Princess Ashiya watched Ji Zizhao's retreating figure, her gradually calming gaze now tinged with a hint of triumph.
Ji Zizhao was likely afraid.
After all, Ji Zizhao was unlike her; she was a princess of the Turkic Khanate, her word law.
She had the right to have all Turkic soldiers buried with her, but what was Ji Zizhao?
If anything were to happen to A'zhen, she would personally report it to A'bu and make Yu Lin pay the price.
At that time, what could a mere county princess who came for a political marriage possibly bear against the might of the Turkic Khanate!
"Ji Zizhao, if you were smart, you'd bring back your imperial physician now, otherwise, you..."
Princess Ashiya's words stopped abruptly.
It wasn't that she didn't want to continue.
It was that she was so shocked she couldn't speak.
Ji Zizhao, with a single hand, lifted Mu Shizhen from the bed.
Her fair and delicate fingers tightened around Mu Shizhen's bulging veins.
As Ji Zizhao turned back, her fingers silently squeezed tighter. With a crisp "crack!", Mu Shizhen, who had been struggling frantically moments before, lost all breath.
Princess Ashiya's eyes widened instinctively, unable to believe what she was seeing.
Ji Zizhao, as if discarding a tattered rag, tossed Mu Shizhen aside with ease.
"Bang!"
With a dull thud, Mu Shizhen, his eyes wide in death, fell heavily before Princess Ashiya.
Footsteps suddenly echoed.
Princess Ashiya looked up in a daze, only to see Ji Zizhao walking towards her. The hand that had just choked Mu Shizhen to death reached out again and grasped her delicate throat.
Ji Zizhao leaned down slightly, looking at Princess Ashiya, who was on the verge of tears, and said word by word, "Yu Lin and the Turkic Khanate are not on equal footing. While I don't know why the Turkic Khanate suddenly wants to negotiate peace with Yu Lin, a peace treaty means no war for five years. Of course, if the Turkic princess wishes to turn her father into a laughingstock of the world, she can continue her provocations. But when you see your father's bones next time, don't cry like you are now."
Princess Ashiya trembled violently. "Ji Zizhao, you, you killed A'zhen! You provoked the Turkic Khanate first..."
"You say I killed the Turkic general, but it's useless. I say that the Turkic general died because I didn't have time to treat him. Since no one else saw it, do you, Princess of the Turkic Khanate, think your single word is enough to give the Turkic Khanate an excuse to attack Yu Lin again?"
Princess Ashiya glanced at the two Turkic soldiers still lying on the ground and remained silent.
Her words were one-sided, but if those two soldiers testified, A'bu would surely believe her.
Seeing that Princess Ashiya had stopped speaking, Ji Zizhao didn't press further. She released her hand and turned towards the door.
Princess Ashiya had never longed for Ji Zizhao to leave as intensely as she did now.
Finally, as Princess Ashiya watched, Ji Zizhao stepped out of the private room.
Princess Ashiya immediately knelt on the ground, embracing the now cold Mu Shizhen, tears streaming down her face. "A'zhen, don't worry, I will not let you die in vain. I will avenge you and make that bitch Ji Zizhao and the entire Yu Lin pay for your death!"
As she spoke, Princess Ashiya held Mu Shizhen tightly in her arms.
After a while, she finally looked up at the two soldiers lying on the ground. "You heard what I just said. When we return to the Turkic Khanate, tell my A'bu. I will reward you handsomely."
The two soldiers lying on the ground showed no reaction.
Princess Ashiya walked over curiously and gently kicked the two soldiers.
The two soldiers on the ground flipped over, but their faces, already devoid of breath, had turned a pale blue.
Princess Ashiya stared at the two thoroughly dead soldiers in disbelief, as if her last defense had been shattered. She immediately broke down into heartbroken sobs.
She, she didn't even know when they had died!
"Ahhhh... Ahhhh..."
Ji Zizhao was walking downstairs when Princess Ashiya's wails echoed from above.
She glanced down at her hands, still dusted with a bit of medicinal powder, and continued to descend the stairs calmly.
She was not foolish enough to leave evidence for her enemies.
The first floor was already filled with Turkic soldiers, under heavy guard. Standing at the forefront was General Mu Man, who had not appeared until now.
General Mu Man had calculated it clearly.
As long as Princess Ashiya ordered the Yu Lin imperial physician to be taken, Yu Lin would not dare to forcefully retrieve him.
After all, his son was in critical condition, and Yu Lin, as a nation negotiating peace, had no reason to refuse to save a life.
Moreover, this was Princess Ashiya's order. If Yu Lin disobeyed, it would be an act of defiance against the Turkic Khan.
But just now, General Mu Man heard a soldier report that the maidservant beside Princess Ronghe had taken Yu Lin's imperial physician. Naturally, General Mu Man could not sit idly by.
Chen Gang, who was about to leave after delivering the antidote to the Turkic soldiers with a physician, saw his master descending the stairs and silently stood aside.
Ji Zizhao took the last step and looked at General Mu Man, who was blocking her path. She smiled calmly, "I didn't see the Turkic general when I arrived. Now the Turkic general has arrived just in time."
General Mu Man heard Princess Ashiya's cries from upstairs and frowned. "Princess Ashiya is the most beloved princess of the Khan. Although she can be a bit arrogant at times, it is not for others to bully her."
Everyone knew who "others" referred to.
Ji Zizhao replied, "I have not touched the Turkic princess in any way."
General Mu Man naturally did not believe such words.
Ji Zizhao's methods and schemes were such that even he had to guard against them. Princess Ashiya was certainly no match for her.
However, seeing Ji Zizhao's composed demeanor, General Mu Man could not make a definitive judgment. He could only order a soldier beside him, "Go up and investigate."
The soldier obeyed and hurried upstairs.
Ji Zizhao stood motionless, her expression serene.
General Mu Man tried to discern something from Ji Zizhao's face several times, but to no avail.
Had he really misjudged? Had Ji Zizhao truly done nothing to Princess Ashiya?
But if that were the case, why was Princess Ashiya crying so?
Soon, the soldier who had gone upstairs to investigate came down. Seeing the soldier's pale face, General Mu Man's doubts gradually turned into the certainty of a victor.
He even puffed out his chest and raised his head.
If Ji Zizhao had disrespected Princess Ashiya, the Khan would surely hold a grudge.
Even if the two countries were at peace, a county princess of Yu Lin should not trouble a Turkic princess. At that time, if the Khan personally intervened, the Emperor of Yu Lin, in order to pacify the situation, would naturally hand over Ji Zizhao to appease his wrath.
Whether for public or private reasons, this woman Ji Zizhao must not be allowed to live!