Chapter 82: The Thorn That Cannot Be Pulled Out

Lady Lady Qingping was honored as Young Lady Lady Qingping; the Emperor issued an edict, and three days later, a banquet was held in the palace to celebrate Young Lady Lady Qingping's eradication of the smallpox virus. All officials of the fourth rank and above in Jingcheng, along with their families, were invited to the palace banquet. A continuous banquet was set up throughout Jingcheng, and the entire nation celebrated together.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin was enfeoffed as a Young Lady and granted Hepu Commandery as her fief, an honor beyond compare. Hepu Commandery governed twenty-one counties, and Lady Qingping County fell within its jurisdiction. For the Jun family, this was an event that brought glory to their ancestors; most of the Jun household rejoiced and felt proud of Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's achievements. However, within the Jun manor, the atmosphere appeared subtle and complex.

Seeing Jun Jun Yiyi and the people of the Second Branch watched her glory descend upon her, burning with resentment and hatred. They bore a grudge against Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's achievements and cursed her openly and behind her back without cease.

The Emperor, understanding that the Matriarch had difficulty moving, did not require her to personally receive the imperial edict. The Matriarch waited quietly in Jingzhu Courtyard for news.

About half an hour later, Xiang Xiang Junzheng led the people of the First Branch and Second Branch together to Jingzhu Courtyard.

Upon seeing Seeing Jun Jun Zijin, the Matriarch took her hand, scrutinized her up and down for a long while, and her eyes were full of heartache:

"Why didn't the Second Girl take better care of herself? Look how thin you've become from all this time."

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin smiled faintly:

"Grandmother, your granddaughter is fine; it was just a busy period."

Xiang Xiang Junzheng spoke up at this moment: "Mother, the Second Girl has achieved a Great achievement this time, which is supreme glory for our Jun family."

The Matriarch nodded slightly: "That is natural. The Second Girl is wise and kind, which is why she has such deep blessings."

Then, the Matriarch shifted her tone:

"It is just that although the Second Girl has merit, she must also be careful of others' jealousy." As she spoke, her gaze intentionally or unintentionally swept toward Seeing Jun Jun Yiyi and the Second Branch.

Although the Matriarch rarely left Jingzhu Courtyard, she was neither deaf nor blind. The Second Girl had been busy with the smallpox vaccine matter by the Emperor's order during this time. Those with evil intentions dared not openly cause trouble for Seeing Jun Jun Zijin and Quan Ao, but the manor was not at peace. Seeing Jun Jun Yiyi, perhaps having been stimulated by her mother's death, was extremely aggressive. The two father and son of the Second Branch were full of schemes; the two mother and daughter were not peaceful either. As for Jun Chengcai, he seemed to suddenly become sensible, no longer messing around outside, and returned home every day.

Hearing the Matriarch's words, Seeing Jun Jun Yiyi let out a cold snort and spoke in a sarcastic tone:

"What does Grandmother mean by that? Do you think I would harm Second Sister?"

The Matriarch's gaze sharpened: "I know how the people of each courtyard conduct themselves."

Li Shi was startled in her heart and quickly forced a smile:

"Grandmother is joking. We are all one family. If the Second Girl has achieved merit, we are naturally happy too."

Seeing Jun Jun Zhidie had long been unable to hold back. She completely forgot Jun Jun Zhihao's warning. She knew that the Crown Prince had protected Seeing Jun Jun Zijin and broken three of Wu Shi's ribs. Her longing for that man had not diminished, but she dared not approach him again to invite a beating. However, since that man was not present today, her courage grew again. She rolled her eyes and said:

"Why can Seeing Jun Jun Zijin rise to the sky in one step, while we must suffer indignities here?"

Hearing this, Seeing Jun Jun Zijin did not get angry; she even smiled calmly. Yet, facing Seeing Jun Jun Yiyi and the people of the Second Branch, her eyes revealed an undeniable majesty.

"I, Seeing Jun Jun Zijin, gained this glory through my own hard work and wisdom."

Her voice was clear and firm. "If you truly have the ability, why not do practical things for the people like me, instead of talking empty words here, being jealous and cursing, and merely making yourselves a laughingstock?"

The Matriarch agreed greatly, nodding and speaking in a heavy voice: "The Second Girl is right. All of you must remember: true glory is won by your own efforts, not obtained by slandering others. From now on, conduct yourselves well."

The Matriarch, the most respected person in the Jun manor, had become angry, and those who originally harbored dissatisfaction fell silent.

Yet Seeing Jun Jun Zhidie, not knowing life or death, perhaps because Wu Shi had recently suffered misfortune and lost her life, Seeing Jun Jun Yiyi had lost power, and Jun Jun Zhihao had returned, causing the Second Branch to emerge recently, Seeing Jun Jun Zhidie had become somewhat swollen-headed. She acted as she pleased and spoke arrogantly:

"Grandmother, the children of our Second Branch are at least descendants of the Jun family. You cannot favor the First Branch only and suppress the Second Branch, can you?"

"Enough!" Xiang Xiang Junzheng shouted; he hated this group of women the most.

Xiang Xiang Junzheng cleared his throat again, put on a smiling face, and said to the Matriarch:

"Mother, an imperial edict has come down from the palace."

The Matriarch then remembered that she had been so focused on feeling sorry for the Second Girl that she had forgotten about the edict. She quickly stopped speaking and turned to ask: "Who is the edict for? What does it say?"

Xiang Xiang Junzheng said with some pride: "Our Second Girl has been enfeoffed as a Young Lady and granted Hepu Commandery as her fief. A banquet is being held in the palace to celebrate our manor's Young Lady completely eradicating the smallpox virus. All officials of the fourth rank and above in Jingcheng, along with their families, are invited. All Ladies and Young Ladies of our manor can attend. A continuous banquet will also be set up in Jingcheng. The date is set for three days from now."

Hearing this, the Matriarch's face showed a look of gratification.

"This is a tremendous joy. The Jun family having such glory is all due to the Second Girl's merit."

Seeing Jun Jun Yiyi was extremely jealous, while Li Shi was beaming with joy. In this way, everyone in the Second Branch could enter the palace. Regardless, this was a good thing.

The Matriarch then frowned again. "It is just that the time is a bit tight. The clothes for the Young Ladies to enter the palace are really too rushed."

Xiang Xiang Junzheng said: "The Second Girl now enjoys royal treatment; the palace will naturally send clothes, so there is no need to worry. The Eldest Girl has plenty of new clothes and does not need to make more. As for the Third Girl and Fourth Girl, they can go to the ready-made clothing shops outside to look!"

The Matriarch nodded: "Then let it be settled! You all go back and prepare accordingly." The Matriarch looked at Li Shi again: "Explain the rules to the Third Girl again. Do not let her embarrass the Jun family in the palace."

Hearing the Matriarch mention again the incident of the last palace banquet where Seeing Jun Jun Zhidie lost her chastity, Li Shi was extremely angry but dared not explode here, so she could only swallow this anger. Li Shi slightly hid the anger in her eyes, pulled Seeing Jun Jun Zhidie away from Jingzhu Courtyard, and walked so fast that when passing through the moon gate at the courtyard exit, she bumped into Seeing Jun Jun Yiyi in front. Seeing Jun Jun Zhidie let out a cold snort, rolled her little white eyes, and pulled Li Shi with some disgust: "Mother, let's go." Then she strutted past arrogantly.

Seeing Jun Jun Zhidie had just walked a few steps forward when she heard Seeing Jun Jun Yiyi's cold shout: "Stop!"

Seeing Jun Jun Zhidie had just turned around and had no time to speak before Seeing Jun Jun Yiyi slapped her. Seeing Jun Jun Zhidie was slapped and stood stunned on the spot.

Li Shi immediately protested: "Eldest Girl, for no reason at all, why did you hit Jun Zhidie?"

Seeing Jun Jun Yiyi had a belly full of anger today. She did not dare to provoke Seeing Jun Jun Zijin in front of the Matriarch and Xiang Xiang Junzheng, but what were the Second Branch anyway?

"What kind of world is this? I am the legitimate daughter of the First Branch of the Jun family. You, a collateral branch member seeking handouts, dare to speak to me like this?"

Li Shi retorted: "How did I speak? It is true you are the legitimate daughter of the First Branch, but you cannot hit people for no reason. Who can we appeal to for justice?"

Seeing Jun Jun Yiyi thought of the Second Branch becoming increasingly arrogant during this time and felt her liver ache with anger. She spoke with a gloomy face: "You know yourselves what you have done! Do not think I cannot see it!"

"What did we do? What exactly did we do?" Li Shi was never someone to endure. Previously, she was forced by Wu Shi's power in the manor. Now that Wu Shi was dead and rotting, what was there to be arrogant about?

Li Shi raised her voice and shouted:

"Everyone, please judge for us. What exactly did we do? Eldest Girl, your status is precious; we all respect and yield to you. But if you look for trouble for no reason and hit people for no reason, then we will go to the Master and the Matriarch to seek justice, and we must make things clear."

After Li Shi finished speaking, she pulled the stunned Seeing Jun Jun Zhidie and turned to leave.

Long after everyone had gone far away, Li Shi's noisy voice still reached Seeing Jun Jun Yiyi's ears: "So high and mighty, yet also ruthless! Legitimate daughter? I spit!"

Shortly after Wu Shi was buried, rumors spread in the manor that Seeing Jun Jun Yiyi had poisoned her own mother. Li Shi had sighed at the news at the time. There is no smoke without fire; she never expected that Wu Shi, who had loved Seeing Jun Jun Yiyi like her own eyeball, would end up dying at the hands of her own biological daughter.

This matter was always a thorn that Seeing Jun Jun Yiyi could not pull out in her heart. Hearing Li Shi's words was as uncomfortable to Seeing Jun Jun Yiyi as being stripped naked. It made her legs tremble with rage. Li Shi knew exactly where it hurt and stabbed right there.