Surviving In Another World With My Three Cups!-Chapter 171 -

Mo Ying stopped beneath a tall tree, far from the banquet. The music and voices faded into the background, leaving only the quiet night.

San Na stood behind him. She didn’t speak. She waited.

After a long moment, Mo Ying said hoarsely,

"I’m confused, San Na. I don’t know what I want anymore."

She nodded, unsurprised.

"I know."

He turned to her. "Then tell me what I should do."

San Na shook her head slightly.

"No. I’ve already done enough for you."

Her calm made his chest tighten.

"You told me to talk to her," he said. "But what if I don’t even know what I’d say?"

"Then that’s your answer," she replied.

Silence fell.

Mo Ying frowned. "You don’t understand..."

"I understand very well," San Na interrupted quietly. "I see the way you look at her. I see how you lose yourself."

She stepped closer, meeting his eyes.

"I’m tired, Mo Ying."

He stiffened.

"I’m tired of waiting. Tired of pretending I don’t notice. Tired of standing beside you while your heart is somewhere else."

He tried to speak, but no words came.

San Na took a steady breath.

"I’ve decided something tonight."

His gaze sharpened.

"If you can’t give me your whole heart, then I won’t stay as your wife."

"San Na..."

"Listen," she said calmly. "I’m not begging you. I’m choosing myself."

She straightened.

"I’ll give you until the end of the hunt."

Mo Ying froze.

"By then, you choose," she said. "Me or her. If you choose me, I want everything. No hesitation."

Her voice did not shake.

"If you can’t," she continued, "I’ll leave. Either way, I won’t live like this anymore."

She stepped back.

"Think carefully," she said. "This is the last time I wait."

Then she turned and walked away.

Mo Ying stayed where he was, the night closing in around him.

...

The banquet hall suddenly fell silent.

A sharp voice rang out.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

Everyone stood at once.

Nobles, generals, and servants all lowered their heads as the Emperor walked in, dressed in deep gold robes. His presence alone pressed down on the hall. The musicians stopped. Even the whispers died.

He took his seat at the center.

"Be seated," the Emperor said.

Only then did everyone sit.

The Emperor glanced around the hall, his sharp eyes missing nothing.

"Tonight’s banquet is held to welcome the coming hunt," he said calmly. "May all enjoy themselves."

A few polite laughs followed.

As he continued to scan the tables, his gaze suddenly paused.

He leaned slightly forward.

His eyes landed on the Crown Prince.

More specifically, on the woman sitting beside him.

The Emperor raised a brow.

The hall went strangely quiet again.

"Xuan Lu," the Emperor said slowly, "since when do you have a woman sitting so close to you?"

All eyes turned at once.

Lin Xu’s heart skipped. She froze.

The Crown Prince remained relaxed.

"Father," he replied easily, "is there a problem?"

The Emperor ignored his tone and looked directly at Lin Xu.

"Who is she?"

That was the question everyone had been waiting for.

Lin Xu felt her scalp go numb.

Before she could react, the Crown Prince answered,

"Her name is Lin Xu."

A pause.

The Emperor studied her from head to toe. Then he asked again, plainly,

"And what is Lin Xu to you?"

The entire hall held its breath.

Lin Xu took a deep breath, wishing... truly wishing... she could dig a hole and disappear into it.

The Crown Prince smiled.

"She’s interesting," he said. "And I like her."

For a second, the Emperor stared at him.

Then...

He laughed.

A loud, pleased laugh.

"Well!" the Emperor said, a wide grin spreading across his face. "That explains tonight’s rumors."

The nobles exchanged shocked looks.

The Emperor leaned back in his seat, still smiling.

"It’s rare for you to show interest in anyone," he said. "Very rare."

Lin Xu’s fingers curled tightly in her sleeves.

The Emperor looked at her again, his gaze sharp but amused.

"So," he said, "you’re the one who caught my son’s attention."

Lin Xu forced herself to stand and bow.

"Your Majesty," she said carefully.

The Emperor waved a hand.

"No need to be nervous."

That only made it worse.

Xuan Lu glanced at her and chuckled softly.

"Relax," he whispered. "You’re doing fine."

Lin Xu did not feel fine at all.

Across the hall, an empty seat at the Mo family table went unnoticed.

But the tension left behind did not.

...

Just as the hall was settling again, silk brushed against the floor.

A familiar, imposing presence entered.

"Noble Consort Su has arrived."

Heads turned.

Noble Consort Su walked in with slow, deliberate steps, her robes rich with embroidery, her maids following closely behind. Every detail of her appearance spoke of favor and power. She stopped beside the Emperor and offered a graceful bow.

"Your Majesty."

The Emperor nodded. "You’re late."

"I heard something interesting was happening," she said lightly, her eyes already on Lin Xu.

That gaze was anything but light.

She smiled, but there was no warmth in it.

"So this is the young woman sitting beside the Crown Prince?"

The hall tensed.

Lin Xu felt the pressure instantly.

Noble Consort Su tilted her head.

"How bold," she continued. "To sit so close to royalty without knowing proper manners."

Xuan Lu’s smile faded.

Before he could speak, Noble Consort Su turned to the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, may I ask something?"

The Emperor looked at her. "Speak."

"She claims to be the Crown Prince’s woman," Noble Consort Su said calmly, "yet she did not even present a gift to you. Isn’t that disrespectful?"

A murmur spread through the hall.

Lin Xu’s heart sank.

Xuan Lu frowned sharply and stood.

"She arrived suddenly. This is hardly..."

"Crown Prince," Noble Consort Su interrupted smoothly, "rules exist for a reason."

Their gazes clashed.

"She has done nothing wrong," Xuan Lu said coldly.

Noble Consort Su smiled.

"Then why doesn’t she step forward and explain herself?"

The Emperor raised a hand.

"Enough," he said.

The hall went silent.

He looked at Lin Xu. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Since Noble Consort Su has spoken, follow her request."

Lin Xu stiffened.

Then she nodded.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

She stood and walked to the center of the hall, every step heavy. She stopped before the Emperor and Noble Consort Su and bowed deeply.

Inside her mind, a familiar voice whispered urgently.

[Host, be careful.]

Lin Xu didn’t move.

[That woman is cunning. She has long wanted the late Empress’s seat. She smiles gently, but her words cut deep.]

Lin Xu’s fingers tightened slightly.

[The Emperor favors her greatly. One wrong sentence, and she’ll turn it against you.]

Lin Xu took a slow breath.

She straightened and spoke calmly.

"It is true I did not prepare a gift."

Noble Consort Su’s smile widened.

"But," Lin Xu continued, her voice steady, "I never claimed to be anything before His Majesty. If I have offended, I ask to be corrected, not judged."

"I and His Highness do not have such a relationship. I am merely a lucky maiden he chose as an escort. Please forgive my intrusion, Your Majesties."

The hall grew quieter.

Noble Consort Su’s eyes narrowed just slightly.

"Well, it doesn’t matter. I still think there must be something about you that made the Crown Prince pick you over all the other beautiful maidens in this entire empire. Surely you’re worth something," she smirked mischievously.

Lin Xu knew she wasn’t going to back down until she gave in to her wish.

"Then... what is it that Your Highness desires so much? I will try my best to fulfill it."

Lin Xu finally gave in as murmurs spread all around the banquet, Noble Consort Su laughing like a hyena when she heard those words.

Meanwhile, Mo Lan and Mo Qing were busy laughing at her predicament.

"Today is such an interesting day, I’m telling you. Drama upon drama."

"Why does that idiot always miss interesting things like this? Where the hell is he?" Mo Lan said with a satisfied smirk.

"Well then, since you’re being so obedient and pleasing, I won’t give you much of a troublesome task. All I want you to do is dance a very special dance for me."

"Dance?" Murmurs started.

"Don’t tell me Her Highness is going to use the same trick she used on the top dancer Fei Wu on this girl?" one guest said to another.

"Poor girl. I wonder who she offended in her last life to be targeted by the Noble Consort on such a night."

Meanwhile, San Na looked confused since she knew nothing about the Noble Consort and her so-called special dance everyone seemed so tense about.

She turned to Mo An.

"What special dance does Her Highness mean?"

Mo An sighed softly before explaining,

"Her Highness grew up in the North, and the dancers there were known for a speedy sacred dance only a few from the East and West could practice. Most people perform badly, and when they do, Her Highness uses that opportunity to bring an end to their life."

"The same thing she is doing to Lin Xu. She first makes them promise to fulfill her wish, and if Lin Xu doesn’t get the dance right, she punishes her badly. A dancer two years ago, a top one at that, faced the same dilemma. She almost caught the Emperor’s attention because of her beauty and talent, but Noble Consort Su showed her who was truly in charge. I hope Lin Xu escapes this."