LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 267
267th Chapter: End
We arrived at the Forbidden City Palace Garden.
It was the garden where the Emperor of the Ming Empire enjoyed leisure and play with his concubines throughout generations.
Though it wasn’t as beautiful as Yuanmingyuan, the Western-style garden built by the Emperor in the future, being a royal garden, it was adorned with Giwhayochu and bizarre rock formations, showcasing its beauty.
In the vast palace garden, several pavilions stood.
Of course, it wasn’t just any pavilion; they were large structures resembling proper royal chambers.
“This way!”
We continued walking through the palace garden. The beautiful scenery greeted me. Finally, we arrived at the artificial rock mountain known as Tuisul.
On top of the jagged and sharp rocks built up to form Tuisul was a pavilion.
Built on the peak of this artificial mountain, the pavilion named Eogyeongjeong offered a view of Beijing out the window.
Among the pavilions in the garden, it was regarded as a breathtaking sight.
“Her Majesty is waiting at Eogyeongjeong.”
The eunuch politely bowed and said.
There was no one else around.
As always, the Emperor had cleared the surroundings.
I accepted his greeting and made my way up the path on the artificial rock mountain.
It had been a while since I climbed Tuisul. In my past life, I often rested with the Emperor at the Summer Palace.
The Forbidden City felt like my home.
I wouldn’t have enjoyed such luxuries even in modern times.
It was quite a good memory.
Recalling my previous life, I reached the pavilion atop the mountain.
Upon opening the door, she was there.
“Welcome, Noya.”
It was the Emperor.
Now dressed in a yellow dragon robe embossed with the five-clawed dragon, the symbol of the Emperor, she set the table and gazed at me.
She wore the same attire as in my previous life.
After greeting her, we expressed our respect with Three Bowing.
“I, Lee Cheol-soo, meet Your Majesty.”
Thud.
I bumped my head and spoke.
“You don’t need to be formal.”
The Emperor chuckled. We stood up as she held a document and spoke.
“First, Lee Cheol-soo, I bestow upon you the titles of the First-Class Merit and the Duke of Two Nations, as well as the position of the Prime Minister…”
The Emperor recited my titles and privileges.
Along with the estate, treasures, land, and the same perks from my past life like the Danseocheolkwon and various privileges passed by like a breeze.
‘Fortunately, there’s no Kuseok this time.’
This time, thankfully, there was no Kuseok.
Well, Kuseok would be a bad idea.
The moment I received it, all the civil and military officials would definitely rise in revolt, and the scholars nationwide would flood the petitions.
Honestly, even receiving the position of Prime Minister seemed like a stretch. No matter how honorable the title, being a Prime Minister is something else.
The Prime Minister is, after all, a legendary position.
It was indeed a rank higher than that of the Chancellor.
Of course, while it held a higher rank, it was realistically an honorary position.
“I wanted to grant Kuseok to Noya in this merit record, but it was premature, so I postponed it.”
The Emperor said with a look of regret.
No.
She shouldn’t feel regret.
Regardless of my embarrassment, the Emperor continued with the merit record.
The Geumhu, Jeoksawol, Sahyeong, and Sosumahu, who had joined me on the Blood Demon raid, were First-Class Meritorious subjects.
The other women were also granted Meritorious status with their own rewards.
Of course, among them, I alone received the titles along with the Danseocheolkwon.
When the merit record concluded.
Tap.
The Emperor placed down the document.
She looked at me and said.
“Noya.”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Why do you bow to me? You can speak comfortably.”
“But… Your Majesty…”
I trailed off.
I never understood why the Emperor, like in my previous life, insisted on speaking informally.
“I am the Ten Thousand Victories Emperor. But at the same time…”
The Emperor covered her mouth with her sleeve. She said.
“… because I am your Official Concubine, too. What kind of husband bows to his wife?”
Official Concubine?
I was surprised by the sudden and unexpected words.
Just as I was about to say something,
“Your Majesty, pardon my impertinence, but why do you regard the Master’s Official Concubine? He has not yet chosen one. You aren’t thinking of pressing the case based on status, are you?”
Sahyeong glared at the Emperor while standing in greeting.
The Emperor replied, “Of course not. I will be officially chosen as Noya’s Official Concubine fairly. I am the youngest, and I have spent the most time with Noya.”
“You’ll see. Your Majesty.”
The Emperor looked triumphant while Sahyeong’s expression was icy.
Seeing her expression, which she hadn’t shown me, I felt flustered at that moment.
“So, Gaga, who will you choose as your Official Concubine? Probably the one with the unparalleled beauty, right? After all, no woman can surpass her in beauty. Hehe. Plus, Gaga and I have already made a pact of the White Snake.”
A familiar voice came.
It was Jeoksawol.
She looked at me and spoke alluringly.
Official Concubine? Choice?
Moreover, a pact of the White Snake?
Why on earth is that being said here?
“Hmph. Don’t fall for that slippery tongue of that vixen. Sangong’s Official Concubine is the one who was proposed to first. Besides, she is a lot younger than the Demon King. Hehe. A proper wife like me should obviously be Sangong’s Official Concubine. Right?”
Next, Geumhu said.
She said with a cute smile.
No.
Even if she’s younger than Jeoksawol, she’s already past the age of thirty.
What kind of merit is that to say something like this?
No matter how cute Geumhu is, this is a bit much.
My head began to spin.
“I also support the Master’s choice for Official Concubine.”
Geumhu’s sidekick, So Geom-hu, stared at me closely.
Are they a team?
“Master. Surely you’ll choose me? I, I still… carry some flaws, but I still want to be your Official Concubine… This life, I’ve spent the longest with you, so… so…”
Then Sahyeong’s voice could be heard.
As Sahyeong trailed off, Samai, who was beside her, spoke.
Flaw.
That must refer to Sahyeong’s curse.
While the foolish Dang Yeong-ryeong had still not found an answer, I had grabbed a clue.
I, who had reached the Boundary of Life and Death, could surely resolve Sahyeong’s flaw.
“This Sahyeong, truly, is Sahyeong’s long-time friend, a genuine wife. Thus, I will choose you, Sahyeong.”
“Hmph. What Suojye says is right. I will also support you, Master,”
One after another, Sahyeong’s allies chimed in, and when three people cheered, Sahyeong’s face turned red.
“Master, I like you.”
She said shyly.
Seeing Sahyeong’s smiling face was adorable.
“I don’t care who becomes my Official Concubine, but… this farce is a bit amusing.”
Baek Cheon-hwa, who had been standing in the corner, muttered quietly.
I nodded at her words.
Isn’t this some strange absurdity?
Just as I thought that,
“Daddy! Of course, Mommy should be the Official Concubine, right? Isn’t it? Jiyagi will marry Daddy when she grows up, so you need to marry Mommy first until Jiyagi grows up!”
So Cheonma’s voice rang out.
Later to grow up? Already over a hundred years old, when does she think she’ll grow?
Next to her was Heuksaryong Wi Soryeon. With her face flushed to her ears, she spoke while bowing her head.
“O, if Brother wishes it, I will follow.”
With her words, everyone’s gaze turned towards me.
There were no words.
But an invisible pressure emanated from their bodies.
The pressure of choice was almost physically felt.
I looked at the teacup placed in front of me.
The tea inside the cup was swirling in a perfect circle.
Taking a sip of tea to calm myself, I activated the World Tree within my Mind’s World.
A warm light of life surged from my body. It was the power to soothe the others.
I spoke while calming their bubbling pressures.
“I will not choose an Official Concubine.”
The Official Concubine Debate.
Honestly, it wasn’t unexpected.
In 2023 modern Earth, communities are flipped upside down regarding who the Official Concubine is.
Let alone in a medieval martial world where ranks officially exist among wives and concubines, the competition for Official Concubine would be nothing less than a bloodbath.
Palace intrigues are not for nothing.
It’s common in a medieval martial world for a concubine to usurp the first wife through plots and schemes to become the Official Concubine.
For that reason, I decided against dividing my wives and concubines.
“I am the Master of the Color Spectrum.”
Thud.
I set down the teacup.
“The color spectrum I pursue is to love all together. Without dividing the ranks among wives and concubines. Together. So, everyone is an Official Concubine. Therefore, there is no need to fight, nor am I thinking of selecting anyone as an Official Concubine.”
I spoke seriously as I looked at them.
Past candidates for Official Concubine.
Sahyeong, Jeoksawol, the Emperor, Heuksaryong, Geumhu.
And the gazes of the women behind them turned towards me.
“As a man, I have no intention of abandoning the Great Way I have established…”
Just as I was about to say something,
“Great! Then Jiyagi wants to be your Official Concubine too!”
Wham!
So Cheonma dashed over and hugged me. Seeing that, the Emperor’s face twisted. She lunged at me.
“Whose girl do you think you are? Noya’s daughter belongs only to me! Hmph. Then I will become Noya’s Official Concubine!”
Wham!
As the Emperor hugged me, a fragrant scent wafted around.
“Both of you, stop it! The Master’s heart belongs to his proper wife! Master!”
“Hmph, Eun Seol-ran. What nonsensical words are you speaking? Gaga’s heart belongs to me!”
Next, Geumhu and Jeoksawol charged at me. With the weight of four women, I naturally fell to the ground.
“No way. Master, you’re mine! Ugh!”
Sahyeong snapped her eyes shut and charged forward.
“This Sahyeong will follow Sahyeong!”
“I too! I too am the Master’s exclusive maidservant!”
“Even Yeong-ryeong! Even Yeong-ryeong will participate!”
“Since my Master is going, I couldn’t possibly stay behind!”
One after another, Samai, Seomun Cheong-ha, Dang Yeong-ryeong, and So Geom-hu tackled me.
“I can’t be left out either.”
“O, Brother…!!”
So Cheonma and Heuksaryong joined last, and all eleven of them piled on top of me. Amidst the rising scents and soft touches, I smiled.
Yes.
This was the ending I had desired.
My real life begins now.
With eleven wives, not just Samcheosacheop.
That day,
The lights of the Forbidden City did not go out.
It was truly a city that never sleeps.