"Let’s all be happy together," he told Zhang Fengxi the last time they met.
And yet, Xie Jianyu found himself in a very awkward situation with Song Wanrong. The only silver lining in the arrangement was that Song Wanrong was truly very shy and timid by nature. She demanded nothing and she did not become curious.
The problem started arising when the young female omega had to prove her worth in front of many other omegas -- the extroverted and ambitious ones. They were unable to fathom how Song Wanrong, this tender stalk of grass, was supposed to shoulder the weight of the Heavenly Realm with her fragile figure next to the Crown Prince.
The question came up in one of the noble omegas’ reading lessons one day, only two weeks after Song Wanrong’s official betrothal to Xie Jianyu was announced.
"Why did the Crown Prince choose Song Wanrong to be the future empress?"
The poor omega’s eyes were as round as the moon as she lifted her head so quickly. Tens of pairs of eyes flew toward her, some curious but most heavily judgmental.
"I... I don’t know, it was truly a blessing..." she stuttered.
A round of giggles spread in the room.
"It truly is, isn’t it? Wanrong, you are so lucky."
Song Wanrong timidly nodded.
"Y-yes."
The same omega was called to distribute reading scrolls later on. When she passed by Song Wanrong’s desk, she told her in a low voice, "Luck is given only to those who least deserve it. How enviable."
Song Wanrong remembered clenching her hands so hard that her manicured fingernails left painful imprints against her palms.
When she went back to Qifeng Palace that day, she was gloomy and distracted. After much deliberation, she went to visit her uncle, the Qifeng Palace Master Song Weiyang.
At that time, Song Weiyang was practicing some calligraphy in his study.
"Wanrong, you came. What a rare visit," Song Weiyang commented when her niece arrived.
"Uncle."
Song Wanrong curtsied before her uncle.
"There is something I wish to talk about."
"Oh? Speak freely."
"Umm..."
Song Wanrong looked at the hands that she folded neatly on her lap.
"I... I wish to..."
"Yes?"
"Uncle, please don’t be mad. Is it possible to ask the Crown Prince to consider someone else to be his future wife?"
Song Weiyang could not help but gape at his niece. Which omega had ever refused to be the second most powerful person to rule the Heavenly Realm? There had been no such precedence.
"Wanrong, did something happen?"
Song Wanrong swallowed hard. She could not speak about what happened in the class today. She did not want to cause any trouble for her classmates.
"I..."
"Did the Crown Prince do anything wrong?" Song Weiyang continued digging for the truth, although he did not believe that Xie Jianyu was capable of doing anything improper to a young omega like Song Wanrong.
"N-no!!!"
Song Wanrong sounded panicked. She wanted to offend the Crown Prince even less.
"I just... I believe that the chance to become the next heavenly empress must be equal for all omegas."
Song Weiyang put down the brush in his hand and took a white piece of cloth to wipe traces of ink in his hand.
"Walk with me, child," he then said as he walked out of the study.
Song Weiyang took Song Wanrong to the highest floor of the bell tower. The wind blew the hardest there, messing with the young omega’s hairdo in an instant. And yet, the young woman did not care about her appearance at the moment.
The view from the top of the bell tower was too enchanting. She could see the entire territory that belonged to the phoenix clan. The families who lived peacefully under her uncle’s capable reign. The people who looked up to their Song family.
"Wanrong, noble families strive to tie beneficial knots through marriages every generation," Song Weiyang spoke. "There is no more beneficial marriage than one with the heir of Dragon Throne."
Song Weiyang scrutinized his niece with sharp eyes.
"You are my niece, your entire family loves you. Unless you come up with any reasonable excuse to not marry into the royal family, neither your parents nor I will grant your wish."
"... I understand."
"The Crown Prince is a gentle person. He will treat you right and protect you with both strength and status."
"... Yes, Uncle."
Now, Song Weiyang was rather irritated. He expected Song Wanrong to understand that much. Had the young woman been anyone but his biological niece, he might just think that the Crown Prince deserved someone better.
"Wanrong, any omega would want to be in your position right now, do you know that?"
Song Wanrong’s lips trembled from distress. Tears gathered in her eyes. When she bit into her lower lips, large beads of tears fell across her fair cheeks.
"I... I am sorry, Uncle..."
Song Weiyang heaved a sigh. Disappointment could be seen in his face.
"I forbid you from repeating the same sentiment in front of anyone, unless you have a strong reason to."
Song Wanrong choked back tears.
"Look at the many people from the phoenix clan who rejoice about your future union with the Crown Prince. Wanrong, you are to be the future heavenly empress. Thanks to you, our Qifeng Palace’s status will further be elevated. Do you understand?"
Song Wanrong nodded.
"Good. Let’s go back then."
Dejected, Song Wanrong left the Qifeng Palace and took the cloud carriage to Longjing Palace. Song Weiyang the Palace Master was a male alpha. He did not understand how she felt.
On the other hand, her aunt, Lady Song, was a married omega. She was very kind to Song Wanrong.
Song Wanrong wanted to hear her views, maybe collect an advice or two.
When Song Wanrong arrived at Longjing Palace, Lady Song was unfortunately not there. Instead, she ran into Liu Wenyuan, her elder cousin Zhang Fengxi’s future wife.
Liu Wenyuan was startled to see Song Wanrong’s reddened eyes.
"You are Wanrong, Prince Fengxi’s little cousin, right?" the older omega smiled at her. "What’s wrong? Are you looking for Prince Fengxi?"
Hearing Liu Wenyuan’s soft-spoken words, Song Wanrong broke in tears right away.
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Xie Jianyu is listed in the Male Lead Section (灬º‿º灬)♡