Jade of Another World

Worried about Lin Ning's safety, Xiao Yu Wang decided to stay in her room. The atmosphere inside was somewhat awkward. Xiao Yu Wang stood in the middle of the room, a faint blush rising on his face, appearing quite shy. His hands unconsciously fidgeted with the hem of his clothes, his eyes darting away, unable to meet Lin Ning's gaze.

Looking at the young Jade King's appearance, Lin Ning couldn't help but find it amusing. In this tense and complex situation, the young Jade King's occasional display of naivety made her find him endearingly childish. She smiled gently and said, "Your Highness, please don't stand there, sit down. Standing like this all the time must be tiring."

Little Jade King hesitated for a moment, then slowly walked to the bedside and sat down, still not daring to look at Lin Ning. Seeing this, Lin Ning couldn't help but tease, "Your Highness, you were so majestic when you rushed in just now, why are you acting like a shy little girl now?"

Xiao Yu Wang slightly raised her head, glanced at Lin Ning, and then quickly lowered her head again, stammering, "I... I was just worried that you were in danger. Besides, being in the same room with Sister Lin like this is really not used to. I... I've never felt this way before."

Seeing the young prince's embarrassed expression, Lin Ning felt a little less tense. She said softly, "Your Highness, please don't be so reserved. We are in a dangerous situation now, and the most urgent thing is to find a way to deal with the current situation and resolve this crisis."

Little Jade King nodded, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself down. "Sister Lin is right, I lost my composure. But I really don't want to see you get hurt in any way."

Lin Ning's heart stirred. Looking at Xiao Yu Wang's sincere expression, she said, "Your Highness, I appreciate your kindness. But Your Highness, you should also understand that only when you repent and reconcile with Prince Nangong Jin can Dayu be at peace, and only then can we truly escape our predicament."

Little Jade King was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Sister Lin, I understand the reasons you've given me. It's just that over the years, I've harbored a deep-seated obsession. Now that things have come to this, asking me to let go is truly..."

Lin Ning looked at Prince Xiaoyu with a firm yet gentle gaze: "Your Highness, the past cannot be changed. But the future is in your and Prince Nangong Jin's hands. If you two can join hands, you will surely create a prosperous era for Dayu. But if you insist on being enemies with Prince Nangong Jin, you will only end up hurting each other and letting those with ulterior motives succeed."

Little Jade King raised his head and met Lin Ning's gaze. The hesitation in his eyes gradually disappeared, replaced by a hint of determination. "Sister Lin, from what you've said, I seem to understand something. However, I still need to think about it carefully."

Lin Ning smiled and nodded: "Alright, Your Highness, please take your time to think it over. I only hope that Your Highness can make the right choice."

In the quiet room, Lin Ning and Xiao Yu Wang's conversation gradually quieted down. The two looked at each other, seemingly unsure of what to say next...

Lin Ning looked at Little Jade King, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Your Highness, to be honest, I accidentally injured my leg before. Those martial arts people have ill intentions towards me, and if they come again, I'm afraid I won't be able to protect myself. That's why I wanted you to stay here for extra protection."

As she spoke, Lin Ning gently lifted her skirt, revealing her injured calf. The wound was red and swollen, and although it had been simply bandaged, it was still clear that the injury was quite serious.

When Prince Xiaoyu saw Lin Ning's injuries, his heart tightened, and his earlier shyness was instantly replaced by worry. He quickly moved closer to examine the wounds carefully, and said with self-reproach, "Miss Lin, it's all my fault for being so negligent; I didn't even know you were injured. What should we do?"

Seeing the anxious look on Little Jade King's face, Lin Ning felt a warmth in her heart. She couldn't help but reach out and pat his head, saying as if she were talking to a child, "Your Highness, please don't blame yourself. This is not your fault. It's just that in the current situation, I still need to rely on you to take care of me."

Little Jade King nodded vigorously, his eyes resolute, and said, "Sister Lin, don't worry, with me here, I will definitely not let those people harm you in the slightest." At this moment, Little Jade King had completely lost his previous shyness, and his eyes revealed a sense of determination and responsibility.

Lin Ning smiled slightly and said, "With Your Highness's words, I feel much more at ease. In fact, in my heart, you have always been very wise and capable. I hope you can make the right choice and not be used by others again."

Hearing Lin Ning's words, Prince Xiaoyu was deeply moved. Few people had ever truly cared for him like this, and even now, injured, she still showed him such concern. He looked at Lin Ning earnestly and said, "Miss Lin, I have remembered your words. I will make the right choice and will not disappoint you again."

Night had fallen, and moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating the two figures in the room. Exhausted from the day's activities, they both soon collapsed onto the bed. Although Xiao Yu Wang was already asleep, he remained by Lin Ning's side, while Lin Ning gradually relaxed and drifted off to sleep. In this perilous house, time seemed to stand still at this moment, leaving only a unique tranquility…

The morning sunlight streamed through the paper windows, casting soft rays that gradually brightened the room. Little Jade King slowly awoke, still somewhat groggy. He felt a soft warmth beside him and instinctively stirred before coming to his senses.

The moment he opened his eyes, he saw Lin Ning's face so close to his, fast asleep, her arm gently wrapped around him. Little Jade King's face flushed crimson, and his heart began to pound uncontrollably. His eyes widened, and for a moment he was completely at a loss.

"Lin... Sister Lin, she..." Little Jade King's mind went blank, his heart filled with a mixture of shyness and surprise. He stared blankly at Lin Ning, his heart pounding like a deer. In his simple mind, Lin Ning's intimate actions towards him must mean she had special feelings for him, perhaps even liked him very much, otherwise why hadn't she married Nangong Jin?

Prince Xiaoyu dared not move, lest he wake Lin Ning, yet he could not suppress his inner excitement. He gazed at Lin Ning cautiously; the morning light outlined her soft features, making her appear even more gentle and captivating. Prince Xiaoyu was mesmerized, the corners of his mouth unconsciously curving upwards. After a while, Lin Ning stirred slightly in her sleep, her eyelashes fluttering before she slowly opened her eyes. She groggily saw Prince Xiaoyu so close to her, and was startled at first, then snapped out of her daze, realizing her lapse in decorum. She quickly released his arm, saying apologetically, "Your Highness, I am truly sorry, I... I actually fell asleep, and... and I was so rude."

When Xiao Yu Wang saw Lin Ning wake up, he hurriedly lowered his head and stammered, "No...it's okay, Sister Lin, it's good that you...you slept well." Although he said it was okay, his bright red ears betrayed his shyness.

Looking at the shy appearance of the little jade king, Lin Ning felt both amused and helpless. She explained, "Your Highness, please don't overthink it. I was just too tired last night. I... Please don't take it to heart."

Little Jade King secretly glanced at Lin Ning, and stammered, "Sister Lin, I... I understand. It's just... it's just that being with you like this, I... I'm very happy."

Looking at the innocent appearance of the young prince, Lin Ning sighed inwardly, thinking how adorable and naive the child was. She straightened her clothes and said, "Your Highness, it's already dawn. We need to think about what to do next."

Little Jade King quickly nodded, trying to calm himself down, and said, "Sister Lin is right, but I'm at a loss for what to do. Those martial arts people won't let us leave just like that; they'll definitely have another move. We have to be careful."

Lin Ning pondered for a moment and said, "Your Highness, we cannot sit idly by and wait for our doom. Why don't we try to make contact with the outside world, or with Nangong Jin or Xuan Yuanche? Perhaps we can find a way to escape this predicament."

Xiao Yu Wang hesitated for a moment, still harboring some resentment towards Nangong Jin. But seeing Lin Ning's resolute eyes and remembering all the things she had done for him, he nodded: "Alright, we'll do as Sister Lin says. But how should we contact her? This house is currently under tight guard by those Jianghu people. They're determined to make me powerful. I can't control them; they're all people arranged by my mother. And once they find out our plans, they'll definitely do us harm."

Lin Ning frowned, lost in thought, trying to find a way out of the predicament...

Little Jade King secretly pondered that although the current situation was extremely unfavorable for his struggle for the throne, and given the current circumstances, the hope of seizing the throne from Nangong Jin was slim. However, from another perspective, although Nangong Jin possessed the throne, he had not been able to win over Sister Lin Ning. Lin Ning had shown him great care and concern, not only sharing a room with him but also being so intimate last night. In his heart, he had already come to regard this affection as love.

"I love the country more than the beauty. Now that Sister Lin is with me, it can be said that true love has finally come to fruition." The Little Jade King's lips curled up slightly, and a unique sense of satisfaction welled up in his heart. In his simple emotional world, Lin Ning's companionship seemed more precious than the throne.

Thinking of this, Little Jade King looked at Lin Ning, his eyes filled with tenderness and longing. Lin Ning was focused on figuring out how to escape and didn't notice Little Jade King's ardent gaze.

“Sister Lin,” Little Jade King called softly, “No matter what, as long as I can be with you, I feel content.” Lin Ning was slightly taken aback upon hearing Little Jade King’s words and turned to look at him. From his eyes, Lin Ning saw a hint of seriousness and determination. She understood that although Little Jade King’s thoughts at this moment were somewhat naive, they were also sincere.

“Your Highness, it is good that you think this way. However, this matter is of great importance and requires careful consideration. The people of Dayu need a stable life. If you and Prince Nangong Jin can work together, that would be a blessing for Dayu,” Lin Ning said earnestly.

Xiao Yuwang nodded and said, "Sister Lin, I know you have a kind heart. But, those who support me now on my mother's side, I will have to give them an explanation later."

Lin Ning pondered for a moment and said, "Your Highness, you can tell me your thoughts frankly. I believe that Consort De and those who genuinely care about you will understand you. Moreover, as long as you and Prince Nangong Jin put aside your past grievances and govern Dayu together, they will also see your magnanimity and sense of responsibility."

After listening to Lin Ning's words, Prince Xiaoyu fell into deep thought. He understood that Lin Ning was absolutely right, but while he could truly let go of his obsession, it would probably take his mother a long time.

"Sister Lin, you're right. But now that we're trapped here, how can we get out?" Little Jade King steered the conversation back to their current predicament.

Lin Ning looked at Xiao Yu Wang, a determined glint in his eyes: "Your Highness, let's first observe the situation inside the house and look for any loopholes in the guards. Perhaps we can find an opportunity to send a message to the outside world. As long as we make contact with the outside world, we will have a chance to escape."

Looking at Lin Ning, Xiao Yu Wang felt a surge of courage and nodded vigorously: "Okay, Sister Lin, I'll do whatever you say. Let's find a way to get out of here together."

So the two began to observe and ponder in secret, trying to find a glimmer of hope for escape in this seemingly impenetrable cage...