Jade of Another World

After the thrilling struggle for the throne, Nangong Jin finally succeeded in ascending the throne and becoming the new emperor. He knew that the Great Yu, which had just experienced turmoil, needed to recuperate, appease the people, and stabilize the court.

Therefore, after ascending the throne, Nangong Jin's first decree was to grant a general amnesty. Upon this decree, the entire Dayu region rejoiced, and the people praised the new emperor's benevolence and magnanimity, filled with anticipation for the future.

As for the many officials who had previously turned against him during the struggle for the throne and swore allegiance, Nangong Jin also demonstrated his magnanimity and wisdom. He carefully reviewed the case of each official, pardoning minor offenses and lightly punishing major ones, as if all past disputes had vanished with the decree of a general amnesty.

Furthermore, based on the officials' performance in subsequent events and their own abilities, Nangong Jin commended them one by one. Some officials were entrusted with important responsibilities and sent to local areas to govern the people's livelihood, hoping that they could redeem themselves and benefit the local people; others were promoted in the court and entered the core decision-making level to assist Nangong Jin in handling national affairs and jointly devise strategies for the prosperity of Dayu.

These officials, who had initially been apprehensive, fearing retribution from Nangong Jin, were now deeply grateful for his pardon and praise, and their loyalty to him only grew stronger. In court, they actively offered advice and worked diligently, transforming the entire atmosphere and dispelling the previous gloom and suspicion, presenting a vibrant and united scene of prosperity.

Sitting high on the dragon throne, Nangong Jin watched the changes unfold in the court, secretly pleased. He understood that this was just the beginning; governing a country was a long and arduous task, and countless challenges awaited him. But as long as the ruler and his ministers were of one mind and shared the same aspirations, he firmly believed that the Great Yu would surely achieve a glorious future under his leadership.

When Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche heard the news at the Jingji Auction House in the capital that Nangong Jin had ascended the throne, they were happy for him. After all, having experienced such a turbulent and perilous situation, Nangong Jin was able to stabilize the court and successfully ascend the throne, which meant that the country of Dayu had a new reliance.

However, amidst their joy, they learned that the Liu family had been implicated in Liu Taifu's treasonous plot, instantly weighing heavily on their hearts. They were especially worried upon learning that Liu Jia and Liu Si had just been arrested, and that the other men in the family had not been pardoned and were all caught up in this calamity.

Lin Ning frowned and said to Xuan Yuanche with a worried expression, "Young Master Xuan Yuan, you have known that Second Young Master Liu for a long time, and he has taken good care of me and helped me a lot before. Now that he has suffered such a disaster, I am really worried about him. I don't know what kind of torture he will suffer in prison."

Xuan Yuanche also looked solemn and nodded slightly in response, "Miss Lin is right. Liu Si is a righteous person. Now that he is in trouble, how can we stand idly by? However, given the current situation, it is really not easy to help him."

After discussing it for a while, the two decided to sneak into the prison to see Liu Si and find out his situation. Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche were thinking about who to ask to do this, and how they could help Liu Si once they saw him.

While discussing with Xuan Yuanche how to rescue Liu Si, Lin Ning kept thinking about various possible ways and who she could ask for help. Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind, and she thought of her brother-in-law, Wang Zhi.

Wang Zhi held a position in the imperial court and, through his own efforts, had already secured a highly influential post. Lin Ning knew that with Wang Zhi's current position and connections in officialdom, he might actually be able to help them find a way to see Liu Si in prison.

However, she was also filled with doubt and unease. Although she had some connection with Wang Zhi, this matter involved people implicated in a major treason case, and the risk was extremely high. She didn't know if Wang Zhi would be willing to risk getting involved in such a thing for her sake.

Lin Ning frowned and told Xuan Yuanche his thoughts: "Young Master Xuan Yuan, I thought of my brother-in-law Wang Zhi. His position in the court might be helpful, but I'm not sure what he'll say. After all, this is no small matter. Once he gets involved, his career and even his life could be affected if he's not careful."

After listening, Xuan Yuanche pondered for a moment and slowly said, "Miss Lin, this is indeed an opportunity, but it also carries great risks. However, we don't have many better options right now, so we might as well try to find out Wang Zhi's attitude first. If he is willing to help, that would be great; if he has reservations, we can't force him, and we'll have to think of another way."

Lin Ning sighed softly and nodded helplessly, "That's all we can do. I just hope that my brother-in-law will lend us a hand out of consideration for our family ties. Let's go visit him now and see how things are going."

So, the two packed their things and, filled with trepidation and anticipation, headed toward Wang Zhi's residence. Along the way, Lin Ning silently prayed that they could successfully get Wang Zhi's help and take a crucial step toward rescuing Liu Si.

Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche arrived at Wang Zhi's residence and first paid their respects to Lin Ning's elder sister, Lin Qing. Lin Qing's marriage to Wang Zhi had been quite complicated, and it was thanks to Lin Ning's mediation and strategic planning that it was successful. Lin Qing had always been grateful and felt indebted to her younger sister. Therefore, upon seeing Lin Ning, Lin Qing's face instantly lit up with a bright smile as she happily greeted her, taking Lin Ning's hand and saying, "Sister, you've finally arrived! I've been thinking of you all this time. What brings you to the residence today? Is the one accompanying you the twins? They really do look alike. Only their demeanor is quite different." Wang Zhi was highly regarded by Nangong Jin in court, so Lin Qing would sometimes see Nangong Jin when accompanying him to banquets. Xuan Yuanche and Nangong Jin were truly identical, like two peas in a pod.

Looking at her sister's kind expression, Lin Ning felt a warmth in her heart. She nodded, glad she had written to her sister before. It turned out that the matter of Grand Tutor Liu saying that Nangong Jin's twins were unlucky had already been made public by Nangong Jin herself. She had even had the Imperial Astrologer Ouyang declare that twins were an auspicious sign, destined to bless the Great Yu Dynasty for generations to come. This not only thwarted Grand Tutor Liu's conspiracy but also revealed the matter of twins to the public, preventing it from becoming a future threat.

After bowing slightly, Xuan Yuanche sat down as well. Lin Ning then solemnly recounted Liu Si's situation to her sister Lin Qing in detail, from Liu Taifu's arrest for treason to Liu Jia and Liu Si being implicated and imprisoned, and her and Xuan Yuanche's plan to visit Liu Si in prison. She explained everything without reservation.

Moreover, Lin Ning carefully analyzed the pros and cons, emphasizing the potential risks for Wang Zhi, since it involved a major treason case, and the consequences would be unimaginable if he were implicated.

Upon hearing this, Lin Qing frowned slightly and fell into deep thought. She understood that Wang Zhi had finally gained a foothold in the court, and if he rashly intervened in this matter, he could easily get himself into trouble. However, looking at Lin Ning's worried and expectant eyes, and thinking of her sister's past kindness to her, she truly felt a pang of reluctance.

After a moment, Lin Qing slowly spoke, "Sister, I understand what you're saying. This matter is indeed quite risky for Wang Zhi. But you also know that if it weren't for your help, I wouldn't have been able to marry Wang Zhi smoothly. I've always remembered this kindness. Moreover, I've heard that after the new emperor ascended the throne, he actually felt quite sorry for Liu Jia and Liu Si. The court is in dire need of talent, and these two young talents are rare finds. His Majesty values ​​talent, and there doesn't seem to be any direct evidence to prove that they were involved in the treason. Perhaps there's still a chance for things to turn around."

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope flashed in Lin Ning's eyes, and she quickly asked, "Sister, is that really true? That's wonderful! As long as there's a glimmer of hope, we can find a way to help Liu Si. But I wonder what brother-in-law plans to do?"

Lin Qing gently patted Lin Ning's hand, comforting her, "Don't worry, little sister. Wang Zhi has always treated me very well. I'll go and talk to him about this, explain the situation clearly, and see what he says. In any case, let's do our best first."

Lin Ning nodded gratefully, feeling even more grateful to her sister. Xuan Yuanche also breathed a slight sigh of relief. All three of them hoped that Wang Zhi would agree to help, bringing a glimmer of hope to this seemingly difficult situation.

Lin Qing found a suitable opportunity, and waited until Wang Zhi finished dealing with court affairs and returned to his residence. After dismissing the servants, Lin Qing told Wang Zhi everything that Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche had said about Liu Jia and Liu Si.

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhi frowned deeply. He knew that this major treason case involved a wide range of people, and the entire court was extremely sensitive to it. If he rashly got involved, the consequences would be dire.

As Lin Qing continued speaking, Wang Zhi's expression gradually became serious and thoughtful. Having served as an official in the court for many years, he had seen too many cases of people being wronged for various reasons, and he naturally felt a sense of pity for those who might suffer injustice.

Then, thinking of Liu Jia and Liu Si, both young yet possessing extraordinary talents, Liu Jia, as a young general, was renowned in the army for his bravery in battle and numerous military exploits; Liu Si was also a rare strategist, exceptionally intelligent, often devising ingenious plans to solve many difficult problems. It would be a great pity to let them be implicated for no reason and have their promising futures ruined.

Lin Qing, observing Wang Zhi's changing expression, softly advised, "Husband, I know this matter is extremely risky, but my sister Lin Ning has been kind to me. If it weren't for her help, we wouldn't have been able to become husband and wife. Moreover, Liu Jia and Liu Si are both exceptional talents. It would be a real pity if they were truly wronged. If we can lend a hand, perhaps we can change their fate."

After listening to Lin Qing's words, Wang Zhi remained silent for a long while before finally letting out a long sigh and slowly saying, "Madam, I understand what you're saying. This matter is indeed thorny, but since they might be innocent, how can I bear to watch two such promising young men be implicated and have their lives ruined? Fine, fine, I'll help this once. But we must be extremely careful in our actions and absolutely cannot give anyone any leverage against us, otherwise the consequences will be unimaginable."

Upon hearing Wang Zhi's agreement, Lin Qing's face immediately lit up with a relieved smile. She quickly said, "Don't worry, husband, we will certainly act with caution. I'll go tell my sister and Young Master Xuanyuan the good news right away. They'll definitely be very happy to hear it."

Wang Zhi nodded slightly and instructed, "Okay, go ahead. Tell them not to make a fuss. I'll go and think of a way to arrange for them to see Liu Si in prison first, so we can understand the situation better and then make further plans."

Lin Qing responded and happily went to tell Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche the good news, while Wang Zhi sat inside and began to carefully consider the specific operation method, after all, it involved many aspects and could not tolerate the slightest carelessness.

Thanks to Wang Zhi's skillful arrangements and maneuvering, Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche were finally able to enter the prison and meet Liu Si.

The prison was gloomy and dark, filled with a repressive atmosphere and a damp, decaying smell. Liu Jia, Liu Si, and Grand Tutor Liu were all imprisoned in solitary confinement, each in a separate cell, unable to communicate with each other. Because Liu Si was not skilled in martial arts and was physically weaker than the others, he was not imprisoned in the heavily guarded areas where severe torture was administered. Even so, the cramped cell and cold iron bars made him look quite disheveled, a far cry from his former spirited self.

Lin Ning and Xuan Yuanche arrived at Liu Si's cell and felt a pang of sorrow upon seeing his condition. Lin Ning quickly approached the cell and softly called out, "Liu Si, you've suffered so much. We've come to see you."

Upon hearing the voice, Liu Si slowly raised his head. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, followed by deep emotion. He struggled to his feet, walked closer, and said in a hoarse voice, "Miss Lin, Xuanyuan, I never expected you would come to see me. I... I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life here."

Xuanyuan Che frowned and asked with concern, "Liu Si, tell me, are you and Liu Jia really not involved in that Grand Tutor Liu's treasonous plot at all? We'd like to find a way to help you."

Liu Si hurriedly replied, "Xuanyuan, you know, how could my father tell me about the things he did?"

As Lin Ning listened, she wiped away her tears and comforted her, "Liu Si, don't worry, we will do our best to help you find out the truth."

They spoke quietly in the prison. Meanwhile, Grand Tutor Liu, though imprisoned, was far from content. He knew his situation was extremely precarious, and after much deliberation, he felt that perhaps only Rosa could lend him a hand. If Nangong Jin ascended to the throne, wouldn't Rosa rightfully be second only to the emperor? Therefore, he secretly sent a message to Rosa, requesting a meeting to discuss with her and see if they could find a way to reverse their unfavorable situation.

However, none of them expected that every move made by both sides was actually under the control of the new Emperor Nangong Jin. Since ascending the throne, Nangong Jin had paid close attention to the movements of the court and various forces, secretly planting many spies. Whether it was Lin Ning and others visiting Liu Si in prison, or Liu Taifu sending a message to Rosa through someone, these messages flowed to Nangong Jin like a never-ending stream.

Sitting in the imperial study, Nangong Jin looked at the secret reports in his hands, a meaningful smile curving his lips. He thought to himself, "Hmph, it seems the undercurrents behind this haven't subsided yet. Let's see what tricks you can come up with next. I want to see how you plan to stir up trouble in the court."

The situation remains shrouded in mystery, with various forces secretly vying for power. Meanwhile, Nangong Jin sits firmly on his high platform, preparing to strike at the opportune moment to completely eliminate any factors attempting to disrupt the court and ensure the stability of the Great Yu Kingdom.