Jade of Another World

At dawn, sunlight filtered through thin clouds, illuminating the streets and alleys of the capital. After tidying herself up briefly, Lin Ning, accompanied by her maid, headed towards the Crown Prince's residence. She had always harbored doubts about Grand Tutor Liu's various actions, and after much thought, she felt that Peng Yingchun, as the Crown Prince's principal wife, might know some inside information, so she decided to visit her and sound her out.

Upon arriving at the Crown Prince's residence, Lin Ning presented her visiting card. Soon after, a maid led her through winding corridors to Peng Yingchun's courtyard. Peng Yingchun, overjoyed to hear of Lin Ning's arrival, came out to greet her.

"Miss Lin's arrival today has truly added luster to this courtyard. Please come in." Peng Yingchun greeted her warmly and invited Lin Ning into the main hall.

Lin Ning bowed slightly and said with a smile, "Your Highness, the Crown Princess, you are too kind. I hope you will not take offense at my unannounced visit today."

Peng Yingchun smiled and waved her hand, saying, "Miss Lin, what are you saying?"

After saying this, the two women walked into the room with smiles. The two sisters helped each other to sit down on chairs, and Lin Ning slowly spoke, "Your Majesty, I heard that Grand Tutor Liu has just returned from quelling the rebellion in Nanzhao, and yesterday he caused such a commotion in the Taihe Hall. I am really curious about the relationship between Grand Tutor Liu and His Highness the Crown Prince. I wonder if Your Majesty knows anything about it?"

Peng Yingchun frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Sister Lin, speaking of this Grand Tutor Liu, he is no ordinary person. He is the Crown Prince's tutor and used to frequently enter the palace to teach His Highness the Crown Prince about learning, etiquette, and how to conduct himself in society. He has had a significant influence on His Highness's growth. It can be said that Grand Tutor Liu has always supported His Highness the Crown Prince."

Lin Ning nodded slightly, then asked, "If that's the case, why was the marriage between His Highness the Crown Prince and Lin Wan so complicated? I heard that it was originally planned that he would marry Lin Wan as his principal wife, but it ended up like this. Does Your Highness know the reason for this?"

Peng Yingchun picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and seemed to be carefully considering her words before speaking after a while: "Miss Lin, I've only heard a little about this matter, and I can't guarantee it's entirely true. However, I've heard that His Highness the Crown Prince did initially intend to marry Lin Wan as his principal wife. After all, Grand Tutor Liu has a high reputation in the court, and having him as a backer would be a great help to His Highness. But when the royal family selects a principal wife, they ultimately place great importance on family background, and the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children is particularly crucial. Perhaps it was because Lin Wan wasn't a legitimate daughter that the marriage changed, and in the end, she was married into the Crown Prince's household as a concubine."

Hearing Peng Yingchun's words, Lin Ning pondered to herself. She felt that this matter was not so simple. Changing the marriage arrangements merely because of the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children meant they could simply not arrange for her to return to the Prime Minister's residence. As long as she didn't return, Lin Wan could continue to claim herself as the legitimate daughter, and none of this would have happened. But why would Grand Tutor Liu, knowing this situation, still cause such a scene at the Taihe Hall? There must be other hidden reasons behind it.

Lin Ning was still worried about Peng Yingchun's life at the Crown Prince's residence. She asked, "The Crown Prince has been quite busy lately. Will he make things difficult for you?"

“No, he hasn’t come to see me lately. Actually, you know, I don’t have that many expectations for him,” Yingchun said.

“I thought you wouldn’t marry him,” Lin Ning said.

"Sigh... How to put it, sometimes it's better to be born into a small family than a large one. Small families can choose for themselves and have some freedom, but daughters of wealthy families are basically like this: whoever they marry is for the sake of interests and maintaining relationships. I am now able to marry the Crown Prince, which is something many people can only envy."

"That's true," Lin Ning said. "But won't you be angry if we also arrange for Lin Wan to be placed in the Crown Prince's residence?"

"How could I be angry? The Crown Prince can't possibly marry only one woman. Ordinary wealthy families have three wives and four concubines, let alone the imperial family. Back then, we thought that Lin Wan should come in, not only because she threatened you and we let her in, but also because of my mother-in-law, Consort Xi. She is not someone to be trifled with. This step was the best one," Yingchun said with a smile.

“If you’re the only one in the Crown Prince’s residence, she will definitely have a hard time controlling you. However, if we give her a target, things might become much simpler, wouldn’t they?” Lin Ning replied with a smile.

“Of course,” Peng Yingchun said with a smile.

“I was worried you wouldn’t agree with my plan, after all… who would want to add someone else to their husband’s side?” Lin Ning said.

"To be honest, I really don't care," Yingchun said.

"It seems you really do have feelings for the Crown Prince..." Lin Ning said speechlessly.

"But speaking of which, do you mind if others try to place people around the Prince Xian?" Yingchun suddenly teased.

"What kind of talk is that? What does he have to do with me?" Lin Ning said indignantly.

"Are you sure it's okay?" Yingchun leaned closer and asked.

"Of course it's okay...you really are." Lin Ning shook her head helplessly.

After bidding farewell to Peng Yingchun and leaving the Crown Prince's residence, Lin Ning pondered the words he had just heard all the way. He felt more and more that Grand Tutor Liu's thoughts were unfathomable, and that the things behind them were probably far more complicated than they appeared on the surface. He just needed to continue to explore and try to figure out the issues as soon as possible.

After leaving the Crown Prince's residence, Lin Ning walked back with a heavy heart. All the way, she felt as if a pair of eyes were watching her from behind; the feeling of being spied on made her extremely uncomfortable, and she couldn't help but become wary.

She quickened her pace without making a sound, occasionally glancing back casually under the guise of the shops along the street. Sure enough, she noticed a figure sneaking around not far behind her. The figure was dressed in black, wearing a straw hat that completely covered its face, and its behavior was very suspicious.

Lin Ning pondered to herself, who exactly is this person? Why is he following her? Could it be that he's after her? With that thought, she decided not to alert him and to see what his purpose was.

So, Lin Ning deliberately walked towards less crowded streets and alleys, occasionally turning into side streets as if she were looking for something. As she walked, she saw a dead end ahead, and an idea came to her. She quickened her pace and turned into it. The person following her hesitated for a moment when he saw Lin Ning enter the dead end, but then followed her in.

But to his utter surprise, Lin Ning had already planned ahead. After the man walked deep into the alley, Lin Ning, relying on his familiarity with the surrounding terrain, quietly bypassed him via a side path, quickly circled around to the other end of the alley, and outflanked him, trapping him in the dead end.

"Hmph, you're quite bold, following me all this way. What's your purpose?" Lin Ning coldly looked at the mysterious man who was blocked in front of her and questioned him.

The man was taken aback at first, clearly not expecting Lin Ning to make such a move. Then he slowly took off his mask, revealing a face that surprised and delighted Lin Ning. It was her brother Lin Qi, whom she hadn't seen for a long time.

"Brother! It's you?" Lin Ning's eyes widened, filled with surprise and confusion. She never expected that the person following her would be Lin Qi. "Why were you following me so suspiciously? You scared me to death."

Lin Qi looked at Lin Ning with a guilty expression, scratched his head and said, "Little sister, I'm really sorry. I had no choice. I couldn't show myself rashly for fear of causing you trouble, but I really wanted to know how you've been doing lately, so I came up with this plan to follow you. I didn't expect you to find out."

Lin Ning stepped forward, took Lin Qi's hand, her eyes slightly red, and said, "Brother, where have you been all these years? I've been looking for you, but I can't find you anywhere. Do you know how worried I've been about you?"

Lin Qi gently patted Lin Ning's head, sighed, and was about to speak when he looked around warily and lowered his voice, saying, "Sister, we shouldn't stay here any longer. Let's find a safe place first, and then I'll slowly tell you what has happened over the years."

Lin Ning nodded, and the two hurriedly left the alley, heading towards a secluded but relatively safe courtyard. Lin Ning's heart was filled with longing for her brother over the years, and she was secretly glad that she could unexpectedly reunite with him today. However, she did not know that Lin Qi's experiences over the years were far more complicated than she had imagined.

Lin Qi and Lin Ning proceeded cautiously and soon arrived at a rather secluded restaurant. The two went straight into a private room at the back, and only relaxed slightly after the maid closed the door.

Lin Qi looked at Lin Ning, his eyes filled with tenderness and emotion. He sighed softly and slowly said, "Little sister, when our mother passed away, you were still young and didn't understand many things. Now you've grown into a young woman. I was thirteen years old then, and I knew very well. Although our mother wasn't exactly in good health, she was definitely not the kind of person who would suddenly fall seriously ill and die. So when Father announced that our mother had died of illness, I always had doubts in my heart and always felt that something was amiss."

Hearing her brother's words, Lin Ning's eyes reddened, and she nodded slightly, saying, "Brother, I also felt something was wrong later, but I was young then, and no one was willing to talk to me about it, so I could only keep this suspicion to myself."

Lin Qi clenched his fists and said with a face full of resentment, "After that, I secretly began to investigate the truth of my mother's death, not letting go of any clues. I first went to question the maids and servants around my mother, but strangely, those who were close to my mother on a daily basis either disappeared inexplicably or died. I knew that there must be an unspeakable secret hidden here."

"Later, I checked my mother's prescriptions and dietary records, but every time I got a clue, it seemed to be deliberately cut off, and I couldn't piece it back together. I became more and more certain that my mother's death was not so simple, and that someone had deliberately murdered her." Lin Qi said, his eyes filled with anger, his expression as if he had returned to the stubbornness and persistence he had when he was investigating the truth alone.

Lin Ning asked anxiously, "Then brother, what happened next? Did you find out who it was?"

Lin Qi frowned, shook his head, and said with a helpless expression, "Sigh, this investigation is too difficult. The deeper I investigate, the more I touch upon the interests of certain forces. They seem to have realized my intentions and have started sending people to stop me. They outnumber me and I've almost been captured and put in dire straits several times. Those people are ruthless and vicious; they simply want to kill me."

Lin Ning was terrified. She gripped Lin Qi's hand tightly and asked worriedly, "Brother, how did you escape later?"

Lin Qi patted Lin Ning's hand and comforted her, "Just when I was in the most danger, the Eighth Prince appeared. At that time, I was surrounded by those people in a secluded alley and was about to give up. The Eighth Prince had his men repel those who wanted to harm me and saved my life."

"The Eighth Prince asked me why I was being chased by those people, and I told him everything about investigating my mother's death. After listening, the Eighth Prince greatly appreciated my courage and filial piety. He said he was willing to help me continue to investigate the truth, but on one condition: that I become his disciple and work for him in the future. I thought that as long as I could find out the cause of my mother's death and repay the prince's life-saving grace, what was wrong with working for him? So I agreed and followed the Eighth Prince from then on."

Lin Ning felt a mix of emotions upon hearing her brother's words. She felt sorry for her brother's hard work in investigating all these years, and she was also grateful for the Eighth Prince's help. At the same time, she was secretly curious about what kind of person the Eighth Prince was, that he was willing to help her brother and even bring him under his command.

She looked at Lin Qi and said softly, "Brother, over the years, while you were with the Eighth Prince, have you found any more clues about the cause of Mother's death?"

Lin Qi frowned slightly, about to speak, but then seemed to remember something. He looked warily at the door and windows of the private room and lowered his voice, saying, "Sister, this matter involves many things, so we must be careful. I will explain the details to you later. In short, don't worry, I will definitely get to the bottom of this and will never let Mother die unjustly."

The two siblings sat in a private room of the restaurant. The food on the table had long since gone cold, but they were completely unaware of it, still immersed in this rare reunion and conversation.

Lin Qi looked at Lin Ning with eyes full of satisfaction and said with a smile, "Little sister, I was sent by the Eighth Prince to the border to investigate some things some time ago. The situation there is not like our capital. It is complicated and there is often a risk of war. I was gone for quite a while and only recently returned. As soon as I came back, I heard a lot about you. Everyone said that you have become more and more intelligent and capable. It is also said that Mother's body has been safely sent to Grandfather's place."

Lin Ning blushed slightly and said reproachfully, "Brother, please stop teasing me. I've just grown up a bit."

Lin Qi gently shook his head and said earnestly, "Little sister, don't underestimate yourself. Back then, you suffered a lot of bullying in the manor. Every time I saw you being wronged, it broke my heart. But back then, my abilities were limited, and I couldn't protect you all the time. Now it's different. Hearing others praise you and seeing your beautiful, confident, and generous appearance, I'm truly happy and gratified. Knowing that you are now capable of protecting yourself, I can rest assured when I'm out handling things. I no longer have to worry about you all the time like before."

Lin Ning felt a warmth in her heart, and her eyes reddened slightly. She said, "Brother, no matter how I change, you will always be my closest person. I know you always care about me. But brother, you are working hard outside, so please take good care of yourself and don't make me worry."

Lin Qi nodded, then seemed to remember something, his expression turned serious. He looked at Lin Ning and said earnestly, "Little sister, there's something I have to remind you of. I've heard that you and Nangong Jin are getting quite close. You should be careful about that."

Lin Ning was taken aback, a little puzzled, and asked, "Brother, why do you say that? Nangong Jin is a very nice person."

Lin Qi frowned, his face full of worry, and said, "Little sister, you're still inexperienced in the ways of the world, and there are some things you can't see through. That Nangong Jin isn't as simple as he seems on the surface. He's a very sinister person, hiding many secrets, and his background is also shrouded in mystery. I've met many people in the years I've been out here, and someone like him is definitely not someone you can entrust your life to. If you get too close to him, what if you get implicated by him one day and fall into some danger?"

Lin Ning lowered her head, thought for a moment, and then said, "Brother, I know you are worried about me, but since I have promised to help him detoxify, I can't give up halfway. Besides, I think Nangong Jin has no ill intentions towards me. On the contrary, he has saved my life several times. I will repay his kindness and help him."

Seeing Lin Ning's insistence, Lin Qi grew even more anxious. He grasped Lin Ning's shoulders, looked into her eyes, and said solemnly, "Little sister, you're just too kind and easily deceived by appearances. You must take my words to heart. No matter what, keep your distance from him and don't get yourself into unnecessary trouble. Just think of it as doing this for my sake, okay?"

Looking at her brother's worried and earnest expression, Lin Ning had some different thoughts, but she couldn't bear to let him worry too much, so she nodded and said, "Brother, I understand, I will be more careful."

Lin Qi breathed a sigh of relief, but he still felt a little uneasy. He secretly decided that he must pay close attention to Nangong Jin's movements and never let his sister fall into any danger. Even if it was for his sister's happiness, he had to keep her away from this mysterious and evil Nangong Jin.