Ji Zizhao understood Xie Jingqi's good intentions.
She also understood the concerns of everyone present.
It was precisely for this reason that she didn't argue with Xie Jingqi.
Since it was goodwill, she would accept it wholeheartedly, even though she didn't need it herself.
Suddenly, a cacophony of hurried footsteps erupted within the city.
Everyone turned their heads in unison, only to see that the previously quiet city was now shrouded in a cloud of dust.
As the footsteps grew nearer, so did the dust.
Xie Jingqi narrowed his eyes defensively, "Could there be Turks hidden within the city, seeking revenge now?"
His words immediately put everyone on high alert.
Han Jingyu immediately gave the order, "Guards! Ensure the safety of the masters!"
Ji Zixiu drew the Dragon-Phoenix Whip from her waist, stepped forward, and raised her arms to shield her elder sister behind her.
Simultaneously, the thousand accompanying soldiers drew their sabers, forming a formation around the group gathered before the city gate.
The sound of footsteps, mingled with panting, grew closer.
Everyone held their breath.
Just as the footsteps were about to reach the city gate, they suddenly stopped.
The rising dust also gradually dissipated.
Soon, the citizens of Luoyi City emerged from the dust.
One, two, three...
As the dust completely cleared, the dilapidated streets were filled with the people of Luoyi City!
Luoyi, having endured war and plague, was no longer as prosperous as it once was.
Yet, even so, the remaining ten thousand people densely packed the streets.
Han Jingyu frowned in confusion, unable to comprehend what these citizens intended.
Just as he was about to ask, he saw the people who had been standing now kneel to the ground.
One after another...
From afar, it resembled a surging tide, truly magnificent!
"We bid farewell to the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, wishing you a safe journey!"
"May the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family be eternally healthy and blessed with immense fortune!"
"Luoyi will always remember the blood of the Ji family! And will never forget the name of the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family!"
To see off a Princess Consort might be against the law.
After all, a princess was not entitled to a city-wide send-off.
But bidding farewell to the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family was their spontaneous and willing act.
The Ji family had sacrificed their lives to protect Luoyi. They could not thank the men of the Ji family, so they extended their gratitude to the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family.
Ten thousand people, kneeling to send her off, their unified voices reaching the heavens.
Witnessing this scene, everyone present felt a tightness in their throats, deeply moved!
Zhang Shuzhong stroked his grizzled beard and couldn't help but exclaim, "Such popular support, something many royal families dream of, and it's now bestowed upon a young lady."
Despite his words, Zhang Shuzhong smiled with genuine relief.
Ultimately, Ji Zizhao was worthy of such respect.
Xie Jingqi was stunned, and only after a long while did he relax his guard, "I didn't expect the people of Luoyi City to have some conscience. It makes all our efforts worthwhile."
Ji Zizhao looked at Xie Jingqi and said softly, "Though hearts are hidden, empathy bridges the gap. As long as you offer sincerity, there will always be unexpected rewards."
With that, she gazed at the citizens of Luoyi for a few seconds before mounting her horse with Qingzhu.
Han Jingyu watched Ji Zizhao, who was riding away, with a deep and distant gaze.
Ever since he pledged allegiance to the Seventh Prince, he had been filled with worry.
After all, their Highness was an unpredictable factor.
Fortunately, above this unpredictability, there was a Princess Consort Ronghe who could suppress everything.
Thus, even if the Seventh Prince were to lose the succession battle, he would likely not fare too badly.
As the sound of hooves faded, the kneeling citizens of Luoyi did not rise.
Just then, another group of horsemen galloped towards Luoyi.
It was Xue Yongnian, arriving with three thousand elite soldiers, who made a cautious gesture.
The three thousand soldiers halted in their tracks.
Fearing a resurgence of the plague in Luoyi, Xue Yongnian rode ahead alone to the city gate.
When he looked into Luoyi City, despite his prior preparations, he was still taken aback by the scene before him.
There was no panic as expected, nor any corpses in the streets as he had surmised.
Though the city, having endured war and plague, was in disarray, the citizens had rosy complexions and appeared full of life.
Then, seeing the entire city's populace kneeling in unison...
Xue Yongnian was speechless.
He felt as if he had missed something significant.
Zhang Shuzhong was the first to spot Xue Yongnian, "Isn't that General Xue? Did the Emperor send you?"
Xue Yongnian dismounted, first paying his respects to the Seventh Prince, then said to Zhang Shuzhong, "Your subordinate has been ordered by the Emperor to come to Luoyi to provide plague relief."
Zhang Shuzhong did not believe Xue Yongnian's words.
He suspected that "plague relief" was merely a pretext for a massacre.
However, now that Luoyi was safe, Zhang Shuzhong saw no need to waste words explaining anything further and led Chen Gang and the physicians from the four major medical halls into the city.
Seeing this, Xue Yongnian, though still filled with questions, understood that the plague in Luoyi had likely been averted.
His shoulder suddenly felt a weight, and Xie Jingqi's smiling face loomed before him, "General Xue, you've arrived at a opportune time. Luoyi needs to be rebuilt. Since you're here, General Xue, lend us a hand."
Xue Yongnian was speechless.
He felt even more strongly that he had missed something.
Xue Yongnian had indeed come to provide plague relief, but with Luoyi City now peaceful, he could find no anomalies. He could only follow the Seventh Prince's orders and lead his three thousand elite soldiers into the city to rebuild houses and streets for the people of Luoyi.
During this time, the name he heard most often was Princess Consort Ronghe.
Although the citizens of Luoyi did not mention the departure of the Turks, whenever Princess Consort Ronghe was mentioned, Xue Yongnian could see unspoken admiration and gratitude on their faces, which had been rekindled with hope.
While the city of Luoyi was being rebuilt, Ji Zizhao had already begun her journey back with Qingzhu.
Not accustomed to riding, Ji Zizhao's inner thighs were already bleeding after only a day, yet she seemed unfazed and tireless, urging the horse onward with Qingzhu.
After an unknown period of time on the road, when Ji Zizhao's legs were completely bloodied, the gates of the Imperial City finally came into view.
Dismounting, Ji Zizhao looked up at the familiar city gate, her dark eyes unfathomable.
The Imperial City remained peaceful and prosperous, with bustling streets and verdant tiles and red walls, a stark contrast to Luoyi.
It was morning, the busiest time in the Imperial City.
Ji Zizhao, leading her horse with Qingzhu, wove through the streets, the chatter of the surrounding citizens incessant.
"Have you heard? The new wife of the Ji family is apparently hosting a banquet the day after tomorrow."
"Although a new wife always hosts a banquet after entering the household, everyone knows that the eldest master of the Ji family died in Luoyi long ago. How can this lady be considered a remarriage?"
"Regardless, she is now officially the principal wife of the Ji family. I heard she's invited quite a few noble ladies from the city to this banquet. The occasion is said to be grand..."
"It's truly a pity for the former madam of the Ji family, she passed away not too long ago... How things change."