There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 440 The Right Direction

These subtle sounds, like scattered grains of sand, may not gather into a raging storm, but they are enough to alter the surface of the desert.

Li Shuchen lay on the bed, a smirk playing on his lips.

that's nice

The name Zoya Saval is no longer a vague symbol in court records.

Instead, along with words like "miracle," "compassion," "courage," and "hope for change," tiny, fragile green shoots began to quietly sprout in the parched soil of the hearts of the people of Boyu.

Although people dare not discuss it openly, the glances exchanged in private, the sighs over tea, and the occasional mentions when educating children are all silently and slowly carrying out a shift.

is the positive direction

It is an inevitable trend

On the third night after the night at the observatory, the shielding ball once again sent ripples through the inn's room.

The atmosphere was different from before; there was less tense planning and more of the exhilaration of an initial victory and a more pragmatic focus.

"Well done, Zoya!"

Li Shuchen was the first to jump up, patting Zoya's shoulder hard. "Those tears, those lines, that departing figure! Absolutely amazing! I almost cried! You're definitely a born leading lady!"

Zoya's face flushed slightly, but her eyes sparkled.

"At that moment... my mind went completely blank, and many things just came out of my head. Thanks to your prior preparation, I had something to say and felt confident."

"The results exceeded expectations," Liang Yuying calmly assessed.

"Public opinion within the city has begun to shift. The old prince's attitude is a major positive factor, but the king and the bazaar will not sit idly by. A counterattack could come at any time. We must seize this momentum and push Princess Zoya's prestige and 'power' to an even higher level, high enough that they dare not act rashly for the time being, and high enough to attract more centrists to defect."

"That's right!"

Gu Ziying continued, unfolding several sheets of paper covered in delicate handwriting in front of her. "According to the information Anlan and the others brought back from the streets, sympathy and curiosity currently dominate towards the princess, but there's still a gap between 'support' and 'trust'. We need new 'deeds' to prove that the princess's vows are not empty talk, and to demonstrate her 'ability' and 'benevolence'."

Princess Changning rubbed her hands together, eager to get started: "Tell me, what's next? Should I continue to cause trouble for the market?"

“No,” Liang Yuying shook her head. “Changning did a great job drawing fire earlier, but now we need more precise action. The King’s next move is likely to be to appease or smear Princess Zoya, and we must act first.”

"Enough talk, let's get started with Task Allocation 2.0!" Li Shuchen said excitedly.

Everyone nodded in agreement

“Princess,” Gu Ziying pointed to the direction of Tear Valley on the map, “the miracle points there. This is your next stage. You need a public and unquestionable act of kindness.”

Zoya nodded

“I understand. There are several of the poorest nomadic settlements around Tear Valley. With the sandstorm season approaching, they are lacking food and medicine. I plan to use the meager personal assets left by my mother, under the guise of ‘gratitude for the guidance of the stars and comfort for the parched land,’ plus…” She looked at Li Shuchen.

Li Shuchen patted his chest

"Don't worry, I've managed to get some food and medicine from Jin Camel's ill-gotten gains, and Ruan Jingshang has also obtained some through his channels. It's enough to set up a few soup kitchens and distribute some commonly used medicines. Uncle Umur will bring reliable people to help you."

"It's more than just distributing porridge."

Gu Ziying's eyes gleamed. "When you're distributing porridge, you should tell the gathered herders, 'The tears of the stars falling into the parched valley are a reminder that the earth may not be completely dead. I've heard from the elders of the tribe that there used to be dampness beneath some shady sandy areas in Tear Valley. If you have some free time, you should search and investigate; perhaps you can find another way to survive for your fellow villagers.'"

Zoya asked in confusion, "But that place has indeed been dry for a long time..."

Li Shuchen chuckled: "The dampness underground... well, you can always find some if you try. Princess, just go and 'search' with a few trustworthy people. Just 'accidentally' find one or two slightly damp sand pits on the edge of the valley. The rest is up to Miracle and... my little tools."

Liang Yuying added

"This move kills three birds with one stone: it demonstrates your benevolence, echoes the 'miracle,' and suggests that you may bring 'life.' When the news reaches Suleiman, the effect will be doubled. I will send two Mulan soldiers disguised as refugees to blend into the crowd, protect you, and observe your reaction."

“Okay!” Zoya clenched her fist. “I’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning.”

Gu Ziying turned to Ye Bingli

"Bingli, now we need your skillful hands and wisdom to create a statue of the princess."

Ye Bingli raised her eyes: "Ziying, just speak plainly."

"Songs and stories alone are not enough; we need a more direct and sacred image."

Gu Ziying unfolded a sketch, which depicted the profile of a woman against a backdrop of stars and desert; the lines were simple yet elegant.

"I consulted Shu Chen to design several patterns. The core elements are: emerald green eyes, a sandpiper totem, starlight teardrops, and new seedlings in a dried-up valley."

"They need to be incorporated into forms that can be quickly replicated and disseminated, such as simple woodblock prints, embroidery patterns, or even painted pottery."

Ye Bingli carefully examined the drawing and nodded slightly.

“I can draw more detailed sketches and formulate several pigment recipes that are not easy to fade and are inexpensive. Embroidery patterns and ceramic painting templates are also not difficult. The only problem is... how can I get them circulating without arousing suspicion?”

Gu Ziying had already decided to use women and children as a means to achieve her goal.

"I will have Anlan, Pearl, and Emerald share these patterns with the maids and embroiderers of various mansions under the guise of learning new patterns from Boyu Kingdom and exchanging needlework skills."

"For the common people, we sell inexpensive pottery jars and handkerchiefs with these patterns on credit to street vendors. The patterns themselves don't have names written on them, but people who see them will naturally associate them with Princess Zoya. We only need to guide them slightly when they are first spread."

Li Shuchen nodded with a smile.

"We can also create some new rhymes to match the pictures, such as: 'Green eyes, sparkling bright, searching for Mercury in the sand, the sandpiper flies, tears fall, hoping for new seedlings in the parched land!' Simple and catchy, like a nursery rhyme."

"wonderful!"

Gu Ziying praised, "Bingli and Shuchen will work together on this matter. I will oversee the overall direction and progress to ensure that these image seeds sprout in the right soil (the occasion for discussing the princess)."

"Then what about me? What should I do?" Princess Changning asked hurriedly. "Is it more important, more difficult, or more dangerous than the last mission? No problem, leave it to me. I guarantee I'll complete it perfectly."