Jade of Another World

Meanwhile, Aunt Liu was overjoyed to see that Wang Zhi seemed to be making no move. She was determined to send Lin Qing to Consort Xi's cousin, hoping to solidify Lin Wan's position with the Crown Prince. How could she just watch Lin Qing climb the social ladder by marrying Wang Zhi? So, she whispered sweet nothings in Prime Minister Lin's ear, exaggerating the benefits of sending Lin Qing to Consort Xi's cousin, saying it was a rare opportunity to ingratiate herself with the Consort's faction. She even said that Wang Zhi's failure to propose meant he looked down on Lin Qing, and since her reputation was already ruined, it was better to take advantage of her.

Lin Xiang was initially hesitant, after all, Lin Qing was also a daughter of the Lin family, and doing so seemed somewhat inappropriate. However, he couldn't resist Aunt Liu's persistent pleading, and thinking that if he could really get closer to Consort Xi, it might help the future of the entire Lin family, he gradually became interested and actually planned to secretly send Lin Qing over, because with her current reputation, she could only be used as a bed warmer for Consort Xi's cousin.

That day, Prime Minister Lin dismissed the second wife's family and only summoned a few trusted confidants, intending to secretly send Lin Qing out of the mansion and to the residence of Consort Xi's cousin. When Lin Qing learned of this, she turned pale with fright. She struggled desperately and cried out, but her confidants ignored her pleas and forcibly dragged her out the door.

At this critical moment, a commotion suddenly broke out outside, accompanied by the sound of gongs and drums. Then, the gatekeeper shouted, "Lord Wang Zhi, the Vice Minister of War, has arrived, and his mother has also come with him."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiang was stunned. He inwardly cursed, wondering why Wang Zhi had to arrive at this crucial moment. But since things had come to this, he could only go out and assess the situation.

Lin Xiang straightened his clothes, forcing a calm demeanor, and went out to greet him. He saw Wang Zhi dressed in a proper official robe, his expression respectful yet firm, and his elderly mother beside him was also in good spirits, with a kind face.

Upon seeing Prime Minister Lin, Wang Zhi hurriedly bowed and said, "Prime Minister Lin, I have come here today with a request. My daughter, Lin Qing, and I became acquainted during the palace banquet. I have long admired her, and she is a kind and virtuous young lady. My mother also approves of her. Today, I have brought betrothal gifts with my mother to propose marriage to you, and I humbly request your permission to marry Lin Qing."

Wang Zhi's mother also smiled and said, "Prime Minister Lin, my son has always been honest and kind. Ever since he met Miss Lin Qing last time, he has been thinking about her. I think Miss Lin Qing is a good girl, and I hope that we can marry her as soon as possible and make her my daughter-in-law. I hope that Prime Minister Lin can agree to this marriage."

Lin Xiang was in a real dilemma. He had just planned to send Lin Qing away, but Wang Zhi was someone the emperor valued highly. Now, Wang Zhi had personally brought his mother to propose marriage. If he refused, he feared he would offend Wang Zhi, and if Wang Zhi said something to the emperor, that would be disastrous. Moreover, Wang Zhi was indeed a promising young man with good character, and marrying Lin Qing to him wouldn't seem like a disgrace to the Lin family.

After weighing the pros and cons, Prime Minister Lin immediately changed his expression and said with a smile, "Haha, you are too kind, Lord Wang. You are a young and promising man, and someone His Majesty values. It is Lin Qing's good fortune to have you favored. How could I refuse this marriage? This is a joyous occasion. I will have someone make preparations so we can discuss how to arrange the wedding."

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhihe's mother was overjoyed and quickly thanked him again.

Lin Xiang hurriedly sent someone to take Lin Qing back to her room. In that split second between life and death, Lin Qing had prepared to commit suicide. If she couldn't marry Wang Zhi, she wouldn't live on, much less serve that old scoundrel.

Of course, when Lin Qing talked about this with Wang Zhi after their marriage, Wang Zhi was furious. He hated Prime Minister Lin and Madam Liu to the core and thought that he would definitely take revenge for Qing'er if he had the chance.

And so, amidst everyone's anticipation and blessings, preparations for Lin Qing and Wang Zhi's wedding began in earnest. On the wedding day, the entire Lin family mansion was brightly decorated and bustling with activity. Lin Qing, dressed in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, sat gracefully on the wedding bed, her heart filled with emotion. She knew that if it weren't for Lin Ning's help, she would likely have been plunged into an abyss of despair long ago, and she wouldn't be enjoying such a magnificent wedding today.

When Lin Ning came to offer her congratulations, Lin Qing walked straight up to her, knelt down with a thud, and respectfully kowtowed to Lin Ning. With tears in her eyes, she said gratefully, "Elder sister, Qing'er's happiness today is all thanks to you. If it weren't for your help, I really don't know what would have happened to me. I will never forget your great kindness and will definitely repay you in the future."

Lin Ning quickly stepped forward to help Lin Qing up, and said with a smile, "Sister, don't say that. Today is your big day, you should be happy. I'm also very happy to see that you have achieved your wish and married the person you love. I just want you to be happy in the future."

After Lin Qing got married, Lin Wan was even more anxious. Seeing that Lin Qing had married well, while on her side, Crown Prince Nangong Chen was becoming more and more intimate with Peng Yingchun, the daughter of the Right Chancellor, and her repeated invitations were all coldly rejected by the Crown Prince, her original idea of ​​becoming the Crown Princess began to falter, and jealousy and resentment spread wildly in her heart like weeds.

She knew that if she didn't find a way to turn the situation around, all her previous schemes would be in vain, and the position of Crown Princess would be completely out of her reach. After much thought, Lin Wan came up with an extremely ruthless and risky idea...

That day, Lin Wan dressed up carefully, especially wearing the pink silk dress that the Crown Prince had once praised as beautiful. She also wrote a heartfelt letter, full of longing, and sent it to the Crown Prince through her most trusted personal maid, Cui'er. In the letter, she lied, saying that she had been unwell recently, and that her illness had worsened due to her excessive longing for the Crown Prince. She feared that her days were numbered and that she only wished to see the Crown Prince one last time before she died, to pour out her heart to him.

After receiving the letter, Nangong Chen was initially hesitant, since he had indeed been intentionally distancing himself from Lin Wan during this period. However, considering their past relationship and hearing that Lin Wan was seriously ill, his heart softened, and he decided to go see her.

Lin Wan was secretly delighted to learn that the Crown Prince had come as agreed and quickly made all the necessary arrangements. She chose a secluded villa on the outskirts of the city as the meeting place, a place rarely visited by anyone, which would be perfect for her to carry out her plan.

When Nangong Chen arrived as promised and stepped into the courtyard, Lin Wan rushed to greet him, tears welling in her eyes, and said in a delicate voice, "Your Highness, you've finally come! I... I thought I'd never see you again." As she spoke, she pretended to go limp and leaned into Nangong Chen's arms.

Nangong Chen instinctively supported her. Looking at her pitiful appearance, he felt a surge of pity and gently comforted her, "Miss Lin, your health is important. That's why I'm here."

Lin Wan led Nangong Chen into the house, where she had already ordered wine and dishes to be prepared. She said coquettishly, "Your Highness, I am not feeling well today and cannot drink with you. Please have some wine and dishes as you wish; it is just a small token of my appreciation."

Nangong Chen didn't think much of it and sat down, drinking a few glasses of wine. Little did he know, Lin Wan had already slipped a potent aphrodisiac into the drink, and soon the effects kicked in. Nangong Chen felt unbearably hot all over, his consciousness gradually blurring, and his gaze towards Lin Wan held a mixture of bewilderment and impulsiveness.

Seeing that the time was right, Lin Wan stopped pretending and took the initiative to get closer to Nangong Chen. Under the influence of the drug, the two had that unspeakable affair.

After the effects of the drug wore off, Nangong Chen regained consciousness. Looking at Lin Wan, whose clothes were disheveled, and recalling everything that had just happened, his face immediately turned extremely gloomy. He never expected that Lin Wan would be so audacious as to resort to such despicable means.

Lin Wan pretended to be weak and innocent, crying as she said, "Your Highness, things have come to this, and I have no choice. My sincere feelings for Your Highness are as clear as day. Now... now that we have consummated our marriage, Your Highness must take responsibility for me."

Nangong Chen snorted coldly, feeling utterly disgusted with Lin Wan. However, he also understood that if this matter were to get out, his reputation would be ruined. Lin Wan was the daughter of Prime Minister Lin and the most beloved granddaughter of Grand Tutor Liu. Grand Tutor Liu had previously been his teacher and was a very ruthless man. He had always been very afraid of him. Therefore, the Crown Prince thought that he could only appease Lin Wan for the time being and then find a way to solve this thorny problem.

As for Lin Wan, although she achieved her goal through such despicable means, she was unaware that her actions had sown the seeds of a great disaster.

Looking at Lin Wan, who was crying her eyes out, Nangong Chen was filled with calculations, but on the surface he still forced a gentle and comforting expression. He took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm, and said, "Miss Lin, although today's events were somewhat unexpected, my feelings for you are genuine. Since things have come to this, I, the Crown Prince, will naturally give you a proper title. Rest assured, I, the Crown Prince, would never do anything irresponsible."

Hearing the Crown Prince's words, Lin Wan was overjoyed. She wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, looked at Nangong Chen pitifully, and said in a choked voice, "Your Highness, I am relieved that you say so. I know that Your Highness is a person of great loyalty and righteousness. I will definitely serve Your Highness wholeheartedly from now on and have no other intentions."

Nangong Chen nodded slightly, but inwardly he was calculating. He already had his own ideas. In his view, although Lin Wan was a young lady from the Lin family, she was ultimately just a concubine's daughter, and her status was inferior to that of Peng Yingchun, the legitimate daughter of the Right Prime Minister. The situation in the court was delicate, and if he wanted to secure his position as Crown Prince, a marriage alliance with the Right Prime Minister's family was a crucial step.

Peng Yingchun was not only of noble birth but also possessed both beauty and talent, earning her the admiration of many ministers. Marrying her as the Crown Princess would undoubtedly provide him with significant advantages, giving him more influence in court and securing the support of the Peng family. Moreover, after spending time with Yingchun, he increasingly found her to be innocent, lovely, dignified, and gentle—an excellent candidate for his principal wife. After all, he didn't want his principal wife to be too demanding or scheming; otherwise, she would be difficult to control.

As for Lin Wan, she was already under his control. Now she was so impatient to do such a despicable thing. Even if she found out his true thoughts later, he wouldn't dare to speak out. After all, she was just a concubine's daughter, and a concubine's daughter who had lost her virginity. What could she do?

Nangong Chen thought that he should first prepare for his marriage with Peng Yingchun step by step. After successfully marrying Peng Yingchun and securing her position as the Crown Princess, he would find a suitable opportunity to bring Lin Wan into the household and give her a title. This would be a way to settle things for today.

Lin Ning, the legitimate daughter of the Left Prime Minister, is now very close to Nangong Jin, and the two are even engaged. Nangong Chen knows Nangong Jin's capabilities well and would never make a move on Lin Ning. However, to make a concubine's daughter the Crown Prince's consort would be seen as lowering his own status and making him a laughingstock. Therefore, he will want Peng Yingchun, and he will also want Lin Wan.

Meanwhile, Lin Wan was still immersed in the fantasy that the Crown Prince would give her a title. She nestled happily next to Nangong Chen, expressing her hopes for the future. She imagined that she would soon become the Crown Princess, the center of everyone's attention, and from then on she could be even more arrogant. She couldn't be happier.

Since that day, Lin Wan had been waiting expectantly at the Lin Prime Minister's residence. Every day, she would carefully dress up, put on her most beautiful clothes, sit by the window, and always unconsciously look towards the direction of the mansion gate, hoping that the Crown Prince would come with betrothal gifts as soon as possible to finalize the marriage with her.

She kept imagining the beautiful scene in her mind, imagining the Crown Prince riding a tall horse, followed by a long wedding procession carrying boxes of precious betrothal gifts, arriving at the Prime Minister's residence in a lively manner, making a lifelong promise to her in front of everyone, and then she would marry into the Eastern Palace in a grand and glorious manner, becoming the Crown Princess that everyone envied.

Seeing her like this, the maidservant beside her had carefully reminded her not to be too anxious, but Lin Wan did not take it seriously. She felt that since the Crown Prince had already promised to give her a title, the marriage was definitely a done deal, it was just a matter of time.

However, as the days passed, the Crown Prince still did not appear. Although Lin Wan gradually became uneasy, she kept reassuring herself that perhaps the Crown Prince was delayed by some important matter, and that he would surely come soon if she waited a little longer.

Then one day, news suddenly came from the manor that the Crown Prince had led a grand marriage proposal procession to the Right Prime Minister's residence with great fanfare. The whole capital was talking about it. Everyone was saying that the Crown Prince really valued the Right Prime Minister's eldest daughter, Peng Yingchun, and that this trip was bound to finalize the marriage.

Upon hearing this news, Lin Wan was stunned, as if struck by lightning. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, standing there blankly, her face turning deathly pale, and the handkerchief she was holding fell to the ground.

Her lips trembled slightly as she murmured to herself, "Impossible, this can't be! His Highness the Crown Prince clearly promised me he would give me a proper status, so why would he go to the Right Prime Minister's residence to propose marriage? There must be some mistake, there must be..."

As if suddenly snapping out of her daze, she ran frantically towards the gate of the mansion. She wanted to see for herself if it was really as the rumors said. When she reached the street, panting, she saw the festive marriage procession heading towards the Right Prime Minister's residence. In the procession, Crown Prince Nangong Chen was in high spirits, his face beaming with satisfaction. He seemed to have completely forgotten the promise he had made to her.

Lin Wan's eyes instantly reddened, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. She felt as if her heart had been ripped apart, the pain excruciating. She never imagined that all her efforts, even resorting to such methods, would result in this outcome.

At this moment, she was filled with grievances, anger, and despair. Standing on the street, she felt like a complete joke, and everything she had done before had vanished without a trace.