(BL) Reborn as Lycan's Emperor's abandoned Beta concubine?!

Chapter 23: 23. Time for palace gossips!

THE NEXT MORNING

XAVIER

I had one goal today: to avoid the Emperor. That was it. No mysterious hugs, no surprise inspections, no ’kitchen visits’. Just cooking.

"I can do this." I muttered as I carried a basket of fresh vegetables across the palace courtyard.

"Daily objective: Remain calm."The system immediately appeared.

"I already failed."I said.

"Objective failed."THe system agreed.

"I wasn’t even finished talking."I sighed and continued walking.

As I rounded a corner near one of the gardens, I heard familiar voices ahead.

"His Majesty has been acting unusually." That sounded like Shen.

I immediately stopped. Instinctively, I ducked behind a flowering plum tree.

"I am not eavesdropping." I whispered.

"Host is absolutely eavesdropping."The system said.

"I am... strategically standing."I whispered.

A second voice laughed warmly. The Empress Dowager.

"So." She said, amusement obvious in her voice. "Tell me."

"There was..." Shen paused, clearly choosing his words carefully. "A rather unusual incident last night."

My shoulders stiffened. Last night? Please don’t...

"The Emperor paid another visit to Chef Wei’s residence."Shen said.

My soul tried to leave my body. No. No no no.

"Another kitchen inspection?"The Empress Dowager chuckled.

One could call it that."Shen was silent for a moment.

"I see."She said.

"You do?"Shen asked.

"I have raised that boy. I know exactly when he’s lying to himself."She said.

I slowly covered my face. Please stop talking.

"When I entered the kitchen, His Majesty stepped away immediately."Shen cleared his throat.

"Oh?"Empress asked.

"He left without saying a word."Shen added. "And Chef Wei was sitting on the floor looking... overwhelmed."

The Empress Dowager became suspiciously quiet. Then she laughed. Not a polite laugh, a genuine one.

"Oh, my poor son."She grinned.

My ears turned red. Please don’t pity him. Pity me.

"He finally falls for someone." She said between laughs. "And the only thing he can think to do is wander into the kitchen at night."

"I suppose that explains why Chef Wei looked so flustered during dinner yesterday." Shen remained perfectly composed. "I believed Your Majesty should be informed."

"You did the right thing."Empress said.

I risked peeking around the tree. The Empress Dowager wore the smile of someone who had just come up with a terrible idea. A very terrible idea.

"Oh..." She murmured. "I think it’s time I help things along."

My instincts screamed. Absolutely not. Whatever she was planning I wanted no part of it.

"Warning."The system chimed.

"What now?"I asked.

"An important character has begun plotting."The system warned. "Probability of peaceful palace life has decreased."

I quietly backed away before either of them noticed me.

One thought echoed through my mind. I needed to hide. Preferably somewhere the Empress Dowager couldn’t find me. Unfortunately, I worked in the palace kitchen. A few days passed, and I finally convinced myself things were returning to normal. Which, in hindsight, was a ridiculous thought. I was carrying a basket of freshly steamed buns through one of the palace corridors when I heard hushed voices around the corner, several imperial concubines were gathered beneath a flowering tree. I had no intention of eavesdropping.

"His Majesty finally summoned someone."One of them said.

My footsteps stopped.

"It has been so long."Another concubine sighed dramatically. "I heard the entire palace was shocked."

"So was I."Third one added.

Curiosity won. I quietly stood behind the corner. I’m not proud of this.

"I heard one of the favored concubines was finally given the chance to attend His Majesty last night."One omega lowered his voice.

"They say His Majesty has had... needs... again after such a long time."Another nodded eagerly.

"Needs?" I whispered to myself.

"For years, His Majesty rarely requested anyone."A third concubine fanned himself.

"Exactly!"Another one joined.

"The palace servants were practically celebrating." One of them giggled. "Everyone thought something might be wrong."

"I also heard..."Another leaned closer.

"What?"One nearby asked.

"His Majesty dismissed the concubine unusually quickly."She said.

"Really?"Second one asked.

"Apparently nothing happened."First one said.

The group looked equally confused.

"They said His Majesty seemed distracted the entire time."Second one said.

"By what?"Third one asked.

"No one knows." One sighed dramatically. "His Majesty’s heart is impossible to understand."

"I heard he left before the attendants even finished preparing the chamber."Another lowered his voice even further.

"That’s strange."First one said.

"Very."Second one nodded.

I blinked. Why am I listening to palace gossip? I should leave, right now before someone catches me. I carefully took one step backward and stepped right on dry leaf.

Every head turned.

"Chef Wei?"One of them asked.

"Good morning."I smiled the most awkward smile of my life.

Silence.

"Were... you listening?"One of the omegas covered his mouth with a fan.

"No."I said.

"You were standing behind the corner."She said.

"I was... appreciating the architecture."I shook my head.

"The wall?"She asked.

"The wall is very well built."I eplained quickly.

"Don’t worry, Chef Wei."One of the concubines suddenly laughed. "We won’t tell anyone."

"But if you ever become curious about palace gossip..."Another grinned as he smiled mischievously. "You should simply ask us."

"I-I was just delivering breakfast!"My ears immediately turned red.

"Of course."First one nodded.

"Naturally."Second one added. "We believe you."

Judging by their expressions, they absolutely did not believe me. I bowed awkwardly, clutched my basket tighter, and escaped down the corridor as fast as dignity allowed. Behind me, I could still hear quiet laughter. I officially hated palace gossip. Especially when I accidentally became part of it.

The palace had many mysteries: why the Emperor hated unnecessary meetings, why the palace chefs panicked whenever I changed a recipe. Why nobles thought giving me expensive ingredients was a normal way to start a conversation. But the biggest mystery? Palace gossip. It moved faster than any messenger. By the evening, I had already learned that trying not to hear gossip was impossible. Especially when everyone whispered loudly enough for the entire hallway to hear. I was returning from the kitchen after checking tomorrow’s ingredients when I passed by the servants corridor.

"Did you hear?"One asked.

I stopped. No, I was not stopping. I was walking, walking normally and definitely not listening.

"His Majesty finally allowed someone to serve him again."One of them said.

I immediately slowed down. Again?

"Really?"Another voice asked.

"Yes. Apparently, the palace thought His Majesty’s temper might improve."Second one said.

"Because of that?"First one said.

"Of course. They said the concubine was sent to calm His Majesty’s ’royal equipment’."Second one grinned.

I nearly walked into a pillar. My brain stopped. What kind of sentence was that?! I stood there frozen, holding a basket of vegetables.

"Host." The system appeared.

"No."I said.

"Your reaction indicates confusion."The system said.

"I am very aware I am confused."I said.

"Palace terminology detected."The system said.

"Please don’t explain." I groaned.

"Royal equipment refers to-"The system said.

"Nope." I walked away quickly before my brain could suffer more damage.

Unfortunately, the gossip followed me.

"Everyone was surprised. I heard His Majesty hasn’t requested anyone for a long time."First one added.

"Exactly. That’s why people are wondering."Second one nodded. "Then why doesn’t he simply ask someone?"

I slowed down again. That was actually a good question. Why didn’t he? The Emperor was powerful. The entire palace would probably have people lining up just because he looked in their direction.

"I heard many concubines would gladly go."Another one added.

"Of course they would."Third one nodded.

I quietly carried my basket away. Because I knew something they didn’t. The Emperor was strange, extremely strange. The man ignored everyone in the palace but somehow appeared in my kitchen at night. He ignored beautiful nobles but stared at me while I cooked. He rejected endless invitations but somehow decided hugging me was normal. None of this made sense. When I finally reached my quarters, I closed the door behind me and leaned against it.

"Why is my life like this?"I sighed.

"Observation recorded. Host has successfully identified Emperor Lang Li’s unusual behavior."The system said.

"That was not a mission."I said.

"Correct."The system said.

"Then why are you saying it?"I asked.

"Because it is amusing."The system said. "Emperor affection remains at 6%."

"That number feels strangely low for how much trouble he causes me."I sighed.

The door opened and standing there was exactly who I feared. Emperor Lang Li.

Your Majesty?"I asked.

"I came to inspect."He stepped inside calmly.

"Inspect what?"I stared.

"The kitchen."He said.

"This is not a kitchen."I looked around my room.

"I noticed."He paused.

I covered my face. Of course. The Emperor had somehow invented a reason to visit me that even he couldn’t explain. Lang Li looked at me silently, then he looked away.

"You heard rumors."He said.

"Rumors?"My body froze.

"About tonight."He said.

"Your Majesty, I don’t think I should know anything about palace rumors."I immediately became nervous.

"Hm." He looked almost annoyed.

Not at me, at the rumors.

"They misunderstand."He said.

"They do?"I blinked.

"Yes." The Emperor stepped closer. "I do not need someone to calm anything."

My face immediately heated. Why was he saying this so seriously?!

"I..." I looked away. "I wasn’t asking."

"I know." He added quietly. "I already have someone I want near me."

My brain stopped. System. Do not appear. Do not you dare.

"Emperor affection detected. Current affection: 7%."The system said.

"One sentence increased it?"I stared blankly.

"Are you feeling unwell?"Lang Li looked at me.

"No." I quickly shook my head. "I am just questioning my life choices."

"You should rest."The Emperor studied me for a moment.

"Yes. I will." I nodded.

He turned to leave then stopped.

"Chef Wei."He said.

"Yes?"I asked.

"Tomorrow’s breakfast. Make the same one."He said.

I smiled despite myself.

"Of course, Your Majesty."I nodded.

After he left, I stood alone in my room. The palace was impossible, the Emperor was impossible and somehow my biggest problem was no longer surviving this world. It was figuring out why the coldest man in the empire kept choosing me.

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