[{"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-57":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},2353181,4602,"Chapter 57: Drag This Wicked Woman Out","the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-chapter-57",57,"\u003Cp>As He Dong finished speaking, Jun Zijin nodded with satisfaction and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Linglong Pavilion will open in three days. During these three days, we will carry out renovations and process returns simultaneously. If anyone comes to return goods, handle the reception well; I will send an assistant to help you. From now on, our shop will offer an 'after-sales' service, and I will inform you of the specific details later. As for the people in this shop, you decide who stays and who goes; if you are short-handed, report it to me. I do not want anyone related to Wu De or that shopkeeper to remain in the shop, nor do I want to see such things happen again. While it is certainly important to open a shop to make money, quality and service are the top priorities. I do not want to see our staff judging customers by their appearance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Dong carefully noted down every word of Jun Zijin. Although it was his first time hearing the term \"after-sales service,\" he could understand its meaning from her words. He nodded heavily and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rest assured, Master, I have noted it down, and I will handle all of this well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing all this, it was nearly noon. Jun Zijin stood up and smoothed her robes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If there is nothing else, I will head back first. Someone will come to find you tomorrow.\" Having said that, she turned and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She still had to go to the Capital Magistrate's office to see Wu De's situation with her own eyes; he could not be beaten to death yet, otherwise, where would the embezzled silver come from? As for that shopkeeper, she did not care whether he lived or died. As for the other two shops, there was no rush; as long as the Wu siblings were dealt with, things would be easy to handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zijin arrived at the Capital Magistrate's office and saw at a glance Wu De, who was lying on the ground, beaten until his skin was torn and he was half-dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be said that Quan Aoyu and Jun Zijin really had a tacit understanding. He had instructed the Capital Magistrate that this person must be beaten severely—the more miserable, the better—but his life must be preserved. For this case, Quan Aoyu wanted him to cooperate fully with the County Princess of Qingping. Since the Crown Prince had personally given the order, how could the Capital Magistrate dare not to listen? He did not know why the Crown Prince was so concerned about this case, but he did not dare to ask either; he just followed orders, and he had used a clever technique when beating Wu De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zijin scanned the scene and immediately felt relieved. As long as Wu De was not completely dead, she could bring him back to life. The accounts had not been settled yet; there was no way she would let him die so cheaply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zhengming and the First Lady were also there. The First Lady was wiping away tears. Although this Madame Wu was already a mother of two children, she was well-maintained. Seeing the First Lady like this, Jun Zijin could not help but think of a poem:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jade hands cover her face, yet cannot hide her sorrow,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trembling shoulders evoke pity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tears reflect the autumn waters,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every frown and smile becomes a verse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zijin felt a wave of contempt in her heart. This Madame Wu really knew how to put on a performance anytime and anywhere. Surely every man would be moved, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jun Zhengming kept glaring at Wu De, who was lying on the ground half-dead, and did not look at her at all. Jun Zhengming hated Wu De so much that his teeth itched; Wu De had stolen so much silver from the Jun family that he wished Wu De had been beaten to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the First Lady saw Jun Zijin enter, she could no longer bother to pretend to be a weeping willow. Even her usual gentle and dignified appearance as a virtuous wife and kind mother was completely gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The First Lady pulled the hairpin from her head, let out a loud cry, and rushed forward to stab Jun Zijin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Capital Magistrate was shocked and roared:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop her quickly!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a disaster; how could someone the Crown Prince cared about be harmed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two Yamen Runners rushed forward quickly. Before they could get close, the First Lady felt her wrist and knee go numb, then weak, and she fell sideways to the ground. The hairpin she had been holding slipped from her hand, tracing an arc in the air, and the sharp, slender tip happened to scratch the First Lady's face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only the blink of an eye; no one noticed the broken silver rolling into the corner, and even fewer noticed that Jun Zijin had made a move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sudden scene stunned everyone present. They widened their eyes and opened their mouths slightly, but could not make a sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, blood flowed down the First Lady's cheek. At that moment, time seemed to freeze. The First Lady sat crookedly on the ground for a long while before she suddenly came to her senses, letting out a terrifying, sky-piercing scream from her throat:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah! Jun Zijin, I will kill you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The First Lady scrambled up and rushed toward Jun Zijin again. The Yamen Runners, having reacted, grabbed her arms from left and right to restrain her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The First Lady struggled, cursing loudly: \"You little slut, why didn't you die at the manor? Why did you come back, huh? It's all because of you, I'm going to kill you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the First Lady spoke, everyone in the magistrate's office and the onlookers outside suddenly realized that the rumors circulating in the capital recently—that the First Lady of the Jun residence mistreated her stepdaughter—were true. Immediately, there was a flurry of discussion and conflicting opinions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The First Lady was disheveled, like a mad demon, with a wound on her face stretching from the corner of her eye to her cheek, flesh exposed and covered in blood, looking exactly like a vengeful ghost crawling out of hell. Everyone was too scared to look directly at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chill rose from the soles of Jun Zhengming's feet and spread rapidly throughout his body. This poisonous woman had been sharing his bed for years! Jun Zhengming could not help but shudder, and he shouted with a trembling voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Drag this wicked woman out!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring the First Lady's struggles, the Yamen Runners forcibly dragged her away. As she was being dragged, the First Lady cursed Jun Zijin at the top of her lungs, while kicking wildly at the Yamen Runners holding her like a crazed shrew. With too much force, one of her shoes flew off, traced an arc in the air, and landed squarely on Jun Zhengming's head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a muffled \"thud,\" Jun Zhengming let out an \"ow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pfft,\" someone in the crowd could not hold it in and laughed out loud. This laughter seemed contagious, leading more people to cover their mouths and giggle. Jun Zijin lowered her head, suppressing her laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Jun Zhengming again, his usually dark face was now flushed red, the veins on his forehead bulging, both ashamed and annoyed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What kind of decorum is this? What kind of decorum is this? Drag her out at once!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yamen Runners hurriedly increased their speed and dragged the First Lady away. Jun Zhengming took a few deep breaths, trying to calm his emotions, and turned to look at Jun Zijin, only to see her looking innocent, as if she had been frightened and had not yet recovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, the Capital Magistrate came to his senses. Thinking of the day's main business, he said: \"Minister, County Princess, after interrogation, this Wu De is indeed the elder brother of the First Lady of your residence. The charge of falsely claiming to be an official's relative is not established, but the charge of forced buying and selling is a fact. This official has already punished him. According to the law, he is to be imprisoned for 3 years. Since he offended the current County Princess, he is to be imprisoned for 5 years. He must return the shops and the illegally obtained property. Do you both find this sentencing appropriate?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could not be more appropriate! Jun Zijin seemed to have just recovered from a thrilling fright, her body trembling slightly, and a few crystal-clear beads of sweat even hanging on her forehead. She took a deep breath and looked at the Capital Magistrate with a gaze of slight admiration, saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord, your impartiality in judging this case is truly convincing!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zhengming nodded slightly, indicating his agreement. Seeing this, the Capital Magistrate breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly ordered his subordinates to handle the related matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zijin's gaze was as calm as water. She walked toward Jun Zhengming unhurriedly and bowed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you, Father, for coming to uphold justice today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zhengming looked at this daughter, who was once ignored but was now strong and intelligent. He himself did not understand why a complex emotion of guilt and relief welled up in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enough, today's events can be considered a warning to the residence,\" Jun Zhengming said.\u003C\u002Fp>",1570,"2026-06-21T03:35:39.629Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","a470c86485e27a898723fb88f2ec0f9b487e25132eaa24b9dedce83f303e96e6","the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-chapter-58","the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-chapter-56",224,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-cover.jpg"]