Su Qing listened to these words and didn't know what to say for a moment.
She didn't know if Chang'e was complaining about the monkey or praising him...
After all... the word "talent" wasn't exactly a compliment sometimes.
"So, what did that guy actually do? Let me guess... he probably did something bad again, right?"
After a moment of thought, Su Qing gave up on the idea of prying further and urged Chang'e to get straight to the point.
To avoid Chang'e playing games with her... or teasing her.
Chang'e smiled faintly and said, "You do know that guy quite well! You actually guessed it wasn't anything good."
Su Qing rolled her eyes and replied, "Besides knowing him, I also know you. If it were anything good, you wouldn't be telling me."
"Hardly... if it were good news, I'd tell you too. I'm not the type to only report bad news. As long as it's fun, I'll tell you! When has there ever been an exception?"
Chang'e took a sip of wine and said with a chuckle:
"Alright, alright, I won't keep you in suspense. If I keep it up, you'll probably start complaining about me again!"
"However, that little brother of yours really did something big this time, and you'd never guess just how rebellious it was."
Su Qing didn't speak upon hearing this; she just silently took a sip of wine.
After all, she couldn't exactly jump out and say she already knew what a "big thing" it was.
Seeing Su Qing remain silent, Chang'e didn't think much of it and just continued.
"Last time, that mad monkey made a total mess of the Peaches of Immortality Banquet, but this time, he was even crazier. He actually wanted to kill the Jade Emperor and take his place."
"Honestly, in all this time, he's the first one I've ever seen try something like that."
"And to dare to provoke them single-handedly... that's truly unheard of."
Listening to Chang'e's words...
Su Qing didn't feel the slightest bit of surprise or shock, as she had known all this long ago.
However, while she felt nothing inside, she still put on an expression of surprise to play along with Chang'e:
"What? Tsk, Wukong really knows how to find trouble for himself, doesn't he?! To actually do something like that."
Seeing Su Qing's shocked expression, Chang'e's smile widened.
She knew that even Su Qing would be incredibly surprised to hear such a thing.
After all, even she had been startled when she first saw it.
Unfortunately, she didn't know that this was merely Su Qing's feigned surprise.
"But I'm curious, to what extent did he go? He couldn't have actually killed the Jade Emperor, right?" Su Qing asked, knowing the answer.
She also conveniently tossed the topic back to Chang'e...
Allowing her to smoothly continue with what she wanted to say.
Chang'e said with a beaming smile, "How could that be possible? If the Jade Emperor were that easy to kill, the world would have fallen into chaos long ago."
"Besides... even if the monkey has that kind of power, the Jade Emperor has lived for so many years and survived countless calamities of heaven and earth. How could he not have at least some life-saving measures?"
Su Qing nodded and asked, "So, what was the result?"
"The Jade Emperor called for the Buddha and had him suppress the monkey."
"He didn't kill him?"
"No... according to the Buddha, he spared him out of respect for you. He supposedly said he owed you something."
"..."
Su Qing was momentarily stunned.
She really wanted to blurt out that the Buddha was full of it—that he definitely hadn't spared the monkey because of her.
But considering that Moonlight Bodhisattva was also in the Moon Palace, she held back.
However, she was indeed quite speechless.
After all, the Buddha clearly had other uses for the monkey and that's why he didn't kill him, yet now he was claiming it was out of respect for her...
It was simply too shameless.
"He told everyone that?"
"Of course... the Jade Emperor questioned him at the time, after all."
"Does the entire Heavenly Court know now?"
"Obviously." Seeing Su Qing's gloom, Chang'e couldn't help but ask with amusement, "You don't look very happy? What, are you upset that your little brother didn't die?"
Su Qing shook her head slightly and said, "I'm glad he's alive, of course... I'm just frustrated by what the Buddha said."
"What's there to be frustrated about? Since the Buddha said that, those in the Heavenly Court who were dissatisfied with you don't dare say a bad word about you anymore! It's like he's given you a pretty good insurance policy!"
Chang'e held her wine glass, looking amused:
"Though, I do know why you're unhappy. You're just used to keeping a low profile, aren't you? Well, forget it; everyone has helped you step into the spotlight."
Su Qing: "...I... thank them, then."
"You really should thank them," Chang'e said with a chuckle. "Anyway! Being famous isn't a bad thing. It can save you a lot of trouble! As long as you know how to use it, this fame will only bring you benefits, no harm."
Su Qing sighed softly and nodded. "I understand the logic, of course..."
"You say you understand, but I don't think you do at all." Chang'e smiled and reached out to tilt Su Qing's face up. "Don't be too low-profile. Otherwise, people will think you're a pushover!"
Su Qing rolled her eyes at this, brushed Chang'e's hand away, and said, "I get it~"
"That's more like it."
Chang'e held her wine glass, thought for a moment, and said:
"Right now, that monkey is suppressed under Five Elements Mountain, guarded by an Earth God. That mountain has sealed his magic, and with a mantra from Guanyin, even with his mountain-carrying strength, he won't be getting out. I expect he'll be trapped under that mountain for many, many years."
"Indeed." Su Qing nodded. "I'll find a chance to visit him later."
"As you wish. Just don't think about letting him out..."
"He committed a crime; he'll just have to suffer the consequences. I won't go so far as to release him." Su Qing shook her head. "I'm just going to see him."
"That's good!" Seeing this, Chang'e continued, "That's about it for that matter. Let me tell you a few more interesting things!"
Su Qing didn't refuse. She was idle anyway, so letting Chang'e talk to her heart's content was fine.
As long as Chang'e wasn't making fun of her, that was enough.
Besides, Su Qing was indeed particularly interested in the gossip of the Heavenly Palace.
Listening once in a while was harmless.
Time passed quickly.
Chang'e spoke happily and drank even more happily.
By the end, she was in a half-dreaming, half-awake state.
Sometimes Su Qing couldn't even hear what Chang'e was saying, or couldn't understand her.
Because when she was drunk, she spoke of her own nonsense in addition to the gossip of the Heavenly Palace, even mixing in a lot of her own complaints about those people.
So, by the end, Su Qing wasn't really listening seriously anymore.
She was just listening for fun, seeing what kind of shocking or stupid things Chang'e would say next.
Su Qing propped up her face, watching the tipsy but still upright Chang'e mumble to herself, a smile curling her lips.
"Decades have passed, and you're still the same... your alcohol tolerance is truly hopeless."
Although Chang'e seemed to be drinking to her heart's content and looked like she had consumed a lot, her actual tolerance was abysmal; she had only had about a dozen cups.
Not even half of what Su Qing had drunk...
"Oh no, I meant to ask Chang'e for some cultivation techniques! Now that she's drunk, isn't that plan ruined?"
Just after laughing at Chang'e, Su Qing realized she still needed her help.
And she had forgotten to mention it while Chang'e was still sober.
Now that Chang'e was intoxicated, it was hardly the time for such things.
Su Qing looked at her and smiled helplessly.
She shook her head slightly and muttered to herself, "Never mind, I'll ask her next time!"
"Next time? What next time?" Even though Chang'e was drunk, she hadn't passed out yet.
Naturally, she heard Su Qing's muttering.
"Nothing, just a small matter. More importantly, Sister Chang'e, you've drunk enough! Go back and get some rest." Su Qing shook her head helplessly, speaking.
She didn't intend to discuss business while Chang'e was drunk.
After all, it felt a bit like taking advantage of her.
It wasn't in her character.
Even if Chang'e wouldn't give her the items while sober, she didn't want to ask for them when her mind wasn't clear.
It was a matter of principle.
Chang'e heard Su Qing's words and stared at her with blurry eyes.
After a long pause, she nodded, gave a boozy hiccup, and said:
"Fine, if you won't say it, then don't! But if there's anything, don't be embarrassed to tell me. Ah~ I'm a bit sleepy."
Su Qing looked at her, smiled, and said, "I'm quite impressed you've held out this long with your tolerance."
"You're..."
Thud!
Chang'e seemed to want to argue back, but the next second she slumped onto the table with a very crisp sound.
Clearly, that was a solid head.
Only a solid head could produce such an effect.
"Really now..."
Su Qing smiled helplessly and was about to get up to carry Chang'e back.
But just then, another voice came from behind her.
"Thank you for keeping her company. I'll take it from here."
Hearing this, Su Qing turned her head... and saw that the Lunar Deity had returned.
"I didn't know you were back, Senior. If I had known, I would have certainly come to pay my respects."
The Lunar Deity shook her head slightly. "I just returned! I've been staying in the Thirty-Fifth Heaven, so you wouldn't have found me even if you looked."
"I see." Su Qing smiled helplessly, unsure of what to say.
She hadn't considered the possibility of the Lunar Deity returning at this time, so she was completely unprepared.
"Alright, I'll take care of this girl. How about you? Want to come to my place for a bit?" The Lunar Deity didn't seem to want to say much more; after a nod, she asked if Su Qing would like to join her.
Su Qing shook her head slightly and said, "It's getting late. Since Palace Mistress Chang'e has fallen asleep drunk, I'll be heading back. I'll come see her tomorrow after she's sobered up."
"That's fine too..." The Lunar Deity nodded slightly, not pressing her further.
Su Qing said, "Then I shall take my leave."
The Lunar Deity said nothing more, simply reaching out to grab the back of Chang'e's collar—lifting her up like a kitten—before departing.
Seeing the Lunar Deity leave, Su Qing stretched and left the Moon Palace.
On the way.
Leng Xiang's voice sounded in Su Qing's ear: "Did Master have fun today?"
"Mm, it was alright! Though I learned some frustrating things, it was still quite pleasant." Su Qing said with a chuckle, "It's a pity Chang'e's tolerance is so poor; she couldn't keep me company for long."
"If Master wants someone to drink with... Leng Xiang is also willing."
"Aren't you a sword spirit?"
"But I'm a sword spirit with a physical body now. Having some wine isn't a problem."
"Fair point!"
Su Qing and Leng Xiang chatted as they flew, soon returning to the Changbai Mountains.
The next day.
Just as she had said the day before, Su Qing returned to the Moon Palace to find Chang'e.
After all, she still wanted to trade for some cultivation techniques and secret manuals!
In the main hall of the Guanghan Palace.
Chang'e sat in her seat dressed in formal attire. Today, she held a plate of fruit instead of documents...
Now that a night had passed...
The Chang'e who had been dead drunk yesterday had finally sobered up.
The only visible trace of her intoxication was a small bump on her forehead from the impact.
Su Qing didn't know why she was leaving it there...
Maybe to prove her head was solid? That it sounded crisp when struck? Who knows.
Chang'e's train of thought was even more eccentric than her own.
However, what surprised Su Qing even more than Chang'e's thought process was...
There was another person beside Chang'e today.
That person had a pair of rabbit ears and was busy processing the pile of documents Chang'e had left behind yesterday.
Moreover, whenever she was confused or frustrated, the ears on her head would twitch...
As if venting her dissatisfaction.
As for who this was?
It couldn't be anyone other than Yuer.
Clearly...
After the Lunar Deity returned, Yuer, who had left with her, had naturally come back too.
Poor Yuer had just returned from a business trip only to be forced to handle the remaining work of her lazy mistress.
What a pitiful worker.
Even Su Qing felt that Chang'e was being too much.
"Oh! You're here today too? I thought you'd go back and wait another few decades before coming to play with me again!" Chang'e teased upon seeing Su Qing arrive.
Obviously, concerning the fact that Su Qing hadn't visited for decades...
Chang'e still had some complaints...
At the very least, she would bring it up to tease Su Qing.
Hearing Chang'e's words, the ears on Yuer's head, who was processing the documents, twitched violently.
Then she looked up at Su Qing...
Seeing that it was indeed Su Qing, she froze and asked:
"You... you, you you you! Why are you here?"
Rate on N.U.
