[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world":3,"chapter-the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-chapter-188":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Phoenix Returns to Rule the World",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2353312,4602,"Chapter 188: A Farce of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony 2","the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-chapter-188",188,"\u003Cp>In that voice, there was hidden jealousy and unwillingness. But more than that, there was genuine admiration and sincere congratulations for the Jun family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minister Wang of the Ministry of War had a complex look flash in his eyes, and he whispered to the colleague beside him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This Jun family has truly had a stroke of great luck. Having received such favor, I fear they will be rising through the ranks in the future.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmph, it’s all thanks to that Princess Qingping.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vice Minister Sun of the Ministry of Personnel curled his lip, his face full of disdain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A woman, actually hogging the limelight in the imperial court—what kind of decorum is that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minister Liu of the Ministry of Rites could not stand to hear it and retorted on the spot:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Minister Sun, you cannot say it that way. It wouldn't be too late to say such things if you had a daughter like that yourself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Minister Liu had been recommended by Jun Zhengming and had been promoted two ranks to succeed Jun Zhengming’s original position as Minister; naturally, he was grateful to the Jun family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minister Sun’s old face flushed red. If he had such a daughter, how would it ever be the Jun family boy's turn to be Prime Minister? This Minister Liu was really touching a sore spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, these discussions were soon drowned out by the wave of court obeisance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zhengming stood up, his hands trembling as he took the iron-certificate of merit wrapped in bright yellow silk, feeling the weight of it in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew that this honor was the Emperor’s recognition and protection of the entire Jun family. And all of this was thanks to his second daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the morning court ended, Jun Zhengming hurried back to the manor. He walked toward Jingzhu Courtyard with a face full of joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way out of Jingzhu Courtyard, Lady Zhou always felt a chill behind her back. When she turned around, she met the viper-like eyes of Jun Yiyi, who was following them. Lady Zhou was startled, quickly turned her head back, and whispered a warning to Jun Shuyan:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shuyan, the eldest young lady has returned to the manor. Although she is now a daughter by a concubine, she is vicious. You must be careful in your actions from now on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Shuyan was somewhat indifferent:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mother, don't worry. I have the second elder sister; what do I have to fear from her?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Zhou frowned slightly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your second elder sister was nearly killed this time; the cold arrows behind one's back are impossible to guard against. It is always better for us to be careful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Yiyi, who was already so stifled she could barely breathe, saw the mother and daughter whispering affectionately in front of her and could no longer hold it in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Shuyan and Lady Zhou stopped in their tracks, disdain on Jun Shuyan’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jun Yiyi, what do you want?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Yiyi sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jun Shuyan, do you think you can be this arrogant just because you have that slut Jun Zijin backing you? My coming-of-age ceremony has been turned into such a mess by you people, and you still dare to act so imperiously in front of me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Shuyan wouldn't have it:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jun Yiyi, you brought this on yourself; you can't blame others. Don't tell me you want to throw a tantrum now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could Jun Yiyi listen to such words? She took a few quick steps forward, raised her hand, and slapped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a crisp \"slap,\" Jun Yiyi’s palm landed solidly on the face of Lady Zhou, who had blocked her daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Zhou clutched her swollen face, looking stunned. She hadn't expected Jun Yiyi to strike so viciously; fortunately, this slap hadn't landed on her daughter’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene was caught exactly by Jun Zhengming as he was heading to Jingzhu Courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Jun Zhengming’s brows instantly knitted into a \"chuan\" shape, his eyes full of fury. He strode forward and shouted sternly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jun Yiyi, what are you doing!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ferocity on Jun Yiyi’s face had not yet faded. Hearing her father’s voice, her whole body stiffened, her expression changing in fright at the sudden reprimand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Father... Mother and I were just walking along properly, and I don't know how we provoked the eldest sister, but she came up and slapped Mother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Shuyan opened her mouth to complain, her eyes reddening with a hint of grievance as she hid behind Lady Zhou, her voice trembling slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jun Yiyi, you are becoming more and more unruly!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zhengming walked up close, his hand pointing at Jun Yiyi trembling slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Beating an elder in public—do you still have this family in your eyes, do you still have me as your father!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Yiyi bit her lower lip, feeling both angry and afraid, her eyes welling up with tears, her pitiable appearance easily summoned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Father, my coming-of-age ceremony...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shut up!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zhengming’s eyes widened in anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You cause trouble the moment you return to the manor. Regardless of the reason, you are dead wrong to raise your hand against someone!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to look at Lady Zhou, a flash of guilt in his eyes. \"Lady, are you hurt?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Zhou touched the clear palm print on her face and shook her head gently:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s fine, it doesn't hurt anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zhengming turned to Jun Yiyi and said with disappointment:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look at what you’ve become. Even if your coming-of-age ceremony was neglected, you cannot vent your anger on others at will. Besides, your second younger sister has returned after experiencing life and death; it is only natural for the whole family to be happy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Yiyi retorted unconvinced:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then does my big day deserve to be forgotten?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zhengming sighed. If this eldest daughter had even a third of the second daughter’s character, she wouldn't be like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you behaved yourself, you would have chances to make up for it later. But being this savage and unreasonable will only make people despise you more.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying this, Jun Zhengming turned and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Shuyan giggled on the side, made a face at Jun Yiyi, and pulled Lady Zhou away as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Yiyi stood where she was, feeling pain all over from the anger, yet she was helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the time was right, the Old Lady came out in her wheelchair and had Jun Yiyi crouch before her. She took a hairpin and personally pinned up Jun Yiyi’s hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Jun Yiyi crouched down, tears began to fall, half from grievance and half from unwillingness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should have been such a glorious coming-of-age ceremony had now become so awkward and perfunctory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To think she had her hair pinned by a crippled old woman, and the auspicious words she spoke were so hollow—no matter how she looked at it, it felt like a mere formality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pile of gifts in the room were all tonics for Jun Zijin; not one was for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There wasn't a single guest at the banquet, and the banquet itself was just a homecoming family feast for Jun Zijin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Yiyi felt that all of this was caused by Jun Zijin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her heart, she cursed why that fire hadn't burned Jun Zijin to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her long hair pinned up, the coming-of-age ceremony was considered complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zhengming returned to the manor with good news. Except for Jun Yiyi, who was full of resentment, everyone else was joyfully preparing to take their seats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The manor is truly lively! The eldest young lady’s coming-of-age ceremony has simply turned into the second young lady’s homecoming feast!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a corner, two maidservants whispered to each other, their faces showing three parts schadenfreude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly, who told her to be so arrogant and domineering usually?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other little maid nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing those fragmented words, Jun Yiyi took several breaths to suppress the urge to flip the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Quan Qingle and He Linger arrived excitedly; before they even arrived, their two boisterous voices reached them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zijin’s homecoming feast, how could Linger and I not come?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quan Qingle laughed, her voice bright and clear. She was wearing a goose-yellow dress, dazzling under the sunlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Linger followed behind, dressed in light purple, nodding with a smile:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s right, we were looking forward to seeing Zijin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Babies, add to your bookshelf and urge for updates】\u003C\u002Fp>",1408,"2026-06-21T03:35:39.629Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","52d16c0000d0c3dc18697e64988ea98dea8b44832c63f4b2c277fed32ca1d3db","the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-chapter-189","the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-chapter-187",224,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-cover.jpg"]