There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 449 The Vicious Father

"Yes!" Zizhu replied.

Li Shuchen stretched and yawned: "Well, another small fortune. This Commander Zhen is definitely a top-notch transport captain."

She walked to the door, then turned back and grinned at the limp Zhen Congming, "Thanks, Zhen 'Congming'! Remember to be a little smarter in your next life!"

Amber Palace

King Ardan's Council Chamber

The atmosphere was oppressive.

Azim was sweating as he reported to the king.

"...Your Majesty, some rumors detrimental to the business have suddenly appeared in the market, as well as...some defamatory nursery rhymes targeting the royal family. Several previously stable suppliers have also begun to waver."

Azim glanced furtively at the King's expression.

"I suspect that the Purple Star Mission and... Princess Zoya are behind this."

Aldan's face was gloomy as he toyed with a pigeon blood ruby: "Zoya... she's been quite active lately. Is the dampness in Tear Valley real?"

"Well... according to reports from my subordinates, a small patch of sand did appear somewhat unusual, but the moisture level was extremely low, almost negligible. It's just the princess exaggerating to win people over."

Azim quickly said

"Winning people's hearts..." The king murmured, his eyes turning sinister. "Has there been any movement from the old prince lately?"

"Prince Suleiman keeps to himself and rarely leaves his residence, but... according to reports from palace servants, Princess Zoya secretly visited the estate outside the prince's city a few days ago. What they discussed is unknown."

Azim said cautiously

The king gripped the jewel tightly in his hand; the old prince's attitude was one of his greatest concerns.

"How's the investigation into that sea tyrant going?" the king changed the subject.

"It's as if it appeared out of thin air and disappeared just as suddenly. After the appraisal event, there were no further clues. I suspect... it might be related to the Purple Star Envoy? They might have deliberately created this 'Sea Overlord' to cause trouble," Azim speculated.

"The Purple Star Mission..." Aldan looked out the window, which faced the direction of the post station. "What has Liang Yuying been doing lately?"

"On the surface, she remained calm, only occasionally meeting with some merchants. Princess Changning, however, frequently attended tea parties for noblewomen, and in her words... she seemed quite sympathetic towards Princess Zoya."

Azim paused, then said, "Your Majesty, I believe we cannot allow Princess Zoya to continue like this. Although she has no real power, her reputation is growing daily, and she may become a threat. Furthermore, the Purple Star delegation has ulterior motives."

"This king knows!"

Ardan interrupted him impatiently, "But the old prince is watching, and public sentiment is wavering. The aftermath of that 'star warning' hasn't subsided... Using force against Zoya now would be unjustified and would only give them ammunition to criticize us."

He pondered for a moment, a calculating glint in his eyes.

"Since she enjoys winning people's hearts and getting things done... I'll let her do it! Azim, make the arrangements to 'grant' Zoya the most chaotic, filthy, and homeless shantytown in the west of the city, the 'Camel Camp,' to manage."

"Furthermore, allocate her... ten old, weak, sick, and disabled palace servants, and thirty silver coins. I want to see how she uses this little bit of manpower and money to appease those hungry, unruly commoners!"

"If she governs well, it's because I've taught her well; if she doesn't, or if she causes trouble... Hmph, that's just her impotent rage, bewitching people, and she'll be punished by the law!"

Azim's eyes lit up

"Your Majesty is wise! That place is a quagmire, a no-man's-land, rife with local bullies, and a great threat of plague. Princess Zoya, a woman from the inner palace, would be crying and returning within three days if she went there! At that time, all mercy and hope would crumble on their own!"

"Go ahead, make it look nice."

The king waved his hand, a cold smile playing on his lips. "And by the way, give those local bullies a message: tell them to 'treat' our princess, who cares for all her people, well."

……

"What? You're sending Zoya to manage the 'Camel Camp'? And you're only giving her ten old and weak palace servants and thirty silver coins?"

Li Shuchen almost jumped up after hearing the news brought by Liang Yuying.

"That old Deng is too vicious! I've heard Ruan Jingshang talk about that place; it's not much better than a mass grave! He wants to throw Zoya into the crocodile pit and see how she dies!"

Princess Changning was so angry that her eyebrows shot up: "Despicable! Shameless! I'm going to confront that old bastard!"

"Changning, please calm down," Gu Ziying said, pulling her back slightly, her delicate brows furrowing. "The King's actions, though seemingly deliberate, are also a risky move. If we handle them properly, they might just be an opportunity."

Ye Bingli analyzed slowly and methodically

“That’s right. Camel Camp is Suleiman’s deepest wound and a place where public resentment is boiling. The king wants to use this to embarrass Princess Zoya, but on the contrary, if the princess can really achieve something there... even the slightest improvement, the popularity and prestige she gains will far exceed the porridge distribution in Tear Valley.”

Liang Yuying continued, "However, the conditions are harsh, with danger lurking at every turn. Local bullies, plague, hunger, chaos... all are formidable obstacles."

Li Shuchen stroked his chin, his eyes darting around, and suddenly chuckled.

"Difficulties? That's because you haven't met me, Li Shuchen, the Infrastructure Madman! What about ten old and weak palace servants? They're ten experienced master craftsmen! What about thirty silver coins? That's start-up capital! What about the camel camp? That's the future 'Princess Demonstration Zone' of the Boyu Kingdom!"

Everyone was speechless at her eager expression, as if she had found a treasure, but for some reason they also felt... that she was somewhat reliable?

"What kind of wicked idea do you have now?" Princess Changning asked curiously.

"I have plenty of ideas! But..."

Li Shuchen rubbed his hands together, a glint of shrewdness in his eyes. "We need to go and investigate first, to see just how 'rich' our 'new fiefdom' really is. Changning, get us some of the most tattered and smelly clothes!"

"Ziying, Bingli, you two stay at headquarters and continue to work on public opinion and internal investigations. Yuying, please secretly transfer a few of the Mulan Army sisters to be ready to provide support at any time. As for Zuoya... we need to give her a good boost. This is not the time to cry, but the time to roll up our sleeves and have some fun with that old Deng!"

On the edge of the camel camp, on a stinking earthen slope

Li Shuchen and Zuo Ya were wearing tattered leather coats that Ruan Jingshang had gotten, which smelled suspicious, and their faces were smeared with ash.

Standing side by side, looking down at the scene below.

Even though Zoya had been accustomed to the harsh realities of the palace since childhood, she was so shocked by the scene before her that she was speechless for a long time.

As far as the eye could see, there were countless shacks built from all sorts of dilapidated materials, crooked and crooked, looking as if a strong wind could blow them away.

Sewage flowed freely, garbage piled up like small mountains, and flies buzzed like a black cloud.

People, dressed in rags and emaciated, moved numbly, their eyes vacant, while several naked children rolled around in the mud.

The air was filled with a pungent stench of excrement, rotting matter, and despair.

The sounds of arguing and crying could be faintly heard in the distance.

Zoya's emerald green eyes were filled with shock and pain, her fingers gripping the tattered hem of her clothes tightly.

"This place...it's like this..." she murmured, her voice trembling. Her father had thrown her here; it was far more cruel than she had imagined.