Jade of Another World

When Xuan Yuanche stormed into the Jade Pavilion, Lin Ning sensed something was wrong. His face was contorted with rage, and his eyes held a fierce glint, as if he wanted to devour Lin Ning alive.

Lin Ning's heart tightened, but he still tried to remain calm, rising to bow and saying, "Your Majesty..."

"Lin Ning, what are you still plotting!" Xuan Yuanche roared, grabbing Lin Ning's hand and shouting, "You actually said behind my back that I'm not normal, and you even tried to bewitch Princess Ruoli. What are you really up to?"

Lin Ning secretly resented the palace maid with the hearing impairment, but she could only grit her teeth and deal with her. "Your Majesty, everything I have said is true. You are indeed being controlled by Nangong Jin's consciousness, and there is a reason for all of this. I was just worried about Your Majesty and wanted to help you return to normal."

Xuanyuan Che sneered, his eyes full of disdain: "Stop trying to argue. I have never changed; I have always been myself. You still want to escape, still want to leave me. Let me tell you, that's impossible!"

Lin Ning bit her lip, her heart filled with anxiety. She knew that no matter what she said now, Xuan Yuanche wouldn't believe her. But she couldn't just give in like that.

"Your Majesty, if you insist on this, I have nothing to say. But please think about it carefully. Has your style of doing things and your temperament really not changed at all compared to before?" Lin Ning tried to make a final effort, hoping to awaken a sliver of reason in Xuan Yuanche.

Xuanyuan Che ignored her completely, taking a step forward and staring fiercely at Lin Ning: "Enough! I don't want to hear your nonsense anymore. To prevent you from remaining obstinate, we'll consummate our marriage tonight. From tonight onwards, you are my concubine, and unless you die, you'll never leave this palace!"

Lin Ning was horrified; she hadn't expected Xuan Yuanche to be so unreasonable. She retreated hastily, her eyes filled with terror: "Your Majesty, you can't do this! I won't allow it!"

Xuanyuan Che ignored her resistance, grabbed Lin Ning's wrist, and pulled her close, embracing her tightly. "You have no choice. Tonight, you must submit to me!"

Lin Ning struggled desperately, her heart filled with despair. She knew that if Xuan Yuanche succeeded tonight, she would lose her freedom forever, and perhaps she would never be able to return to her own world.

"Your Majesty, please, spare me!" Lin Ning cried out, her voice filled with helplessness and fear.

Lin Ning was nearly driven to despair by Xuan Yuanche's beast-like relentless pursuit. She gripped the silver needles tightly, her fingers turning white from the force, prepared to fight Xuan Yuanche to the death. She knew that if she didn't resist, she would be plunged into utter ruin.

Just at this critical moment, a servant's voice came from outside the door: "Your Majesty, Ouyang Qingchuan requests an audience!"

Xuanyuan Che was about to forcefully suppress Lin Ning when he heard this report. He paused slightly, and the desire and anger in his eyes subsided somewhat. He glared fiercely at Lin Ning, then released his grip and sneered, "I have other matters to attend to today, so I'll let you go for now. I'll come again tomorrow. Prepare to become my beloved concubine. Don't make any more futile struggles. I am him, how could I not be him?"

With that, Xuan Yuanche laughed loudly and turned to leave. His arrogant laughter echoed through the Jade Pavilion, as if mocking Lin Ning. Watching his departing figure, Lin Ning could no longer support herself and collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face.

At this moment, she was filled with exhaustion and fear. The scene she had just experienced still haunted her. She didn't know if she would still have the strength and courage to resist when Xuan Yuanche came again tomorrow. But she also knew that she couldn't give up like this.

Lin Ning slowly stood up, straightened her disheveled clothes, and pondered why Ouyang Qingchuan had requested an audience. Had he obtained clues about the life-swapping, or had he sensed something amiss in the palace and come to offer assistance?

"I hope Master Ouyang can change something," Lin Ning prayed silently, a glimmer of hope rekindling in her eyes. She knew that in this perilous palace, every opportunity could be the key to escaping her predicament.

Meanwhile, Ouyang Qingchuan stood outside the palace gates, his own calculations in mind. He knew full well the immense risk of this audience with Xuan Yuanche, but for the sake of Dayu, he had no choice but to take the plunge…

Lin Ning knew that if she continued to remain trapped in Cuiyuxuan awaiting her fate, she would be doomed. As she paced the room, racking her brains for a way out, she suddenly thought of Consort Xi in the deep palace. Consort Xi and Nangong Jin had a deep-seated grudge, and now that Xuanyuan Che was controlled by Nangong Jin's consciousness, perhaps this was an opportunity she could exploit.

A glimmer of hope ignited in Lin Ning's heart, and she decided to take the risk. She first pretended to ask the palace maid guarding her, saying she had been feeling stifled in the Jade Pavilion for a long time and wanted to wander around the palace to relax. The maid hesitated for a moment, thinking that Lin Ning was currently under house arrest and couldn't possibly cause any trouble, and then agreed.

Lin Ning walked out of the Jade Pavilion, outwardly pretending to leisurely admire the palace scenery, but inwardly she was highly vigilant, paying close attention to her surroundings. As she walked, she secretly observed the palace maids and eunuchs coming and going, looking for an opportunity to contact Consort Xi.

Finally, she saw Xiao Dezi, the young eunuch serving Consort Xi, hurrying past. Lin Ning was overjoyed. Pretending to be casual, she approached and, taking advantage of the distraction, quickly slipped the letter she had secretly written into Xiao Dezi's hand. Xiao Dezi was slightly startled, and upon seeing Lin Ning's expectant and nervous gaze, he instinctively hid the letter in his sleeve.

Lin Ning nodded slightly to him, then turned and left nonchalantly, continuing her stroll through the palace as if nothing had happened. Xiao Dezi, on the other hand, quickened his pace and hurried back to Consort Xi's palace.

Back at the palace, Xiao Dezi carefully presented the letter to Consort Xi. Consort Xi frowned, unfolding the letter; its contents gradually made her expression grave. In the letter, Lin Ning briefly explained that Xuan Yuanche was currently controlled by Nangong Jin's consciousness, as well as her own predicament, and proposed cooperating with Consort Xi to find an opportunity to escape the predicament, while simultaneously exposing Xuan Yuanche's (actually Nangong Jin's consciousness) true nature.

After reading the letter, Consort Xi fell into deep thought. Her resentment towards Nangong Jin had never faded, and now, learning of his "rebirth" in this way, she felt a mix of emotions. But she also knew that this might be a good opportunity to take revenge on Nangong Jin, and at the same time, to gain more benefits for herself in this deep palace.

"Xiao Dezi, go tell Lin Ning that I am willing to cooperate with her. Tell her to find an opportunity to come and discuss things with me in detail." Consort Xi finally spoke, a ruthless glint in her eyes.

Xiao Dezi accepted the order and left, while Lin Ning anxiously awaited news in the Jade Pavilion. She didn't know how Consort Xi would react, nor whether her plan would succeed. But she understood that in this treacherous palace, every attempt was a chance to regain her freedom…