Chapter100

At this time, the whole of Plumera City looked like a giant fortress fully armed, and the weapons equipped were very advanced and powerful for this era.

If enemy forces dared to attack now, New Plumera City would turn into a tightly sealed fortress covered with dense spikes. The countless weapons on the city walls were enough to destroy any army with inferior equipment.

After looking at the new city, Elara then looked down at the new road beneath the horse hooves.

Three months ago when she left, the new road had not yet been built.

Now, after three months, the newly built road was quite satisfactory.

The materials used to build the road were created using data from the System combined with her knowledge of cement roads from her previous life. Together, they formed a kind of new road material suitable for this world.

It mainly included lime, clay, fine sand, a small amount of iron ore, and the juice of a plant unique to this world, whose sap had a very strong adhesive and solidifying effect.

Roads made with these materials were not only smooth, firm, and durable, with strength comparable to cement roads, but they were also easy to maintain, and the materials were not hard to find.

After returning from the Northern Frontier, Elara stepped onto this new road at the checkpoint three thousand meters from Plumera City.

As she traveled along, the smooth road made the carriage ride less bumpy, and the army's marching speed increased significantly.

Besides them, from the moment they entered Plumera Kingdom territory, Elara noticed many ordinary people and young scholars from noble families heading toward Plumera City.

Seeing their extremely long and huge army, the common people stopped and stared blankly at them from a distance. Once they realized who they were, they all knelt and bowed in salute.

Some knowledgeable noble scholars recognized General Qi, Damon, and Egbert at the front of the army. From their respectful attitude following Elara, they inferred her identity.

In the next moment, the scholars who were still sitting quietly inside the carriage also got out and knelt to pay respect.

People rushing from the Northern Frontier saw the army and the leader at the front, Elara, and excitedly shouted loudly, "Welcome back, Your Majesty!!!"

Others, whether they understood or not, also shouted together in shock or excitement.

"Welcome back, Your Majesty!"

"Welcome back, Your Majesty! Welcome back to our great Plumera Kingdom army!"

At first, it was just a few excited shouts, but soon it became a continuous roar of cheers.

Elara looked sideways at the people kneeling far away around, her face showing a small smile. She led the army continuing to march into the city.

At the north gate of Plumera City.

After receiving the news, many people came early to wait at the north city gate.

Mathias, Kristof, Scholar Fu, Oswyn, Francis, Emory, and all officials above the third rank in the court were all waiting early at the north city gate.

From far away, seeing the huge and majestic army like a long dragon appearing at the end of the view, the officials at the north gate could not help but flush with excitement.

Plumera Kingdom was really different now!

Plumera Kingdom was strong now!

The ministers looked at the distant army dragon excitedly, lifted their robes, and knelt to shout loudly to the army.

"Welcome back, Your Majesty!!!"

"Welcome back, Your Majesty!!!"

The front officials Mathias, Kristof, Oswyn, and others saw the woman riding a tall, strong horse at the front of the army. Their eyes softened.

"Finally back…"

Looking at the beautiful woman wearing armor on the horse, Oswyn's gaze seemed stuck on her. He whispered softly, his hand tightening unconsciously. If it were not for the presence of the senior ministers, he would want to rush forward and hold the woman tightly after months apart.

When the army reached under the city gate, Elara's eyes swept over the ministers, then rested on the few men at the front. She smiled slightly and spoke more gently.

"No need to bow. Enter the city first."

Inside the city, blue marble square tiles covered every corner of Plumera City.

The buildings that were under heavy construction before Elara left were now basically completed.

The old Plumera City was limited by funding, corruption, and talent, so except for the Lianyi Tower, there were hardly any buildings taller than four stories.

But now, looking across the new Plumera City, there were mostly three, four, or five-story tall buildings everywhere.

There were also at least two buildings over five stories on every street.

These tall buildings were mostly rented or bought by big merchant families like the Bai Family's Business, the new commercial branch of the Zhai Yun Pavilion in Plumera City, and the new business buildings of Miss Bai's merchant family, plus many other merchant families arriving from various counties over recent months.

Now, Plumera City no longer showed signs of the previous decay, desolation, or dirtiness from half a year ago when Elara first came.

There were no beggars or homeless people to be seen in the streets and alleys.

The streets were crowded and lively, with most people smiling. Children happily ran around with their parents.

Elara looked at this scene and sighed softly.

Plumera City had changed from a small, broken, and desolate city into a huge, prosperous, and magnificent new capital.

After looking around a bit, Elara withdrew her gaze and continued toward the imperial palace.

General Qi, Damon, Egbert, and others, after entering the city, bowed to her and asked permission to take the army back to the left and right army camps in Ercheng and the satellite army camps outside the city.

Elara nodded, asking General Qi to take Senior General Duanmu, General He, and the one hundred thousand northern troops to the army camps for settlement. Tomorrow during the court session, she would bring Senior General Duanmu and General He to the palace.

General Qi nodded, leading hundreds of thousands of troops to the places they were supposed to go, no longer following her behind.

After the army left, besides the ministers who came in to welcome her and Mathias, Kristof, Oswyn, and others, from the Northern Frontier, only Commander Shu's carriage remained.

Elara glanced back at the motionless carriage, then continued toward the imperial palace.

After returning to the palace,

Elara dismissed the following ministers. As soon as she stepped into her chamber, Oswyn, who had been closely following her, suddenly threw himself into her arms!

"You're finally back!"

His voice was a little excited, a little happy, and a little low. His tall body bent slightly, holding Elara tightly. His fair, delicate face buried in her neck like a cat, as if a long-withdrawn addict deeply inhaled. Then he just held her, rubbing his face against her constantly.

Elara felt a little ticklish from his rubbing and couldn't help raising her hand to push him. She smiled, "Alright, I haven't even taken off my armor yet. Let me change clothes and bathe first."

But Oswyn still held her tightly, not letting go. Though he was clearly a taller grown man, he clung to her like a spoiled child refusing to loosen his grip.

"I won't. If you don't let me hold you, then… um, or else, I'll help you wash!"

After hugging Elara and rubbing for a while, suddenly remembering something, Oswyn finally lifted his head from her neck. His beautiful eyes sparkled as he looked at her. His hands still holding her didn't loosen, and the brighter his eyes got, the more he seemed to want to carry her to the bath.

"I'll help you wash! I haven't personally served you by washing before. It was my fault. I'll make up for it today! Hey, I haven't bathed today either. Let's bathe together! Let me wash you!"

He said excitedly, cheeks flushed slightly. Without waiting for Elara to refuse, he lifted her up and headed toward the bathroom.

Elara: ....

He still remembered his position as head of the medical department. Not letting her bathe—how could that be considered neglect?

But Elara no longer had a chance to say these words, and even if she did, Oswyn would not listen.

Two hours later.

After changing the water three times, Elara finally finished washing. She felt helpless and speechless as she pushed away Oswyn, who kept sticking to her, and tried to put on her clothes to leave.

"Don't move, I'll help you put it on..." Oswyn grabbed the clothes again.

His originally fair cheeks were now flushed red. His beautiful eyes were full of satisfaction and shyness.

Elara had been gone for three months, and Oswyn missed her terribly. Now that he finally saw her again, it was as if he suffered from skin hunger. He didn't want to separate from her for a moment.

When Elara finally finished dressing and left the bathroom, half an hour had passed.

She walked into her bedroom and sat at the desk. Oswyn immediately came up behind her, holding her and sitting together at the desk. He rested his chin lightly on her shoulder, softly rubbing it, while holding her left hand and feeling her pulse.

"Mmm... your health is much better than before," he said happily, then leaned to kiss her cheek. The deep longing he had felt for three months had not yet been fully released.

Knowing that pushing him away would only make him cling to her again, Elara didn't resist. She let him check her pulse while kissing her. The fatigue and tension she had felt gradually eased amid his soft, clingy words.

Elara leaned back slightly against him, treating him as a human cushion. She listened to his chatter and slowly closed her eyes, falling asleep.

When she woke up, it was already dark outside.

The person beside her had changed.

Mathias, dressed in a bamboo green robe, knelt by her bed. His fair and delicate face looked even calmer and more peaceful under the candlelight.

Noticing she was awake, he raised his deep green eyes and gently smiled at her.

"Your Majesty, you are awake."