold, mocking smile curving his lips.

Is your country very valuable?

The prince was taken aback, not understanding what he meant.

Then he heard Xiao Jingshi speak, word by word, in a clear and firm tone, as if declaring to the whole world:

"My concubine, she is priceless."

"Don't even mention your thousand horses and ten ranches."

"Even if you give up your entire country in exchange."

"In my eyes, they are still worthless."

"Because she is mine."

His words were forceful, domineering, and left no room for doubt.

That was the most extreme, the most unreasonable kind of protection and...possession.

The entire hall was deathly silent.

Everyone was completely stunned by the Crown Prince's declaration, which could be described as "anger for a beauty".

The Yuezhi prince turned ashen-faced, his legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground.

He finally realized what kind of being he had messed with.

Ye An'an, sitting next to Xiao Jingshi, felt as if her heart had been violently struck by something as she listened to his words.

It's sour, tingly, and...sweet to the point of being overwhelming.

She looked up at the man beside her, the man who had publicly turned against foreign envoys for her sake.

Looking at his face, which was always aloof and indifferent, but now appeared exceptionally vivid because of his anger.

We've failed.