NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 150
Chapter 150: The Ring
I maintained a smile in response to the Emperor’s question.
Yujinhwi was a crossdresser.
I thought that, unlike others, someone like the Emperor, a fellow reincarnator, might catch on.
Ilgeumyuhee.
It was due to the existence of the mysterious female Yeogosu, whose path overlapped with my/that of the Emperor and my senior. Furthermore, since the Emperor completely controlled the world’s best espionage organization, Dongchang, it wouldn’t be hard to deduce that Ilgeumyuhee and Yujinhwi were the same person.
It wasn’t difficult to further suspect that Yujinhwi was a crossdresser. Perhaps substantial circumstantial evidence had already been gathered.
As expected, our Emperor. I didn’t teach him wrong.
When the Emperor questioned me, it felt somewhat like a point-blank confirmation. He was asking me when he was already almost 99% certain.
So I couldn’t refuse an answer. Not to anyone else, but to the Emperor. It couldn’t be helped.
But before that.
“… I shall answer your question. However, only the Emperor must know this.”
I couldn’t divulge the secret of my senior to anyone else, even if it was the Emperor.
“I shall comply. Noya. Please speak.”
At my words, the Emperor smiled kindly while demanding an answer.
If the Emperor said so, then so it would be. The Emperor had never broken a promise with me. So I could trust him now. I looked at the Emperor and said.
“Your Majesty’s suspicion is correct. Geomseong Yujinhwi is… a woman.”
*
The moment I heard Lee Cheol-soo’s response, Juga-yul’s gaze slightly wavered. Yujinhwi is a woman.
Not only did Ilgeumyuhee and Yujinhwi’s paths overlap, but combining various circumstantial evidence resulted in a confirmation through Noya’s mouth.
“Indeed… So that was it.”
A faint smile appeared on Juga-yul’s lips.
Her guess was correct. Geomseong was a woman. It was the moment her long-held doubts from both lives were resolved.
Her gaze sank heavily. The focus disappeared from her pupils. If Yujinhwi was a woman, then…
She was the woman Juga-yul had to guard against more than any other.
‘Geomseong cannot empathize with or understand others’ feelings and thoughts.’
Yujinhwi might outwardly seem like a good person, but she was the most difficult type of person to handle. She was not a warrior; she had merely been trained as one. But as the supreme ruler of the empire, as the Son of Heaven who commands all beings…
No, as Noya’s official concubine, she had to be capable of that much. The old saying goes that one must first cultivate themselves before governing the family and ruling the nation. How could someone who could not manage the concubines and govern the family handle the empire and ensure peace in the Ming Empire?
Thus, managing Yujinhwi was also her job.
“I thank you for answering my question, Noya.”
Juga-yul’s gaze was fixed on Noya.
The image of the one she had long wanted to meet, who was also the most loveable, was there. Everything about her, the reason she lived and her purpose for life was all there.
It was a connection that couldn’t just be explained with base feelings like mere love; her entire being was dedicated to that person.
Juga-yul’s face turned red.
Her heart had been racing like it was malfunctioning since earlier.
‘My Noya, how can you be so gallant? Hehe.’
Before her eyes, Noya and the naked Noya she had seen at the martial arts arena overlapped. It wasn’t the first time she’d seen Noya naked.
There had been a few chances in her previous life. But this time was different. After reclaiming her yin, and after years of repeated external training, Noya’s naked form was that of a complete man.
Juga-yul thought of the size of the yin she recalled. To accommodate that size, she needed to grow quickly. With her current body, it wouldn’t do. She needed to become Noya’s ideal woman and become his official concubine.
Of course, the position of the official concubine couldn’t truly explain the entirety of her relationship with Noya, but still, that position was only hers.
It was something she could never yield to anyone else.
Especially.
To Geomseong Yujinhwi, she couldn’t yield at all.
Juga-yul instinctively understood. As she headed toward the position of official concubine, her greatest rival, no, her greatest enemy was Yujinhwi.
Jeoksawol was indeed the world’s most beautiful woman, but she was already an elder at an age close to her sixties and had a personality Juga-yul did not prefer.
Geumhu Eun Seol-ran had received a public confession but was similarly too old, almost approaching sixty, and thus could not be considered a competitor.
Seoharin and Seomun Cheong-ha were the same.
Heuksaryong needs no further mention.
But Yujinhwi.
She was not only the most beautiful in the world but had also been alongside Noya longer than anyone during this lifetime. Naturally, the one Juga-yul had to be most cautious of was Yujinhwi.
Thinking this, Juga-yul said to Lee Cheol-soo.
“… Noya, be careful of Geomseong. She is a dangerous person.”
At Juga-yul’s words, Lee Cheol-soo hesitated for a moment before cautiously replying.
“Your Majesty, the Senior is not as dangerous as that.”
After hearing his response, Juga-yul bit her lip.
The Senior, huh?
Moreover, knowing Lee Cheol-soo well, Juga-yul could read the subtle emotions hidden in his words. The emotion carried in the title of ‘Senior’ clearly indicated familiarity.
Had those two become so close already? Juga-yul’s focus gradually faded. Her hands trembled.
Geomseong Yujinhwi.
Just how deep had that vixen delved into Noya? Juga-yul quashed her boiling jealousy with superhuman patience.
In front of Noya, she couldn’t show a ugly side. Even to win his favor, she needed to present herself as the image of the Emperor he knew. Juga-yul quickly suppressed her jealousy and said.
“Understood. Noya. My worries may have been too excessive.”
Juga-yul stepped back slightly. Of course, she truly didn’t intend to back off.
‘Geomseong, from now on, I shall keep a closer watch on you… as Noya’s official concubine.’
Juga-yul remembered the emotionless face of the Geomseong she met in her previous life and the youthful face of the young Geomseong she had seen from afar in this life, and she smiled. As she smiled like that, at that moment…
“Your Majesty.”
Noya spoke up. Juga-yul’s gaze turned directly toward him.
It was a rare outing from the palace, using the excuse of assisting at the Shaolin Temple. Even the fleeting moments with Noya were invaluable to her. She needed to focus on Noya.
“Please speak.”
“… If there’s anything I can assist you with in the palace, please let me know anytime. Of course, I believe you will manage well on your own, but… there are tasks that are difficult to handle alone.”
Noya’s words caused Juga-yul’s heart to race painfully.
Her face flushed. Her breaths became ragged. Her eyes wavered.
As expected, it was Noya.
She thought only of Noya. Even though Noya was also bound by a grand mission, still wanting to help her. It was a warmth she hadn’t felt in a long time.
She wanted to lean on Noya once more.
‘But that can’t be.’
Juga-yul quickly regained her composure. She wanted to lean on Noya. But she couldn’t do that right now.
She couldn’t make Noya’s hands dirty, not being able to handle the imperial affairs or even the half-brothers, who were merely connected by blood. She didn’t want to be seen as incompetent in front of Noya.
Cultivating herself and managing the family was solely her task. Cleaning up the large family of the imperial family was also her responsibility as its head.
Thus, she had to resolve things quickly and assist Noya by ascending to the throne. Just as she had received favor from Noya in her previous life, she now needed to help him in this life.
So she had to refuse.
Thinking that, Juga-yul said to Noya.
“It’s fine, Noya. I can manage alone, so don’t worry too much.”
“… Understood, Your Majesty.”
Despite Noya’s refusal, he smiled. Seeing that smile made Juga-yul smile too.
Juga-yul looked at Noya and said.
“Since you dedicated the Yongbong Society’s victory to me, I should reward you for that.”
Reward.
At the mention of that word, Juga-yul’s body trembled.
*
Having met the Emperor and talked for a long time, I had completely forgotten, but the reason she could have had a private audience with me was to bestow a reward on the winner of the Yongbong Society.
Naturally, it was expected that a reward would exist.
‘A reward, huh.’
Hadn’t I already received the Inner Pill of the Everlasting Flower?
Surely it couldn’t be another Extreme Yang Treasure! Taking the Inner Pill of the Everlasting Flower just now and trying to take the Extreme Yang Treasure wouldn’t yield any substantial effects.
The Emperor surely couldn’t be unaware of that. So what kind of reward was it?
At that moment, a multitude of thoughts crossed my mind, and the Emperor took out a small pendant from her bosom.
Click.
As the pendant opened, there was a gold ring encrusted with a diamond sitting inside.
“… This is a ring I had made specifically for Noya, thinking of you… It’s the only one in the world. It’s not much, but… I hope you’ll accept it.”
The diamond embedded in the ring was of the best quality. When combined with the price of solid gold and fine craftsmanship, it would easily surpass hundreds of millions in modern currency.
It was certainly an item that far exceeded what I would expect as a reward from the Yongbong Society. Why it had to be a ring, I couldn’t tell, but since the Emperor prepared it for me, I should accept it.
The Emperor’s face noticeably turned red. I silently received the ring and wore it on my left ring finger.
Seeing me wear the ring made the Emperor’s face even redder. I smiled brightly and said.
“Thank you for the generous reward, Your Majesty.”
“Not at all, Noya. Please wait a little longer. Once all matters in the palace are sorted,… I will fully support you from then on.”
“Thank you.”
I bowed my head to the Emperor. After hearing my words, the Emperor smiled. My gaze shifted to her left hand.
On her left ring finger…
Was a ring with the same design as mine.
*
Xinjiang Tianshan.
Heavenly Horse Hall.
The center of the New Religion, where the supreme leader of the Heavenly Horse Church resides. Baek Murang was seated at the table.
His face, usually filled with boredom, bore a rare glint of determination.
He held a brush in his hand, and on the luxurious marble table were documents haphazardly scattered about.
With his seal stamped on the last page, the Heavenly Horse read the contents of the document and chuckled.
“Yes, with this, even Cheonmuji-che won’t be able to resist.”
If even with this dispatch, Cheonmuji-che, Yujinhwi does not move…
Then I’ll have to resort to extreme measures.
The Heavenly Horse thought that as he handed a dry sealed letter to Mane, who was waiting at his side.
“Deliver this letter to the Gongdong Sect Main Base.”
“Understood!”
Mane exclaimed as he bowed, taking the letter into his possession.
Hearing Mane’s shout, the Heavenly Horse closed his eyes.
It will be soon.
The day he meets the Cheonmuji-che, who possesses talent that surpasses what he had only heard of in rumors, is approaching.
The Heavenly Horse burst into an unbidden laugh.