Jing He was moved when he received this offer. Learning more about the realm and getting along with the people important to Qiu Ling was the most important to him and the most urgent matter right now. “I would love to listen to all of them.”

Jinde nodded with a smile. “Then I’ll tell you one whenever there is time. Seeing as your husband isn’t back yet … is there anything specific you’d like to know more about?” He’d love to know what Jing He preferred hearing. That way, he wouldn’t have to tell him about random things.

While it could simply be called entertainment, that didn’t seem to be of much benefit in the current situation. Maybe later, when they were more familiar and Jing He wasn’t weighed down by so many worries, he could start telling him stories simply for the sake of telling them. Until then, he ought to take into consideration what the child needed or ask directly so he wouldn’t risk making the wrong assumption.

Jing He pondered for a moment. “I presume that anything about the daily life in the dragon realm might be good to know. After all, I don’t know all that much about this yet.” Not to mention other things but during his trial, the people he had interacted with were mostly Qiu Ling and maybe his family and his advisers. He had little idea what the life of the common people was like. Of course, he wasn’t certain how much Jinde knew either. He had been king as well, after all, and that had even been a long time ago.

Jinde didn’t seem stumped at the question though. Even if he knew nothing else, he’d definitely have something to say about this. After all, while some things had changed, the general life trajectory of the dragons remained the same and their days now weren’t all that different from how they had been during his reign.

“Well, I can certainly tell you about that. Let’s see, where should I start?” He thought for a moment, not sure how to tell Jing He these things. After all, this was a person who wasn’t all that familiar with the dragon realm and the dragons yet. He only had his image of Qiu Ling and the people around him to build off of. “I guess since we talked about children, let’s start there and make this the kind of story that spans every stage of someone’s life.”

Jing He nodded. He’d be happy with everything but this would indeed prepare him for most of the general circumstances. At the very least, after knowing these things, he shouldn’t make a complete fool out of himself, no matter who he happened upon. Just having some frame of reference was enough to go from there.

Jinde hummed and once again turned to glance at the door to the courtyard before he focused on Jing He again. “Well, you already know that many dragon children are born from shells. After they are nurtured with enough spiritual energy, they will grow enough to open it by themselves. It’s a bit like a chick trying to come out of an egg.” He laughed, thinking of how he’d finally get to see his child do so in a few months. Whether it was Qiu Ling or Jin Ling, neither of them had been born this way so he had never seen this before.

“The moment the shell opens, the family members tend to gather around. Even if there are special circumstances and not everyone can be there, at least one family member would always be left with them. It’s a very intimate moment but one that can be shared as well. You and Qiu Ling are naturally invited to stay with us when the time is close. I’d love for you to be there on the shell opening day.”

Jing He nodded. “I am sure Qiu Ling would love to share this moment with you as well.” As for himself, he was somewhat curious but even though he had married Qiu Ling now, he was still a new addition to the family and didn’t want to intrude. So in case Jinde only really wanted Qiu Ling there, he wouldn’t think too much.

Jinde nodded. “I hope you think the same. If you’re uncomfortable with it, you don’t have to be but there is nothing scary about it. It’s not like actually giving birth. I haven’t seen it myself yet but it’s said to be very cute. And we’re all a family so I’d love to have you there as well, not just Qiu Ling.”

Jing He hurriedly promised. “Of course, father-in-law. It’s important to you so it’s important to me as well. And I really don’t mind.” He hadn’t thought much about the birth of a child but since this one would come out of a shell, there should be nothing bad about it. He also didn’t think that he was that easily scared. Even though he might not be the most courageous, he could stand to see something like this.

Jinde hummed and thought about what would follow. “Usually, after that, the parents just take time to get used to life with a child. Friends and relatives may help but you can also do it on your own.” When he had had Jin Ling, he had insisted on doing everything by himself, barely even handing the child to Xin Lan when there was something urgent to deal with that would be difficult to do with a child. Otherwise, he simply carried Jin Ling along. He had simply waited too long to not spend every second he could with his child.

Thinking back, Jinde’s mood lowered. Sometimes, he still had trouble believing that Jin Ling was gone. Even though they hadn’t seen each other in so long before then, he had always thought of him living his best life somewhere. The fact that he hadn’t been able to … it still broke his heart.