Jade of Another World

After returning to the manor, Lin Ning went straight to the room where Peng Yingchun was. As soon as he entered the room, he saw Peng Yingchun sitting on the edge of the bed, looking somewhat melancholy, as if she was thinking about something.

Lin Ning sat down on the edge of the bed and asked with concern, "Yingchun, what's wrong? You seem to have something on your mind."

Peng Yingchun bit her lip slightly, looked up at Lin Ning, and slowly said, "Lin Ning, I want to go back home to recuperate. While I'm here, Young Master Liu is always worried about me and comes to take care of me every few days. You also have to come and keep me company often. I feel really bad about it, like I'm causing you all too much trouble. Besides, I miss my family very much." Lin Ning quickly grasped Peng Yingchun's hand and said, "Yingchun, what are you saying? Between us sisters, there's no such thing as trouble. You're not fully recovered yet, why are you suddenly thinking of going home?"

Peng Yingchun sighed softly and continued, "Look, now that the Crown Prince has been stripped of his title, although some of his forces still remain, they don't dare to act too openly anymore. I think if I secretly go home to recuperate, I shouldn't be noticed. Besides, judging from the matter of the Heavenly Mandate Saintess, the Crown Prince is actually thinking about that Saintess. In his heart, I may already be dead, so it should be safe for me to go home."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ning frowned slightly, her face showing worry. She said, "That's true, but there are still risks. What if the Crown Prince's men find out and take you back to the Demon Cave? I'm really worried about you."

Peng Yingchun gently patted Lin Ning's hand and comforted her, "Don't worry too much. I'll be careful. I can't keep troubling you all here. My family will take care of me when I get home, and I'll take my medicine on time to recover as soon as possible."

Lin Ning felt it wasn't appropriate for her to decide Peng Yingchun's need to go home to recuperate alone, especially since it was Young Master Liu who arranged for her to stay. So she hurried to find Liu Si to discuss it. She searched the estate thoroughly and finally found Liu Si in the pavilion in the garden. Liu Si was standing there, seemingly lost in thought, his brows slightly furrowed, looking deeply troubled.

Lin Ning stepped forward and told Liu Si in detail about Peng Yingchun's desire to return home to recuperate. Then, with a worried expression, she said, "Young Master Liu, Yingchun is determined to go back. Do you think this is feasible?" Liu Si was taken aback at first, then lowered his head and pondered for a while before slowly saying, "Miss Lin, I think this method is also feasible. Look at Yingchun's current state. She keeps me at arm's length. Every time I visit her, although she doesn't say anything, her expression and attitude clearly show that she feels uncomfortable. Perhaps she is always carrying a heavy burden in her heart while she is in this manor, unable to recuperate in peace."

Lin Ning sighed softly and replied, "Yes, I noticed that too. She's just too preoccupied. She always feels that she'll cause trouble for us if she stays here, and she's afraid of implicating everyone, so she's thinking of going back home. But I'm worried that if she goes back and is discovered by the Crown Prince's men, it will be dangerous."

Liu Si frowned slightly, a hint of worry in his eyes, and said, "Miss Lin's concerns are not without merit; such a risk does exist. However, as Miss Yingchun said, now that the Crown Prince has been stripped of his title, his factions dare not be too arrogant. As long as Miss Yingchun is careful enough and returns quietly without attracting attention, there shouldn't be any major problems. Moreover, we can arrange some reliable people to protect her secretly, which will provide more security."

Lin Ning listened to Liu Si's words and felt that they made some sense. He nodded slightly and said, "Young Master Liu is right."

Lin Ning, Liu Si, and Peng Yingchun sat together, their faces grave as they discussed how to safely send Yingchun back to the Peng family. Lin Ning, with a determined look in his eyes, spoke first: "I think we can use a deceptive strategy. We can first make proper contact with the Peng family, and then find an opportunity to secretly send Yingchun back. However, all of this depends on obtaining the cooperation of your uncle and aunt."

Liu Si nodded slightly in agreement: "Miss Lin's plan is excellent, but we must be cautious about contacting the Peng family."

Lin Ning looked at Yingchun and said, "Yingchun, I saved you before, and your parents should feel some gratitude and trust towards me. I plan to visit them first and explain our plan in detail. I believe they will understand and support us."

With tears in her eyes, Peng Yingchun said gratefully, "Lin Ning, if it weren't for you, I really wouldn't know what to do. But wouldn't this put you at risk?"

Lin Ning gently held Yingchun's hand: "Yingchun, we're sisters, there's no need for such formalities. Your safety is the most important thing right now."

Liu Si also chimed in, "Miss Lin is so righteous, Yingchun, please don't refuse anymore. I will arrange for some people to protect Miss Lin in secret to ensure her safety."

After hesitating for a long time, Peng Yingchun finally nodded: "Then I'll have to trouble you. Please be careful."

Lin Ning smiled slightly: "Don't worry, I will be careful. After I discuss it with my uncle and aunt, we will proceed according to plan."

After saying that, Lin Ning got up and began to prepare for her trip to the Peng family.

When Lin Ning arrived at the Peng family home, she met the two elders. Seeing their earnest yet worried faces, she felt a pang of sadness and quickly explained Peng Yingchun's current situation in detail.

Upon hearing of the many hardships their daughter had endured, the Peng family elders were first stunned, then tears streamed down their faces uncontrollably. Old Master Peng clenched his fists tightly, his face filled with heartache and self-reproach, his voice trembling as he said, "No matter what, we must bring our daughter back. We were truly blind to have betrothed her to that prince. Who knew he would be such an unreliable person, causing my daughter to suffer so much?"

Old Madam Peng wept bitterly, wiping away her tears as she cried out, "My poor Yingchun, how wronged and suffering she must have been! My heart feels like it's being stabbed with a knife."

Lin Ning, watching from the side, also had tears welling up in her eyes. She quickly comforted her, "Uncle and Aunt, please don't cry. The most important thing right now is to find a way to bring Yingchun back safely. I came here today to discuss this matter with you. We already have a plan to cover things up. As long as we cooperate well, Yingchun will definitely be able to return home safely."

Upon hearing this, Old Peng gradually stopped crying. He wiped the tears from his face, his expression turned serious, and a resolute look appeared in his eyes. He said, "Miss Lin, don't worry. Although I am not as powerful as before, I still have some capable people on my side. As long as Yingchun can come back, I will protect her even if it costs me my old life. I will never let that prince find her again and put her in danger."

The Peng family elders looked at Lin Ning with gratitude in their eyes. Madam Peng held Lin Ning's hand and said, "Miss Lin, we owe you so much. If it weren't for you, we would still be in the dark, and Yingchun would have suffered so much outside. It is truly a blessing for Yingchun to have such a good friend as you. We, the old couple, do not know how to thank you enough."

Lin Ning quickly said, "Uncle and Aunt, you are too kind. Yingchun and I are like sisters, and this is what I should do. Our most important task now is to proceed according to plan and bring Yingchun back as soon as possible so that she can rest and recuperate at home."

The two elders of the Peng family nodded repeatedly, and then discussed the plan to deceive everyone with Lin Ning. They did not overlook any detail, hoping that everything would go smoothly and that they could successfully bring Peng Yingchun back to their warm home.

Lin Ning looked at the Peng family elders, his expression solemn yet clear, and slowly explained his plan. The Peng family elders listened attentively, nodding occasionally.

Lin Ning continued, "After we return to the manor, tomorrow night we'll have Yingchun disguise herself as my head maid and pretend to accompany me to the Peng residence to deliver medicine. To outsiders, we'll announce that the old lady of the Peng residence is ill, and that I'm here to see her today and deliver the medicine tomorrow. That way, others will find it reasonable and won't suspect anything."

Old Peng frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Miss Lin's plan is indeed thorough, but there are many steps involved, and a slight mistake could cause trouble. The disguised maid must be clever and not give herself away. Also, we must not neglect safety along the way."

Lin Ning replied, "Uncle, rest assured, the maids I selected are all clever, intelligent, and loyal, ensuring that nothing goes wrong."

Madam Peng wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and said, "I hope everything goes smoothly and that my son can return safely. Miss Lin, we are counting on you for this."

Lin Ning comforted her, "Auntie, don't worry. If we work together, we will definitely succeed."

That night, the moonlight was dim, as if concealing the secret operation. Following Lin Ning's meticulously planned scheme, every step proceeded smoothly and methodically in the shadows; everything went without a single mishap.

At this crucial moment, Lin Ning, accompanied by Yingchun disguised as a maid, headed towards the Peng residence. Although both tried their best to remain calm, their hearts were pounding like rabbits, for the consequences of being discovered would be unimaginable.

Just as they were about to step through the gates of the Peng residence, they unexpectedly encountered a patrol of soldiers. The soldiers, carrying torches, illuminated the surroundings brightly. The leader, with sharp eyes, sized Lin Ning and Yingchun up and down, and shouted, "Halt! Who are you? What are you doing at the Peng residence so late?"

Yingchun, who habitually hid, was immediately terrified, her face turning deathly pale. Her body trembled uncontrollably, and she clung tightly to Lin Ning's clothes, barely daring to breathe.

Lin Ning's heart tightened, but she quickly forced herself to calm down, put on a perfectly measured smile, and curtsied gracefully, saying, "Sir, we are doctors invited by the Peng family. I am Lin Ning from the Lin family. The old lady of the Peng family is not feeling well today, and the doctor's maid came to ask me to come and take a look."

The leading soldier frowned, looked at them suspiciously, and asked again, "Do you have any proof?"

Lin Ning remained calm, took out the token from the Peng family that he had prepared beforehand, handed it over, and said, "Sir, this is a letter from the Peng family. Please take a look."

The soldier took the token, examined it carefully, and then glanced at Lin Ning and Ying Chun. Seeing that the two looked natural and didn't seem to have any problems, he returned the token, waved his hand, and said, "Alright, go in."

Lin Ning quickly responded, pulled Yingchun along, and hurried into the Peng residence. Once inside the gate and making sure the soldiers were out of sight, the two breathed a sigh of relief. Yingchun said with lingering fear, "I was so scared just now. If you hadn't handled it so calmly, I don't know what I would have done."

Lin Ning patted Yingchun's hand and said with a smile, "Alright, we're finally safe now. Let's go inside quickly; your aunt and uncle are still waiting."

After saying that, the two walked towards the inner courtyard, where the two elders of the Peng family had been waiting for a long time. Every minute and every second of waiting was extremely agonizing for them. They hoped that their daughter would return safely soon, but they were also worried that something might happen.

Finally, the moment they saw Lin Ning lead the disguised Yingchun into the courtyard, the two elders' eyes instantly reddened, and tears streamed down their faces. Old Madam Peng rushed forward and tightly embraced Yingchun, repeatedly murmuring, "My child, I've finally waited for you to come back! I thought... I thought I'd never see you again!" Her voice was filled with the joy of reunion, mixed with endless heartache.

Old Peng, standing to the side, was also in tears. He reached out his slightly trembling hand and gently stroked Yingchun's hair, his eyes full of love and tenderness. He choked up and said, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back, my dear daughter, you've suffered so much."