Bai Fen didn’t dare to think too much. There was no way to make sure whether this was true and even if it was … she could hardly call this Qiu Ling’s fault. He had wanted to tell Jing He even though this was clearly something he had trouble bringing up. In fact, he had taken specific steps to do so both during the trial and after its end from how it sounded.

If Jing He indeed remembered something and pieced Qiu Ling’s heritage together before he could tell him the full truth, then that was simply an unfortunate accident. Not to mention … even if he hadn’t, there was no telling if Qiu Ling coming clean wouldn’t have caused the same issue. After all, most gods didn’t fall suddenly. Most had already injured their souls earlier and only received a last impact. Qiu Ling’s confession very well could have played that role.

Bai Fen sighed deeply. She didn’t like any of these possibilities but if it had to happen, then she’d rather have Jing He figure it out himself without anyone knowing and fall because of that. Otherwise, the impact it would have on their relationship would be too big. Qiu Ling might never forgive himself and Jing He might always be hung up on that. Now, there might still be a chance to come back from this.

Well, of course, all of that was under the assumption that he had indeed remembered. There was still a small chance that he hadn’t. She had no idea when exactly Qiu Ling had told Zhong Jing Yi during his trial and she didn’t know what clues he had exposed before so it was tough to say. For now, she could only hope that no matter what, her son could deal with this.

“Jing He … he has many good qualities but I won’t overpraise him. He also has his issues. This need for perfection he feels has been holding him back for years and it will continue to do so. In this regard, I understand just why it was so difficult for you to bring your heritage up.”

Qiu Ling inclined his head. “That is precisely it. He can accept a dragon but a half-blood might be pushing it. One with demon blood … that seems impossible.” He rubbed his brow, feeling helpless. “This isn’t something I am ever going to announce about myself. I am well aware that even in the dragon realm, not everyone would be able to continue to trust me if they knew. It doesn’t matter how long I have been king or how well I have played that role. Merely having this blood is enough to disqualify me from the position.”

Bai Fen turned to look at him. “Your children would also be half-bloods.”

“Mn. But does that matter for the dragon realm? Anyway, my title isn’t hereditary. There is no way of knowing whether my child would have what it takes to sit in that position. In fact, even if they did … they couldn’t, could they? After all, Jing He and I can only have one child and they will be required to accede to the throne of the Nine Heavens one day in the future. Wouldn’t it be awkward if they were also the dragon realm’s sovereign or had been in the past?”

Bai Fen chuckled in response. “Oh, I am sure you’d shock lots of people if you let that happen.”

Qiu Ling smiled as well. “I sure would. But I am pretty sure a lot of people will already be concerned by the possibility of your son and me getting married and having a half-blooded child. Even if they consider me to be a full-blooded dragon, this child will be of concern to them. Isn’t your husband the best proof of that?”

Qiu Ling raised his brows. He felt a little awkward after just having disclosed his demonic blood to Bai Fen but seeing as she seemed to have taken it well, he also couldn’t help but want to discuss the future. If she was willing, wasn’t that proof that she still considered him a part of that future?

Bai Fen naturally did. As for the topic of her husband … “Rong Su is headstrong. It has always been like this. I suppose … in the same way that Jing He grew up fearing many things and retreating back inside his shell, my husband might have walked the opposite way: He confronts everything head-on and he doesn’t dare to entertain the thought that he might be wrong because then, everything that has happened to him would have been right. And that … that is a thought he can’t take.”

Qiu Ling didn’t like the Heavenly Emperor much but … taking a step back and thinking of the little he had heard about the curse on the Heavenly Family, he felt that there was a good reason for that guy’s unreasonable behavior hidden somewhere in it. Speaking of that specific curse made him worry more about his beloved though. “Jing He has mentioned in the past that life wasn’t easy growing up. He … was a little reluctant to share more though. Would you mind telling me?”

Bai Fen smiled and motioned over to the table. She didn’t want to stand and stare at the garden and that palace all the time so it was best to sit down and have some tea while she shared this.

Qiu Ling inclined his head and followed her. Since she knew, he picked up the teapot, used his magic to fill it with water, and then also heated it up.

Bai Fen raised her brows. “I was wondering how you might have exposed yourself but … I see there are a few possibilities there.”

Qiu Ling smiled. “The official explanation is: Since we were once a demon tribe, some people with a longstanding bloodline such as that of my father might experience a mutation causing them to regain abilities that were lost in the previous generations. I suppose that is neat to publicize if things ever get dicey. I have An Bai to thank for that.”

~~~

Little Theater: Everyone Has Issues

Jinde: The love of my life cheated on me and had a child with the other woman, then I had a child with the man who sent her.

Leng Jin Yu: Other people have children from their previous marriages. I somehow ended up with a son from my previous life.

Qiu Ling: My mother actually killed my father so I killed her and now I have to hide that I am actually part demon.

Xin Lan: I am the only one who wasn’t cursed and despite an initial boost of confidence, it really hasn’t done anything good for my love life.

Xiang Yu: I think I may win this round. I am a fallen god, after all!

Jing He (who is now a fallen god and has a private curse on his bloodline): … Why is this a competition? Is it a good thing to win?