Jade of Another World

After Xuanyuan Che ascended the throne, he was determined to revitalize Dayu and deeply understood the importance of talent to the country. Seeing the somewhat empty ranks of officials in the court due to the purges by Consort De and Nangong Yu, he decisively issued an edict to appoint the previously selected military graduates to positions in the palace.

As soon as the decree was issued, the court was abuzz with discussion. One minister stepped forward with a worried expression and said, "Your Majesty, these military candidates were all selected under the supervision of Consort De. It is hard to guarantee that there are no remnants of Consort De's faction among them. If they harbor rebellious intentions and plant themselves in various places in the court, it may be detrimental to our dynasty. This move would be a losing proposition."

Xuanyuan Che remained calm and composed, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before he slowly spoke: "My dear ministers, I understand your concerns. But the way to employ people lies in appointing those who are talented and capable. Those who were able to stand out in the selection process and become martial arts candidates must be people of genuine talent and learning. I imagine their original intention was also to serve the Great Yu and realize their ambitions."

He paused slightly, then emphasized, "I believe that any person of discernment can see the situation clearly and know who is the truly wise ruler who cares about the country and can lead Dayu to prosperity. I am willing to give them a chance to serve the country and prove their loyalty."

The ministers fell into deep thought after hearing Xuan Yuanche's words. One of the more senior ministers stepped forward and respectfully said, "Your Majesty is wise; you trust those you employ and do not employ those you distrust. However, just in case, it is still necessary to examine and supervise these newly appointed officials."

Xuanyuan Che nodded in agreement: "What you say is absolutely right, my dear minister. I will arrange for someone to investigate them. If any disloyal intentions are found, they will be severely punished. However, during the investigation period, you should also give them your trust and support, and not harbor unfounded suspicions that would discourage them."

Therefore, at Xuan Yuanche's insistence, the previously selected martial arts candidates began to take up positions in the palace. Lin Jun, who was selected under the alias "Jin Ming," was among them. He knew he bore a heavy responsibility; he not only had to establish himself in his new position but also had to be vigilant about whether there were any remaining forces of Consort De and Nangong Yu in the palace, and relay information to Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche at any time. At this moment, his identity was the sharpest knife planted by Xuan Yuanche and Lin Ning.

In their new positions, Lin Jun and the other martial arts graduates worked diligently and strived to perform well. They responded to the doubts raised in the court with their actions, and Xuan Yuanche closely watched their performance, hoping that these fresh faces could inject new vitality into the Dayu court and jointly create a new era for Dayu.

Consort De and Nangong Yu lay in wait, meticulously plotting their restoration. After some discussion, they turned their attention to Wanyan Qiang of Nanzhao, believing that he might be a powerful ally in their fight against Xuanyuan Che.

So, Consort De, accompanied by Nangong Yu, disguised themselves and cautiously made their way to Nanzhao. After much difficulty, they finally met this influential figure in Nanzhao at Wanyan Qiang's private residence.

Wanyan Qiang was a burly man with sharp eyes. Upon seeing Consort De, a meaningful smile appeared on his face. "Consort De, how have you been? I know that those elusive men in black in Dayu were your men. Now, I owe you a favor. Tell me, what kind of help do you need from me?"

Consort De was secretly pleased, knowing that she might have made the right move. She straightened her clothes and said solemnly, "Your Highness, to be honest, I am now in dire straits. Xuanyuan Che usurped the throne and became emperor, and my son and I were forced into exile. I have come here today to cooperate with the general and help me reclaim the throne of Dayu."

Wanyan Qiang frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Your Majesty, this matter is of utmost importance. With Xuanyuan Che now in power in Dayu, its influence is gradually stabilizing. To confront them rashly would be quite risky. I wonder what specific plans Your Majesty has, and what benefits it could bring to Nanzhao?"

Consort De was prepared. A sly glint flashed in her eyes as she said, "General, if you can help me reclaim the throne, I am willing to sign a trade treaty with Nanzhao, open the borders, and allow Nanzhao's goods to flow freely in Dayu. At the same time, I will also offer you generous annual tribute. Furthermore, Dayu is willing to form an alliance with Nanzhao to jointly fight against other forces."

Upon hearing these conditions, Wanyan Qiang wavered somewhat. The trade treaty and annual tribute were indeed extremely attractive to Nanzhao, and an alliance with Dayu would enhance Nanzhao's influence in the surrounding region. However, he was also well aware that cooperating with Consort De was not without risk; if the matter were exposed, Nanzhao would face retaliation from Dayu.

“Your Majesty, your offer is indeed very tempting. However, I need to consider this matter carefully, as it concerns the safety of Nanzhao,” Wanyan Qiang said.

Consort De was anxious, but she knew she couldn't push too hard. "General, I hope you will consider this as soon as possible. My son and I are in a difficult situation and cannot afford to delay. If you can lend a helping hand, I, Consort De, will never forget your kindness."

Nangong Yu hurriedly added, "General Wanyan, as long as you help me reclaim the throne, I will be forever friendly with Nanzhao and share its glory after I ascend the throne."

Wanyan Qiang looked at the mother and son, weighing the pros and cons in his mind. He knew that this was a crucial decision concerning the future of Nanzhao, and it had to be handled with caution... And right now, he was just a prince, and he still needed to discuss it with his father before making a decision.

Consort De was talking with Wanyan Qiang, trying to persuade him to cooperate with her. Inadvertently, she noticed a strangely shaped crystal wine jar in the corner of the room. At first, she didn't pay it any mind, simply assuming it was one of Wanyan Qiang's unique decorations.

However, when her gaze swept over the jar again and she saw what was inside, a chill instantly shot from her feet to her head, as if countless icy insects were crawling up her spine. Her face turned deathly pale, her stomach churned, and she almost vomited.

Inside the jar was Liu Yushu, turned into a human pig. His round, ball-like half-body was sewn together, topped with a round head. His once lively eyes were now empty with despair, but the eyeballs were still rolling around, as if silently pleading for help from Consort De.

Consort De stared in horror, her eyes widening. She instinctively covered her mouth with her hands, her body moving backward uncontrollably until she stumbled and nearly fell to the ground. She never imagined she would witness such a horrific scene here.

"What... what's going on?" Consort De's voice trembled, filled with fear and anger, as she nervously asked Wanyan Qiang.

Wanyan Qiang merely smiled coldly, his eyes devoid of any pity. "Hmph, this bitch deserves this fate for betraying me."

Consort De felt a chill run down her spine. She knew Wanyan Qiang was ruthless, but she hadn't expected him to be so cruel. The scene before her made her realize that cooperating with such a person was tantamount to seeking help from a tiger. But at this moment, she had few choices. To reclaim the throne, she could only suppress her fear and disgust and continue to deal with Wanyan Qiang.

"General Wanyan, such methods, while capable of intimidating others, are undeniably too cruel." Consort De tried to make her voice sound calm.

Wanyan Qiang shrugged dismissively. "In this chaotic world, being merciful to the enemy is being cruel to yourself. Your Highness, if you want to cooperate with me, you'd better not make a fuss over these trivial matters."

Consort De took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "The general is right. It's just that the scene was too horrifying, and I lost my composure for a moment. Let's continue discussing the cooperation."

However, Liu Yushu's miserable appearance lingered in Consort De's mind. While continuing to discuss cooperation with Wanyan Qiang, she was secretly on guard, fearing that she would suffer the same fate... And Liu Yushu in the jar, with her rolling eyes, silently told of her pain and despair.

Wanyan Qiang looked at Consort De's terrified face, his eyes fixed on the crystal jar containing Liu Yushu, as if he wanted to tear the person inside to pieces again. He slowly spoke, his voice low and filled with hatred, recounting this unbearable past to Consort De.

“When I returned to Nanzhao from Dayu, I was overjoyed to tell my father that the wretch was pregnant. It will be the first child of the Wanyan family. I have even thought of the child’s name and planned how to give her a grand wedding. Even though she had been intimate with Nangong Jin, even though she was once married to Nangong Jin, I don’t care about any of that. After all, the child is mine.”

At this point, Wanyan Qiang's fists clenched so tightly they cracked, his knuckles turning white from the force. "But when I excitedly found her and told her that I would give her wealth and honor, and make her a concubine of the Wanyan family, she coldly told me that she had aborted the child, simply because she wanted to stay by Nangong Jin's side!"

Wanyan Qiang's voice trembled slightly, a sign of extreme rage. "That bitch, how dare she kill my son for another man! At that moment, my hatred for her swelled instantly."

From that moment on, Wanyan Qiang was consumed by a frenzy of revenge. He imprisoned Liu Yushu, tormented her with every cruel method imaginable, and ultimately transformed her into the human pig she is before him, placing her in this crystal jar as a "special decoration" to constantly remind himself of the betrayal he had suffered.

Consort De listened to Wanyan Qiang's account with a heart filled with fear. She feared Wanyan Qiang's cruel methods, and even more so, worried that future cooperation might offend him. This made her realize that cooperating with someone blinded by hatred was fraught with uncertainty and danger.

"General Wanyan, Liu Yushu's actions are truly despicable, and she deserves her punishment. But now we are facing Xuanyuan Che. As long as we join forces, we will surely be able to reclaim the throne of Dayu. At that time, whatever beauty you desire, I can satisfy you." Consort De tried to change the subject and continued to persuade Wanyan Qiang to cooperate.

Wanyan Qiang slowly turned his head, his eyes still burning with hatred, but also revealing a hint of contemplation. "Your Highness, Consort De, you are right. Xuanyuan Che is now our common enemy. But I still need to reconsider the matter of cooperation."

Consort De was anxious, but could only nod, "General is absolutely right, this matter is indeed of great importance. I hope General will make a decision as soon as possible."

In this eerie and oppressive room, Consort De and Wanyan Qiang each harbored their own thoughts, while the human-shaped ball in the jar continued to struggle in agony, its rolling eyes seemingly cursing this cruel world silently…

After Consort De and Nangong Yu left, Wanyan Qiang remained alone in the room, his gaze once again falling on the crystal altar. He slowly squatted down, meeting Liu Yushu's eyes in the altar, his expression a chilling, ambiguous smile.

“Liu Yushu, look at yourself. You’ve fallen to this state because of that man. But look at what he can give you? Just a dead man.” Wanyan Qiang’s voice wasn’t loud, but it seemed to carry a kind of magic, echoing in the silent room.

Liu Yushu's eyes moved with difficulty, and his mouth opened and closed, but he could only make weak and indistinct sounds, as if he was defending himself or pleading.

"Hmph, don't waste your energy. Do you think you still have a chance to turn things around?" Wanyan Qiang said coldly. "However, today Consort De came to me to cooperate and wanted to reclaim the throne of Dayu. If this succeeds, I might be able to get quite a few benefits from her."

After saying this, Wanyan Qiang stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked towards his father Wanyan Hongli's palace.

Upon seeing his father, Wanyan Qiang bowed respectfully and then recounted in detail how Consort De had come to seek his help. "Father, Consort De promised that if we help her reclaim the throne, Dayu will sign a trade treaty with our Nanzhao, open border crossings, offer generous annual tribute, and become allies."

Wanyan Hongli sat on the throne, his brows furrowed slightly. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "Qiang'er, do you think this is feasible? Cooperating with Consort De is quite risky. Xuanyuan Che has now declared himself emperor in Dayu, and his power should not be underestimated. If we intervene rashly and fail, Nanzhao will be plunged into utter ruin."

Wanyan Qiang lowered his head and thought for a while before saying, "Father, I understand the risks involved. But the conditions offered by Dayu are indeed tempting. The trade treaty will greatly develop the economy of our Nanzhao, and the annual tribute will also enhance our national strength. Moreover, if we can form an alliance with Dayu, our status among the surrounding countries will be greatly improved."

Wanyan Hongli nodded slightly, "The benefits you mentioned do exist. But we can't just look at the immediate benefits; we also need to consider Consort De's character. She was ruthless and unscrupulous in Dayu, and she would stop at nothing to achieve her goals. We must be very careful when cooperating with such a person."

“Father, I understand. I will closely monitor this matter and ensure that the interests of Nanzhao are not harmed,” Wanyan Qiang said.

"Okay, you can go back now. Let me think about this matter more carefully." Wanyan Hongli waved his hand.

Wanyan Qiang bowed again and withdrew. Inside the palace, Wanyan Hongli fell into deep thought. He knew that Consort De might not have a chance to become the ruler of Dayu again, because his spies in Dayu had reported that Xuanyuan Che had governed Dayu very well in a short time. Therefore, this was a crucial decision concerning the future of Nanzhao, and it had to be made with utmost care…

Meanwhile, in Dayu, Xuanyuan Che and his loyal guards were completely unaware of the potential upheavals in Nanzhao. They were busy restoring order to the court and striving to make Dayu prosperous. This latent crisis seemed to be quietly brewing in Nanzhao…