11: Farewell

Zhang Cheng sighed in relief, quickly stood up, and said, “Your Highness the Grand Consort, Xu Jing can be crippled, but she cannot die!”

“Oh? Continue!” Shangguan Yuexi raised her eyes. After calming down, she had faintly realized something.

Zhang Cheng continued, “His Majesty ordered us to arrest Xu Jing and members of the Xu Family because he wishes to bring them back to the Imperial City to clarify the rumors detrimental to the Little Prince!”

“We implore Your Highness the Grand Consort to understand our position and allow us to take Xu Jing back alive!”

Hearing this, Shangguan Yuexi nodded slightly, flicked her longsword, and instantly sliced off Xu Jing’s nose.

Feeling the unparalleled pain, Xu Jing’s face instantly became distorted, but due to the Seal, she couldn't even scream.

But Shangguan Yuexi had no intention of letting her off. She said coldly, “Aunt Shen, you and Constable Zhang will interrogate Xu Jing together. When Constable Zhang takes her away, This Consort does not wish to see her unharmed!”

“Yes, Your Highness the Grand Consort!”

Aunt Shen agreed, looking coldly at Xu Jing, the visible chill in her eyes palpable.

This gaze made Xu Jing shiver involuntarily, her expression terrified as she continuously shook her head.

She looked at Shangguan Yuexi with pleading eyes, but Shangguan Yuexi merely gave a cold smile and ignored her.

Thinking of harming her child and still hoping for her forgiveness? That is truly a pipe dream!

Seeing Shangguan Yuexi's attitude, Xu Jing knew she couldn't plead with her, so she turned her gaze toward Zhang Cheng and the other members of the Patrol Office for help, but they pretended not to see her.

Witnessing this scene, a cold shadow flashed across Xu Jing’s eyes, but despair was the predominant emotion.

At this moment, Zhang Cheng bowed slightly to Shangguan Yuexi and said, “Your Highness the Grand Consort, since that is the case, we ask that Butler Shen accompany us out of the Residence for a moment, so as not to defile this place of the Residence!”

“Permitted!”

Shangguan Yuexi watched everyone take the person away, then looked at Nangong Yu in her arms. “Yu’er, you weren’t scared, were you? It’s all Mother’s fault for not holding back!”

What could Nangong Yu say to that?

His mother only acted this way because Xu Jing harmed him. Could he possibly blame his mother?

Moreover, he would have to face scenes like this sooner or later. After all, this was no longer a peaceful society governed by law.

Here, strength is respected, and background reaches the heavens!

Survival of the fittest was inevitable. Perhaps one day he might become a killer or the killed; nothing could be avoided.

He smiled meaninglessly at his mother, Shangguan Yuexi, making it difficult to discern his emotions.

A moment later, Aunt Shen returned, seemingly in a much better mood.

Subsequently, the group packed up and walked out of the Prince of Zhenbeis Residence!

But looking at the scene outside the Residence, everyone was slightly stunned.

They saw countless commoners kneeling in clusters on both sides of the road.

Their eyes were filled with tears. “We respectfully send off the Grand Consort, and respectfully send off the Little Prince! May the Grand Consort and the Little Prince often return home to visit!”

“We respectfully send off the Grand Consort, and respectfully send off the Little Prince! May the Grand Consort and the Little Prince often return home to visit!”

“We respectfully send off...”

Sound after sound rang out, spreading throughout the entire Fuguang City, eventually merging into one unified voice.

The sound echoed above Fuguang City, filled with the respect and expectations of Fuguang City’s residents.

These were the subjects of the Prince of Zhenbei, the ordinary people he had protected for decades!

It was precisely because the Prince of Zhenbei had guarded the Northern Territory for decades, protecting them for decades, that they were able to live and work in peace in the Northern Territory.

Now that the Prince of Zhenbei had died in battle, their reverence for him had not diminished in the slightest, nor did they show any disrespect toward the Princess Consort of Zhenbei and the Prince of Zhenbei's son.

Upon hearing that the Princess Consort of Zhenbei and others were leaving the Northern Territory, they spontaneously came to see them off!

To have the people of an entire city kneel to send them off—this kind of treatment was something few others, besides the Prince of Zhenbei and the Emperor, could receive, yet Shangguan Yuexi and her son encountered it!

Compared to many Cultivators who were supremely powerful yet utterly inhumane, the hearts of these common people were warm!

Listening to those voices, Nangong Yu felt a slight tremor in his heart, thinking to himself: Is this the prestige my cheap father held in the Northern Territory?

Shangguan Yuexi and the others said nothing, flying directly into the sky, and amidst the endless sounds of anticipation, they arrived at Fuguang City's Teleportation Plaza.

At this time, a group of people was standing there.

But they were no longer ordinary commoners; they were a group of Soldiers with terrifying auras and cold eyes.

There were exactly three thousand of these Soldiers. Their bodies were as straight as strong pines, and they wore heavy Helmets, the Red Tassels on top fluttering fiercely in the wind.

The Helmet body was crafted from Silver Profound Iron, meticulously polished, reflecting a cold, stern light under the sun.

The Armor on their bodies was layered, composed of tightly connected Armor Scales, protecting almost all vulnerable parts of the Soldiers’ bodies!

The edges of the Armor were also inlaid with special Gold Trim, which both added a sense of solemnity and enhanced the defensive capabilities.

They held Long Spears, the shafts straight and solid, and the spearheads shone with a cold light, like autumn water.

They wore Long Swords at their waists. Although the sharpness of the Long Swords was contained by the Scabbards, a trace of Evil Qi still leaked out, inspiring awe and fear.

They carried a small Shield on their waist. The Shield was thick and sturdy, and its surface was painted with a pattern of Mountains, Rivers, Sun, and Moon, the meaning of which was unclear.

The meaning seemed to be either using the Mountains, Rivers, Sun, and Moon to resist enemy attacks, or perhaps wanting to protect the Mountains, Rivers, Sun, and Moon; the specifics were unknown.

But whether it was the Long Spears, the Long Swords, or the Shields, they all faintly emitted a subtle Spiritual Artifact pressure.

If an Artifact Master were present, they would surely discover that almost all the Long Spears, Long Swords, and Shields of the three thousand Soldiers were Low Grade Spiritual Artifacts, and the spears, swords, and shields of the three Soldiers who appeared to be Commanders were even Medium Grade Spiritual Artifacts!

Right in the center of these Soldiers, a Military Banner rose with the wind, fluttering and dancing.

The Military Banner was made of heavy Brocade, with a vibrant Vermillion base color, embroidered with a golden Long Sword whose tip pointed straight North!

What was surprising was that this Military Banner was actually a Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact—which was quite outrageous!

Seeing the arrival of Shangguan Yuexi and the others, the three thousand Soldiers uniformly dropped to one knee.

“The Zhenbei Army pays respects to Your Highness the Princess Consort, and pays respects to the Young Heir!”

The three thousand Zhenbei Army soldiers shouted in unison, their voices resounding across most of Fuguang City. The trace of Evil Qi contained within was completely absorbed by the Military Banner and did not spread out.

Otherwise, that Evil Qi alone would be enough to injure Low Rank Cultivators, cause common people to fall seriously ill, or even die outright.

Shangguan Yuexi glanced at the three thousand Zhenbei Army soldiers, then looked at the three Soldiers leading them, and said, “Commanders Nangong Lingyun, Nangong Wenxin, and Qin Wuhui, I summoned you here today for only one matter!”

“Please speak, Your Highness the Princess Consort!”

The three slightly raised their heads, their gaze calm and utterly unwavering.

Shangguan Yuexi's gaze was equally calm. She took out a military tally and continued, “The Prince has fallen, and Yu’er has now inherited his Title of Nobility. Are you willing to lead the Zhenbei Army to follow him?”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire area fell silent.

Seeing this, Shangguan Yuexi felt a sense of helplessness. The Zhenbei Army were Soldiers, but they were also Cultivators!

How could Cultivators willingly submit to others, especially since her son Nangong Yu’s Spiritual Root was quite Mediocre, meaning his Cultivation was destined not to surpass these Zhenbei Army soldiers!

Even if these Zhenbei Army soldiers were absolutely loyal to Nangong Aochen, perhaps... Shangguan Yuexi sighed slightly in her heart. Just as she was about to speak again, she saw the three thousand Zhenbei Army soldiers raise their heads simultaneously, their eyes flashing with light!