Chapter 185: The Mystery of the Hereditary National Treasure

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin felt her consciousness groping in the darkness, like drifting in an boundless ocean, unable to wake up no matter what.

She didn't know how long she had slept before slowly waking. Just then, a gentle yet slightly dissatisfied voice sounded beside her:

"Dandan, I've been guarding you for two days. If you don't eat or drink like this, aren't you afraid of starving to death?"

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin slowly opened her eyes, and what met her gaze was a face that could charm the world, and those eyes as deep as the night sky.

She pouted, speaking with a bad temper:

"Can you even speak properly?"

Quan Quan Aoyu gently lifted her up, letting her lean against his chest, patting her back again and again, as if coaxing a child throwing a tantrum.

"I spoke wrongly. I'll make amends right now."

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's eyes turned red; those eyes usually strong and independent were now filled with fragility and dependence.

She looked up at Quan Quan Aoyu and said pitifully:

"I'm hungry..."

"Clear porridge was prepared for you long ago."

Quan Quan Aoyu said softly, his eyes full of doting affection.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin leaned against his chest, feeling his heartbeat, and her heart immediately calmed down.

Just then, the Emperor and Empress hurriedly arrived.

The Empress looked anxious; upon entering the room and seeing Seeing Jun Jun Zijin safe and sound leaning against Quan Quan Aoyu's chest, she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Jin'er, you've finally woken up. Mother Empress was terrified."

"Girl, I turned Jingcheng upside down but couldn't find you. Where exactly did you go?"

The Emperor Quan Quan Wuji's voice held a mix of worry and confusion.

"Father Emperor, Mother Empress, it was the Phoenix Ring... when the great fire started, the Phoenix Ring brought me into a space."

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin explained slowly; she decided to tell the people before her the mystery of the Phoenix Ring.

After all, this was a hereditary treasure of the Emperor Tianqi Imperial Family; this secret belonged not only to her but also to the Emperor Tianqi Imperial Family.

"What? The Phoenix Ring actually has such magical powers?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the entire hall instantly froze; the Emperor and Empress were so shocked their pupils constricted, and even Quan Quan Aoyu wore an expression of disbelief.

Since ancient times, this Phoenix Ring had been a hereditary treasure of the imperial family; although successive Emperors and Empresses wore it, no one had ever truly been able to explore its mysteries.

Who would have thought that once Seeing Jun Jun Zijin put it on, she couldn't take it off. But until now, it had merely been quietly worn on her hand.

Who would have thought that now, it would unleash such mysterious power in Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's hands.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin nodded, looked at the Emperor and Empress, and continued speaking:

"That space seemed to contain things I had seen in my dreams before. They all seemed related to medicine. However, as soon as I entered, I fell unconscious. When I woke up, I hadn't had time to look closely before Fourth Brother found me, so I came out."

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin revealed the mystery of the Phoenix Ring, half true and half false.

She felt somewhat proud; in novels, other protagonists carrying spaces had to use them secretly, but she had official approval, just like having a business license, making her operation identity legal.

Moreover, the Phoenix Ring had already merged with her; only she could control it, so she had upgraded to the level of a national treasure. After the Emperor learned this secret, he would not only not harm her but would likely fear anything bad happening to her. After all, if anything bad happened to her, the Phoenix Ring would be destroyed too.

The Emperor frowned tightly, pondered for a long time, and finally spoke:

"Girl, I feel this space you mentioned is closely linked to our nation's future destiny. Perhaps it will become the key to our path to glory."

The Empress continued speaking:

"It is Heaven's will; this is all Heaven's will. Jin'er, since the Phoenix Ring is such a divine object, you must thoroughly explore its secrets. If you can bring out matters related to medicine from inside, it will surely be an act benefiting the world."

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin obediently nodded and agreed. Quan Quan Aoyu spoke from the side:

"Father Emperor, Mother Empress, now that the Phoenix Ring not only recognizes Jun Zijin as its master but also possesses such mysterious and unpredictable power, this is certainly good fortune for our Emperor Tianqi Kingdom, but at the same time, it has pushed Jun Zijin into an unprecedented peril. Your son earnestly begs Father Emperor and Mother Empress to strictly keep this secret."

The Emperor and Empress exchanged a glance and nodded slightly.

The Empress took Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's hand, her eyes filled with love and worry, and said earnestly:

"Jin'er, Yu'er is right; this matter is of great importance. We must strictly keep the secret and absolutely not let the earth-shattering secret of the Phoenix Ring leak out. At any time, your safety is the most important."

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin felt warmth in her heart and obediently replied:

"Mother Empress rest assured; your daughter understands."

Quan Quan Wuji also spoke, his expression serious:

"For the safety of Girl Jin, the secret of the Phoenix Ring must absolutely not leak out. I will also arrange the most elite guards to ensure Girl Jin's safety."

A smile curled at the corner of Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's mouth; she had guessed correctly.

She stayed in the imperial palace for another day; as her body gradually recovered, the Emperor and Empress finally allowed her to return to the manor to recuperate.

As dawn broke, soft light filtered through thin clouds, sprinkling the quiet stone-paved road.

The morning dew in the Jun Manor had not yet dissipated; under the morning sun, it resembled scattered silver beads, adorning the flowers and plants throughout the garden, while the Jun Manor was already bustling with activity.

Upon learning that Seeing Jun Jun Zijin was returning to the manor today, the Old Lady had not slept all night; she rose before dawn, her aged body wrapped in the chill of the winter morning, yet she seemed not to feel it.

At that moment, she sat in a wheelchair, tightly clutching prayer beads in her hand, constantly manipulating them; the prayer beads in her hand clicked loudly with every movement, each carrying a deep prayer.

Her eyes stared fixedly at the doorway; her eye sockets were bloodshot from staying up, and the fatigue of worrying for several days was clearly written on her face.

Wang Nainai, standing nearby, seeing the Old Lady in such a state, couldn't help but feel waves of bitterness in her heart.

She quietly handed over a cup of hot tea, but the Old Lady merely waved her hand lightly, unmoved by the warmth before her.

The steam from the tea cup slowly rose and gradually dissipated, yet she hadn't taken a single sip.

Nearby, Zhou Shi, her face full of worry, gently held the Old Lady's hand and said softly:

"Old Lady, please don't worry yourself sick. Our Second Young Lady is full of good fortune; among those people in the palace, who isn't holding her in their palms fearing she'll fall, or keeping her in their mouths fearing she'll melt? Perhaps she is already rushing home right now."

Jun Jun Shuyan's eyes also turned slightly red, obviously the result of staying up all night. She also gently stepped forward, her voice carrying a mix of anxiety and concern:

"Grandmother, Second Sister has great fortune and a big life; she will surely be fine. If you keep worrying like this, how can your body endure it?"

While speaking, she gently wiped the tears from the corners of the Old Lady's eyes with a handkerchief.

The Old Lady let out a long sigh and patted Zhou-shi and Jun Jun Shuyan's hands,

"I understand everything you've said, but I just can't set my heart at ease."

Hearing that Jun Jun Zijin had woken and was returning to the residence today, Jun Chengcai likewise had not slept a wink all night.

At this moment, Jun Chengcai, in a pale green plain robe with his hair bound up in a crown, looked exceptionally handsome, but his eyes betrayed veins of blood and an anxiety that could not be concealed.

During the days Jun Jun Zijin had gone missing, Jun Chengcai had searched everywhere for news of her like a madman, wishing he could turn the whole world upside down.

Later, when he learned she had been rescued by the Prince of Chen, he breathed a slight sigh of relief, but she remained unconscious—how could he set his mind at ease?

He made inquiries everywhere about Jun Jun Zijin's news within the palace, rushing here and there, never pausing for a single moment.