CHAPTER 506: CHAPTER 506 : (EXTRA) THE DETHRONED CROWN PRINCE (6)

It took a whole month before Jiang Rufeng heard from Xie Jianshen again. When he did, what he received was a list of demands he had to agree upon before Xie Jianshen would even consider answering the Shuiran Palace Master’s marriage proposal.

Jiang Rufeng tackled each point with swift efficiency, a direct approach that mirrored Xie Jianshen’s own preferences.

With the main requirements summarized into bullet points, the response Xie Jianshen received within a day sounded as followed:

- Xie Jianshen did not have to conduct any marital duties at all, not excluding the first night of the wedding.

- Xie Jianshen will be under no pressure to produce a heir for Shuiran Palace. It remains solely Jiang Rufeng’s burden to carry.

- Jiang Rufeng is not allowed to pick a concubine or lover.

- Jiang Rufeng is not allowed to engage in extramarital affairs.

- Jiang Rufeng agrees to provide Xie Jianshen with anything he desires to ensure that the new palace mistress can adapt into his new living environment.

Another month went by before Jiang Rufeng was summoned into the Golden Dragon Palace to meet with Xie Jianshen.

When he arrived, Xie Jianshen was in the middle of painting a majestic phoenix soaring across the fiery sky close to dusk.

The first thing Xie Jianshen said upon seeing Jiang Rufeng again was, "I am surprised that your advisors did not raise their weapons in a riot after you agreed to all my requirements."

Jiang Rufeng beamed at him and replied, "Of course I was not foolish enough to run your demands by them."

"... That does not sound like a wise thing to do."

"Let that be my problem."

"Aren’t you worried about losing the Shuiran Palace Master seat to another family?"

"Well," Jiang Rufeng drawled. "I have several alpha nephews who are more than willing to take over after I pass away. Additionally, we can always adopt a child."

Xie Jianshen folded his arms and cocked his head to the side.

"Don’t you want your direct descendant to succeed you?"

"That would be ideal, yes, but I do not insist on it."

"....."

"What about you?" Jiang Rufeng arched his brow at Xie Jianshen. "I doubt that you look forward to living a secluded life away from the political matters at the court, spending your days with mundane activities such as painting and embroideries."

Xie Jianshen scoffed.

He put his painting brush aside and wiped traces of colors from his fair, slender hands.

"What else can an omega do?"

Jiang Rufeng shot him a curt smile.

"You might be an omega, but your high birth and status give you privileges most can only dream of. Wouldn’t it be more fulfilling to embrace those advantages rather than dwell on what’s out of reach?"

"I guess."

At the very least, he did not have to subject himself to the torture of childbirth and rely on an alpha’s benevolence to be happy.

Xie Jianshen snapped with his fingers, and Head Eunuch Wang approached with a velvet box in his hand.

It opened with a click, revealing the same pill Xie Jianshen had once offered Prince Zhou Yanghuan.

"If you are sincere in meeting my requirements, you will not have any qualm in taking this pill," Xie Jianshen pointed out.

Jiang Rufeng’s lips pulled into a smirk.

"Shouldn’t you agree to marry me first beforehand?"

Xie Jianshen narrowed his eyes at Jiang Rufeng in attempt to assess any weakness in the palace master’s demeanor.

"If you eat the pill, I will agree to marry you," Xie Jianshen said.

"If you agree to marry me, I will eat the pill," Jiang Rufeng said.

The alpha and omega stared at each other, the air between them crackling with palpable energy.

"It is non-negotiable," Xie Jianshen decided. "Do you think I will go back on my words?"

"I don’t see any problem with digesting the pill after I hold the Imperial Edict in my hands, do you?"

Xie Jianshen glared at the alpha standing before him.

He was not used to giving in to anyone, but Jiang Rufeng had already agreed on his many nonsensical requirements. What was the use of being stubborn?

"Fine," Xie Jianshen grumbled. He stormed off from the back garden into his bed chamber and returned with a golden scroll tightly clutched in his hand.

Jiang Rufeng was moderately surprised. He did not expect Xie Jianshen to have prepared the Imperial Edict in advance.

The Shuiran Palace Master could not help but smile.

"Here, are you satisfied?"

Xie Jianshen unrolled the Imperial Edict in front of Jiang Rufeng, who took it with gratitude.

"Thank you."

"Now, eat the pill," Xie Jianshen pressed on.

Jiang Rufeng retrieved the pill and rubbed it between two fingers, a playful glint entering his eyes.

"Why don’t you feed it to me then?"

He closed the distance between them in a single, smooth stride. A hand cupped Xie Jianshen’s cheek, his thumb tracing a seductive path along the omega’s plush lips. Before Xie Jianshen could voice a protest, Jiang Rufeng gently pressed the pill between them.

Xie Jianshen bristled, a flicker of defiance rioting in his gaze. But the defiance was swiftly extinguished by the heat radiating from Jiang Rufeng’s body as the alpha leaned closer.

Their lips met in a searing kiss, the pill a silent exchange caught between them. When they finally broke apart, the pill was gone, swallowed by Jiang Rufeng in compliance.

"I hope to welcome you to Shuiran Palace as my wife soon," the Shuiran Palace Master remarked with a smile after he wiped traces of saliva from his lips.

A furious blush burned across Xie Jianshen’s cheeks, a volatile cocktail of rage and humiliation. Never had anyone dared such audacity, snatching a kiss from his lips with such brazen ease. And to think that it was his first kiss, too!

"Hmpf."

Fueled by a fiery mix of emotions, Xie Jianshen spun on his heel and stormed off. Behind him, a roguish grin stretched across Jiang Rufeng’s lips.