There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 439 The Wind Is Coming

After speaking, she bowed deeply again to the southwest, in the direction of the "falling star."

Then, ignoring the ashen-faced king and prince, and without looking at anyone else, he straightened his back and walked down the observatory step by step.

That slender yet resolute figure disappeared into the darkness leading to her secluded palace.

On the observatory, there was a deathly silence.

Only the whooshing sound of the night wind blowing through the torches and the faint melody of "Sand Crying" lingering from the audience could be heard.

King Ardan's celebration turned into a complete political disaster and Princess Zoya's stunning debut.

Prince Suleiman gazed in the direction Zoya had left, then at the distraught king and the furious bazaar, before finally letting out a barely audible sigh and turning away.

The members of the Purple Star delegation exchanged glances. Li Shuchen covered his mouth with his fan, his eyes crinkling into crescent moons as he whispered to Liang Yuying.

"The real show is just beginning! Our collaborator's acting skills and charisma are both top-notch!" She secretly gave a thumbs-up.

Liang Yuying smiled and said, "Could it be that Shu Chen taught you acting skills?"

"I don't have that; those are her innate talents," Li Shuchen chuckled as she left with the rest of the group.

The next morning

Li Shuchen was in a good mood. Carrying a crossbody bag, he went to the market in the west of the city to shop. He saw several women with empty baskets chatting together.

Coincidentally, she wanted to know the people of Boyu Kingdom's opinion on Princess Zoya from the previous night.

So they moved closer to them, pretending to look at things and listening intently.

"Have you heard? Last night at the observatory..."

"Shh! Keep your voice down! My neighbor's son, who works in the palace, told me this, and it's terrifying! He said a star fell down and is pointing towards Tear Valley!"

"More than that! Princess Zoya cried on the spot, performed an ancient ritual, and even made a vow!"

A younger woman's eyes were slightly red.

"You've all heard 'The Cry of the Sand,' haven't you? My brothers from my mother's side work in the mines to the east, and they haven't sent any money or even a letter in three months... That song, every line of it touches my heart."

The old woman listened silently, wiping a clay pot with her rough hands, and said in a low voice.

“Princess Zoya… I seem to vaguely remember those emerald green eyes. Many years ago, when she was just a little baby, she came to the market with her mother, that beautiful tribal dancer, and gave my grandson a piece of candy… She smiled so sweetly. I haven’t seen her since.”

"He's a kind-hearted kid at heart."

Another woman chimed in, "Last night, she didn't seem to be faking it. She was genuinely worried about us common people. Look at the king and prince, besides shouting 'Silence' and 'Shut up,' did they say anything else?"

"But... what's the use of her being a princess, powerless and without influence, making a vow?"

"It's better than nothing, right? At least someone cried for us, said something. Last night, I don't know why, listening to 'The Sand Cries' and thinking about the princess's words, I shed tears for half the night. The thing that was weighing on my heart seems to have eased a little."

"Yes, at least... there's hope now, unlike before, when it was completely dark."

Li Shuchen nodded contentedly and left.

It was afternoon, and in a simple teahouse, a few porters and craftsmen were taking a break. She pushed open the door, sat down, and openly eavesdropped.

"Brothers, what do you think about what happened last night?" A porter with a weathered face took a swig of coarse tea.

"How do you see it? Look with your eyes!" a carpenter scoffed. "I don't care where the stars fall, I just know that grain prices have gone up again! The 'Golden Camel' cargo ship docked yesterday, and guess what? The guards are twice as many as before! They're checking really hard! If you have nothing to hide, you won't need to check anything!"

“I heard,” another cobbler said in a low voice, “that several of the ‘Golden Camel’ warehouses have recently been plagued by mold and strange smells, resulting in significant losses! Even the offerings to the royal palace have run into trouble! Do you think this could be… divine retribution? Like when the stars fell from the sky?”

"Didn't Princess Zoya say, 'The country is sick and bleeding'? If you ask me, the root of the problem is that 'golden camel'! And the higher-ups..."

The cobbler pointed in the direction of the palace, not finishing his sentence, but everyone understood.

"The princess is really bold to say that, but... it's satisfying to hear!"

"What's the use of just venting your anger? You need to take action! My cousin is a lowly soldier on the border. He wrote back saying that it's all over there that the princess seems to be secretly contacting some officers and tribal chiefs who are dissatisfied with the king!"

"real or fake?!"

"Shh—! Keep your voice down! But... if it's true, maybe..."

Several people exchanged glances, in which a faint spark, rekindled after a long period of numbness, flickered—not fervor, but a cautious, unspoken expectation.

In the evening, Li Shuchen sat on the earthen wall of the slum, watching several children play.

An older child imitated the priest, waving a wooden stick around like a ceremonial staff.

"Silence! It's just a common shooting star!" he said, mimicking the king's tone in a high-pitched voice.

Another child immediately imitated Zoya, puffed out his little chest, and said seriously in a childish voice.

"The stars guide us, the people's hearts are with us! Our country is sick!"

"Sand Sparrow! Sand Sparrow!" The third child ran with outstretched arms, imitating a bird, "I am the Sand Sparrow totem! Protect Princess Zoya!"

They may not understand politics, but they are keenly aware of the distinctions between good and bad in the adults' conversations.

Princess Zoya is associated with "singing and weeping sand," "fallen stars," and "speaking bravely," and is considered "good."

The king and prince, however, are associated with "not being allowed to speak," "price increases," and "golden camels," and are considered "bad."

The most basic concepts of good and evil are beginning to sow different seeds in the hearts of the next generation.

At night, Li Shuchen quietly returned to the inn, while the night watchman walked through the empty streets, striking his clapper.

The two patrolling soldiers took a short break against the wall as they changed shifts.

"Hey bro, were you on duty at the observatory last night?"

"Yeah, don't even mention it... that scene was... wow..."

"Princess Zoya, is it really as they say?"

The soldier who asked the question paused for a moment.

"I wasn't far away. When she cried... her tears were real. When she spoke, her hands were trembling, but her voice was very steady, especially during the final vow... I don't know how to describe it, but it felt different from what those people in the palace said, all empty words. Listening to her... it was a little heartbreaking."

"It seems the old prince is protecting her?"

"Yes, the prince looked very grim afterward, but when he left, he didn't even glance in the king's direction."

The two were silent for a while.

"We soldiers get paid and obey orders, but..."

"But what?"

"If... if there really is some change, and the higher-ups order us to deal with the common people, or... well, you know, it's really hard to wield this knife. My family are farmers too, I know what that song 'Sand Cry' means."

"Sigh, let's just take it one step at a time. Anyway, I'll be careful lately. I have a feeling... something's about to happen with Suleiman."