Chapter 115

Inside the Governor's office.

Elara held a meeting with the craftsmen skilled in construction that lasted almost two hours. Only then did they finally settle on the basic framework for the salt pond project they were planning to build.

After that important task, she organized a larger meeting with all the craftsmen. She checked the progress of different workshops and shared modern ideas with them, giving suggestions for designs and techniques they had never seen before.

She mentioned things like waterwheels, canals, water mills, greenhouses, plows, rakes, and irrigation tools. In this era, iron couldn't be produced in large quantities, so common farming tools like sickles, iron hoes, iron shovels, and iron rakes were missing. People only had basic wooden or stone tools, which were very hard to use and made farmland less productive.

Elara planned to provide iron farming tools for them eventually. But since iron was still very scarce and weapons had to be made first, she told them to make the parts from wood for now. Once the ironworks finished her weapon orders, the leftover scraps could be used for making hoe and sickle heads.

Besides agriculture, Elara also gave the construction workers new goals for rebuilding Marigold's city infrastructure.

She wanted them to fire new bricks and build fresh walls to repair the damaged areas. Strengthening both the inner and outer city walls was very important, and she also couldn't stand the current poor street layout and lack of public toilets.

They could use the smelting furnace at the ironworks to make bricks and porcelain. Many of the needed skills were already listed in System 92's rewards, but who knew when those missions would be unlocked. Elara couldn't access them yet, but that didn't stop her from teaching the craftsmen what she knew and guiding them with her ideas to improve and adjust their methods.

Speaking of hygiene in this era, it wasn't just the muddy streets that turned into swamps whenever it rained. The other day, when Elara was walking down the street with Uno and the others, she nearly stepped in some dung. Just thinking about it was unbearable.

Even on ancient Earth, public toilets appeared very late. In this world, it was even worse, so it wasn't surprising that nobles liked traveling in carriages. If they had to walk, they needed full attention, or they'd quickly end up in trouble.

Now that Elara was here, she naturally wanted to change this. Otherwise, forget shopping or walking around, she wouldn't even want to leave the house.

If public hygiene wasn't improved, even if people were used to it, it would still harm future business development in Marigold. Fewer people would want to go out shopping, which would be a huge problem.

"The construction team will be responsible for building public toilets," Elara said, "but the agricultural group should also send some who know how to compost. Talk together and see if you can build an underground channel to move the waste to a shared compost pit. That way, we won't worry about toilet overflow, and agriculture will have steady access to fertilizer."

The craftsmen listened carefully to her instructions. When she finished, their eyes were already shining with excitement. They were very interested in this plan that solved both hygiene and fertilizer supply at the same time.

In fact, they had already seen so many strange and useful inventions from this new leader. Now, hearing another creative solution, these builders who loved their craft couldn't contain their excitement. A few of them rushed off immediately to the agriculture department and dragged some reluctant farming craftsmen away.

Now both agriculture and construction had new tasks to work on. Elara also gave other types of craftsmen various suggestions for improvement.

She especially encouraged those skilled in handcrafts. She hoped their future products could stand out through unique designs, functions, and usefulness, bringing in good sales to fund the rebuilding of poor Marigold.

The big meeting went on from morning to night. By the time it ended and she returned to the Governor's residence, the sky was already dark.

Elara collapsed on the bed as soon as she entered her room. She didn't want to move at all. In her past life, she had worked all day too, but this body really couldn't keep up with her mind.

Still, ever since she left Plumera's capital, her health had improved a lot under Oswyn's daily care. At least she didn't feel weak or dizzy all the time anymore.

Medical knowledge in this era was still primitive. But Oswyn, the young master from the Divine Healer Valley, was clearly a genius. He had his own unique understanding of every herb he encountered.

Because of this, he was able to use all sorts of strange but effective prescriptions to pull Elara's body back from the edge of death, little by little.

Just as she was thinking about that, the door to her bedroom was pushed open without warning.

Oswyn entered with a bowl of thick, sticky, dark medicine that looked like it would make anyone's stomach turn. His clear eyes glanced at Elara lying on the bed, then he let out a low snort.

He set the bowl on the small table beside the bed, then stood there towering over her, urging her to drink while starting his usual lecture like a doctor scolding a disobedient patient.

"I told you this weak body of yours can't take all that stress. And you still get up early and stay up late like you're made of steel! Hmph. Get up! Drink the medicine!"

His tone showed his growing boldness. He really wasn't afraid of her anymore.

Elara looked at him standing by the bed. Every time Oswyn gave her the cold face, she couldn't help thinking that the original owner's fierce reputation wasn't completely useless. At least when Oswyn had first met her, even though he had been stubborn, he hadn't dared to act so rude.

Elara slowly pushed herself up from the bed, chuckling at the thoughts running through her mind.

Forget it. She really didn't have any strange preferences, and she definitely didn't enjoy hurting people for fun.

But when she looked at the thick, dark medicine on the table and smelled its unbearable scent, Elara paused for a few seconds, then set the bowl back down and looked at Oswyn.

"Oswyn, this medicine you made for me... have you ever tasted it yourself?"

The medicine he brought her these past few days had become more and more unbearable. She didn't know if it was because he added something new, or because she ignored his medical advice, and now he was using this childish method to get back at her.

Honestly, with his personality, he really might do something like that.

Elara had just finished speaking when Oswyn, standing beside the bed, shot her a glare.

"Never heard the saying bitter medicine works best? And look at you, running around outside from morning to night like your body isn't falling apart. I actually thought you liked the medicine I cooked. Hmph, since your body is already this bad and you still won't rest, then just drink more medicine to make up for it."

…His sarcasm was definitely getting worse with time.

Elara held the medicine bowl and stared at Oswyn in silence.

Oswyn wasn't afraid at all and stared right back, his eyes fixed on her without blinking.

The two stared at each other with that strange tension for a while. Then Elara propped her chin on her hand, her slender figure resting lazily on the bed, and suddenly sighed.

"Come to think of it, Oswyn, how long has it been since you left the Divine Healer Valley?"

The moment Oswyn heard her say "Divine Healer Valley," his face changed instantly. For the first time in a while, a flicker of wariness appeared, and he instinctively took a step back.

"Why are you suddenly asking that?"

Back then, he had been forced into the Princess's residence by Elara using threats against the entire Divine Healer Valley. Now that she suddenly mentioned it again, his body tensed on its own, and those past words about wiping out the valley floated back into his mind.

Elara leaned against the bed and watched as Oswyn bristled the moment she mentioned the valley.

She let out a soft laugh. "Relax. I just remembered that Marigold County is close to the Divine Healer Valley. I'll need to leave for some matters in a few days, and I might pass by there. So I was thinking, maybe I should stop by and take a look. Besides, you haven't been back in a long time either. As the young master of the valley, do you want to go back with me for a bit?"

Oswyn looked at the delicate woman lounging lazily on the bed. Ever since they left Plumera City and arrived in Marigold, he had been by her side daily to help treat her condition. Among everyone traveling with them, aside from the constant presence of the Wei guards, he was the one who spent the most time with her.

So of course he could tell how much she had changed.

Compared to how cruel she used to be, the current her had changed a lot. So much so that sometimes he even wondered whether this person was still the real Princess of Plumera.

But every time that thought crossed his mind, he would think of the handsome men still gathered around her. She still didn't reject good-looking men. Like that guy from the Ge family, hmph.

Even though she didn't enjoy tormenting people anymore, her flirtatious nature hadn't changed. That alone was enough to remind him she hadn't been replaced. He let out a quiet snort and pushed that strange suspicion out of his mind.

He didn't know what caused her change, but watching how she treated the refugees during their journey, and everything she did after arriving in Marigold, he had to admit that his view of her had shifted a lot.

Even though she ignored all his advice and kept overexerting herself, he couldn't deny that what she was doing was helping the people of Marigold.

Even though he was just a doctor and didn't understand politics, he could see the county recovering day by day. The refugees, once desperate and hiding like rats, were finally coming out to find work again and earning their own food and money. Oswyn wasn't blind to that.

He knew what she was doing mattered. That was the only reason he could hold back his anger and keep treating her night and day, even when she refused to listen.

If it had been anyone else, someone so stubborn and reckless, Oswyn would have told them to get lost a long time ago.

Now, watching her lean there so casually, talking to him like they were just chatting, even if he still felt a little wary, part of him wanted to believe her.

And... he really hadn't returned to the Divine Healer Valley in a long time. It had become something he didn't even dare to hope for anymore.

Oswyn stared at Elara closely, not letting a single expression escape his eyes. "You... really just want to take a look? Nothing else?"

Elara nodded naturally. "Of course." The Divine Healer Valley was entirely within Plumera's borders, and part of it was even inside Marigold. If she rounded things up, it basically belonged to her. Why would she do anything to it?

Oswyn stared at her closely. Only after a while, when he was sure there was no trace of any bad intentions in her eyes, did he finally relax a little. Then he couldn't stop himself from thinking about the Medical Valley he hadn't returned to in years.

He remembered the first time he went down the mountain for training. As soon as he left the Medical Valley, this woman captured him and took him to her residence. All the years meant for training were spent watching her manage her group of male courtiers.

Now that he finally had a chance to return, Oswyn's usually stiff face showed rare excitement. A faint flush appeared on his face, and even his usual stern expression softened into a smile.

He couldn't help but take two steps toward her. The eyes that had been watching her cautiously were now full of bright joy.

"Great! Wait here, I'll go pack right now! I'm going back with you!"

He truly hadn't been back in so long. Thankfully, when he left for his training back then, he had told his master it would be five years, so even though he stayed in the Princess's residence this whole time, he didn't have to worry that his master or his fellow disciples would be concerned.

Oswyn turned around in excitement and quickly walked out, ready to start packing right away.

But just a few steps away, he heard her voice again behind him, "Don't rush, Oswyn. I haven't finished speaking yet."

Oswyn stopped in his tracks. His face, still glowing with excitement, paused as he turned around and looked at her. "Is there something else…"

Elara smiled, amused at how easily Oswyn's emotions showed on his face like a child given candy. She motioned toward the dark, thick medicine on the table and said meaningfully,

"What I just said is only one part of my plan for this trip. There's no need to be so eager. I do want to visit the Medical Valley, but I haven't fully decided yet. After all, while the place sounds mysterious and tempting, if all the medicine there tastes as awful as this, maybe it's better I don't go at all…"

As soon as Elara finished speaking, Oswyn had already walked back with big steps. He picked up the bowl of medicine and said while walking out, "Wait! I'll go improve the taste right now!"

There was no trace of the sarcasm he had earlier when saying "good medicine tastes bitter."

Looks like as long as you hit the right spot, even bitter medicine can become sweet. Elara's smile widened as she watched Oswyn walking away with the medicine bowl.

She once again thought this man really was raised in isolation on a mountain. He was straightforward, didn't play games, and was honest about what he wanted. That kind of bluntness was actually quite endearing.

After Oswyn left, Elara asked System 92 to bring up a map of the southern region of the Plumera State.

She wasn't lying to Oswyn about going to the Medical Valley.

In a few days, when the ironworks and the forge finished crafting the weapons she needed, she would head to Anqu Town right away and secure the mining source completely for future mineral supplies.

Though Anqu Town was located in the southern region of the Plumera State, compared to Marigold County near the southwest border, Anqu was actually more to the east, in the central-southern area. It sat between Marigold County and the capital. The straight-line distance from both places was over two hundred kilometers.

The Medical Valley was also in the southern region, situated in a large mountain in the southeastern part. It was along the road from Marigold County to Anqu Town.

Since it was a well-known place in the martial world and located within her territory, Elara naturally planned to visit while passing by.

She thought for a while and kept marking and analyzing the routes on the map System 92 had provided. After considering several paths to both the Medical Valley and Anqu Town, she put the map away and lay back on the bed, letting her mind rest.

But she hadn't been lying down for long when Uno's figure appeared by her bedside. He knelt on one knee and said,

"Your Highness, Imani has made a move."

Elara opened her eyes and thought of the man who had boldly climbed into her bed last night. She answered calmly,

"What happened to him."

"He's been poisoned. After returning from your place this morning, he began vomiting blood nonstop. It went on for nearly an hour before it stopped."

Poisoned? Elara frowned slightly. She recalled that Imani had recently been to the Gregory residence. She didn't even need to ask. She could guess what happened.

What puzzled her was why Imani, knowing that Lord Gregory had poisoned him, still hadn't handed over what Gregory wanted.

Elara lightly rubbed her thumb and forefinger together.

"Keep watching him. Intercept all messages he tries to send out."

"Yes."

"And also…" Elara paused, then said, "Get some of his blood and take it to Oswyn. Let him find out what kind of poison it is."

"Yes."