Han Jingyu was genuinely confused.
Although from various perspectives, the Seventh Prince was indeed the only one not controlled by the Turks.
But the Seventh Prince was a precious darling raised in the Emperor's embrace. When he was in the imperial city, only the Fourth Prince and the Emperor could command him.
Anyone with eyes open for a while could see that the Seventh Prince was having a tantrum with Ji Zizhao...
So Han Jingyu truly couldn't understand why the usually stubborn Seventh Prince was so obedient.
In fact, Ji Zizhao hadn't done anything.
Ji Zizhao simply sent Ji Zixiu to Xie Jingqi's doorstep and subtly delivered a message.
"The Turks are causing trouble for Yulin, but my elder sister finds this matter quite troublesome. Aren't you always wanting to prove yourself in front of my elder sister? Here's a chance, brave boy, go make your presence felt. Of course, if you don't even cherish such a precious opportunity, you deserve to be a blockhead for life."
Although Xie Jingqi was the only slacker among the princes, he was still a slacker with pride. To be able to hold his head high in front of Ji Zizhao in the future, he had to seize this heaven-sent opportunity.
Therefore, Xie Jingqi, unwilling to be a blockhead, stood before Han Jingyu.
"What are you waiting for? Didn't you say the Turks are causing trouble? Let's go, I'd like to see how many guts they have!" Xie Jingqi grabbed Han Jingyu by the collar and rushed out the door.
Zhang Shuzhong watched the Seventh Prince, who was sharpening his blades against the Turks, and was filled with admiration for Ronghe County Princess.
"Ronghe County Princess truly has remarkable skills."
The art of royalty is the art of managing people.
Unfortunately, some princes couldn't grasp its profound mysteries even in a lifetime.
The Emperor harbored suspicions towards the meritorious Ji family men, thus making an irreversible mistake. He didn't know that after these Ji family men, this unknown young lady of the Ji family was even more formidable, truly a superior being.
Ji Zizhao said lightly, "It's merely making the best use of everything."
As the saying goes, good steel is used on the blade, and money is spent wisely.
Besides, only when one truly sees a mistake can one understand their own foolishness. Of course, if the Seventh Prince didn't even have this realization, then he'd only be fit to be a husk of a person for the rest of his life.
Even if he were to fall out with the Fourth Prince, that black dumpling, she wouldn't waste any more time on the Seventh Prince. To enable the Ji family to win a peaceful and prosperous era, and for the guilty to receive their just deserts, this was not the only path available.
On the street, the Seventh Prince could be clearly seen galloping his horse, sending Turkic soldiers flying.
However, Zhang Shuzhong showed no joy on his face. "The most difficult situation now, I fear, will not come from the Turks."
Luoyi was already under the strict scrutiny of the imperial court. It could be said that every move of the people within the city was being watched by the court. Now that Luoyi was hit by an epidemic, this news would likely reach the imperial city swiftly. Thinking of the desperate situation in Jingzhou back then, how could Zhang Shuzhong not be apprehensive? Once the Emperor issued a death order, everyone would be annihilated!
"No matter how difficult the situation, it can always be resolved." Ji Zizhao was trapped in Luoyi and unable to escape, but she hadn't forgotten that the Fourth Prince was still in the imperial city. If that black dumpling didn't even have the ability to turn the tide, what qualifications would he have to negotiate with her? Therefore, all she had to do now was to guard Luoyi well.
Ji Zizhao turned back to the stove. The medicinal soup had already been brewed. She bent down and picked up the medicine pot, calmly waiting for the soup to cool.
Zhang Shuzhong, looking at the composed Ji Zizhao, was rather curious. "Although I don't know what reliable person Ronghe County Princess has left in the imperial city, I am also very curious about who could make Ronghe County Princess so confident."
Ji Zizhao's heart suddenly became restless. Because even she herself hadn't realized it, she was starting to trust that deeply black dumpling.
As Zhang Shuzhong had said, within a few days, news of the epidemic in Luoyi reached the imperial city. Although this matter was deliberately concealed from the common people of the imperial city, the civil and military officials of the court could no longer remain calm. As a result, when they went to court the next day, the officials stood before the great hall an hour in advance, waiting in unison.
During the court session, the officials argued endlessly about the epidemic in Luoyi. The civil officials naturally wished to burn Luoyi with fire for a quick solution. But the military officials were naturally unhappy. When Luoyi was captured by the Turks back then, where were you brave officials? We military men bore the brunt of the enemy. Now that peace is near, you want to burn the city? Oh, you want to cut the gordian knot, but what about the military men who shed blood and sacrificed for Luoyi? They died in vain! No matter what, it all ends up as you civil officials wish. Are you going to heaven?
Faced with the military's reasoned arguments and curses, the civil officials couldn't bear it. Emperor Xiaochang was also annoyed to the point of a headache. He dismissed the court, retaining only a few close ministers.
As soon as Emperor Xiaochang entered the imperial study and before he could say a word to the ministers, he saw a palace servant rush to the door.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, news has come from Shizi Street that the Fifth Prince has suddenly fallen ill. His limbs are stiff, his body is out of control, and he keeps opening his mouth as if trying to bite..."
As soon as these words were spoken, the ministers standing in the imperial study almost jumped up. The ministers present in the imperial study had all experienced the "Jingzhou Ghost Case" back then. Some had even personally witnessed the tragic sight of Jingzhou people biting. Now, hearing that the Fifth Prince had suddenly fallen ill, and his symptoms were similar to the Jingzhou Ghost Case, who wouldn't be afraid? Some timid ministers wished they could disappear on the spot.
Emperor Xiaochang snorted, "Within the imperial city, under the Emperor's gaze, how can a ghost case occur? Guards, quickly dispatch imperial physicians to Shizi Street to take the pulse of the Fifth Prince."
Although he said this, Emperor Xiaochang's face was also extremely grim. If the epidemic of Jingzhou had truly spread to the imperial city back then, perhaps no one would have been spared. Everyone fears death, and so does the Emperor at the highest position.
The imperial physicians of the Imperial Medical Academy followed the decree and almost risked their lives to go to Shizi Street. While everyone in the imperial study was waiting for news from the Fifth Prince, a message came from the rear palace. Consort Xi was worried about the Fifth Prince and had fainted. Although the young eunuch who delivered the message said that Consort Xi had fainted out of worry, the ministers, already like startled birds, feared that Consort Xi had also contracted the epidemic and was thus unwell.
Although there were rules in the imperial palace that princes had to move out of the palace and reside on Shizi Street after their capping ceremony, no one had ever stipulated that adult princes could not enter the palace!
"Your humble servant remembers that yesterday I still saw the Fifth Prince enter the palace to pay his respects to Consort Xi!" I don't know which minister said this, causing the other ministers to nearly collapse. Hearing this, Emperor Xiaochang also began to feel restless. The various countries appeared harmonious on the surface, but who wasn't coveting power behind their backs? If the imperial city were truly infected with an epidemic, let alone everyone dying, the Xie family's dynasty, which had lasted for a hundred years, would likely perish along with it.
Fortunately, half an hour later, the imperial physicians who had gone to Shizi Street returned with their report. Although it had only been half an hour, the people in the imperial study felt as if they had lived through years.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, your humble servant has examined the Fifth Prince. The Fifth Prince's symptoms are indeed severe, but there is no need to worry. It is merely a severe cold, causing him to be delirious with fever."
Everyone else in the imperial study let out a heavy sigh of relief upon hearing this. However, Emperor Xiaochang, who was sitting on the dragon throne, could not shake off the feeling of having narrowly escaped death. Thinking of Luoyi, which had always been a constant worry, he finally said with a darkened gaze, "Fenggu! Summon General Xue."
The few ministers in the imperial study inwardly sighed. They recalled that back when Jingzhou was burned, the Emperor had also urgently summoned the old general of the Ji family to the palace. Recalling the past and looking at the present... The Emperor was likely going to burn Luoyi again!