Jade of Another World

The night was as dark as ink, and the entire palace was shrouded in silence, broken only by the occasional sound of the night watchman's gong. Dressed in casual clothes, Nangong Jin quietly made his way to a secluded side hall of the palace, avoiding the attention of others. Lord Liu, who had been waiting there, immediately bowed respectfully upon seeing Nangong Jin.

Nangong Jin slightly raised his hand, indicating that Lord Liu should not stand on ceremony, and then said softly, "Lord Liu, I have summoned you here late at night because I have important matters to discuss. I sent you to infiltrate Grand Tutor Liu's side to secretly collect evidence. You have worked very hard, and I have seen your loyalty and dedication."

Lord Liu hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty is too kind. As a subject, it is my duty to share Your Majesty's burdens and do my part for the Great Yu Dynasty. That Grand Tutor Liu is a wolf in sheep's clothing, plotting to rebel and usurp the throne. I truly hate him. I only regret that I was unable to detect his evil deeds sooner and stop them."

Nangong Jin frowned slightly, his expression becoming serious: "Lord Liu, although Grand Tutor Liu has died in prison and it is publicly stated that he committed suicide out of fear of punishment, you should also know in your heart that there is probably another hidden story. I heard that you have come here today with important news to tell me, so please speak frankly."

Upon hearing this, Lord Liu quickly stepped forward and lowered his voice, saying, "Your Majesty, as far as I know, before his death, Grand Tutor Liu secretly arranged for his trusted confidant to send out a secret letter and document, which was received by Consort De. I have tried to find out the contents of the letter and document, but I have never been able to ascertain them. I only suspect that they contain some extremely confidential information, otherwise Grand Tutor Liu would not have thought of sending them out in such a critical moment."

Upon hearing this, Nangong Jin's eyes flashed with a solemn expression. He pondered to himself: This Grand Tutor Liu was restless even in death. I wonder what the secret letter and document contained.

He paced back and forth a few steps, then said to Lord Liu, “Lord Liu, you have done a good job. Continue to keep an eye on Consort De’s movements. Report back immediately if there is any news. This matter must not be made suspicious. I will also send people to keep an eye on things secretly. We must find out what secrets are hidden in those secret letters and documents, so that they will not have another chance to disrupt the court.”

Lord Liu replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. I will do my utmost to closely monitor Consort De's every move and will never disappoint Your Majesty."

Nangong Jin nodded slightly, gave a few more instructions, and then dismissed Lord Liu. After Lord Liu left, Nangong Jin stood alone in the hall, gazing at the dark night outside the window, his brows still furrowed. It seemed that beneath the calm surface, undercurrents were still surging, and he needed to be careful to prevent any further changes that might affect the hard-won stability of Dayu.

At this moment, Peng Yingchun's home was filled with a warm and joyful scene. Lin Ning, Xuan Yuanche, and Liu Si sat around a table laden with delicious food, their faces beaming with the joy of surviving a calamity.

Lin Ning smiled and raised his glass, his eyes filled with emotion: "It's really not easy for us to get together again today. We've been through so much along the way, but thankfully we can finally sit down and have a proper meal together. Come on, let's have a drink!"

Everyone responded enthusiastically, shouting in unison, "Cheers!" They then downed their drinks in one gulp, and laughter echoed throughout the room.

Liu Si breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I really owe a debt of gratitude to everyone this time. If it weren't for you all trying to find a way to save me, I'm afraid I would have spent the rest of my life in prison. I will remember this kindness forever."

Xuanyuan Che patted Liu Si on the shoulder and said with a smile, "We're all brothers, so there's no need to be so formal. As long as everyone is alright, that's all that matters. Don't take the Grand Tutor's matter too seriously."

Peng Yingchun echoed her sentiments, nodding repeatedly. The four of them ate their meal while reminiscing about the past, appreciating this rare time together, as if they had temporarily forgotten the dangers and hardships they had experienced.

Deep within the palace, Consort Xi was also busily plotting her own schemes. She knew very well that Rosa was undoubtedly involved in Grand Tutor Liu's rebellion, but without concrete evidence, she was powerless to do anything about it. After much deliberation, Consort Xi turned her attention to Consort De.

She knew that Consort De was the daughter of Grand Tutor Liu, and that Grand Tutor Liu's rebellion was for her and her son's sake. Now, Nangong Jin hadn't pursued her responsibility, partly because of his magnanimity, and partly because the young Prince Yu was still young. As for Consort De, that woman wasn't uninvolved; the two had interacted before. She thought she could talk to her and perhaps extract some inside information. Therefore, Consort Xi secretly began making arrangements, carefully preparing a generous gift and sending it to Consort De, along with her own message, earnestly inviting Consort De to her palace, saying that she hadn't seen her for a long time and missed her dearly, wanting to catch up.

Actually, Consort Xi's plan was to subtly probe Consort De's mind about the relationship between Rosa and Grand Tutor Liu during their conversation once Consort De arrived. She thought that if she could subtly hint and guide Consort De step by step, Consort De might realize whether Rosa was connected to the Grand Tutor's death, and perhaps even extract some useful information.

After receiving the invitation and gifts from Consort Xi, Consort De was filled with doubt. She knew that Consort Xi would never invite her without a reason; she must have some ulterior motive. However, she was also curious about Consort Xi's true intentions. In addition, as concubines in the harem, they would see each other frequently, and it seemed inappropriate to refuse. Moreover, now that the late emperor had passed away, they had no one to rely on in the palace. Although she had a son, due to previous circumstances, she had had to send him away under the guise of studying to escape the palace. It would be good if the two of them could stick together for warmth.

After weighing her options, Consort De accepted the invitation and began preparing to visit Consort Xi's palace. Meanwhile, Consort Xi was meticulously planning her visit, trying to extract the information she wanted during their conversation. Thus, a clandestine power struggle within the harem began.

Inside Consort Xi's palace, the decor was simple and serene. Wisps of smoke rose from the incense burner, filling the room with a faint sandalwood fragrance. Consort Xi and Consort De sat facing each other, with exquisite tea and snacks laid out on the table, but their minds were not on the food or drinks.

Consort Xi sighed softly, a hint of sorrow in her eyes, and slowly said, "My dear sister, look at my fate. An old woman has outlived her child, and now my heart feels utterly empty. From now on, I can only spend my remaining days with the flickering lamp and the ancient Buddha." As she spoke, she gently wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, seemingly trying to hold back tears. Seeing this, Consort De quickly comforted her softly, "Sister, don't be too sad. This is fate. Living in this palace, we face many helpless situations; we can only endure it."

Consort Xi nodded slightly, took Consort De's hand, looked at her with concern, and continued, "Sister, I really feel most sorry for you. You are so young, with the best years of your life ahead of you, but now the Emperor is gone, and you have no one to rely on. You could have relied on your maternal family before, but now that the matter with Grand Tutor Liu has happened, and he has been murdered, how will you live from now on? Your life is truly bitter."

Hearing Consort Xi's words, Consort De's face showed a trace of bitterness, and a sense of sorrow welled up in her heart. She lowered her head, remained silent for a moment, and then said in a low voice, "Sister is right. Now I can only take it one step at a time. I just hope to live a peaceful life in this palace."

Seeing Consort De's expression, Consort Xi was secretly pleased, feeling that the time was almost right. She casually lowered her voice and whispered, "Sister, I've heard people say that the death of Grand Tutor Liu seems to be related to Rosa, the peasant girl that Nangong Jin brought back. Think about it, since Rosa appeared, none of us know her background. Listening to those rumors, I always feel that that woman is not as simple as she claims. There are probably many things hidden in there."

Upon hearing this, Consort De was startled. She raised her head, a hint of doubt and wariness flashing in her eyes, and hurriedly asked, "Sister, is this true? Rosa looks so delicate and weak, could she really be..."

Consort Xi gently patted Consort De's hand and said mysteriously, "Sister, things in the palace aren't that simple. I only heard this from someone in secret, so I don't know the specifics, but there's no smoke without fire. Don't you think the situation in the palace has become increasingly complicated since Rosa appeared?"

Consort De frowned, lost in thought. She knew that Grand Tutor Liu had sent her those important secret letters and documents before his death. Although she hadn't examined the contents carefully, they might really be related to Rosa. She looked at Consort Xi and said slowly, "Sister, now that you mention it, it does seem a bit suspicious. But we have no evidence, so we shouldn't make any rash statements."

Consort Xi's lips curled slightly upward, a half-smile playing on her lips, as she said, "Sister is right. We naturally shouldn't speak carelessly about things without evidence. However, sister, you should be more careful in your daily life. If you ever discover any clues, you'll be prepared to make plans in advance, won't you?"

Consort De nodded slightly and replied, "Sister is right, I've remembered it."

The two continued chatting about trivial matters in the palace, but each was thinking about Rosa. This conversation was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, and the ripples were quietly spreading throughout the harem.

In the stillness of the night, the entire palace was enveloped in tranquility, except for a faint light emanating from Rosa's quarters. Rosa sat at her table, staring blankly at the candlelight, her thoughts drifting aimlessly, when suddenly, a trusted maidservant silently entered and handed her a secret letter.

Rosa was taken aback at first, then a look of excitement flashed in her eyes. She quickly took the secret letter and opened it to read. The letter contained little, merely reminding her to be careful of the unpredictable situation in the palace. Though concise, the words made Rosa's heart leap into her throat, and at the same time, the excitement that had been hidden deep within her for so long surged up uncontrollably. She knew in her heart that her master had contacted her again. Rosa knew very well that her ability to follow Nangong Jin from the remote little kingdom of Nanzhao all the way to this bustling capital and to gain a foothold in the palace was not something she could have accomplished on her own. Behind her, there had always been a mysterious master secretly guiding her, devising strategies for her, and clearing away many obstacles for her.

Recalling the past, Rosa's eyes became somewhat complicated. Back then, she was just an ordinary woman from Nanzhao, who happened to catch the eye of her master. He promised her endless power and wealth, telling her that if she followed his plan, she would one day become one of the most honored women in the world. Rosa was captivated by that beautiful vision, or perhaps driven by her own deep-seated desire for power, and willingly sold her soul to that man.

From then on, she was like a puppet on a string, following her master's orders, step by step succeeding in Nanzhao, becoming a saintess, and later successfully getting close to Nangong Jin, using all sorts of means to win his favor. Now she is cleverly maneuvering in the palace, feigning compliance with various forces, just to keep climbing up, achieve the goals her master expects, and also realize her own greed for power.

Now, although the matter of Grand Tutor Liu has brought her considerable trouble and almost plunged her into an abyss, as long as her master is still supporting her, she feels that she has someone to rely on again, as if she has the confidence to continue fighting in this palace.

Rosa clutched the secret letter tightly, secretly vowing in her heart: "No matter how complicated the situation in the palace is, I must follow my master's wishes and continue on this path. I will definitely ascend to that high position and help my master achieve his dream, no matter what the cost."

Little did she know that her obsessive pursuit of power had plunged her into a massive vortex of conspiracy, and that the seemingly bright future might be hiding countless dangers that could shatter her to pieces.

Consort De hurriedly returned to her palace, dismissing the maids and eunuchs who served her, leaving only her trusted nanny in the room. Her heart was still racing slightly because of Consort Xi's words, and she couldn't wait to see the secret letter and documents sent by Grand Tutor Liu.

She retrieved the package from a hidden compartment. The candlelight flickered in the breeze, casting an uncertain shadow on her face. Consort De first opened the secret letter. The paper was slightly wrinkled, likely hastily written by Grand Tutor Liu in prison. The handwriting was messy, yet every word conveyed urgency. It essentially said that he knew his days were numbered, and that he knew Rosa was plotting to silence him. Therefore, he was entrusting her with this crucial evidence, hoping she could protect herself in a critical moment, and if given the opportunity, to bring Rosa down and avenge him.

Consort De frowned as she continued to peruse the secret documents. Several sheets of paper detailed Rosa's interactions with Grand Tutor Liu, including the time and place of their meetings, as well as some veiled mentions of plots. Although their treasonous acts were not explicitly stated, the context was enough to suggest an ominous intent. Another document, seemingly obtained from Nanzhao, appeared to be related to Rosa's background; however, the writing was obscure and difficult to understand, filled with unique Nanzhao symbols and ancient language.

Consort De bit her lip, thinking to herself: This Rosa is indeed no pushover. If what this evidence suggests is true, she's stirring up trouble in the palace, and who knows what kind of disaster she'll cause in the future. But how should she use this information? If she presents it directly to Nangong Jin, what if he turns around and accuses her of fabricating evidence to slander the favored consort? She'll be in deep trouble. But if she keeps quiet, it feels like she's letting go of a golden opportunity, after all, Grand Tutor Liu has entrusted her with his life-saving secrets.

After pondering for a long time, Consort De rewrapped the secret letter and documents, put them back in the hidden compartment, and summoned her trusted nanny. She whispered, "Go and find a few clever maids and eunuchs to keep a close eye on Rosa's movements. If there's any sign of trouble, report back immediately. This matter must not be leaked. If word gets out, we'll all lose our heads."

The trusted nanny quickly agreed and quietly withdrew, leaving Consort De alone in the room, her eyes revealing a hint of calculation. She was waiting for the safest and most decisive opportunity to drop this bombshell.