Chapter 369 - - 367 Admonishment Vine_1

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October 18th.

All constellations are highly auspicious.

Recommended activities: breaking ground, offering sacrifices, enthronement.

A sudden gust of wind rushed by, and all living things lay dormant.

…

Xuyang.

The oldest city along the Foggy River, with a large population and pleasant scenery.

The initial capital of Chongming Country was established here.

Today, though Chongming had moved its capital over a hundred years ago, Xuyang still retained the old imperial palaces. Every scorching summer, Emperor Chongming would bring his ministers to Xuyang to escape the heat.

At this moment.

There was a sentry every three steps and a watch post every five steps in Xuyang City.

Inside the old imperial palace, music and rituals resonated harmoniously.

Upon the altar.

The State Preceptor was solemnly offering sacrifices to heaven.

Duge, Lin Qing, Huangfu Xing, Ge Zong, Xiang Li, as well as the lords of various cities conquered by Duge, were all dressed in finery, standing on either side, awaiting the enthronement of the new emperor.

…

Indeed.

At the time when Chongming Country was in turmoil, Duge chose to have Luo Shuang ascend the throne.

By now, Luo Shuang had many soldiers and controlled dozens of cities; addressing her as merely a princess no longer seemed fitting.

According to Duge, being enthroned as a king would settle the minds of all her followers.

Of course, that was just the official reason.

Privately, Duge intended to level up his second skill of loyalty and trendsetting in this turbulent world.

With a decisive battle approaching imminently, how could two skills be sufficient? Even individuals like Miao Buqi and Gao Ming had developed their second skills. Having caused such sensations, it would be unreasonable for him not to achieve the same.

If he could not develop a second skill, it would only prove that the direction he chose was incorrect.

Most importantly, the skill associated with the second key term could be taken out of here. He couldn’t possibly end up leaving with just one skill—that would be a huge loss!

Therefore.

Even if the sky came crashing down, Luo Shuang must be enthroned.

…

The enthronement process progressed methodically.

After the sacrifice to heaven was completed.

Luo Shuang, donned in the Dragon Robe, was formally seated on the dragon throne under Duge’s guidance, receiving the worship of the officials and clarifying the distinction between sovereign and subjects.

Seated on the dragon throne, Luo Shuang sat with a straight posture, overlooking the kneeling civil and military officials. It felt like a dream, and her heart was filled with sighs of emotion.

She cast a sideways glance at Duge, who stood beside her, with gratitude written all over her face.

He had succeeded, truly succeeded. This was her master, who simply by standing there seemed to radiate boundless charisma.

Aside from her master, she feared there were no other men in the world that could catch her eye.

Following Luo Shuang’s command, “All officials may rise,” the ceremony of oblation was completed.

Duge stepped forward, stood aside, and, holding the Hit King Whip high, said, “Your Majesty, please step forward and listen to the admonishment.”

Luo Shuang glanced at Duge, rose, faced him, and slowly knelt down.

Duge held the Hit King Whip before Luo Shuang’s eyes and asked, “What is this object?”

“The Hit King Whip,” Luo Shuang replied.

Duge asked further, “What is its purpose?”

“To hit the foolish ruler above and the flatterers below,” Luo Shuang answered.

Duge nodded, “Please extend your hand, Your Majesty.”

Luo Shuang obediently stretched out her left hand.

“Luo Shuang, you are now an emperor, creating a precedent for women. On this day of your enthronement, as your teacher, I shall give you one last lesson,” Duge said, placing the Hit King Whip on Luo Shuang’s hand, his expression grave.

“I am all ears, Master,” Luo Shuang spoke respectfully.

“A ruler should bear the world in their heart, remain as open-minded as a valley, be able to accept others’ good advice, and endure what common folk cannot. Can Your Majesty do this?” Duge asked.

“I can,” answered Luo Shuang.

Smack!

The Hit King Whip was raised and then struck heavily onto Luo Shuang’s palm. Duge said, “The heart is insincere.”

“To the Imperial Master, the disciple can do it,” Luo Shuang declared loudly.

Smack!

Another whip landed.

Duge said, “Your words carry anger. A sovereign should remain unmoved by joy or anger, standing unperturbed even if Mount Tian collapsed in front of them.”

“To the Imperial Master, the disciple can do it,” Luo Shuang’s voice immediately became much calmer.

“Smack!”

Duge’s whip came down again: “This is a whip for unreasonable behavior. Do you harbor any grievances in your heart?”

Luo Shuang paused for a moment, then said, “None whatsoever.”

Duge inquired, “Why not?”

“The Master disciplining the disciple is both natural and right. If the Hit King Whip falls, it must be because the disciple still has areas of insufficiency,” Luo Shuang replied. “The disciple should reflect on her own faults.”

Duge nodded in satisfaction, “Correct, you have passed the test of magnanimity.”

He looked at Luo Shuang and continued, “As the monarch, you stand above millions, with no one in the world to restrain you, yet you must discipline yourself and strictly adhere to ritual propriety. Can you do that?”

“I can,” Luo Shuang said.

Smack!

The Hit King Whip once again landed on Luo Shuang’s palm.

Duge asked, “How would you do that?”

“Master, as the ruler of a nation, virtue is a restraint, propriety is a restraint, and the millions of citizens are, too…” Luo Shuang’s voice echoed in the great hall, replying to Duge’s challenging question in a systematic manner.

The court officials within the hall watched the teacher-disciple exchange in front of the dragon throne, agape and tongue-tied, not understanding the purpose of this segment—when had a new emperor’s ascension ever included this step?

In front of the court, whipping the emperor’s palm one stroke at a time, where did that leave the monarch’s dignity?

Under normal circumstances, a senior official would have long objected.

But the one above was Duge, the man who single-handedly established Luo Shuang’s kingdom; even if he stripped Luo Shuang naked in the great hall and spanked her, no one would dare to utter a word.

After all, the vast family enterprise could be said to have been won entirely by his efforts alone; even if he had taken the throne himself, no one would have had any issue with it.

And he still stayed true to his heart, supporting a woman like Luo Shuang to the throne, becoming a paragon among men, something no one present could have done.

Moreover, witnessing Duge disciplining his disciple, the court officials felt stirred.

Some officials from the Ministry of Rites even contemplated incorporating this segment into future ascension ceremonies.

A new emperor’s ascension would surely come with great pride; a public admonishment before his reign could temper the new monarch’s arrogance.

All benefit, no harm.

Gao Ming and others looked at Duge, filled with envy—no matter when, Duge was always the coolest.

When would they ever have such a commanding presence on the Alien Battlefield like Duge?

…

In the great hall, only Huangfu Yue watched the vine in Duge’s hand strike Luo Shuang’s palm over and over, growing more and more convinced that the key to being an Imperial Master was torment.

Having dealt with the Heavenly Demon for so long, she had come to understand that a significant event was needed to awaken Divine Skills; Duge was clearly using Luo Shuang’s ascension to awaken abilities, wasn’t he?

Huangfu Yue’s eyes glinted as she anxiously watched Duge, her heart racing.

Imperial Master, what use is there in merely striking the palm?

Use the Seven-Hole Touch!

During the ascension ceremony, use the Seven-Hole Touch secretly on her. Whether she feels pleasured… or distressed, she wouldn’t dare to make a sound. That would truly be ultimate torment!

With such gentle whipping of the palm, when will Divine Skills awaken?

Compared with your Divine Skills, what’s the dignity of an empress? Haven’t you realized that Luo Shuang’s heart is entirely devoted to you, ready to make any sacrifice?

You clearly have a delicate heart with seven orifices, so why the lack of insight on this matter?

…

What Huangfu Yue knew, Luo Shuang was aware of, too.

So.

During her ascension ceremony, she didn’t harbor the slightest resentment toward Duge for whipping her palms,

Her realm had reached Innate; Duge didn’t use True Qi on her, and the whip landing on her palm was more symbolic than anything; it didn’t hurt in the least, nor did it cause any injury.

Everything she had was given by her master.

As long as the master could awaken abilities, she was willing to let him continue striking.

Moreover, ever since the battle at Yang River when Luo Shuang learned what Duge had done to Huangfu Yue, her mind would uncontrollably cast herself in Huangfu Yue’s role.

But Duge seemingly treated her genuinely as a queen to be nurtured, never doing anything excessive to her.

The only transgression was the whipping after a mistake.

Later.

Luo Shuang intentionally made mistakes to provoke Duge into whipping her, which had become her private indulgence.

She thoroughly enjoyed the process and found joy in it.

Luo Shuang knew that today was the most important day of her life and that she shouldn’t be distracted by random thoughts.

But as the whip struck her palm repeatedly, akin to flipping a switch, her thoughts gradually became uncontrollable, and the civil and military officials in the hall seemed to fade away, leaving only her and master in the great hall…

Yingying!

With a whip’s descent, Luo Shuang blushed, unable to suppress a peculiar sound.

The hall fell silent enough to hear a pin drop.

Many astute military generals instinctively widened their eyes, incredulous as they looked towards Duge on the platform.

What was happening?

Were you really admonishing the new empress, teaching her the way of the sovereign?

What have you reduced the ascension ceremony to?

It’s happening!

It’s happening!

The Seven-Hole Touch finally came into play; well done, Imperial Master!

Huangfu Yue couldn’t help swallowing hard, clenching her fists, her cheeks flushed. If it weren’t for being in the great hall, she would have already cried out in shock.

…

The State Preceptor watched the two before the dragon throne and shook his head helplessly. Demon Star, indeed a Demon Star; to expect Duge to follow the formal process properly was too much of a stretch. Couldn’t we have waited until after the ceremony to indulge in these antics with the empress?

Before the dragon throne, Duge stared intently at the personal panel before him, also stunned in place.

To check on the skill situation, he had kept his panel open.

As Luo Shuang involuntarily squeezed out that odd sound through her nose, a derivative item suddenly popped up on the personal panel.

Admonishment Vine: Indestructible. Striking someone with this vine causes them to subconsciously ignore their surroundings, seeing only the two of you, and arousing the desire within their body.

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