Jade of Another World

Lin Ning returned to the Prime Minister's residence. Although she stayed in the smallest and most secluded room, looking at her maid, Xiao Cui, she was still filled with mixed emotions. This place had once been both familiar and strange in the original owner's memories. Now, facing it again, she felt as if she were in a dream, and she deeply sympathized with the original owner's tragic fate.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door; Granny Wang had arrived.

When Granny Wang saw Lin Ning, a hint of disgust flashed in her eyes, but she quickly regained her indifference.

"Young Miss, Grandpa wants you to come over." Her voice was devoid of any warmth.

Lin Ning stepped into the courtyard of the mansion with slightly heavy steps. Everything before her was still ornately decorated and magnificent, yet it felt so ironic to her. The saying "The rich are often cold-hearted" was certainly true. The servants in the mansion whispered among themselves, their gazes like needles piercing Lin Ning. Those gazes contained curiosity, disdain, and malicious speculation.

She walked through the courtyard, passing the garden where she used to play. The flowers still bloomed, but to her they looked like a group of menacing monsters. The laughter and joy that once filled the garden had long since been swept away by time, leaving only a desolate memory.

Upon entering the main hall, Lin Xiang, the father, sat in the main seat. His eyes flickered slightly when he saw Lin Ning, but this was quickly concealed by his imposing presence.

"You're back."

Lin Xiang's voice was low and hoarse, devoid of any emotion.

Lin Ning curtsied slightly, "Father."

Those two simple words seemed to have exhausted all her strength.

Zhang Yin thought to herself, "This father is really terrible. He leaves his child out there unattended, yet he's here acting all high and mighty." Her stepmother sat to the side, a faint, mocking smile playing on her lips, her eyes full of calculation. Her half-sister, beside her, desperately tried to conceal her dagger-like gaze as she looked at Lin Ning, seemingly declaring this her territory while simultaneously seeking a good reputation and avoiding accusations of mistreating her elder sister. Lin Ning knew that a war without gunpowder awaited her here, but she wasn't one to be bullied. She, Zhang Yin, was a modern medical PhD with a resilient heart and countless methods of killing (she was an avid Conan fan, having watched the series dozens of times). Dealing with a few mere ancient green tea bitches would be a piece of cake. She clenched her fists, preparing to unleash a powerful attack for Lin Ning.

Inside the main hall of the Lin family mansion, the atmosphere was as oppressive as the sky before a storm. Lin Ning stood in the center, with her father, Lin Xiang, in the main seat, followed by her stepmother, the second wife Qu Fengxi, and her half-sisters. As her stepmother's lips curled into a smug yet sinister smile, and her eyes pierced Lin Ning like knives, Lin Xiang said, "Lin Ning, now there is a great opportunity. You cannot let the family down."

A sense of foreboding welled up in Lin Ning's heart. She pursed her lips tightly, remained silent, and simply looked at her stepmother quietly.

The stepmother said, "His Highness the Prince's marriage to our family is a pre-arranged agreement, a great honor. As the eldest daughter, it is time for you to fulfill your duties to the family. You must set a good example for your younger sisters."

Lin Ning's eyes widened, never expecting her stepmother to speak so eloquently. Hadn't her half-sister already been having an affair with the Crown Prince? Was this what she was thinking now?

It is said that although the wise prince was a renowned military commander, he was also eccentric and exceptionally cruel. Furthermore, he had been seriously wounded while leading troops in battle against foreign enemies the previous year, and was said to be unable to walk. It seems that if it were a good thing, they wouldn't have summoned her back. It appears that they only brought her back to marry him because they saw he wasn't of sufficient use and dared not offend him.

Lin Xiang sat to the side, his brows slightly furrowed, but he didn't object. His silence seemed like tacit approval of his stepmother. Lin Ning looked at her father, weighing the pros and cons in her mind. This family would naturally not give her anything good, so why suffer here? Even if the Prince Xian was disregarded, he was still a prince and had some power. Judging from the situation, it was someone else who came to propose marriage, and they didn't dare to utter a sound. She knew that in this world, the greater the power, the more say one had. But she was Zhang Yin. How could she let those people have their way so easily? If she readily satisfied their demands, they would become even more arrogant.

A wicked glint flashed in Lin Ning's eyes. She said, "I won't agree!" Then, Lin Ning slowly continued, "Although I am the eldest daughter of the legitimate wife, it seems the Prince Xian wants to marry my half-sister, Lin Wan." Her stepmother's expression changed. She stood up and said sharply, "Who told you that? Hmph, you're a maid of this Prime Minister's residence. The Prime Minister's residence raised you, and you heartless wretch! Now you're unwilling to do anything for the family? Your sister, Lin Wan, how can she marry the crippled prince..."

Before she could finish speaking, Lin Wan covered her mouth. Stepmother Liu Yurou was indeed not very clever. The reason Prime Minister Lin promoted her, a mere concubine, to be the head of the household was because her cousin was an imperial concubine in the palace. Although not the most favored, she was still quite prominent. Therefore, the Liu family received special treatment. This led Prime Minister Lin, who initially rebelled because of her beauty, to marry her after she became pregnant. He then favored the concubine over his wife, forcing Lin Ning's birth mother to her death, thus allowing his stepmother to smoothly take over the household. She also gave birth to twins for Prime Minister Lin. Her half-sister, Lin Wan, received far better treatment than even the eldest daughter of a wealthy family in the capital. Lin Ning, on the other hand, seemed to be treated worse than even the well-treated servants. Lin Jun, the son of Concubine Liu, was being groomed as the successor of the Prime Minister's household. It was only her birth mother who suffered, needlessly contributing her immense dowry to the Prime Minister's household, which became more leverage to harm her children. Now that his brother has also disappeared, he is about to be tormented and exploited again.

"No..." Before Lin Ning could speak, the butler called out, "The Old Madam has arrived."

The matriarch of the Lin family mansion, seemingly kind and benevolent, is actually extremely selfish and cunning. She has always valued male offspring, and within the Lin family mansion, she has been subtly plotting to make everyone dedicate themselves to the male members of the family. Everyone's value lies in contributing to the family and securing better opportunities for the male members in officialdom.

The old lady knew that the marriage to the Prince Xian was neither something that could be called off nor something she dared to call off. Lin Wan was to marry the Crown Prince to bring glory to the family, becoming his consort. When the Crown Prince ascended the throne, the Lin family would enjoy unparalleled honor. After all, they had invested heavily in Lin Wan over the years, cultivating her into a beautiful and refined woman, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, possessing exceptional beauty and grace. This investment couldn't be wasted. The family's honor and continuation depended on marriage alliances and checks and balances among various forces. She had her own considerations regarding the marriage to the Prince Xian from the beginning. Although the second branch also had two daughters born to concubines, the Prince Xian was prone to rage, which might affect Prime Minister Lin's work in court. In her eyes, although Lin Ning was the legitimate daughter, she had spent many years in the countryside and would have the least impact on the family's power struggles. If Lin Ning were to marry the Prince Xian, it would satisfy the Prince Xian's need for a marriage alliance, stabilize this potential political force, and ensure that the bride is a true legitimate daughter. Lin Ning's personality is also extremely easy to control. At the same time, it would not sacrifice her truly beloved granddaughters. Those granddaughters who grew up by her side and are closely connected with the core interests of the family would all have their uses.

Furthermore, the old lady had always harbored resentment towards Lin Ning's mother. She felt that Lin Ning's mother was merely from a merchant family, and if it weren't for the need to manage her son's business ventures, she would never have agreed to the marriage. Therefore, even after Lin Ning's mother passed away, this resentment continued towards Lin Ning. She also saw Lin Ning as an easily manipulated pawn, someone who could be sacrificed at will to secure greater benefits for the family.

After the old lady sat down, she spoke first.

“It’s good that Ning’er has returned. She has returned at the right time. It is said that the Prince Xian is injured, but he was injured while resisting foreign enemies. He is respected by the people. Moreover, he is His Majesty’s most beloved son. Where can you find such a marriage? Although your father is the prime minister in the court, we are nothing but ants compared with the royal family and nobles. Ning’er, please put the big picture first.”

The old lady is the authority in the household. She makes decisions for the family, and even Prime Minister Lin would listen to her opinions. She is secretly pushing this matter, solely to achieve her own unspeakable selfish desires.

“Grandmother is right.” Lin Ning said unhurriedly, “However… I have lived in the countryside for many years, away from the capital. Almost no one in the capital knows me. Everyone thinks my half-sister is the legitimate daughter.” They themselves claim to be the eldest legitimate daughter, so she must be exposed for what she truly is. “If the Prince Xian truly intends to marry my half-sister, this charade of a fake legitimate daughter would be a grave crime of deceiving the Emperor.”

"You're talking nonsense!" Before Lin Ning could finish speaking, her stepmother, Liu, shouted.

Lin Ning knew that Lady Liu was utterly foolish. After speaking, she paid no attention to Lady Liu and simply watched Prime Minister Lin and the Old Madam quietly. Judging from their expressions, she knew she had guessed correctly; Prime Minister Lin and the Old Madam were also worried about this matter. After all, serving a ruler was like walking on thin ice. The slightest mistake could lead to utter ruin.

It was the old lady who spoke first, "So what do you mean?"

"What I mean is, of course, that my half-sister should marry him. After all, everyone thinks she's the legitimate daughter, and she has extremely high prestige in the capital. Whether I become the legitimate daughter or not doesn't matter... anyway... the Prince Xian will be very satisfied," Lin Ning said with a smile. (No matter what kind of daughter she is, I don't want to be one, I only want to be a young father.)

"Are you crazy?" Before anyone could speak, Aunt Liu shouted again, "Your sister and the Crown Prince..."

"Mother," Lin Wan interrupted Aunt Liu. Even if Aunt Liu hadn't said it, Lin Ning knew that Lin Wan had climbed up the Crown Prince's coattails.

“Sister is right. This matter has far-reaching implications, and we should consider it carefully,” Lin Wan said gently, looking at Aunt Liu. Aunt Liu then fell silent.

Prime Minister Lin and the old lady exchanged a glance without saying anything. They tacitly noticed something amiss. Previously, Lin Ning had been the weakest child in the family, almost invisible, and even afraid to contradict the servants. Now, however, she was so clear-headed, articulate, and adept at analyzing pros and cons—a complete change from her previous self. This greatly surprised Prime Minister Lin and the old lady.

“Wan’er is right. There’s still time. Let’s discuss this further. Let’s not bring it up today. The old lady’s birthday is at the end of the month. This year’s celebration should be even more grand than in previous years. We should invite all the guests we can.” Prime Minister Lin said.

"It's just in time that Ning'er is back. We'll let everyone meet the eldest daughter of the Lin family then," the old lady said, her expression gentle.

"Yes, Father, Grandmother." Lin Ning bowed respectfully. She was nothing like the country bumpkin they had imagined. Every smile and gesture was polite and courteous. If it weren't for her dark complexion and hands covered in chilblains, one would truly believe she was a distinguished young lady from the prestigious Jingji family. "If there's nothing else, I'll head back now."

"Go ahead," Lin Xiang and the old lady waved their hands.