Jade of Another World

Zhou Datong was in the backyard room, furious at the defiant Lin Ning, cursing and raising his whip high again, when the steward came running in, his voice trembling: "Master... Master, something terrible has happened! The... the house is completely surrounded by the army, not even a bird can fly out!"

Zhou Datong's hand trembled, and the leather whip fell to the ground with a "thud." He stared wide-eyed and roared in disbelief, "Where did this army come from? What's going on!" The steward stammered, "I... I heard that it's a high-ranking official from the capital, leading soldiers. I heard they came for Miss Lin."

Zhou Datong suddenly realized what was happening, his legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground. He never imagined that the woman he had casually slapped and who had even tried to take liberties with him would have such powerful connections and influence. Cold sweat instantly covered his forehead, and he frantically ordered the butler, "Quick, quickly help Miss Lin up and take good care of her!"

Zhou Datong hurriedly straightened his disheveled clothes and ran towards the door, filled with remorse and wanting to apologize to the officials outside. But before he even reached the door, he heard the gatekeeper running over, crying.

"Oh no! Murder! Sir..."

It turned out that several servants in the household had failed to understand the situation and had spoken recklessly, so they were beheaded on the spot.

Zhou Datong was terrified upon hearing this. He immediately realized that even if he went to the door to beg for forgiveness, he would probably not be forgiven. He then decided to immediately take his belongings and escape through the tunnel.

Nangong Jin stood before the gate of the Zhou family's private residence, his face ashen, his eyes blazing with fury. The soldiers beside him shouted repeatedly, demanding that Zhou Datong come out and confess his crimes, but the vermilion gate remained tightly shut, and there was no sound or response from within.

With each passing moment, Nangong Jin's rage grew stronger. He was about to explode. He drew his sword from his waist, pointed it at the gate, and roared at the generals, "Charge in! Anyone who dares to block your way, kill them without mercy! Today, I will tear Zhou Datong to pieces!"

Upon receiving the order, the general waved his hand, and the soldiers roared in unison, surging towards the gate like a tidal wave. One group of soldiers carried a thick battering ram and slammed it against the gate with a deafening crash, the hinges rattling and splinters flying everywhere. Another group of agile soldiers scaled the wall and entered the courtyard first, engaging in close combat with the Zhou family's servants who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion. In an instant, shouts of battle and screams mingled together, blood splattering on the bluestone pavement, blooming into glaring red flowers. Nangong Jin followed closely behind the group, his heart burning with anxiety, wanting only to find Lin Ning as soon as possible. His eyes were filled with not only surging killing intent but also deep worry for Lin Ning.

Nangong Jin rushed into the room and immediately spotted Lin Ning huddled in a corner. Her hair was disheveled, her clothes were torn, and the crisscrossing whip marks on her body were shocking. Her cheeks were swollen and still bore clear bloodstains. Nangong Jin felt a surge of heat rush to his head, and his eyes instantly burned with rage. He turned and roared at the soldiers still fighting in the courtyard: "All of them, kill them all! Leave no one alive, kill them all!!!" His voice boomed like a bell, filled with undeniable killing intent.

Upon hearing this, Lin Ning disregarded the excruciating pain in her body and struggled to kneel down. In a weak but resolute voice, she pleaded, "Your Majesty, please don't! Do not kill innocent people because of me alone. Zhou Datong is indeed guilty of heinous crimes, but he has many servants and attendants in his household. Most of them were forced into this situation by circumstances. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and spare them." After saying this, she prostrated herself on the ground, her forehead touching the dusty ground, as if she had used up all her strength.

Looking at Lin Ning kneeling and pleading, Nangong Jin felt a pang of pain in his heart. He strode to her side, wanting to help her up, but fearing he might hurt her, he half-squatted down, his voice still tinged with anger and heartache: "Lin Ning, how dare you plead for them after they treated you like this!" Lin Ning raised her tear-streaked face and looked at Nangong Jin: "Your Majesty, with the epidemic raging, every life is precious. Do not commit further bloodshed, lest you chill the hearts of the people." Nangong Jin gritted his teeth, finally taking a deep breath, and shouted outside: "Only arrest Zhou Datong and his cronies. The rest, take them to the county office, and await their fate after the epidemic is under control!"

The soldiers quickly launched a thorough search of the Zhou family mansion, turning it upside down inside and out, leaving no corner unchecked. The woodshed, cellar, and secret rooms—anywhere that could hide—were meticulously examined, but after searching the entire mansion, they could not find Zhou Datong or his concubine.

A squad leader rushed over, knelt on one knee, and reported: "Your Majesty, we have searched everywhere but found no trace of Zhou Datong and his concubine. They must have escaped in the chaos. There are hidden passages in this house, and the guards on duty were knocked unconscious. It seems they slipped away through there."

Enraged, Nangong Jin clenched his fist and slammed it on the table beside him. With a crash, teacups shattered on the floor. "A bunch of good-for-nothings! Go after them! Seal off the entire city! Dig three feet into the ground to find them! I will not allow such villains to escape justice!" He then looked at Lin Ning with tenderness, carefully helping her up, and said softly, "Ning'er, focus on recovering. I will definitely catch Zhou Datong and give you an explanation." Lin Ning nodded weakly. Exhausted, she leaned against Nangong Jin, her eyes filled with gratitude mixed with worry, wondering what trouble the escaped Zhou Datong would cause in the future.

Nangong Jin gently lifted Lin Ning into his arms, carrying her with the care of a precious, fragile treasure. Lin Ning flinched, the pain in her body causing her to groan softly. Nangong Jin immediately softened his movements, gently soothing her in his ear, "Don't be afraid, it's alright. I'll take you back." He strode out of the Zhou family mansion, each step steady yet urgent, his eyes a mixture of pity and anger.

After boarding the carriage, Nangong Jin settled Lin Ning on the soft couch and carefully pulled a blanket over her. The carriage slowly started moving and sped towards the camp. Along the way, he held Lin Ning's hand tightly, conveying silent strength and care, checking her injuries from time to time, his brow always furrowed.

Upon arriving at the camp, Nangong Jin immediately summoned his trusted men and, in a low voice, ordered, "Track down on Zhou Datong and his concubine with all your might. Find them alive or dead. Do not let a word of what happened today leak out. If I find anyone who dares to speak ill of or tarnish Miss Lin's reputation, they will be punished according to military law!" The men obeyed and quickly set to work.

Nangong Jin returned to his tent, dismissed everyone, and personally fetched warm water and a clean cloth to gently wipe Lin Ning's wounds. As he treated her, he secretly vowed in his heart that once this epidemic was over, he would bring Lin Ning into the palace in grand style, making her the most noble woman in the world, and ensuring she would never suffer any harm again.

Zhou Datong, like a frightened bird, relied on his past connections and went through great lengths to finally escape the epidemic area and blend into the flow of people heading to the capital. Upon entering the capital, he went straight to General Zhao's mansion. At this time, he was disheveled and had completely lost the arrogant and domineering manner he used to display in the countryside.

Upon seeing his cousin, Zhou Datong knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face. He embellished the story, insisting that he had been maliciously framed and had ended up in this predicament. His cousin was heartbroken. After all, her cousin had spent a considerable amount of money and effort to secure her place in the capital and the opportunity to marry General Zhao. For that reason, she had to hurry and plead with General Zhao for her life.

General Zhao had just returned from the drill ground when he heard about this. He frowned and hesitated, knowing that harboring a fugitive would bring trouble if his superiors found out. However, he couldn't resist his concubine's persistent pleading and pleas, which included a coquettish cry: "General, that's my cousin! If he gets caught, I'll have no face to live with. Please, for my sake, let him stay for a few days. He can leave once things have calmed down." General Zhao sighed and finally nodded. He arranged for Zhou Datong to hide in a secluded estate outside his home, assigning several trusted servants to guard him and instructing them to act discreetly and not let the matter leak out.

In areas plagued by epidemics, news spread faster than the wind. The news of Zhou Datong's family's house being ransacked became the talk of the town overnight, with everyone discussing it. When the people saw the Zhou family being escorted out by soldiers, men, women, and children alike were filled with fear and confusion. They all assumed that the Zhou family had angered the authorities by refusing to provide supplies to the epidemic area and not cooperating with epidemic prevention and control measures, thus ending up in this predicament.

At the market, several vegetable vendors huddled together, arranging their produce while whispering, "Zhou Datong is usually so arrogant, but he's clutching his money like a hawk when it really matters. He deserves to be punished!" An old woman selling fabric chimed in, "That's right! This epidemic is making it hard for everyone to survive, and they're so heartless. Don't they realize that if the epidemic gets out of control, who can escape unscathed?" The crowd continued their accusations, their words filled with reproach towards the Zhou family.

Those gentry and landlords who had initially harbored a侥幸心理 (a sense of侥幸, or a belief that they could get away with it) and were reluctant to donate supplies were now quite frightened, secretly glad they hadn't followed Zhou Datong down that path. A few timid ones went to the county government that very day, proactively approaching Magistrate Wang Wei, expressing their willingness to donate grain and supplies to fully support the fight against the epidemic, hoping not to suffer the same fate as Zhou Datong. In an instant, the entire prefecture and county's attitude towards the epidemic underwent a dramatic change, and supplies poured into the affected areas, greatly assisting the anti-epidemic efforts.

With the local gentry and landlords generously donating money and manpower, the situation in the epidemic area improved dramatically. The atmosphere filled with despair and pain was instantly replaced by hope and vitality.

Those orphaned and destitute children, who previously huddled in makeshift shacks, were now transformed into a warm and welcoming nursery by several kind-hearted local gentry who vacated their own mansions and hired skilled craftsmen. New tables and chairs filled the room, and the white walls and gray tiles radiated warmth in the sunlight. The beds were soft and clean, and there was even a dedicated kitchen, from which the aroma of food wafted daily.

Moreover, the local gentry spared no expense in hiring a learned and kind-hearted teacher. Every morning, the clear sound of reading aloud would echo from the nursery classrooms, as the children, eyes wide, would follow the teacher, reciting the Three Character Classic and the Thousand Character Classic. The light that had once dimmed in their eyes was now rekindled by knowledge and love, and their little faces gradually regained a rosy hue, no longer the sickly, frightened, and helpless figures they once were.

Lin Wan watched all this with a heart full of relief. Lin Ning's injuries hadn't fully healed yet, so Lin Wan came to the nursery every day to help take care of the children and teach them basic knowledge. She also joined the teacher in playing games and doing crafts with the children, and laughter echoed in the nursery. The gloom left by the disaster was gradually being dispelled by everyone working together.

Lin Ning's injuries had improved over the past two days, and she said she wanted to go to the epidemic prevention zone for a check-up. Seeing this, Nangong Jin quickly reached out and gently stopped her, saying softly, "Ning'er, don't overwork yourself. The epidemic in the zone is much better now. Lin Wan and the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital have been working very diligently these past few days. The epidemic is under control, with fewer and fewer new cases each day, and more and more people recovering." He then gently took Lin Ning's hand and led her to sit on the soft couch in the tent. "Your injuries are only just beginning to heal. Don't let impatience cause you to develop chronic conditions. Your most important task now is to fully recover."

Lin Ning frowned slightly, still somewhat worried: "Your Majesty, I'm always concerned, so I'll just go and take a look to put my mind at ease." Nangong Jin smiled and poured her a cup of hot tea, handing it to her: "I understand your concerns, but the environment in this epidemic area is complex, and what if something goes wrong again? Trust me, I'll inform you immediately if anything happens, okay?"

Lin Ning sensed the deep concern in Nangong Jin's words. Holding the hot tea, she hesitated for a moment before nodding helplessly, "Alright then, Your Majesty, I will listen to you. But if there is a shortage of any medicines or supplies over there, you must arrange it in time." Nangong Jin nodded hurriedly, "Of course, you just focus on recovering. I will handle everything else properly."

Nangong Jin sat beside Lin Ning, carefully cradling her injured arm, his hand gently touching the still-unhealed whip marks with a cotton swab dipped in ointment. With each touch, he would glance up to observe Lin Ning's expression, afraid of hurting her.

A hint of unease flashed across Lin Ning's face. She turned her head slightly, trying to pull her arm away: "Your Majesty, this is just a minor injury, I can handle it myself." Nangong Jin, however, held her tightly, not letting her break free, his eyes filled with stubbornness: "Don't move. Ning'er, don't refuse me anymore. You've helped me so much in the past. Right now, I'm just applying some medicine. If you won't even let me do this small thing, the feeling of indebtedness in my heart will only grow heavier."

Lin Ning sighed helplessly, ceasing her struggle and letting Nangong Jin do as he pleased. She knew that once this emperor made up his mind, it was difficult for anyone to dissuade him. Moreover, having spent these past few days together, she knew Nangong Jin's temperament. Seeing his focused and careful demeanor, Lin Ning thought that it was just a matter of needing someone to take care of him for a few days. Once these few days were over and his injuries healed, they could each return to their own lives, and there would be no problem if they didn't contact each other. So she remained silent, sitting there quietly as Nangong Jin meticulously applied the medicine.

Just after applying the medicine to Lin Ning, a faint medicinal fragrance and a strangely ambiguous atmosphere still lingered in the tent. Suddenly, a subordinate's voice came from outside the tent. Before Nangong Jin could even issue a summons, Xuan Yuanche's tall figure had already rushed into the tent.

He had come anxiously to find Lin Ning, wanting to see if she was alright, but upon entering the tent, what greeted his eyes was Nangong Jin holding Lin Ning's arm, gently applying medicine. Xuan Yuanche's steps faltered instantly, his expression shifting rapidly, first in disbelief, then surging with an uncontrollable bitterness and anger.

Lin Ning recoiled as if burned, quickly pulling her arm back, her cheeks flushing involuntarily. She instinctively hid her arm behind her back, her eyes darting nervously elsewhere. Nangong Jin, however, seemed to have succeeded in his scheme, a slight smugness playing on his lips. He then leisurely rose and walked towards Xuan Yuanche, bowing and greeting him politely, "So it's Prince Gong who graces us with his presence. I am deeply sorry for not welcoming you sooner. May I ask what brings you here in such a hurry?" His tone, though polite, carried a subtle hint of defiance. Xuan Yuanche took a deep breath, suppressing his complex emotions, and coldly returned the greeting, "His Majesty is in the epidemic area, and I am naturally concerned. I have come to visit and see if there is anything I can do to help." As he spoke, his eyes couldn't help but glance at Lin Ning again.