The Turks, faced with the fury of the Luoyang populace, watched with cold indifference.
Countless vegetable leaves and pebbles rained down on the Second Prince, striking him relentlessly.
A large lump appeared on the Second Prince's forehead from the blows.
Xie Jingxi, who had gone from initial anger to helplessness, and now to sheer terror, scurried about like a rat fleeing the street, covering his head.
Xie Jingqi knew all too well that the current situation in Luoyang was entirely the Second Prince's doing.
However, he was still his own second brother. How could he truly stand by and do nothing?
Xie Jingqi turned to Sun Li and Liang Xiu beside him, "What are you two still waiting for?"
Sun Li and Liang Xiu immediately understood his meaning and hurried towards the Second Prince.
Only after the Second Prince had narrowly escaped danger did Xie Jingqi frown and look at Ji Zizhao, "You are truly insidious."
Don't think he couldn't see that she had deliberately informed the Luoyang citizens of the Second Prince's arrival.
Ji Zizhao did not deny it, merely stating calmly, "Before you do something, you must consider the consequences. If you cannot bear the basic burden, you might as well die."
Xie Jingqi: "..."
Was this woman's mouth poisoned?
Seeing that the Second Prince was safe under the protection of Sun Li and Liang Xiu, Ji Zizhao did not intervene further.
In fact, even if the Seventh Prince hadn't acted, she would have ensured the Second Prince's survival.
As she had said, she wanted to make the Second Prince wish he were dead.
Although Luoyang was not a small city, it was nowhere near as prosperous as the imperial capital.
The Turks, accustomed to the vast grasslands, found even the largest residences in Luoyang to be cramped.
Mu Man decisively ordered the largest restaurant in Luoyang to be surrounded and used as their temporary lodging.
Upon entering the restaurant, the Second Prince immediately demanded a physician to treat his injuries.
General Mu Man understood that they could not push the Yulin people too hard. He therefore assigned accommodations to everyone and instructed them to rest, promising a banquet later.
The Seventh Prince and the Second Prince were housed on the second floor of the restaurant.
Meanwhile, Ji Zizhao and the Tenth Prince were both assigned to the fourth floor.
The third floor in between was occupied by General Mu Man and his son, Mu Shizhen.
It was clear that General Mu Man considered Ji Zizhao and the Tenth Prince his spoils of war. By separating them so distinctly from the Seventh and Second Princes, he intended to choose whom to keep for himself.
Faced with such a humiliating arrangement, Xie Jingqi's fists began to itch again.
The Turks clearly had no regard for Yulin!
Liang Xiu and Sun Li, seeing the Seventh Prince becoming restless once more, almost risked their lives to prevent a bloody disaster.
However, compared to the accommodation of the Yulin princes, the encampment of the two thousand soldiers on open ground was an even greater insult.
General Mu Man, under the guise of protecting the Yulin soldiers, dispatched an equal number of two thousand Turkic soldiers, ostensibly to camp around the Yulin troops, but in reality, to completely encircle them.
The Yulin soldiers had no freedom to enter or leave their camp and were forced to obey all Turkic commands.
Under the various pressures from the Turks, the two thousand elite Yulin soldiers were treated like beasts, devoid of freedom and dignity.
The two thousand Yulin soldiers were mostly new recruits who had never even seen blood. Now, faced with the fierce demeanor of the Turkic soldiers and the Turks' blatant disregard for Yulin, their already dwindling morale had vanished without them even realizing it. Sultan Novel Network.
Cao Yan, who was merely seeking military achievements, had never witnessed such a situation and was so terrified that he threatened to go home and quit.
Soon, the news reached the restaurant.
Qing Zhu frowned and said, "Miss, the Turks are now forcibly pressuring Yulin."
Ji Zizhao gazed silently at the teacup in her hand, unsurprised by the situation.
As the victors, the Turks had the capital to be arrogant.
Even though they claimed to be negotiating peace with Yulin, they had never truly respected them.
In her previous life, Ji Zizhao had specialized in psychology and knew very well that the Turks were using forceful means to suppress Yulin's morale. Once Yulin's morale completely collapsed, they would inevitably be led by the nose by the Turks.
However, Ji Zizhao, who already had a plan in mind, remained unfazed.
But before taking action, Ji Zizhao was determined to consult with Han Jingyu.
After all, Ji Zixiu was a soldier now. She could act freely, but Ji Zixiu could not.
In his room on the second floor, the usually calm Han Jingyu was so enraged by the news that he almost cursed.
He didn't care about the disgrace Yulin suffered within its own borders, but now that it had extended to the Turks, his reputation as a major general was also at stake.
Just as Han Jingyu was about to lose his temper, Ji Zizhao knocked on his door.
Seeing Ji Zizhao arrive uninvited, Han Jingyu was taken aback, "County Princess Ronghe?"
Time was short, and Ji Zizhao did not wish to beat around the bush. "The Turks are pressuring Yulin like this merely to extract more benefits from Yulin during the peace talks. If we cannot restore morale beforehand, we will be at their mercy."
Hearing this, Han Jingyu guessed that Ji Zizhao already had an idea.
"County Princess Ronghe, whatever you wish to say, please do not hesitate."
Han Jingyu truly respected this woman who had given him so much surprise and delight along the way.
However, when Ji Zizhao spoke again to explain her intentions, the expectation on Han Jingyu's face vanished.
He looked at Ji Zizhao standing before him in disbelief, feeling as if his worldview was crumbling.
"County Princess Ronghe, please do not joke!"
This was simply too big a joke for him to handle.
Ji Zizhao responded frankly, "This plan does indeed have my own selfish motives, but it is the only feasible strategy to restore morale overnight."
Han Jingyu: "..."
Is there anyone here? I need heart medication.
This had already surpassed the realm of surprise and delight...
This was simply life-threatening!
Such a mad act was something ordinary men would not even dare to contemplate.
Yet, the County Princess Ronghe before him not only dared to think and speak of it, but also intended to act on it.
Such courage...
Even if a general's son is not without merit, there must be a limit!
But at this moment, Yulin was completely sidelined by the Turks. If they continued to let the Turks run rampant, Yulin would not only lose its standing but might even be devoured by the Turks until not even the bones were left.
Han Jingyu looked at the woman before him, her expression unchanged, and deliberated, "County Princess Ronghe, what is your confidence level?"
Ji Zizhao replied truthfully, "If it fails, then I will perish with it."
Just like treating an illness, one should not pass judgment before seeing any effect.
Han Jingyu: "..."
I'll continue to find someone to get me some heart medication.