The Heavenly Emperor’s exit from the event actually wasn’t noticed by anyone but a few guards positioned at the square’s perimeters. The couple was busy receiving guests, his wife had found something for herself to do, his brother-in-law was checking with the people from his palace that everything was safe before returning to his own seat to enjoy some of the celebration at least, and the rest of the guests were focused on what was happening up front. If he had known, he probably would have been even more angry.

After the rulers of the Nine Heavens made their appearance, some of the titled gods in charge of the palaces used the opportunity to show their faces. By this time, the dragons also managed to pull themselves out of their shock.

Yes, it was damn bewildering that the previous dragon king whom everyone had assumed to be dead suddenly turned up alive and casually attended their current king’s wedding, even talking to him as if nothing had ever happened and they were very familiar with each other. But … but this was their king’s wedding! And every dragon knew how important a wedding was to their race.

They couldn’t fuss about the old king all the time and ignore their own king’s happy occasion … although he was just as beautiful as rumored. Not that their king’s newly wedded husband wasn’t pretty. He definitely was. In fact, looking around, apart from the previous king, he was definitely the prettiest!

The dragons were still agitated even after accepting what they had just found out but seeing the gods walk up to their king’s table and congratulate him and his spouse one after the other, they felt that they couldn’t lag behind. This was their king! How dare the gods make such a show of going first?!

They hastily grabbed the prepared gifts and as soon as they saw the next person finish their congratulatory words, one of them dashed ahead, afraid that another one of the gods would manage to arrive before them.

This person was one of the generals of the dragon race, in charge of the southeastern region. Being far from the border to the demon realm also meant that he often wasn’t part of the battles that had to be fought, making him feel that he really had no presence in their realm. Of course, he’d use this opportunity to show his face in front of their king and his spouse!

“Your Majesty!” He looked at Qiu Ling with bright eyes and then turned to Jing He. “Your …” He thought of how the gods before had all addressed him as ‘Your Highness’ but only felt disdain for that. What Highness? This was their king’s spouse which put him at the same level as their king. Even if he had no actual political power, unlike the Heavenly Empress in the Nine Heavens, he still received the same respect, and changing his address sure was part of that. “Your Majesty!”

Jing He’s eyes widened when he was suddenly called in this way and he couldn’t help but turn to look at Qiu Ling. His husband didn’t seem to think anything about it though and treated it as if it was the most normal thing in the world, simply inclining his head toward the other person.

“General Chang Bo.” He almost wanted to ask how things were in the southeast but then stopped himself. Anyway, there probably wasn’t much to report and now really wasn’t the time or place for that.

Chang Bo didn’t care either. No, he cared most that his king actually knew who he was at a glance and even remembered his name!

If Qiu Ling had known what he was thinking, he likely would have facepalmed and scolded his past self. He had pretended to be an oddball to have a somewhat legitimate reason to stay away from people and while that had worked in a way, it had apparently made some people search for the reason in themselves, causing them to think that they were somehow lacking and not important enough for their king to remember them. Naturally, that hadn’t been the case at all but now, that impression couldn’t be changed easily.

Thankfully, there was a chance to get rid of the worries this misunderstanding had caused as long as his actions going forward were different. And, well, this wasn’t even a question any longer. He had made his peace with his heritage. Now, he had also married Jing He which was what he had always worried about the most. He had no need to pretend any longer. He could simply live his life as he desired, not needing to take all those things into consideration.

He could focus on being a good king and a good spouse and — one day in the future when it became necessary — a good father. He wouldn’t let the past dictate his present any longer and certainly not his future. He had promised himself that and he would keep this promise whether it was for his own sake or for Jing He’s and that of their family.

Well, Qiu Ling had changed his opinion about these things in the past few years and had adjusted his behavior accordingly. Even though he did slip up sometimes, it got easier by the day not to. Especially on a day like this, he had no issue at all so his short conversations with the guests had been without approach. Naturally, this was even easier for him when it concerned the dragons compared to the gods. After all, he was a lot more familiar with them.

As a result, Chang Bo was more than happy to realize his king wasn’t as apathetic toward him as he had thought before. He excitedly pulled out a small box and handed it over with an expression that switched between solemn and eager for praise by the minute. It really made people wonder what was going through his mind.