Chapter 80

--- 20th of April 1897 ---

--- 3rd Person POV ---

--- Imperial Complex ---

On one of the hallways of the Palace of Sella. With paintings of the past and present members of the Imperial Clan of Shaja hanging on the walls. Precious artifacts that have huge importance to the Imperial Clan, from the kampilans of the previous rajahs and emperor. To the religious artifacts like the golden statue of buddha to the ivory carvings of an animal and some porcelains vases that are currently in possession of the Imperial family. All are neatly and carefully been placed on the sides of the hallway, giving a grand decoration on long hallway towards the different rooms inside the palace.

Courtiers can be seen walking from one place to another, carrying things that are needed by any present members of the Imperial family. Others were meticulously cleaning the area, ensuring that no specks of dust can be seen on each crevasse of the palace.

It is just has been five in the morning and the palace courtiers have already been so busy in preparing to accommodate any members of the Imperial family. But one thing is common outside of each room that is currently being occupied by members of the Imperial family. And that is the presence of their respective palace courtiers from lower ranking eunuchs and court ladies to their senior eunuchs and court ladies, patiently guarding the outside door of the rooms.

The hallway and each room inside the palaces in the complex are not separated by a mere door but instead by a chamber called vestibule that allows people to wait and guard without hampering the happenings on the hallway. While a traditional door made out of hardwood separates each room from the vestibule to ensure privacy. Each room on the other hand, especially the rooms that are occupied by the emperor and empress, are connected on three to four more rooms, ensuring that spaces were not an issue.

One particular room out from the rooms inside the Sella Palace that is currently being occupied by the main members of the Imperial family is the room of the emperor Siagu XV. A total of five eunuchs and ten court ladies can be seen patiently waiting outside the emperor's room. All have been awake since the start of their shift during night time, guarding outside the room of the emperor, ensuring that none will disturb the emperor on his slumber.

But despite spending the entire night awake and have been seating orderly on the sides of vestibule, outside the room of the emperor. None of them have shown any sign of tiredness. As train members of the Imperial courtiers that have been tasked on serving the members of the Imperial family, they all went difficult trainings and disciplines, ensuring that they can serve the imperial family with every inch of their body.

A few minutes later, a new batch of eunuchs and courtiers arrived outside the room of the emperor, all of them were being led by Head Eunuch Isagani del Cruz, the oldest serving Senior Eunuch under the command of Emperor Siagu XV himself, whom is also now the Head Eunuch. Their arrival signals the change of people serving the emperor. Thus, the seated courtiers took their stand while their leader, Senior Eunuch Saanvi, faces Head Eunuch Isagani.

"Has everything been going well throughout the entire night, Senior Eunuch Saanvi?" Head Eunuch Isagani inquired in his raspy voice.

Senior Eunuch Saanvi nodded, replying, "Everything has gone smoothly, Head Eunuch. Just as usual, the emperor has spent the entire night asleep."

Head Eunuch Isagani found satisfaction in Senior Eunuch Saanvi's words, nodding as he listened. It wasn't merely because the emperor had peacefully slept through the night but also because of Senior Eunuch Saanvi's consistent dedication to his duty as the head of the guarding eunuch outside the emperor's chamber.

For years, Head Eunuch Isagani had served the Imperial family since his acceptance as a junior eunuch, assisting the eunuchs who served the Senior Eunuchs in the palace. His life had been devoted to the Imperial Family, symbolized by his acceptance of castration, signifying surrender to the Imperial Clan. However, despite his unwavering devotion and love for his duty, Head Eunuch Isagani understood that everything had its limitations.

With Head Eunuch Isagani approaching the twilight of his years, the time has arrived to select a successor to serve the emperor and assume the role of head Senior Eunuch overseeing all eunuchs in service to the Imperial family. Just as Head Eunuch Isagani succeeded his predecessor, Head Eunuch Anand.

Among the twenty senior eunuchs currently serving the Imperial family, Senior Eunuch Saanvi has captured the attention and interest of Head Eunuch Isagani. With twenty-five years of service to the Imperial family, Senior Eunuch Saanvi has, as per Head Eunuch Isagani's observations, demonstrated the qualities and dedication of a loyal servant worthy of attending to the most powerful individual in the entire empire.

For the past several years, Head Eunuch Isagani has diligently trained Senior Eunuch Saanvi into a skilled courtier. During Senior Eunuch Saanvi's final training session, he stood guard over the emperor throughout the entire night, ensuring peace and safety. Witnessing Senior Eunuch Saanvi's demonstration of skill, Head Eunuch Isagani felt satisfied and confident that he would soon be replaced by a worthy successor.

On the other hand, Senior Eunuch Saanvi experienced a sense of ease and satisfaction upon observing his superior's reaction. With this assurance, he felt more confident in his abilities, knowing that he had once again successfully ensured the emperor's safety and peaceful rest.

For years, Senior Eunuch Saanvi had dreamed of serving members of the Imperial family. As one of the thousands of courtiers working under the Imperial family's members, the majority of whom were allocated to each cadet clan of the Imperial Clan, this arrangement was established by agreement among the emperor, parliament, and the Imperial Clan Council. Only a select few of the most skilled courtiers were chosen to serve the main branch of the family, many of whom began their service as children.

The courtiers assigned to each cadet clan every few years were not financially supported by the government or the main Imperial Clan; instead, the cadet clans were responsible for providing for their needs, including salaries, making the treatment and compensation of the courtiers dependent on their masters.

Thus, when Senior Eunuch Saanvi began working under the main Imperial Clan, he aspired to serve members of the imperial family rather than being content with menial tasks such as cleaning or cooking. This ambition drove Senior Eunuch Saanvi to work diligently for years, gradually advancing from a junior eunuch tasked with garden maintenance to becoming the keeper of the Imperial library within the Imperial City, eventually achieving the rank of Senior Eunuch by the age of 39.

Everything became even more blissful for Senior Eunuch Saanvi when he was chosen to succeed Head Eunuch Isagani himself at the age of 43. This further deepened Senior Eunuch Saanvi's dedication to the Imperial family. Like most courtiers of the Imperial family, he adhered to the ancient tradition of remaining unmarried.

"Very well... retire now along with the others. I will resume my duty of taking care of the emperor," Head Eunuch Isagani stated calmly and authoritatively, a demeanor expected from a man who had lived for almost 75 years.

Senior Eunuch Saanvi smiled and nodded respectfully, saying, "As you wish, Head Eunuch Isagani."

Senior Eunuch Saanvi and the other eunuchs and court ladies, who had spent the entire night guarding the doors to the emperor's chamber, left in an orderly fashion, bowing to Head Eunuch Isagani as they departed. Once Senior Eunuch Saanvi and his companions had left, Head Eunuch Isagani and his entire entourage entered the vestibule. However, instead of proceeding into the emperor's chamber, Head Eunuch Isagani halted their progress and began addressing his entourage.

"Proceed to the temple of St. Felipe and notify the priest to ready for the morning prayer," declared Head Eunuch Isagani, as two eunuchs began pulling the door open towards their side. "The ceremony is nearly upon us, and all arrangements must be in place before the arrival of the emperor and the entire imperial family."

A court lady exited the vestibule and proceeded towards the temple of St. Felipe to inform the priest present there. As Head Eunuch Isagani slowly made his way to the emperor's chamber, the remaining eunuchs and court ladies remained in the vestibule, respectfully bowing their heads towards the occupant of the room. Only Head Eunuch Isagani was permitted to enter the chamber without the occupant's consent.

After Head Eunuch Isagani enters the chamber, the door to the emperor's chamber is promptly closed. What meets his eyes are the exquisite and grand decorations adorning the emperor's room. The spaciousness of the chamber is notable, capable of accommodating a group of 20 individuals comfortably. Three dividing doors within the main chamber lead to essential rooms for the emperor's use.

Although the entire complex has undergone significant changes from its original appearance, particularly since its completion in 1550, due to influences from Eastern cultures that Butuan has embraced, the city has managed to develop its own architectural style and preserve certain parts of the complex to reflect its historical appearance.

Head Eunuch Isagani approached the windows of the emperor's chamber, gently parting the golden curtains and opening the windows. This action allowed both the emperor and Head Eunuch Isagani to behold the slowly rising sun, which further inspired the birds to begin their morning chirping.

"It is now time for Your Imperial Majesty to awaken," Head Eunuch Isagani declared, facing the emperor's bed after opening all the windows in the chamber. "It is almost 5 in the morning, and all preparations for the morning prayer ceremony have been completed."

The emperor then emitted a groaning sound as he attempted to wake up in the morning. It didn't take long before Siagu XV, the emperor of Butuan, regained his complete composure after a restful night's sleep.

Emperor Siagu XV then turned his attention to his personal attendant, Head Eunuch Isagani, and said, "Allow them to enter and make preparations. I have a long day ahead."

Head Eunuch Isagani nodded in recognition before turning towards the door. "Come in," he announced. "The emperor has granted permission for your entry."

Upon hearing the Head Eunuch's words, the courtiers who had been waiting outside the emperor's chamber hurried inside, swiftly attending to the preparations needed for Emperor Siagu XV's ceremony. From the emperor's ceremonial attire to the water required for his cleansing, all tasks were efficiently carried out by the newly arrived courtiers.

As the court ladies and eunuchs bustled about, preparing for the day, Head Eunuch Isagani made his way to the Emperor Siagu XV's bedside with the intention of conveying a message to the newly awakened monarch.

"Your Imperial Majesty... Did Your Highness rest well?" Head Eunuch Isagani inquired, concerned for his master's well-being.

Emperor Siagu XV nodded as he settled onto the edge of the bed. "I have indeed enjoyed restful nights recently, particularly last night... It seems you've chosen an excellent successor for your position, Head Eunuch Isagani."

"That may be so, but Senior Eunuch Saanvi still has much to learn. Merely staying and guarding your chamber all night is the basic duty of a head eunuch," replied Head Eunuch Isagani calmly. "He is still inexperienced and requires guidance to provide exemplary service for you and the Imperial family, Your Imperial Majesty."

After hearing the words of his personal attendant, Emperor Siagu XV smiled slightly. He had known Head Eunuch Isagani for a long time, even before Isagani became his personal attendant. Judging by Isagani's manner of speaking, Emperor Siagu XV inferred that Isagani found Head Eunuch Saanvi's performance satisfactory to potentially replace him in his duties.

Rarely did Emperor Siagu XV observe Isagani openly expressing affection or approval towards others, especially those in close proximity. However, he chose not to press the matter further at this early hour. Jokes and teasing were best reserved for the appropriate moment.

"Are there any reports coming from the soldiers deployed in the war?" inquired Emperor Siagu XV as he took his stand and slowly made his way towards the other part of the chamber where some waters were prepared for his bath and cleaning.

Head Eunuch Isagani then followed the emperor and stopped outside the room as court ladies began assisting Emperor Siagu XV in taking his bath behind the coverings made of wood and fabric, painted with blooming lotus and orchids.

"Yes," Head Eunuch Isagani began, retrieving a piece of paper from his garments, "Last night, a message arrived from Lord Vice-Admiral Alexander of Siargao. According to the report, the forces of the Imperial Army, which landed at the ports of Pusan and Mokpo in Joseon, are advancing northward within the kingdom. They are consolidating power by aligning with local rebels who were once members of the southern faction in the region.

In their campaign to conquer the kingdom of Joseon, Lord Vice-Admiral Alexander observed futile resistance as they captured town after town. Additionally, they have successfully severed communication between the kingdom and the Japanese, as our naval forces now completely surround the waters surrounding Joseon's southern part."

Upon hearing Vice-Admiral Alexander's report, Emperor Siagu XV couldn't help but grin in satisfaction as he was attended to by his courtiers. It had been weeks since his brother-in-law, Vice-Admiral Alexander, along with the main forces of the Butuanon Imperial Military, landed in Joseon. Since then, Vice-Admiral Alexander had been providing reports directly to the emperor and the prime minister.

Despite his grin, Emperor Siagu XV was surprised by one piece of information: the harmonious cooperation between his nation's forces and the rebels of Joseon, remnants of the Southern Faction. This revelation prompted Emperor Siagu XV to recall the moment he learned that his late ambassador, late Ambassador Nguyễn Văn Phúc, had managed to establish a formal agreement with the rebel leader, Minister Yi Ha-je.

Minister Yi Ha-je was the one who actually discovered Vice-Admiral Alexander a few days after they had conquered the lower parts of the provinces of Gyeongsang and Jeolla. As per the reports previously dispatched by Vice-Admiral Alexander, Minister Yi Ha-je clarified that he and Ambassador Nguyễn Văn Phúc had reached an agreement of cooperation in exchange for the reinstatement of King Gojong.

Minister Yi Ha-je was unaware that Ambassador Nguyễn Văn Phúc had died at the hands of Japanese soldiers. Thus, upon hearing that Butuanon soldiers had landed in the ports of Pusan and Mokpo, Minister Yi Ha-je assumed that it was the forces sent by Ambassador Nguyễn Văn Phúc himself after negotiating with the emperor. If Minister Yi Ha-je had been aware of the death of Ambassador Nguyễn Văn Phúc, he would not have had the courage to approach the army of Butuan.

However, Vice-Admiral Alexander honors the agreement made by Minister Yi Ha-je and the late Ambassador Nguyễn Văn Phúc. He further bolsters the advantage of the Butuanon soldiers due to their geographical knowledge, ensuring the smooth conquest of the Butuanon soldiers in Joseon towards the north. This made Emperor Siagu XV delighted when he received that information.

"... With the recent arrival of deposed King Gojong in Mokpo and the assistance of Minister Yi Ha-je, Vice-Admiral Alexander's soldiers have already positioned themselves for victory," remarked Head Eunuch Isagani, bringing Emperor Siagu XV back to reality before he concluded his bath.

Emperor Siagu XV proceeded to attire himself, aided by his courtiers. He wore a white sonmin, adorned with an intricately embroidered golden bakunawa on the chest, and another coiling golden bakunawa at the back. The sleeves of the sonmin were also embellished with the image of the bakunawa, its head extending towards the ends of the sleeves. Completing the ensemble was a pair of white pants, crafted from the finest fabrics found within the empire.

Emperor Siagu XV commented with delight and satisfaction as he made his way towards the mirrors, "It appears that the plan to send King Gojong back to Joseon along with Prince Yi Kang has indeed borne quite good results. Not only has our conquest towards Joseon been cloaked in the guise of reinstating the rightful ruler of Joseon, but we have also easily garnered the trust and support of the general public in the kingdom. With these developments in Joseon already favoring our side, it won't be long before the entirety of Joseon finally falls under the grasp of our mighty empire."

With dreams of becoming one of the mightiest nations in the entire world, Emperor Siagu XV could not help but feel excited as he began to realize how close he was to achieving his aspirations in life. With the assistance of his military and ministers, it wouldn't be long before he could finally declare that he had truly elevated Butuan to the stage of military might.

Despite the looming coup against him by traditional nobles who sought to revert the empire to its pre-intervention state by the British and French forces, Emperor Siagu XV showed no signs of fear or concern. His confidence and assurance toward the soldiers of Butuan, whom he entrusted with his commands, remained unwavering. The ongoing war against the Japanese served as a test of their loyalty to him.

"Aye... With the return of the deposed king to Joseon, it is customary for the common people, who harbor little to no affection towards the new king, to automatically pledge their loyalty and support to the deposed king. This is compounded by the fact that they were quite distant from the capital and received almost no support from King Sunjong himself," Head Eunuch Isagani commented, addressing Emperor Siagu XV of Butuan, who was now prepared.

Emperor Siagu XV smiles with satisfaction and delight evident on his face. He is pleased with the developments of the plans he and his cabinet have painstakingly crafted over the past months. They have devised various strategies aimed at swiftly gaining control of Taiwan and Joseon, aiming to remove the territories considered to be under Japanese control.

Emperor Siagu XV is of the belief that one of the primary obstacles to his aspiration of regional domination is the burgeoning Japanese Empire. He perceives that neglecting to address the Japanese threat promptly would replicate the oversight that befell the Qing Empire. Both Emperor Siagu XV and his entire cabinet are resolute in avoiding a fate akin to that of the Qing Empire; therefore, they have taken preemptive measures.

Observing that all preparations had been completed, Emperor Siagu XV glanced at Head Eunuch Isagani and signaled his completion with a nod. Head Eunuch Isagani, in turn, gestured for the two eunuchs to open the chamber door. Emperor Siagu XV exited first, followed by Head Eunuch Isagani and the other courtiers, all slowly following in the footsteps of the emperor.

Emperor Siagu XV, his mind clear and focused, proceeded towards the rear of the Sella Palace. This path would guide him and his entire entourage through the garden and into the compound where the temple of St. Felipe stood. Today marked the morning prayer ceremony, a tradition that predated the Spanish arrival on the island. Its significance was such that it had never been outlawed, but rather integrated into the Aylashanism faith of Butuan.

-----

Sorry for the late update everyone. I have made changes with the titles of courtiers and nobles. I also change the titles of Imperial family.