Jade of Another World

From then on, Yu Shu began to adapt to life in the palace. Every morning, she would rise early, meticulously groom herself, and greet the palace elders with the most dignified bearing. When interacting with other concubines, she always maintained a humble and polite attitude, never arguing with anyone, and silently enduring even the most wronged situations. She hoped her efforts would be noticed by His Majesty. However, life in the palace was not peaceful. Consort Zhao, already resentful of Liu Yu Shu's arrival, frequently made things difficult for her in various situations. One day, while the concubines were admiring flowers in the Imperial Garden, Consort Zhao deliberately pointed to a delicate peony and said sarcastically, "Oh, Sister Liu, look at this peony. Although it blooms beautifully, it's ultimately all show and no substance, pretty to look at but useless. Just like some people, seemingly weak, but actually cunning and scheming, only knowing how to curry favor with the powerful."

Yu Shu understood that Zhao Meiren was subtly referring to her, but she simply smiled and said softly, "Sister is right. Everything in this world has its own beauty. Even peonies, though rich and noble, need green leaves to set them off. I know I am not very knowledgeable and will need to learn from you sisters more often."

Seeing Liu Yushu's restraint, Zhao Meiren was even more furious, but she couldn't find a reason to lash out. She could only snort coldly and turn to leave.

Liu Yushu watched Zhao Meiren's retreating figure, sighing inwardly. She knew that gaining a foothold in the palace was no easy feat. But she wouldn't give up easily. She would rely on her wisdom and resilience to survive in this complex court intrigue, and perhaps, she could find an opportunity to truly be with Nangong Jin.

Wanyan Qiang returned to Nanzhao, and Liu Yushu secretly left the palace to meet him. In a secluded, abandoned house on the outskirts of the city, Liu Yushu and Wanyan Qiang stood facing each other. Liu Yushu's face was cold, her eyes filled with anger and disgust. She raised her hand and hurled a box at Wanyan Qiang. The box shattered at his feet with a crisp sound. Wanyan Qiang, however, neither dodged nor flinched. Looking at the box on the ground, he threw his head back and laughed loudly: "Haha, Anian, I underestimated you. I didn't expect you to see through my plan and even steal the things beforehand."

Liu Yushu looked at him coldly, gritted her teeth and said, "Wanyan Qiang, you are despicable and shameless! You actually want to use such despicable means to humiliate me."

Wanyan Qiang stopped laughing, a sinister smile appearing on his face: "Hmph, I originally wanted to let Nangong Jin see your stained handkerchief on our wedding day, to see if he would still marry a withered flower like you. It's a pity that you ruined the whole show."

Liu Yushu felt a wave of nausea. She suppressed her anger and said, "Stop daydreaming. Now that I'm married to His Highness, I won't give you any more opportunities. Just give up on that idea and go back to Nanzhao."

Wanyan Qiang took two steps forward, a hint of resentment in his eyes: "Liu Yushu, do you think everything will be fine after marrying Nangong Jin? Let me tell you, this matter is not over yet. If it weren't for my help, you wouldn't have been able to marry the Nangong Jin you've been longing for."

Liu Yushu met his gaze with hatred: "Wanyan Qiang, if you dare to act recklessly again, I will definitely not let you off."

Wanyan Qiang stopped and looked Liu Yushu up and down, as if he wanted to get to know her again: "Well, well, Liu Yushu, you've grown quite bold in just a few days. But don't be too smug. Your Gu poison is only under control, not completely gone, and only I know the method to remove it."

Yu Shu knew in her heart that Wanyan Qiang would not give up his revenge easily, but she could not back down either. She took a deep breath and said, "Wanyan Qiang, let's settle our score here today. If you continue to pester me, I will tell the King of Nanzhao everything you did in Dayu, so that you will not have an easy time when you return."

Wanyan Qiang's expression changed slightly upon hearing Liu Yushu's words. He knew that Liu Yushu was not bluffing; if she truly informed the King of Nanzhao, he would surely be punished upon returning to Nanzhao. However, the hatred in his heart was hard to dispel. He sneered, "Liu Yushu, you are where you are today because of me. You remember this debt; I will get my revenge sooner or later. Don't forget that I still have leverage over you. Although you are now married to Nangong Jin, he may not be your protector. We'll see."

After saying that, Wanyan Qiang turned to leave. But as he reached the door, he stopped and turned back, saying, "This is my final advice: be careful. Nangong Jin has more than just you by his side. Don't wait until I come looking for you to find you dead."

Watching Wanyan Qiang's departing figure, Liu Yushu secretly vowed to secure her position in the palace and never let Wanyan Qiang's schemes succeed. At the same time, she also knew that her situation in the palace was still fraught with danger, and she needed to remain vigilant at all times.

When news of Wanyan Qiang's departure from Dayu arrived, the entire palace seemed to be swept by a spring breeze, and the strange atmosphere that had been permeating it dissipated considerably.

Upon hearing this news in his study, Nangong Jin felt a slight sense of relief. During this time, Wanyan Qiang's presence in Dayu had constantly threatened the stability of his kingdom. Now that Wanyan Qiang was gone, he felt a long-lost sense of ease. He put down his pen, stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the azure sky outside, silently contemplating how he could now focus more of his energy on court affairs and the development of Dayu.

Upon hearing the news, Liu Yushu breathed a sigh of relief. Wanyan Qiang had always been a heavy burden on her mind; she had constantly worried that he might use underhanded tactics to endanger her and Nangong Jin. Now that this burden had finally been lifted, she felt a great weight lifted from her shoulders. She strolled in the courtyard, the sunlight warming her, and couldn't help but dream of a peaceful life in the palace, perhaps even deepening her relationship with Nangong Jin.

Upon hearing the news, Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche exchanged a smile. During this time, they had been working day and night to guard against Wanyan Qiang's sabotage, their nerves constantly on edge. Now, they could finally relax for a while. Lin Ning said, "Wanyan Qiang is finally gone." Xuan Yuanche nodded in agreement, "That's right, but although he's gone, it's hard to guarantee he won't cause trouble in secret. We still need to keep an eye on Nanzhao's movements."

The other concubines in the palace also sensed this relaxed atmosphere. Although Consort Zhao still harbored resentment towards Liu Yushu, Wanyan Qiang's departure removed a potential antagonist. While she felt some regret, she was secretly relieved that she hadn't offended the Emperor by vying for favor with Liu Yushu. She later learned that the arrival of the Second Prince of Nanzhao was a provocation, and that the Emperor had married Liu Yushu to appease the situation. Sitting before her dressing table, she meticulously groomed herself in front of the mirror, thinking that the Emperor didn't particularly like that woman; he was just lucky. She knew that if she were to fall into his hands later, she wouldn't be so fortunate.

As for the palace maids and eunuchs, they used to be extremely cautious, afraid of making mistakes in any potential trouble within the palace. After all, His Majesty always had a stern face, and everyone was on edge, lest they make a mistake. Now, however, their steps are much lighter, and they work with more smiles. The entire palace seems to have emerged from its previous gloom and is once again brimming with vitality.