Jade of Another World

At the birthday banquet, after several rounds of drinks and half of the dishes had been enjoyed, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively and joyful. At this moment, a clever maidservant stepped forward and softly reminded the old lady that it was time for everyone to perform for her birthday. The old lady's smile deepened, and she nodded slightly, indicating that they could begin.

First, Peng Yingchun, the eldest daughter of the Right Prime Minister's family, rose and gracefully moved to the hall. Holding a pipa, she gave a gentle bow and sat on the brocade stool that had been prepared beforehand, her jade fingers lightly plucking the strings. Instantly, the melodious sound of the pipa flowed through the hall like a gentle stream. The tune was melodious and seemed to be telling a beautiful blessing. Everyone listened intently, and when the piece ended, thunderous applause erupted.

"Miss Peng truly lives up to her reputation as the foremost pipa player in the capital; her playing is indeed melodious and captivating," the old lady praised.

Miss Peng has always had a good relationship with Lin Wan, partly because she likes Liu Si, the second son of the Liu family.

Afterwards, the two young masters of the Liu family, the eldest and second sons, demonstrated their exquisite swordsmanship. Their figures were agile, and their long swords gleamed coldly in the candlelight. The swordplay was so skillful and elegant that it made many of the ladies at the banquet blush and sigh with admiration.

Seeing this, Lin Wan was secretly delighted, thinking it was a perfect opportunity to embarrass Lin Ning. She moved closer to Lin Ning, feigning intimacy, and said, "Sister, it's Grandmother's birthday banquet today. I've heard you've learned quite a few skills over the years. Why don't you go up and perform for everyone?" Lin Ning knew exactly what she was thinking. In the countryside, where even survival was difficult, how could she possibly learn music, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, and dancing? She simply smiled faintly and didn't reply.

But Lin Wan was not about to give up so easily. She tugged at Lin Ning's sleeve and called out loudly in the direction of the old lady, "Grandmother, my sister must have prepared a wonderful program to celebrate your birthday today. Please give her a chance to show it off." The old lady looked at Lin Ning with a hint of expectation and said, "Ning'er, if that's the case, then you should also perform a program. Just do your best."

Lin Ning could easily see that the old lady was helping Lin Wan. The Crown Prince's arrival today had brought her immense honor, and she knew very well that this honor was brought by Lin Wan. Now, Lin Wan was clearly trying to embarrass Lin Ning. Even if Lin Ning had been raised in the countryside, or even if she had been raised in the Prime Minister's residence, the residence had never hired a tutor for her; how could she possibly possess any talent? This was simply to avoid offending Wan'er. The old lady gave Lin Ning a meaningful look. Lin Ning slowly rose, bowed, and gracefully walked into the hall.

"The wise prince has arrived! The princess has arrived!"

Everyone was surprised. This Prime Minister Lin was indeed no ordinary man. If the Crown Prince had come for Lin Wan, then the Prince Xian was known to be the most averse to making friends. Since his injury, he had almost never shown his face, and it was difficult to see him. Although everyone had heard that he was engaged to the Lin family, the Prince Xian never gave face to anyone, so it was unlikely that he would be swayed by the marriage arranged by the old prince. After all, the eldest daughter of the Lin family was raised in the countryside. Although the Prince Xian was injured, Nangong Jin had always been seen as a superior being, seemingly standing on a cloud, born with endless love and supreme honor. He was handsome, dashing, and had an extraordinary demeanor. Even though he was injured, countless women in the capital still secretly admired him. However, it was said that he had an extremely strange personality, especially towards women, and was ruthless in destroying them. Once, an official's daughter tried to sleep with him, and it was said that he dismembered her in the wilderness. This caused many women to stay away from him. But, after all, he was a prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and a war god prince. How could he possibly marry that woman? Everyone was thinking the same thing.

Indeed, Nangong Jin was exceptionally talented. Had he not been injured, he would have been the chosen one. As a member of the royal family, Nangong Jin was endowed with a status and position that was unattainable for others from the moment he was born. The palace, with its carved beams and painted rafters, and its magnificent golden splendor, was the backdrop to his growth. Every inch of the land seemed to tell of the majesty and glory of the royal family, and Nangong Jin was like a born protagonist in this world of glory.

From a young age, he was the most beloved child, surrounded by the best tutors in the palace, who patiently taught him classics, history, philosophy, literature, and the art of governance. While other children were still learning to read, he could already recite obscure ancient texts fluently and speak eloquently, his words revealing his intelligence and wisdom, often drawing praise and admiration from his tutors.

In terms of etiquette, every move exudes royal elegance. When walking, their posture is upright like a pine tree, their steps steady and orderly; when bowing, their movements are graceful and refined, displaying both nobility and humility. Even a simple exchange of glances carries an innate confidence and composure, leaving no room for disrespect.

Amidst the adoration and flattery of the crowd, Nangong Jin remained unaffected by his high position. He was well aware of the responsibilities that came with this honor, so at a young age he began to diligently study military strategy, spending hours at a time studying the sand table, his small fingers tracing troop formations on the map, his innocent face filled with serious and focused expression.

While the other princes were still playing and frolicking in the palace, Nangong Jin was already accompanying the veteran generals of the court to the military camps to witness real military drills. Standing among the soldiers, his figure was still somewhat immature, but his imposing presence was in no way inferior to the others. The soldiers were initially suspicious of this young prince, but after seeing the enthusiasm for military affairs in his eyes and his extraordinary insights, they gradually came to admire him.

As he grew older, Nangong Jin increasingly displayed his extraordinary talent. His horsemanship and archery skills were unmatched among the royal princes. Galloping across the royal hunting grounds, his arrows never missed, and he consistently reaped the most prey. After each hunt, the emperor's gaze towards him was filled with satisfaction and pride, while the other princes, though envious and jealous, could only secretly marvel at Nangong Jin's truly exceptional talent and extraordinary birth.

Growing up in such an environment where everyone was superior, Nangong Jin did not become arrogant or domineering. Instead, he transformed all of this into the driving force to protect his country and benefit the people, destined to leave a profound mark on this world. However, this outstanding man was seriously wounded in the border war last year. It seemed that his injury was very serious, and the emperor had no choice but to make Consort Xi's eldest son, Nangong Chen, the crown prince. The Prince Xian and Princess Nangong Ruoli, riding in a specially made sedan chair, spoke amidst the kneeling of the crowd.

"Since it is the birthday of an elder in the Lin family, there is no need to be reserved. Let's continue."

"Yes"

"Your Highness, we were just talking about my elder sister's performance for everyone," Lin Wan said respectfully, her face beaming. Her favorite was Nangong Jin, but he was injured and lost his right to seize power. Even if he was outstanding, handsome, and radiant, she couldn't give him the power she wanted, the supreme power she craved. She would still give him up. Although she gave him up, it was still a pity; such a handsome face. As for his bad personality, she knew it wasn't true. After all, those rumors were spread by her years ago to eliminate dissidents.

"Oh?" Nangong Jin seemed to understand. "Your sister? Aren't you the eldest daughter of the Lin family?" Nangong Jin looked her up and down, making her feel somewhat uneasy.

"Your Highness, I am indeed not. My elder sister, Lin Ning, is the eldest daughter of the Lin family," Lin Wan replied.

"Is that so? I've never heard of you having an elder sister in the capital. The timing of her appearance is also quite interesting, Your Highness. Are you aware of this?"

"I just heard it from the old lady."

"Oh? So you've accepted it?"

"Your Highness, my daughter Lin Ning is the daughter of my wife Ning Yuhuan. Her name is taken from my surname and her given name. After my wife passed away, my daughter was greatly affected and was sent to the estate to recuperate. She has only recently returned to the capital. It is my mother's birthday, so I let her come out to see the world," Prime Minister Lin hurriedly explained. He was very afraid of this stern-faced man.

"I didn't realize how deeply the Prime Minister and his late wife loved each other. I will ask my father to posthumously confer an imperial title upon his late wife to thank her for helping the Great Zhou produce such an outstanding Prime Minister," the Prince said cryptically, glancing at Consort Liu, who was sitting in the position of the head mistress, her face contorted with embarrassment.

I like this wise prince's way of doing things; it suits my temperament perfectly. Lin Ning thought to herself.

"Thank you for your kind words, Your Highness," Prime Minister Lin said humbly, bowing slightly.

"Alright, let's continue." "Who's going to perform?"

"My eldest daughter, Lin Ning"

“It’s no fun for her to act alone. Your daughter is an illegitimate child now, right? Wouldn’t it be better to have Lin Wan perform as well? It would make things more lively,” Princess Nangong Ruoli said with a smile.

Nangong Ruoli is the only princess born into the royal family. Her lovely and generous temperament and innocent nature make her seem like a warm and bright ray of sunshine in the eyes of everyone.

She grew up in the imperial palace surrounded by vermilion walls and yellow tiles, surrounded by endless luxury and nobility. She had a round face, and when she smiled, two shallow dimples appeared on her cheeks, as if filled with honey, sweet enough to melt anyone's heart. Her large eyes were always bright and sparkling, as if they held a thousand stars, revealing a curiosity and love for all things in the world.

Nangong Ruoli had a great passion for martial arts. Therefore, among her many brothers, she loved to pester Nangong Jin the most, as his martial arts skills were the highest among the princes. While other princesses were engrossed in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, or adored with silks, satins, and jewelry, she was preoccupied with swords, spears, and halberds. Her palace was filled with all sorts of weapons, each polished to a gleaming shine. She could often be seen dressed in light, practical clothing, her hair tied in a neat ponytail, diligently practicing in the palace's training grounds. Although she studied with the palace martial arts masters, earnest and focused, she seemed to lack talent, always missing the mark. In addition, she couldn't stand the women from the royal families and ministers' families. They were all weak and frail or scheming. She found this very repulsive and felt that talking badly about others behind their backs and doing bad things behind their backs was not the way of a master or a gentleman. She despised this. Therefore, she disliked Lin Wan the most because she found that wherever Lin Wan was, there were cliques, bullying, and scheming.

So when Lin Wan said those words, she wanted to say them too.

“Since the princess has said so, Wan’er, why don’t you and your elder sister perform a show together?” Lin Xiang said to Lin Wan.

"Yes, Father." In front of outsiders, Lin Wan always pretended to be extremely gentle, filial, and understanding.

"Then I'll perform a 'Rainbow Dance'," Lin Wan said with a smile. "This humble woman will go change first."

"And you? What are you performing?" the princess asked Lin Ning.

Lin Ning had already made her plans. Today, she would show everyone that she was no pushover. She took out a jade flute from her sleeve. The flute was smooth and lustrous, radiating a soft glow in the candlelight.

"The music that this commoner girl provided for her sister's dance," Lin Ning said.

Lin Wan came to the stage with a worried expression. She was concerned that Lin Ning's poor performance would affect her and make her lose focus. At this moment, Lin Ning gently placed the jade flute to her lips and began to play softly.

In an instant, the clear and melodious sound of a flute drifted out, initially like a gentle spring breeze, softly caressing everyone's hearts, making them feel as if they were in a sea of ​​blooming flowers, completely captivated. Then, the flute music gradually turned melodious, like a soaring wild goose, carrying endless emotions, flying high in the sky. Everyone was attracted by this beautiful flute music, even Lin Wan, who had originally wanted to see Lin Ning make a fool of herself, couldn't help but be stunned, a hint of surprise and resentment showing in her eyes, almost unable to keep up with the rhythm.

As the music ended, the entire hall was silent for a moment, then erupted in thunderous applause and cheers. The old lady also showed a rare satisfied smile, nodding and praising, "Ning'er played the flute very well; you truly put your heart into it." "Wan'er's Rainbow Dance was also excellent; Grandmother was very pleased." Lin Ning slightly curtsied, her expression indifferent as she prepared to leave the stage, while Lin Wan bit her lip, secretly seething with hatred. She hadn't expected Lin Ning to actually possess such skill, which had thwarted her plans. Her burning hatred seemed impossible to conceal; she pretended to stumble and lunge at Lin Ning, grabbing Lin Ning's veil and tearing it off.

When the thin veil was pulled off, Lin Ning's stunningly beautiful face was like the rising sun breaking through the clouds at dawn, instantly captivating everyone's attention.

Her skin was as white as snow, as delicate and smooth as mutton fat jade, gleaming softly in the moonlight, as if one could squeeze water out of it with a gentle touch. Her smooth forehead was full and round, with a few wisps of hair falling playfully down, adding to her lively charm.

Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, slender and slightly upturned, like willow leaves swaying in the spring breeze, yet carrying a unique air of heroism. With each change in her expression, whether she frowned or smiled, it seemed to tell a silent story.

Her eyes, like deep, dark pools or dazzling stars, were a clear, pure black, as if holding an entire mysterious night sky. When she looked up and gazed, her eyes seemed to ripple with the gentle flow of autumn water, captivating the soul with just a glance, drawing one in irresistibly. Her nose was straight and delicate, perfectly positioned in the center of her face, adding a touch of three-dimensionality and making her features even more harmonious and refined.

Then look at those cherry-like lips, their color rosy and luscious, like delicate flower petals in spring. When slightly pouting, they exude a charming and adorable cuteness; when they part their lips slightly, they sound like melodious musical notes, making one want to look at them a few more times. The curve of their lips is beautiful and moving; when the corners of their mouths turn up slightly, their smile seems to dispel all the gloom in the world, carrying a magical power that makes people feel as if they are bathed in a spring breeze.

Her cheeks were a light pink, like the gentle blush of clouds on the horizon. The natural blush added a touch of shy girlish charm to her face, making her even more stunning.

Lin Ning's face, hidden beneath the veil, was like a work of art meticulously sculpted by heaven, breathtakingly beautiful yet retaining a pure and lively charm. Anyone who saw her would be deeply impressed by her beauty, unable to forget it. Lin Wan stared at Lin Ning in disbelief, feeling an urge to tear her apart. The last time she saw this bitch, she was dark-skinned and covered in chilblains; today, they had all miraculously disappeared. "Fine, Lin Ning, it seems I underestimated you. Your skills have indeed grown, your cunning so deep. Since that's the case, I won't hold back. I'll kill you!" This sudden blow brought out all of Lin Wan's darker side; she almost lost control of her expression. Lin Ning, seeing Nangong Jin and the Crown Prince both staring at her, her intensely distorted expression was almost uncontrollable, and she felt an immense sense of satisfaction.

Lin Ning thought to herself, "Do you think our war has only just begun? No, the war began when you sent the original owner's body to the manor, when you kept harming her, when you sacrificed her for your own selfish interests, when you stepped into this cold home, and when you repeatedly destroyed everything Lin Ning had. This war is Zhang Yin's war for Lin Ning."