[{"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-207":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},2353331,4602,"Chapter 207: The Emperor Is Too Shameless","the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-chapter-207",207,"\u003Cp>Jun Zijin rode the Cangshan Ink Cloud of the Northern Kingdom, walking unhurriedly toward the viewing platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although her victory had been somewhat thrilling, she had won the match in the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Tuoba Yaoguang’s face was ashen, devoid of any trace of triumph; her head hung to the side, her eyes brimming with tears, filled with both fear and worry—20 million taels of gold, plus the fine steeds and horses of the Northern Kingdom; she could not afford to lose!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zijin looked at Tuoba Yaoguang’s dead-looking expression, raised an eyebrow, and unceremoniously stepped on her again:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Princess Tuoba wouldn't be a sore loser, would she?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tuoba Yaoguang jolted, her face flushing red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could this Princess be a sore loser!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zijin dismounted cleanly and neatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then, it is time for the Princess to tame the horses of my Tianqi.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s right, it is time for Princess Tuoba to tame the horses.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quan Qingle had long found Tuoba Yaoguang an eyesore; having finally caught the opportunity, she chimed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd on the platform grew excited, and one by one, fearing no trouble, they began to jeer, urging Tuoba Yaoguang to get down to the arena quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go, bring out the horses of my Tianqi!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quan Aoyu’s lips curled into an evil smile as he turned to instruct the attendant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tuoba Yaoguang’s eyes were bloodshot, looking as if she were about to cry, her voice choked with sobs:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You, you Tianqi people are bullying others!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quan Qingle wouldn't have it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean? This was proposed by Princess Tuoba herself. Zijin has already tamed your Northern Kingdom’s horses, and now it is your turn to tame my Tianqi’s horses. How is that bullying you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zijin, who had been watching the show, also spoke up:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tianqi is bullying you? Then ask the envoys from the various countries if the horse-taming competition wasn't proposed by you. Tianqi respects you as a guest and has already tamed the Northern Kingdom’s horses first; shouldn't it be your turn now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The envoys from the various countries, being on Tianqi soil, would naturally not offend Tianqi, and besides, this was a plain fact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Princess Tuoba, a bet is a bet; it is indeed time for you to tame the Tianqi horses.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tuoba Yaoguang had no choice but to look at Wang Baolai again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Baolai wished he could bury his head in his crotch. The Princess had dug this pit herself and buried herself in it; what could he, a mere subject, do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tuoba Yaoguang was completely out of options, her face ashen and devoid of any fighting spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the humiliation and unwillingness in her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I concede.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew in her heart that there was no need to continue the competition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had already lost one round, and in this one, as a dignified princess of a nation, it was impossible for her to truly act like a lowly servant and tame horses in public for the amusement of the Tianqi monarch and his subjects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, she didn't know how to tame horses; taming horses was too dangerous. If something went wrong, she would either die or be crippled. How could she, a dignified princess, go and tame horses?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if she tied with Jun Zijin in horse taming, she had heard of Jun Zijin’s archery; even if they continued to compete, she would still lose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only difference was that she, Tuoba Yaoguang, would lose one more round in front of everyone, and she could not afford to lose that face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three rounds, one draw, and Jun Zijin winning two; she was a loser no matter what. It was better to just concede gracefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Baolai’s body went limp, and he nearly fell off the platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He truly had the worst luck in eight lifetimes. Originally, Tuoba Hong wanted Minister Wen, who had signed the treaty under the city walls with the Tianqi Crown Prince, to be the envoy to Tianqi, but Minister Wen had fallen ill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tuoba Hong had pointed to him instead, and why had he agreed? If he went back, the Princess would at most receive some punishment, but wouldn't he be skinned alive by the King of the Northern Kingdom?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flash of sharp light appeared in Quan Wuji’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, the Princess concedes? Does that mean you accept the 20 million taels of gold and the annual tribute of fine steeds and horses? I ask the Princess to make up this year’s tribute within three months.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without waiting for Tuoba Yaoguang to speak, Quan Wuji added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Northern Kingdom Princess is indeed straightforward. Someone, go get the brush and ink.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the Emperor finished speaking, the corners of everyone’s mouths twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor was a bit too shameless. The young girl had just conceded, and as a monarch of a nation, he was so impatient to force her to sign and press her seal. He wasn't even afraid of losing face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quan Wuji, however, did not feel there was anything inappropriate about his actions. Although it seemed like a done deal, it was only secure once it was in black and white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tuoba Yaoguang was completely wilted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the agreement before the competition, the losing side had to offer 20 million taels of gold to the winning side, which was undoubtedly an astronomical figure for the Northern Kingdom, enough to empty its national treasury. Not to mention, they also had to offer 1,000 fine horses and steeds to Tianqi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she was on Tianqi soil, and the Tianqi Emperor was not like Jun Zijin; since the Emperor wanted her to sign the note, she could only grit her teeth and sign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This competition ended in a crushing defeat for Tuoba Yaoguang. No one sympathized with her, and even Wang Baolai was cursing her in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>————————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, the Flying Eagle intercepted a secret letter and delivered it to Jun Zijin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The secret letter was sent by the Eastern Zhou envoy Shen Qianxi to the Eastern Zhou Empress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, Jun Chengcai arrived, his hand holding the secret letter trembling slightly, his eyes rimmed with red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the secret letter, Shen Qianxi said he suspected that Jun Chengcai was the lost Crown Prince of Eastern Zhou, the son the Eastern Zhou Empress had been searching for all along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Chengcai took a deep breath and looked at Jun Zijin, asking:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sister, what should I do? If my identity is truly the Eastern Zhou Crown Prince, our days will no longer be peaceful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zijin gently patted his shoulder to comfort him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do not panic, this matter is not yet confirmed. Even if you are truly the Eastern Zhou Crown Prince, with me here, you will be fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just that Shen Qianxi had lost his composure in this operation; fortunately, the secret letter had fallen into her hands. If it had fallen into someone else’s, Jun Chengcai’s situation would likely be extremely perilous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time waited for no one; the two tidied up slightly and went to see Shen Qianxi quietly that same night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Shen Qianxi saw Jun Chengcai, his eyes were filled with surprise and doubt. He took the piece of brocade from Jun Chengcai’s hand and looked at it—it was indeed this piece of brocade, no mistake!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a \"thump,\" he knelt on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This subject pays respects to His Highness the Crown Prince. May Your Highness live for a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand thousand years.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Chengcai stepped forward to help Shen Qianxi up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Minister Shen, this matter requires caution; do not let it be known.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qianxi nodded repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Highness is absolutely right, but His Majesty and Her Majesty have missed Your Highness for many years, and this old subject was truly overwhelmed with emotion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Chengcai had completely calmed down by now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Minister Shen, do you have conclusive evidence for this? I fear it is difficult to determine my background based on a piece of brocade alone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qianxi hurriedly said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please, Your Highness, roll up your sleeve.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Chengcai followed his instructions and rolled up his sleeve, revealing a pale red birthmark on his arm, shaped like a crescent moon. Seeing this, Shen Qianxi was moved to tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Highness, this is the unique mark from when the Crown Prince was born; this old subject would never mistake it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zijin was secretly shocked in her heart; it seemed Jun Chengcai was highly likely to be the Eastern Zhou Crown Prince, the only son of the Eastern Zhou Emperor. She frowned slightly and also spoke:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Minister Shen, did you send out a second secret letter? Now that the enemy is in the dark and we are in the light, if the news leaks, there will surely be people with ulterior motives who will act against my brother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Babies, follow me, add to your bookshelf, and urge for more updates, mwah!]\u003C\u002Fp>",1505,"2026-06-21T03:35:40.407Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","bb636b00c974cb0800b25932b2eabc2004e2d51557243521bee02519e9a0b8b1","the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-chapter-208","the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-chapter-206",224,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-cover.jpg"]