The Monkey

##DONE## Returning to Li Qinglin's prince residence—actually, it wasn't a prince residence, because Li Qinglin didn't have a title, so it was just a prince residence. Qin Yi didn't know why Li Qingjun had a title but Li Qinglin didn't.

Of course, this place would likely become the Crown Prince Residence soon, so whether he had a title or not was no longer important. Qin Yi stood at the entrance, took out Li Qinglin's waist token, and was about to ask someone to announce him, when he saw the main gate wide open and Li Qingjun standing before him.

"Why are you back?" Qin Yi was very surprised. Such a big event as the Crown Prince's death, and you're back so soon after entering the palace?

"Father and brother... and my royal brother are discussing matters. I was just sitting there, so I might as well come out and see you." Li Qingjun said expressionlessly, "I was worried you wouldn't be used to living here or something, but it turns out you didn't even enter the residence."

"I went out for a stroll and bought some things."

Li Qingjun's gaze fell on his backpack.

The bulging backpack, with the handle of the Wolf Tooth Club sticking out, already looked very out of place. Now, with another wooden handle of who knows what, it looked even more like a bumpkin entering the city. Li Qingjun said irritably, "If you need anything, just tell the stewards in the residence to buy it. They will try their best to satisfy you. Why wander around yourself?"

"That good?"

"Of course." Li Qingjun turned and led him inside. "You are a guest personally invited back by my royal brother. Who would dare to neglect you?"

Immediately, the stewards in the residence bowed and scraped, "Princess, Mr. Qin's residence has been prepared."

Li Qingjun said lightly, "Lead the way."

Qin Yi watched Li Qingjun's demeanor with interest, finding it very amusing.

Before, when she was in the martial world, Li Qingjun was completely a reckless but courageous knight-errant. Now that she was back in the capital and in the prince residence, she was a graceful, poised, and calm princess.

Qin Yi was sure that the Li Qingjun in the martial world was her true self. He just didn't know if the Li Qingjun in the capital was just an act, or if it was another side of her personality.

The stewards in the residence had prepared an independent courtyard for Qin Yi. The layout was somewhat similar to Qin Yi's own small courtyard, but it was much more opulent with carved beams and painted pillars. The courtyard was not filled with medicinal herbs, but with flowers and green plants, fragrant and refreshing, elegant and beautiful.

The steward bowed and said, "His Highness sent someone back to inform us earlier, saying that Mr. Qin likes quiet and elegance, so this arrangement was made. If the sir is not satisfied, we can change to another room."

Qin Yi shook his head and said, "This is very good. It would be best to have a sunny open space. Sometimes I have some use for it."

The steward immediately turned his head and instructed, "Go and level the grass patch behind..."

Immediately, a servant was about to go and work, but Qin Yi quickly said, "Wait, wait, no need."

The servant immediately stopped, obeying orders strictly. It seemed Li Qinglin was using his military governance style at home?

Qin Yi looked at Li Qingjun with a bit of a headache. Li Qingjun remained expressionless and didn't speak. He said helplessly, "Let's leave it like this. I have something to say to the princess."

The steward very tactfully led the people away. Li Qingjun stood quietly for a long time, watching the servants walk away out of the corner of her eye. Soon, she dropped the lady-like noble demeanor and plopped down on the grass patch nearby. "So tired."

Qin Yi couldn't help but laugh and sat on the grass with her, asking, "When you were fighting demons and monsters, with blood dripping from the corner of your mouth, I didn't see you complain about being tired. How long has it been since you came back..."

Li Qingjun was silent for a moment, then sighed softly, "If your elder brother died, you would probably be just as tired."

As she spoke, her eyes turned red. It was clear she had been holding back her sadness, and now she finally couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Uh..." Qin Yi said apologetically, "Sorry."

This girl had been bullied by him before, feeling wronged and even shedding tears, yet she still maintained a tough demeanor. This was the first time Qin Yi had seen her show a sense of sad vulnerability. It showed that no matter how much of a knight-errant she was, there was still a soft spot in her heart, such as family affection.

She had a very good relationship with Li Qinglin, and her relationship with the Crown Prince, whom he had never met, was obviously not bad either. Qin Yi believed that such a sister would be difficult to have conflicts with any of her brothers; she should be the kind that everyone doted on.

"It's nothing." Li Qingjun sniffled, her expression turning fierce. "It must be the Western Wilderness Barbarians who did it. They just want to cause trouble!"

Qin Yi found it hard to chime in. Li Qingjun didn't expect him to solve the case; she was just looking for someone to talk to and continued on her own, "One day, I will flatten the Western Wilderness and avenge my elder brother!"

Qin Yi nodded and went along with her, "With Brother Qinglin's planning, that day will come sooner or later."

"Mm." Li Qingjun trusted Li Qinglin greatly. "It will definitely happen."

After saying that, the conversation between the two stalled a bit. Qin Yi didn't know what to say to comfort her, and she was lost in thought, gazing at the sky. The two sat quietly on the lawn, in silence.

After a long while, Li Qingjun suddenly said, "I still remember what you said when we first met, about eating well, sleeping well, and being free from worries and troubles – isn't that what an immortal is? And now? You are an immortal descending to the mortal world, and we are mortals surpassing the mundane?"

Qin Yi sighed, "There are always some things that must be done. Even immortals have desires."

"Those with desires are just people seeking the path to immortality. How could true immortals have desires?" Li Qingjun looked at the sky and whispered, "The 'Song of Letting Go' you taught the woodcutter sings of the obsessions of all beings. Once those are resolved, that is when one becomes an immortal, with no more desires, right?"

Qin Yi knew that her elder brother's assassination and death had hit Li Qingjun quite hard, and the idea of seeking immortality that had always been rooted in her heart was stirred up again. He advised, "I know of a monkey who traveled across mountains and rivers, searching for an immortal for ten years, and finally found a true immortal and learned the method of longevity. Do you think it became an immortal without desires?"

"Of course, how is someone who has achieved longevity not an immortal?" Li Qingjun became interested. "What happened later?"

"Later... anyway, I know that before he sought immortality, he was truly carefree. But after achieving the Dao, his life was chaotic and he couldn't find peace. In the end, he wore a collar and became a Buddha, losing the heroic spirit of fighting against heaven and earth. I don't know how much the achievement of the Dao and immortality differed from his original intention, and whether he regretted it in the end?"

Li Qingjun stared at Qin Yi. She felt that this monkey was a story Qin Yi made up to allude to herself. "Are you... advising me?"

Qin Yi shook his head and said, "No, everyone has their own destiny. I just think that people must know what they are seeking."

"What I am seeking..." Li Qingjun looked at the sky in a daze and murmured, "What I seek is to wield my Twelve-Foot Silver Spear, roam the world, enter and exit the azure sky, and sweep away all injustice in the world... not to be a noble lady in the capital, eventually marry a boring consort, and be trapped for this life."

Qin Yi couldn't help but say, "You really were born into the wrong family."

Li Qingjun smiled and changed the subject, "Can you tell me the story of that monkey in detail?"

"That's a long story..."

Li Qinglin was busy at the moment, and Qin Yi, being new to the place, didn't know what he should be doing for the time being. It just so happened that Li Qingjun was sitting there chatting, and she was the only person he was familiar with in the capital. Qin Yi didn't feel the story was long at all and actually started telling her about Journey to the West.

He told the story all the way up to the Havoc in Heaven. Li Qingjun was captivated by the unheard-of story and chuckled, "What a wild and untamable, audacious monkey."

Li Qinglin's voice came from outside the courtyard, "This is a monkey that dares to resist and fight for what it wants, even if what it does might be sinful. It's a very interesting story, I look forward to the rest, Brother Qin."

Both of them stood up. Li Qingjun's expression became serious again. "How are things?"

"No leads," Li Qinglin said in a deep voice. "The killer was very fast. According to my elder brother's guards, they only saw a black shadow flash by, and then my elder brother... I personally suspect it was the Western Wilderness."

Li Qingjun pursed her lips tightly.

Li Qinglin added, "You and I weren't there when it happened, and we can't intervene temporarily. The King is investigating with all his might, and there will be a result eventually."

Li Qingjun sighed, "Are you going to be the Crown Prince?"

"Mm..." There was no joy on Li Qinglin's face; instead, he shook his head. "This is truly... being roasted over a fire."

Li Qingjun asked, "Does someone suspect you?"

"Mm, although it's only a very few individuals, it's unavoidable, but this kind of questioning is meaningless."

It was indeed meaningless, because the King only had two sons, and it was impossible to treat the only remaining son as a suspect based on baseless accusations.

Li Qinglin didn't continue the topic and turned to Qin Yi, "Brother Qin, I'm truly sorry, things happened so suddenly, I've neglected you."

"The Princess has been chatting with me all day, how could you have neglected me?" Qin Yi pointed at the sky. "The sun has already set. Not inviting me for dinner is what I'd call neglect."

Li Qinglin burst into laughter.