Ji Zizhao felt a jolt in her heart as she looked at the determination and resolve in Zhang Shuzhong's eyes.
With Zhang Shuzhong's experience, he could not be unaware of the reason for Mu Shizhen's infection.
She surmised that this was also why Zhang Shuzhong intended to stand by and do nothing.
Otherwise, as a physician, it would be impossible for him to abandon someone to die.
And Zhang Shuzhong knew better than anyone what awaited him if he continued to delay.
They all said that the imperial palace was devoid of human hearts and affections.
It seemed this was not entirely true.
Princess Ashiya shattered the teacup before her on the ground, shouting almost madly, "Old man, if you know what's good for you, hurry up and save my A Zhen. If anything happens to A Zhen, I will surely have you buried with him!"
Zhang Shuzhong remained kneeling on the ground, unmoved. "Those who bring ruin upon the nation and its people, I will not save."
Princess Ashiya trembled with rage, and suddenly pointed at Ji Zizhao. "You want to protect even one of them, yet you refuse to save my A Zhen! Do you even know that her life is worthless? She is merely a plaything sent by Yu Lin to curry favor with my Turkic people! It's just that we Turkic people don't care for her, otherwise, she would have been sent to my father's bed by now, waiting to serve him!"
Such vulgar words made Qing Zhu frown.
However, before Ji Zizhao could say anything, Zhang Shuzhong said in a low, stern voice, "You are impertinent!"
Zhang Shuzhong slowly turned to look at Princess Ashiya, his eyes, weathered by time, filled with indignation, but even more so with undeniable certainty and admiration. "Our Yu Lin's Princess Ronghe, can discuss military strategy and govern the country, and can also alleviate the people's worries! I implore the Turkic princess to watch her words. Compared to Princess Ronghe, the Turkic princess is worthless. By demeaning Princess Ronghe so, have you even considered what you yourself are?"
Such sharp words made even Ji Zizhao feel a blush of shame.
"You..."
Princess Ashiya was practically driven mad with anger. She pointed at the soldier pressing down on Zhang Shuzhong's arm and shouted, "Beat him! Beat him until he willingly apologizes and is willing to treat A Zhen! If he doesn't agree for a moment, you are not to stop!"
The Turkic soldiers hesitated. "If he dies, what will happen to the young general? Only he can resolve the Yu Lin epidemic!"
Princess Ashiya almost screamed in rage, "If my A Zhen truly dies! Then all the people of Luoyi will not survive either. By then, I will make everyone bury my A Zhen!"
These words were clearly a threat to Zhang Shuzhong.
If you refuse to treat Mu Shizhen, after I have you beaten to death, the people of Luoyi will also become victims of the epidemic.
However, Mu Shizhen, who was kneeling on the ground, did not even quicken his breathing upon hearing these words.
Others might not know, but Zhang Shuzhong was well aware that the one who could save Luoyi was not him.
It was Ji Zizhao.
Therefore, as long as Ji Zizhao lived, Luoyi had a glimmer of hope for survival.
If his death this time could truly make the Turkic people give up completely, then he would be willing.
He looked at Ji Zizhao again and smiled.
He smiled with relief and awe. "I implore Princess Ronghe to leave quickly. This humble servant can endure."
No one is fearless of death, but he was willing to face it.
All because the person he wanted to help conceal was worthy.
Princess Ashiya, seeing this, shouted again, "Are you all deaf! Beat him!"
The Turkic soldiers obeyed, clenched their fists, and began to strike Zhang Shuzhong's body.
His body, already weakened by old age, could hardly withstand those powerful punches!
At a critical moment, Ji Zizhao softly called out, "Qing Zhu."
Almost instantly, Qing Zhu, who had been standing by the door, strode in.
She rushed to Zhang Shuzhong's side like a gust of wind, and with just a few swift moves, kicked all the Turkic soldiers to the ground.
Princess Ashiya did not expect Ji Zizhao to dare to act. Her beautiful eyes stared intently at Ji Zizhao. "Ji Zizhao, you are insane! How dare you lay hands on me! Do you know that I am the most beloved princess of the Turkic people! If you make me unhappy, my father will spare no effort to trample Yu Lin flat!"
Ji Zizhao acted as if she heard nothing. Stepping over Princess Ashiya's angry shouts, she personally walked forward and helped Zhang Shuzhong, who was kneeling on the ground, to his feet.
Zhang Shuzhong did not understand. "Princess Ronghe..."
But before he could finish speaking, Ji Zizhao handed him over to Qing Zhu. "Take Doctor Zhang and leave first."
Zhang Shuzhong naturally could not leave. Princess Ronghe was now the hope of Luoyi. He was willing to exchange his own life for hers.
However, without giving Zhang Shuzhong a chance to resist, Qing Zhu struck him unconscious with a single swift movement.
Seeing Zhang Shuzhong being carried away by Qing Zhu, Princess Ashiya immediately screamed for the Turkic soldiers to stop her. Seeing that the Turkic soldiers were in too much pain to even stand, she lunged towards Qing Zhu herself.
But before she could touch Qing Zhu, Ji Zizhao pushed her back to her original spot.
Ashiya was surprised that Ji Zizhao, who looked as slender as herself, had such great strength. She took a long time to catch her breath.
But by then, Qing Zhu had already carried Zhang Shuzhong and fled through the door.
Princess Ashiya was beside herself with rage, and even had the urge to kill Ji Zizhao. "Ji Zizhao, you slut!"
Ji Zizhao acted as if she hadn't heard Ashiya's curses. She walked directly to the bedside, carefully examined Mu Shizhen on the bed, and then let out a low laugh. "The Turkic general is indeed ruthless."
The inn had always been heavily guarded by Turkic soldiers. How could an infected person easily get in?
Furthermore, the epidemic in Luoyi was orchestrated by General Mu Man and someone else. Similarly, how could Mu Shizhen be so easily bitten by an infected person?
Unless...
Mu Shizhen had cleaned his neck and willingly offered himself.
Of course, Ji Zizhao did not believe Mu Shizhen had such courage or spirit.
Therefore, it must be that General Mu Man, for the sake of his grand plan, had sacrificed his son, deliberately infecting him. This way, he could use Princess Ashiya's hand to control Zhang Shuzhong in broad daylight.
If the antidote to the epidemic was formulated by Zhang Shuzhong...
As long as another epidemic broke out at this time, everyone would be completely helpless, and Luoyi would be completely lost.
Luoyi, if the Turkic people could not have it, they would not want Yu Lin to have it either.
General Mu Man's calculation was indeed brilliant.
Princess Ashiya screamed, "Ji Zizhao, stop trying to sow discord!"
Ji Zizhao turned back slightly, smiling good-naturedly.
She would not reason with a fool who was being played in the palm of someone's hand.
She...
Would simply continue to sow discord.
"Currently, the Turkic young general is plagued by the epidemic, and is still under control because his sanity has not been completely eroded by the disease. In another moment, I'm afraid the Turkic young general will completely lose his reason. At that time, let alone Princess Ashiya, even all the Turkic soldiers inside and outside the city will be in danger."
Princess Ashiya stared at Ji Zizhao with suspicion. "What do you mean by that?"
Ji Zizhao said calmly, "It's very simple. If you send the Turkic young general away now, you can still save the lives of the Turkic soldiers."
Princess Ashiya smiled through gritted teeth. "Why should I send him away! Even if all the Turkic soldiers die, what does it matter to me? They are trained by my father to protect the Turkic people and me. Compared to my A Zhen, their lives are worse than those of animals!"
Ji Zizhao nodded. "Since that is the case, there is only one method now."
With that, she turned and walked back to the bed again.