Jade of Another World

Chapter 106 Little Jade King Returns to the Capital

In a secluded corner of the palace, an assassination squad was quietly established under the management of Nangong Jin's trusted confidants. Its members were all handpicked assassins from the military, each possessing exceptional skills and unwavering loyalty. Like sharp blades hidden in the darkness, they awaited only Nangong Jin's command to strike their target without hesitation.

Since the poison from the mother Gu entered Nangong Jin's body, he felt much better. He consulted the imperial physician, who found that although he still had the Gu poison, his physical condition was no different from that of an ordinary person, except that his blood and qi were surging, making him irritable, easily angered, and unusually fierce. Now, he seemed able to devote himself more fully to governing Dayu and controlling and strategizing the assassination camp. He held daily secret talks with his confidants, meticulously planning the investigation and surveillance of ministers suspected of disloyalty. Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche noticed Nangong Jin's unusual busyness but were unable to ascertain the details, and a sense of unease crept into their hearts.

Just as Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche were racking their brains over this matter, the assassination camp delivered its first important piece of news—Little Jade King planned to return to the capital. This news was like a bombshell, instantly shattering the surface calm.

Upon learning this, Nangong Jin's eyes instantly sharpened like an eagle's. He immediately summoned his trusted confidants and whispered, "Closely monitor the movements of the Little Jade King. Once he sets foot in Dayu territory, report his every move to me. Also, set up an ambush on his inevitable route back to the capital. I want him to never return!"

The trusted confidant accepted the order and quickly relayed Nangong Jin's instructions. The members of the assassination squad moved with ghostly speed, silently laying a trap along the possible routes of the Little Jade King.

Meanwhile, Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche also heard through other channels that the Little Jade King planned to return to the capital. Anxious and worried, they rushed to the palace to see Nangong Jin.

Inside the palace, Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche met Nangong Jin, whose face was cold and stern. Lin Ning stepped forward and said with concern, "Your Majesty, I have heard that Prince Xiaoyu intends to return to the capital. There may be more to this than meets the eye. I hope you will think carefully before you act. Setting up an ambush rashly may cause even greater turmoil."

Xuanyuan Che also clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the situation in the court is already delicate. If we take action against Prince Xiaoyu now, Consort De and the ministers who support her will certainly not let it go, and it is very likely to cause internal strife."

Nangong Jin snorted coldly, his face full of disdain: "That little Jade Prince dares to covet my throne and even plots to rebel with the court officials. How can I tolerate him! This time, I will make sure he returns alive, or leaves dead, as a warning to others!"

Lin Ning knew that Nangong Jin was blinded by anger at the moment, so he hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, we understand your anger, but the priority should be stabilizing the situation. Perhaps we can hold back for now and see what the purpose of Xiaoyu Wang's return to the capital is before making a decision. Directly killing him requires a reason. You are a wise ruler, how can you do such a thing?"

Nangong Jin frowned, his anger and reason locked in a fierce struggle. He paced back and forth, pondering for a long time before slowly saying, "Very well, as you say, we will hold back for now. But if Prince Xiaoyu dares to make any move, I will not let him off lightly!"

Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche exchanged a relieved glance and quickly said, "Your Majesty is wise. We will work with you to closely monitor the movements of the Little Jade King and ensure the stability of the Great Yu."

However, they all knew in their hearts that the return of the Little Jade King to the capital was like a lit fuse, which could ignite a political storm that would affect the entire Dayu region at any moment. And they could only do their best to maintain the balance and protect the peace of Dayu before this storm arrived.

With Nangong Jin's recent drastic change in temperament and increasingly eccentric behavior, the situation in the court has become increasingly complex. The old ministers who supported Prince Nangong Yu are growing more and more worried each day. In their eyes, Nangong Jin has completely lost the demeanor of a wise ruler. He handles state affairs arbitrarily, and is prone to thunderous rage, making everyone in the court feel insecure.

Meanwhile, an even more deadly rumor quietly spread throughout the capital. The deceased Grand Tutor Liu had said that Nangong Jin was a twin, a sign of impending doom, and that the late emperor's death and the crown prince's early demise might be related to it. This rumor, suppressed years ago, had inexplicably resurfaced among certain groups. Even some ministers who had previously been loyal to Nangong Jin began to have doubts upon hearing this rumor. In this era of superstition and belief in omens and destiny, such rumors were like a malignant tumor, rapidly eroding the foundations of Nangong Jin's rule. Many previously wavering ministers, upon hearing the rumor, rallied to support Prince Nangong, causing Nangong Jin to lose many loyal followers.

When Consort De and Consort Xi learned of this, they were secretly delighted. They seized the opportunity to fuel the flames, having their confidants spread rumors further in the court and among the common people, attempting to completely isolate Nangong Jin.

Upon learning of the rumors, Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche were extremely anxious. They knew that if the rumors were not quelled quickly, Nangong Jin's situation would become increasingly difficult, and Dayu might even descend into internal strife. The two went to the palace again to request an audience with Nangong Jin.

In the study, Nangong Jin sat at the table with a gloomy expression, clutching a secret report tightly in his hand, which detailed the list of ministers who had defected due to rumors.

Lin Ning looked at Nangong Jin and said with heartache, "Your Majesty, this rumor must have been deliberately spread by someone to disturb people's hearts and shake your foundation. We must come up with a solution as soon as possible to quell the rumors."

Xuanyuan Che nodded, his expression serious: "Your Majesty, the most urgent task is to find the source of the rumors and cut them off. At the same time, we need to prove to the ministers and the people that you are the truly capable and divinely ordained monarch who governs Dayu."

Nangong Jin raised his head, his eyes filled with exhaustion and anger: "How could I not know that these rumors were deliberately spread by someone? But in the current situation, how can my benevolent rule be tolerated? They are not worthy."

Lin Ning pondered for a moment and said, "Your Highness, you can publicly demonstrate your plans for the future of Dayu in the court, allowing the ministers to see your foresight and determination to govern the country. At the same time, we have also arranged for people in the marketplace to spread your achievements and expose the absurdity of the rumors."

Xuanyuan Che added, "Your Highness, we also cannot let those behind the scenes who spread rumors get away with it. We can investigate them secretly, and once they are found out, we will punish them severely to serve as a warning to others."

Nangong Jin took a deep breath and slowly said, "Very well, as you say. I will not let these villains succeed, and the land of Dayu will never be coveted by others!" With that, he clenched his fists, his eyes rekindling with fighting spirit. However, this crisis, triggered by rumors, was like a dark cloud hanging over Dayu; whether it could be successfully dispelled remained uncertain.

Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche devoted themselves entirely to calming public opinion. Lin Ning organized a group of eloquent individuals to go into the streets and alleys, recounting to the people the achievements Nangong Jin had made for Dayu since his ascension to the throne, patiently explaining the absurdity of the twin rumors, and striving to rebuild Nangong Jin's image in the hearts of the people. Xuan Yuanche, relying on his prestige in the court, united with some ministers loyal to Nangong Jin, strongly supporting him in court, urging the public not to believe rumors, but to take a long-term view and prioritize the stability and development of Dayu.

However, just as they were working tirelessly to protect Nangong Jin's reputation, the young prince encountered misfortune on his way back to the capital. Following Nangong Jin's previous orders, the assassination squad laid numerous ambushes along the young prince's likely route. When the young prince's party reached a narrow valley, a large number of men in black suddenly emerged from all sides. They were agile and ruthless, attacking the young prince and his entourage with ghostly speed.

Although Prince Xiaoyu was on guard, the enemy's advance was fierce and they held the advantage of terrain. After a fierce battle, Prince Xiaoyu's guards suffered heavy casualties. Prince Xiaoyu himself was also seriously injured in the desperate resistance. By the time he finally broke through the encirclement and arrived at his residence in the capital, he was already unconscious.