After I died, my personal maid rebelled.

Once inside the Northern Territory, Luna disregarded all notions of respecting elders and caring for the young, constantly urging the group to speed up their advance.

In October, the northern region, thanks to a year's hard work, is covered with golden wheat fields, and farmers are busy harvesting, creating a thriving scene.

Although the land nominally belonged to the duke and the peasants only had a 30-year lease, the grain produced on the land belonged to them. Moreover, apart from the taxes they were obligated to pay, they did not need to pay rent or any grain to any nobles.

Considering that the farmers who have just been allocated land this year do not have the energy to cultivate so much land, the Duke ordered that all new farmers this year only need to pay taxes on five acres of land.

Thirty years may sound short, but Oswald said that whether you or your descendants want to continue farming, the same policy will apply. He was just worried that you might not want to do so at that time.

After more than half a year of plundering and looting, the Northern Territory's finances have turned from deficit to surplus. Oswald is currently working on building large granaries in various places, with the Duke's Palace purchasing and storing large quantities of grain.

Firstly, it was to prevent low grain prices from harming farmers, and secondly, it was to ensure that ordinary people had surplus money to use.

As the days passed and they drew closer to Ice City, Luna grew increasingly anxious, for she had already spotted the residents traveling together to Ice City.

As the horses' hooves kicked up, the towering city walls came into view, and even from a distance, Luna could hear the sounds of celebration from within the city.

Sure enough, the harvest festival has already begun!

She shouldn't have taken this job just to be lazy!

Having witnessed Luna slip away from the group and also noticed the bustling city, John could only shake his head with a wry smile and say to the dazed Rhea.

"Your Highness, let's take a stroll around the city after we enter, just to relax a bit."

"Yes, we will do as the archbishop says."

Stepping onto the ancient cobblestone streets of Harbin, John's first impression was one of cleanliness. Paul had also mentioned that although the Duke's Palace wasn't overly decorated, the environment was exceptionally clean, giving one a sense of peace and security upon entering.

The city was bustling with people, and all sorts of small vendors and roadside stalls could be seen everywhere along the streets. The houses were decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, as if some kind of festival was being held.

John immediately noticed the house emitting large amounts of steam in the distance; if he wasn't mistaken, that was the hot water room Oswald had built.

I heard that hot water is provided free of charge.

On a vacant lot by the street, an old man dressed as an alchemist and a group of old ladies sat smoking and sunbathing, seemingly setting up some kind of senior activity center.

John, also an elderly man, went over out of curiosity, wanting to hear what they were discussing so intensely.

The alchemist coughed lightly. "Normally speaking, becoming undead would cause a person to lose their mind. The fact that the Duke can still think rationally after becoming undead is an exception."

"Let's not talk about those things." The buck-toothed old lady smacked her lips and took a deep drag on her cigarette. As the head of the Ice City Intelligence Department, she only cared about one thing right now.

"Give us a straight answer: is the Duke's thing still usable? You don't want the little duke, but we do!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the old ladies' sharp gazes all shot over. Not to mention the alchemist, even John was stunned by this powerful aura.

"The matter of the successor..." The alchemist wiped his sweat. "Everyone knows that Miss Luna will succeed to the title of Duke. Besides, the Duke has become an undead, so he might live for another thousand or eight hundred years."

The buck-toothed old woman sneered, "Ha, if you could solve this problem, wouldn't you look forward to the future little duke chasing after you, learning alchemy?"

One sentence ended the match completely, and the alchemists clutched their chests, breathing heavily. What a beautiful scene that was! The heirs of lords, from childhood, learned either magic or swordsmanship; alchemy had never been considered prestigious among the upper classes.

If they can create a little duke, the glorious day of alchemy will appear in the predetermined future!

"Let's do it! We'll go back and research immortality magic!"

John, standing to the side, was stunned. What...what was going on?

Without disturbing their senior citizens' gathering, John led Leia forward. Perhaps influenced by the lively atmosphere, Leia gradually relaxed her brow and began to buy some strange and unusual trinkets from the street vendors.

The hottest-selling item in Harbin right now is the Duke's black sunglasses.

Seeing that most of the people around her were wearing these glasses and that they all looked quite distinguished, Leia was also tempted and she and John each bought a pair and put them on.

I must say, these sunglasses, which don't obstruct vision but can also block out your gaze, make me feel much more confident after wearing them.

The two ate and drank their way to the busiest square.

As the stirring music began, John was so shocked when he saw the people on the giant python's head that his sunglasses almost fell to the ground.

The square was packed with people when the Duke's Palace band members made a dazzling appearance. The participating members included...

Wearing round sunglasses and playing some kind of morin khuur (horsehead fiddle), Oswald is completely immersed in his art; Luna is excitedly beating a rhythmic drumbeat; Janice plays the harp solemnly; and Lisa, swaying to the rhythm, plays her tubular instrument with the most force.

And... the lead singer, Paul the former Holy Knight, who was holding some kind of magical megaphone and shouting at the top of his lungs.

"How can I tell you I don't love you? How can I finally give up? The pain keeps coming back, what room is there for mercy...?"

The cheers from the crowd grew louder and louder, and Paul made a series of familiar winks and hip thrusts. John realized he was really getting old; he could no longer understand the young people of today.

"Ah, Lord Paul, we love you!"

Young girls and boys, their hearts fluttering with first love, screamed beside John, including quite a few older women.

John rubbed his ears, sighed, and was about to leave with Leia when he saw Leia covering her mouth behind her sunglasses, tears streaming down her face from emotion.

"Lord Paul, you're so handsome..."

John...

It's unclear how he managed to stay focused until the end of the concert. After sending someone to inform him, Oswald, immersed in his artistic reverie, finally remembered that he still had a delegation to host.

John was somewhat surprised to see Oswald cast his gaze toward him and then walk straight toward him.

"Have your eyes recovered?"

"Not yet." Oswald, wearing sunglasses, smiled. "It's just a little trick; it can't be used for long."

John sighed, "You've had it tough."

"Let's not talk about that. Come, sir, and everyone else, let's go to the Duke's mansion to talk."

……

Inside the reception room, through his clairvoyance ability, Oswald saw Rhea's face in a gray-white field of vision like a projector, but for a moment he couldn't remember who she was.

The maids served him tea, and Oswald flicked his lit cigar, gesturing for a maid to open the window.

John picked up his teacup and saw Oswald take several sips. He chuckled and said, "How is it? This was a gift from someone. I don't know much about these things, and I don't know if it suits your taste."

"Since it's delivered to the old man, it must be of the highest quality, very high quality." Oswald said gently, "The old man knows my preferences, so it seems I must also cater to his wishes when I return the gift."

John waved his hand, his expression relaxing before sinking back into melancholy. "Let's not talk about these things as family. I'm getting old, Oswald. It feels like just yesterday I was holding your father during his baptism."

"But I wonder who will come to see me off in my final moments tomorrow..."

Upon hearing this, Oswald sincerely suggested, "Sir, you're getting on in years and shouldn't be working so hard anymore. Why don't you come to my northern territory, and I'll take care of you in your old age?"

After thinking for a moment, John nodded and put down his teacup.

"Yes, that's very kind of you. I heard you have a nun here who is skilled in medicine. I happen to have a lot of chronic ailments, so I would appreciate it if you could have her treat me."

Oswald took off his cigar and flicked the ash into the ashtray. "Don't worry, sir, I'll arrange it for you later. However, my position as Minister of Health is rather heavy-handed, so I hope you'll be understanding in the future."

John quickly patted Oswald's hand, leaned forward, and solemnly said, "Treatment is only good when the medicine cures the disease."

Leia, who had unknowingly finished her tea, was now so bored that she was staring blankly at her shoes.

The two people next to her were still chatting about their experiences with medical treatment, from funerals to old age, but she, being the lowest in status, couldn't get a word in edgewise...

Leia envisioned the delegation as a group of people meeting solemnly, stating their respective political needs, and then engaging in careful and repeated discussions before finally signing formal documents.

Instead of things like, when it's cold, make sure to choose loose socks that don't constrict your feet; if cotton quilts are too heavy, you can try making down quilts, using the innermost layer of down feathers from waterfowl; if you don't mind, you can also find two strong young men to warm the bed...

Is this what the highest-level meetings are all about?

After drinking another cup of tea, Leia mustered her courage, stood up, and said to Archbishop John in a report-like manner, "I need to use the restroom."

John looked at her suspiciously, somewhat puzzled. "You're a princess, you can do whatever you want, why do you need to ask for my opinion?"

Oswald, on the other hand, smiled warmly and said, "Please feel free to come and go as you please. You are welcome to enter and leave the Duke's mansion."

Finally, Leia escaped from this boring conversation.

She first wandered around the mansion, but found nothing interesting. She then tentatively went to the garden, and after confirming that no one was following her, Leia quickly focused her attention on the gate of the Duke's mansion.

She walked over with small, quick steps, but the guards ignored her and let her nervously walk out the gate.

"call."

Once on the bustling street, Leia immediately felt much lighter.

She put on her sunglasses, thinking of going for a walk in the square, when a familiar stallion-like figure flashed past her in a flash.

"A hero?" Leia was sure she wasn't seeing things; she couldn't possibly mistake that arrogant maniac's face.

Why is he also in the Northern Territory? And why is he running in such a hurry?

As Leia was puzzled, she heard several loud shouts from the crowd.

"You damn hero, you think you can just leave after offending the young lady?!"