Qian Wei had never feared anything under heaven or earth, so he paid the woman no mind at all.
Monkey Three, however, broke out in a cold sweat the moment he saw her. He stumbled backward in terror, clearly trying to slip away before she noticed him.
“Monkey Three, what a coincidence so you are here today as well.”
Princess Songyi smiled brightly at him, as if greeting an old friend. “It must be fate. This handsome gentleman is your friend, isn’t he? Your wife is about to give birth, I hear surely your home is too crowded to receive guests. Why not let your friend stay in my palace instead?”
Princess Songyi was the only princess of the Monkey Clan. She had been doted on and protected like a precious treasure from the day she was born. Sadly, the reign of her father had been overthrown years before. The current rulers had come to power through a popular uprising, and the clan had been torn apart by decades of bitter conflict.
In the end, a truce had been struck: her father had agreed to sacrifice his own life to end the war, on the condition that Songyi would keep her title and privileges for life. Only then had the new Monkey King brought peace to the land and that had been barely a few years ago.
“Your Highness… that might not be quite proper…” Monkey Three forced a nervous laugh while searching for a tactful reply.
But in an instant, the princess’s smile vanished, and her eyes turned cold and sharp, glinting with cruelty.
“You are nothing but a dog who betrayed your former master. Do you not even bother to show me the bare minimum of respect anymore? My father gave his life to secure my place. Even the current king dares not treat me poorly. What is the meaning of this?”
From the moment he recognized her, Monkey Three knew that this was as far as he could help Qian Wei. He glanced over with a look that clearly said: You’re on your own now.
He bowed his head. “As you command, Your Highness. Then my friend and his daughter shall stay in your palace temporarily though I fear we may be an imposition…”
At that, Princess Songyi’s lips curved into a dazzling smile. “An imposition? How could someone so handsome ever be a burden?”
“I have no idea who you are, princess of what clan,” Qian Wei spoke up for the first time, his tone edged with impatience. “But it seems you did not hear what I said.”
He was rarely spoken to in such a bold, teasing manner. He would only ever lower himself voluntarily no one would ever force him into anything against his will.
“I told you where we go is for my daughter to decide.”
All eyes immediately turned toward the small, soft, dumpling‑like figure in his arms.
Su Mingyue had already made up her mind the moment she heard the word “princess.” If they went to the palace, it would surely be much easier to find Monkey Xing. There was no reason to hesitate.
She stretched out one chubby little hand and grabbed the sleeve of the princess’s fur gown. Then she tilted her head and smiled sweetly.
“Auntie… you look just like my mother… I want to go home with you…”
Qian Wei: “…”
Princess Songyi felt her heart melt on the spot.
She had never seen a human‑shaped child this young. Among the Monkey Clan, no one could take human form until around the age of six, and even then they stood well over a meter tall. Though still chubby, they looked nothing like the tiny, round little girl before her.
“Good heavens, what clan does this precious child belong to? You are absolutely adorable!”
Ignoring Qian Wei’s growing scowl, Su Mingyue continued her flattery with all her might. Hu Lingxuan’s life was at stake; after hearing Qian Wei’s warning yesterday, she had been terrified that he might slip away at any moment. So far, he remained unconscious, but his breathing and pulse stayed steady. She had to find a healer fast.
“Auntie, you are so beautiful and wonderful your home must be huge, right? And you must have many very skilled doctors there?” she asked in a soft, sweet voice.
Princess Songyi felt as though her heart had been seized by something warm and tender. She found herself answering instinctively.
“Of course! Whatever kind of healer you need, I can find them. Our clan is famous for our medicine even I myself can bring the dying back to life and heal the most terrible wounds.”
In all the Magical Beast Continent, there were no children as young as Su Mingyue walking around in human form. By the age of six, most beastfolk already stood nearly five feet tall. Even with baby fat, none looked as cute and round as she did. Nestled in the arms of the tall, handsome Qian Wei, she looked like nothing more than a fluffy little pendant. Everyone wanted to reach out and poke her cheeks.
Of course, this also meant that carnivorous beasts might look at her and think of her as food just as Hu Lingxuan had done at first. But since the Monkey Clan were herbivores, they found her appearance only endearing and harmless.
“Auntie, on our way here, Father and I found an injured friend lying by the road. Could you help us treat him?”
Princess Songyi smiled without a trace of hesitation. “If it is you who asks, my dear, then of course I will.”
Su Mingyue beamed. “Thank you, Auntie you are the best!”
With just a few simple words, she had defused the tension and danger hanging in the air. Everyone present found themselves looking at the little girl with new respect.
Seeing that the crisis had passed, Monkey Three did not wish to linger where he was not wanted. “I must return to my wife now,” he said quickly, and hurried away.
Qian Wei remained calm and unbothered. With his mastery of illusion, few places in the world could ever truly hold him. He came and went as he pleased. He was staying only because of the little girl. If she chose to go to the princess’s palace, he would follow and see just how far her cleverness could take her.
Princess Songyi’s residence stood on the fourth level of the great tree‑city. This was one of the most prosperous and central areas of the Monkey Clan; the higher up one lived, the higher their status. The current king and crown prince resided on the seventh level. Songyi had once lived there too, but after her father’s death, she had moved down to the fourth. Even so, the king had kept his promise to the late ruler and treated her with the respect due her title.
The palace was richly furnished and filled with fine things, and a large staff of servants was in attendance.
But when Qian Wei carried the still‑unconscious form of Hu Lingxuan into a guest room and pulled back the black cloth covering him, everyone in the room gasped sharply.
“If I am not mistaken,” Princess Songyi said, her voice turning cold, “this child belongs to the Tiger Clan, does he not?”