Jade of Another World

That day, Lin Ning was thinking about that matter. Taking advantage of the fact that the people in the Prime Minister's residence were not paying attention, she quietly slipped out of the residence with her maid Xiao Cui and headed towards the west of the city.

Compared to other parts of the city, the western part of the city was slightly noisier and busier, with shops lining both sides of the street and all sorts of people coming and going. Lin Ning and Xiao Cui carefully weaved through the crowd and soon arrived at the entrance of the pawnshop.

This pawnshop looks quite old; while the storefront isn't exactly dilapidated, it exudes a rustic and old-fashioned charm. The signboard has faded somewhat with age, but the words "West City Pawnshop" are still clearly legible.

Lin Ning took a deep breath and stepped into the pawnshop. Inside, the lighting was dim, and various items were displayed on the shelves, including some old porcelain, calligraphy and paintings, and some jewelry that looked quite old.

Behind the counter sat the pawnshop owner, an elderly man with a goatee and small, shrewd eyes. When he saw Lin Ning and Xiao Cui enter, he first slightly raised his eyelids, scrutinizing them from head to toe before slowly asking, "Ladies, what are you here to pawn today?"

Just as Lin Ning was about to speak, the pawnshop owner continued, "However, our pawnshop has its rules. If the item is too ordinary, I won't accept it. Of course, if it's a rare item, that's a different story."

Lin Ning frowned, finding the shopkeeper's words rather strange, but she didn't pay much attention to it and simply smiled and said, "Sir, I'm not here to pawn anything today, I just want to ask you about something."

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper's eyes flashed with surprise, but he quickly regained his ambiguous smile and stroked his goatee, saying, "Asking about something? Miss, this is not a place to ask questions. You've come to the wrong place."

Hearing this from the side, Xiao Cui couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "Why is this boss so fierce? Miss, should we leave?"

Lin Ning waved her hand, signaling Xiao Cui not to rush. She looked at her boss and said politely, "Boss, don't worry, I will reward you for asking questions."

Upon hearing this, the shop owner said, "I'm sorry, I have no way of telling you."

Lin Ning pursed her lips slightly, thought for a moment, and then slowly said, "Could we try to find Manager Wang?"

"Who are you looking for?"

Manager Wang

"Who's looking for Manager Wang?"

"Ning Family"

Upon hearing this, the old man's previously casual expression instantly turned serious, and his eyes became more wary.

He stared intently at Lin Ning, about to ask a question, when Lin Ning calmly uttered a string of coded words, emphasizing at the end, "I am a member of the Ning family."

Upon hearing the code word and the words "Ning family," the old man's expression changed drastically, his body trembled slightly, and his eyes were filled with shock and tension. Without a word, he immediately strode out from behind the counter, taking three steps at a time to the door. He cautiously peeked out, like a wary old fox, his eyes darting around, carefully observing the activity around the pawnshop.

Seeing that there was no one suspicious around and that the pedestrians on the street were all busy with their own things and hadn't noticed what was happening, the old man breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he reached out and took down the "Open for Business" sign hanging on the door, replaced it with a "Closed" sign, and then slammed the pawnshop door shut with a loud bang, not forgetting to bolt it from the inside.

Xiao Cui had never seen anything like this before. Her face turned pale with fright. She instinctively moved closer to Lin Ning, her voice trembling as she said, "Miss, what... what's going on? Why is this old man suddenly so nervous? He even closed the door. Are we in any danger?"

Lin Ning was actually a little nervous, after all, the situation was quite strange, but she still tried to remain calm. She reached out and patted Xiao Cui's shoulder, comforting her, "Xiao Cui, don't be afraid, I'm here." As she spoke, she subtly reached into her sleeve pocket, where she kept the silver needles she always carried with her. At the slightest disturbance, she could immediately take out the silver needles as weapons for self-defense.

After closing the pawnshop door, the old man looked back at Lin Ning and her servant, his tense expression still undiminished. He wiped the large beads of sweat from his forehead and said in a low voice, "Miss, you... you really are a member of the Ning family? This is no joke. Do you have any proof?"

Lin Ning frowned slightly and looked at the old man, saying, "Although I don't have any physical evidence yet, the code isn't something just anyone can know. If you don't trust me, then pretend I never mentioned this, and we'll take our leave now." With that, Lin Ning pulled Xiao Cui and made a move to walk towards the door.

Seeing this, the old man quickly reached out to stop Lin Ning and the other woman, and hurriedly said, "Young lady, don't be anxious, don't be anxious. However, this matter is of great importance, and I have to be cautious. Since you were able to answer the code, I suppose... I have finally waited for this moment." As he spoke, the old man walked into the inner room.

Lin Ning and Xiao Cui exchanged a glance, hesitated for a moment, and finally followed the old man toward the inner room of the pawnshop. However, the two of them were on high alert along the way, always on guard against any possible unexpected situations. The old man led the way, walking hurriedly, clearly also very anxious.

Lin Ning and Xiao Cui followed the pawnshop manager into the inner room. Before they could even react, the manager suddenly knelt down in front of Lin Ning with a thud, startling both of them.

The shopkeeper's eyes reddened, and his voice choked with emotion as he said, "Miss, you've finally arrived! I've been waiting for this day for so long."

Lin Ning hurriedly stepped forward, reaching out to help the shopkeeper up, saying, "Shopkeeper Wang, what are you doing? Get up and talk to me. What's the point of kneeling like this?"

Shopkeeper Wang stubbornly refused to get up, remaining kneeling on the ground. He looked up at Lin Ning and slowly said, "Miss, it is only right that I kneel here. Back then, the Ning family head reluctantly married his only daughter to Prime Minister Lin. Although Prime Minister Lin is a handsome man, the family head was always worried about him. So he arranged for me to stay in this pawnshop in the west of the city, thinking that if your mother was not doing well in the Lin family, I could immediately take her away and let her return to the Ning family to continue living a comfortable life."

At this point, Manager Wang's face was filled with sorrow and regret. He wiped away his tears and continued, "Who knew that fate would be so cruel? Madam... she actually fell victim to a villain and passed away so young. When the head of the family heard the news, he was devastated, but at that time the Ning family was also facing many changes, and for a time he couldn't find you and the young master. When things calmed down a bit and he sent people to search again, they couldn't find you anywhere. For so many years, I've been waiting here, hoping to one day see the descendants of the Ning family. Finally, I've been able to wait for you, Miss."

Upon hearing these words, Lin Ning felt as if a storm was raging in her heart. She never imagined that there was such a hidden story behind her background. She had always thought of herself as just an ordinary daughter of a prime minister's family, with her mother having died early and her father not caring much about her. She never imagined that her mother was the only daughter of the Ning family, and that there were so many heartbreaking stories behind her.

Xiao Cui, who was listening nearby, also had tears welling up in her eyes. She gently tugged at Lin Ning's sleeve and whispered, "Miss..."

Lin Ning took a deep breath, steadied herself, and looked at Manager Wang, who was still kneeling on the ground, and asked, "Manager Wang, do you know who killed my mother back then? Also, I have returned to the Prime Minister's residence, but have you found my brother?"

Manager Wang slowly shook his head, saying helplessly, "Miss, what happened back then was too strange. I only heard some rumors, and I really don't know who did it. I only know that after Madam's accident, the manor was in chaos. Later, you were at the Prime Minister's residence, but at some point they said they sent you to an estate outside. We searched several estates, but couldn't find you. As for the young master, he should have disappeared the same year you were sent to the estate. At first, we thought you and your brother were both at the estate. Later, we found the estate where you were, but before we could start rescuing you, the Prime Minister's residence arranged for someone to bring you back. It wasn't until you returned that we learned the young master wasn't with you, and then we started searching for him again. I've been secretly inquiring all these years, but I haven't been able to find any useful clues. I have truly failed the head of the family's trust. Please punish me, Miss."

Lin Ning bit her lip, secretly vowing to find out the truth behind her mother's murder and the separation of her siblings. She couldn't let her mother die unjustly; she had to find her family and reunite her siblings. She reached out to help Manager Wang up again, saying, "Manager Wang, don't blame yourself too much. Now that I'm back, let's work together to find out the truth behind this. Don't worry, I'm not someone they can easily bully."

Manager Wang stood up and looked at Lin Ning's determined appearance. A glimmer of hope welled up in his heart. He nodded heavily and said, "Miss is right. We will definitely find out the truth, give the Ning family justice, and let Madam's spirit rest in peace."

Afterwards, Manager Wang mysteriously told her about her birth mother.

Upon hearing this, Lin Ning immediately perked up. She had always been curious about her birth mother's past, and she eagerly urged Manager Wang to tell her. Manager Wang cleared his throat and slowly began, "Your birth mother came to our Dayu for another man. That man held a significant place in her heart; she must have had very deep feelings for him. That's why she traveled thousands of miles to Dayu, hoping to meet him."

Lin Ning frowned slightly, her mind beginning to speculate about the man she had never met before. However, she did not interrupt Manager Wang and continued to listen quietly.

"It's a pity that after she arrived in Dayu, she inquired everywhere and searched for a long time, but she still couldn't find the man she longed for. Helpless, she had no choice but to embark on the journey back. But the journey back was not peaceful either. Halfway there, she encountered a group of mountain bandits. Those mountain bandits were fierce and evil. Seeing that your mother was alone and beautiful, they had evil intentions and wanted to rob her of her money and her virtue."

Hearing this, Lin Ning felt a pang of anxiety and secretly worried for her mother.

Shopkeeper Wang continued, "At that critical moment, your father, Lin Xiang, happened to pass by. Although he didn't know any martial arts, seeing your mother in danger, he rushed forward without saying a word and fought with those bandits. His desperate spirit shocked the bandits to some extent. However, one can't fight against many opponents. During the fight, your father was seriously injured and covered in blood, but he still protected Ning Yuhuan tightly, not letting the bandits hurt her in the slightest."

Lin Ning's eyes reddened slightly. She could almost see the dangerous yet touching scene from that time, but she couldn't reconcile it with her adoptive father at all.

"Your mother was also a very loyal and affectionate person. When she saw Lin Xiang injured like this because of her, she was deeply moved. She quickly used her medical skills to carefully treat Lin Xiang's injuries. During the time they spent together, they were together day and night, and gradually developed feelings for each other. They developed deep feelings for one another, and later, they naturally got married."

After listening, Lin Ning was deeply moved and her heart remained unsettled for a long time. She had never imagined that her birth mother had such a complicated and romantic past, and she gained a deeper understanding of the relationship between her parents. However, the thought that her mother was no longer alive filled her with sadness and longing.

At this moment, the small pawnshop was filled with a sorrowful yet hopeful atmosphere, and Lin Ning officially embarked on the difficult path of searching for his mother who had died unjustly.

After returning home, Lin Ning's mind was filled with the stories Wang Zhanggui had told about her mother, especially the person her mother had come to Da Yu to look for, which lingered in her mind like a mystery.

She sat quietly by the window, gazing at the courtyard outside, her thoughts drifting. The relationship between Yue and Dayu had been strained for years, with frequent skirmishes and conflicts along their border. Given such a tense situation, what was her mother's reason for coming to Dayu to find that person? Did that person hold such immense significance for her, so important that she would disregard the tense atmosphere between the two countries and embark on this unknown and dangerous journey alone?

Lin Ning recalled her mother's later marriage to her father, Lin Xiang. After a fruitless search and a harrowing encounter with bandits, her mother and father developed feelings for each other through shared hardship and eventually married. It seemed like a beautiful union, but Lin Ning always felt things weren't so simple. She wondered to herself if her mother's eventual murder was related to her initial reasons for coming to Da Yu and the events she had experienced there.

Perhaps the person Mother was searching for was involved with some unknown secrets or powerful forces. These forces might have some ulterior motives and didn't want Mother to find that person, or perhaps Mother inadvertently learned some information that was detrimental to them, which is why she suffered such a tragic fate.

The more Lin Ning thought about it, the more complicated things seemed. She decided to investigate her mother's past more thoroughly. She thought she might start with her mother's belongings to see if she could find any clues. So, she got up and walked towards her mother's former room. Although her mother had been gone for many years, the room remained exactly as it was. Every time Lin Ning entered the room, she could feel a familiar atmosphere.

She began carefully searching through her mother's old belongings, and in a carved box, she found several letters. The paper was yellowed, and the handwriting was slightly blurred, but still barely legible. Lin Ning eagerly opened the letters, hoping to find clues about the person her mother had come to Da Yu to search for, and the secrets hidden behind it. Could these letters be the key to solving her mother's mystery? Lin Ning's heart was filled with both anticipation and trepidation.

Lin Ning sat at the table in her mother's room, carefully examining the yellowed letters in her hands by the light streaming in from the window. The handwriting on the letters was delicate and beautiful, indeed her mother Ning Yuhuan's. The letters were filled with deep affection, each line and each word seemingly telling the story of her mother's innermost feelings.

These letters were all written to someone known as "Senior Brother Wuyou." Judging from the contents, the mother had extremely deep feelings for this Senior Brother Wuyou. In the letters, she recalled the bits and pieces of her past interactions with Senior Brother Wuyou; those beautiful memories, like dazzling stars, were embedded in the words filled with longing. There were scenes of them practicing medicine together in the sect, the laughter and joy they shared while gathering herbs in the mountains, and their heart-to-heart talks under the moonlight.

Lin Ning was filled with doubts. Who exactly was this "Senior Brother Wuyou"? Why was her mother so obsessed with him? She looked at the dates on the letters. These letters spanned a considerable period of time, some even written shortly before her mother married her father, Lin Xiang.

What puzzled Lin Ning even more was why these letters hadn't been sent out. If they were addressed to someone else, they should have been mailed long ago. Why were they still in her mother's hands? She examined the letters over and over, hoping to find some clues, such as whether there were any missing addresses or signs of them being returned, but she found nothing.

She guessed that perhaps her mother hesitated after writing these letters, ultimately lacking the courage to convey her longing. Or perhaps some special circumstance prevented the letters from being sent. Lin Ning even suspected that someone might have stopped her mother from sending the letters, but such a thought seemed far-fetched to her.

Lin Ning carefully put the letters away, knowing they were crucial clues in her search for her mother's past. She decided to start with her mother's sect, hoping to find out more about this "Worry-Free Senior Brother." However, her mother had never mentioned her sect, making her search even more difficult. Nevertheless, determined to unravel the mystery left behind by her mother, Lin Ning resolved to overcome any obstacle.