Lin Yan didn't pay much attention to the matter of expanding territory, handing it over to Will to draft a plan.
Then Lin Yan summoned some craftsmen to the manor.
After showing them some blueprints, she assigned the task to a maid.
The manor began to liven up, with many students signing up for the literacy and basic skills courses that Lin Yan had arranged.
The people of this territory trusted Lin Yan greatly, so when she asked them to attend classes, they braved the cold wind to come.
Apart from the mandatory literacy course, the skill-based courses were chosen according to individual aptitude.
Among the people of this territory, there were very few children; the youngest were around ten years old.
However, there were also some newborns, but these children were too young, and their parents would not bring them out in such weather.
The manor offered many courses, including weaving, embroidery, cooking, smelting, mechanics, and more.
Everyone who learned these skills in the manor gained a new craft or improved their existing ones.
There were also some special individuals, tested for magical aptitude or their potential to become knights.
Those with talent had never imagined they could one day become a high-ranking magician or knight.
With so many things she wanted to accomplish, Lin Yan felt even more short-handed.
All the servants had their own duties, and Lin Yan had recruited new servants from the villagers to prevent the manor from grinding to a halt.
Will, the Knight Commander, also began enlisting soldiers. Lin Yan offered them excellent treatment, so the recruitment posters attracted many eager individuals.
Winter should have been a time for rest, but this winter, no one could escape the busyness.
When spring arrived, the elves returned to the territory, helping the farmers with their planting and bringing some docile animals to assist with plowing.
Lin Yan expressed her gratitude to the elves. They were very respectful towards her and informed her about the current state of the Elven Mother Tree.
Prince Alexis was not among the elves who had come this time; they mentioned he was preparing for his coming-of-age ceremony.
"His Highness the Prince looks forward to your attendance at his coming-of-age ceremony. He has also invited Joey's family, hoping you can all come together. Of course, Lord Maurice is also welcome to attend," the elf said, glancing at Maurice beside him.
Maurice wanted to say he wasn't interested, but considering Lin Yan's attitude towards the elves, he remained silent.
"We will be there. Thank you for Prince Alexis's invitation." Lin Yan couldn't recall this prince's coming-of-age ceremony from the original story; he seemed to be an adult when he first appeared.
Hearing Lin Yan's response, Maurice was delighted. Her use of "we" indicated that she considered him alongside herself.
"Are you going to the Elven Forest?" Maurice inquired.
Lin Yan retorted, "What, you're not coming with me?"
"Of course, I am. I'll go with you, but Olyssis and Anita might not," Maurice replied.
"Olyssis will definitely go," Lin Yan stated with certainty.
Olyssis would indeed go. The Elven race had been secluded for many years, and few people on this continent could enter the Elven Forest. How could he miss the opportunity to be invited by the elves, especially to attend the prince's coming-of-age ceremony?
Anita, however, was somewhat reluctant to go to the Elven Forest. She didn't reveal any specific grievances she had with the elves, but she always spoke poorly of them whenever they were mentioned.
"Then, my dear, why don't you return to Dragon Island for a few days, and I'll take Joey to attend?" Olyssis tentatively asked.
"Then let it be," Anita replied, sounding somewhat unwilling.
Olyssis was curious about the nature of his wife's conflict with the elves. He had probed many times, but she had never let slip any details.
In the capital, Madam Leander, after waking up, allowed her maid to comb her long hair.
Her hair was a light gold, but ever since giving birth to her youngest daughter, her health had declined. Her hair had lost its luster and much of its thickness, requiring her to wear a wig to attend banquets.
Her wig was made from the hair she had lost over the years, mixed with some other people's hair.
Her skin had also become quite damaged due to the excessive makeup she used to conceal her poor health, requiring her to apply even thicker foundation for every event.
She didn't particularly enjoy the liveliness of banquets, and her physical condition couldn't support her through an entire event.
The corset and the heavy skirts made it difficult for her to walk, requiring her personal maid to support her throughout.
However, her husband loved banquets, and even more, he loved hosting them at their home. As the hostess, how could she not attend?
After every banquet, she had to lie in bed for a long time. Fortunately, her youngest daughter was the Saintess of Light, and she received a steady supply of strengthening items like holy water, which helped preserve her life and prevent her from passing away prematurely.
Yet, it was merely a prolonging of her existence. She understood her husband's intentions; whenever her body seemed to recover, his gaze would turn dangerous.
This made her even more afraid to die. If she were to pass away, she didn't know what her husband would do to her son and daughter.
Now, her daughter had been exiled by the church. Although she had left the center of the church's power, she had been granted a fiefdom, which even the Emperor had not objected to.
She was very worried, but after learning of her daughter's safe arrival, she felt some relief.
Her daughter had her elder brother looking after her. Even if the fiefdom was poor, she had some savings that could at least ensure her daughter a life of basic necessities.
She never expected her daughter to retrieve the Elven Spring Water for her and her son. It was personally delivered by elves who had lived in seclusion for many years. After drinking it, her body had almost regained its vitality.
The Elven Spring Water's effect was extraordinary; she could clearly feel the changes in her body. After drinking it, her body seemed to have reverted to its state of youth decades ago.
Her son experienced the same. Ever since a serious illness in his childhood, his health had been poor.
Despite possessing high magical talent, his physical condition had kept him at level two.
Now, after drinking the Elven Spring Water, his body had become healthy within days.
Looking at the newly grown hair in the mirror, although it caused much trouble for the maid who styled it due to its short length, who wouldn't be happy to see their hair stop falling out in clumps and nearly becoming bald?