Hu Lingxuan felt as if his entire body were being roasted inside a blazing furnace.
For beastfolk, primal instinct and beastly energy were innate like blood flowing naturally through their veins, never causing them any harm. But now, that very energy felt like thousands of sharp needles piercing every inch of his flesh.
“Hu Lingxuan! Hold on!”
A young, girlish voice echoed through the chaos in his mind. It was the voice of his little “food.” How could she be here?
Confused and lost in endless darkness, he groped about for something to hold onto. Suddenly, something tore through the blackness, and a blinding light poured in. Hu Lingxuan narrowed his eyes and stepped into the brightness.
What followed was a flood of memories surging into his consciousness memories belonging to none other than himself.
News quickly spread through the entire Monkey Clan that Princess Songyi had welcomed a strikingly handsome guest into her palace.
That very evening, an important visitor arrived at her gates.
“The princess’s guest is not at home right now,” the handmaids replied nervously.
They spoke the truth. After his conversation with Su Mingyue that morning, Qian Wei had left the palace, and not even Su Mingyue knew where he had gone. She remained alone in the guest room, keeping watch over Hu Lingxuan.
Suddenly, a man dressed in fine silk and gold ornaments burst into the room. He wore a cloak of exquisite fur, his long hair tied neatly back, and a pair of narrow, slanted eyes glanced coldly at the small girl.
“And who is this little one?”
“She is the man’s daughter,” the servants answered honestly.
At this, the young man’s anger flared even higher. He pointed directly at Su Mingyue, his voice trembling with rage. “Take her away! Tell her father that if he wants his daughter to live, he must come to the Crown Prince’s palace at once!”
Two guards stepped forward to lift Su Mingyue, but she stood up calmly from beside Hu Lingxuan. Though only three years old and still wobbly on her feet, her face held a maturity and composure far beyond her age. She looked straight at the prince, lifted the corner of her mouth, and smiled gently.
“No need to rush, Uncle. Little Mingyue can walk with you herself.”
The prince was taken aback; he never expected such words from a child so young. He stood frozen for a moment.
Su Mingyue walked a few steps ahead, then turned back. “Uncle, are you not coming?”
Prince Deoksun blinked, realizing he had lost his composure, and quickly snapped at his guards. “What are you waiting for? Hurry after her!”
Prince Deoksun was the only son of the new Monkey King and therefore the sole heir to the clan. Su Mingyue learned this from the handmaid who accompanied her on the way. Though he had arrived with such a fierce air, he was actually quite thoughtful. After ordering the guards to bring her along, the moment they left the princess’s palace, he immediately arranged for a maid to carry her.
Su Mingyue sensed he was not truly a bad person.
“Before he became crown prince, was Prince Deoksun just an ordinary… monkey?” she asked cautiously.
The maid laughed. “I’ve never met a child so young who can speak our language so clearly. Even our baby monkeys are cute, but they only babble in animal sounds. What kind of creature are you, little one?”
“Sister Nannan, please just tell me,” she pleaded.
During her time in this world, Su Mingyue had realized that her three‑and‑a‑half‑year‑old human form was uniquely adorable to beastfolk, who usually only took human shape at age six. Perhaps this was why Hu Zhiyue had taken such an instant liking to her.
“Prince Deoksun was never ordinary at all,” Nannan explained, her voice full of admiration. “Though he only transformed into human form at six, just like us, he was already famous when he was only three! In fact, our new king won the support of the people so quickly largely because of his son.”
Su Mingyue’s curiosity grew. “Why is that?”
“Back when the old king ruled, we suffered terribly. He cared only for his own pleasure and ignored the well‑being of his people. Shortly before the uprising, a terrible plague swept through our clan. Since we live so closely together, it spread fast. The weakest among us the children fell ill first. Many died, and our losses were heavy.”
Nannan’s expression turned sad. Su Mingyue felt as though she were peeking into a vast, complex world beyond the simple outline of the novel she had read. She leaned forward, eager to hear more. “And then? What happened next?”
“And then…” Nannan smiled softly and looked down at her. “Prince Deoksun even at three years old, still in monkey form already knew how to identify hundreds of herbs. Though he could not speak our language, he could prepare simple remedies. By the time he turned six and took human shape, the plague was at its worst. He immediately ordered the entire clan to separate and isolate the sick from the healthy, and developed a medicine that stopped the spread.”
“Many doubted him at first how could a six‑year‑old who had just taken human form know what he was doing? But a wealthy young lady, wearing a veil, publicly vouched for him and convinced everyone to give him a chance. His methods worked. The plague was brought under control, and from that day on, Prince Deoksun’s name became known and trusted throughout the clan. When his father led the uprising, the people naturally stood behind them.”
Nannan’s face glowed with pride. Clearly, she was content with the new era.
“Rest assured, the prince means you no harm. He just dislikes Princess Songyi. She lived in luxury all her life, and they say the old king spent nearly all his wealth on her. Many of us feel the same way. Yet even so, Prince Deoksun and his father kept their word and allowed her to keep her title. Our prince has a kind heart.”
Su Mingyue was still curious. “And what about that wealthy young lady who spoke up for him? What became of her?”
Nannan looked troubled. “Ah… no one has seen her since. She was probably just a noble lady from another part of the clan. But in the end, it was Prince Deoksun who saved us. She only gave him a chance.”
Just then, they arrived at their destination, and the conversation ended.
The Crown Prince’s palace stood on the seventh level of the great tree, near its very top, where wisps of soft mist drifted around the branches. It was magnificent and towering, nestled within thick foliage, looking like a palace in the clouds.
“Just how high up are we?” Su Mingyue breathed in wonder.
Prince Deoksun walked beside her and spoke flatly. “If you fall, you’ll be crushed into a pulp.”
Su Mingyue: “…”
“Though… at your size, maybe your head would still remain intact?”