21: The Empress Dowager requests your presence.

Shangguan Yuexi recalled a doubt she had and finally voiced it.

"Mother, why haven't I seen Little Sister?"

Hearing this, Xuanyuan Lingyun shook her head slightly. "Oh, her? She went out to train again. I don't even know where she is now."

Hearing this, Shangguan Yuexi's expression paused slightly, revealing a hint of helplessness.

Compared to others who Cultivate normally and occasionally go out to train, her Little Sister was the exact opposite!

"If Little Sister returns, or if you receive a message from her, remember to tell me!"

"I will."

The two sat in the courtyard, occasionally playing with Nangong Yu and chatting about everyday matters.

Time flowed gently, and youth was fleeting.

Shangguan Yuexi and her mother chatted for a long time, and before they knew it, night had fallen.

Shangguan Yuexi did not return, choosing to stay with Nangong Yu at Xuanyuan Lingyun's place.

The next day, in the afternoon.

Shangguan Yuexi bid farewell to her mother, Xuanyuan Lingyun. Just as she stepped out of the Shangguan Residence, she saw Eunuch Yan approaching.

"This servant greets the Grand Consort of Zhenbei, Your Highness, and the Little Prince!"

"Eunuch Yan, there is no need for formalities!" Shangguan Yuexi nodded slightly, then asked, "May I ask why Eunuch Yan has come?"

Eunuch Yan smiled and said, "Grand Consort of Zhenbei, Your Highness, the Empress Dowager wishes to see the Little Prince. His Majesty sent this servant to invite both of you to the palace."

Hearing this, Shangguan Yuexi nodded slightly. "Please wait a moment, Eunuch Yan."

As she spoke, she turned to Aunt Shen and said, "Aunt Shen, you should return first. Yuer and I are going to the palace."

"Yes, Grand Consort Your Highness!"

Aunt Shen respectfully nodded, watched the group depart, and only then turned toward the Prince of Zhenbeis Residence... Inside the Qingyou Imperial Palace, in the Imperial Garden.

A beautifully dressed, purple-robed mature woman sat beneath the pavilion, accompanied by the equally well-dressed Woman in Red and Nangong Aotian.

"So much time has passed, why haven't they been invited yet? Tian'er, your subordinates aren't very efficient!"

Hearing the purple-robed mature woman speak this way, Nangong Aotian looked helpless. How much time had actually passed?

He was speechless internally. It's you, Elder, who is impatient. Don't push the blame onto my subordinates!

Although he thought this, he smiled and said, "Mother is right. Your subject will supervise and rectify the situation later."

The purple-robed mature woman was none other than the Empress Dowager of the Qingyou Empire, Ji Ziyu, and the mother of Emperor Nangong Aotian!

"Alas, I heard the Little Fellow's Spiritual Root isn't very good. You, as his paternal uncle, must take good care of him!"

As she spoke, she seemed to recall something, and her eyes involuntarily reddened.

Nangong Aotian nodded heavily, clearly thinking of the death of his own younger brother, and his fists involuntarily clenched seven-tenths of the way.

Just as the atmosphere grew heavy, a voice came from outside the Imperial Garden.

"Grand Consort of Zhenbei, Your Highness, the Empress Dowager and His Majesty are waiting inside. Please take the Little Prince in. This servant will not enter."

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but rise slightly and look toward the corner of the Imperial Garden.

Nangong Aotian and the other person couldn't help but turn their heads slightly to look in that direction.

Indeed!

Before long, Shangguan Yuexi appeared around the corner, holding Nangong Yu, walking step by step toward them.

Seeing this, Ji Ziyu's expression showed slight joy, and she actually stood up and walked toward them.

Nangong Aotian smiled slightly, pulled the Woman in Red beside him to stand up, and quickly followed.

Shangguan Yuexi, seeing that the Empress Dowager and the two others were actually walking toward her, tensed up and quickly hurried forward a few steps until she reached the three of them!

She immediately curtsied slightly and respectfully said, "Your subject Shangguan Yuexi, accompanied by my son Nangong Yu, greets the Empress Dowager! Greets His Majesty! Greets the Empress!"

"Quickly rise, there is no need for such formality!"

Ji Ziyu quickly stepped forward to help her up, her gaze involuntarily darting toward Nangong Yu in her arms.

She parted her red lips slightly and asked, "This must be Yuer. May Imperial Grandmother hold him?"

Shangguan Yuexi was about to speak, but Nangong Aotian interjected, "Yuer doesn't seem to be afraid of strangers, Mother. You can try!"

Hearing this, Shangguan Yuexi quickly looked at Nangong Yu and whispered, "Yuer, your Imperial Grandmother wants to hold you. Be good!"

After speaking, she carefully handed Nangong Yu over, and Ji Ziyu quickly and carefully accepted him.

She looked down and saw that Nangong Yu was neither crying nor fussing. His small face was beaming with smiles, and his large eyes stared at her unblinkingly.

His eyes were full of curiosity, innocent ignorance, and pure innocence.

Seeing this, Ji Ziyu couldn't help but be slightly stunned. "Too similar, truly too similar!"

Looking at his face, she seemed to recall something. Her eyes were slightly red, but she forcefully held back her tears, displaying an expression that was half-crying, half-smiling.

Seeing her like this, Nangong Yu understood that she must be thinking of her son, his nominal father.

Nangong Yu's smile lessened slightly, and his large eyes continued to watch her, his expression now carrying a hint of subtle confusion.

Seeing him like this, Ji Ziyu felt a mixture of emotions and was momentarily at a loss for words.

From the side, Nangong Aotian spoke, "Mother, let's take Yuer to the pavilion to rest first!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Look at me, I completely forgot!"

Ji Ziyu shook her head, and as she turned, she suddenly remembered something and quickly said, "Yuexi, you come over quickly too!"

"Yes, Empress Dowager!"

Shangguan Yuexi nodded respectfully, but Ji Ziyu gave her a sidelong glance. "Yuer calls me Imperial Grandmother. Does calling me Mother make you feel wronged?"

Hearing this, Shangguan Yuexi was slightly startled and quickly corrected herself: "Mother, Yuexi was wrong!"

Hearing this, Ji Ziyu nodded in satisfaction. "Come over quickly!"

"Yes, Mother!"

Seeing this, Empress Han Liyan deliberately fell back two steps, took Shangguan Yuexi's hand, and smiled, "Based on Yuer's relationship with us, you should call me Elder Sister. Don't call me incorrectly in the future."

Hearing this, Shangguan Yuexi was slightly stunned, unsure what the Empress intended.

But then Nangong Aotian also spoke: "It should be so. Yuexi, remember that even in front of outsiders or officials, you should address the two of us as Elder Brother and Sister-in-Law!"

Hearing this, Shangguan Yuexi felt overwhelmed but quickly nodded nonetheless.

"Yuexi understands!"

Seeing her nod, the two smiled slightly, and Han Liyan led her into the pavilion to sit down.

Once everyone was seated, Empress Dowager Ji Ziyu looked at Shangguan Yuexi and smiled, "Yuexi, have some Spiritual Fruit first. You'll join me for lunch later!"

"Yes, Mother!"

Shangguan Yuexi nodded in agreement. Cultivators above the Nascent Soul Transformation Realm generally ate very little, except for Spiritual Cuisine.

As the Empress Dowager of the Qingyou Empire, Ji Ziyu's meals were usually Spiritual Cuisine. Although the Prince of Zhenbeis Residence also had it, eating it once in the Imperial Palace certainly wouldn't be a loss!

Moreover, since Empress Dowager Ji Ziyu had extended the invitation, she couldn't refuse.

Seeing her agree, Ji Ziyu smiled slightly, then flipped her palm, and an object appeared in her hand.