[The Princess's Reformation]
Before dawn, a warehouse near the Palace of Clouded Splendor was transformed into the "Bureau of Weaving." Si Yirou, with her sleeves rolled up and hair tied back, presided over the production. "Tents must have waterproof seams," she commanded. "Rain capes must use the 'weave-knot' method—sturdy when wet, easy to untie in the mountains. I have seen it work."
When officials complained about the costs, Yirou didn't blink. "Use my personal funds from the Changley Palace treasury. Record it as: Urgent Governance First."
By noon, the "Female Medical Ward" opened at the South Market. Under Sang Qi's guidance, palace maids practiced suturing on pigskins. Yirou established a triage system: "Red for critical, yellow for urgent, green for minor. Save those who are dying first, then those in pain."
As the people whispered about the Princess's sudden change, she ignored the gossip and focused on the work. She wanted to prove that she was more than a voice on the platform—she wanted to be a force of change. She wanted him to see her.
[The Departure]
At the East Gate, the air was frosted with morning mist. Gu Xingyu and the Crown Prince coordinated the departure. Yirou personally handed the first rain cape to Xingyu. "The ties are the new method," she said simply. "They won't jam in the rain."
Xingyu took it with a solemn bow. "Thank you. These bureaus are vital."
Nearby, Yirou approached Li Yan. She handed him a new cloak, woven by her own hand and infused with the scent of pine and mugwort. Li Yan touched the fabric, noticing the tight, careful stitching. It wasn't the work of a factory; it was the work of a heart.
"I said I would weave you a new one," she murmured.
Li Yan looked at her, his eyes reflecting a complex mix of surprise and respect. "Mm. Thank you," he grunted, adjusting his gear. "I'll wear it on the road."
[The Road of Action]
As the convoy moved into the forest, the rhythm of "Mobile Governance" began.
Li Yan and Lin Lie neutralized hidden traps—steel needles launched from the underbrush. "Amateurish," Lin Lie noted, "but persistent."
Sang Qi and Xingyu delivered a baby in a refugee hut, marking the child's birth as the 'First Water' of the new era.
Luo Ye and Cang Yuan opened communal kitchens and mapped irrigation channels, leaving wooden markers so "even a fool could understand."
By evening, the report was sent back to the Crown Prince: 29 miles covered, 79 treated, 1 birth, all systems stable.
[Shadows in the Mist]
As the camp settled by the stream, Xingyu examined a broken needle tip. "These aren't meant to kill yet," she whispered. "They are testing us."
In the deepest shadows of the trees, a voice so faint it was almost part of the wind reached her ears: "Don't fear. I am here."
Xingyu didn't turn back, but her lips moved in a silent prayer: "Don't get hurt."
Back in the city, Si Yirou sat by her window, looking at the mountain of documents still to be processed. She had chosen her path—one of support and stability. The Yao-world's road was being built from both ends.