General Mu Man glanced at Mu Shizhen, signaling him, "Go take a look."
Mu Shizhen nodded and strode towards the source of the sound.
Ji Zizhao also looked in the direction of the sound, but the northwest corner was in shadow, a pitch-black expanse where nothing could be seen.
Just then, General Mu Man seized the opportunity to ascend the stone steps towards the city gate.
Ji Zizhao, discreetly following the others, silently trailed behind General Mu Man.
As they neared the summit, Ji Zizhao took another glance towards the northwest corner, faintly discernible were the figures of several soldiers.
These soldiers seemed to be whispering amongst themselves. Upon seeing Mu Shizhen approach, they quickly cleared a path, as if to show him something.
Although Ji Zizhao still couldn't see clearly, the soldiers' actions made it evident that whoever was surrounded by them in the northwest corner was not alive.
Whether it was her second sister or Qingzhu, their martial skills were extraordinary. If either of them had truly been captured alive, these Turkic soldiers would never have been so relaxed and unguarded.
Her heart, which had been pounding in her chest, gradually settled back into its place.
Ji Zizhao repeatedly told herself, *It's fine, as long as they weren't captured alive.*
As long as they weren't captured alive, no matter what evidence there was, she could find a way to turn the tide!
On the city gate, chaos reigned. Traces of battle were visible everywhere.
Gleaming bloodstains had dyed the square bricks of the city gate red, and the corpses of Turkic soldiers lay scattered about.
Faced with such a horrific scene, the Turkic envoys could not help but gasp in shock.
General Mu Man's expression was dark and grim.
A soldier, seeing his general arrive, hurried over to report, "General, just now someone killed all the night watch soldiers and even stole all the Ji family's remains that were hung at the city gate!"
The announcement sent a shockwave through the entire assembly!
If it were merely a massacre of Turkic soldiers, there might have been various reasons. But now, with the Ji family's remains also gone, the motive seemed all too obvious.
Yet, no matter how hard the Turkic envoys rack their brains, they could not imagine that the people of Yulin would dare to be so bold. This was tantamount to outright robbery!
On the other side, the Yulin envoys’ stunned jaws were wide enough to swallow fists.
If this had been planned by Yulin soldiers, General Han would have informed them in advance. But now, they too were in the dark and knew nothing.
However, facing the furious glares of the Turkic envoys, the Yulin envoys became even more certain of one thing: this matter might not be related to them, but it was definitely related to Princess Rong He! Given Princess Rong He's audacity to openly scheme against the Turks just now, what was stealing a few sets of remains?
This was so obvious that even the Seventh Prince, who was usually slow to react, instinctively looked at Ji Zizhao.
*Elder sister, it's not that you can't steal your own family's remains... but can we not be so blatant about it?!* Xie Jingqi whispered to Ji Zizhao beside him, "You might as well have 'thief' written all over your face."
At the same time, General Mu Man's gaze fixed upon Ji Zizhao. The battle-hardened killing intent, honed by years of warfare, seemed ready to erupt at any moment, capable of tearing Ji Zizhao to shreds.
Ji Zizhao met his gaze fearlessly, the look filled with anger and malice. Since she had dared to act, she had never considered being afraid. Of course, she would never allow the Turks to gain any advantage under her watch.
The Turkic envoys, following General Mu Man's gaze, also seemed to realize something belatedly.
General Mu Man suddenly issued a stern order, "Send a command! Twenty thousand troops to assemble and prepare to march immediately to the Yulin camp, and detain all the soldiers there at the city gate!"
Han Jingyu immediately stepped forward, "General Mu Man seems to have overstepped."
General Mu Man suddenly drew his broad axe and pressed it against the Second Prince's neck, "If you refuse, do not blame my axe for being unmerciful!"
The sharp axe blade pressed against the Second Prince's delicate neck. Xie Jingxi's legs turned to jelly in fear, and he hastily shouted, "Han Jingyu, quickly do as the Turkic general commands."
Han Jingyu frowned tightly, "Your Highness! Those are a thousand lives!"
Xie Jingxi ignored him, "Those soldiers are of humble birth, how can they compare to me!"
Han Jingyu was about to say more when the Seventh Prince extended a hand to block him.
Han Jingyu looked up in disbelief, "Seventh Prince..."
Xie Jingqi said, "Do as they say."
Seeing this, Xie Jingxi looked at the Seventh Prince with a gratified smile, "Seventh brother..." Indeed, it was brothers who were more reliable. Even though he had always wanted to crush all his imperial brothers, including Xie Jingqi, under his heel.
However, the Second Prince, who now believed he had escaped danger, had no idea that the Seventh Prince had asked Han Jingyu to obey the Turks because he felt it would be more convenient if their own people were present in a fight. Otherwise, where would they find the time to call people from the camp?
Han Jingyu, forced into submission, could only allow the Turkic soldiers to open the city gate and surround the Yulin camp.
Before long, the thousand unsuspecting Yulin soldiers in the camp were lined up neatly under the city gate, under the watch of the Turkic soldiers.
Gazing at the tense standoff on the city gate, where swords were drawn and bows were bent, the Yulin soldiers were stunned.
General Mu Man coldly looked at Ji Zizhao, "Yulin's Princess Rong He has audaciously stolen the remains and cruelly massacred our Turkic soldiers. If Yulin's Princess Rong He is willing to return the stolen remains and kneel to beg for forgiveness, in consideration of the peace talks between our two nations, I will not make things overly difficult. Otherwise..."
A cold glint flashed in General Mu Man's eyes as he pressed his broad axe closer to the Second Prince's Adam's apple, "Do not blame all those present, who will have to be buried alongside Yulin's Princess Rong He for her reckless actions!" The so-called all present, naturally included the princes, the thousand soldiers below the city, and even the entire populace of Luoyi!
Old ginger is indeed more spicy. General Mu Man knew that they currently had no evidence, no proof. He had simply summoned all the Yulin people to his presence, thereby pressuring Ji Zizhao. People living in this world fear death. When faced with pressure from all the Yulin people, Ji Zizhao would have no choice but to yield, even if she didn't want to. And by then, he wouldn't need to play the villain; the Yulin people themselves would drown her with their scolding!
The Turkic envoys, who had belatedly come to their senses, all glared at Ji Zizhao with ferocious hatred, like wolves and tigers. Since the peace talks began, they had already come to despise this Princess Rong He of Yulin. Now, they were eager to see how she would grovel and beg them in front of all the Yulin people.