Jade of Another World

Lin Ning sat at her desk in the Jade Pavilion, the flickering candlelight illuminating her solemn face. She spread out paper, dipped her brush in ink, and began to write a letter to Xiao Cui.

"Xiao Cui, this letter is as if we are meeting in person. Do not come to the palace to find me. You must do everything according to my previous instructions. At present, Liu Jia is stationed far away at the border, and Liu Si and Ying Chun have also gone to live at the border long ago. My brother Lin Qi is Nangong Jin's general, and my relationship with Nangong Jin is complicated and full of variables. To ensure my brother's safety, you must tell him to help support the deputy general as soon as possible. In the meantime, secretly observe the deputy general's abilities and character, and look for opportunities to establish his prestige in the army. When the time is right, persuade my brother to find a suitable reason to transfer some of his military power to the deputy general. Perhaps he can then withdraw safely and stay away from the vortex of court intrigue."

Next, arrange for Aunt Liu to go to the border to seek refuge with Liu Si. I will write a separate letter to Liu Si and Yingchun to inform them of this. Aunt Liu is alone and helpless in the capital. Although conditions at the border are harsh, with Liu Si's family to take care of her, she can be kept safe. This matter is of utmost importance; you must arrange it carefully and without the slightest mistake.

The situation in the palace is constantly changing. I'm proceeding cautiously here, and you must also be careful out there. Make sure to keep our communication methods safe. In case of emergency, send me a message immediately by carrier pigeon. I hope you are well and that everything goes smoothly for you.

After finishing the letter, Lin Ning carefully folded the letter, put it in an envelope, sealed it with sealing wax, and summoned a reliable palace servant, instructing him to ensure the letter was safely delivered out of the palace and into Xiao Cui's hands.

She knew all too well that the current situation was rife with undercurrents of conflict, and a single misstep could lead to utter ruin. Her brother, holding a high position, was already a target of jealousy, and her entanglement with Nangong Jin only made his situation more precarious. Supporting the deputy general was a way to secure her brother's escape route; only with his safety could she plan her own escape without any worries. As for sending Consort Liu to the border, it would both protect her from the palace intrigues and provide her with additional protection.

Lin Ning gazed at the dark night sky outside the window, silently praying that Xiao Cui could successfully complete these tasks, and also hoping that she could break free from Nangong Jin's control as soon as possible and return to her own world with Yu Jue...

Inside the Jade Pavilion, Lin Ning had just dismissed the palace servant who had delivered the message to Xiao Cui when she fell into deep thought again. Now that she was by Nangong Jin's side, she could leave at any time, and she needed to make proper arrangements for her relatives and friends here. With this in mind, she spread out some paper again and began writing letters for Uncle Zhong and Manager Wang.

"Uncle Zhong, Manager Wang, greetings. I am currently serving Nangong Jin in the palace, but my situation is extremely precarious. Nangong Jin's intentions are unpredictable, and you all know the dangers of serving him. To prevent any unforeseen events, I am arranging for you two to transfer as much of my and my maternal family's assets as possible to the Yue Kingdom. The Yue Kingdom is where my maternal family, the Ning family, is located. The Ning family has deep roots in the Yue Kingdom and will certainly take good care of you. Although Nangong Jin wields great power, the Yue Kingdom is not within his sphere of influence. This way, our assets will be safe, and you two can also withdraw unscathed, avoiding the vortex of intrigue in the Dayu court."

Transferring assets requires utmost caution. Avoid making a big fuss, lest you alert the perpetrators and invite unnecessary trouble. First, meticulously prepare detailed accounts and secretly discuss transportation routes with reliable individuals. Consider utilizing clandestine caravans traveling between countries to disguise the goods as ordinary cargo. Throughout the process, closely monitor every step to ensure absolute safety.

Once everything is arranged, you two should seek an opportunity to travel to Yue and contact the Ning family. The Ning family will arrange new accommodations for you to rebuild your lives. If the opportunity arises in the future, we can discuss further plans. Please take care and be cautious in all matters.”

After writing the letter, Lin Ning checked it several times to make sure it was correct, then carefully sealed it. She called over another trusted confidant and repeatedly instructed him to personally deliver the letter to Uncle Zhong and Manager Wang.

In her view, the wealth was the culmination of her mother's years of hard work and a crucial foundation for achieving her future goals. Transferring it to Yue Kingdom would not only prevent Nangong Jin from coveting and seizing it, but also strengthen her maternal clan there. Uncle Zhong and Manager Wang were both trusted confidants who had followed her for many years; she couldn't allow them to be put in danger because of her. Arranging for them to go to Yue Kingdom would not only save their lives but also leave a glimmer of hope for her future plans. Lin Ning knew that every step she took in the palace from now on could be a matter of life and death, but she had no other choice. She wanted to go back; since Xuan Yuanche was no longer there, much lingering was meaningless…

After finishing her letters to Xiao Cui, Uncle Zhong, and Manager Wang, Lin Ning paused briefly, took a deep breath, and picked up her pen again to write to Yi Zhu. In this complex and perilous situation, Yi Zhu was also her most trusted and relied-upon partner, and maintaining close contact with him was crucial to the progress of the entire plan.

"Yizhu, it's been a long time since I heard from you. I'm doing well in the palace for now. Nangong Jin has fallen ill, just as I expected. He's been very weak lately and doesn't have the time to keep a close eye on me as he used to. This might be our chance."

I wish to know your current situation. Have you made proper arrangements? Has your wound healed? The jade pendant is with you; please take good care of it. If everything is stable on your end, you may seek an opportunity to visit Ouyang Qingchuan's Imperial Observatory. The three of us need to meet as soon as possible to discuss the specific details of activating the jade pendant. The jade pendant is of great importance; the activation ceremony will inevitably be complex and fraught with risks. We must plan meticulously in advance, carefully considering every detail.

When you travel to the Imperial Observatory, please be extremely careful and avoid Nangong Jin's spies. If you sense anything amiss on the way, do not take any risks. Find a safe place to hide first, and then try to notify me. I will also be keeping a close watch from the palace, and will send you a message immediately if anything changes. I hope everything goes well for you and that I receive your reply soon.

After writing, Lin Ning gently blew on the letter to dry it, carefully folded it, placed it in an envelope, and sealed it with sealing wax. She knew that this letter conveyed not only words, but also their hope for advancing their plan. She found a quick-witted and reliable eunuch, secretly slipped him some silver, and whispered, "This letter must be delivered personally to the manager of Tianxiang Tower. Do not let anyone else know. If this succeeds, there will be a great reward. If anything goes wrong, both of our lives will be in danger, understand?" The eunuch turned pale with fright, nodded hurriedly, carefully took the letter, and rushed away. Lin Ning watched the eunuch's departing figure, silently praying. She knew that every step she took now was like walking on the edge of a cliff; the slightest misstep would lead to utter destruction. Tianxiang Tower was a property of Tianji Pavilion in Dayu, and now, because Xuan Yuanche could mobilize Tianji Pavilion for his own use... To avenge Xuan Yuanche and return to her hometown, she must now take a desperate gamble, joining hands with Yi Zhu and Ouyang Qingchuan to overcome all obstacles and open the portal to hope...