Jade of Another World

In the quiet study of the palace, the candlelight flickered, casting the shadows of the three people on the wall. Nangong Jin sat in the main seat, his expression solemn. After Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche took their seats, he spoke first: "Wanyan Qiang has left, but the matter of the Mother Gu remains unresolved. I wonder if Lin Ning received any news from the old priest of Nanzhao?"

Lin Ning bowed slightly, his expression serious: "Your Highness, according to the old priest, the mother Gu was refined in a secluded valley in Nanzhao, and is guarded by a group of clansmen who have been proficient in Gu cultivation for generations. These clansmen are extremely mysterious, skilled in using various Gu techniques to defend against enemies, and are very wary of outsiders, so they probably won't come to help open the crystal box."

Xuanyuan Che frowned and replied, "In that case, opening the crystal box and obtaining the mother Gu will be no easy task. Sending people there rashly will likely lead to unforeseen consequences."

Nangong Jin nodded, his gaze deep: "Indeed, we cannot act rashly. Lin Ning, continue. Did the old priest mention any other key information for cracking the crystal box?"

Lin Ning pondered for a moment and slowly said, "The old priest said that the mother Gu box is very magical and requires a unique incantation to open. Another incantation can remove the offspring Gu from the body of the person suffering from Gu. However, he did not know the incantation, but only vaguely heard that it was related to an ancient book of the Nanzhao royal family."

“Ancient books of the Nanzhao royal family…” Nangong Jin murmured to himself, tapping his fingers lightly on the table as he fell into deep thought. After a while, he looked up and said, “It seems we need to approach this from two angles. On one hand, we need to find out where that ancient book is; on the other hand, we need to delve deeper into the mysterious clansmen who guard the Mother Gu, and see if we can find a way to undo the Mother Gu.”

Xuanyuan Che clasped his hands in response, "Your Highness, leave the search for the ancient texts to me. I have some connections in Nanzhao, and perhaps I can find some clues." Nangong Jin nodded slightly and turned his gaze to Lin Ning: "Lin Ning, the clansmen who guard the Mother Gu are mysterious and unpredictable. You are proficient in all kinds of strange arts and have also studied medicine. You are responsible for finding a way to understand their habits and weaknesses and see if you can find a solution."

Lin Ning's expression was firm: "Yes, Your Highness. I will do my best. However, this matter needs to be considered carefully and we should not rush into it, lest we alert the enemy."

Nangong Jin wholeheartedly agreed: "Indeed, the matter of the Mother Gu is of great importance. We must proceed with extreme caution."

The three then engaged in a detailed discussion about the mother Gu, meticulously considering every detail from personnel arrangements to operational procedures, striving for absolute certainty. The atmosphere in the study was tense and solemn; the upcoming task was fraught with challenges and unknowns.

On this bright and sunny day, Lin Ning, clutching the ancient book she had obtained from the old priest, hurried into the palace. Along the way, the book's descriptions of breaking the Mother Gu curse kept flashing through her mind, filling her with both nervousness and excitement. Arriving at the Emperor's study, Lin Ning didn't even have time to catch her breath before entering and bowing. Seeing her hurried manner, Nangong Jin's heart tightened, and he quickly rose to help her up: "Ning'er, have you made an important discovery regarding the Mother Gu?"

Lin Ning nodded slightly, his face showing some fatigue, but his eyes revealed undisguised excitement: "Your Majesty, that's right. I studied the ancient book sent by the old priest day and night, and finally found a way to open the crystal box."

A hint of surprise flashed in Nangong Jin's eyes, and she quickly said, "Tell me about it."

Lin Ning gently placed the ancient book on the table, turned to a page, pointed to the text, and said, "Your Majesty, according to the ancient book, opening the crystal box requires a blood catalyst, and this blood catalyst is the blood of the person who has been poisoned. In other words, as long as Consort Rou's blood is used, the box can be opened."

Nangong Jin frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Using Consort Rou's blood... Is this method really feasible? Can we be completely sure?"

Lin Ning understood Nangong Jin's concerns and said earnestly, "Your Majesty, I understand your worries. The ancient texts do not mention any harm to Consort Rou's health. But just in case, I can make some preparations. As for whether the method is feasible, it is currently our only clue and it is worth a try."

Nangong Jin paced back and forth in his study, weighing the pros and cons in his mind. He knew that this step was crucial; the slightest mistake could bring even greater danger to the person poisoned. But if he missed this opportunity, he didn't know when the poison would be cured.

After a long while, Nangong Jin stopped and looked at Lin Ning with a firm gaze: "Alright, then we'll do as you say. Go and prepare the necessary medicines, and I'll go and arrange things for Consort Rou and see what her wishes are."

Lin Ning nodded and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. I will go and make preparations immediately. I hope we can successfully open the crystal box and remove the poison from Consort Rou's body." With that, she hurriedly left to begin the preparations.

Nangong Jin watched Lin Ning's departing figure, lost in thought. He knew that the next step would be crucial in unraveling the mystery of the Mother Gu, and he had to handle this matter properly, no matter what.

Nangong Jin stood alone by the study window, gazing in the direction Lin Ning had left, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He knew that concealing the recurrence of the Gu poison was a last resort.

It turned out that Nangong Jin knew the mother Gu in the box was the same one that had poisoned him, because the Gu poison in his body had begun to awaken since the mother Gu was brought back to the palace. Nangong Jin kept bringing up Liu Yushu's Gu poison because he didn't want others to know that his own Gu poison had relapsed. He had also secretly contacted the High Priest and learned that as long as the crystal box was opened and the mother Gu was killed, the Gu poison in his body would disappear on its own.

Recalling his time in Nanzhao, Lin Ning had always been by his side, sharing his hardships and enduring countless trials. If she knew his Gu poison had relapsed, she would surely be heartbroken, even risking her own safety to help him. Now, the situation in the court had only just stabilized and couldn't withstand any further turmoil; he couldn't let his own affairs plunge the entire Dayu into crisis. Therefore, upon learning that Liu Yushu was poisoned by Gu, he used this as a pretext to secretly contact the High Priest of Nanzhao. He knew that the mother Gu in the crystal box was the source of his own Gu poison. If he could open the box and kill the mother Gu, the Gu poison in his body would be eliminated.

"Your Majesty." A bodyguard's soft voice interrupted Nangong Jin's thoughts.

"Go and invite Consort Rou over. Tell her I have important business to discuss with her." Nangong Jin turned around, his expression returning to normal.

Before long, Liu Yushu arrived hastily, led by a guard. She entered the study, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, what is the matter that you summoned me here?"

Looking at Liu Yushu, Nangong Jin felt a pang of guilt, but he could only tell her the truth: "Consort Rou, Lin Ning found a way to open the crystal box from the old priest, which requires your blood as a catalyst. But I must tell you that the mother Gu in this box is actually unrelated to the Gu poison in your body. I am still investigating the secrets behind this matter, so do not tell anyone."

Liu Yushu was slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, but the clever woman quickly regained her composure and said, "Your Majesty, since you trust me and have informed me of this matter, I will certainly cooperate fully."

Touched, Nangong Jin said softly, "Consort Rou, rest assured, Lin Ning has already gone to make preparations, and I will arrange it myself. You may leave now and not mention this matter to anyone."

Liu Yushu nodded slightly: "In that case, Your Majesty, please make the arrangements. I understand."

Looking at Liu Yushu, Nangong Jin was filled with gratitude: "Consort Rou is very understanding and righteous, I am deeply grateful."

Liu Yushu smiled slightly: "Your Majesty, you flatter me. It is my honor to be able to help Your Majesty."

After Liu Yushu left, Nangong Jin took a porcelain container and filled it with his own blood.

Nangong Jin immediately summoned a guard and instructed, "Go and inform Lin Ning immediately that Consort Rou has cooperated with the blood sample and returned to rest. She is not feeling well today, and the imperial physician is already waiting outside Consort Rou's bedchamber. Tell Lin Ning to prepare as soon as possible, and we will proceed immediately." The guard obeyed and left, and an operation to detoxify Nangong Jin's Gu poison was about to begin.