The Buddha Kingdom

Liu Xixi always had the same set of excuses, which left Su Qing somewhat helpless...

Sometimes she really wished this child would say something in rebuttal.

Or perhaps trade a few barbs with her; either would be quite nice.

Such passive obedience really made her feel a bit embarrassed.

However, at times, she had no choice but to leave things to her...

'I feel like a really, really bad boss...' Su Qing thought with a helpless smile.

She could only tell herself to handle her own business quickly and then come back to help her.

At the same time, she really needed to find a few more people to help process the affairs.

It was just that... someone as extremely reliable, loyal, and serious as Liu Xixi was not easy to find.

She could only give a helpless smile and say, "Then I'll leave it to you for the time being."

Liu Xixi nodded, indicating she would handle things well, just as she had several times before.

"Right, if possible, take some time to keep an eye out for suitable candidates to help you. As the workload increases, I won't be able to keep up once I leave your side, so finding someone reliable and loyal is very important."

Su Qing thought for a moment and reminded Liu Xixi, saying:

"Of course, I'll be looking too... After all, they'll be working for me, so I'll certainly put in some effort to find someone."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xixi shook her head and said, "There's actually no need to seek new people. Having me alone is enough for the Sovereign! Adding another person would just be a nuisance."

When she heard Su Qing say she wanted to find another person to help, Liu Xixi's subconscious reaction was to refuse.

She didn't know why; clearly, having an extra person to help would make her much more relaxed, yet she simply didn't want another person.

She naturally understood that her thoughts were a bit strange, but she couldn't help but say it...

It was as if she would definitely regret it if she didn't speak up.

Su Qing was somewhat surprised by this and asked in confusion, "Why? Clearly... your workload would be much lighter with an extra person."

This caused Liu Xixi to shake her head and say, "No... I'm used to handling most things alone. Adding another person would only slow down my efficiency."

Seeing Liu Xixi put it that way, Su Qing fell into silence as she looked at her.

After a long silence, she let out a soft sigh and said, "Very well, then I'll let it be. I'll defer to you!"

Su Qing was not one to be overly forceful.

Seeing that Liu Xixi was truly unwilling, she didn't intend to keep pushing her.

After all, if she really forced someone in, it would only end up making Liu Xixi very unhappy.

Seeing Su Qing drop the idea, Liu Xixi breathed a slight sigh of relief and said:

"The Sovereign need not worry; it's enough to have me here. As long as I am here, it will suffice. I will handle everything regarding the Sovereign's work. Of course, if the Sovereign needs it, I can help with other matters too! However, lewdness is an exception."

Liu Xixi had said these words several times now, as if emphasizing them to Su Qing.

Helplessly, Su Qing smiled and nodded, saying, "Alright, alright, I understand~"

Su Qing didn't say much more.

Because she knew that continuing the conversation wouldn't have much significance.

So she might as well shut up.

'Why does everyone around me have some sort of strange quirk?' Su Qing thought helplessly.

However, although she was helpless, she didn't dislike her friends because of these strange quirks. After all, regardless of their flaws, these friends were all very good to her.

'But letting these official duties pile up really isn't a long-term solution! I can't really create another clone to help, can I?'

Su Qing thought to herself.

Time passed bit by bit.

Two days later.

Su Qing had processed a portion of the official duties, and the people who had gone to the county seat to deal with the Hanba had all returned.

Su Qing was then ready to set off for the Moon Palace.

On this day.

She first played with Su Tingtong for a while and taught her a few things.

Afterward, she greeted the others in the house.

Then she left the place.

She went to the Moon Palace.

Moon Palace.

It had become even more desolate here.

Su Qing walked along the corridors of the Moon Palace, looking at the palace maids who occasionally passed by, feeling an indescribable sensation in her heart.

She only felt that, over these years...

The people in the Moon Palace seemed to have decreased significantly once again.

Arriving at the main hall, Su Qing saw her old friend.

At this moment, Chang'e was sitting in the hall, holding rare official documents, looking as if she were processing them very seriously.

This was already somewhat unbelievable to Su Qing, but what was even more unbelievable was that there was no one monitoring or urging her. It was as if she were processing those documents of her own free will.

And she was so serious that she didn't even notice Su Qing's arrival.

This surprised Su Qing to the extreme...

Had this girl changed her nature?

Had she really become a hardworking Chang'e?

Su Qing was filled with doubt.

So she walked in to take a look...

She discovered that this girl wasn't just putting on an act.

She was truly and seriously processing the documents.

Su Qing marveled, "Sister Chang'e, why have you suddenly become so serious?"

Hearing Su Qing's voice, Chang'e looked up, glanced at her, let out a soft sigh, and said, "I have no choice. After all, I have to submit this period's work soon. Yuer can't handle it all alone, and the others can't help much, so I have to do it myself."

Well, it seemed Chang'e hadn't suddenly changed her nature; it was simply that her time for leisure was coming to an end.

However, the fact that she was doing it proactively still surprised Su Qing a bit.

She had originally thought she would be monitored while doing it!

But Su Qing didn't tease her much, only smiling and nodding as she said, "Mhm, in that case, does that mean you can't accompany me for a drink?"

"That's not necessarily true. Finding time for a drink is no problem, but I just can't get drunk like before." Chang'e let out a soft sigh and said, "Actually, I didn't expect you to come today. If you had come a few days later, the matters would probably have been mostly settled."

Chang'e hadn't actually failed to calculate when Su Qing would come; it was just that Su Qing's affairs couldn't be calculated accurately or seen through at all.

Not just Su Qing, but even the people around Su Qing could not be seen through.

Su Qing smiled and nodded, saying, "Actually, not getting drunk is quite good. After you get drunk, you start your drunken antics again."

Chang'e rolled her eyes and said, "I never act out while drunk; it's just that you think I'm acting out."

Regarding this point, she would certainly never admit it under any circumstances...

Besides, she truly wasn't acting out while drunk.

After all, she actually retained some level of consciousness.

She was an immortal, after all.

No matter how powerful the wine was, it couldn't possibly affect her to that extent.

Many times, it wasn't that she was truly drunk; she just really wanted to do those things.

Su Qing looked at Chang'e with a light laugh and said, "Alright, regardless of whether Sister Chang'e was acting out or not, you certainly can't get drunk today, since you still have so many official duties to do!"

Chang'e let out a soft sigh and said, "Indeed! It wasn't easy to find some free time to drink with you. No, today's doesn't count. Once I've finished the matters at hand in a few days, you have to come and accompany me again."

Su Qing was stunned for a moment, then said, "To tell you the truth, there are also many matters in the Northern Continent that require my attention."

"Uh... why are you still serving as the guardian of the Northern Continent? Does Zhenwu intend to just give the Northern Continent to you? It's been so long and you haven't gone back?" Chang'e was also stunned upon hearing this and couldn't help but complain.

Although she had heard a bit about the situation on Zhenwu's side, it didn't stop her from complaining.

Of course, the situation over there certainly couldn't be told to Su Qing...

After all, this was a matter everyone had agreed not to disclose casually.

The fewer people who knew, the better.

Even Su Qing certainly couldn't be told.

Although she felt a bit sorry for her, Chang'e knew what to choose in the face of the greater good.

Su Qing naturally didn't know what Chang'e was thinking. She just shrugged helplessly and said, "I can't help it. Three years after three years, I feel like I'll eventually really end up as the guardian of the Northern Continent."

Su Qing's helpless expression made Chang'e find it somewhat amusing and fun. She smiled and said, "But isn't that quite good? To unexpectedly possess such a large territory as the Northern Continent and rightfully become a deity of the Northern Continent—isn't that quite nice?"

These words made Su Qing's mouth twitch as she shook her head and said, "It sounds nice, but only when you're actually in control do you realize how much trouble it is. I've already dumped most of the matters onto my subordinates and do very little myself, yet I'm still very busy."

Su Qing didn't really want to become the guardian of the Northern Continent.

Her dream was just to have a small territory and live a good life with her family; that would be enough.

Doing these things now was nothing more than to survive the Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth and then live better with her family.

There were no further or greater reasons.

Su Qing's words made Chang'e smile slightly as she said, "Others would give anything for such a status, yet you seem to dislike it? You are quite special!"

Su Qing curled her lip and said, "Sister Chang'e, do you like sitting in this position and then processing a pile of matters, leaving yourself with much less rest time?"

Chang'e shook her head and said, "Alright, actually I don't like it much either. However, the affairs of my Moon Palace are relatively few, and Yuer is very capable."

Chang'e said this with a hint of boasting, as if she were showing off her daughter.

"Liu Xixi is also quite capable. Unfortunately, the Northern Continent is too large, with a whole mess of affairs. Even if only a small portion is sent to the temple, it's still a huge amount." Su Qing shrugged; she highly recognized Liu Xixi's ability.

What truly made her helpless was simply that there were too many things.

Upon hearing this, Chang'e also smiled and said, "Then the situation in my Moon Palace is considered quite good?"

"It is indeed quite good." Su Qing shrugged and said, "By the way, Sister Chang'e, I'm a bit curious. Why does it feel like whenever I come to your Moon Palace lately, it feels even more desolate than before? Could something else have happened?"

Su Qing was also somewhat curious about the situation in the Moon Palace...

And as the mistress of the Moon Palace, Chang'e should naturally be very well-informed about everything here.

Asking her was naturally no problem.

The only thing to care about was whether she was willing to answer.

Upon hearing this, Chang'e fell silent for a moment before saying, "Actually, it's nothing. It's just that the Heavenly Court had some needs, so they transferred some people from my place. Oh, right, Moonlight Bodhisattva has also left. It's said the Buddha Kingdom needed her help with something, so they called her away. So many people have really left! It's made my already desolate place even more desolate."

When Chang'e said this, there was also some dissatisfaction in her tone.

But that was natural; who would like their subordinates being taken away one after another?

Su Qing was slightly puzzled after hearing this and said, "Speaking of which, there really hasn't been much movement from the Buddha Kingdom for a long time. But... is there some action? I remember they, like the Heavenly Court, are preparing methods to survive the Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth?"

Hearing that even Moonlight Bodhisattva had been called to the Buddha Kingdom, Su Qing momentarily became curious about the affairs there.

Upon hearing this, Chang'e curled her lip and said, "Oh, oh, let's not talk about that for now. Bring out the wine first! I'll chat with you while we drink."

Chang'e had been talking for so long without a drink and was getting a bit impatient, so she hurriedly asked Su Qing to bring out the wine.

Su Qing smiled and nodded, saying, "Alright, alright, I'll bring it out now."

Regarding the wine, Su Qing naturally had no objections. She had already prepared it, and as long as Chang'e wanted to drink, she could naturally bring it out for her.

With a flip of Su Qing's hand, a jar of fine wine appeared.

This was wine she had obtained from the Queen Mother of the West; the flavor was naturally not bad...

As soon as it was brought out, Chang'e already began to crave it.

Chang'e was about to drink, but seeing the table covered in official documents, she was also a bit helpless.

She had to pull Su Qing to another place to drink.

The two left the main hall.

They came to the back garden.

It was even quieter here.

Only a few Jade Rabbits were hopping around.

Su Qing poured the wine and brought out some other food items as well.

She asked, "So can you tell me now?"

Chang'e picked up her wine cup, smiled, and nodded, saying:

"I could have told you long ago! I just wanted to wait for you to pour the wine for me. I don't know much about the situation in the Buddha Kingdom, but when I asked Moonlight Bodhisattva, she said the Buddha Kingdom's methods for surviving the tribulation are almost ready."

"It will only take a few more decades to finish! But because of that, everyone in the Buddha Kingdom is busy beyond belief, even more so than the Heavenly Court. Haven't you noticed that you haven't seen much of Guanyin Bodhisattva in recent years?"