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

Chapter 24: 24. A future mother in law affection?

THE NEXT MORNING

XAVIER

The next morning, I made one important decision. Avoid trouble. Simple, easy, not possible. At least, that was the plan. I carried a basket full of fresh vegetables through the palace garden, carefully checking each ingredient.

"Today’s mission." I looked down at the vegetables. "Cook, deliver food. Avoid strange conversations."

"Ding."A system said.

"No."I stopped walking.

"Host."A system said.

"No system."I said calmly.

"Daily observation."A system said.

"I don’t need observation."I sighed.

"Emperor affection remains."A system repeated.

"Please don’t say it."I sighed.

"Current Emperor Lang Li affection: 7%."The system responded anyways.

"Why are you telling me this every time?"I stared at the invisible screen.

"Because host reacts entertainingly."A system said.

"I am suffering."I sighed.

"Noted."A system agreed.

"That was not sympathy."I sighed.

The system disappeared. Finally. I continued walking.

The morning garden was peaceful. Birds were singing, flowers were blooming, and for once nobody was trying to hand me expensive gifts or ask about my relationship status. Maybe today really would be normal.

"Chef Wei."I heard a familiar voice.

I froze. No, I knew that familiar female voice. I slowly turned and standing beside the garden path was the Empress Dowager.

"Your Majesty."My survival instincts immediately activated. I quickly bowed.

"Carrying vegetables yourself?"She smiled.

"Yes."I looked down at the basket.

"Why?"She asked.

"Because I know exactly how fresh they are if I choose them myself."I explained.

She stared at me for a moment, then smiled warmly.

"Of course you would say that."She nodded.

I wasn’t sure if that was praise or concern.

"Are you heading to the kitchen?"She asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty."I nodded.

She nodded. Then suddenly she waved her hand towards herself.

"Come with me." She said.

My body stopped.

"Your Majesty?"I asked.

"Tea."She said.

"Tea?"I asked.

"Yes."She nodded.

My brain immediately became suspicious. Tea with the Empress Dowager was dangerous.

"Is something wrong?" I asked carefully.

"No." She smiled which somehow made me more worried. "Nothing is wrong."

That was exactly what people said before something happened.

"My ingredients..."I glanced at my vegetables.

"Someone will carry them."She said.

"But-"I tried to stop her.

"Chef Wei."She said with louder tone.

"Yes?"I immediately stopped.

"Come."She said.

There was no escaping. Five minutes later, I was sitting in the garden pavilion across from the Empress Dowager. My vegetables were probably somewhere else now. My peaceful morning was gone again. She poured tea calmly. I sat straight like I was taking an important exam.

"Chef Wei."She began.

"Yes?"I asked.

"Do you know what people are saying in the palace?"She asked.

My soul almost left my body.

"People?"I asked.

"Yes."She nodded.

"What kind of things?"I asked.

"Rumors."She looked amused.

"I don’t pay attention to rumors."I immediately became nervous.

A lie. A terrible lie.

"Really?"The Empress Dowager smiled.

"Really."I nodded.

"You don’t know people are talking about my son?"She asked.

"About His Majesty?"I asked.

"Yes."She nodded.

I became even more nervous. Did I accidentally cause another disaster?

"I apologize if my cooking caused inconvenience."I said and looked down.

She stared, then laughed.

"No. Not your cooking."She shook her head.

"Oh."I sighed.

That was somehow worse.

"Chef Wei."She leaned closer.

"Yes?"I asked.

"Tell me something."She said.

I prepared myself.

"Do you think Lang Li is strange?"She asked curiously.

"Very."I blinked.

The answer escaped before I could stop it. The Empress Dowager covered her mouth. She was laughing.

"I’m sorry."I shook my head. "I didn’t mean to say it so quickly."

"No, no. That was honest." She looked delighted. "My son has always been difficult."

"Very difficult."I nodded slowly.

"Good."She said.

"Good?"I asked, confused.

"Yes." She smiled. "Because someone finally says it."

I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or apologize.

"Ding." Then the system appeared. I nearly jumped.

"Not now."I whispered.

"New relationship observation."A system continued anyway.

"No."I said.

"New relationship category is unlocked!"A system announced cheerfully.

"What now?" I muttered inside my head.

"Did you say something, Chef Wei?"The Empress Dowager tilted her head.

"N-No, Your Majesty."I said.

"Because Host has entered the main romance route, additional affection categories have been unlocked."The system happily ignored both of us.

"I don’t like the words ’romance route.’"I said in my head.

"Opinion recorded. Ignored."The system said with zero chill.

I hate this system. A new window unfolded before my eyes.

"Emperor Lang Li: 7%. Future mother in law: 20%"A system announced.

"WHAT?!"I nearly spat out my tea.

"Chef Wei?"The Empress Dowager blinked.

"I-I’m fine!"I quickly answered.

"You suddenly looked like you swallowed a lemon."She said.

"I... remembered something."I said.

The system continued as if nothing had happened.

"Future mother in law affection detected. Current value: 20%. Status: Friendly."The system explained.

I stared at the screen in horror.

"There is absolutely no way that title is correct."I whispered.

"System verification complete."The system said.

"It is not complete!"I argued.

"Delete that."I said.

"Request denied."A system refused.

"Rename it."I ordered.

"Request denied."It refused again.

"Call her ’Nice older lady.’"I suggested.

"Request denied."It refused again.

"Anything else!"I argued.

"Request denied." It refused again.

"This is slander."I rubbed my forehead.

It is predictive analysis."A system said.

"It is emotional damage."I said, and then the system gave no response.

"Reminder: Increasing the future mother in law relationship may improve overall route stability." Another notification appeared instead.

"I’m not trying to improve any route!" I argued.

Host statement recorded."A system said. "Probability Host accidentally improves route anyway: 98.4%."

"Excuse me?"I stared.

Before I could complain again, the Empress Dowager smiled warmly.

"You really are an expressive young man."She said.

"I... am?"I asked.

"You make so many interesting faces while drinking tea."She nodded.

If only you knew.

"I’m very happy we met, Chef Wei."She reached over and gently patted my hand.

"Ding." The screen flashed. "Future mother-in-law affection has risen from 20% to 21%."

"No!"I nearly fell out of my chair.

The Empress Dowager looked startled.

"No?"She asked.

"N-not you!"I said.

"Not me?"She asked, confused.

"I mean... not... the tea!"I said quickly.

"The tea?"She asked.

I had somehow made everything worse.

"I’ve never met anyone quite like you."The Empress Dowager chuckled.

"Host Recommendation: Continue being yourself. It appears highly effective."The system

chimed one last time.

"I want a refund."I groaned.

"Reincarnation package is non-refundable."A system said.

I soon going to die from emberassment.

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