Jade of Another World

Trapped in this predicament, Lin Ning's mind raced with a flurry of thoughts, filled with anxiety and helplessness. She worried that Nangong Jin would find out about her faked death. Nangong Jin was always meticulous; if he knew she had faked her death to escape, given his personality, he would likely feel deceived and betrayed. Lin Ning knew Nangong Jin's power and methods well; he might feel his authority had been challenged, and he might even fly into a rage. The consequences she would face could be severe, and she couldn't imagine how Nangong Jin would punish her.

Lin Ning wasn't sure if Nangong Jin would come to her rescue. Although she knew Nangong Jin had feelings for her, her current state of feigned death complicated matters. If Nangong Jin found her deception unforgivable, or if he abandoned the rescue for other political reasons, such as not wanting to provoke conflict with Nanzhao, she would truly be left helpless.

Furthermore, even if she were to be rescued by Nangong Jin, she would still be arrested. After all, her feigned death would be a blatant violation of court rules and Nangong Jin's authority. Even if Nangong Jin were to consider their past relationship, it would be difficult to guarantee that other factions in the court wouldn't seize the opportunity to make a big fuss and demand severe punishment for her. In that case, Nangong Jin might be forced to take even more extreme measures against her due to the pressure.

Finally, Lin Ning thought of Princess Ruoli. Princess Ruoli had always been kind to her, and they shared a deep bond. Lin Ning would feel incredibly guilty if she were implicated because of her. She feared that Wanyan Qiang or Nangong Jin, during their investigation, would discover her relationship with Princess Ruoli and thus take their anger out on her, causing her unnecessary trouble and danger.

Lin Ning paced back and forth in the small room, like a bird trapped in a cage, unable to find a way out, filled with helplessness and confusion, not knowing how to break out of the predicament before her.

Lin Ning was trapped in Wanyan Qiang's mansion. On the surface, she seemed to calmly accept her life under house arrest, but in her heart, she was constantly thinking about a way to escape. After several days, she quietly observed everyone around her, especially the palace maid who had been assigned to take care of her.

The palace maid was young, but her eyes held a mixture of cleverness and helplessness. Lin Ning noticed that each time the maid entered, her gaze would linger on her for a moment, as if she were sizing her up. A thought struck Lin Ning; perhaps she could find a breakthrough by observing this maid.

Finally, in the dead of night, when no one was around, Lin Ning took out the silver notes that Nangong Ruoli had given her. The amount in the notes was enormous, gleaming alluringly in the dim candlelight. She quietly handed the notes to a palace maid and whispered, "Sister, I know you've had a hard time too. Take this money. If you can help me escape from here, I will reward you handsomely."

The palace maid stared wide-eyed at the silver note in her hand, her face filled with shock and hesitation. Her hands trembled slightly, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Seeing this, Lin Ning continued, "I just want to go home, back to my family. It won't cause you any trouble. If you can help me, it will be a good deed."

The palace maid bit her lip and remained silent for a long time. Finally, she raised her head, a resolute glint in her eyes: "Alright, I'll help you. But you have to promise me that once you escape, that's it; if you fail, you can't betray me."

Lin Ning was overjoyed and quickly nodded, "Don't worry, I will keep my mouth shut. As long as I can leave here, I will never implicate you."

From then on, the palace maid secretly began preparing for Lin Ning's escape. Taking advantage of a shopping trip, she secretly brought back essential items such as dry rations, clothing, and a map. She also carefully observed the layout of the residence and the patrol patterns of the guards, devising a detailed escape route for Lin Ning.

Lin Ning knew this was her only chance. The only way forward was to escape Wanyan Qiang's control and truly take control of her own destiny. Otherwise, if Nangong Jin came to rescue her, things would get even more complicated. She anxiously awaited the opportune moment each day, her heart filled with both anticipation and trepidation, unsure if her plan would succeed…

As time passed and darkness fell, Lin Ning felt both nervous and expectant. She sat in her room, her eyes fixed on the window, watching the crescent moon slowly rise, as if calculating the passage of time.

As usual, the palace maid brought in the evening meal. A hint of nervousness flickered in her eyes, but she forced a calm expression and placed the food on the table. Lin Ning stood up, walked to the maid's side, and said softly, "Thank you, sister." The maid nodded slightly and lowered her voice, saying, "Don't worry, young lady, everything is ready. After I leave, quickly disguise yourself and be very careful."

Lin Ning watched the palace maid leave, hearing the door close softly, but not the lock. She took a deep breath, walked to the table, and quickly ate a few bites of food to replenish her strength. Then, she went to the wardrobe, took out the clothes the palace maid had prepared for her, and began to disguise herself.

Time ticked by, and finally midnight arrived. Lin Ning could hear the footsteps and conversations of the guards changing shifts outside. She knew this was the perfect opportunity to escape. She cautiously opened the door, peeked out, looked around to make sure no one was there, and then tiptoed out.

She followed the route the palace maid had planned for her, hugging the wall and walking step by step toward the back door. With each step, she was careful, afraid of making the slightest sound. Finally, she saw the back door, and the palace maid was standing there, beckoning to her.

"Miss, come here quickly!" the palace maid said softly. Lin Ning quickened her pace and ran to the palace maid's side. The palace maid opened the back door, and outside was complete darkness, with only moonlight shining on the ground, forming dappled patterns of light and shadow.

“Young lady, just keep going straight down this road, and you'll be able to leave this place,” the palace maid said, a hint of reluctance in her eyes. Lin Ning looked at the maid gratefully, then stuffed the silver note into her hand, saying, “Sister, I will remember your great kindness. I will repay you if I have the chance in the future.” With that, Lin Ning turned and ran into the darkness. Her heart was filled with hope, as if freedom awaited her ahead. The palace maid stood at the doorway, watching the direction Lin Ning had gone, silently praying that she would escape safely and begin a new life…