At the same time, he couldn’t help but think that his expectations actually weren’t that high. It was his luck that Qiu Ling was willing to put so much effort in for him but it wasn’t something he should or would expected. “You don’t have to take the trouble to do so much.” He couldn’t see much of Qiu Ling’s expression in the dark so he couldn’t judge accurately how he felt when he heard that. Somehow, the statement seemed a little lacking?

Jing He thought for a moment and finally figured that this should be because the words sounded somewhat empty without a reason. “Just staying with you will make me happy.” He thought of what he really wanted and couldn’t do without and this seemed to be it. “Just … take a bit of your time every day and spend it with me, alright?”

“That’s a given.” Qiu Ling leaned forward and kissed his lover’s forehead. Yes, this shouldn’t even need to be said. But then, he knew very well how Jing He was so those words didn’t surprise him either. Anyway, the important part was to reassure him. Especially so since Jing He would be in the dragon realm for the first time after their wedding. In a new environment and without knowing too many people, he might feel scared. As a qualified husband, he’d naturally need to do something about that.

“Mn, how about this? After marrying according to our customs, the next day I’ll show you around the palace and the capital. It’ll be just the two of us. Nobody else.” It would be a good opportunity to get to know the environment first. Then later, he could introduce him to his advisers again.

Jing He had always been a little shy so he shouldn’t expect too much. It was best to take things one step at a time. Jing He was most familiar with An Bai and he had seen some of the others once or twice for sure. So these were the people he should get acquainted with better first. Everyone else could follow later, likely by merit of how much he was likely to interact with them. This meant that anyone living in the palace was important to meet sooner or later.

While Qiu Ling slowly mapped out the first few weeks or even months after their wedding ceremony, Jing He was still hung up on what he had said about the day after. “Wouldn’t that be dangerous? You’re the king, after all. Shouldn’t there be some guards with you?” In fact, now that he thought about it, he had never seen Qiu Ling with guards. At most, one or two of his advisers would accompany him to official occasions from what he knew. But guards? Those seemed strangely absent wherever he went.

“What guards?” Just the thought of having to drag somebody else along wherever he went made him shudder and he hastily denied that possibility. “They’re a bunch of useless fools. Haven’t you heard yet? Your husband is hailed as the strongest warrior of his race. Even if I took these guys with me they wouldn’t be of help. They’d only get in my way if something happened.

“So you don’t have to worry about me. And you don’t have to worry about your own safety either as long as I’m with you.” Speaking of which … he was a lot less assured when it came to Jing He not having guards. It might still be alright in the Nine Heavens’ capital city where everyone was familiar with him but it seemed like too much of a risk in the capital city of the dragon realm. Well, at first, that was. Later on, it shouldn’t be a problem. Everyone would soon catch on to just who he was.

But thinking of that first period after their wedding and how sometimes, he was indeed busy with official matters, he didn’t feel all that comfortable. “Oh, come to think of it. In the future, if you go out, do tell me beforehand, yes? I’ll arrange some people to protect you if I can’t come with you myself.”

Jing He’s eyes widened in surprise. “I can’t go alone?” He hadn’t expected this. He never took along more than two guards here in the Nine Heavens and oftentimes, he went even without those two. He had never felt worried about his safety either and he wouldn’t have thought that he needed to in the dragon realm. On the contrary, he would have thought the dragon realm to be even safer as all the dragons seemed rather talented at fighting, something which couldn’t necessarily be said about the gods even though all of them had the same magical abilities.

“Of course not!” Qiu Ling didn’t hesitate at all. As soon as the words were out, he somewhat regretted it though. He was mostly worried because it was tough to say what that asshole Jin Ling was scheming in the demon realm. If somebody sneaked in, who knew what might happen? If Jing He wasn’t paid special attention to, so much could go wrong.

But, of course, he didn’t want to scare him either. In general, the dragon realm was very safe and he didn’t want him to have the wrong impression. His mind churned and he came up with a nonsense reason in just a moment. “Just look at you, my love. You’re so beautiful! You’d naturally be ambushed as soon as you step out of the palace.”

Jing He almost wanted to laugh. “What are you even saying? You’re the only one who thinks so.” Well, to be honest, he thought himself pretty but he didn’t think he was so irresistible that people would want to woo him left and right. Even though his reclusive lifestyle had certainly played a part in it, but Qiu Ling was the only suitor he had ever had and he had come of age seven years before meeting him. If he was beautiful enough, some men should have made a move before Qiu Ling, shouldn’t they have?

Qiu Ling naturally wouldn’t agree with that assumption. “How could that be? You’re clearly … clearly the most beautiful person in the Nine Heavens. No, not just that. You’re the most beautiful person in all of the immortal realms.” Yes, to him, it was a wonder that nobody else had made a move before him and now, he had successfully managed to romance Jing He and would soon have his wish fulfilled. “Ah, I can’t believe that I really have the good fortune to marry you in two months’ time already.” Yes, looking at it this way, the trial seemed like nothing. Only two more months until they would be married. That was so close!

“It’s the truth.” Jing He still felt a bit doubtful. “And if anything, then shouldn’t I be the one who is disbelieving? Such a wonderful man like you just fell in love with me and despite everything you …” Jing He had no words for his feelings. He would have liked to express them with a kiss instead but as usual, he didn’t dare in the end.

“What are you even saying? How couldn’t I fall in love with you? Don’t you know? The first time I saw you I was already head over heels for you. No, in fact, I already irrevocably fell in love with you when I only heard your voice.”