Jade of Another World

After Xiao Cui arrived at Cuiyu Pavilion, the atmosphere in the small pavilion became increasingly oppressive and heavy. Xuan Yuanche stayed here every night, as if it were his playground for wanton indulgence. Whenever Lin Ning showed resistance and tried to defy his tyranny, Xuan Yuanche would cast a sinister glance at Xiao Cui and threaten, "If you don't comply, her head will roll." Those cold words struck Lin Ning's heart like a heavy hammer.

Looking at Xiao Cui's terrified face, Lin Ning felt a pang of pain and helplessness. For Xiao Cui's safety, she could only compromise time and time again, suppressing her disgust and humiliation. In the process, Lin Ning finally understood Xuan Yuanche's sinister intention in bringing Xiao Cui into the palace—it was nothing more than to seize her weakness and use it to threaten and control her.

Afterwards, Xiao Cui would always rush to Lin Ning's side with tears streaming down her face, crying and saying, "Miss, don't wrong yourself to save me. You don't need to worry about me, my life is nothing..."

Lin Ning gently wiped away Xiao Cui's tears and said firmly, "Silly girl, whether I sleep or not is no longer that important to me. We must unite to come up with a comprehensive plan to escape. Don't cry. His actions are just to make you feel sad and guilty, so that we can lose our composure."

Xiao Cui sobbed, tightly gripping Lin Ning's hand, and choked out, "Miss, I understand, I'll listen to you. But the palace is heavily guarded, how are we going to plan our escape? There are so many eyes watching us..."

Lin Ning frowned slightly, lost in thought, and after a moment slowly said, "Although this palace is like a cage, there will always be flaws. We must pay attention to everything around us and look for opportunities. For example, the changing of the guards, the passageways in the palace, and other people who can help us. As long as we observe carefully and wait patiently, we will definitely find an opportunity."

Xiao Cui nodded, a glimmer of hope rekindling in her eyes: "Okay, Miss, let's work together. No matter how difficult it is, I will help you escape."

Lin Ning gently patted Xiao Cui's shoulder, secretly making up her mind that no matter how many difficulties and dangers lay ahead, she would lead Xiao Cui out of the palace, expose Xuan Yuan Che's true colors, and restore everything to normal... In the days that followed, they forced smiles while dealing with Xuan Yuan Che, cautiously searching for an opportunity to escape, every minute and every second filled with torment and anticipation.

The days passed slowly in agony, with Lin Ning and Xiao Cui constantly watching their surroundings, not letting any possible opportunity slip by. Finally, after a long wait, a turning point quietly arrived.

A month later, Xuanyuan Che had been on the throne for a year. According to royal custom, he was required to visit the imperial mausoleum to pay respects to his ancestors. Lin Ning, as Consort Rong, was among those accompanying him. Upon receiving this news, Lin Ning and Xiao Cui exchanged a glance, a glimmer of hope flashing in their eyes. They knew that this might be the perfect opportunity for them to escape the palace.

That day, in the dimly lit room of Cuiyuxuan, Lin Ning and Xiao Cui lowered their voices and began a tense and meticulous discussion of their plan.

"Miss, this is a rare opportunity, we must seize it." Xiao Cui's face was full of excitement, but her voice was cautious, as if afraid of being overheard by others.

Lin Ning nodded slightly, her eyes filled with determination: "That's right. On the day of the ancestral worship ceremony at the imperial mausoleum, the scene will definitely be chaotic, with people coming and going, and the guards' attention will be diverted. We must take advantage of this opportunity to find a way to contact the outside world, or simply escape." Xiao Cui frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, "But Miss, how can we slip away under the noses of so many people? Besides, we don't know if there's anyone outside who can meet us."

Lin Ning gently bit her lip, pondered for a moment, and then said, "During the ancestral worship ceremony, there will definitely be some ministers and guards accompanying us. We can try to find someone we can use and ask for help. As for the escape route, we need to scout it out in advance. I remember there is a grove of trees near the imperial mausoleum. If we can hide there in the chaos, we might be able to escape our pursuers."

Xiao Cui's eyes lit up, and she quickly said, "Miss, let's start preparing now. I'll try to figure out the terrain of the imperial tomb and the situation of the accompanying personnel."

Lin Ning nodded and then instructed, "Xiao Cui, you must be very careful about this. We can't let Xuan Yuan Che's people notice anything unusual. Once we're discovered, we'll have no chance at all."

Xiao Cui nodded vigorously: "Don't worry, Miss, I will be careful."

In the days that followed, Xiao Cui used various excuses to inquire about information throughout the palace. She pretended to chat with other palace maids, cleverly extracting information about the arrangements for the ancestral worship ceremony at the imperial mausoleum and the terrain around the mausoleum.

Meanwhile, Lin Ning, in the Jade Pavilion, carefully organized her thoughts, considering how to persuade those who might help them at the crucial moment. She knew she needed to be fully prepared, and improving her physical fitness was paramount. Within the confines of the palace, she couldn't openly engage in strenuous exercise, so after much deliberation, she decided to practice yoga.

Every morning, as the first rays of sunlight stream into the Jade Pavilion, Lin Ning dismisses her attendants and quietly stretches her body in the room. Her movements are gentle and slow, progressing from simple stretches to complex postures, gradually improving her strength and flexibility.

Seeing Lin Ning's actions, Xuan Yuanche felt secretly pleased. In his view, Lin Ning was trying to please him and show him a more gentle side. He increasingly felt that Lin Ning was much more obedient than before, no longer making a fuss and resisting, and no longer mentioning leaving the palace.

"She must have accepted me." Xuan Yuanche thought to himself, a smug smile appearing on his face. "I knew it, she has always loved me." He was completely unaware of Lin Ning's true intentions, still believing that Lin Ning had truly been tamed by him.

While practicing yoga, Lin Ning kept a close eye on her surroundings, afraid that Xuan Yuanche would discover her secret. As she exercised, she silently planned the ancestral worship ceremony at the imperial mausoleum, repeatedly considering every detail to ensure everything went perfectly.

Xiao Cui kept watch for Lin Ning, while also using the opportunity to continue gathering information about the imperial tomb ancestral worship ceremony. During her casual conversations with the other palace maids, she skillfully steered the conversation, obtaining a great deal of useful information, such as the specific procedures of the ceremony and the distribution of the accompanying guards.

As the days went by, Lin Ning's physical abilities gradually improved through yoga practice; her body became more flexible, and her strength also increased. Xiao Cui had also thoroughly familiarized herself with the area around the imperial mausoleum. The two were filled with anticipation for the upcoming ancestral worship ceremony at the mausoleum, but also with a touch of nervousness.

Finally, the day for the imperial ancestral worship ceremony arrived. Lin Ning meticulously dressed herself in her magnificent imperial concubine attire, her eyes revealing unwavering determination. She knew today would be a difficult battle, but she was prepared. No matter what difficulties she encountered, she would seize this opportunity to escape this demon's cage… Xiao Cui followed closely behind Lin Ning, her heart filled with the same trepidation and anticipation. Their fates were about to change on this day.