Chapter 1 The First Windmill
The first windmill was not very large. Even with blueprints, the carpenters and stonemasons pondered for a long time, and the construction was not perfect.
After the first one was completed, the rest became much easier.
Windmills rose one after another in Lin Yan's territory. The commoners there could bring their grain to be milled. All they had to pay was a handful of beans or a few vegetables.
Because of this welfare, the people in the territory became even more devoted to Lin Yan. They were originally followers of the God of Light, but upon learning that their lord was a person exiled by the Holy See, they stopped praying to the God of Light.
Instead, they began to worship her in secret, which was also the reason Lin Yan gained faith power.
In fact, these people's wishes were simple: they just wanted to live peacefully in this world.
Now, living in this territory, regardless of their past identities, they were all commoners. Not only did elves help with farming, but their lord also hired people to teach them literacy and skills.
The lord even planned to establish an academy to accept underage children, where more profound knowledge would be taught. It was rumored that those who graduated from there would at least become apprentices.
Whether it was a magic apprentice or a knight apprentice, it was beyond their reach.
Therefore, they were truly fortunate to have come to this territory and to be able to truly live like human beings.
Lin Yan did not stop there. She knew that the development of the world needed the power of technology. However, this was a world of magic, and technological power was not important.
What she needed to do was to break the nobility's monopoly on knowledge, and then liberate the thoughts of ordinary people, so as to break the barriers of class.
Lin Yan's territory was not large, but new things emerged endlessly. Every time something new appeared, Lin Yan would also send it to the Elf Forest.
This also made her relationship with the elves closer.
"Miss, the lord of Hongsong Territory has sent an invitation," the maid said, handing over a perfumed invitation.
Lin Yan took the invitation but did not open it, merely setting it aside.
"Did the person who delivered the invitation say what kind of invitation it is?"
"It's a ball. A ball for the nobles of various northern territories," the maid relayed what she had learned from the messenger.
"A ball?" Noble balls were always rather boring.
Moreover, such balls were usually held annually. Yet, after spending several winters and summers here, this was her first time receiving such an invitation.
The reason for this was self-evident.
"I understand. Go and tell the messenger that I will attend on time."
She had been enfeoffed as Viscountess Rose by the Emperor. Among the nobles of the north, she was not the most prestigious, but she was considered a mid-ranking noble.
She was not yet prepared to fall out with the surrounding nobles, so she decided to attend this ball.
After the maid withdrew, she took the invitation and walked towards Morris's room.
Lady Santi and Egbert arrived at Lin Yan's manor before the ball.
As soon as she entered Lin Yan's territory, Lady Santi noticed the difference between Lin Yan's territory and others, but she could not articulate what that difference was.
Upon reaching Lin Yan's manor, she saw the not-so-exquisite manor through the carriage window.
However, the manor was truly vast. After several expansions, it was now almost as large as half a town.
Of course, this did not all consist of manor rooms; the academy and a library were also included.
Naturally, when they usually entered and exited, they did not use the main gate of the manor but exited from a side door.
Lin Yan had been waiting since she knew they had entered the range of her territory. So, as soon as the carriage arrived at the entrance, she went out to meet them.
"Mother." Lin Yan possessed the original owner's memories, and this address to her mother was sincere.
Lady Santi immediately alighted from the stationary carriage and ran to Lin Yan, embracing her tightly.
Egbert, seeing that these two had no time for anything else, began to negotiate with the servants brought by Lin Yan, asking them to settle their horses and men.
"Angelina, Auntie must be tired from the journey. It's too hot outside now, so you should take her inside to rest well."
Morris, seeing Lady Santi continuously scrutinizing his daughter, and Lin Yan allowing her to examine her from head to toe, realized that it would be a while before they finished and decided to interject.
Prompted by him, Lin Yan first introduced Morris's identity to her mother, and then led her towards the main entrance.
Lady Santi began to size up Morris as Lin Yan introduced him. Morris, in turn, suppressed all his aura and allowed Lady Santi to appraise him.
This attitude of his greatly pleased Lady Santi.
After they entered the manor, the coolness inside swept away the heat of their journey.
Egbert had experienced this before, so he did not show any surprise.
"Brother's room has already been prepared; it's the same room as before. You should wash up first, and we'll chat later. Mother, I'll take you to your room." Lin Yan took Lady Santi's hand and prepared to lead her to her room.
Seeing that there was nothing for him to do here, Morris directly went in another direction.
Lady Santi had already learned about the wonders of her daughter's manor from her son. Therefore, she was not particularly surprised this time, merely feeling that it was indeed much more comfortable.
The place where her daughter lived in the Holy See was also like this. Only such an environment was worthy of her daughter.
"Mother, my bedroom here is rather simple, so I haven't specially decorated it for you. I know you'll bring some decorative items, so please bear with it and decorate it yourself." Lin Yan gently swayed her mother's arm.
"You! Alright, I'll have them decorate the room. Take me to see your own room." Lady Santi was still worried about her daughter, fearing that she might be suffering in places unseen.
Lin Yan could only lead her to her room.
Lin Yan's room was the largest in the entire manor. Lin Yan herself had drawn the blueprints, and the bedroom was also designed by her, borrowing heavily from later-era designs.
Lady Santi surveyed her bedroom. Although she was somewhat displeased with the decoration, she knew that her daughter was not suffering.
However, upon opening her wardrobe, Lady Santi felt a pang of heartache.
Although the wardrobe was full, many of the clothes were from previous years, and the fabric of clothes made in recent years was also from older stock. This made her feel distressed.
"Mother, I still have quite a few clothes. The elves have also sent us a lot of their fabric, it's just that they haven't been made into clothes yet," Lin Yan explained.
"Look at my jewelry, and you'll know I'm not lying."
Lin Yan then pulled Lady Santi to look at her dressing table and jewelry cabinet.