Chapter 93

[Ding~ Congratulations, Master! You've changed the future direction of Marigold Commandery and gained 330 National Fortune Points at once!]

[With the points you previously accumulated, your total is now: 370 National Fortune Points!]

[Keep going, Master. You're the best!]

By eliminating the corrupt officials in Marigold Commandery, she earned 330 points in one go, even more than what she had earned back in Plumera Capital.

It seemed that according to the original timeline, once Plumera State completely fell into the hands of people like Lord Gregory, this place would likely have become a major rebel stronghold. It would have played a significant role. Otherwise, now that she had taken control and changed things, she wouldn't have been awarded this many points in one go.

Previously, when Elara had Francis replace the real Captain Yang, she had earned 70 points. Her original lifespan was only one month, and this journey had already taken nearly half a month.

So on the way, Elara had exchanged 30 points for another month of life.

Now, with this extra 330 points, she had a total of 370 National Fortune Points, which could extend her life for more than a year.

But Elara didn't use them right away. National Fortune Points could be used to exchange for things other than lifespan during critical moments.

She had to save them. After all, she had already gained an extra month, so there was no rush.

Inside the main building of Marigold Commandery.

The blood on the ground took almost an hour to clean.

Elara stood in front of the main hall's entrance, watching Uno's figure swiftly approaching from the distance.

"How is it? Were there any disturbances in the city?"

Elara had those heads hung right in the center of Marigold City. Aside from showing justice to the people, there was also a deeper purpose behind it.

Even though Marigold Commandery was far from Plumera Capital, there were bound to be spies mixed in.

Whether they were from Lord Gregory's group in Plumera or from other nearby forces, Elara's loud and unusual actions today were meant to draw them out.

She didn't believe they'd stay quiet.

Once they moved, they would reveal themselves.

Earlier, Elara had ordered the Qi Army and the Wei guards to lock down the city under various excuses. It wasn't just to stop people from leaving but also to observe everything happening inside.

Uno had already completed the investigation. He half-knelt and reported to Elara, "Three messenger pigeons flew toward Plumera Capital. One went north. Seven were seen just outside the southwestern border of Marigold Commandery."

The north? Commander Shu? Elara raised an eyebrow slightly.

This royal uncle who appeared to stay out of Plumera's affairs had spies planted very far away.

Still, this wasn't out of Elara's expectations. She thought for a moment and said, "Leave the one in the north alone for now..."

With all that had happened recently in Plumera Capital, Elara believed Commander Shu must know everything already.

Even though he had been living far up north, he definitely had a deep understanding of what was going on in the capital. Otherwise, people like Lord Gregory wouldn't be so wary of him.

She still didn't know much about him. Even the secret records Mathias copied from the Royal Temple hadn't helped much. Elara finished reading those records on the road during the past half month, but she still couldn't find anything that could restrain or influence Commander Shu.

The records only briefly explained how he became a titled noble of the Plumera Kingdom despite not being of royal blood. Other than that, there was barely anything useful. When Elara first finished reading them, she couldn't help but suspect Commander Shu might have already tampered with the records in the temple.

Since she couldn't learn much from the documents, Elara decided to test him through real events. She wanted to see how he would react if news of her actions reached him. That would be a good way to gauge his stance.

As for whether her true nature might be exposed to him because of this, Elara wasn't very worried. Everything that happened in the capital, especially the royal ceremony she manipulated in secret, she believed he probably already knew about.

If Commander Shu really wanted to investigate, she would've been exposed long ago. No, maybe he already knew who she truly was during those earlier events. Yet he still remained quietly stationed in the northern border without making any moves.

Whether it was because of some vague restriction or simply disinterest in the southern and central regions of the Plumera Kingdom, Elara felt sure that even if he noticed her unusual behavior, he still wouldn't react much. Since it didn't matter whether he knew or not, or maybe he did know and was quietly observing her, she decided not to interfere with his spies for now.

But as for others, she wouldn't be so lenient.

"Except for the northern border, deal with the rest as necessary. Just be careful not to alert them. These spies probably aren't all of them. Keep watching."

Marigold City was her first city. Aside from a few scouts she didn't need to move yet, Elara wanted to make sure that starting today, no information would leak from the city without her approval.

Whether it came from the capital or passed through Marigold's borders into other countries, she needed full control of all information channels. Anything leaving her city had to be something she wanted the outside to know.

"Yes, Your Highness."

After dealing with the spies in Marigold City, Elara looked at the cleaned floor outside the main hall. She ordered the servants to keep tidying up the entire governor's estate.

She wanted every trace of High Qiong and his people erased completely. Otherwise, she wouldn't feel comfortable living there in the future.

While the servants busied themselves, General Qi returned from outside.

He was still clad in his heavy bronze armor. Elara guessed it weighed at least a hundred pounds. Yet he wore it with ease. Whether walking or holding his long bronze spear, nothing hindered his movements.

Maybe it was because of his striking appearance and the body he built through years in the army. Even in heavy armor, his tall figure and handsome face still stood out.

"Princess, the city guards of Marigold have been taken over…" Marigold, as a major city in the southwest of Plumera Kingdom, had a fair number of guards.

But judging by how easily Elara's troops entered, it showed how rotten the guard force had become. General Qi found the barracks to be filled with alcohol and chaos.

Luckily, the neighboring Azalea and Petunia States were both peaceful and not interested in war. Otherwise, Marigold would've already been taken over.

Elara nodded. She didn't need to ask to imagine how bad the guards were.

"Deal with those useless drunks by the law. Remove whoever needs to be removed. Punish and restructure them. Just don't let them keep wasting resources."

General Qi agreed and added, "The refugees have been placed as you instructed. For now, they're stationed with the Qi army at the camp."

"Good. Start training them. Get rid of the bandit habits they've picked up. Also, tell them my promise is about to be fulfilled. In two days, I'll have someone post a work listing across the city. They can apply. If they do well, they'll be allowed to leave the camp and settle in any district of Marigold."

"They can pick any vacant house. Their status contracts will be changed to civilian."

Elara had already been planning this when she decided to accept those refugees.

General Qi had traveled with her and seen many sides of her that were different from the rumors.

Especially on the first day they left the capital, she had ordered the recruitment of those bandit refugees instead of punishing them for trying to rob her. That was when he realized she wasn't like the stories at all.

She had been able to consider their reasons. She forgave them, then gave them a new path by bringing them into her cause.

This kind of mindset was rare in the Plumera Kingdom. General Qi, upon hearing her order, had been shocked.

The infamous princess, the one even his younger brother couldn't speak of without anger, had actually made such a decision.

As they traveled, he saw she wasn't doing it for manipulation or some whim. She truly wanted to give those former bandits a home and stability in Marigold.

Even after all this, General Qi still didn't expect what she said next.

Any district. Civilian contracts.

He couldn't help but look at her again. "Princess, any district? Even the noble northern district and the wealthy eastern one?"

These areas had always been reserved for nobles and rich buyers. Ordinary people couldn't even enter. Yet now she wanted those refugees to be able to move in?

"And civilian contracts…" They had been bandits. No matter their reasons, they had committed crimes.

Forgiving them was already generous. But she wanted to give them full civilian status?

Elara turned to Scholar Fu, who had been quietly checking all the records and accounts of Marigold since she called him in. When she heard General Qi's question, she waved it off casually.

"In my city, there won't be a noble district or rich district anymore. All four parts of the city will be developed. No one will monopolize the best resources. If those nobles think they're too good to live among commoners, then let them buy their own land and homes elsewhere. As long as they can afford the price I set, I don't care what they do. But under my rule, no one will be banned from any part of the city just because they made mistakes in the past."

"The walls dividing those districts? I'll have them knocked down and removed."

"And about the civilian contracts, I'm giving them one chance. As long as they behave from now on, I'll keep my word. But if they dare to scheme again, then every past and future offense will be punished together."

General Qi looked at the noble young woman in front of him. Her calm face stirred something deep in his heart.

He had grown up in a world where social status was clear and rigid. He had never heard such ideas. He had never imagined a ruler would voluntarily try to break down class barriers.

Whether it was the three top-tier nations or any second or third-tier country, they all valued status and hierarchy.

Even though the Qi family had fallen from power, he was still the highest-ranking general in Plumera with one hundred thousand troops. He had always lived at the top, just like Elara.

People like them had always benefited from the class system. Getting rid of those barriers, even symbolic ones, should be bad for them.

But hearing her words, he felt no anger. Only quiet shock rippled in his heart.

The Qi family had always been loyal to the kingdom, doing everything they could to protect the citizens.

He had fought foreign enemies for years. But he'd never been able to act against the corruption inside.

Now, if things could really develop like Elara said… he only had to think about it briefly to realize what a blessing that would be for the long-suffering people of Plumera.

General Qi's thoughts swirled with emotion. His eyes behind the helmet locked on the graceful young woman in front of him.

She stood in the sunlight, her figure seeming to glow. Then she lowered her eyes and looked at him.

"Is there something else?"

Her gaze held none of the obsession or desire from when she had first taken him into the palace. It was calm, indifferent, like how she looked at anyone else.

He lowered his eyes and hid the storm within him.

"No."

"Good. Then go handle your tasks. Once the military matters are settled, pick a house for yourself. Stay close to me. It'll be easier when more things need your attention."

He nodded and watched as she turned and walked back inside.

Her gaze was already on Scholar Fu, who was quietly writing in a corner.