Jade of Another World

Wanyan Qiang, the second prince of Nanzhao, arrived in Dayu and immediately went to the Liu residence to find Liu Yushu. Upon learning that neither Lord Liu nor Liu Yushu were present, he guessed that Liu Yushu had betrayed him. He chuckled inwardly, realizing he hadn't been wrong after all; she was indeed a useless fellow. However, he had plenty of ways to deal with her. Those who betrayed him would not have a good end.

The Second Prince stood before the gates of the Liu residence, a sinister glint flashing across his face as he stared at the tightly closed vermilion doors. He snorted coldly and turned to his attendants, instructing, "Go and find out the whereabouts of Liu Yushu and Lord Liu. Find them as quickly as possible." The attendants obeyed and departed, while the Second Prince boarded his carriage and headed to the post station arranged for him by the King of Dayu.

Sitting in the carriage, the Second Prince's thoughts raced. He knew full well what Liu Yushu's betrayal meant: it meant she not only possessed the crucial clues in the box but might also leak this information to Nangong Jin, which would undoubtedly be a huge blow to his plans. But the Second Prince was arrogant by nature, and he firmly believed he had enough means to salvage the situation.

Back at the inn, the Second Prince had barely sat down when a subordinate came to report: "Your Highness, according to reliable sources, Liu Yushu and her family are currently residing in a heavily guarded villa, which will likely be difficult to approach." The Second Prince narrowed his eyes, pondered for a moment, and then said: "Since forcing our way in won't work, we'll try to outsmart her. Investigate the terrain and the people coming and going around that villa; I have a way to lure her out."

Meanwhile, Liu Yushu also sensed something amiss at the villa. She noticed unfamiliar faces frequently appearing around the villa, behaving suspiciously. She knew in her heart that the Second Prince had arrived in Dayu and begun to take action against her.

Liu Yushu hurriedly informed the commander of the guards sent by Nangong Jin to protect her: "Commander, recently many suspicious people have appeared around the villa, presumably from Nanzhao. We must strengthen our defenses and not let our guard down." The commander of the guards nodded in agreement: "Miss Liu, rest assured, His Highness has already given instructions, and we will do our utmost to protect your safety."

However, simply guarding like this wasn't a long-term solution; they needed to devise a countermeasure. Liu Yushu fell into deep thought. She knew that constant avoidance wasn't a sustainable strategy; they had to take the initiative and disrupt the Second Prince's plans. Suddenly, a brilliant idea flashed into her mind: "Commander, why don't we turn the tables on him? Since the Second Prince wants to lure me out, we can deliberately create an opening to trap him. But this requires coordination with His Highness from the inside to ensure success." The guard commander, finding the plan feasible, immediately sent someone to inform Nangong Jin of Liu Yushu's idea.

Upon receiving the news, Nangong Jin also considered it a good opportunity. He immediately summoned Xuan Yuanche and Lin Ning to discuss: "The Second Prince has arrived, and Liu Yushu has suggested using a counter-strategy to lure him into a trap. What do you think?" Xuan Yuanche crossed his arms, pondered for a moment, and then said, "This plan carries some risk, but if planned properly, it might thwart the Second Prince's plot in one fell swoop. However, we must ensure Liu Yushu's safety and not let her fall into danger." Lin Ning nodded in agreement: "Your Highness, I also think it's feasible. We can secretly set up ambushes and trap the Second Prince like a turtle in a jar once he takes the bait."

Nangong Jin nodded slightly, his gaze firm, and said, "Alright, then proceed according to this plan. Xuan Yuanche, you are responsible for coordinating the ambush arrangements, ensuring everything goes perfectly; Su Jin, you lead a team to meet Liu Yushu at the crucial moment and ensure her safety. I will personally oversee the entire operation." The three accepted the orders and busied themselves with their tasks, and a meticulously planned scheme targeting the second prince of Nanzhao quietly unfolded.

At this moment, the Second Prince wrote a letter to Liu Yushu and delivered it to the other courtyard. In the letter, he said that in his princely residence in Nanzhao, the claim that he had cured her of the poison inflicted by the First Prince was a lie. Now that she was avoiding him, he naturally couldn't help her. Liu Yushu was truly anxious upon reading the letter. Not only was the poison still uncured, but the last sentence read, "You surely didn't want Nangong Jin to know about your intimate moments with me, did you? Don't blame me for being unjust if you're heartless."

Liu Yushu's hand trembled slightly as she held the letter, her heart filled with shock and anger. The Second Prince's move was truly insidious; not only did he threaten her with the matter of the poison, but he also intended to coerce her into submission by threatening her with the "moment of passion." She knew that if Nangong Jin found out about this, he would surely misunderstand her, destroying the trust she had painstakingly built, which would be extremely detrimental to her plans with Nangong Jin. Terrified, she quickly burned the letter.

“What to do…” Liu Yushu paced back and forth in the room, her forehead covered in fine beads of sweat. Reason told her that this was likely a trap set by the Second Prince, but she dared not completely ignore the contents of the letter. The unresolved Gu poison was still a Damocles' sword hanging over her head, and that last threatening sentence made her hesitant to act. After much deliberation, Liu Yushu decided to go see Wanyan Qiang first. Liu Yushu bit her lip, a resolute glint in her eyes: “Commander, we will proceed according to the original plan.”

The guard captain was terrified: "Miss Liu, please be extremely careful!"

Liu Yushu smiled wryly, thinking that he should first lure Wanyan Qiang himself according to the original plan, and then see what Wanyan Qiang had to say. If he could reach a cooperation agreement with Wanyan Qiang and ensure that Wanyan Qiang would stop talking nonsense, it would be more beneficial to him. So the commander sent someone to deliver a message to Nangong Jin, saying that the plan could begin.

Shortly after, the messenger sent to deliver the message to Nangong Jin replied. The commander of the guards relayed, "His Highness said that Miss Liu can make her own arrangements, and the others will cooperate with her."

Although Liu Yushu was deeply worried, he could only clench his fists and silently pray that the plan would go smoothly so that he could get out of this predicament as soon as possible.

Wanyan Qiang sat by the window in a private room of the teahouse. Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, illuminating his handsome, sculpted features and the meaningful smile on his face. He looked at Liu Yushu with a cold smile and said slowly, "A'Nian, you've finally arrived. I've missed you so much."

Liu Yushu sat down opposite him, looking at him coldly, unmoved by his words: "Stop talking nonsense, just say it, what exactly do you want? What was the meaning of those words in the letter?"

Wanyan Qiang picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and said leisurely, "Don't rush, we haven't seen each other for a long time, let's catch up first. Do you really not miss me? You've really changed your mind. In Dayu, are you living comfortably with Nangong Jin?"

Liu Yushu frowned, her impatience growing stronger: "Wanyan Qiang, there's nothing to reminisce about between us. If you don't get to the point, I'm leaving right now." With that, she made a move to get up.

Seeing this, Wanyan Qiang quickly raised his hand to signal her to calm down: "Alright, alright, I'll tell you. It's actually quite simple. The box is open, right? I want you to hand over to me the contents of the box you brought from Nanzhao, exactly as they are, or tell me about your and Nangong Jin's plans during this time."

Liu Yushu sneered inwardly. Sure enough, it was still about the clues in the box: "Do you think I would agree to that? Besides, the poison in my body is still not cured, yet you say you have cured it for me. You have lied to me time and time again. How can I possibly believe you?"

A sly glint flashed across Wanyan Qiang's face: "As for the Gu poison, as long as you behave, I will naturally find a way to cure you. Think about it, what can Nangong Jin give you? He might even abandon you in the end. But with me, as long as you give me your heart, I will cherish you even more. A day as husband and wife is worth a hundred days of kindness, I don't believe you would be so heartless to me."

Liu Yushu said angrily, "What do you mean by this? You keep bringing this up, what trick are you trying to pull?"

Wanyan Qiang's gaze sharpened as he stared into Liu Yushu's eyes: "Liu Yushu, I know your feelings for Nangong Jin. You didn't have to get involved, and your search for the Gu poison was all for him. But have you considered that perhaps all your efforts will be in vain for him? If you cooperate with me, while I can't guarantee you'll become the Empress of Dayu, I can help you enter the palace and marry the Emperor. Of course, we'll have to consider whether our affair will reach his ears. Then, you can be your Dayu royal, and I'll be my Nanzhao king. We'll keep to ourselves."

Liu Yushu was drawn in by Wanyan Qiang's words. She knew his capabilities well; he could help her or harm her. Her current situation was indeed dire. She had been busy helping Nangong Jin, but whenever Nangong Jin needed something, he would immediately think of Lin Ning. That Zhao Meiren was brainless and not a threat, but Lin Ning held such a high place in Nangong Jin's heart. Without drastic measures, it would be difficult for her to marry him. Wanyan Qiang's move had indeed struck a nerve. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, and considered her options. After a moment of silence, she slowly spoke: "How can we cooperate for you to help me cure the poison and keep my secret?"

Wanyan Qiang leaned back in his chair, a smug smile on his face: "That's more like it. That's my good Anian. Here's what we'll do: I can give you an antidote first to relieve the pain of your Gu poison attack. After you send me the message and I confirm it's correct, I'll give you the complete antidote. As for the secret, I swear in the name of the Wanyan family that as long as you do as I say, I will absolutely help you achieve your long-cherished wish."

Liu Yushu weighed the pros and cons in her mind. She knew she was in a dilemma, and every choice could lead to drastically different consequences. But she dared not gamble, dared not gamble with Nangong Jin's trust in her, and could only continue to cooperate with Wanyan Qiang.

Liu Yushu returned to the villa without incident. She told Nangong Jin's guards that Wanyan Qiang said it was a normal state visit and there were no other arrangements. He also did not mention the Mother Gu to her. Therefore, she had no way to get everyone to take action and decided to wait and see what kind of conspiracy he might have during the state visit.

Upon hearing Liu Yushu's words, the guard felt a sense of unease, but still respectfully replied, "Since Miss Liu says so, then I will immediately report this to His Highness. However, Miss Liu, please be careful in your future actions. The Second Prince is a man of deep thoughts and I'm afraid he will not let this go easily."

Liu Yushu nodded slightly, his expression calm: "Thank you for the reminder, I will keep that in mind. You may go now, but do not delay reporting to His Majesty." The guard acknowledged the order and quickly departed.

After the guards left, Liu Yushu returned to her room, sat by the window, and frowned. She had concealed her true conversation with Wanyan Qiang from the guards for two reasons. Firstly, she was unsure of the veracity of Wanyan Qiang's promises, but dared not rashly tell Nangong Jin what had been discussed, fearing it would erode Nangong Jin's trust in her. Secondly, she wanted to leverage Wanyan Qiang's power to achieve her own goals.

However, she was also well aware that her decision was fraught with risk. Wanyan Qiang was no benevolent man; he would undoubtedly continue his schemes in the shadows. If she turned against him, she would find herself trapped in a series of invisible snares, and a single misstep could lead to utter ruin. But at this moment, she had no better choice than to take it one step at a time, hoping to find a turning point in the perilous situation.

Meanwhile, Nangong Jin received a report from his secret guards at the Prince's residence. He sat at his desk in his study, tapping the surface lightly with his hand, lost in thought. "Wanyan Qiang's visit to Dayu was truly just a simple state visit? Why did he choose this particular time to meet with Liu Yushu, yet remain completely silent about the Mother Gu?" Nangong Jin was filled with doubt, sensing a larger conspiracy lurking behind the matter.

"Someone come here!" Nangong Jin suddenly called out. A guard immediately entered the study and knelt on one knee: "What are your orders, Your Highness?"

"Closely monitor Wanyan Qiang's every move in Dayu. Report in detail about the people he contacts and the places he visits. Also, strengthen surveillance of Liu Yushu's villa without the slightest negligence," Nangong Jin said firmly.

"Yes, Your Highness!" The guard obeyed and left. Nangong Jin looked out at the night sky and secretly vowed that no matter what schemes Wanyan Qiang might have, he would not let them succeed and would definitely protect his country.

The following day, the state visit between the two countries officially began. Wanyan Qiang sat at the welcoming banquet prepared for him by Nangong Jin. At the main table in the palace's reception hall, he spoke with a beaming smile about his deep affection for Dayu. He mentioned that he had met Liu Yushu, the daughter of Lord Liu, in Nanzhao by chance, and had never forgotten her since. He wondered if it would be possible to marry her and bring her back to Nanzhao. These words caught Nangong Jin and Xuanyuan Che off guard. They looked at each other, unsure what to say, and only said they needed to ask the person's wishes. Wanyan Qiang said, "Then could we invite her? We can ask her that."

Nangong Jin was inwardly annoyed; Wanyan Qiang's move was far too sudden. On the surface, however, he maintained his composure and said with a smile, "Since the Second Prince is so kind, I will naturally send someone to inquire about Miss Liu's wishes. However, in our Dayu, marriage is a major event, and while it is always arranged by parents and matchmakers, the personal wishes of the individuals involved are even more important."

Xuanyuan Che frowned slightly. He knew that Wanyan Qiang's actions were not a simple marriage proposal; there must be some ulterior motive behind them. However, in this public setting, he couldn't expose him directly and could only wait and see.

Wanyan Qiang wore a confident smile, as if victory was assured: "Your Majesty is absolutely right. However, I am truly in love with Miss Liu and find it difficult to suppress my desire. If I could receive Miss Liu's reply at tonight's banquet, that would be the best outcome."

Nangong Jin had no choice but to nod in agreement: "Alright, I will send someone to invite Miss Liu here immediately." After saying that, he beckoned a servant, whispered a few instructions to him, and the servant hurriedly left.

Before long, Liu Yushu, led by her attendants, arrived at the banquet hall. She wore a light blue long dress, her figure graceful, and her expression slightly puzzled. As she entered the hall, she sensed the unusual atmosphere; everyone's eyes were on her, while Wanyan Qiang was looking at her with a smile.

Liu Yushu first bowed to Nangong Jin and everyone present. Nangong Jin nodded slightly and said, "Miss Liu, the Second Prince has expressed his admiration for you in front of everyone and hopes to marry you back to Nanzhao. I wonder what Miss Liu thinks?"

Liu Yushu was startled and instantly realized that this was another of Wanyan Qiang's schemes. She composed herself, curtsied, and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Second Prince. However, I never thought of this matter. Moreover, marriage is a major life event and must be decided by one's parents. I hope the Second Prince will understand."

Wanyan Qiang persisted, smiling as he said, "Miss Liu, I know that marriage is a serious matter and requires careful consideration. But my feelings for you are as clear as day and night. Today, I am expressing my feelings in front of everyone in the hope of giving you a solemn promise. I hope you can give me a chance."

Liu Yushu inwardly groaned, glancing at Nangong Jin with a pleading look in her eyes. Seeing this, Nangong Jin said, "Second Prince, since Miss Liu needs to consider this, perhaps we should discuss it further. Tonight's banquet should prioritize friendly exchanges between our two countries."

Although Wanyan Qiang was somewhat displeased, he couldn't press the matter further and could only smile and say, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. I was out of line. I will speak with Miss Liu in detail after the banquet." The little incident caused by Wanyan Qiang's sudden marriage proposal came to a temporary end, but everyone present understood that the undercurrents behind it had only just begun.