There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 434 Ballads and Storytelling

"There are two old nannies in the palace who were once my mother's servants. They've been secretly looking after me. I'll find a chance to see them."

"There was also a minor eunuch from the Imperial Stables who was almost beaten to death for speaking up against the whipping of horses at the market; I saved him."

Zoya calmly outlined her plan: "In three days, preparations for the 'Great Sandstorm' festival will begin. The palace will be bustling with people coming and going, presenting us with an opportunity to make our move."

In the following days, Zoya remained like a true shadow.

By day, she was the taciturn, forgotten princess, recuperating in a secluded palace.

At night, she changed into the coarse cloth dress prepared by Ye Bingli, applied a special ointment to her face, making her complexion dull, and slightly modified her eyebrows and eyes.

Under the cover of Umur and Li Shuchen, they appeared silently, like drops of water flowing into the desert.

She met an old miner filled with hatred because his son had died in a mining accident; she met border herders whose land had been seized and whose families had been torn apart by the "Golden Camel"; and she met a low-ranking officer who was ostracized in the army simply because he refused to compromise his principles.

She made no empty promises, but listened to their suffering and then asked, "If there were an opportunity to make mining safer, to return the land, and to make military pay fair, would you be willing to take a risk for that possibility?"

Her response was met with eyes that shone brightly in the darkness and a clenched fist.

On her most daring occasion, she even used Umur's connections to deliver an unsigned letter, bearing only the ancient emblem of her mother's tribe, to the old Prince Suleiman's estate outside the city.

The letter did not explicitly state rebellion; instead, as a junior, it lamented the ills of the time, expressed concern for the fate of the nation, and subtly mentioned that "the late king faced great difficulties in establishing the dynasty; we should consider how to maintain it in the hearts of the people."

She was gambling that this old prince, known for his rigidity, stubbornness, and strong emphasis on tradition, still harbored a genuine sense of responsibility towards the Savar family.

At each meeting, Li Shuchen lurked like a ghost, clutching the tourmaline whip given to him by Zoya, holding his breath and ready to deal with any unexpected situation.

Fortunately, perhaps because their actions were discreet enough, or perhaps because the king and son were distracted by other matters, the initial network of communication was successfully established amidst the perilous situation.

Gu Ziying's battlefield lies in the hearts of the people; she strategizes and plans without ever leaving the inn.

She summoned two clever and literate girls selected from Mulan's army and secluded herself at home for several days.

When they came out, they had several seemingly ordinary items in their hands:

One is a mournful tune called "Sand Crying," adapted from a folk song of Boyu, which sings of the miners' blood and tears;

"The Ballad 'Sand Cries'"

First paragraph:

"The wind cries, the sand howls, the mine is deep and dark, with no end in sight."

"The young man went down the well to search for treasure, but he never returned, leaving only a tattered coat."

"The golden camel's whip cracks, and the boss's abacus clicks and claps."

"Crushing bones and squeezing blood dry, all for nothing but half a bag of moldy wheat cake."

refrain:

"Oh dear, the sand is crying, the stars are hiding in the clouds in fear."

"Oh dear, the ground has collapsed! Whose tears have turned to sand?"

"Everyone says gemstones are sparkling, but why can't they illuminate my dilapidated home?"

Second paragraph:

"A mother's eyes, having gazed through the mountains, long for her son's return to cook her hot soup."

"The child's mouth, licking the empty bowl, only then does he dream of the aroma of naan bread."

"The master's palace shines brighter than the moonlight in the sky."

"The shadow cast by the light is crooked and slanted, unable to illuminate the path of the poor."

end:

"The sand is crying, the wind is howling, what are the wronged souls underground shouting?"

"I long for a clear sky to open my eyes, I long for a clear spring to moisten the sand."

"I don't ask for a gold nugget, I just ask that we be left with a lifeline!"

Another one is the popular folk tale "The Golden Camel's Moon-Eating Tale," which is full of dramatic plots and is used to satirize the greed of the "Golden Camel" trading company and the royal family.

Storytelling excerpt from "The Golden Camel Eclipses the Moon"

"Speaking of our Boyu Kingdom, there used to be a 'bright moon' shining in all directions, and the country was peaceful and happy. But at some point, a 'golden camel' arrived, with an appetite as big as a glutton!"

"It says the moon is a golden cake, and it should have a taste!"

"The first bite gnawed at the backbone of the mine; so many fine young men went down and never came back up, leaving only piles of bones in the pit!"

"The second thing they did was swallow up the grain along the trade routes, set the prices, buy low and sell high with a heartless heart, leaving the people with empty hands!"

"The third bite, it wants to swallow the light of the sky, monopolize the gems, offer the best goods to kings and nobles, and cheat everyone with high prices for inferior products!"

"This camel fattens itself while the country suffers. Look at it, glittering with gold and draped in brocade, the ground trembles when it walks. But look again, isn't what it stands on our people's fields? Isn't what it carries on its back the money earned with our blood and sweat?"

"The moon is gradually being gnawed away, its light dimming and the sky darkening. The old man shakes his head and sighs, the child cries from hunger. Everyone says that this camel has a powerful backer, its tail connected to the palace in the Amber Palace! But can even the greatest backer be greater than the principles of Heaven? Can any amount of gold buy the hearts of the people?"

"Listen, dear readers, just as the moon waxes and wanes, so too will the camel, no matter how fat, eventually be unable to carry its load! We can only hope that the clouds will part, the moon will shine, and a gentle breeze will rise, scattering the greedy camel's shadow! Then, the true moon will illuminate the true road, and good days will be within reach!"

There are also several catchy, satirical proverbs and rhymes.

"Following the golden camel, you'll starve to the point of being skin and bones; listening to the king's words, you'll be so poor you'll drink the sandstorm."

"Gemstones may shine brightly, but they cannot illuminate the hearts of the poor; palaces may be tall and grand, but they cannot stop children from starving to death."

"The horses in the market are as precious as gold; the heart of the market is blacker than coal."

"The old Sultan (referring to the king) only had two treasures in his eyes: a golden bed and a beautiful woman's waist. As for the lives of his people? He waved his hand: 'There's plenty of sand; they won't die.'"

Hope

"I don't hope for mountains of jewels, I only hope for fuller grain sacks."

"I don't hope for palaces to be gilded, I only hope that the roof won't leak."

"I don't hope the prince will get a new horse, I just hope the tax collectors will be less glaring."

"What are we waiting for? We're waiting for a 'sky' that truly cares about us!"

"The Cry of the Sand" and "The Golden Camel Eclipses the Moon" were written by Gu Ziying.

The proverbs and rhymes were adapted by Li Shuchen from Gu Ziying's works.

Special Note: Li Shuchen himself is very satisfied.

"Remember, when sharing these things, make it sound like you overheard them by chance and found them interesting," Gu Ziying carefully instructed.

"Especially to the maids, servants, and cooks in noble residences, they are the fastest messengers. Don't mention Princess Zoya directly; instead, mention things like 'I heard there's a kind-hearted noblewoman,' or 'The older generation tells stories of a prince who showed compassion to his subjects.' Use this technique of understatement to elevate the point, and let the conversation build up without revealing the truth."

She herself, using her status as the eldest daughter of a high-ranking official, politely declined most invitations under the pretext of exchanging needlework skills and appreciating Central Plains silk, but carefully selected two gatherings.

One was an appraisal event hosted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer's wife.

One was the horse training ceremony of the high priest's daughter, who was in charge of the rituals.

On these occasions, she spoke appropriately, but occasionally she would "inadvertently" sigh.

"Throughout my journey, I have witnessed the hardships faced by the people of your country, which is heartbreaking. In the Central Plains, during years of famine, the government regularly sets up soup kitchens and stabilizes grain prices. Even unscrupulous merchants dare not act so brazenly. This shows that the key to governing a country lies in the will of the people."

It was a subtle hint, yet enough to sow discord among some wealthy women.