The Second Eunuch Regains His Manhood

266th Chapter – Coronation Ceremony – Illustration

The grand battle in the Yoha Delta Plain ended with the victory of the Ming Empire.

Juga-yul surged forward, charging towards Shenyang, the capital of the Qing Dynasty. After the defeat in the grand battle at the Yoha Delta, the main army of the Qing was eliminated but fought valiantly, ultimately losing.

Shenyang fell. Aisin Gioro Incheng, who claimed to be the Qing Emperor, committed suicide with his family immediately after the fall of Shenyang. The remaining Aisin Gioro clan was demoted to commoners and forcibly relocated to the Central Plains. The grand seal that symbolized the Qing’s Heavenly Mandate fell into the hands of Juga-yul, becoming a trophy of the fallen Qing Dynasty.

Thus, the Qing, like the ancient Xin Dynasty founded by Wang Mang, was annihilated in an instant.

The troops led by Juga-yul, having conquered Shenyang, temporarily used the Qing Palace as their base to rest.

Later, the Joseon army crossed the Amnok and Tumen rivers and joined forces in Shenyang, exterminating the remnants of the Qing and the Blood Sect. Juga-yul welcomed the Joseon army entering Shenyang and sent his forces towards Imgang, the headquarters of the Blood Sect.

After the headquarters of the Blood Sect in Imgang was burned and all the sect members were ruthlessly hunted down, the war could finally be declared over.

The Ming Dynasty and Joseon agreed to partition Manchuria along the Songhua River, with the west belonging to the Ming and the east to Joseon, erecting a boundary monument at Baekdusan’s Byeongsa Peak, the source of the Songhua River.

That was the moment the boundary monument of Baekdusan was created, establishing the borders of the Ming Dynasty and Joseon.

After the talks concluded, Juga-yul withdrew his troops from Manchuria, except for those stationed there, and triumphantly returned to Beijing.

“Crown Princess Your Highness, long live!”

“Long live the Ming Empire!”

“Long live the Emperor!”

Juga-yul had climbed to the position of state leader, burying all political rivals with her outstanding political skills.

Even so, it wasn’t that there were no discontents. However, Juga-yul kept the high officials silent with her superior administrative abilities and governance.

This time, Juga-yul had also achieved victory in war.

And not just any war.

It was a war that had completely defeated the Blood Sect, which even the founding emperor Zhu Yuanzhang could not subdue, while safeguarding the empire’s Heavenly Mandate from the barbarous foes.

There was no clearer legitimacy or justification than this.

She had obtained one of the most esteemed legitimacy in the Ming Empire.

No one could stop Juga-yul, who returned triumphantly while receiving the blessings of the people.

Even the current Emperor couldn’t stop her.

Eventually, the day after Juga-yul’s triumphal return.

“I have governed the world with virtue until now, but I have recently come to realize my inadequacies. Hence, I wish to abdicate the throne to the state leader, and I urge all civil and military officials to assist the state leader in establishing the governance of a sage ruler.”

Honggwangje declared his abdication while seated in the Hall of Great Harmony.

This was effectively a complete surrender to Juga-yul.

“Your Majesty, I am still inexperienced in governing the world. Please retract your command.”

“No, I am unworthy for not even knowing of the rebellions in the borders without the state leader. The state leader must accept my imperial decree.”

“No. How can I, a mere girl, dare to covet the throne while Your Majesty is alive? What disloyalty is this? Please retract your decree!”

Juga-yul said while banging her forehead gently.

Of course, it wasn’t sincere but more of a ceremonial response.

It would be against etiquette to accept the abdication offer immediately.

Even if it was formal, a few rejections were necessary.

“My heart has not changed, and this is not disloyalty. Rather, it would be disloyal for the state leader to not obey my command. Do you mean to make me more ashamed? Quickly accept the imperial decree.”

“If Your Majesty is so resolute, then I must reluctantly comply with your command.”

Juga-yul smiled internally as she accepted Honggwangje’s abdication.

It was the moment when the Ten Thousand Victories Emperor of the Ming Empire was replaced.

After accepting the abdication, Juga-yul prepared for the coronation ceremony.

She chose an auspicious day and sent messengers to the Nine Provinces and Eight Monarchs as well as the Central Martial World and tributary countries to announce her ascension.

Congratulations from tributary nations, including Joseon, Daewol, Japan, Western Lands, Xinjiang, and the Northern Barbarian, arrived.

In a gathering attended by civil and military officials as well as congratulatory envoys, Juga-yul appeared wearing the official garments and crown.

After offering sacrifices to heaven at the Wangu Hall, Juga-yul returned to the Forbidden City, promulgating the general amnesty decree and the coronation edict while seated on the throne, receiving the congratulations of the civil and military officials and the tributary envoys.

“Long live the Emperor!”

“Long live the Ming Empire!”

“Long live! Long live! Long live!”

Juga-yul chuckled as she heard the triple cheer that could only be uttered for an emperor.

At last.

She had arrived here.

In her view, she could see the civil and military officials along with the congratulatory envoys standing in front of the Hall of Great Harmony.

That wasn’t all.

Martial leaders, Sado Ryeonju, and Cheonma were also present.

Given the significant contributions of the Martial World during the recent Blood Sect War, they were specially invited to the coronation ceremony.

Juga-yul’s gaze moved from Cheonma and the leader of the Martial Alliance, Do-hwang, to Sado Ryeonju Jeoksawol.

The red eyes of Jeoksawol collided with Juga-yul’s golden ones in the air.

‘······Hmph.’

The corner of Juga-yul’s mouth curled up as she looked at Jeoksawol.

It was a sneer.

‘As expected, I am a better match for Noya than you.’

Someone like Jeoksawol was no match for her.

Juga-yul reaffirmed that fact yet again.

‘Hmph. Gaga will choose me. I will make it so.’

Jeoksawol pouted slightly while looking at Juga-yul. She didn’t like the confident expression on Juga-yul’s face.

But today was the coronation ceremony of the new Emperor. It was not a day to display emotions recklessly. Jeoksawol hid her feelings and smiled.

After the brief battle of nerves between the two girls concluded.

Juga-yul shifted her gaze from Jeoksawol to Lee Cheol-soo.

In Juga-yul’s view, she saw her Noya dressed in official garments.

Lee Cheol-soo.

Juga-yul had naturally invited him to the coronation ceremony.

She wanted to show him. Her ascension to the throne through her own power.

Juga-yul smiled as she made eye contact with Noya.

It was not a fake smile, but a genuine smile filled with her heart.

Her heart raced. Her face flushed.

She felt embarrassed.

At the same time, she felt proud.

She had risen to the throne as an emperor.

Now, like in her previous life, she could bestow all kinds of rewards upon Noya.

And the position of official concubine would surely fall entirely into her hands.

There would be no one in Juga-yul’s realm who could defy the command of the Ten Thousand Victories Emperor.

Unless they wanted to become a rebel.

Juga-yul finished the coronation ceremony after paying homage to the Great Ancestor and the Earth Deity, proclaiming the same era name, Wonhwa, as in her previous life.

It was the moment when the Ten Thousand Victories Emperor of the Ming Empire was replaced by the Wonhwa Emperor.

Thus, the first thing Wonhwa did after ascending the throne was to write the record of merit for the contributors of the Blood Sect War.

*

After killing the Hyulma.

I had become undeniably the number one in the world. Of course, this was because I was the only master of the Boundary of Life and Death in the martial world where the Hyulma had disappeared.

No one could stop me, the number one in the world.

I had truly become the supreme master of the martial world.

Moreover, with overwhelming vitality.

Yes.

I had achieved everything.

If this were a web novel, this would probably be the epilogue.

But my life is not a web novel.

In fact, it could be said that the prologue had only just concluded.

‘Hehehe.’

Indeed.

I had finally obtained my goal of the Purest Life Force, the absolute vitality.

In my Mind’s World, the Tree of Life was still alive and breathing. As long as the Tree of Life was standing, my vitality would never fade.

During my return to the Central Plains, I experimented with the power of Purest Life Force. The results were astonishing.

For a full seven nights.

I had maintained an erection that would not subside. No matter the stimulation.

It was truly an extraordinary event.

The absolute vitality truly existed.

Moreover, I was now at the threshold of adulthood.

Finally an adult.

This meant it was legal for me to indulge in Cloud and Rain Pleasure.

‘It was a long time of humiliation. Now it’s time to return as Lee Cheol-soo, the master of Color Spectrum.’

I smiled.

Of course, I wasn’t thinking of indulging in Cloud and Rain Pleasure right now.

I had to attend the Emperor’s coronation ceremony, and as the foremost merit holder in defeating the Blood Sect, I would also be receiving several honorary titles.

Lastly, I had to return to the Gongdong Sect and inherit the position of sect leader.

Thus, I had to show that publicly I was the foremost contributor in the extermination of the Blood Sect, and as the sect leader of the prestigious Thousand-Year Gongdong Clan.

Only then would I be able to take all my women as my concubines.

I had remarkable patience.

I had held back until I became an adult and acquired absolute vitality. Waiting a little longer was nothing.

After I proclaimed that I was the supreme master of the martial world, I would publicly consider forming relationships with several women.

I swallowed hard as I returned to the Central Plains to participate in the Emperor’s coronation ceremony.

This would be my second coronation ceremony, counting my past life. Seeing the Emperor being congratulated by civil and military officials and tributary envoys made me think of my previous life.

In my past life, I had assisted the Emperor near the throne during the coronation ceremony. When it was time for the Emperor to sit upon the throne, I was in charge of supporting him.

Thinking back, that Emperor had been quite embarrassed at the time.

And now.

As our eyes met, the newly ascended empress blushed deeply and smiled at me.

I now understood.

She loved me.

And I liked her.

Moreover, I felt proud. An empress who rose to power without my help. How much she had grown. It felt like a daughter finally landing a good job.

Thump.

My heart raced.

Continuing to look at the empress’ face made my own face turn inexplicably red.

I naturally lowered my head.

Poke.

Jeoksawol lightly prodded my side.

Why is she suddenly doing that?

When I turned my head, I found her puffing her cheeks slightly.

Puffing her cheeks, how cute.

I couldn’t stand it.

With that, the day passed after the unnecessary playfulness of Jeoksawol.

*

After the coronation ceremony.

Our party stayed a little longer in Beijing.

Thanks to the empress bestowing upon me the grand mansion where my Imperial Secretariat Yongak Majon was staying, our party had no shortage of accommodation.

And about a week later.

“Lee Cheol-soo and his women, listen! The Empress herself has prepared a seat for you in the palace to personally commend your contributions to the Blood Sect War, so take it as an honor and all of you enter the palace.”

The record of merit was originally something done publicly during an assembly.

But the empress had not done so.

After all, she was an empress who had secured her legitimacy with the merit of destroying the Blood Sect. In the Beijing court, there was no one who could stop an empress with the trinity of legitimacy, political skill, and governance.

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

After I expressed my respect, I indeed saw the women the empress mentioned.

Sahyeong, Geumhu, Jeoksawol, Sosumahu, Goeui, Same, So Geom-hu, Heuksaryong, Seomun Cheong-ha, and So Cheonma.

All of them entered the Forbidden City, following the guidance of the eunuchs.

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