The Turkic envoys exchanged glances, their understanding unspoken.
"Regardless of the reason, we Turk have come with utmost sincerity to negotiate peace with Yulin. Is this how Yulin's Princess Ronghe repays kindness with malice?"
"If Yulin's Princess Ronghe cannot provide us Turk with a satisfactory explanation for this matter, then our Turk will surely not rest until our grievances are avenged!"
"Don't say we Turk didn't warn you. If the two countries go to war again, it will inevitably lead to rivers of blood and a devastated populace. By then, Yulin's Princess Ronghe will be Yulin's greatest criminal!"
A peace treaty had indeed been signed, and under normal circumstances, the Turk should not have been able to trouble Yulin further.
However, if Yulin had truly gone too far, the Khan would not stand idly by.
How could a mere woman be so arrogant!
Under the insistent accusations of the Turkic envoys, Ji Zizhao was effectively painted as an unforgivable sinner.
Beneath the city gates, a thousand soldiers watched in silence.
Though no one spoke a word, all eyes were fixed on Ji Zizhao.
Facing the relentless pressure from the Turkic envoys, any other woman would likely have fainted from fear.
After all, this matter was far more serious than a mere shouting match.
One wrong step, and the citizens of Yulin would become the target of the Turk's wrath.
And the current Luoyi, including the thousand elite soldiers at the city gate, would inevitably be the first to bear the brunt.
But Ji Zizhao, having taken this action, had already considered all consequences.
Now, facing the Turkic envoys, whose faces contorted as if they wanted to devour her alive, she showed no fear. Instead, she smiled calmly, unfazed by the situation.
Even though she was dressed in men's attire, her smile remained as graceful as ever.
"The Turk claims to want peace with Yulin, yet all their actions have been to suppress Yulin. If the Turk truly desired peace, why are they still humiliating the people of Luoyi to this day! If the Turk were truly benevolent, they would not have displayed the corpses of my Ji family men above the city gates!"
Ji Zizhao's voice was clear and resonant, her words falling like stones.
She seemed fearless, and even more so, like a wave riding the wind.
"Indeed, those who invade other countries and occupy their cities can hardly speak of true benevolence. But since the Turk desires to harbor wolfish ambition while feigning kindness, I implore you to at least pretend to be sincere, rather than acting so perfunctorily that it makes one nauseous. Neither Luoyi nor the men of the Ji family are possessions of the Turk! If the Turk wishes to be a whore who sets up a chaste memorial archway, that is your affair, but it does not mean Yulin must accept it without question!"
The Turkic envoys knew Ji Zizhao was difficult to deal with, but they had not expected her to be so formidable.
Not only did she refuse to admit guilt, but she also directed serious accusations back at the Turk.
General Muman narrowed his eyes.
Years of deceit and intrigue forced him to speculate on the true purpose behind Ji Zizhao's words.
Ji Zizhao was no foolish person to act recklessly, and her audacious actions were already suspicious.
And now, these words...
Seemed to be full of doubt.
General Muman's dark eyes deepened, and the blade of his axe grazed the Second Prince's neck as if unintentionally.
Xie Jingxi cried out in fear, "Ji Zizhao, how dare you! For the sake of those corpses that are already long dead, you seek to instigate a conflict between two nations! Ji Zizhao, I order you to quickly return the remains of the Ji family men to the Turk immediately!"
Ji Zizhao turned her head at the sound, her dark eyes filled with a chilling coldness.
Her gaze was turbulent, sharp, and seemingly several times more honed than General Muman's broad axe.
With just one look, Xie Jingxi shivered all over.
Han Jingyu suddenly stepped forward, blocking Ji Zizhao from behind and shielding her from all critical gazes. "Your Highness the Second Prince, please calm yourself and do not fall into disarray based on unsubstantiated words."
Ji Zizhao was momentarily stunned by Han Jingyu's unexpected intervention.
After all, it was she who had taken the initiative to seize the remains of the Ji family men.
Naturally, she had already prepared herself for all eventualities.
Yet, Han Jingyu stood before Ji Zizhao, unmoved.
He had not interacted much with this eldest daughter of the Ji family.
However, throughout their journey, Ji Zizhao's actions had earned his admiration, even as a man.
While it was true that the eldest daughter of the Ji family had proposed seizing the remains, he had agreed, and therefore shared the responsibility.
He, Han Jingyu, was not so cowardly as to hide behind a woman.
"After all this talk, where is your proof, Turk!"
"Your Turk's aggression is simply too much!"
"When did Yulin's Princess Ronghe become anyone's to point fingers at?"
In an instant, the Yulin envoys who had been standing aside also came forward.
They surrounded Ji Zizhao, their chests puffed out as they confronted the Turkic envoys.
Earlier, in the restaurant, they had been protected by Princess Ronghe.
Now, it was time for them to reciprocate.
Even if they knew that Princess Ronghe had indeed taken the remains of the Ji family men, so what?
They were Yulin's fallen heroes, and they would not allow the Turkic barbarians to desecrate them!
Ji Zizhao looked at the scene before her, feeling a mixture of amusement and helplessness.
In fact, it was unnecessary. Since she dared to plot this, she had already made thorough preparations.
The Turkic envoys' faces turned dark with anger.
They had expected that under duress, Yulin's Princess Ronghe would collapse and reveal her flaws.
But they never imagined that things would develop in a direction completely beyond their control.
"The evidence is right here!" a familiar yet strange voice suddenly rang out from not far away.
Mu Shizhen, accompanied by several Turkic soldiers, strode forward, holding up his left hand and clutching an object.
Ji Zizhao recognized it immediately as the silver hairpin worn by her second sister.
Although the Yulin envoys did not recognize the owner of the hairpin, their hearts tightened.
Turkic women disfavored ornate hairpins, preferring tassels.
If the Turk were to strictly investigate this silver hairpin, they would surely uncover something.
Moreover, only a handful of women had accompanied the expedition to Yulin.
As Mu Shizhen approached, he spoke again, "This silver hairpin was recovered from a brutally murdered soldier, which clearly indicates it belongs to the thief who slaughtered our Turkic soldiers and stole our spoils of victory. Therefore, a thorough investigation of everyone from Yulin will surely bring the truth to light!"
As audacious as the Turk might be, they dared not act against Yulin's royalty.
However!
Facing the Turk's torture, how many new recruits could withstand it?
General Muman, being very shrewd, looked at the Second Prince and asked, "What does Yulin's Second Prince think?"
Xie Jingxi, without a moment's hesitation, replied, "Excellent! Yulin will certainly cooperate with the Turk in a thorough investigation!"
The lives of others were of no consequence to him.
Furthermore, if it turned out that Ji Zizhao was involved, and news of the Turk's aggression reached the imperial city, his father, the Emperor, would surely not spare that wretched Ji Zizhao!