Chapter 208: The Princess Whose Power Overwhelms Hepu

The candlelight flickered, illuminating Shen Qianxi’s face, which was full of remorse; he slapped his forehead hard, his heart filled with lingering fear.

Only then did he realize he had been truly impulsive, truly foolish! Fortunately, no great disaster had been caused yet.

He shook his head, his voice carrying a touch of relief and a touch of vexation.

"No second letter was sent; the only person who knows of this matter is this old servant."

Upon hearing this, Jun Zijin’s tense shoulders instantly relaxed, and she let out a long sigh:

"That is for the best. This matter is of great importance and must not have even the slightest whisper leaked. Otherwise, given the current situation, my brother’s position will inevitably be in danger."

Her willow-leaf brows furrowed slightly, her eyes filled with worry; once this matter was exposed, Jun Chengcai’s life would likely be hanging by a thread.

Shen Qianxi nodded hurriedly in agreement, his eyes full of respect:

"The Princess considers things thoroughly. This old servant will set off to return to the country tomorrow to personally meet with His Majesty and the Empress to explain this matter. I will arrange everything to welcome His Highness back. During this time, I ask the Princess to please take good care of my Highness."

Jun Zijin replied:

"Lord Shen, rest assured, I will certainly keep my brother safe. Lord Shen, you must be careful on your journey; everything is entrusted to you."

At this moment, Jun Chengcai, who had been silent all along, finally spoke, his voice trembling slightly:

"Are they... well?"

His heart was tethered to his parents far away in Eastern Zhou; they were the people closest to him in this world.

Shen Qianxi understood who he was asking about; the light in his eyes dimmed instantly, and his voice lowered a few notches:

"His Majesty and the Empress miss Your Highness, and their worry has made them ill; the situation is not very good."

Jun Chengcai felt as if his heart were being fiercely gripped by an invisible giant hand, causing waves of sharp pain, and he felt an urge to return to Eastern Zhou immediately.

He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the force, his eyes filled with pain and struggle.

Jun Zijin looked at him with some concern and softly comforted him:

"Brother, now is not the time to go back; we must plan carefully."

Having said this, she turned her head to look at Shen Qianxi and asked about the current situation in Eastern Zhou.

Shen Qianxi recounted everything he knew in detail.

From the power struggles in the imperial court to the undercurrents among the common people, he did not miss a single detail.

Jun Chengcai and Jun Zijin listened with extreme focus; every piece of information at this moment could become the key to breaking the deadlock in the future.

After Shen Qianxi finished speaking, Jun Chengcai took a deep breath, striving to calm himself down:

"Lord Shen, when you return, tell my Imperial Father and Mother that I am very safe here. The Prince of Yong is ambitious, and they are currently constrained by him, making it inconvenient for them to act; tell them not to be hasty, so as to prevent the Prince of Yong from acting against them."

Shen Qianxi cupped his hands in a salute:

"Your Highness, set your heart at ease; this old servant will certainly deliver the message. However, Your Highness must also be extra careful; although this place is temporarily stable, the Prince of Yong has many lackeys."

Jun Chengcai nodded slightly:

"I have my own sense of measure."

Jun Zijin retrieved several bottles of medicine from her space:

"Lord Shen, your journey is long; I have some medicinal pills here that can ensure your safe and smooth passage. There are also some pills I must trouble Lord Shen to bring to the Emperor and Empress; they will be beneficial to their health."

Shen Qianxi took the pills, examined them carefully, and placed them in his robes, saying with tearful gratitude:

"The Princess has a miraculous touch and a benevolent heart; these pills will surely resolve the urgent needs of His Majesty and the Empress."

Jun Chengcai was also filled with gratitude. The three of them discussed for a long time; the candlelight gradually grew dim, and the night outside the window deepened.

The road ahead was covered in thorns, but for the harmony and stability of Eastern Zhou and Tianqi, and for Jun Chengcai’s parents, he had to return and do what he must.

Early the next morning, the east turned a pale white; Jun Chengcai’s figure was already practicing martial arts under the guidance of Feiying, sweat soaking his robes, yet it could not extinguish the flame in his heart.

The sword tip danced, every swing carrying the sound of tearing through the air, every strike seeming capable of piercing the darkness before dawn.

"Brother, take care of your health even during morning practice."

Jun Zijin stood at the edge of the field, a flash of approval in her eyes.

Jun Chengcai stopped his movements, breathing slightly, and looked at Jun Zijin with a faint smile on his lips:

"It is fine, I know what I am doing. The situation is pressing, and I must have the ability to protect myself; I cannot rely on you forever."

The morning light was faint, and the thin mist had not yet fully dispersed, shrouding the Jun estate in stillness.

Who could have foreseen that this seemingly ordinary morning would stir up such a violent storm?

Before noon, the imperial procession bearing rewards arrived in a grand, imposing manner; the rewards for Jun Zijin this time were staggering.

Gold and silver utensils shone brilliantly in the sunlight, night-luminescent pearls emitted a soft glow, and precious antiques were arranged neatly.

In addition to gold, silver, jewelry, brocades, pearls, night-luminescent pearls, jade ware, and antiques.

They had actually granted her the power of law enforcement, legislation, usage, and construction over her fief, Hepu!

It was common knowledge that Princesses and Imperial Princesses did not have actual law enforcement or legislative power over their own fiefs.

They could only collect taxes periodically and manage permissions that indirectly influenced local affairs.

Yet the rights the Emperor bestowed upon Jun Zijin were the very powers that only a Prince would have over a fief, effectively granting her a small country.

Such an arrangement was by no means a whim of the Emperor.

After the Eunuch finished reading the imperial decree, the guards and maids present, and the entire Jun estate, fell into a deathly silence, followed by whispering and murmuring, their eyes filled with shock and envy.

Jun Zijin held the imperial decree in both hands, feeling the bright yellow scroll as heavy as a thousand jun.

"Mistress, this is a monumental piece of good news!"

Guazi’s face was full of excitement, her eyes sparkling.

"From now on, in Hepu, you will be just like a Prince, your word will be law!"

Jun Zijin shook her head gently and sighed:

"The greater the power, the greater the responsibility, and the greater the danger surrounding one."

Power and risk have always been equal; a Princess with a fief can enjoy wealth for a lifetime.

As for Princes, because of the suspicions of those above, how many have lost their heads?

And now that she possessed such power... she did not know how many eyes were fixed upon her; one slight misstep, and it would be total ruin.

But the situation did not allow her to retreat; she had no choice but to face it.

Compared to the bustling activity of the Aoxue Courtyard, the Anxiang Pavilion was exceptionally quiet.

The grand wedding of Quan Tianyi and Jun Yiyi was set for the sixth day of the first lunar month; today was already the fourth, leaving only one day.

Yet the Jun estate did not appear busy. Because Jun Yiyi was a concubine-born daughter and only a secondary consort of the Prince of Yi’s estate.

Furthermore, with the Emperor and Empress watching from above, Jun Zhengming, who was never keen on this marriage for Jun Yiyi, was even less willing to make a high-profile display.

Lady Zhou and Jun Shuyan, because of the child who had died, already hated her deeply and were certainly unwilling to handle the arrangements for her.

Therefore, for Jun Yiyi’s marriage, it was nothing more than her putting on a wedding dress, and the Prince of Yi’s estate sending over a small sedan chair. There was no banquet, not even the sound of drums or music, just being carried out of the door in such quietude.