Chapter 125: Chapter 108: A False, Beautiful Illusion

’Just as I thought.’

’Queen Belina is already thinking of passing the throne to Yu Lan.’

’Saying she would treat me like her own child, that she would pass the throne to me... Liar. It’s all lies.’

’It makes sense. After all, Yu Lan is her biological daughter, and now she has revealed her talent for scientific research.’

’Not to mention, she’s backed by prodigies like Huo Zhanting and Shen Zueran.’

’It’s only natural that Belina would be swayed.’

’But I, Louisa, am no pushover.’

A cold glint flashed through Louisa’s eyes. She would never allow Yu Lan to snatch the throne that was almost within her grasp.

’Yu Lan wants to use this incident on Garbage Star to become a revered princess and win the hearts of the people. Well now, that opportunity has fallen to me.’

Louisa lowered her gaze, looked at the Queen who had slowly drifted off to sleep, and quietly backed out of the room.

The moment she stepped out of the great hall, the aura around her changed abruptly.

"Someone, come with me."

*

Just as Yu Lan left the Imperial Palace and returned to the villa to discuss with Huo Zhanting and the others what to do next to help as many people on Garbage Star as possible survive the current plague...

On the screens in every major plaza of the Central Star...

...the same message was broadcast as a news flash. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

[Princess Louisa is reportedly leading a team en route to Garbage Star.]

[The accompanying Starship is carrying medicine capable of resolving the current plague. We hope the Star Citizens on Garbage Star can overcome this plague as soon as possible. We also wish Princess Louisa a safe journey and a swift return.]

It was repeated three times.

The news of Louisa leading a team to Garbage Star to distribute medicine echoed throughout the entire Central Star.

Almost everyone had heard the news.

At that moment, the group discussing with Huo Zhanting how to raise more funds to buy medicine from the black market were all stunned.

"Louisa led a team to Garbage Star?"

"But just now..."

A trace of doubt flickered across Yu Lan’s face. ’Did Louisa and Belina discuss it again after I left?’

"But didn’t they say the only medicine that can cure this plague is on Green Emerald Star? What kind of medicine is Louisa taking? Will it actually work?"

Yu Lan looked toward Shen Zueran, waiting for his answer.

Shen Zueran’s dark eyes stared intently at Yu Lan, his cool voice also tinged with uncertainty.

"You’re right. Currently, the only medicine that can resolve the plague is found on Green Emerald Star."

"But Lanlan, don’t forget, the plague isn’t a major illness, when it comes down to it."

"If you throw enough high-level, precious medicinal ingredients at it, it can be cured. The medicine from Green Emerald Star follows a low-cost, high-volume model, since there are so many people on Garbage Star."

After listening, Yu Lan nodded. She understood.

’One method uses expensive medicine and can only treat a small number of people.’

’The other is cheap and plentiful, so everyone can use it.’

"But if that’s the case, isn’t that putting the cart before the horse?"

Yu Lan raised a new question.

Originally, Louisa and Belina refused the Federation’s proposal precisely because they were unwilling to part with the resources on Green Emerald Star.

So now they’re suddenly willing to use even more precious medicinal ingredients to treat the people on Garbage Star?

’How strange!’

’It’s completely illogical.’

Yu Lan found it strange, and even felt the entire situation was tinged with an odd sense of unease.

Seeing this, Huo Zhanting raised his hand and covered the back of hers. His golden eyes focused on her as he spoke in a steady, reliable voice:

"Don’t worry, I’ll have someone investigate it privately."

"I’ll let you know the moment I find anything. Besides, with Louisa making such a big show of it, she’s bound to have follow-up publicity. We just need to wait and see."

"I suppose that’s all we can do."

Yu Lan took a deep breath.

For some reason, she felt a strong sense of unease in her heart.

*

「That afternoon.」

Louisa posted a video on her personal account.

In the video, Louisa stood in front of a large iron pot, holding a large iron ladle used by chefs, a gentle, radiant smile on her face.

Completely disregarding her noble image as a princess, she was ladling out soup, spoonful by spoonful, for the people of Garbage Star who were lined up to receive their medicine.

The accompanying text read:

[I came to Garbage Star today, and my heart nearly broke seeing everyone suffering from the plague. While I enjoy a life of luxury on the Central Star, my people are being tormented by this plague.

I only hate that I didn’t get here sooner, even just a little bit sooner. Then everyone could have suffered a little less.

Now that everyone has taken their medicine, I hope they recover quickly. I wish for all Imperial People to be healthy and prosperous.]

As soon as the video was released,

keywords like "Garbage Star" triggered the algorithm, and it was instantly pushed to all the Imperial People who were following the situation.

Every Imperial citizen who saw this scene, even the men who had been critical of her due to her involvement in framing Yu Lan, couldn’t help but be slightly moved.

[SOB SOB, as expected of Princess Louisa, known throughout the Empire for her gentleness and kindness! She’s so gentle, she doesn’t seem to mind the dirty people from Garbage Star at all.]

[Who gets it? Right now, Princess Louisa is only an iron pot’s distance away from them. I wish I had the plague so I could get that close to the Princess too.]

[You all said Princess Louisa framed Yu Lan, but look now! Would a malicious person go to Garbage Star and ladle out medicinal soup for them without a hint of disgust, only pity?]

[The Royal Family already explained it. Princess Louisa just happened to be there that time. She doesn’t even have much interaction with Princess Yu Lan. In fact, when Princess Yu Lan first came back to the palace and was struggling with etiquette, Louisa helped teach her. It was clearly just two females helping each other out. It’s just you people who love conspiracy theories. I hope everyone stops bringing this up.]

[Gonna go hug our gentle and kind Princess Louisa, mwah mwah, spinning in circles~]

Since Louisa had appeared on Garbage Star, she absolutely could not let the opportunity go to waste. She had to exploit everything she could.

The comments under the video were a mix of paid commenters, fans, and ordinary people who had been manipulated into truly believing she was innocent and kind.

Because of the incident at the tribunal, the gray veil that had tarnished Louisa’s brilliant reputation was finally beginning to fade.

At the same time,

a discordant comment popped up.

[Princess Louisa, the one everyone was cursing as vicious and jealous of Yu Lan just a few days ago, has appeared on Garbage Star, administering medicine to the masses despite the risk of infection.]

[So where is Yu Lan, the one everyone was praising as kind and generous? I’m sure she would do an even better job than Princess Louisa, right?]

The comment reeked of thick malice and was full of provocation.

Yu Lan had now been forbidden by Queen Belina from getting involved in this matter, and as a result, the investigation by Huo Zhanting and the others was also facing heavy resistance.

Naturally, she had no way of appearing on Garbage Star to deliver supplies to them.

But a carefully concealed conspiracy, a fabricated illusion of beauty, will one day be torn apart.

The people on Garbage Star.

Even if they were poor and not very talented, they were still people. They had their own thoughts, families, and friends—they were not props to be used in a photo op.

I just wonder if this time, Louisa is prepared for her mask to be ripped away, exposing the ugly, dark truth underneath.