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

Chapter 53: 53. Courtship memory event triggered!

AT THE SAME TIME

XAVIER

The moment Song Hue pulled me into the second dance, I realized something terrible. The Empress Dowager was enjoying this. Not merely enjoying it, she was having the time of her life. She sat beside Lin Rui with her teacup delicately balanced between her fingers, watching Song Hue guide me across the dance floor.

"Oh, this is wonderful."Her eyes sparkled.

"Your Majesty."Lin Rui stared at her.

"What?" The empress asked.

"You look far too pleased." Lin Rui said hesitantly.

"I am simply appreciating the festival."The empress said.

"You’ve been smiling for the last ten minutes."She said.

"I simply think it is wonderful that Wei has options."The Empress Dowager took another sip of tea.

"They are princes."Lin Rui sighed.

"Exactly."She nodded.

"That is what concerns me. One is our Emperor."The Empress Dowager waved dismissively. She glanced toward Lang Li. "And the other is the Prince of the Blood Moon empire." Then she smiled even wider. "How could this possibly become complicated?"

"That sentence alone guarantees it will become complicated."Lin Rui stared at her.

"I agree."Nearby, Zhao Rui quietly muttered.

The Empress Dowager ignored both of them. Her attention returned to the dance floor, Song Hue gently spun me as I nearly stumbled. He caught me immediately.

"Oh!"The Empress Dowager’s eyes widened with delight.

"Please don’t."Lin Rui covered her face.

"Did you see that?"The Empress asked.

"Everyone saw it."She nodded.

"And Lang Li saw it too." The Empress Dowager looked toward the Emperor.

Lang Li was standing at the edge of the dance floor, watching us with an expression that suggested he was reconsidering several diplomatic principles.

"This is better than the entertainment I ordered."The Empress Dowager’s smile became positively wicked.

"Mother."Lang Li sighed.

"What?"The empress asked.

"You’re encouraging them."He said.

"Of course I am."She said.

"Why?"He asked again.

"Because Wei has spent his entire life being lonely."The Empress Dowager leaned closer and whispered. Her expression softened for a moment. "If these two princes are going to compete for his attention, then at least he knows someone wants him." Then the Empress Dowager’s mischievous smile returned. "Besides..." She looked toward Lang Li. "I want to see how jealous our Emperor can become before he finally admits it."

"Your Majesty!"Zhao Rui nearly choked on his tea.

"What?"She asked.

"You are plotting against your own son."He said.

"Absolutely not."She said, calmly picking up another pastry. "I am conducting anobservation."

"An observation?"Lin Rui stared at her.

"Yes."She said.

"What are you observing?"My father asked.

"How long it takes Lang Li to ask for the next dance."The Empress Dowager smiled.

Right on cue, Lang Li stepped forward. The Empress Dowager’s eyes lit up.

"Oh, excellent."She nodded.

"This is going to be a very long evening."Lin Rui groaned.

"Hopefully."The Empress Dowager happily took another bite of pastry.

Eventually, the dancing ended, at least temporarily. Everyone returned to their seats as the banquet hall prepared for the next series of performances. Musicians gathered near the stage while dancers arranged themselves in neat rows.

"I survived."I finally sat beside Hin and Ana.

"Barely."Ana smiled.

"I blame both princes."I sighed.

"Reasonable."Hin nodded solemnly.

The first performance began. A group of dancers moved gracefully across the floor, their sleeves flowing like waves beneath the lantern light. I watched quietly.

"Ding. Courtship memory event triggered."A system said.

"Please don’t."I closed my eyes.

A familiar melody suddenly appeared inside my head. The flute, the flowering tree, a woman’s gentle voice.

"Again, little one."A voice said.

My chest tightened. It was the melody the previous Blood Moon Empress had taught young Wei. The same melody Song Hue’s mother had played beside him.

"Of course."I sighed.

"What happened?"Ana looked at me.

"I need the flute."I said.

"The hidden one?"Hin immediately understood.

"Can you bring it?"I nodded.

"Give me a moment."Hin stood.

She disappeared through the side corridor. I stared toward the stage while the performance continued. Song Hue sat across the hall; Lang Li sat beside me. Neither of them knew exactly what was happening. A few minutes later, Hin returned carrying the dark wooden flute. She quietly placed it in my hands. The moment my fingers touched it, another fragment flashed through my mind, Young Wei sitting beneath the flowering tree. The previous Blood Moon Empress beside him, Little Song Hue sitting nearby.

"One day, you will play this for someone important."Her voice filled the memory.

My throat tightened as I looked down at the flute, then toward Song Hue. His expression had completely changed, he recognized it. Without saying anything, I raised the flute to my lips. The banquet hall slowly fell silent. The melody was soft and ancient, beautiful and the moment the final note faded, Song Hue whispered something across the hall.

"Mother."Song Hue whispered in surprise under his breath,

I lowered the flute.

"Memory connection strengthened."The system flickered again.

"How many secrets does this flute have?"I stared at the empty air.

"Apparently enough for an entire novel."Ana quietly answered.

Then Madam Qiao slowly stood.

"Wei."Her expression had completely changed.

"Yes?"I lowered the flute.

"Where did you learn that melody?"Madam Qiao asked.

"I don’t remember."I hesitated.

"You don’t understand."Madam Qiao’s eyes widened as she stepped closer. "That melody is not merely an old imperial song."

"What is it?"My stomach tightened.

She glanced toward Song Hue, then toward Lin Rui and Zhao Rui.

"It is the Blood Moon Empire’s ancient courtship melody."She explained.

The entire table went silent as I stared at her.

"Courtship?"I asked.

"It was traditionally played when an imperial prince or princess formally expressed their desire to court someone from another royal family."Madam Qiao nodded.

"But I learned it as a child."My fingers tightened around the flute. "At least that is what I remember.

"Exactly." Madam Qiao’s voice became quieter. "That is why this is important."

"My mother taught him."Song Hue said calmly.

"Yes."Madam Qiao looked at him.

"My mother never taught that melody to outsiders."Song Hue’s expression became emotional.

"Only the imperial family was supposed to know the complete version."My heart began pounding as Madam Qiao continued.

I looked down at the flute as the strange childhood memory suddenly felt much heavier.

"Then why would she teach it to me?"I asked.

Nobody answered.

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