The Gift

Su Qing looked at Lin Jiu with a speechless expression. "Do you even know what time it is? This has gone beyond just sleeping in!"

Lin Jiu let out another yawn, completely unbothered. "When I’m slacking off, I usually sleep for the whole day! It’s only almost noon; that’s not late at all!"

Su Qing’s mouth twitched. Well, this girl was certainly unconventional.

She sighed. "Forget it. Do you want to wake yourself up first?"

Seeing Lin Jiu’s bleary-eyed state, Su Qing felt a bit helpless. If she tried to talk about serious business now, the girl probably wouldn't be able to focus properly. She wanted Lin Jiu to be clear-headed before they discussed the favor.

Lin Jiu yawned again and stretched. "No need. I’m just a bit sleepy, but my mind is sharp. Sovereign, if you need something, just tell me!"

Su Qing looked at her skeptically. After a moment of silence, she decided to trust her.

"Alright then. I want you to help me make a hairpin."

"Huh?" Lin Jiu was momentarily dazed. "You want to make a hairpin?"

"Yes, using these three feathers." Su Qing produced the three golden feathers. "They don't have to be the primary material, but they must be incorporated."

"Are these the feathers left behind after the Golden-Winged Great Peng’s body was burned?" Lin Jiu asked, her eyes sharpening slightly at the sight of them.

Su Qing nodded. "Exactly those feathers."

"But why did you suddenly think of making a hairpin out of them?" Lin Jiu asked, puzzled.

Su Qing explained, "Because these three feathers are very useful to me. I want to turn them into a hairpin so I can keep them on me at all times."

Lin Jiu looked at Su Qing, then back at the feathers. "So, what kind of effect do they have?"

Su Qing briefly explained what the three feathers could do. After a short silence, Lin Jiu remarked, "I see... I didn't expect these feathers to have such an ability."

"So, can you help me with this?" Su Qing inquired.

"Of course, that’s no problem. However, if the form of these feathers is altered, will they still retain their original effect?"

"The Buddha said it wouldn't be an issue," Su Qing replied with a nod.

Seeing Su Qing’s confirmation, Lin Jiu nodded as well. "In that case, it’s fine. It actually gives me quite a bit of creative room! However, I’m afraid I won't be able to finish this hairpin in a short time."

"I have other projects in the works, including your mechanical doll, so it’ll probably take a month or two to get it done."

Lin Jiu was usually quite busy. Moments of leisure like this were actually rare for her.

Su Qing nodded. "That’s fine. I can afford to wait. After all, it’s only a few months!"

"Since you’re okay with that, I’ll take the job." Lin Jiu smiled. "Rest assured, I’ll make this hairpin look beautiful! It certainly won't be inferior to the one you’re wearing now."

Su Qing thanked her. "Then I’ll trouble you! I’ll treat you to some delicious food in the mortal realm later!"

Lin Jiu’s face lit up at the mention of the reward. "Great, great! It’s a deal! You can’t go back on your word!"

Su Qing nodded. "Don't worry, I won't."

"Good! I trust your word, Sovereign." Lin Jiu gave Su Qing a thumbs-up with a grin. "By the way, Sovereign, the design for your mechanical doll is complete. I’ll start working on it in the next couple of days. It should be ready for you to pick up in a few days. Remember to come get it then."

By now, Lin Jiu was fully awake. The bleariness was gone, and her speech was much more energetic.

"In a few days? Roughly how many?"

"Hmm, about six or seven days," Lin Jiu said after a moment’s thought.

In reality, six or seven days was more than enough time for Lin Jiu, but she preferred to give herself a buffer just in case. If something went wrong and she couldn't finish on time, it would be embarrassing.

Su Qing nodded, unaware of Lin Jiu’s internal calculations. Even if she had known, she wouldn't have cared; she wasn't in a rush. She was happy to let things proceed at a steady pace.

"Alright, Sovereign, you don't have anything else for me, do you?" Lin Jiu stood up and stretched again. "If not, I’m going back to sleep~"

Even though she was awake now, her obsession with sleeping in remained. Su Qing gave a helpless smile. "I have nothing else. If you want to sleep, go ahead. I won't disturb you any further."

Su Qing truly had nothing left to discuss with Lin Jiu. If the girl wanted to rest, she wouldn't stop her.

"Yay! Then I’m going back to bed! If you want to hang out here, feel free, as long as you don't wake me up!"

Lin Jiu gave a cheerful smile and hurried off toward her bedroom the moment she heard Su Qing was finished.

Su Qing watched her go, speechless. Lin Jiu’s dedication to sleep was truly something else. "Maybe it’s because she spends so much time forging that she’s just exhausted?" Su Qing mused, settling on a reasonable explanation.

She shook her head and stood up to leave the residence. Since Lin Jiu was going back to sleep, there was no point in staying. Being here alone would be boring.

"Next, I’ll go find Liu Xixi. I’ll tell her the natural disaster is resolved and handle some work. It’s been a few days, after all..."

With that thought, Su Qing left Lin Jiu’s residence and headed toward Liu Xixi’s office.

Before long, Su Qing found Liu Xixi in the study. The girl was engrossed in an official document, her expression serious and focused. Her brow furrowed occasionally, but the serious look was softened by her cute little horns, making her look more adorable than stern.

Su Qing didn't interrupt immediately. She waited quietly until Liu Xixi finished the document, then let out a soft cough to announce her presence.

Liu Xixi started, then quickly turned around. Seeing it was Su Qing, she let out a sigh of relief, and her furrowed brow relaxed.

"You’re back, Sovereign!" Liu Xixi put down the document. "You were gone for so many days; did you go to handle the disaster area?"

Liu Xixi didn't think Su Qing had been out playing. Su Qing had mentioned before leaving that she would visit the disaster area after seeing the Buddha. It was only natural to assume she had been busy with affairs there.

Su Qing nodded. "Yes, I spent a few days there to stabilize the situation before returning. That’s why I was delayed. You’ve worked hard these past few days..."

Liu Xixi shook her head. "You were delayed for the sake of the common people, Sovereign. What does my hard work matter compared to that? Besides, this work isn't that taxing for me. If anything, I should thank you for personally resolving the disaster."

Liu Xixi’s words made Su Qing feel a bit bashful. She hadn't gone to the disaster area out of pure altruism; she had gone for the incense power. She wasn't nearly as noble as Liu Xixi thought.

To put it bluntly, if it weren't for the incense, she might not have even known about the disaster, let alone gone to fix it. She wasn't a saint; she was motivated by benefit.

"Alright, enough praise. Tell me what work has piled up while I was away," Su Qing said, quickly stopping Liu Xixi from continuing her compliments. "I have time today, so I’ll handle the backlog all at once before it gets any bigger."

Chang’e was always Su Qing’s ultimate negative example—especially regarding work. She used Chang’e as a cautionary tale to avoid letting laziness turn into an overwhelming mountain of tasks.

Liu Xixi nodded. "Of course, Sovereign. Oh, please don't just stand there. I’ll get a chair for you."

Liu Xixi stood up, fetched a chair, and placed it next to her own.

"Please, sit, Sovereign!"

Su Qing smiled and sat down beside her, beginning to work through the remaining tasks. When one is busy, time flies. Before they knew it, the day had passed.

After a few hours of work, Su Qing finally finished everything. In truth, three days of backlog wasn't that much, and a few hours were enough to clear it. Most of the tasks Su Qing handled were relatively simple anyway.

By evening, Su Qing stretched her stiff shoulders and said to Liu Xixi with a smile, "It’s getting late. Time to go back and rest!"

Liu Xixi nodded but said, "You go ahead, Sovereign. I’ll just finish this last bit of work before I head back."

Liu Xixi was a true workaholic. Sometimes Su Qing wondered if the girl was trying to prove something; she was simply too diligent. She shook her head helplessly and pressed down on the document in Liu Xixi’s hand.

"Alright, that’s enough. Your health is more important. I saw what’s left; it’s not much. If it must be done today, then do it after dinner. Even though immortals don't strictly need to eat, it’s not good to go without for too long. You aren't an incense deity; you still have a physical body."

In truth, even for an immortal with a physical body, reaching the Earthly Immortal realm meant they could go a long time without food. They might feel hungry, but it wouldn't harm them. Su Qing only said this because she wanted the girl to put down her work and rest. She didn't want her assistant official to burn out.

"..."

Liu Xixi didn't speak for a moment, seemingly trying to find a way to argue. But Su Qing didn't give her the chance.

"Forget it. Just consider this an order."

"An order from the Acting Guardian. You can't disobey that, can you?"

Liu Xixi looked at Su Qing, clearly contemplating, but finally nodded. "I... I understand. Since it’s your command, Sovereign, I have no choice..."

Su Qing sighed at the girl. "Your father must be quite frustrated with you on a daily basis, isn't he?"

"Eh?" Liu Xixi was stunned for a moment, then nodded. "My father scolds me often... but I don't know what I’m doing wrong. I just want to do the best job possible..."

Su Qing’s mouth twitched. "I knew it... Never mind, it’s not my place to interfere in your family matters. But hurry back and eat! The work will still be here; it won't run away!"

"I understand," Liu Xixi replied obediently.

Satisfied with her compliance, Su Qing nodded. "That’s more like it! Alright, I’m off."

"Take care, Sovereign," Liu Xixi said.

Su Qing waved and left the study.

After Su Qing was gone, Liu Xixi instinctively reached for the document again, wanting to finish it before leaving. But just as her hand was about to touch the paper, she remembered Su Qing’s order. She sighed to herself. "Fine, I’ll go eat first and then come back to work. It won't take that much time anyway."

She left the study and rode a cloud back to her residence. However, when she arrived home and her mother saw her, the elder woman immediately asked, "Why are you back so early today? Did you get hurt? Or did someone mistreat you?"

For Liu Xixi’s mother, it was normal for the girl not to come home for days. Seeing her back so early was surprising and strange. Had she been bullied? As a child, whenever she felt wronged, she would always run home to complain.

Liu Xixi was taken aback and quickly shook her head. "No, no, nothing like that. I just wanted to come back for dinner."

"Phew, I thought something happened!" Although her mother found it odd that she wanted to come home for dinner, she was very happy about it. She didn't ask further and just said, "I’ll go prepare it for you right now."

"I’ll go with you, Mother!" Liu Xixi felt bad just waiting to be served, so she offered to help.

But how could her mother let her help? Aside from the fact that the girl had been busy all day, her track record in the kitchen was terrifying. Her mother still vividly remembered the time Liu Xixi tried to cook as a child and ended up blowing up the kitchen!

"Just stay there and behave! I’ll handle it," her mother said sternly, though her eyes were full of warmth.

Liu Xixi couldn't win against her mother, so she could only wait obediently. But as she waited, she felt restless—not because her mother was slow, but because she simply couldn't stand being idle. It felt like she was wasting her life if she wasn't doing something productive. If Su Qing were there, she would have roasted the girl mercilessly. Fortunately, Su Qing was elsewhere.

At that moment, Su Qing had just returned to her own sleeping quarters. As soon as she stepped inside, she heard a question that was all too familiar.

"Hmm, let’s eat first. I’ve been hungry all day; I just want a good meal right now." Su Qing looked at Zi Dong with a smile. "Where are your sisters? Also, how far along are those spider spirits with the cloth?"

Zi Dong thought for a moment, then bowed slightly. "My sisters are cleaning and heating water. As for the spider spirits, they have woven quite a bit of cloth, but it will still be some time before it can be made into clothing."

"Still a ways to go? Alright, I see. I’m really curious to see what kind of garment it will turn out to be!" Su Qing said with a grin.

Zi Dong asked, "Should I call them over? Perhaps you could ask them and find out?"

"No need, let’s leave it as a surprise," Su Qing said, shaking her head. "I’d rather keep a bit of mystery for myself. If I know everything from the start, there’s no point."

Su Qing didn't want to know the final result too early because it would lose its novelty. It was like her calculations; although she could predict the future to an extent, knowing everything would take the joy out of life. That was why she refused to ask.

Seeing Su Qing’s stance, Zi Dong said no more and simply nodded.

"Alright, go help me prepare the bowls and chopsticks!"

"Yes, Master."

Zi Dong left without another word. Su Qing looked toward the horizon and thought, 'Speaking of which, since those spider spirits are working so hard on the clothes, I should give them a bit of a reward later. Even though they’re here for "rehabilitation," I shouldn't exploit them too much.'

With those thoughts, Su Qing walked into the dining room.

The next few days passed quickly. Nothing special happened; for Su Qing, it was a very peaceful time. Aside from her daily routine, she spent most of her time thinking of ways to expand her following. In the blink of an eye, seven days had passed.

Today was the day of her appointment with Lin Jiu. It was time to collect the mechanical doll.

Early in the morning, Su Qing knocked on the door of Immortal Lin Jiu’s residence. After a moment, Lin Jiu herself came to open it. Seeing it was Lin Jiu, Su Qing was surprised. "Why are you opening the door yourself today? Where is the mechanical doll?"

"Her? I put her away. I’m planning to modify her in a few days," Lin Jiu replied.

"Modify her?" Su Qing was stunned. "How do you plan to do that?"

"I recently got a fragment of a spirit tool that contains an artifact spirit. I plan to extract that spirit and install it into the mechanical doll," Lin Jiu explained.

Su Qing didn't quite understand. "You can move an artifact spirit like that?"

"I don't know, I haven't tried! But I figure it should work. After all, it’s just a fragment of a broken spirit tool; it doesn't have a complete artifact body anymore. Moving it to a new one would actually be a good thing for it!"

Lin Jiu shook her head and continued, "Besides, if it doesn't work, I can just seal the fragment inside the doll. Anyway, I’ll give it a try! You only know if something works after you’ve tried it!"

Lin Jiu was someone with an adventurous spirit. For her, success or failure didn't matter as much as the attempt itself. If it didn't work, she’d just try something else. And she wasn't worried about breaking anything; she could always fix it.

Su Qing looked at Lin Jiu and nodded. "I see. But if it really works, the doll would basically be like a living person, wouldn't it?"

Lin Jiu nodded with a touch of pride. "They’re already pretty much like living people! They’re just a bit dim-witted."

"Mm, you have a point..."

Su Qing didn't intend to argue. She truly felt the mechanical dolls were very lifelike; if they weren't so simple-minded, they really would seem alive.

Seeing Su Qing agree so readily, Lin Jiu looked at her suspiciously. For some reason, she felt Su Qing’s agreement was actually a subtle jab at her, but she had no proof. Su Qing’s mouth twitched at the suspicious look. Why was it that people didn't believe her even when she gave a compliment? Regardless, she didn't feel like explaining and simply asked, "Anyway, is my doll ready?"

"It’s been ready for ages, just waiting for you to pick it up. Come with me; I’ll take you to get it."

Seeing Su Qing change the subject, Lin Jiu didn't press the matter and led her inside with a smile. "By the way, this mechanical doll is a bit special. Because many of the inscriptions inside are quite delicate, it cannot be placed inside a Sleeve Universe. The spatial fluctuations within would damage the runes. So, you’ll probably have to carry it by hand to deliver it."

Su Qing was surprised; she hadn't known that. She nodded and said, "That won't be a problem. Compared to the help it will provide, this minor inconvenience is nothing."

"As long as you don't find it too troublesome," Lin Jiu said with a chuckle.

She led the way, and the two soon arrived at Lin Jiu’s workshop. Lin Jiu loved forging, so even at home, she had a dedicated space for crafting and design. It was a small courtyard filled with forging materials and various weapons she had crafted—some good, some failed. It seemed Lin Jiu didn't always produce perfect items.

Because of all the clutter, the courtyard was incredibly messy. If it weren't for the fact that the yard was relatively spacious, Su Qing felt she wouldn't even have a place to step. Looking at the yard, she began to wonder just how chaotic the inside of the house must be. It was probably impossible to find a clear spot on the floor.

"Ahem, it’s a bit messy here. Wait for me for a moment; I’ll go inside and get it for you," Lin Jiu said with a hint of embarrassment. She knew exactly what the state of her house was; it was so cluttered that even she had trouble navigating it. She didn't want Su Qing to go inside and see the mess, as she would surely be roasted for it.

Su Qing’s mouth twitched as she looked at Lin Jiu. "Your workshop and the other side of your house are truly two extremes."

While it was normal for a genius’s home to be a bit messy, this was taking it to an extreme. "Well, no one cleans this place! I’m busy and never have the chance. And I don't trust anyone else to clean it; they wouldn't know which things I still need. I’m afraid they’d throw something important away~" Lin Jiu gave a sheepish grin.

Su Qing’s mouth twitched again, but she didn't bother lecturing her. Was she really too busy? Su Qing suspected it was more likely that she was just lazy. And with it this messy, could she even tell what she needed anymore? She sighed. "Just hurry up and get the mechanical doll."

Seeing that Su Qing wasn't going to roast her, Lin Jiu let out a sigh of relief and ran off to get the item. Before long, she returned with the mechanical doll and handed it to Su Qing.

"Here, this is the mechanical doll I made for you."

Su Qing took the doll and examined it. To her surprise, the doll looked very familiar. The more she looked, the more it seemed like a cute, miniature version of herself. She looked up at Immortal Lin Jiu and asked, "Did you design this thing based on my appearance?"

Lin Jiu nodded proudly. "Exactly! I designed it based on you."

"Eh? Why?" Su Qing thought it looked nice as a mini-me, but she didn't quite understand the reasoning.

Lin Jiu smiled and explained, "Aren't you giving it to one of your wives? Wouldn't it be better if it looked like you? It’s like you’re staying by her side! Hehe, what do you think? Pretty clever, right?"

"I see. You really did put some thought into it," Su Qing said with a nod.

Lin Jiu grew even more proud. "Of course! I’m always looking out for you!"

"..." Su Qing’s mouth twitched. "Anyway, thank you regardless."

"It’s nothing!" Lin Jiu chuckled. "Also, don't forget, you still owe me a favor!"

Su Qing nodded. "I won't forget. If you ever need my help in the future, just come find me!"

"With that promise, I’m satisfied!" Lin Jiu smiled. "Alright, now that you have the item, let’s go to the living room. It’s too messy here to talk."

Su Qing sighed and nodded. "So you do know it’s messy? If you have time, you really should clean up a bit!"

"Hehe, I will, I will. Now let’s go! This place is a mess!" Lin Jiu said, hurriedly pulling Su Qing away from the workshop.

After leaving the workshop, Su Qing didn't leave immediately. She followed Lin Jiu to the living room and chatted for a while about how to use the mechanical doll. Once that was cleared up, they moved on to other topics and hung out for a bit.

Time passed quickly. Through their simple chatting, it was soon nearing noon. It was time for Su Qing to head back; she had administrative work to handle and hadn't eaten lunch yet.

After a brief farewell to Lin Jiu, Su Qing left the residence with the mechanical doll and returned to her own palace. "You’re back, Master? What’s this?" Zi Dong asked as she came forward to greet her. She was stunned when she saw the mechanical doll in Su Qing’s arms and asked instinctively. Realizing her mistake, she quickly apologized. "I’m sorry, I shouldn't pry into your business, Master."

Su Qing shook her head. "It’s fine... it’s not a secret." She briefly explained the mechanical doll to Zi Dong.

"This little thing is that powerful?" Zi Dong’s eyes widened in amazement. It wasn't that she was easily impressed; she simply hadn't seen much of the world. She had never seen such a small mechanical body containing the power of the Perfect Divine Immortal realm.

Su Qing nodded. "Yes, it’s quite formidable."

"So, where do you plan to put it in the house, Master?"

"It won't stay here. I’m giving it to someone else."

"Giving it to someone?"

"Yes, to one of my wives," Su Qing said with a smile.

"I see..." Zi Dong nodded. She felt it was a bit of a pity; if the little thing stayed here, she might have been able to touch it! But it was a gift for her master’s wife, so she couldn't say anything. After all, she was just a maid.

Unaware of Zi Dong’s thoughts, Su Qing handed the item to her. "Help me put this mechanical doll on the shelf in the living room..."

Zi Dong nodded and asked, "Aren't you sending it out today, Master?"

"I have other things to do today. I’ll probably send it over in a few days," Su Qing said casually. "Also, I’m a bit hungry. How is the meal coming along?"

Zi Dong was secretly happy. Even though it was still a gift to be sent away, at least she could touch it for now. She was incredibly curious about the thing. "Yes, Master! Also, Sister Zi Chun is still preparing the food, so it’ll be a little while longer."

"I see. Then go put that away for me!" Su Qing nodded and handed the mechanical doll to Zi Dong. Zi Dong smiled, took the doll, and headed toward the living room.

Su Qing sat in the courtyard for a while, waiting for lunch. As a dedicated foodie, she made sure never to miss her three meals a day.

Time flowed on. Two more days passed. After Su Qing handled the matters at hand, she prepared to deliver the mechanical doll to Bai Yuhe. Unfortunately, Bai Yuhe hadn't abdicated yet, so Su Qing couldn't give her the longevity-increasing pill. She wondered when the queen would finally step down.

Su Qing shook her head inwardly. 'Whatever, as long as she abdicates before her lifespan runs out...'

With that thought, she took the mechanical doll and summoned her Somersault Cloud with a hand seal. She stepped onto the cloud and headed toward the Women's Kingdom.

Su Qing’s Somersault Cloud was very fast, even without the boost from the golden feathers. Before long, she crossed the Northern Continent and arrived in the sky above the Women's Kingdom in the West Sea Continent. She didn't linger in the air, only taking a quick look to ensure there was no demonic Qi in the city before descending into the palace.

In the palace of the Women's Kingdom, Queen Bai Yuhe was holding her morning court session. She sat regally on the dragon throne, her expression indifferent as she listened to the reports from her officials. Su Qing didn't interrupt. She simply hid her form and watched quietly from the side.

Minutes turned into hours. Finally, the morning session ended. With the announcement of the court’s dismissal, Bai Yuhe stood up and left the silent hall.

In the corridor, Bai Yuhe let out a long breath. Holding court might sound simple, but it was actually exhausting—especially having to maintain a stern face and play mind games with the civil and military officials.

"That was hard work~" Su Qing said, appearing behind her as she heard the sigh.

"Ah?!"

Bai Yuhe was startled by Su Qing’s sudden appearance. She nearly lashed out with a kick before realizing it was her. "It’s you, Sister Xiao Qing! You nearly scared the life out of me, appearing like that!"

Su Qing gave a helpless smile. "Sorry, sorry~ I just wanted to tease you a bit."

"Hmph, you certainly succeeded... you gave me quite a fright." Bai Yuhe rolled her eyes but didn't press the matter. "Anyway, forget it. More importantly, Sister Xiao Qing, why are you here?"

Seeing she wasn't truly angry, Su Qing explained, "I missed you, of course, so I came to see you! Also, I brought a little gift."

"Eh? A gift?" Bai Yuhe was stunned for a moment. She looked around and asked, "What is it? It’s not something from Yuelao again, is it?"

Su Qing shook her head. "Of course not. How could Yuelao have that much stuff to give away? This is something else!"

"Something else?"

Bai Yuhe looked at Su Qing, then noticed the mechanical doll she was carrying. "Is it that thing in your hand?"

Since the mechanical doll couldn't be put in the Sleeve Universe, Su Qing had been carrying it out in the open. Naturally, it hadn't escaped Bai Yuhe’s notice. She wasn't blind, after all!

Su Qing nodded. "Exactly!"

"So... what exactly is this wooden doll?" Bai Yuhe asked curiously.

"Why don't we find a place to sit first? I’ll tell you all about it once we’re settled!"

"You certainly know how to keep a secret!" Bai Yuhe teased. "Let’s go to the Imperial Garden then; the scenery is better there."

Su Qing had no objections and followed Bai Yuhe to the garden. The Imperial Garden was the same as ever, though the flowers had been changed to different varieties suitable for the season. They arrived at a pavilion, and Bai Yuhe asked, "Can you tell me what this is now, Sister Xiao Qing? Since you personally delivered it, I assume it’s not just an ordinary wooden toy?"