The common folk before Chen Gang and the others finished their medicinal soup before rising and heading towards the end of the street.
Originally, he had wanted to let Grand Physician Zhang rest and take over the night watch himself, but he hadn't expected that by the time he reached the end of the street, all he saw were physicians kicked to the ground and a chaotic scene of overturned medicine furnaces.
Chen Gang hurried over and helped a physician up. "What happened here?"
The physician, clutching his profusely bleeding forehead, gritted his teeth. "A troop of Turkic soldiers just arrived, claiming their young general had contracted the plague and demanding Grand Physician Zhang personally attend to him at the tavern."
Chen Gang's face contorted. He quickly turned and ran towards the beginning of the street.
In front of the wooden door where Ji Zizhao was staying, Xie Jingqi sat cross-legged, guarding Ji Zizhao inside like an enraged deity. The physicians and common folk passing by not only dared not walk loudly but had to hold their breath even when exhaling.
Chen Gang rushed over, and before he could speak, Xie Jingqi had already drawn his sword and pressed it against his neck. "Whatever it is, it can wait until Ji Zizhao wakes up."
Chen Gang pleaded, "Your Highness, please be accommodating. This is truly a matter of great importance!"
Xie Jingqi raised an eyebrow and then pressed his long sword a little closer to Chen Gang's neck.
Chen Gang was speechless.
He had truly never met anyone so unreasonable!
But facing the devilish Seventh Prince, Chen Gang was utterly helpless. He could only brace himself and wait outside the wooden door, his heart continuously praying for his master to wake up soon.
Ji Zizhao always had a habit of waking up early, but no matter how early, a whole night had already passed.
After a simple wash and a quick rinse, she opened the wooden door, only to see Chen Gang looking at her with tears threatening to fall.
"What happened?"
Seeing that the Seventh Prince had finally sheathed his sword, Chen Gang quickly blurted out, "Princess Ronghe is in grave danger! Late last night, the Turkic young general contracted the plague, and Princess Ashiya of the Turkic tribe ordered Grand Physician Zhang to be abducted overnight!"
Xie Jingqi's expression changed upon hearing that something was amiss, and he quickly stood up. "The plague has been controlled. How could that Turkic brat have contracted the plague!"
Chen Gang sighed. "I don't know the details of that, but it's been a whole night, and the Turkic side hasn't released Grand Physician Zhang."
Xie Jingqi's brows furrowed; he felt something was not right.
Before he could figure anything out, he heard Ji Zizhao say to Chen Gang, "Immediately summon all the physicians, find all the Azure Dragon Ginseng I brought, add it to the antidote, and then send all the antidote to the tavern for the Turkic soldiers."
Chen Gang blinked in surprise, then nodded. "Yes, I'll go do it now."
Ji Zizhao turned to Qingzhu and said, "You accompany me to the tavern."
Xie Jingqi trailed closely behind. "If you're going to retrieve someone, naturally I should go. Are you going to stand there and get beaten?"
Ji Zizhao stopped and looked back at Xie Jingqi. "Does Your Highness truly wish to help?"
Her staying in Luoyi was for the sake of all the citizens, and even more so to completely trample the Turkic people underfoot.
Now that the Turkic people were making a move, it meant that the person who had been secretly helping them was about to make another move against Luoyi.
Xie Jingqi, facing Ji Zizhao's question, naturally nodded. "Of course."
Just then, Han Jingyu also received news and hurried over.
Ji Zizhao looked at Xie Jingqi and suddenly asked, "Aren't Your Highness curious why the people who infiltrated the city were wearing our Yulin armor? And why the plague that once occurred in Jingzhou has now coincidentally broken out in Luoyi?"
Xie Jingqi was stunned. "Are you suggesting that someone among us has colluded with the Turkic people?"
Ji Zizhao nodded. "Now that the Turkic people have taken Grand Physician Zhang away, it is to prevent us from continuing to supply large quantities of antidote. After all, everyone knows that this antidote was personally formulated by Grand Physician Zhang. Without Grand Physician Zhang overseeing it, other physicians will surely be unable to ascertain the correct dosage. And now, Luoyi is experiencing a plague outbreak. What do you think, Your Highness?"
At these words, even Han Jingyu's heart pounded.
If another plague broke out, the entire city would descend into chaos.
According to the news of the Luoyi plague received from the Imperial City, those who were rushing to Luoyi were probably about to arrive.
If those people truly witnessed another plague outbreak in Luoyi, they would surely order a burning and a massacre of the city!
The rampaging aura around Xie Jingqi gradually spread.
To think that someone was pulling strings right under his nose. They were truly courting death too quickly.
"Han Jingyu, immediately gather a thousand soldiers and accompany me to guard the city gate of Luoyi. I want to see who dares to sneak plague-ridden individuals into Luoyi right under my nose!"
"Yes, your humble servant obeys."
As Xie Jingqi mounted his horse, Ji Zizhao also boarded a carriage with Qingzhu.
Through the carriage window, she watched Xie Jingqi heading straight for the city gate, her dark eyes filled with an unfathomable depth.
She hoped that when Xie Jingqi faced the true culprits, he would be as resolute as he was now.
In front of the tavern, there were still a large number of Turkic soldiers on guard.
However, the Turkic soldiers did not stop Ji Zizhao upon her arrival.
Leading Qingzhu up to the third floor, Ji Zizhao could hear the heart-wrenching screams from within before she even entered the room.
Ji Zizhao turned to look at Qingzhu beside her.
Without even thinking, Qingzhu kicked the door in front of them.
"Bang—!"
The tightly shut door was kicked open, shattering against the wall inside.
Princess Ashiya, who was sitting in the room, shrieked in surprise, "Who dares!"
Ji Zizhao strode in, looking at the wide-eyed Princess Ashiya with a calm and unruffled expression. "Since the Turkic Princess has resorted to abducting our Yulin Grand Physician, why do you now put on such a surprised look?"
As she spoke, she scanned the room.
On the bed lay Mu Shizhen, bound tightly, his face a sickly green, clearly showing signs of a sudden plague outbreak.
Zhang Shuzhong, meanwhile, was being held down by several soldiers who pressed his shoulders, forcing him to kneel on the ground, facing the bed.
The old man, due to his advanced age and being held down all night, was naturally a bit weak. His drooping eyelids appeared somewhat drowsy. As if hearing the sound, he laboriously opened his eyes, and when he saw Ji Zizhao standing in the room, a flicker of light finally appeared in his cloudy eyes.
"Princess, Princess Ronghe, why have you come? Quickly, quickly go..."
Ji Zizhao turned and looked at Princess Ashiya not far away. "Is this how the Turkic Princess entertains guests?"
Princess Ashiya gave a cold laugh. "It is your Yulin people who are uncooperative. I merely wanted him to treat my A'zhen, and this old fool repeatedly obstructed me. Not killing him is already being merciful!"
Zhang Shuzhong, as if not hearing the killing intent in Ashiya's words, continued to urge Ji Zizhao, "Please, Princess Ronghe, leave quickly. This humble servant can endure."