Jade of Another World

Lin Ning waited anxiously for news from Ouyang Qingchuan every day in the Jade Pavilion. She paced back and forth in the room, sometimes sitting at the table, gazing out the window in a daze, constantly wondering about the progress on Ouyang Qingchuan's side. Yi Zhu was also anxious, but he maintained a calm demeanor. He thought that the matter of the jade pendant was complicated and would require time.

Days passed, but there was still no news from Ouyang Qingchuan. Lin Ning thought to herself that the jade pendant was related to the mysteries of time and space, and must be extremely difficult to study. She could only continue to wait patiently.

Just as she was lost in thought, a servant rushed over and respectfully reported, "Miss Lin, His Highness the Jade King has come to visit."

Lin Ning was quite surprised upon hearing this. She thought back carefully and realized that she hadn't seen Nangong Yu for a long time. Since she entered the palace, her interactions with Nangong Yu had gradually decreased. But she still immediately said, "Quickly invite Prince Yu into the hall to speak."

The servant obeyed and left. Lin Ning straightened her clothes, calmed herself down a bit, and walked towards the hall.

A moment later, Nangong Yu entered the hall accompanied by her maid. Lin Ning saw Nangong Yu, gave a slight curtsy, and smiled: "Your Highness, it's been a long time. How have you been?"

Nangong Yu looked at Lin Ning, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes—a mixture of longing and worry. She stepped forward, wanting to take Lin Ning's hand, but quickly withdrew it, saying, "Sister Lin, I heard you were back, so I wanted to come see you. It's only today that I have the chance. How have you been these past few days?"

Looking into Nangong Yu's concerned eyes, Lin Ning felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She gently patted Nangong Yu's hand and said, "I'm alright, just went through some ups and downs. Your Highness, how about you? When did he release you? Where are you living now? Have you returned to the Jade Prince's Mansion?"

Nangong Yu sighed softly and said, "Fortunately, I later submitted to my brother, and he released me. Everything is going smoothly for me now, and I am currently living in the Yu Prince's Mansion. I heard that my brother's health has deteriorated because of you. Sister Lin, could you please stay by my brother's side and stop causing trouble for him?"

Lin Ning was taken aback, not expecting Nangong Yu to speak up for Nangong Jin. She frowned slightly and said, "Did Nangong Jin send you?"

Looking into Lin Ning's eyes, Nangong Yu knew that she would never listen to her advice, and felt somewhat helpless. But she still said, "Sister Lin, I know you have your own principles. Although I am not on good terms with my brother, he really cares about you. Those around you are not necessarily bad people, and those who always seem to be helping you are not necessarily good people."

Lin Ning looked at Nangong Yu, feeling both touched and helpless. She knew Nangong Yu genuinely cared for her, but how could they possibly understand her thoughts? Now, she truly wanted to return to her own world…

After seeing Nangong Yu off, Lin Ning wandered alone in the hall, her mind replaying every word he had spoken. She tried to decipher the deeper meaning behind his words, but remained lost in a fog, unable to understand. When Nangong Yu spoke of Nangong Jin's concern for her, the complex emotions in his eyes—concern mixed with an unspoken expectation—seemed to be a desperate attempt to reconcile her with Nangong Jin. But Lin Ning knew in her heart that too many insurmountable chasms lay between her and Nangong Jin, from their changing identities to their emotional entanglements, from the difference in time and space to their unfinished missions—each pushing them in different directions.

Lin Ning sighed, deciding to stop dwelling on the ambiguous meaning in Nangong Yu's words. She turned her thoughts to something more crucial—Ouyang Qingchuan's research on the jade pendant. Too much time had passed, yet no news had arrived, causing a growing unease in her heart. The jade pendant was crucial to her return to the modern world and to avenging Xuan Yuanche; it was the core of her current life.

"Ouyang Qingchuan seems to have spent a considerable amount of time researching the jade pendant. Logically speaking, even if the process was difficult, he should have made some initial discoveries by now," Lin Ning muttered to herself. She decided to write a letter to Ouyang Qingchuan tomorrow to inquire about the progress. The wording in the letter needed to be extremely careful; it had to express her concern for the research progress without revealing the enormous secret hidden behind the jade pendant to others.

That night, Lin Ning tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. The mysterious luster of the jade pendant, Ouyang Qingchuan's focused expression as he studied it, and Nangong Jin's obsessive face alternated in her mind. Each image weighed heavily on her heart like a stone. Finally, as dawn broke, Lin Ning got up, went to her desk, spread out paper, dipped her brush in ink, and began to write a letter to Ouyang Qingchuan.

"Master Ouyang, it has been a long time since we last heard from you, and I have been thinking of you constantly. Ever since we entrusted the jade pendant to you that day, Yizhu and I have been waiting for your research results. I wonder how the matter of the jade pendant is progressing? Have you found any clues to the method of opening it? I hope that you can reply as soon as possible so that I can discuss the matter with you again and move forward with the follow-up matters. This matter is of utmost importance, and I am grateful for your help."

After finishing the letter, Lin Ning carefully checked it several times to ensure it was correct. She then carefully folded the letter, placed it in an envelope, and sealed it with sealing wax. She summoned a usually quick-witted and reliable eunuch, solemnly handed him the letter, and instructed him, "You must personally deliver this letter to Master Ouyang. There must be no delay on the way, and you must not let anyone know about the letter. This matter is of great importance. If you do it well, you will be richly rewarded; if you make a mistake, watch your head, understand?"

The young eunuch, pale with fright, nodded hastily, took the letter, and cautiously withdrew. Lin Ning watched the eunuch's departing figure, silently praying that Ouyang Qingchuan would send good news soon, allowing her to return home as quickly as possible…