Jade of Another World

Everything proceeded according to Nangong Ruoli's plan. After Lin Ning took the drug that could induce a state of suspended animation, she fell into a deep coma, with no breath or pulse, as if she were truly lifeless. Chaos erupted immediately within the Jade Pavilion as palace maids and eunuchs ran around in panic, spreading the news. The news quickly reached Nangong Jin's ears.

Upon hearing of Lin Ning's sudden death, Nangong Jin's face turned deathly pale, and he staggered towards Cuiyu Pavilion. When he saw Lin Ning lying lifeless on the bed, he felt a wave of dizziness and nearly collapsed. His hands trembled as he gently stroked Lin Ning's face, tears streaming uncontrollably down his cheeks. "Lin Ning, how could you leave me like this..." Nangong Jin's voice was filled with grief and despair. The once invincible emperor now appeared so vulnerable in the face of the pain of losing Lin Ning.

Just as Nangong Jin was immersed in grief, contemplating burying Lin Ning in the imperial mausoleum so that she could be by his side in death, Nangong Ruoli stepped forward at the opportune moment. Looking at the heartbroken Nangong Jin, she felt a pang of reluctance, but remembering that Lin Ning could finally escape this bondage, she mustered her courage and said, "Brother, Sister Lin longed for freedom her whole life and suffered greatly in this palace. Now that she is gone, let her be buried in the peach blossom grove outside the palace, so that she can rest in peace in that free world, thus fulfilling her wish."

Nangong Jin was slightly taken aback upon hearing Nangong Ruoli's words. Images of Lin Ning's usual yearning for freedom and the longing look in her eyes when she gazed out of the palace flashed through his mind. A pang of pain shot through his heart. After a long silence, he finally nodded slowly. "Alright, as you wish. Let her be buried in the peach blossom grove."

And so, Lin Ning's "body" was carried out of the palace and taken to the blooming peach grove outside. Along the way, Nangong Ruoli followed closely, her heart filled with both tension and anticipation. She feared the plan might go wrong at the last minute, yet hoped that Lin Ning could truly use this opportunity to be reborn.

When Lin Ning was placed in the tomb in the peach blossom forest, Nangong Ruoli looked at the tightly closed coffin and silently said in her heart, "Sister Lin, I hope that after you wake up, you can find your own happiness and never return to this terrible place."

Lin Ning, unconscious, was completely unaware of everything. Her consciousness drifted in the darkness, as if she were in an endless dream. She didn't know how long she had slept, nor what changes had occurred in the outside world. But what awaited her was a new beginning filled with unknowns and hope, all thanks to Nangong Ruoli's seemingly clumsy yet successful feigned death...

Lin Ning slowly opened her eyes, her consciousness gradually clearing from its haze. Before her was the anxious yet joyful face of a palace maid. Seeing Lin Ning awaken, the maid's eyes flashed with relief, and she quickly lowered her voice, saying, "Miss Lin, you're finally awake! Please get up quickly, we still need to hurry."

Lin Ning felt her head was still a little dizzy. She tried hard to recall what had happened before, piecing together her memories little by little, before finally remembering that she had taken a drug to fake her death and then fallen into a coma. But she never expected that Nangong Ruoli's seemingly simple, even flawed, plan would actually succeed.

"I... I really got out?" Lin Ning's voice trembled slightly, her eyes filled with disbelief. In her imagination, Nangong Jin was cunning and ruthless, and she was certain that he would see through her escape plan at a glance, and she would be dragged back to that cage-like palace.

The palace maid nodded gently, a faint smile on her face. "Yes, Miss Lin, you are already outside the palace. Princess Ruoli instructed me to make sure you are safe and well received." As she spoke, the maid took a set of clothes that had been prepared beforehand and placed them by the bed. "Miss Lin, please change into these clothes quickly. We need to leave here as soon as possible to avoid being discovered."

Looking at the simple clothes, Lin Ning felt a surge of complex emotions. She slowly rose and, with the help of a palace maid, changed her clothes. Although the clothes were of ordinary quality, wearing them made her feel incredibly relaxed and comfortable, as if she had shed a heavy shackle.

After changing her clothes, the palace maid handed Lin Ning a package and said softly, "Miss Lin, this contains disguise tools and some silver notes, enough for you. Princess Ruoli said that you should find a safe place to live a good life."

Lin Ning took the package, her hands trembling slightly. She opened it and looked at the disguise and silver notes inside, feeling as if everything before her was unreal. Once, she was trapped in the palace, living cautiously under Nangong Jin's control every day, fantasizing countless times about a free life, but never imagining that this day would actually come.

"Please thank Princess Ruoli for me. If I have the chance, I will definitely repay her kindness." Lin Ning's voice was choked with emotion, and tears of gratitude welled up in her eyes. She hugged the package tightly to her arms, as if it were her newfound hope.

The palace maid nodded and urged, "Miss Lin, time is of the essence, we must hurry." Lin Ning took a deep breath, glanced one last time at her temporary lodging, and then hurriedly left with the maid. The outside world was bright and sunny, filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers. Every step Lin Ning took was filled with anticipation for the future. Although the road ahead was unknown, she was finally free…

Lin Ning felt as if she could fly, wishing she could sprout wings and fly to Yue Kingdom immediately to see her beloved mother's family, brother, and relatives. Images of reuniting with her loved ones kept flashing through her mind; she could almost see the joyful and relieved smiles on their faces. However, fate seemed to love playing tricks on her; the more anxious she became, the more difficult her journey seemed.

The road was rugged and uneven, sometimes muddy paths making her struggle to move, and sometimes dense forests blocking her way. Lin Ning gritted her teeth, constantly encouraging herself, telling herself that as long as she persevered, she would definitely reach the Yue Kingdom. But as time passed, the sun gradually sank in the west, and the sky grew darker and darker, yet Lin Ning continued her solitary journey with all her might.

The night was as dark as ink, and all around was silent, save for Lin Ning's hurried footsteps echoing on the empty road. A nameless unease welled up within her, a feeling that something bad was about to happen. This worry, like a dark cloud, hung over her heart, making her steps grow heavier and heavier.

Just then, a group of well-trained men in black suddenly rushed out of the woods beside the road. They moved swiftly, like ghosts, and instantly surrounded Lin Ning. Lin Ning was startled and instinctively wanted to fight back. She clenched her fists, her eyes revealing a hint of determination and unyielding spirit.

"Who are you? Why are you blocking my way?" Lin Ning shouted, trying to mask her fear with her voice.

However, the men in black did not answer. They worked together seamlessly, closing in on Lin Ning step by step. Lin Ning knew she was outnumbered, but she did not give up. She brandished her silver needles, fighting with all her might against the men in black, trying to break through their encirclement.

Ultimately, how could a weak woman like her possibly defeat a team of well-trained assassins? After a short period of resistance, Lin Ning began to feel her strength waning, and her movements gradually slowed down. The men in black seized the opportunity, swarming forward and capturing Lin Ning.

Lin Ning was forced to the ground, her heart filled with despair and anger. She was unwilling to be captured like this; her dreams were yet to be realized, and she had not yet seen her family. "Let me go! What do you want?" Lin Ning struggled and shouted, but only the silence of the men in black answered her.

As the men in black led her away, Lin Ning gazed into the distance, tears welling in her eyes. She didn't know what fate awaited her, or if she would ever see her loved ones again. But a sliver of hope lingered in her heart—a hope that someone would come to rescue her, a hope that she could escape this terrible predicament…