Jade of Another World

During the reign of Emperor Dayu, to ensure the purity of the royal bloodline and the unity of the family, ministers would recommend women related to the royal family as empresses. Such marriages could strengthen the ties within the royal family, reduce the interference of maternal relatives in politics, and also make it easier for the empress to integrate into the royal family. For a time, recommended candidates emerged in droves.

In the imperial court, memorials piled up like a mountain, all of them ministers' advice regarding the appointment of an empress. General Zhao, dressed in military uniform, strode into the hall, presented the memorials with both hands, and said loudly, "Your Majesty, my daughter is sixteen years old. She is gentle and virtuous, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She has been taught by her family since childhood and knows the importance of propriety. If she could enter the harem, she would surely serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly and share Your Majesty's burdens."

Not to be outdone, Lord Liu stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, my daughter Yushu is kind-hearted and exceptionally intelligent. She often studies classical texts with this old minister and is well-versed in both ancient and modern knowledge. If she were to enter the palace as a concubine, she would surely be able to manage all affairs of the harem properly. I hope Your Majesty will consider this matter."

Seeing this, the other ministers echoed their sentiments, praising their own daughters to the skies. Nangong Jin sat on the dragon throne, his face ashen. He had no interest in these sudden recommendations, but due to the ministers' enthusiasm, he couldn't refuse them on the spot.

News spread quickly throughout the palace. Consort Zhao, hearing that the Emperor was very pleased with her father's recommendation, was overjoyed. She sat before her dressing table, meticulously preparing herself, thinking that if she could truly wear the phoenix crown, she would become the mistress of the harem. A smile involuntarily crept onto her lips. Liu Yushu, on the other hand, was much more reserved. Holding a book, she sat quietly by the window, though the slightly trembling pages betrayed her nervousness and anticipation.

Meanwhile, Lin Ning, residing in the Prime Minister's residence, also heard about the commotion at court. She sighed softly, secretly glad she had distanced herself from these conflicts early on. She hoped the turmoil surrounding the empress's appointment wouldn't affect her, allowing her to continue living a peaceful life in this tranquil place. After all, not only was the Lin family unsuitable for her to engage in palace intrigue, but she herself disdained such things. It was best to find an opportunity to return home. After all, she had worked so hard, only to discover that there was no system to drive her progress, no plot, just a typical transmigration. Since there were no KPIs to meet, she might as well just give up. Why invite unhappiness upon herself? She had watched too many palace dramas; marrying the emperor meant certain death, sooner or later—it was all the same. Lin Ning laughed self-deprecatingly.

Of course, she herself lacked the means to marry Nangong Jin. Marriage in the Great Yu Dynasty emphasized matching social status, especially within the royal family. Ministers typically preferred empresses from prominent families. This solidified the alliance between the royal family and these powerful clans, allowing them to leverage the clans' influence and resources to stabilize the court. It also ensured the empress possessed the necessary etiquette and family background to better manage the harem. Many noblewomen received excellent educations from a young age, becoming familiar with court etiquette and rules, setting a good example in the harem. Furthermore, their families held considerable influence and power in the court, providing support for the emperor's rule.

As the head of the harem, the empress needed to possess high moral character and outstanding management skills to set an example, lead the concubines, manage all affairs of the harem, and maintain order and prevent trouble. Furthermore, a capable empress could assist the emperor in handling state affairs and alleviate his burdens. If Prime Minister Lin hadn't done what he did, perhaps he would still have a chance; now, he probably won't even have a chance.

Nangong Jin was very indifferent to the ministers' recommendations, but he also knew that the country could not be without an empress. However, Lin Ning had been refusing to see him, leaving him unsure how to approach her. He wondered if his feelings for Lin Ning weren't obvious enough, so why was she still so distant?

Nangong Jin casually tossed the pile of memorials onto a corner of his desk, his brow furrowed, his heart heavy with frustration. He knew perfectly well what the ministers were thinking; those memorials recommending their own daughters were filled with an eagerness to curry favor with the emperor. But how could matters of the heart be so easily decided? Couldn't he, too, choose his own empress? His gaze pierced through the palace gates, as if he could see Lin Ning in the Prime Minister's residence. The thought of her deliberately maintained distance weighed heavily on his chest, like a boulder.

These days, he also tried sending letters to Lin Ning or sending rare little gifts, hoping to elicit even a few words from her, or even just a simple greeting. But each time, he received only a silent response, and all the gifts and letters were returned. Nangong Jin couldn't help but ponder inwardly, his feelings for her, from their first meeting until now, every single thing he had done, was genuine and sincere. They had relied on each other through thick and thin, and even after returning to the palace, despite the busy affairs, he had never forgotten to care for her. Wasn't all of this obvious enough in Lin Ning's eyes, enough to make her lower her guard and come closer to him? He paced to the window, gazing at the blooming flowers beneath the palace walls, his thoughts growing increasingly chaotic. The matter of establishing an empress was imminent. From a public perspective, the country indeed needed a empress to assist in managing the six palaces and stabilizing the court; from a private perspective, he wholeheartedly hoped that position would belong to Lin Ning. Lin Ning's current aloof attitude left him bewildered, unsure of how to take the next step. Should he directly express his feelings, or take a gradual approach and slowly resolve her inner conflict? Nangong Jin was caught in a dilemma, standing there for a long time, full of hesitation.

Nangong Jin dispatched Princess Ruoli to persuade Lin Ning to marry him. Princess Ruoli, having received her brother's instructions, rushed to Lin Ning's residence. She had barely stepped into the courtyard, before she could even speak, when she saw Xuan Yuanche standing there, shirtless, carrying a bundle of thorns, looking disheveled yet stubborn. Xuan Yuanche, upon seeing Princess Ruoli, was also taken aback, instantly understanding each other's intentions, and the atmosphere suddenly became awkward and tense.

Princess Ruoli broke the silence first, coughed lightly, and raised an eyebrow at Xuan Yuanche: "What is Prince Gong up to?" Xuan Yuanche smiled bitterly, tightened the thorns, and replied: "Princess is wise, and you must have guessed that I am here to apologize to Miss Lin. I acted rashly before and owed her a lot. I only hope that she can forgive me."

Princess Ruoli's lips curled up slightly, with a hint of mischief: "Oh, it seems the Prince is quite devoted. But my brother also cares for Lin Ning, and even asked me to persuade her not to drift apart from him, but to find an opportunity to enter the palace and accompany him." These words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples.

Xuan Yuanche's eyes darkened, and he clenched his fist. The thorns of the thorns pierced his palm, but he was completely unaware. "Your Majesty possesses the world and beauties are at your beck and call. Why bother to provoke Lin Ning? I have known her for a long time. She is definitely not suited for life in the palace. I hope Your Majesty will not make things difficult for Lin Ning."

Princess Ruoli looked displeased: "Your Highness's words are inappropriate. My brother's feelings for Lin Ning are as clear as day. Moreover, the establishment of an empress is a matter of state, and it is not up to you and me to make arbitrary comments here." Just then, Lin Ning's voice came from inside the room: "Why is it so noisy outside?" Hearing this, the two of them fell silent and turned to look at the door at the same time. Their expressions were different, filled with trepidation and anticipation, wondering how Lin Ning would react after learning about this entanglement.

Lin Ning hurriedly left the room and saw Xuan Yuanche shivering in the cold wind, shirtless and carrying a bundle of thorns. Her heart tightened, and she quickly went forward to help him up. "Your Highness, why are you doing this? Come inside and talk. Don't torture yourself like this. What if you catch a cold?" As she spoke, she called for a maid to bring some clothes and helped Xuan Yuanche put them on. She carefully pulled the clothes tighter around him, her eyes full of pity and concern.

Seeing this, Princess Ruoli secretly pursed her lips, thinking to herself that the two of them really had a good relationship, and it seemed that Brother Jin probably wouldn't have a chance. Lin Ning then seemed to come back to his senses, turned around and curtsied to Princess Ruoli: "Princess, you've arrived, please come in."

The group entered the house, where the warmth and coziness dispelled some of the earlier awkwardness. A maidservant quickly served hot tea, the rising steam blurring their vision. Lin Ning spoke first, breaking the silence: "May I ask what brings Your Highness and Princess here today?" Her gaze swept back and forth between the two, a vague guess forming in her mind.

Xuan Yuanche took a sip of hot tea to moisten his dry throat. He was about to speak when Princess Ruoli interrupted him, "Lin Ning, my brother asked me to ask you what you think about entering the palace. As you know, everyone in the court is urging my brother to establish an empress. In his heart... he is hoping for you." As she spoke, Princess Ruoli secretly observed Lin Ning's expression.

Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanche's teacup trembled violently, almost spilling the tea. He looked at Lin Ning nervously, his eyes filled with tension and concern, his lips slightly parted, as if he also wanted to express his feelings immediately.

Lin Ning knew that if she didn't make things clear today, there would be more awkward situations like this in the future.

Lin Ning took a deep breath, slowly stood up, and curtsied to Princess Ruoli and Xuan Yuanche. His expression was calm yet resolute: "Princess, Your Highness, I am truly grateful for His Majesty's favor. However, after careful consideration, I realize that all my past actions were merely opportune moments. As a citizen of Dayu, I have done my best for Dayu and its people, and I have never dared to hope for more."

She walked to the window, her back to the two of them, gazing into the distance as if drawing courage from that world to speak these words: "Since childhood, I have been introverted, preferring quiet to noise. Court life is strict and full of formalities, which to me is like an exquisite cage—easy to enter, difficult to leave. What I yearn for is simply to live a simple life in this small courtyard, reading, drinking tea, studying calligraphy and painting, and spending the rest of my life here."

Lin Ning turned to Princess Ruoli and said sincerely, "I hope that after you return to the palace, you will truthfully convey my feelings to His Majesty and ask for his understanding. His Majesty has the world at heart and will surely meet a more suitable woman to accompany him and share the heavy responsibility of this country." After speaking, she looked at Xuan Yuanche, her gaze softening slightly, "Your Highness, I accept your apology. There is no need to mention the past, and I hope you will not torment yourself like this for my sake."

The room fell silent for a moment, broken only by the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire in the stove. Princess Ruoli was taken aback by Lin Ning's decisive refusal and was at a loss for words; Xuan Yuanche, on the other hand, was filled with mixed emotions, both relieved that Lin Ning would not have to enter the palace and secretly saddened by her resolute aloofness.

When Princess Ruoli returned to the palace, Nangong Jin was reviewing memorials in the imperial study. Hearing footsteps, he looked up and saw his sister's solemn expression; he already knew the answer in his heart. After Ruoli relayed Lin Ning's words verbatim, the vermilion pen in Nangong Jin's hand fell with a "clatter," the ink spreading and staining the memorial. He frowned, remaining silent for a long time, his heart filled with a surging sense of disappointment, yet he didn't know how to express it.

Meanwhile, after leaving Lin Ning, Xuan Yuanche returned straight to the Prince's mansion. Sitting alone in his study, his mind replayed past scenes like a revolving lantern: Lin Ning's tireless efforts to save him in the cave, those life-or-death moments, her eyes never wavering. "She definitely has feelings for me," Xuan Yuanche murmured to himself, clenching his fists as if trying to grasp that certainty into his very being.

Once, the throne was his ultimate dream, but after experiencing countless trials at the pinnacle of power, he suddenly realized that the intrigues and bloodshed were not for him. What he cared about most was Lin Ning's every smile and gesture. Now, the empire was nothing more than fleeting smoke to him; what he truly longed for was to walk hand in hand with Lin Ning through the years, giving her a life free from constraints.

Since that day, Xuan Yuanche seemed to have become a different person. He gradually relinquished many affairs of the Prince's Mansion, spending his days either sending Lin Ning novel trinkets or personally lingering near the Prime Minister's Mansion, hoping to bump into her. He was full of hope that as long as he was persistent and dedicated enough, he would surely be able to open the tightly closed door of Lin Ning's heart and make her accept this belated affection.

While the capital was busy with the selection of a new queen, a terrible tragedy occurred outside the city, with countless displaced people killed or wounded. The death toll rose daily, cries of agony filled the air, and corpses littered the fields.

Lin Ning had just finished watering the flowers in the courtyard when a maid handed her a letter. The familiar handwriting made her instantly recognize it as being written by her younger sister, Lin Wan. Unfolding the letter, her expression grew increasingly grave as she read on. In the letter, Lin Wan anxiously described the sudden outbreak of plague outside the city. Her words were filled with fear of the rampant disease, and she mentioned that she was in the plague-stricken area and was now helping to resettle displaced people, a situation that was extremely critical.