Jade of Another World

Upon returning to the palace, Lin Ning was well aware of her current predicament. Nangong Jin was constantly monitoring her every move, and the slightest carelessness could bring disaster upon her. Therefore, she chose to temporarily avoid the limelight, outwardly appearing obedient to Nangong Jin and pretending to be content to stay in the palace. However, in private, she began to diligently investigate the Tianji Pavilion and the crucial plum blossom seal.

As the investigation deepened, Lin Ning learned more and more about the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, and his astonishment grew ever stronger. It turned out that this seemingly mysterious Heavenly Mystery Pavilion was actually a vast organization founded by Xuan Yuanche. Its covert operations were spread throughout the land, with numerous important intelligence points not only in the Great Yu, but also in neighboring countries like Nanzhao and Yue.

"I never expected Xuan Yuanche to have such methods." Lin Ning sat in his room, looking at the intelligence he had collected, and murmured to himself. The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion used various businesses as a front for intelligence gathering. These businesses, located in prime locations, were not only bustling with customers and incredibly successful, but they also secretly provided the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion with a continuous stream of valuable information. Lin Ning couldn't help but marvel at Xuan Yuanche's brilliance. Wasn't this just like a modern-day KFC? A good location and excellent management skills not only made money, but were also the best means of concealment.

What surprised Lin Ning even more was that the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion had accumulated enormous wealth through these businesses. This wealth could not only be used to maintain the organization's operation, but also play a crucial role at critical moments. "If I can make good use of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, perhaps I can have a chance to break free from Nangong Jin's control and accomplish more things I want to do." A glimmer of hope ignited in Lin Ning's eyes.

However, she also knew that truly taking control of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion would not be easy. Not to mention Nangong Jin's watchful eye from the sidelines, the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion itself must be rife with complex interpersonal relationships and various potential conflicts.

Lin Ning put down the intelligence report in her hand, got up and walked to the window. Gazing at the night sky outside, she fell into deep thought. She knew that she had to act cautiously and solidify her position in the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion step by step.

"First, I need to find those who are loyal to Xuan Yuanche and gain their trust," Lin Ning planned in his mind. "Then, I'll slowly figure out the operation mode and internal structure of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion."

Having made up her mind, Lin Ning took a deep breath, turned back to her table, and continued studying the intelligence. She knew the road ahead would be full of challenges, but she had to bravely move forward…

That day, Lin Ning sat in her room, her brow furrowed, a look of worry on her face, staring at the mountain of information about the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. She had already spent a considerable amount of time and energy investigating, but she still had no clue about the key information about the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, and her heart was filled with frustration.

"What should I do?" Lin Ning muttered to herself, her fingers tapping unconsciously on the table. Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind, and she remembered someone—Ouyang Qingchuan.

In this palace, Lin Ning had very few people he could trust and was on good terms with, and Ouyang Qingchuan was one of them. Moreover, as the Celestial Master of the Imperial Observatory, Ouyang Qingchuan knew many secrets, and perhaps he also knew something about the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.

"Perhaps asking Ouyang might yield some clues," Lin Ning thought, a glimmer of hope rekindling in her eyes. She stood up, straightened her clothes, and headed towards the Imperial Observatory.

Along the way, Lin Ning cautiously observed her surroundings, afraid that Nangong Jin's spies would discover her intentions. When she finally arrived at the Imperial Observatory, she saw Ouyang Qingchuan intently fiddling with some astronomical instruments.

"Master Ouyang," Lin Ning called softly.

Hearing the voice, Ouyang Qingchuan turned around and saw Lin Ning. He was slightly taken aback, then a gentle smile appeared on his face: "Miss Lin, what brings you here?"

Lin Ning looked around to make sure no one else was there before stepping forward and saying in a low voice, "Ouyang, I've come today to ask you about some things."

Ouyang Qingchuan frowned slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: "Oh? What does Miss Lin want to ask? Please speak freely."

Lin Ning bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I'd like to ask if you know anything about the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion?"

Upon hearing the words "Tianji Pavilion," Ouyang Qingchuan's expression changed slightly, a dark glint flashing in his eyes. He remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Miss Lin, why are you suddenly asking about this? Tianji Pavilion is no ordinary organization. Why are you inquiring about it?"

Seeing Ouyang Qingchuan's reaction, Lin Ning became even more certain that he knew something about the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. She sighed and said, "Master Ouyang, to be honest, I am currently trapped in the palace and want to find some power that can help me. I know that the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion was founded by Xuan Yuanche, and I have the plum blossom seal that he gave me before his death, so I want to try to understand the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion."

Looking into Lin Ning's sincere eyes, Ouyang Qingchuan wavered slightly. He pondered for a moment and said, "Miss Lin, the affairs of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion are indeed complicated. I can tell you that there are many people in the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion who are loyal to Xuan Yuanche. If you can find them and gain their trust, it might be of some help."

Lin Ning's eyes lit up, and she quickly asked, "Then how can I find these people?"

Ouyang Qingchuan shook his head slightly and said, "I don't know the specifics either, but you can start with Xuan Yuanche's deputy, Yi Zhu, and maybe you can find some clues. Also, Tianji Pavilion's business is all over the place, so you can inquire about it from those business places."

Lin Ning was deeply grateful and quickly said, "Thank you, Ouyang. I understand. I will definitely repay you if I have the opportunity in the future."

Ouyang Qingchuan waved his hand and said, "Miss Lin, you don't need to be so polite. I also hope you can get out of this predicament soon. However, you must be very careful in this matter. The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion is a very complex place, so don't easily reveal your intentions." Lin Ning nodded, secretly remembering Ouyang Qingchuan's words...

Before leaving, Ouyang's words echoed in Lin Ning's mind: "Do you still want to go back? Although there hasn't been a solar eclipse in a long time, it's not entirely hopeless. If you're determined, you can come find me..."