[{"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-79":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},2353203,4602,"Chapter 79: A Bolt from the Blue","the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-chapter-79",79,"\u003Cp>Very quickly, everyone in the palace finished their vaccinations. Only a very small number of people experienced mild reactions such as arm pain or redness and swelling, but they recovered to normal shortly after. Everyone who received the vaccine successfully developed antibodies, and no one was infected with smallpox. The number of smallpox infections in the palace gradually decreased. The gloom over the palace finally began to disperse. The Seventh Imperial Prince, under the meticulous care of the imperial physicians, was also slowly recovering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor was overjoyed and immediately ordered the smallpox vaccine to be promoted throughout the land. When the news spread, the entire Jingcheng was in an uproar. As word passed from mouth to mouth, the people now only knew that the County Princess Qingping was the divine physician who brought them the dawn; who still remembered that she was once the trash of the Jun household whom everyone despised?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zijin and the imperial physicians, along with assistants and volunteers, set up vaccination points in every bustling area of Jingcheng. These vaccination points were decorated simply and warmly, with posters about vaccine knowledge hanging on the walls, allowing people to understand the function of the vaccine and the importance of vaccination more intuitively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People flocked from all directions, consciously forming long lines. Among them were the elderly, children, and women, and every person’s face was filled with smiles of anticipation and hope. In the lines, one could hear people whispering to each other from time to time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look, that is County Princess Qingping, she truly is a living Bodhisattva!\" someone praised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you know? She is not just County Princess Qingping, she is also our future Crown Princess,\" someone said proudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the palace had controlled the situation in time, and the virus had not yet spread outside the palace walls. Since the people of Jingcheng were vaccinated in time, no one has been found to be infected so far. In this battle against the epidemic, the vaccine became the people’s most solid shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Imperial Palace, Quan Wuji summoned the Dragon and Tiger Guards:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why did the smallpox epidemic occur in the palace, and why was the Seventh Imperial Prince infected? Has it been investigated?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commander of the Dragon and Tiger Guards knelt on one knee, cupped his hands, and reported:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, your subordinate has investigated and learned that it was the Seventh Imperial Prince who was first infected with the smallpox virus, which then spread to others in the palace. A purchasing Eunuch in the palace had once given a small palace maid from Huagong a handkerchief carrying the virus. That small palace maid was once someone by Imperial Consort Gao’s side; because she stepped on and tore Imperial Consort Gao’s favorite dress in the Imperial Garden, she was almost beaten to death by Imperial Consort Gao. The Seventh Imperial Prince happened to pass by, and the maid begged the Seventh Imperial Prince to save her. After being saved, the maid was assigned to Huagong. She had no abnormalities in her daily life, and before this incident, no signs of any conspiracy between her and Imperial Consort Gao or anyone else were discovered.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, it was related to her again. The fact that there were no signs this time did not mean there were no connections previously. The Emperor’s gaze became sharp, and his fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the dragon throne, making a \"clack-clack\" sound that appeared exceptionally clear in the silent great hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chill flashed through Quan Wuji’s eyes. \"Quietly execute that palace maid; do it without leaving a trace. Keep the purchasing Eunuch for now. Do not spread word of this matter yet; I have my own intentions. You continue to secretly investigate the Right Prime Minister’s residence; do not let even the slightest detail slip.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over here, Jun Zijin and the imperial physicians shuttled through the crowds, their feet never touching the ground, busy beyond measure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over there, the Jun household was in an uproar, causing quite a commotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The First Lady was carried into Cuiyu Courtyard by servants, her face pale, appearing to be seriously injured. And Jun Yiyi, at this moment, was standing in Anxiang Pavilion, her eyes filled with anxiety and unease. Her heart was in a chaotic mess as she paced back and forth. She was afraid that once Jun Zhengming returned, he would demote the First Lady to a concubine, and she herself would become a daughter of a concubine. Her status in the household would plummet, and she would no longer be able to enjoy the nobility and glory of a legitimate daughter. Those servants who once fawned over her would likely trample on her too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She did not even go to see the First Lady, only looking toward the direction of Cuiyu Courtyard from time to time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I cannot just sit and wait for death,\" Jun Yiyi pondered to herself, deciding to take action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much thought, a vicious idea became increasingly clear in Jun Yiyi’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As things stood, it was likely impossible for her mother to regain her father’s favor. Her father would surely remarry. If her mother died before her father made his decision, he surely wouldn't divorce a dead person or demote a dead person’s status, right? Then she would still be a legitimate daughter. Once this thought took root in Jun Yiyi’s mind, it grew wildly like weeds, difficult to restrain. But she also felt a pang of conscience. Not to mention that murder was against the law, that was the very mother who gave birth to and raised her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Yiyi could not sleep at night. Sitting by the window of Anxiang Pavilion, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. Yet, two voices constantly intertwined in her mind: one telling her to protect her status, the other reminding her not to violate morality and conscience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a fierce internal struggle, Jun Yiyi finally opened her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last night, Jun Zhengming and the officials all stayed in the palace. Early in the morning, Jun Yiyi crossed the courtyard, arrived before Cuiyu Courtyard, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open. The candlelight in the room flickered. The First Lady lay on the bed, her face as pale as paper, her eyes somewhat clouded. She had three broken ribs. A physician had seen her, but while a physician could set a broken leg or arm bone, there was nothing a physician could do about broken ribs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Yiyi walked to the bedside and called out softly, \"Mother, how are you feeling?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The First Lady managed to squeeze out a smile and said, \"Yiyi, you’re here. Don’t worry, Mother is fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Yiyi’s eyes darkened: \"Mother, I do not want to see you demoted to a concubine, and I especially do not want to lose my status as a legitimate daughter because of this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, a flash of surprise and sorrow crossed the First Lady’s eyes. \"Yiyi, rest assured, Mother will not be demoted to a concubine, and you will not be demoted to a daughter of a concubine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Yiyi cried:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But Father is going to announce your demotion as soon as he returns from the palace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ruthless look flashed in the First Lady’s eyes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He only has your brother as a son. If he demotes my status, he will only have one son by a concubine for the rest of his life. His Jun family is also a prominent household; he will not let himself fall into the predicament of having no family bloodline to inherit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing the First Lady’s words, Jun Yiyi felt slightly more settled, but she remained worried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mother, but what if Father demotes you and then remarries? He will still have sons!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The First Lady sneered, \"He will never have another son in this life. Yiyi, Mother has taught you that to be a person, one must be ruthless. You remember that, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the First Lady finished speaking, a loud \"bang\" was heard, and the door was violently pushed open by Jun Zhengming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zhengming stood at the doorway with a face full of rage, his eyes burning with intense anger as he barked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lady Wu, explain yourself clearly, what exactly have you done?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The First Lady’s face turned white, but she quickly regained her composure. She had become like this, not only was her face ruined, her father and brother were cut down whenever people felt like it, and now she had three ribs broken by someone and could not move. But what had Jun Zhengming done? He had locked her in this courtyard to wait for death. The First Lady wished she could pounce on him and bite the flesh off his body. She hated him to the core and, speaking without thinking, gritted her teeth and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jun Zhengming, just as you heard, other than Cheng'cai, you will never have another son in this life. Haha... you still don't know, do you? Because you drank the child-extinguishing decoction! Haha...\" The First Lady laughed maniacally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zhengming’s eyes were bloodshot, the veins on his forehead throbbing. He strode over, mounted the First Lady, grabbed her throat with one hand, and with the other, delivered several slaps across her face, not stopping until the First Lady was spitting blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unknown if the First Lady had been beaten into a state of delirium, but instead of quieting down, she laughed even more crazily:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jun Zhengming, you coward! If you have the ability, kill me and avenge that old hag in Jingzhu Courtyard and your two sons! Do you know that your son was barely four years old when he died, and the other hadn't even been born yet? Do you know why that old hag in Jingzhu Courtyard was paralyzed for so many years? I tell you, if it weren't for that slut Jun Zijin meddling, that old hag would have long since met her end. But so what if that slut performed surgery on her? She still couldn't stand up, right? Want to cure the poison? I tell you, there is no cure!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The First Lady’s mouth was full of blood, and the wounds on her face were hideous, looking exactly like a vengeful ghost that had crawled out of hell. Jun Zhengming’s brain felt as if it had been struck by lightning; his eyes were dull, his face full of despair. He retreated step by step, muttering to himself:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Vicious woman, vicious woman, I, Jun Zhengming, have actually lived with a vicious woman like you for over ten years!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Yiyi’s mouth hung open, unable to make a sound. She had long been terrified; she thought she was vicious enough, but she didn't even amount to one percent of her mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door was slammed shut once again, leaving only the First Lady and Jun Yiyi in the room. The First Lady went completely limp on the bed, like a deflated ball. Jun Yiyi, meanwhile, was trembling with fear, at a complete loss.\u003C\u002Fp>",1856,"2026-06-21T03:35:39.629Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","922fe6a627cf7742e407da1200e3bf26c0e7ba600a13c0b3d66fb65fdbd7780e","the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-chapter-80","the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-chapter-78",224,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-cover.jpg"]