Jade of Another World

Liu Yushu led his guards into the gloomy, damp cave. The torchlight flickered on the cave walls, casting eerie shadows. The air inside was thick with the smell of decay. With each step, the sound of water dripping from the cave ceiling could be heard, amplified in the silence, pounding on everyone's tense nerves.

The guards, weapons at their sides, carefully protected Liu Yushu, their eyes scanning the surroundings warily. Liu Yushu, meanwhile, meticulously compared each location to the parchment map, leaving no corner unchecked. They parted the overgrown moss, examined hidden crevices in the rocks, and even gently dug up suspicious mounds of earth with their swords, but as time passed, they found nothing.

“Girl, this place has an eerie feel to it. We’ve been searching for most of the day. Could it be that the map the Nanzhao people gave us is fake?” one of the guards muttered. Liu Yushu frowned, also feeling uneasy, but she had no other choice at the moment. She could only grit her teeth and say, “Let’s search some more. The clues to the Gu worms must be hidden somewhere in this cave. Maybe we’ve overlooked some hidden place.”

The group mustered their spirits and pressed on deeper into the cave. The path became increasingly rugged and difficult, requiring them to constantly step over fallen branches and tumbleweeds. Suddenly, a soft rustling sound came from ahead. The guards instantly became alert, shielding Liu Yushu behind them, their weapons flashing. They breathed a sigh of relief when they saw a wild rabbit dart past, but their morale plummeted.

After searching for several more hours, everyone was exhausted, and the torches had almost burned out. Liu Yushu looked around the cave, which still showed no trace of the Gu worms, and felt helpless and disappointed. He could only sigh and say, "Forget it, let's go back first and then discuss it further." With heavy hearts, they dragged their heavy steps away from the empty cave.

Their cave exploration yielded nothing, but they found a clue just as they were leaving the cave. Under a thicket of thorns, they found an ornament resembling a black pearl, engraved with runes. Liu Yushu and his group wrapped it in a handkerchief and took it back.

Liu Yushu and his group returned home with the black pearl-carved rune ornament they had found outside the cave. Liu Yushu immediately locked himself in his room and began to carefully study the mysterious ornament.

She gently unfolded the handkerchief and placed the ornament on the table. In the candlelight, the black pearl emitted a soft luster, and the engraved runes on it were clearly visible. These runes were peculiar in shape, unlike anything Liu Yushu had ever seen before. She tried to search her memory for similar patterns or characters, but to no avail. She guessed that these might be some kind of rune unique to the Nanzhao Kingdom, possibly closely related to Gu worms or Rosa.

Liu Yushu decided to start by looking for clues in books. She instructed her maid to bring all the books about Nanzhao culture, Gu insect techniques, and mysterious runes from her study. She sat at the table, carefully flipping through each book, her eyes glued to the pages, not missing a single detail. However, several hours passed, and she still hadn't found any record matching the runes on the ornament.

At this moment, Liu Yushu thought of an old friend named Su Wenxuan who was quite knowledgeable about Nanzhao culture. She decided to visit Su Wenxuan the next day with the jewelry, hoping he could unlock the secret of the runes.

The next day, Liu Yushu brought the ornaments to Su Wenxuan's residence. Su Wenxuan was an elderly man over seventy years old who had devoted his life to the study of various cultures. He took the ornaments from Liu Yushu and examined them carefully, his eyes gradually revealing surprise: "These runes... I once saw a similar record in an ancient book. It is said that these are symbols that can only be used by the royal family of Nanzhao, indicating that they possess powerful control."

Liu Yushu was overjoyed and quickly asked, "Elder Su, what exactly does this mean? Is it related to Gu worms?" Su Wenxuan pondered for a moment and slowly said, "The ancient books don't explain it in detail, but mentioning this symbol seems to indicate some kind of power. Unless there's a specific method to decipher it, it's hard to say whether it's related to Gu worms."

After hearing this, Liu Yushu fell into deep thought. If this ornament was indeed related to the Nanzhao royal family, then did it mean that Rosa was harmed by the Nanzhao royal family, and the mother Gu? Or was she also taken away by the Nanzhao royal family? After thanking Su Wenxuan, she took the ornament home, deciding to see if she could strike first when she saw the man in black again.

Liu Yushu continued to unravel the secrets of the Gu poison, while Zhao Meiren began her struggle for a position in the palace. She thought she had already married Nangong Jin, and now she was always hanging around Nangong Jin, which greatly annoyed him.

Every morning, Consort Zhao would meticulously dress herself, drawing her eyebrows and applying her lips, choosing the most beautiful palace attire, all in an effort to display her charm before Nangong Jin. She timed her journey to the Imperial Study precisely, and before she even entered, her delicate voice drifted in: "Your Majesty, I have brought you some freshly made pastries."

Nangong Jin was engrossed in reviewing memorials when the sudden noise startled him, causing him to furrow his brows in annoyance. Unable to retaliate, he patiently replied, "Put it there." Consort Zhao, however, refused. She gracefully approached, placed the pastries on the table, and nestled close to Nangong Jin. Reaching for the memorials with her slender fingers, she said, "Your Majesty works tirelessly day and night. Perhaps I could share your burden with these worries."

Nangong Jin stepped aside, his tone cold: "This is a matter for the court. The harem is meddling in politics. Go back and rest." Consort Zhao, feeling snubbed, reddened her eyes and began to sob: "Your Majesty dislikes me so much now. Is it because I have done something wrong? Back then, Your Majesty was always so kind to me..." As she spoke, tears streamed down her face, soaking her makeup.

Nangong Jin sighed helplessly, "Stop crying and making a fuss, I have important matters to attend to." But Consort Zhao was unwilling to give up and continued to plead and whine. Just then, a eunuch came to report important matters, and Nangong Jin, as if grasping at a lifeline, immediately ordered, "Prepare the carriage, I have important matters to attend to in the side hall." Leaving Consort Zhao standing there, both angry and annoyed, watching Nangong Jin's departing figure, she secretly vowed to find a way to firmly bind the emperor's heart.

Liu Yushu was completely unaware of the farcical power struggle in the palace. She was preoccupied with the mysterious runes and poison, searching everywhere for capable individuals and experts, trying to find the key clues to save herself and perhaps Nangong Jin from various clues.

Nangong Jin's feelings for Consort Zhao never changed. He had always disliked her, and the reason he married her was naturally because of General Zhao's death. Recalling General Zhao's actions, Nangong Jin still felt it was a choice he had to make. At that time, General Zhao held considerable military power and his prestige was rising; there were already signs of him becoming unruly in the court. Then, a plague broke out, and General Zhao was infected. Nangong Jin astutely sensed this was an opportunity to reclaim military power and secretly began to plot.

Under the guise of treating illness, he dispatched his trusted aides to infiltrate the Zhao residence, subtly replacing the general guarding General Zhao's key post. Then, after General Zhao showed signs of infection, he conveniently administered inappropriate medicine. General Zhao, unwilling to lose power, attempted to resist, but was swiftly suppressed by Nangong Jin's pre-planted pawns. Ultimately, in that silent power struggle, General Zhao inexplicably succumbed to the plague. To appease the Zhao family and silence public opinion, Nangong Jin then brought Consort Zhao into his harem. He had never harbored any affection for Consort Zhao, which is why he announced the investiture ceremony after the mourning period. According to the regulations of the Great Yu, a general's mourning period is three years, meaning the investiture would only take place after three years. Therefore, Consort Zhao's frequent displays of goodwill were clearly an attempt to formally become His Majesty's woman as soon as possible. Only if His Majesty spoke could her mourning period be shortened, perhaps changing her fate of aging and losing her beauty after three years of mourning. The harder she tried, the more annoyed he became, but His Majesty couldn't completely ignore her because of that hidden sense of guilt.

Now that Consort Zhao is single-mindedly vying for the Emperor's favor, Nangong Jin is not only troubled but also deeply worried. He knows that if the power struggles in the harem get out of control, they will only disrupt the peace of the court. His heart has long been attracted by Lin Ning's talent and resilience, but Lin Ning's current coldness towards him, and his status, make it impossible for him to lower himself to pursue her. All of this prevents him from finding a perfect solution for his feelings, and he can only deal with the current thorny harem turmoil.

Consort Zhao entered Consort De's palace, sobbing uncontrollably. Her makeup was ruined by tears, completely obscuring her usual charming appearance. Consort De was leisurely pruning the flowers on the windowsill. Seeing Consort Zhao's disheveled state, a hint of impatience flashed in her eyes, but she still coaxed her gently, "Oh, what's wrong? Don't cry yourself sick. Tell me what's troubling you."

Consort Zhao threw herself into Consort De's arms, sobbing, "Sister, His Majesty is so mean! I kindly brought him some snacks and tried to help him, but he ignored me and stormed off. What did I do wrong?" Consort De patted her back gently, as if to comfort her, "Don't worry, sister. His Majesty is busy with state affairs and sometimes he may neglect us. Your hasty approach only annoys him."

Consort Zhao raised her tear-streaked face and said anxiously, "What can I do? I just want His Majesty to look at me more, to show me more affection." Consort De smiled slightly, pulled her to sit on the couch, and handed her a handkerchief: "Sister, in this harem, to win His Majesty's heart, you can't just rely on recklessness. You have to be tactful and use some finesse." Seeing Consort Zhao nod as if she understood, Consort De continued, "Now that His Majesty isn't expanding the harem, you're the only one in the palace. There are fewer people, and fewer variables. If you can stay calm and be of one mind with me, I'll definitely help you when good things happen in the future."

Consort Zhao understood the covetousness in Consort De's words. Although simple-minded, she knew that going it alone in the deep palace was unlikely to lead anywhere. So she grasped Consort De's hand and said, "Sister is right. I will listen to you from now on. I hope you will give me more guidance." Consort De smiled even more broadly, secretly thinking to herself: This Consort Zhao is simple-minded, just right to be used as a pawn. Whether it's dealing with Nangong Jin or paving the way for her son, she can be of use in the future.

So she then carefully taught Consort Zhao the art of "taming her husband," which made Consort Zhao nod repeatedly, hoping to win back Nangong Jin's heart with these methods.

After several days of research, Liu Yushu finally made a breakthrough. When she met the man in black from Nanzhao this time, she was determined to gain the upper hand and secure more opportunities for herself. It turned out that the bead belonged to the second prince of Nanzhao.

Carrying her newly discovered clues, Liu Yushu arrived at the secluded spot on time. When she met the man in black, she stood tall and proud, no longer the cautious man she had been before. Just as the man in black was about to ask for updates, Liu Yushu preemptively said, "I have something to tell you. The mother Gu you're looking for is probably not so simple. I've already found out that the mother Gu was taken away by someone sent by the second prince of Nanzhao."

Upon hearing this, the man in black's expression changed drastically, his eyes filled with shock and suspicion: "What did you say? The Second Prince? Do you have any evidence?" Liu Yushu sneered: "Of course it's true. I went through a great deal of trouble and found a lot of evidence to confirm this. If the Second Prince took the Mother Gu back then, then you're still looking for it now, so you're the First Prince's men. You serve the First Prince, right?"

The man in black hesitated, clearly unsettled by these words. Liu Yushu pressed his advantage: "Think about it, if the Second Prince already controls the Mother Gu, why doesn't he say so? He must have his own purpose and use for the Mother Gu, and now the First Prince is anxious to retrieve it. You're helping the First Prince find the Gu worm, yet you don't even know the truth behind it. If the Second Prince uses the Mother Gu to cause trouble one day, you'll be the first to die."

The man in black remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, "Then what do you suggest we do?" Liu Yushu was secretly delighted, knowing that the fish had taken the bait. She said unhurriedly, "Let's cooperate more deeply. Arrange for me to meet with the First Prince. This time, I want to talk to the First Prince. Only after I meet with the First Prince will I tell him how I can help you."

The man in black weighed his options and decided that what Liu Yushu said was very important. He nodded and said, "Alright, I'll go back and report to my superiors right away. But don't try anything funny. If you dare to play tricks on me, you and everyone in the Liu family will die." Liu Yushu smiled and replied, "Likewise. As long as you keep your word, we'll both benefit." The man in black threw down the pill and quickly flew away. In this meeting, Liu Yushu finally turned the tide, gaining more initiative for himself and taking another step closer to solving the mystery of the Gu poison.

The woman in black took Liu Yushu's terms of cooperation back with her. Not long after, she received news that she could arrange for Liu Yushu to meet with their eldest prince.

Upon receiving this news, Liu Yushu felt both nervous and excited. He was nervous because he was about to face the Crown Prince of Nanzhao, a figure who controlled a force not to be underestimated. A slight misstep could plunge him into utter ruin. He was excited because this was undoubtedly a step closer to the truth, and if handled properly, he might be able to turn his life around completely.

She prepared meticulously, first choosing a simple yet elegant dress, not wanting to appear too ostentatious, yet subtly showcasing her status. For jewelry, she opted for only a pair of warm jade earrings, a simple embellishment. Her makeup was equally understated, with just a touch of powder, striving to give an impression of gentle intelligence and harmlessness.

On the appointed day, led by the man in black, Liu Yushu traversed winding, secluded alleys, finally arriving at a hidden mansion in the suburbs. The mansion appeared ordinary, with its gates tightly closed and nothing special, but stepping inside revealed a hidden world, with carved beams and painted rafters, exuding luxury in every detail.

Upon entering the main hall, a man in magnificent robes leaned languidly against the main seat, his eyes sharp as cold stars. Seeing Liu Yushu enter, a slight, enigmatic smile played on his lips: "Miss Liu, I've long admired your name. I've heard you've recently devoted much effort to finding the Gu worm." Liu Yushu gracefully bowed: "Greetings, Your Highness. This humble woman will naturally do everything in her power to protect herself." The First Prince gently raised his hand: "Rise, sit down and let's talk. I've heard from my subordinates that you seem to know quite a few things that interest me. Why don't you tell me?" Liu Yushu took a deep breath and recounted everything she knew about the black pearl, the Second Prince, and her speculations about the whereabouts of the mother Gu worm, her eyes remaining firmly fixed on the First Prince, awaiting his response.