77: Que Cai'er

“However, Spirit Jade Cards are extremely rare. Only major powers like Empires, large Sects, or prominent Families can possess them, and each power holds a maximum of no more than 100 cards!”

Shangguan Yuexi glanced at Nangong Yu, smiled faintly, and continued.

“Most of the Spirit Cards in the Qingyou Empire are held by the Imperial Family's Old Ancestor. When the Old Ancestor departs, they leave the Spirit Jade Cards to the Imperial Family. This Spirit Jade Card was given to your Royal Father by your Imperial Uncle, and it is the only one in the entire Prince of Zhenbeis Residence!”

Hearing this, Nangong Yu nodded, seemingly understanding yet not entirely, his mind filled with scattered thoughts.

This Spirit Jade Card was recorded in the Cultivator Common Knowledge Compendium, but only briefly mentioned.

He had seen Tian Kui bring back many storage rings, but he had never seen a Spirit Jade Card and had assumed the Qingyou Empire didn't have any!

He hadn't expected that they were simply rare and controlled by the major powers!

A moment later, Aunt Shen returned with Doukou, saying, “Your Highness the Grand Consort, it is ready.”

Shangguan Yuexi nodded slightly, “Take that little sparrow and let’s go. We'll take Yuer to look around elsewhere!”

“Understood!”

At this time, Doukou handed over the little sparrow, which was contained in an iron cage. “Esteemed Guest, please take care of it!”

Nangong Yu took the cage, opened it directly, and grasped the little sparrow in his palm. “From now on, I’ll call you Sparrow Sprite!”

Aunt Shen stared at the little sparrow. “Little Prince, it is still a Spirit Beast. It’s best to be careful before you form a contract or become familiar with it!”

But upon hearing this, Nangong Yu was dismissive. How could a little sparrow whose Bloodline had yet to Awaken and whose cultivation was still below the Body Tempering Realm possibly harm him?

He shook his head slightly, looked at Sparrow Sprite, and asked, “Little Fellow, will you hurt me?”

Sparrow Sprite seemed to understand, shaking its head quickly, then lowering it slightly. A strange emotion actually surfaced in its eyes.

Seeing this, Doukou couldn't help but exclaim in surprise: “The Yao Race and Spirit Beasts generally do not willingly submit, but if they do submit, they almost never betray.”

“This little sparrow actually submitted willingly upon first meeting, without a contract!”

Shangguan Yuexi nodded slightly, “It looks like this Little Fellow is stable for now, but Yuer, you should still be a little careful in the future!”

“Mm, okay!”

Nangong Yu nodded and casually tossed Sparrow Sprite onto Qing Ling’s shoulder. “Stay put, don't move around!”

Sparrow Sprite nodded obediently, its claws gently gripping Qing Ling’s clothes, standing there motionless!

“Alright, let's go!”

The group walked out of the Spirit Beast Pavilion and continued to stroll through the Marketplace.

Shangguan Yuexi's original intention was just to take Nangong Yu out to play; she didn't have much desire to buy things.

After all, the Prince of Zhenbeis Residence was not short on good items, and she had already prepared Nangong Yu's birthday gift.

Seeing that it wasn't early anymore, Shangguan Yuexi said, “Yuer, it’s getting late. How about I bring you out to play again another time?”

“Good!”

Nangong Yu nodded obediently.

Shangguan Yuexi smiled faintly, picked up Nangong Yu, and walked back... to the Prince of Zhenbeis Residence.

The Residence guards and servants stood cautiously in the Front Courtyard, their gazes watching the direction of the Inner Courtyard with reverence.

Inside the Inner Courtyard, Ye Jingling and Qiu Ye looked shocked, serving carefully on the side!

And in the courtyard, Ji Ziyu, Nangong Aotian, and Han Liyan were seated in the pavilion.

Accompanying them, besides Eunuch Yan and Cui Zhu, were the Eldest Princess Nangong Ruoxue, the Second Princess Nangong Ruoshui, and the Eldest Prince Nangong Jingqi.

“Did the Grand Consort of Zhenbei say when she would return?”

Hearing the inquiry, Ye Jingling quickly bowed and replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, Your Highness the Grand Consort said she took the Little Prince out for a stroll and did not mention when she would return!”

Ji Ziyu’s eyes moved slightly. “Today is your Little Prince’s birthday. Did Your Highness the Grand Consort make any arrangements?”

“None!” Ye Jingling shook her head. “However, Steward Shen instructed us to prepare two tables of dishes and Clear Serenity wine, which His Highness the Grand Consort and the others might use tonight!”

Hearing that, everyone fell silent for a moment. Han Liyan spoke, “It seems Yuexi didn't plan to hold a birthday banquet, nor did she intend to invite us.”

“Perhaps this day is not suitable for a celebration.”

Ji Ziyu thought of something and said with a complicated expression, “Alright, leave the gifts here, and let's depart.”

Hearing this, Nangong Ruoxue’s expression changed slightly. “Imperial Grandmother, are we not waiting for Little Yu to return?”

Ji Ziyu shook her head and said, “We won't wait. Today is indeed not suitable for a gathering. Everyone, go back.”

Having finished speaking, she stood up and vanished.

Nangong Aotian saw this and looked at Han Liyan and Cui Zhu, saying, “One person take one.”

After he finished speaking, he waved his hand, sweeping up Nangong Jingqi, and transformed into an Evasion Light, heading far away.

The others quickly followed.

Seeing this, Ye Jingling and the other woman quickly bowed slightly, “Respectfully seeing off the Empress Dowager, respectfully seeing off Your Majesty…”

Their voices were very soft, or rather suppressed, seemingly afraid to speak loudly.

A moment later, Ye Jingling looked at the items on the table, her eyes filled with envy.

“We two must guard this place and await Your Highness the Grand Consort's return!”

“Alright!”

The two nodded, standing nervously nearby, as the items on the table were quite valuable to them!

...As the sun set, Shangguan Yuexi finally returned to the Residence with Nangong Yu.

But seeing the guards outside the gate absent from their post, they couldn't help but frown slightly.

“What is going on?”

Aunt Shen’s expression changed slightly. She sent out her Divine Thought and quickly discovered something was amiss.

“Your Highness the Grand Consort, everyone is in the Front Courtyard. Ye Jingling and Qiu Ye are in the Inner Courtyard!”

Shangguan Yuexi raised an eyebrow slightly, “Aunt Shen, go ask what happened?”

“Please wait a moment, Your Highness the Grand Consort!”

Aunt Shen agreed and instantly appeared before the crowd in the Front Courtyard.

By the time Shangguan Yuexi and the others entered the Front Courtyard, she had already returned to Shangguan Yuexi’s side.

“Greetings to Your Highness the Grand Consort, greetings to the Little Prince!”

Seeing Shangguan Yuexi and the others return, everyone quickly bowed, but their voices were low, as if afraid of disturbing something.

Shangguan Yuexi waved her hand and looked at Aunt Shen, asking, “What happened?”

Aunt Shen looked surprised and doubtful. “Your Highness the Grand Consort, Your Majesty and the others came.”

Hearing this, Shangguan Yuexi quickly held Nangong Yu and instantly appeared in the Inner Courtyard.

However, when she saw the scene inside the Inner Courtyard, she couldn't help but frown. She only saw Ye Jingling and the other woman, but no one else.

Shangguan Yuexi glanced at Qiu Ye and the other woman. “Qiu Ye, where are Your Majesty and the others?”

Seeing her return, the two quickly bowed, “Greetings to Your Highness the Grand Consort, greetings to the Little Prince!”

Then, Qiu Ye quickly replied, “Reporting to Your Highness the Grand Consort, Your Majesty and the others sat for a while, said two sentences, left these items, and then departed.”

“What did they say?” Shangguan Yuexi raised an eyebrow slightly and asked.

Qiu Ye quickly recounted what she had just heard, concluding, “The gifts on the table were left by Your Majesty and the others for the Little Prince!”