[{"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-82":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},2353206,4602,"Chapter 82: The Unremovable Thorn","the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-chapter-82",82,"\u003Cp>The Lady of Qingping was honorably titled Princess Qingping. The Emperor issued an imperial decree: in three days, a palace banquet would be held to celebrate Princess Qingping’s eradication of the smallpox virus. All officials in the capital of the fourth rank and above, along with their families, were invited to attend the palace banquet, and open-air feasts would be set up throughout the capital for the entire nation to celebrate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zijin was titled a Princess and granted the fief of Hepu Commandery, which was an immense honor. The jurisdiction of Hepu Commandery included twenty-one counties, and Qingping County was among them. For the Jun family, this was a matter of bringing honor to their ancestors, and most people in the Jun household were overjoyed and proud of Jun Zijin’s achievements. However, within the Jun residence, the atmosphere appeared subtle and complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Yiyi and the members of the second branch were seething with resentment as they watched her receive such glory. They harbored hatred for Jun Zijin’s success and cursed her incessantly, both openly and behind her back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor, considerate of the Old Lady’s limited mobility, did not require her to receive the imperial decree in person. The Old Lady waited quietly in Jingzhu Courtyard for news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After about an hour, Jun Zhengming arrived at Jingzhu Courtyard with the members of both the first and second branches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing Jun Zijin, the Old Lady took her hand and looked her up and down for a long while, her eyes filled with heartache:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could you not know how to take care of yourself, Second Girl? Look at how thin you’ve become from exhaustion during this time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zijin smiled lightly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grandmother, your granddaughter is fine; I have merely been busy for a few days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zhengming spoke up at this moment: \"Mother, the Second Girl has performed a great service this time, which is an incomparable glory for our Jun family.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Old Lady nodded slightly: \"That goes without saying. The Second Girl is intelligent and kind, which is why she is so deeply blessed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the Old Lady changed the subject:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, although the Second Girl has merit, she must also be wary of the jealousy of others.\" As she spoke, her gaze swept intentionally or unintentionally toward Jun Yiyi and the second branch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the Old Lady did not often leave Jingzhu Courtyard, she was neither deaf nor blind. During the time the Second Girl was busy with the smallpox vaccine under the Emperor’s decree, those with ulterior motives dared not openly seek trouble before Jun Zijin and Quan Ao, but the household was not peaceful. Jun Yiyi, perhaps stimulated by the death of her mother, was filled with extreme hostility. The father and son of the second branch were full of schemes, and the mother and daughter were not peaceful souls either. Jun Chengcai, however, seemed to have suddenly become sensible; he no longer fooled around outside and returned home every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the Old Lady’s words, Jun Yiyi let out a cold snort and said with a sarcastic tone:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What does Grandmother mean by this? Could it be that you think I would harm the Second Sister?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Old Lady’s gaze turned stern: \"I am well aware of how the people in each of your courtyards conduct themselves.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Li was startled and hurriedly forced a smile:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Old Lady is joking. We are all one family; of course, we are happy that the Second Girl has performed such a service.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zhidie had long been unable to hold back. She had completely forgotten Jun Zhihao’s warning. She knew that the Crown Prince had defended Jun Zijin and broken three of Lady Wu’s ribs. Her longing for that man had not diminished, but she dared not approach him again to seek a beating. However, since that man was not present today, her courage grew again. She rolled her eyes and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why is it that she, Jun Zijin, can ascend to the heavens in one step, while we have to suffer here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Jun Zijin did not get angry upon hearing this, and even smiled calmly, her gaze revealed an unquestionable majesty as she faced Jun Yiyi and the people of the second branch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The reason I, Jun Zijin, can obtain this glory is by relying on my own efforts and wisdom.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was clear and firm. \"If you truly have the ability, you might as well do some practical things for the people like I did, instead of standing here with empty words, jealous and cursing, merely making yourselves a laughingstock.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Old Lady agreed wholeheartedly, nodding and saying in a deep voice: \"The Second Girl is right. You must all remember that true glory is earned by oneself, not obtained by slandering others. From now on, you had best behave yourselves.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Old Lady, who held the most esteemed position in the Jun household, had become angry, and those who were originally dissatisfied all shut their mouths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Jun Zhidie, oblivious to the danger, perhaps because Lady Wu had recently had bad luck and lost her life, Jun Yiyi had lost her influence, and Jun Zhihao had returned, felt that the second branch had gained some prominence lately. She became arrogant and acted recklessly, speaking wildly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Old Lady, the children of our second branch are, after all, descendants of the Jun family. You cannot just favor the first branch and suppress the second, can you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enough!\" Jun Zhengming barked; he was most annoyed by this group of women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zhengming cleared his throat again, put on a smiling face, and said to the Old Lady:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mother, there is an imperial decree from the palace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Old Lady only then remembered that she had been too busy feeling sorry for the Second Girl and had forgotten about the imperial decree. She hurriedly cut off the conversation and turned to ask: \"To whom is the decree addressed? What does it say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zhengming said with some pride: \"Our Second Girl has been titled a Princess and granted the fief of Hepu Commandery. A banquet will be held in the palace to celebrate our household’s Princess for completely eradicating the smallpox virus. All officials in the capital of the fourth rank and above and their families are invited. All the ladies and young ladies of our household can attend, and there will even be open-air feasts in the capital. The date is set for three days from now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, a look of gratification appeared on the Old Lady’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is a tremendous joyous occasion. That our Jun family can have such splendor is all thanks to the Second Girl’s merit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Yiyi was insanely jealous, but Lady Li was beaming with joy. In this way, the people of the second branch could all enter the palace; no matter what, this was a good thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Old Lady then frowned, \"It is just that the time is a bit rushed; the clothes for the young ladies to enter the palace will be hard to prepare in time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zhengming said: \"The Second Girl now enjoys royal treatment, so the palace will naturally send clothes; there is no need to worry. The Eldest Girl has plenty of new clothes, so there is no need to make more. The Third Girl and Fourth Girl can just go to an outside tailor shop and look!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Old Lady nodded: \"Then let it be decided! You all go back and prepare yourselves.\" The Old Lady looked at Lady Li again: \"Remind the Third Girl of the rules again; don't let her embarrass the Jun family once she enters the palace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the Old Lady mention the incident where Jun Zhidie lost her innocence at the last palace banquet, Lady Li was furious, but she dared not vent it here and could only swallow this insult. Lady Li slightly masked the anger in her eyes and pulled Jun Zhidie away from Jingzhu Courtyard. They walked too fast, and when passing through the moon gate of the courtyard, she bumped into Jun Yiyi, who was in front. Jun Zhidie let out a cold snort, rolled her eyes, and pulled Lady Li away with some disdain: \"Mother, let’s go.\" Then she stepped over with her head held high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Zhidie had only walked a few steps forward when she heard Jun Yiyi’s cold shout: \"Stop!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Jun Zhidie could turn her head and speak, she was slapped by Jun Yiyi. Jun Zhidie was stunned on the spot by the slap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Li immediately refused to let it go: \"Eldest Girl, why are you hitting Die'er for no reason?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Yiyi was full of suppressed anger today and dared not touch Jun Zijin’s bad luck in front of the Old Lady and Jun Zhengming, but what was the second branch worth?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What kind of world is this? I am the legitimate daughter of the Jun family’s first branch; how dare a collateral branch member who comes begging for favors speak to me like that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Li retorted: \"How did I speak? You are indeed the legitimate daughter of the first branch, but you cannot hit people for no reason. Who can we go to for justice?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of how the second branch had become increasingly arrogant lately, Jun Yiyi was so angry her liver ached. She said with a gloomy face: \"You know what you have done yourselves! Don't think I can't see it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What did we do? What on earth did we do?\" Lady Li was never a patient person. Previously, it was out of fear of Lady Wu’s power in the household, but now that Lady Wu was dead and rotting, what was there to be arrogant about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Li raised her voice and shouted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone, judge for yourselves, what on earth did we do? Eldest Girl, your status is noble, and we all respect and yield to you, but if you look for trouble for no reason and hit people, then we will go to the Master and the Old Lady to decide. We must make this clear.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Lady Li finished speaking, she pulled the stunned Jun Zhidie and turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after they had walked far away, Lady Li’s clamorous voice still reached Jun Yiyi’s ears: So high and mighty, yet so ruthless and vicious; legitimate daughter, bah!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after Lady Wu was buried, rumors spread in the household that Jun Yiyi had poisoned her own mother. Lady Li had sighed when she heard it at the time; there is no smoke without fire. She had not expected that Lady Wu, who had cherished Jun Yiyi like the apple of her eye, would end up dying at the hands of her own daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This matter had always been a thorn in Jun Yiyi’s heart that could not be pulled out. Hearing this sentence from Lady Li felt as uncomfortable to Jun Yiyi as being stripped naked. She was so angry that her calves were cramping; Lady Li knew exactly where it hurt and poked right at it.\u003C\u002Fp>",1855,"2026-06-21T03:35:39.629Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","8b17184d5e8de2deb15fc352defa420d70ce05aeae13498cf713644225fa02e7","the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-chapter-83","the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-chapter-81",224,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-cover.jpg"]