Chapter 543: Chapter 543 : (Extra) Jiang Muchen’s Love Story (27)
Jiang Muchen thought that Scribe Xin only needed to compile the tailored dual-cultivation manual from several sources.
Apparently, he was wrong.
The secret of dual-cultivation, as it turned out, lay in herbal concoctions and intricate magical arrays.
"The herbal concoctions are necessary to ensure that we meet the goals of the dual-cultivation itself," so Scribe Xin explained. "Pray tell, Your Highness, what are your requirements?"
"First, I need the highest possible efficiency to stimulate the omega’s spiritual roots."
Scribe Xin hummed as she took note.
"I suppose she has no innate talent for cultivation then."
"No, he doesn’t."
Scribe Xin briefly looked up when Jiang Muchen corrected the gender of the omega.
"And he must not fall pregnant during dual-cultivation," Jiang Muchen ended.
"Naturally. What an attentive husband and father you will make, Palace Master Jiang. Not many alphas put that much thought into their offspring."
"You are mistaken," Jiang Muchen replied. "I am not planning to sire any offspring at all."
At hearing that remark, Scribe Xin stopped writing and raised her head in astonishment.
"Pardon?"
The requirements of dual-cultivation between an alpha and an omega might vary a lot, but the end goal had always been to sire strong and healthy offspring. Jiang Muchen’s words just now made the entire effort seem superfluous... useless, even.
But that was not all.
"And I suppose this omega does not mind?"
"..."
Jiang Muchen did not give much thought to Liu Chengjiu’s opinion. He didn’t even bother to ask. But of course he could not say it out loud, for fear of slinging mud on his own name and reputation.
Scribe Xin, on the other hand, was a beta woman who hailed from the fox clan. She put a lot of emphasis on the welfare of women, whether Jiang Muchen liked it or not.
"The decision to have or to not have children does not lie solely on the alphas, Your Highness. Naturally, most omegas would desire to have children of their own. I hope that you have taken that into consideration."
Scribe Xin continued writing.
"If the both of you, on the other hand, decided to eliminate any possibility of having children for good, I can also add some additional herbs in the concoction to seal off the omega’s womb for good."
"No," Jiang Muchen’s voice rose involuntarily.
He didn’t want that.
He never wanted to hurt Liu Chengjiu in any way.
But then, if they were going to be married anyway, and he didn’t want to have children, did it even matter?
Unless he planned on divorcing Liu Chengjiu in the future...
No, Jiang Muchen told himself. That was too cruel. Divorced omegas did not fare well in the Heavenly Realm. Liu Chengjiu was going to be a social pariah, despised not only by his clan but the entire realm.
In retrospect, maybe he should have given more thought to Liu Chengjiu’s well-being before he made him such a heartless deal.
No debt was compelling enough to chain him in a loveless marriage, forcing him to embrace asceticism for life.
At the very least, he needed to tell Liu Chengjiu everything and made sure that despite his insistence to not have children, the omega still wanted to marry him.
"Alright, all done."
Scribe Xin stamped the top left corner of the manual with Ling’an Palace’s seal before rolling the manual and handing it over to Jiang Muchen.
"I wish you and your partner all the happiness in the world, Your Highness."
The well-wishes, though pleasant to the ear, left a bitter taste in Jiang Muchen’s mouth.
He was not even sure that he wanted to carry on with his plan anymore.
Was it worth sacrificing Liu Chengjiu’s life and happiness just to win against his mother...?
He was not the selfish, brainless jerk who called himself the Supreme General.
He prided himself in advocating for an omega’s rights in the Heavenly Realm.
So how did he even stoop this low?
Was it just because Liu Chengjiu was an omega wolf?
A wolf he might be, but he was not Liu Wenyuan.
He had done nothing to earn himself a life full of hardships and suffering...
At the same time, hundreds of miles away, A procession of maids gracefully entered the room, each carrying an exquisite dish that shimmered with artistry. They arranged these culinary masterpieces before him, forming a dazzling banquet that befitted a king.
Liu Chengyun had to swallow his saliva repeatedly as he watched the fragrant wisps of steam rising in a tantalizing manner every time the lid was taken off the pot.
He fidgeted with his hands on his lap, impatient to gobble everything down, but he still needed to watch his manners.
The eldest person at the table -- right now, it meant his elder brother -- had yet to take the first bite. So he had to control himself and wait patiently.
The problem was that said person seemed to have fallen into a trance.
He did not look like he noticed the delectable dishes, let alone planned to take the first bite.
"Umm... Big Brother?"
"Hmm?"
Liu Chengjiu gave his younger brother a vacant look.
"Um, lunch."
"... Right."
With a gentle touch, Liu Chengjiu lifted his chopsticks and carefully placed a piece of succulent red braised chicken drumstick into each of their bowls.
"Eat up, Chengyun."
Liu Chengyun did not need to be called twice.
By the time he finished with the drumstick, he noticed that Liu Chengjiu had yet to touch his.
"Um... Big Brother, what’s wrong...?"
Liu Chengjiu turned to look at his younger brother.
Life in Shuiran Palace had been good for the both of them.
Their low status at Wuyang Palace did not give rise to any attempt of bullying from the Shuiran Palace staff.
If they could go on living like this, wouldn’t that be good?
Even if he had to play a substitute for the Crown Prince...
No, that’s not right.
Liu Chengjiu pressed his lips together.
It was an honor to even play a substitute for the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince was a generous, benevolent person with heart as vast as the ocean.
He could never compare to the Crown Prince.
As long as Jiang Muchen did not drive him and his brother out of Shuiran Palace, as long as Jiang Muchen still wanted him, he was willing to do anything and stay by Jiang Muchen’s side forever.
The last thought barely crossed his mind when Jiang Muchen returned to the palace.
"Your Highness," both brothers greeted him on the spot.
"Oh, you guys are eating."
Jiang Muchen took his seat at the dining table.
"Let me join in, too. I am famished."
Liu Chengjiu, happy that Jiang Muchen finally returned, rushed to pick some dishes for the alpha.
But when he leaned closer to Jiang Muchen, he smelled a distinct scent, characteristic of omega foxes...
