Jade of Another World

After the machinations of Consort De and Prince Xiaoyu, the Dayu court suffered a severe shortage of talent due to the marginalization and suppression of many loyal officials. In order to maintain the operation of the court, Consort De had no choice but to open the door to the examination of military officers, hoping to select more capable people from among them.

When Lin Jun heard the news, he was filled with mixed emotions. The death of the Eighth Prince had been a huge blow to him, leaving him disillusioned with the court and unwilling to participate in the examination. However, Lin Ning and Lin Wan, knowing the gravity of the situation, approached Lin Jun and earnestly persuaded him to stay.

"Brother, the situation in Dayu is critical right now. Consort De and Prince Xiaoyu are causing chaos in the court. We must find a way to understand their strength in order to find a solution. This martial arts examination is an excellent opportunity. You should participate in disguise, go undercover, and investigate the true situation on Consort De's side." Lin Ning spoke earnestly, his eyes full of expectation.

Lin Wan chimed in, "Yes, brother. The Eighth Prince and His Majesty both hope to see Dayu return to the right track. We cannot give up now. This may be the only hope to save Dayu."

Lin Jun pondered for a long time, his sense of responsibility rekindled by the sisters' words. He sighed and nodded in agreement: "Okay, I'll take the assessment. Don't worry, I'll be careful and do my best to blend in."

From then on, Lin Jun began his intensive preparations. He practiced martial arts day and night, while carefully studying the rules and procedures of the martial arts examination. In order to avoid revealing his identity, he used the alias Jin Ming and acted with extreme discretion.

Finally, the day of the martial arts examination arrived. Lin Jun, dressed in simple training clothes, blended into the crowd of candidates. On the examination field, relying on his solid martial arts skills and exceptional wit, he overcame all obstacles. Whether it was horsemanship and archery, hand-to-hand combat, or questions on military strategy, he performed exceptionally well and achieved excellent results.

As the assessment progressed, Lin Jun successfully attracted the attention of Consort De and her cronies. They considered Lin Jun a rare talent and intended to recruit him into their camp. Lin Jun, in turn, feigned a strong desire to join Consort De's power, hoping to infiltrate their ranks.

During his interactions with Consort De's forces, Lin Jun began cautiously gathering intelligence. He discovered that Consort De had secretly assembled a small but highly trained private army loyal to her. Simultaneously, she was also colluding with various underworld forces, attempting to consolidate her rule through their influence.

Lin Jun was well aware of the importance of this intelligence, and he sought an opportunity to secretly pass the information to Lin Ning and Lin Wan. Upon receiving the message, the sisters realized the situation was far more serious than they had imagined. However, they also saw hope, because Lin Jun's undercover operation had given them a deeper understanding of Consort De's conspiracy, providing crucial clues for their next move… And Lin Jun, in this dangerous game, continued to proceed cautiously.

Lin Ning sat by the window, clutching the letter she had just received tightly in her hand, her eyes slightly red, her heart filled with excitement and joy. The letter was from Xuan Yuanche; after a long wait and endless worry, she had finally received news from him.

"Sister, is this a reply from General Xuanyuan?" Lin Wan hurriedly entered the room and saw the letter in Lin Ning's hand, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

Lin Ning nodded vigorously, his voice trembling slightly: "Yes, he said he encountered danger before, but fortunately he has escaped danger and successfully buried His Majesty. Now he is planning to return to the capital."

Lin Wan breathed a sigh of relief, "That's great, it's good that General Xuanyuan is safe and sound. However, given the current state of the capital, I wonder what he will do when he finds out."

Lin Ning's expression turned serious. She knew she had to truthfully inform Xuan Yuanche of the current situation in the capital so he could prepare in advance. So, she immediately spread out some paper, dipped her brush in ink, and began to reply to Xuan Yuanche.

"General Xuanyuan, the situation in the capital is now at a critical juncture. The Eighth Prince was poisoned to death by Consort De. The poison was too vicious, and although we tried our best to save him, we were still powerless to save him. Now, the Little Jade Prince has entered the palace and ascended the throne with the support of Consort De. Consort De is ruling from behind the curtain and controls the power in the court. They are eliminating dissidents on a large scale, the court is in chaos, and the people are full of resentment."

"Consort De was ruthless. In order to consolidate her power, she not only suppressed loyal officials in the court, but also secretly built a private army and colluded with Jianghu forces."

"General, the Great Yu is now in imminent danger, and we long for your early return. If needed, we will work with you from within the capital to do everything in our power to help you restore peace and order to the Great Yu."

After writing the letter, Lin Ning carefully checked it over. Once he confirmed that there were no errors, he carefully put the letter into an envelope and instructed his trusted confidant to send it out as soon as possible.

"Sister, General Xuanyuan will be extremely anxious upon seeing this letter. I only hope he can return safely and lead us to turn the tide," Lin Wan said worriedly.

Lin Ning gently grasped Lin Wan's hand. "Don't worry, General Xuanyuan is resourceful and highly skilled in martial arts. He will definitely be able to come up with a solution. What we need to do now is continue to gather intelligence and prepare for General Xuanyuan's return."

The two sisters encouraged each other, strengthening their resolve. They knew that in this contest against Consort De and Prince Xiaoyu, Xuanyuan Che's return would be a crucial turning point, and they would give their all for the future of Dayu, never backing down...

Lin Ning and Lin Wan exchanged bewildered glances at the sudden imperial edict in their hands, filled with suspicion. This unannounced summons, amidst the current turbulent situation, carried an indescribable aura of danger.

"Sister, the sudden summons of you to the palace by Consort De and Prince Xiaoyu is probably not for good reasons." Lin Wanxiu frowned, her eyes filled with worry.

Lin Ning took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "I also think this matter is strange, but the imperial decree cannot be disobeyed, and we cannot defy it." She had a sudden idea and said to the eunuch who delivered the decree, "Please wait a moment, sir, allow me to tidy my clothes and then I will go to the palace with you immediately."

The eunuch nodded slightly and stepped aside to wait. Lin Ning hurriedly pulled Lin Wan into the inner room and whispered, "Wanwan, my departure is fraught with peril. You stay at the Prime Minister's residence and wait for General Xuanyuan's reply. Once I reach the palace, I will find a way to escape. If all else fails, I will try to send you a message."

She held Lin Wan's hand tightly, her expression grave: "You must stay calm and not act impulsively. We are outnumbered and outmatched right now, so we can only lie low and wait for an opportunity. No matter what happens, you must protect yourself."

Lin Wan's eyes reddened, and she nodded vigorously: "Sister, don't worry, I've remembered everything. You must be careful in the palace, I'll wait for you to come back safely."

Lin Ning suppressed her unease, forced a smile, and reassured her, "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

After tidying her clothes, Lin Ning followed the eunuch into the carriage, which headed towards the palace. Along the way, her mind raced as she considered her options. Upon arriving at the palace, she was led to a side hall, where Consort De and Prince Xiaoyu sat, their expressions grim as they looked at her.

"Lin Ning, do you know your crime?" Consort De spoke first, her voice icy.

Lin Ning was startled, but remained outwardly calm, and respectfully bowed, saying, "This humble woman does not know where she has offended Your Highness and His Majesty, and hopes you will enlighten me."

Little Jade King snorted coldly: "Someone has reported that you are secretly colluding with foreign officials and plotting a rebellion. How do you explain that?"

Lin Ning understood that this was Consort De and her associates deliberately finding fault to frame her with a fabricated charge. She calmly said, "Your Majesty and Her Majesty, please understand. I have always been loyal and righteous; how could I have committed such a heinous act? It must be a deliberate attempt to frame me. I beg Your Majesty and Her Majesty to investigate thoroughly and clear my name."

Consort De and Prince Xiaoyu exchanged a glance, a barely perceptible glint of something sinister in their eyes. Consort De said coldly, "Hmph, I'll believe you this time. But you must reflect on your actions in the palace. Without my permission and His Majesty's permission, you are not to step out of the palace gates."

Lin Ning inwardly groaned, knowing she was under house arrest. But outwardly, she still obediently replied, "This humble woman will obey His Majesty and Her Majesty's decree."

After being led to a secluded palace, Lin Ning began to observe her surroundings, thinking about how to escape, while also planning how to send a message to Lin Wan to let her know her situation...

Meanwhile, in the Prime Minister's residence, Lin Wan was anxiously awaiting news of her sister. Following Lin Ning's instructions, she tried her best to calm herself down, secretly keeping an eye on every move in the capital, hoping for Xuan Yuanche's reply and news of her sister's safe return.

Lin Ning was confined to the palace, anxiously searching for a way to escape. Little did she know that behind all of this was the complex and childish infatuation of the Little Jade Prince.

Since ascending the throne, despite his high position, Prince Xiaoyu has always felt insecure. This reminds him of the time he and Lin Ning encountered danger together, and how Lin Ning took care of him, causing him to harbor unrequited feelings for her. Lin Ning saved Prince Xiaoyu for the sake of Dayu and Nangong Jin, but Prince Xiaoyu secretly developed feelings for her. Now that he has the throne and believes he has absolute power, he wants to bring Lin Ning into his harem.

He first begged Consort De to issue an edict summoning Lin Ning to the palace. Then, he secretly plotted to sneak into the palace where Lin Ning was being held captive, and said to her mysteriously, "Miss Lin, I really can't bear to see you trapped here. Leave quickly; you can escape through this secret passage." Lin Ning was surprised and suspicious of the young prince's actions, but eager to escape, she complied and feigned gratitude as she left through the secret passage. However, she hadn't gone far when she was captured by Consort De's men. Consort De, her face contorted with anger, shouted at the young prince in front of Lin Ning, "How could you, as the emperor, be so foolish! What is the punishment for releasing a suspect without authorization?" She then proceeded to berate the young prince.

As Xiaoyu Wang and Consort De left, they cast a wronged yet affectionate glance at Lin Ning, as if to say, "I am willing to endure this for you."

Watching this farce unfold, Lin Ning already understood Wang's intentions. He simply wanted to use this method to make Lin Ning feel grateful. Lin Ning felt both helpless and furious.

After Consort De finished venting her anger, she came to persuade Lin Ning: "You see my son's deep affection for you. Although you are the daughter of a disgraced official, you once saved my son, so your merits and demerits can be considered equal. If you are sensible, I will grant you the title of Consort, as a way of repaying my son's kindness. If you are ungrateful, I have no reason to keep you, not to mention your sister and your family..."

Lin Ning feigned fear and said, "Your Majesty, His Majesty has shown me deep affection and kindness, and I am deeply grateful. However, I am the daughter of a disgraced official and am truly unworthy to serve His Majesty. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and let me leave the palace. I will remember His Majesty and Your Majesty's great kindness and virtue, and I will definitely leave Dayu and will not distract His Majesty."

Consort De snorted coldly, "Hmph, you don't need to say anything more. Now that you've entered the palace, leaving won't be so easy. You should stay here and think things through. Make a decision when you've figured it out."

Lin Ning knew she wouldn't be able to escape immediately. But she wouldn't give in easily. While feigning compliance, she continued to look for an opportunity to escape, and at the same time, she waited for the right moment to relay the situation in the palace to Lin Wan and Xuan Yuan Che...

Back at the Prime Minister's residence, Lin Wan was extremely anxious. She was worried about her sister's safety and didn't know what to do. She could only silently pray that her sister would be safe and return home soon.

Lin Jun was extremely anxious upon learning that Lin Ning was under house arrest in the palace. He immediately rushed back to the Prime Minister's residence to discuss a rescue plan with Lin Wan.

"Wanwan, Ning'er is in danger in the palace. We can't just sit here and wait for her to die." Lin Jun paced back and forth in the hall, his face full of anxiety.

Lin Wanxiu frowned, her eyes filled with determination: "Brother, I'm also extremely anxious. But the palace is heavily guarded, and we must come up with a comprehensive plan, otherwise we will not only fail to rescue my sister, but also implicate more people."

The two fell into deep thought. After a moment, Lin Jun's eyes lit up: "Perhaps we can use some of my old acquaintances in the palace to help pass on messages to her, see what the specific situation is like on her side, and then formulate a rescue plan."

Lin Wan nodded in agreement: "This plan is feasible. There's no time to lose, so contact them as soon as possible, but be careful and don't expose yourselves."

Meanwhile, in the palace, Lin Ning could only pass the time by reading. The young prince visited her many times, trying to get close to her, but Lin Ning always treated him coldly.

"Miss Lin, why are you always so cold to me? I have a heart full of love for you, can't you feel it?" Little Jade King looked aggrieved, his eyes full of confusion.

Lin Ning glanced at him coldly and said, "Your Majesty, there is a difference between men and women. Please show some respect. I only wish to leave this palace as soon as possible and return home."

Little Jade King sighed helplessly and said, "You weren't like this to me before."

Lin Ning said, "You weren't this confused before."

"When we were at that house before, you treated me... Have you changed your mind? Have you fallen for Nangong Jin again?"

Lin Ning looked at him and said, "Perhaps my previous actions caused you to misunderstand. I apologize for this. If I had known it would end like this, perhaps I wouldn't have chosen to save you." After she finished speaking, she turned and left.

Little Jade King went to Consort De to complain sadly: "Mother, Miss Lin doesn't care about my feelings at all. What should I do?"

Consort De looked at her son's spineless state, feeling both angry and helpless. After a moment of contemplation, a venomous glint flashed in her eyes as she said, "Since she is so ungrateful, then don't blame me for being ruthless." An even more vicious plan gradually took shape in her mind.

"Mother, do you have any ideas? Please teach me!" Little Jade King asked anxiously.

Consort De leaned close to Prince Xiaoyu's ear and whispered her plan. Prince Xiaoyu hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Mother, isn't this going too far?"

Consort De glared at him: "Those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles. If you want her, do as I say. Otherwise, she will never belong to you."

Little Jade King gritted his teeth and finally nodded: "Alright, Mother, I will follow your arrangements."

Meanwhile, Lin Ning remained completely unaware of the conspiracy orchestrated by Consort De and Prince Xiaoyu. She continued to search for an opportunity to escape, meticulously observing the changing of the guards and the palace layout each day. She knew she had to remain calm and wait for the right moment to successfully flee this dangerous place… At the same time, Lin Wan and Lin Jun were also diligently preparing for the rescue operation. A thrilling battle of wits and intrigue was about to unfold in the seemingly peaceful palace.