Jing He had known before that this would be the case so he didn’t feel all that bad whether it was about not receiving his father’s jade tablet or only having these two generations of ancestors written down in his mother’s tablet. He quickly consoled her, not wanting her to feel bad about something she wasn’t responsible for.

With her son’s persuasion, Bai Fen nodded and didn’t pursue this topic further. Instead, she carefully handed the tablet to him before turning to Jinde and his husband. She had talked to Qiu Ling before because she knew that his family situation was … difficult at best so she was worried about his tablet. Then, it turned out that the dragons didn’t have them in the first place and there was no equivalent custom that could be used either. They simply didn’t honor their ancestors this way.

Bai Fen hadn’t been sure about how to proceed. With this not being a custom and his specific family situation at play, it didn’t seem right to urge him to do anything so she had simply told him to consider how he wanted to proceed. They hadn’t talked about it afterward again as she didn’t want to pour salt in those potentially still open wounds.

Now, she wasn’t sure how Qiu Ling had decided and she didn’t want to bring it up to him either in case this wasn’t something he wanted to participate in. Thus, she could only hope that Jinde would help out with this issue.

Jinde smiled when she looked over and took two jade tablets out of his spatial ring. “Well, we don’t have the habit to make these but seeing as it was important for this and we didn’t want the child to be deprived of the full experience, we made one for each of our families. I’m afraid we are in the same situation as you though: We don’t know much about the previous generations so they are a little bare.”

Turning to Qiu Ling, he handed one of the tablets. “This one is for your father’s family. I included his name since, well …” He lowered his gaze and barely forced a smile. “I knew his parents and I heard about their parents so I included their names, although I am not sure if I got the lines right.”

He knew some things about Chun Yin’s family but the gods traced the matrilineal or patrilineal lines based on the gender of each generation and while he had met Chun Yin’s mothers, he wasn’t too certain about their parents. In the end, he included everything he knew just to make sure the people that should be there actually were. Anyway, with so few people included, two additional names should be fine. Plus, the engraving on the outside was ornamental only so nobody would look at this and point out that anything was wrong with it.

Qiu Ling carefully accepted the tablet and nodded. “I know. Thank you for this.” This tablet was precious to him who hadn’t had a family in so long. He had never met his grandparents and he had lost his father before he even came of age. Now, all these people’s names were gathered together once more, giving at least a semblance of this connection he had lost.

He stared at the carved ornaments on the jade tablet that resembled Jing He’s and finally looked up at Jinde. “What about yours?”

Bai Fen had told him that one would receive both parents’ tablets for the wedding with the only difference being which line was traced. Now, Jinde had created one in Chun Yin’s name for him. Surely, he couldn’t have forgotten his own family.

Jinde gazed at him in silence as he handed over the second tablet. The two of them weren’t blood-related and while he thought of Qiu Ling as his child, this was a very important moment and he had hesitated on whether Qiu Ling would want this tablet or not. Hearing Qiu Ling ask for it now … it was hard to keep a straight face.

Jinde forced himself to keep calm. Of course, he was ecstatic to receive this reaction but this was a moment for Qiu Ling and Jing He, not for him. It wasn’t the time to deal with his feelings. “Well, I don’t know much about my own family either so … I only included my parents.”

Qiu Ling held the tablet tightly. The content mattered little to him. Just knowing that this came from Jinde and that it meant accepting him as his son no matter his blood was enough. Thinking of this, Qiu Ling hummed, the corners of his lips rising.

He didn’t want to dwell on it too much. After all, today was meant to be about the preparation for his wedding to Jing He. He couldn’t get carried away. Thus, he turned to Bai Fen and raised his brows. “Where to?”

Bai Fen smiled as well when she saw her future son-in-law and his newfound family get along this well. “It doesn’t matter. You can choose whatever place you’d like. Usually, all of them are set down in a row so they can be worshiped together. So, you only need a place with enough space but a table is enough. We can just do it here or find somewhere with a bit more … of a ceremonial feeling.” There wouldn’t be an issue to directly do this where she usually drank tea with her guests but it definitely wasn’t special in the way a big celebration like a wedding should be. Anyway, this decision should be left to the couple. She would at most make a few suggestions if they struggled with finding something themselves.

Qiu Ling looked to Jing He, wanting his opinion as he didn’t have much of a preference himself. Unfortunately, Jing He was the same, looking at him expectantly, clearly wanting to go with whatever Qiu Ling decided.

Realizing that they would remain at an impasse if neither made a suggestion, Qiu Ling tried to think about this from Jing He’s point of view. His beloved had originally had high expectations for his wedding. Much of them had been dashed due to his father’s behavior but right now, the Heavenly Emperor was nowhere in sight and Jing He’s mother would support them no matter what. They should take advantage of that and choose something especially beautiful that would resonate with Jing He.

Qiu Ling hummed as he thought and then motioned outside the building toward the courtyard. “How about setting up a table in the garden? Caring for those flowers is something you share with your mother and maybe in past generations, there were others who shared this passion. It seems like a way to honor them and maybe give them some reassurance that you are doing well.” Bai Fen’s garden was also very well cared for and looked the part. He hadn’t been there often but he knew that it wasn’t any worse than the garden Jing He had carefully cultivated and there were many beautiful spots worthy of being the background for a wedding ritual. If anywhere had a ceremonial feeling, it should be this place.

Jing He’s gaze softened as his husband-to-be explained and his heart fluttered. He held his mother’s jade tablet tightly and naturally agreed. “Yes, that sounds like a good idea.” No matter which part of the things Qiu Ling had mentioned, all of them seemed to hit exactly the points that were important to him.

Qiu Ling watched his expression, not too surprised. Anyway, it did seem like a good idea. He pursed his lips and leaned in, kissing Jing He’s temple. “Then let’s go. You know your mother’s garden best. Choose a beautiful spot for us.” Since he had decided on the general place, then his beloved should choose the specific one. This way, it could be said that they had made this decision together, just like any good couple would.