182: They're coming back!

Time flowed slowly.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed, and the flying boat finally left the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains and entered the territory of the Qingyou Empire.

"Is this the Northern Territory?"

On the deck of the flying boat, Nangong Yu and the other person held hands, leaning on the railing and gazing out.

Nangong Yu's gaze was distant. Was this the Northern Territory of the Qingyou Empire that his cheap father had guarded for decades and eventually lost his life defending?

Speaking of which, he was still the Prince of Zhenbei!

Didn't the title Prince of Zhenbei originate from guarding the Northern Territory?

But although he inherited this title and rank, he never truly came to guard the Northern Territory!

Except for the few days after his birth in Fuguang City in the Northern Territory, he had never returned to the Northern Territory.

Nangong Yu shook his head slightly, but suddenly sensed something, and couldn't help but look toward the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.

Was he still uneasy in the end?

That's not right!

It seemed like a misunderstanding!

Should they stop for a moment?

Troublesome!

Nangong Yu pondered briefly, but ultimately showed no intention of stopping, and the flying boat continued toward Fuguang City in the Northern Territory.

Judging by this, Prince Qin and the others must be planning to go to Fuguang City and use the Teleportation Array to head to the Imperial City... the Qingyou Imperial City.

Deep within the magnificent Imperial Palace, inside Fengxian Hall, Nangong Jingqi sat upright on the wide, luxurious Dragon Throne, with mountains of memorials piled before him, awaiting his review and approval.

His expression was grave, his sword-like eyebrows tightly furrowed. His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, scanned every memorial. Sometimes he picked up his vermilion brush to mark them, and sometimes he paused, lost in thought.

As time passed, Nangong Jingqi's brow furrowed more frequently, as if enveloped by an invisible pressure.

Finally, he couldn't help but let his expression turn cold. "These are all trivial matters! How dare they send them to Me? Are the officials in the court truly so idle and jobless all day long?"

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and he let out a cold snort: "Hmph! When Father Emperor was on the throne before, such trivial memorials never appeared, did they? Is it that My prestige is insufficient to deter the officials, or have I been too benevolent and lenient toward them, allowing them to act so recklessly?"

By the end of his speech, his tone revealed a chilling coldness that made people shiver, and the temperature inside the entire Fengxian Hall suddenly dropped by several degrees.

The young eunuch waiting nearby changed his expression slightly, bowed his head, and dared not speak, secretly sighing: His Majesty is angry!

It was at this moment that Nangong Jingqi tossed the memorials on the desk, stood up, and said, "Little Anzi, didn't Venerable Zhang send news about the Imperial Eldest Sister and the Prince of Zhenbei before? Calculating the time, the Secret Realm should have ended long ago. Has any new news arrived?"

Hearing this, Little Anzi, the young eunuch nearby, quickly bowed and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, Venerable Zhang sent a message not long ago, saying that they have already entered the Clear Serenity Northern Territory and are preparing to return to the Imperial City."

"Is that so!"

Nangong Jingqi smiled slightly, and the displeasure he felt moments ago instantly vanished without a trace. He said, "Go make arrangements. I will leave the city to welcome the Imperial Eldest Sister and the Prince of Zhenbei and host a welcoming banquet for them!"

"Understood!"

Little Anzi acknowledged the order and quickly bowed before exiting Fengxian Hall.

"First, I'll go see the Second Imperial Sister and ask if she wants to go!"

Nangong Jingqi smiled slightly and turned to walk out of Fengxian Hall... toward Shouxian Palace.

Shouxian Palace was originally where the Empress Dowager resided, but when Nangong Jingqi ascended the throne, his birth mother, Han Liyan, had already entered the Holy Domain.

Therefore, the one currently residing in Shouxian Palace was Imperial Consort Dowager Qin Anlan!

During Nangong Aotian's reign, besides Empress Han Liyan, there were only two concubines: Consort Xian Qin Anlan and Consort Shu Song Xiaolin!

Frankly speaking, the two of them were practically tools for the alliance between aristocratic families and the Imperial Family, and they were not favored by Nangong Aotian.

Or rather, Nangong Aotian didn't actually have anyone he truly loved; everything was done to continue the Imperial Bloodline, so calling them all political marriages wouldn't be wrong.

This was also why Nangong Yu, despite spending eight years in the Imperial City, rarely saw either of them.

Even Empress Han Liyan and Nangong Aotian maintained a relationship of mutual respect, like honored guests.

Qin Anlan gave birth to the Imperial Eldest Daughter, Nangong Ruoxue, and had lived deep within the palace for a long time, rarely going out.

Song Xiaolin was the birth mother of Nangong Jinglin. She had originally lived quite well deep inside the palace, but due to the matter involving Nangong Jinglin, she was ultimately banished to the Cold Palace by Nangong Aotian.

Thus, after Nangong Aotian abdicated and Han Liyan went to the Holy Domain, the only person who could reside in Shouxian Palace was Qin Anlan!

At this moment, Imperial Consort Dowager Qin Anlan was wearing a plain dress, her exquisite face filled with longing.

She sat in the courtyard, her gaze drifting toward the distance. "Xiao Xue, aren't you coming back yet?"

"This deep palace has imprisoned your mother for decades. Now that I have reached the Perfection stage of the Mid-stage Spirit Venerable Realm, I also want to leave the Mortal Realm, don't I?"

"Your mother just wants to see you before I leave. Is it really that difficult?"

She whispered softly, her expression very complicated. Nangong Ruoxue had left the palace for six years without sending her a single letter, making her feel weary.

She wondered what that girl was thinking.

Of course, that girl still cared about her; otherwise, how could the Imperial Family have provided her with so many Cultivation resources over the years, allowing her to enter the Spirit Venerable Realm so quickly?

As Qin Anlan was murmuring, a palace maid walked in and respectfully said, "Imperial Consort Dowager, the Grand Princess and the Prince of Zhenbei will be returning soon. His Majesty plans to go outside the city to welcome them and asks if you wish to accompany him?"

"What did you say? Xue'er is coming back?"

Qin Anlan's face lit up with joy, and she stood up excitedly. Although her daughter had run away from the palace without writing to her, she was still her daughter, after all.

She had just been wondering when the other party would return, and now they were coming back. How could she not be excited?

The young palace maid quickly nodded. "Yes, Imperial Consort Dowager, Eunuch An, who is by His Majesty's side, said so!"

Hearing this, Qin Anlan looked delighted. "Very well. I will go prepare. Go inform His Majesty that this Consort Dowager will attend!"

"Understood!"

The young palace maid acknowledged the order, bowed, and departed.

Qin Anlan's face was joyful yet somewhat complicated, and she murmured, "You naughty girl, you finally decided to come back!"

Saying this, she turned and walked into the Inner Palace. As the Imperial Consort Dowager, she needed to dress somewhat formally when leaving the palace... The border of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains was not too far from Fuguang City. Under the flying boat's extreme speed, it took less than half a day for Nangong Yu and the others to arrive at Fuguang City.

Looking at this slightly familiar yet strange city, Nangong Yu couldn't help but shake his head and smile.

This was the place where he was born!

Unfortunately, it was still somewhat unfamiliar, and ultimately, he would not stay long in this Mortal Realm!

Otherwise, perhaps living an ordinary life here wouldn't be bad!

"Little Yu, should we stay here for a while and look around?"

Nangong Ruoxue held his arm and asked.

Nangong Yu was slightly surprised and turned his head to ask, "Does Sister Xue want to sightsee here?"