The street fell silent for a moment, so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
But the silence lasted only an instant before the entire street erupted in a roar.
Countless shouts, like a tidal wave, shook the heavens, each one hailing the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, resounding like thunder.
The people of Luoyi had long heard of the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family's formidable might. On her very first day in Luoyi, she had sent people to retrieve the remains of the Ji family men, a show of force intended to rally Luoyi and embolden the thousand soldiers outside the city gates.
Now, to finally see the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family, how could the assembled citizens not be exhilarated and moved?
They had finally seen the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family!
They had finally witnessed the continuation of the Ji family!!
The Tuyur soldiers lying on the ground were utterly shocked.
They had never imagined that this seemingly frail woman, incapable of even felling a chicken, was none other than Princess Ronghe, who could single-handedly stir the hearts of the people and the army.
"We were blind and failed to recognize Princess Ronghe. What happened today was merely a misunderstanding. We shall not trouble Princess Ronghe any further." The leading Tuyur soldier gestured to the soldiers behind him to rise, gave a perfunctory bow, and turned to leave.
However, the captain of the Yulin soldiers lunged forward, blocking their path. "Princess Ronghe has not yet spoken. You may not go anywhere."
The leading Tuyur soldier heard this and let out a mocking laugh. "Do not make a mistake, Yulin. She is your Yulin's princess, not ours from Tuyur... Of course, if Princess Ronghe wishes to remain in Tuyur, it is not impossible. As long as she sincerely kneels before our Khan and begs to become a concubine, I believe our Khan will surely show great mercy and allow Princess Ronghe to enjoy the pleasure of being a concubine."
Such vulgar words utterly enraged the Yulin soldiers.
The Yulin soldier captain immediately drew his saber. "Insolent!"
Dozens of Yulin soldiers also gripped their broadswords, facing the Tuyur soldiers who had their axes defensively held before their chests.
The two sides were locked in a tense standoff, swords drawn and bows bent.
"Please, Princess Ronghe, give the order!" The Yulin soldier captain faced the Tuyur soldiers with full vigor and an unruffled expression.
That day at the city gates, he had personally witnessed how Princess Ronghe had bolstered Yulin's prestige.
The thousand soldiers of Yulin were even more acutely aware of who had retrieved the remains of the Ji family men.
Without Princess Ronghe, they would likely still be crushed under the Tuyur's imposing pressure.
Therefore, even if it meant disobeying military orders today, they were determined to protect Princess Ronghe's safety.
The citizens on the street watched with widened eyes.
The Yulin army served the court, protecting the Emperor's safety, and down below, they stabilized Yulin and guarded its territory.
Even the high officials and nobles in the imperial city did not possess the privilege of receiving the Yulin army's life-risking protection.
Yet, this honor was now bestowed solely upon Princess Ronghe, who had once been mocked as a useless individual by the imperial city.
"Princess Ronghe, consider carefully. We are the Muzi Army, directly under General Muman. If anything happens to us, the General will not stand idly by." The leading Tuyur soldier directly pulled out a Muzi Army token from his懷.
However, this object, which held enough deterrent power for others, was worthless in Ji Zizhao's eyes.
"You are under General Muman, and therefore believe you can act with impunity. But you have likely forgotten that you are currently on Yulin soil, treading upon Yulin's land. To the Emperor, the people are the future of Yulin! And to my Ji family, the people are the ones we will always protect!"
Ji Zizhao's words brought tears to the eyes of the people of Luoyi.
They were reminded of the Ji family men's efforts in fighting for Luoyi.
Even more unforgettable was the Ji family men's unwavering conviction of dying before surrendering, of never retreating.
The leading Tuyur soldier, however, sneered coldly. "Princess Ronghe, what exactly do you want? Give us a clear answer. Stop this feminine dawdling. We do not have that much time... Oh, I forgot. Princess Ronghe is naturally a woman born to yield and serve men."
"You...!" The Yulin soldier captain pressed his saber to the Tuyur soldier's neck.
Ji Zizhao, however, let out a cold laugh, neither rushed nor annoyed. She looked at the group of Tuyur soldiers before her and said, "Since you claim to be General Muman's personal guards, this matter should naturally be decided by General Muman. Qingzhu, Lianju, take them to the restaurant."
Qingzhu and Lianju nodded, and both stepped forward towards the Tuyur soldiers.
The leading Tuyur soldier instinctively tried to evade Lianju's grasp.
But as soon as he moved, Lianju kicked him in the knee.
The leading Tuyur soldier grimaced in pain, while Lianju seized the opportunity to grab his arm and twist it behind his back.
All the actions were as swift as lightning, executed in one fluid motion.
Qingzhu then looked at the other Tuyur soldiers. "Do you also wish to taste this experience?"
The Tuyur soldiers looked at their leader, who was sweating profusely from the pain, and all of them lowered their axes.
After all, the General would surely protect them. There was no need for Princess Ronghe to gain the upper hand.
The Yulin soldier captain, seeing the Tuyur soldiers heading towards the restaurant with Qingzhu and Lianju, said with concern, "How can Princess Ronghe let go so easily of these barbarians who spew such vulgarities?"
Ji Zizhao had no intention of letting anyone off the hook.
However, she did not waste time explaining. She simply turned to the Yulin soldiers beside her and asked, "How did you enter the city?"
The soldier captain explained, "Princess Ronghe need not worry about us. Two hours ago, Tuyur had already issued an order to lift the ban on Luoyi City. Yulin soldiers can now move freely within the city."
In this peace treaty between the two countries, Tuyur had gained absolutely nothing from Yulin.
If General Muman proposed to lift the ban on Luoyi at this juncture, wouldn't he be disgracing himself?
This way, Yulin might consider Tuyur to be afraid of Yulin.
Scholars cared about reputation, and military commanders valued prestige.
If this matter spread, how would General Muman be able to stand in Tuyur in the future?
Ji Zizhao certainly did not believe that the cunning old General Muman would do something that harmed himself and benefited others.
However, this was not something Ji Zizhao would discuss in detail with the Yulin soldiers.
After bidding farewell to the Yulin soldiers, Ji Zizhao hurried towards the restaurant.
A lot had happened today: the capture of the city's physician, the lifting of the ban on Luoyi City...
Though these two events seemed unrelated, given General Muman's shrewdness, could it really be a coincidence?
The first-floor hall of the restaurant was now filled with people.
Xie Jingqi, who had been waiting impatiently, rushed over as soon as he saw Ji Zizhao enter. "I heard you went into the city for a stroll. Did you happen to see the magnificent presence of our Yulin soldiers?"
Ji Zizhao subtly swept her gaze over General Muman, who was seated nearby, before asking the Seventh Prince, "Is the matter of Yulin soldiers entering the city related to Your Highness?"
Xie Jingqi responded with a knowing expression, "You are clever."