Jade of Another World

After returning to her room, Liu Yushu pondered the purpose of Wanyan Qiang's words. She knew he didn't genuinely want to marry her; he must have had an ulterior motive. Just as Liu Yushu was thinking, Nangong Jin sent a messenger with a message. The message suggested that if she wanted to refuse Wanyan Qiang's proposal, she could announce at the banquet that she already had someone she loved, thus rejecting him without causing offense and distancing herself from him. Liu Yushu put down the letter, smiled, and thought to herself, "Isn't this my chance?"

Inside the banquet hall, candlelight flickered, the aroma of wine filled the air, and the sounds of traditional instruments filled the air. Laughter and cheerful conversation filled the air, creating a peaceful atmosphere. However, Liu Yushu seemed to be on edge, not daring to relax for a moment. She wore a long, moon-white brocade dress, her hair ornaments swaying gently as she slowly entered the hall.

Wanyan Qiang's gaze was instantly drawn to it, and a confident smile appeared on his lips. After Liu Yushu was seated, he picked up his wine cup, stood up, and said, "Gentlemen, today I have expressed my desire to marry Miss Liu. I wonder what Miss Liu's decision has been?"

All eyes were on Liu Yushu, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense. Liu Yushu took a deep breath, stood up, and said in a clear voice with dignified bearing, "Thank you for your kindness, Second Prince, but I already have someone I love and cannot accept this marriage. I hope you will understand."

These words caused an uproar at the table. Wanyan Qiang's smile froze instantly, his gaze darkening as he asked, "Oh? May I ask who Miss Liu's beloved is?"

Liu Yushu lowered her head slightly, a blush rising on her cheeks, and said softly, "He... He is the most special person in the world to me. But I am of lowly status and dare not hope for too much. I only wish to silently accompany him."

Sitting in the main seat, Nangong Jin was moved by Liu Yushu's words. Although he had guessed that Liu Yushu would use an excuse to refuse Wanyan Qiang, the subtle affection revealed in these words still surprised him.

Wanyan Qiang snorted coldly, seemingly burning with anger but unable to vent it. He suppressed his rage and said, "Since that's the case, then this prince will not force the issue. But Miss Liu, please don't try to deceive me; I want to know who I lost to."

Liu Yushu bowed respectfully and said, "My mind is made up, but it is inconvenient to mention him, as I do not want him to be caught up in the storm of public opinion. I thank the Second Prince for his kindness once again."

The banquet continued in a slightly awkward atmosphere, but Wanyan Qiang remained resentful. He secretly observed Liu Yushu and Nangong Jin's every move, plotting his next move. Liu Yushu, taking advantage of the opportunity, seemed to have successfully escaped Wanyan Qiang's persistent marriage proposals, but she knew that the real challenge awaited her next. However, to be with Nangong Jin, she was determined to give it her all.

The following day, the commander overheard Liu Yushu being punished by Lord Liu for her actions at the palace banquet and relayed the news to Nangong Jin. Liu Yushu was punished because she had shamelessly said she had a sweetheart in front of everyone at the banquet. Lord Liu reprimanded her for her rash actions, saying that no good family would ever consider her again. Liu Yushu wept. Upon hearing this, Nangong Jin felt deeply ashamed. He knew Liu Yushu had acted on his advice to deal with Wanyan Qiang, and he hadn't expected her to suffer such injustice. Immediately, he ordered his horse to be prepared and hurried to Liu Yushu's villa.

In the secluded garden, Liu Yushu sat alone in her boudoir, tears silently streaming down her face. She was filled with grievances, yet had nowhere to confide in. Her father's scolding struck her heart like a heavy hammer, and she felt as if she had fallen into endless darkness.

Just then, a soft knock came at the door. "Miss Liu, His Majesty has come to visit you." It was the voice of the captain of the guards.

Liu Yushu quickly stood up, wiped away his tears with a handkerchief, straightened his clothes, and said, "Quickly invite His Majesty in."

The door slowly opened, and Nangong Jin walked into the room with steady steps. Seeing Liu Yushu's red and swollen eyes, he felt a pang of pain in his heart: "Miss Liu, it is my fault that you have been wronged. I did not expect that Lord Liu would punish you for this."

Upon seeing Nangong Jin, Liu Yushu's pent-up grievances surged forth like a burst dam. She knelt on the ground with a thud, sobbing, "Your Highness, I don't blame you. It's just that my father's scolding made me feel unfilial and caused him worry."

Nangong Jin quickly stepped forward to help Liu Yushu up and comforted her, "Miss Liu, please get up. This matter was originally caused by me."

Liu Yushu shook her head slightly, choking back tears as she said, "Your Majesty, I am just afraid, afraid that I will cause trouble for Your Majesty and my father because of myself."

Nangong Jin looked at Liu Yushu with a firm gaze and said, "Miss Liu, rest assured, I will protect you. Once this matter is settled, I will personally explain the situation to you."

Liu Yushu raised her head and looked into Nangong Jin's sincere eyes, a warm feeling welling up in her heart. She nodded gently and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. With Your Majesty's words, I am at ease."

Looking at Liu Yushu, Nangong Jin felt a strange emotion welling up inside him. This woman had silently endured so much for him, and he secretly resolved to protect her and prevent her from suffering any more harm. But how could he repay her in the future? Nangong Jin thought helplessly, "Miss Liu, please rest well and don't be sad anymore. I will handle Wanyan Qiang's situation." Nangong Jin said softly.

Liu Yushu nodded slightly, watching Nangong Jin leave the room. She knew that Nangong Jin's heart had already turned towards her, but now was not the time to rush things; the final competition needed to be fueled further.

The atmosphere in the main hall during the state visit on the second day seemed heavy, like the calm before a storm. The emperor sat high on the dragon throne, his face stern, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Wanyan Qiang and Liu Yushu.

Liu Yushu lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, looking pitiful, tears streaming down her cheeks: "Your Majesty, I am terrified. I do indeed have someone I love, but this matter is too private for me to say in public. However, the Second Prince came to my residence and pressed me relentlessly. I have no choice but to accept this. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."

Wanyan Qiang's face was full of anger, his hands clenched into fists, and veins bulging on his forehead: "Your Majesty, look at this Miss Liu, she is clearly deliberately humiliating me. I sincerely ask for your hand in marriage, but she refuses like this and even makes up some lie about having someone else in her heart. This is simply too much!"

The emperor frowned slightly, his eyes revealing displeasure: "Second Prince, this is the court of Dayu. Such insolence is unacceptable. Since Miss Liu says she has someone she loves, she must have her reasons. As a prince of Nanzhao, how can you force a woman like this? What kind of decorum is this?"

Although Wanyan Qiang was unwilling, he dared not be too presumptuous in front of the Emperor of Dayu. He suppressed his anger and said, "Your Majesty, my feelings for Miss Liu are as clear as day and night. If she does not give me a reasonable explanation today, I will find it difficult to swallow this insult."

At this moment, Xuanyuan Che stepped forward and respectfully bowed to the emperor: "I believe this matter should not be allowed to remain in this stalemate any longer. Since Miss Liu has already made her stance clear, the Second Prince should respect her wishes. It would be a great loss if this matter were to damage the friendly relations between our two countries."

The Emperor nodded slightly, then turned his gaze to Wanyan Qiang: "What Prince Gong said is absolutely right. Second Prince, our court has always valued relations with Nanzhao, and we hope you can prioritize the overall situation."

Wanyan Qiang cursed inwardly, but could only compromise for the time being. He gritted his teeth and said, "Since His Majesty and Prince Gong have both said so, I will not insist. However, I want Miss Liu to tell me the name of the person she admires. If she cannot say it, then she is lying to me."

The emperor's expression darkened slightly: "Second Prince, our dynasty has treated you with courtesy. We hope you will not do anything that would worsen relations between our two countries."

Wanyan Qiang took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty, are you also unwilling to give me a reasonable reason? Is this the way Dayu treats its guests?"

A storm was brewing, and everyone knew that this matter was indeed somewhat of a pretext. After all, Lord Liu's daughter had never been married, and this situation was clearly an excuse for not wanting to marry into Nanzhao. The brief calm before the storm left everyone in the hall holding their breath, waiting to see how His Majesty would answer Wanyan Qiang's questions.

The situation remained deadlocked, and Liu Yushu seized the opportunity to step forward, saying with a wronged expression that she could reveal the person she admired, but hoped that everyone would be understanding, since the person she admired was unaware of her feelings.

Inside the main hall, everyone's gaze was fixed on Liu Yushu like a spotlight. She bit her lower lip, her pearly teeth almost sinking into her delicate skin, her hands nervously clutching the hem of her clothes, her body trembling slightly, like a fragile flower in the wind.

"Your Majesty, Your Excellencies, Second Prince." Liu Yushu's voice, tinged with a sob, echoed softly in the empty hall. "I know this is presumptuous of me, but things have come to this, so I can only dare to speak my mind." She slightly raised her eyes, her gaze seemingly sweeping over Nangong Jin before quickly lowering them again, a blush rising on her cheeks.

"The man I admire is of noble birth and radiant with brilliance. I have only ever dared to keep these feelings buried deep in my heart." Liu Yushu paused, took a deep breath, as if gathering her courage, "He is... His Majesty the Emperor of Dayu."

These words caused an uproar in the hall. The officials whispered amongst themselves, their eyes darting back and forth between Liu Yushu and Nangong Jin. Some looked surprised, others thoughtful, and still others even flashed a sly glint in their eyes.

Wanyan Qiang's face seemed to turn extremely ugly in an instant, turning from blue to purple, as if he had been slapped hard several times. He stared wide-eyed at Liu Yushu, as if trying to see through her: "You... you actually admire...!" His voice was full of mockery and ridicule, followed by a loud "haha... haha" laugh that almost shattered the dome of the hall.

Nangong Jin was also slightly taken aback. Although he knew Liu Yushu cared about him, he hadn't expected her to have the courage to say it out loud, nor had he anticipated that Liu Yushu would use this to get rid of Wanyan Qiang's entanglement. But hearing her say these words still stirred up ripples in his heart. He looked up at Liu Yushu and saw that she had her head down, her shoulders trembling slightly, looking pitiful.

The emperor sat on the dragon throne, his expression complex and unreadable. He gently stroked the armrest, and after a moment of silence, he slowly spoke: "Miss Liu, you should think carefully. Once these words are spoken, there's no going back."

Liu Yushu knelt on the ground with a thud, her forehead lightly touching the ground: "Your Majesty, my mind is made up. My admiration for Your Majesty is as clear as the sun and moon, but Your Majesty is unaware of it. I speak of this only because I do not want the Second Prince to misunderstand me again, nor do I want to cast a shadow on the relationship between our two countries because of myself."

Wanyan Qiang took a step forward, pointed at Liu Yushu, and was about to speak when he was stopped by the emperor's cold gaze.

"Second Prince," the Emperor's voice was authoritative and left no room for doubt, "since Miss Liu has expressed her feelings, this matter shall end here. As a prince of Nanzhao, you should consider the overall situation."

Although Wanyan Qiang harbored immense discontent, he dared not act too presumptuously in the Great Yu court. Gritting his teeth and suppressing his anger, he cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. This prince has lost his composure." He then turned to Liu Yushu and said, "You just wait." These words were unspoken, but Liu Yushu saw them clearly. Of course, Nangong Jin, in his high position, also witnessed them.

The storm seemed to have subsided, but it only brought temporary peace. Everyone knew that from this moment on, the situation would become more complex and difficult, and Liu Yushu and Nangong Jin would be drawn into an even more turbulent vortex.

Nangong Jin paced alone in the study of the Prince's mansion, tapping his palm absently with his folding fan, his brows furrowed. Outside the window, the afterglow of the setting sun shone through the carved window lattice, casting shadows on the floor like a shattered painting, mirroring his current state of mind.

"Your Highness," the captain of the guards said softly as he entered, breaking the silence in the room, "the rumors outside are becoming increasingly rampant. The people are all talking about you and Miss Liu, and quite a few people are crowding around the gate of the Prince's mansion."

Nangong Jin stopped in his tracks, his face ashen: "Understood. Send people to investigate who is behind this."

"Yes, Your Highness." The captain of the guards acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Meanwhile, Liu Yushu also heard these rumors in her villa. Sitting by the window, gazing at the flowers swaying in the breeze, she seemed confident that this situation was unfolding as she had predicted. She knew that this decision not only seemed to free her from Wanyan Qiang's entanglement but also brought a turning point to her relationship with Nangong Jin. Wanyan Qiang was indeed as cunning as he had said.

"Miss, don't be too sad." Her personal maid, Cui'er, gently comforted her from the side. "It's not your fault." The maid thought she was upset and came over to console her.

Liu Yushu gently shook his head: "Yue'er, this matter started because of me, how can I not be sad? I originally intended to help His Highness, but I didn't expect to cause him to be criticized."

Just then, a voice came from outside the door: "Miss Liu, His Majesty has sent someone."

Liu Yushu quickly stood up, straightened his clothes, and said, "Please come in."

The visitor was Su Jin, Nangong Jin's close advisor. He entered hurriedly, bowed, and said, "Miss Liu, His Majesty requests your immediate presence to discuss important matters." Liu Yushu's heart tightened; she knew that what was bound to happen had finally arrived. She nodded slightly, "Alright, I'll go with you now."

Upon arriving at the palace, she was led to the study. Nangong Jin frowned slightly upon seeing her enter, his expression complex. "Miss Liu," Nangong Jin began, his voice tinged with weariness, "the rumors are spreading like wildfire throughout the city. Do you have any thoughts on this?"

Liu Yushu lowered her head, her eyes slightly red: "Your Majesty, I know that I have committed grave sins and brought such great trouble to Your Majesty. I am willing to follow Your Majesty's arrangements and bear whatever punishment may be imposed upon me."

Looking at her, Nangong Jin felt a pang of pity. He sighed and said, "This matter cannot be entirely blamed on you. However, the situation is thorny, and if it is not resolved quickly, it may affect the reputation of our Great Yu, and may even impact the court."

Liu Yushu bit her lip, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Your Majesty, I have an idea. Perhaps we can announce to the public that there was only a misunderstanding between me and Your Majesty, and that I had no choice but to say those words in order to refuse the Second Prince's marriage proposal."

Nangong Jin shook his head slightly: "In this way, although the rumors can be temporarily quelled, it will inevitably be criticized for being full of lies to the visiting envoys. Moreover, Wanyan Qiang will certainly not let it go, and may even take the opportunity to cause trouble."

A moment of silence fell between them, the atmosphere so heavy it was almost suffocating. Suddenly, Nangong Jin seemed to have an idea and said, "Perhaps, we can turn the tables on them..."