Jade of Another World

Lin Ning listened to her brother's wary words towards Nangong Jin and was filled with doubt. She really didn't understand why her brother had such a big prejudice against Nangong Jin. But before she could ask a few more questions, her thoughts were drawn back to the matter of her brother joining the Eighth Prince's entourage.

She frowned slightly, looking at Lin Qi with concern, and said softly, "Brother, you just said that you work under the Eighth Prince. I'm a little worried about you. As you know, the current emperor is very cunning, and everyone in the court is wary of him. The Eighth Prince is the emperor's only surviving brother. I heard that he went through many hardships to escape being killed, and now he lives in Yue Kingdom, far away from the troubles of the capital."

Seeing his sister's worried expression, Lin Qi wanted to comfort her, but before he could speak, Lin Ning continued, "Brother, I'm a little worried about you. You have to be careful whatever you do with the Eighth Prince. Although the Eighth Prince saved you, how can you ever repay such a debt? So don't put yourself in danger."

Lin Qi sighed softly, patted Lin Ning's shoulder, and said, "Sister, I understand your worries. I was really desperate back then. Those who wanted to harm us were closing in. If it weren't for the Eighth Prince's intervention, I'm afraid I would have lost my life long ago."

Lin Ning bit her lip and said, "Brother, I know you are doing this to repay the Prince for saving my life, but royal affairs are always very complicated. Everyone has their own schemes and plots, and one wrong step can lead to utter ruin. You must be careful in everything you do."

Lin Qi hesitated for a moment, looked around, and after confirming that no one was eavesdropping in the private room, he lowered his voice and said, "Sister, we are just secretly gathering some local information and the movements of officials in various places. Although we are far away in Yue Kingdom, we are still very concerned about the situation here. After all, as a prince, even if we are far away from the capital, we still care about the world."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ning felt even more strongly that this matter was not simple. After pondering for a moment, she said, "Brother, is the Eighth Prince collecting this information simply to learn about the political situation in the court? Don't be used by him. Although the prince saved you, who can truly know the thoughts of the royal family? What if he wants to use this information to plot something unfavorable? As someone working for him, you would be the first to bear the brunt and face great disaster."

Lin Qi frowned and said, "Sister, it's not that I haven't thought about these things, but the Eighth Prince has never asked me to do anything immoral or treacherous. He is also very helpful and has helped many people. For example, many of our brothers have been saved by him. The Prince is a great benefactor, and he hopes that the world can be peaceful and stable."

Lin Ning said with some doubt, "Brother, the brotherhood in the royal family is not as simple as you think. It has been said since ancient times that the imperial family is the most ruthless. Countless brothers have turned against each other and fought to the death for that supreme position. Brother, you should be careful in everything. If you need anything and it is inconvenient for you to come to the Prime Minister's residence to find me, you can leave a message for me at the pawnshop in the west of the city."

Seeing his sister's worried expression, Lin Qi was deeply moved. He knew she was concerned for him, so he nodded and said, "Sister, I've taken everything you've said to heart. I've been out here all these years, and I'm not the kind of person who's naive. I'm always careful in everything I do, so don't worry too much. I'll protect myself, and I'll definitely protect you. Once I find out what happened to Mother, I'll leave the Eighth Prince's side and return to the capital to reunite with you."

Lin Ning nodded slightly, but the worry in her heart wouldn't dissipate. She clearly remembered that in the original owner's past life, her brother was murdered, and in the end, she never saw him return to reunite with her in the capital. In this life, she hoped that she could protect her family in her place.

The atmosphere in the imperial court was already somewhat heavy due to numerous affairs, but now, an urgent report from the border arrived, causing the already tense atmosphere to plummet to freezing point. The soldier who delivered the report had rushed into the capital, his face showing exhaustion and anxiety. Upon entering the hall, he immediately knelt down and loudly reported: "Your Majesty, urgent report from the border! Recently, a large foreign army has been amassed and is aggressively advancing towards our border. The people on the border are in a state of panic. Although the soldiers are fighting valiantly, the enemy's advance is overwhelming, and the situation is extremely critical!"

Upon hearing this, the Emperor's expression immediately turned serious, his brows furrowed, and his hand unconsciously tightened its grip on the armrest of the dragon throne. The ministers also looked solemn, whispering among themselves, discussing countermeasures, but for the time being, no one could come up with a comprehensive solution.

Just then, Nangong Jin stepped forward. He was tall and imposing, with a resolute expression on his face. He stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead troops to the border to kill the enemy. I will do my utmost to repel the foreign invaders, protect the peace of our borders, and safeguard the people!"

The Emperor looked at Nangong Jin, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. He knew Nangong Jin was highly skilled in martial arts and very resourceful. Although he had been poisoned, the imperial physician said that he had recently recovered greatly with the help of Prime Minister Lin's eldest daughter. His most prized son's heroic spirit and decisiveness were in no way inferior to his own in his youth. He nodded slightly and said, "Nangong Jin, I know you have this loyalty and ability. Since you have volunteered, I grant your request. This expedition carries great responsibility, and you must not disappoint my expectations."

Nangong Jin hurriedly knelt down and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail in my mission!"

At this moment, Grand Tutor Liu stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I recommend a man who can accompany General Nangong on this journey. That man is my eldest son, Liu Jia. With him as his deputy, he will surely be able to lend General Nangong a helping hand and better repel the foreign enemies."

Liu Jia had been well-versed in military strategy and martial arts since childhood, and he and General Nangong had fought side by side on the battlefield since they were young. The two worked together seamlessly, making him a suitable candidate.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor pondered for a moment. The Liu family already held considerable prestige in the court, and Liu Jia was a young and promising man with a reputation for heroism. Having him assist Nangong Jin would indeed be a good arrangement. However… after a brief thought, he said, “Grand Tutor Liu’s recommendation is reasonable. I hereby appoint Liu Jia as my deputy general, to lead troops to the border alongside Nangong Jin. I hope the two of you will work together diligently and return victorious as soon as possible. I await your good news.”

Liu Jia stepped forward, knelt down, and thanked the emperor, saying, "Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty. I will do my utmost to assist General Nangong and fight bravely against the enemy. If I make any mistakes, I am willing to accept military punishment!"

Nangong Jin looked at Liu Jia, and the two smiled at each other. Their smiles contained both anticipation for fighting side by side and a heroic spirit of facing death without fear. The two had known each other since childhood and had gone through life-and-death trials on the battlefield. They knew each other's abilities well. Now, they were ordered to go to war together, their hearts filled with the ambition to protect their country and make great achievements.

After the court session, Nangong Jin and Liu Jia immediately began preparations for the expedition, organizing their troops, selecting fine horses and weapons, allocating provisions, and so on. All matters proceeded smoothly. Meanwhile, in the capital, people were discussing the expedition. Some admired the two men's bravery and heroism, while others worried about their ability to repel the foreign invaders. Regardless, this major battle concerning the safety of the nation's borders had begun, and everyone was watching with bated breath to see if Nangong Jin and Liu Jia could lead their army to victory.

In that courtyard, which was filled with a sense of tranquility and sorrow, Nangong Jin, dressed in military uniform for going to war, looked dashing yet could not hide the reluctance in his eyes. He walked with steady steps to find Lin Ning.

Lin Ning had been eagerly waiting in the courtyard. Upon seeing Nangong Jin, her eyes instantly reddened. The battlefield always evoked images of bloodshed and sacrifice; it was a battlefield where survival was extremely difficult, and swords had no eyes. She didn't know what to say. Seeing Lin Ning's state, Nangong Jin felt a pang of pity. He stepped forward, gently took her hand, and said with a smile, "Miss Lin, don't worry about me. I have complete confidence that we will defeat the enemy and return victorious." His voice was filled with unwavering determination and self-assurance, as if victory was already assured.

Lin Ning nodded slightly, but her heart was still filled with worries. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know where to begin. Deep down, she harbored a small expectation: she thought that Nangong Jin's visit today would bring him those affectionate and resolute words, telling her to wait patiently for his return, and that upon his return he would petition his father, the Emperor, to grant her marriage, allowing her to marry into his family in grand style. According to the novels she had read, now was practically the perfect time to confess, but…

Now, all the other young ladies in the Lin family mansion, except for the very young ones, are already married. She and Nangong Jin are engaged, and the time they've spent together has been like the warm spring sun, warming her heart. Nangong Jin's gaze is always full of affection, and he's always been very caring towards her. She can truly feel that Nangong Jin likes her, so why is it that at this moment of impending separation, he hasn't mentioned the engagement at all? This weighs heavily on Lin Ning's heart, filled with sadness and disappointment. Although Lin Ning isn't exactly determined to marry him, she feels that things should have progressed to this point. After all, she returned only to be a substitute bride, and then nothing happened—it feels strange. In the end, Nangong Jin didn't say anything, and Lin Ning didn't bring it up either. Perhaps he's waiting for a surprise upon his return. Fortunately, Lin Ning was a thoughtful person. She quickly composed herself, pulled Nangong Jin into the house, and pointed to the bottles and jars that had been prepared on the table, saying, "I know that you are going to the border and the battlefield is extremely dangerous. I can't help you much in any other way, so I specially prepared these for you."

As she spoke, she opened the package, inside which were neatly arranged small porcelain bottles. She picked up one and said, "This contains some antidote pills that I've recently developed. They're more effective than the previous ones, so remember to take them on time. And these are some commonly used medicines for treating external injuries, stopping bleeding, and relieving pain. Injuries are inevitable on the battlefield, and these will provide extra protection. Of course, these are just in case; I hope you won't need them."

Nangong Jin was deeply moved by Lin Ning's thoughtful preparations for him. He took the package, hugged it tightly, looked into Lin Ning's eyes, and said earnestly, "Miss Lin, thank you for your trouble. These things are very important to me. Don't worry, I will be careful and will not let you down."

Lin Ning lowered her head slightly and said softly, "As long as you're safe and sound, that's all that matters." "I... I'll wait for you to come back." She couldn't bring herself to say those words.

The two talked for a while in the courtyard, reminding each other to take good care of themselves. The sorrow of parting grew stronger in the air until Nangong Jin had to set off for the army's assembly point. Lin Ning stood at the courtyard gate, watching Nangong Jin's receding figure, and tears finally welled up in her eyes. She silently prayed in her heart that Nangong Jin would return safely.

On the frontier battlefield, a scene of smoke and fire filled the air. Gale-force winds swept across the yellow sand, raising clouds of dust from the hooves of horses and the footsteps of soldiers, making the already poorly visibly chaotic battlefield even more obscured and chaotic.

Nangong Jin led his army day and night to the border, intending to take advantage of the enemy's unstable foothold and catch them off guard. However, he did not expect that the invading enemy was well-prepared, with not only a strong army but also cunning tactics, leaving Nangong Jin and his men no chance to take advantage of the situation.

Upon entering the battlefield, Nangong Jin took the lead, wielding his spear with unparalleled speed and agility, leading his soldiers into the enemy ranks. Their momentum was like a dragon emerging from the sea, unstoppable. Liu Si was not to be outdone, closely cooperating from the side, directing the soldiers on the flanks to either encircle or launch surprise attacks. The two worked together seamlessly, throwing the enemy into disarray and forcing them into a retreat.

However, the enemy quickly regained their footing and readjusted their tactics. Utilizing their familiarity with the surrounding terrain, they laid numerous ambushes. Just as Nangong Jin's army entered a valley, the enemy surged out from all directions, unleashing a rain of arrows and deafening battle cries. Nangong Jin, while deflecting the arrows with his spear, shouted for his soldiers to remain calm and maintain their formation, but the enemy's offensive was too fierce, and his side still suffered considerable casualties.

As the battle progressed, both sides reached a stalemate. Nangong Jin and his forces launched numerous attacks, but each time they were stubbornly repelled by the enemy, while the enemy's attempts to break through their defenses were equally unsuccessful.

The prolonged battle left the soldiers exhausted, and the consumption of food supplies was increasing day by day. Although supplies from the rear were being transported in a steady stream, the transportation routes were long and often harassed and plundered by the enemy, making the food supply tight.

Looking at the horrific scene on the battlefield, Nangong Jin was filled with anxiety. He knew that continuing like this would be extremely disadvantageous, and he had to find a way to break the stalemate. So, he summoned his generals to the camp to discuss a new battle plan. Everyone offered their opinions, some suggesting a night raid on the enemy, others advising to divide the troops for a flanking maneuver. However, each plan carried considerable risk, and if implemented improperly, it could very well lead to the annihilation of the entire army.

Liu Si frowned, looking at the map, and said, "General Nangong, the current situation is really troublesome. The enemy obviously knows something about us and is targeting our tactics everywhere. It will be difficult to achieve a surprise victory."

Nangong Jin clenched his fists and said with a firm gaze, "No matter how difficult it is, we cannot back down. The people here are waiting for us to protect them. Our country's territory will not be allowed to be invaded by foreign enemies. Even if we have to fight to our last breath, we will drive back the enemy!"

Hearing Nangong Jin's words, the generals were all encouraged by his determination and expressed their willingness to stand with him. They immediately began to prepare new battle plans in full swing. However, this border war was still going on tensely and anxiously, and no one could predict which side the scales of victory would tip in.