Spring at the Academy (8) - Marrying Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi
Two paths lay before me. Marry Zhuge Liang, and her uncle Zhuge Xuan would breathe a sigh of relief and head off to Xuzhou, naturally delighting Cao Cao by handing her the ideal governor he craved for the region. I'd take the brilliant woman as my wife and live a life of luxury.
Zhuge Liang would take a high post if I wished it—perhaps even rise to prime minister like Cao Cao herself. Such prodigious talent.
But I'd already set a wedding date with Sima Yi. It was a promise made long ago, not just to her but to her father and the entire Sima clan.
No matter how the elders pushed the talks, the final decision was mine. Who I chose was entirely up to me.
So I had to choose.
"White or black."
I picked up and set down the Go stones before me again and again. The white ones were pristine and neat; the black ones, warmed by my long handling, felt cozy to the touch.
"What to do."
My dilemma deepened. The more I pondered, the more stray thoughts crowded in. I knew lingering on useless musings would cloud the right choice, but I couldn't help it.
No, it wasn't a dilemma.
"I'm just lacking courage."
The conclusion was clear. As a man—as Geum Taeyang—it had been decided from the start.
Zhuge Liang or Sima Yi.
'That's not it.'
I stood, pulling a bottle from the shelf. A gift from my adoptive father, Huang Shengyan, long ago. Wine said to rival the original Six Secret Teachings in value—a priceless treasure. I'd been too stingy to even sip it, merely inhaling its scent before stashing it away. The first time I'd truly felt, 'Is this a father's love?'
'It's for a day like this.'
I placed it on the reception desk and bellowed toward the door.
"Seo Seo!!"
"...Yes, Master."
Seo Seo, already waiting outside, opened the door and entered.
"Fetch Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang."
"Who first?"
"Both."
"...At the same time?"
"Yes."
I arranged three chairs facing each other, then sat in the middle to wait.
"......."
"......."
The two, clad in black and white nightclothes, shot each other a glare before sitting across from me.
"What is it?"
"Please speak, husband."
Zhuge Liang amped up the "husband" in front of Sima Yi, who glared daggers back. Zhuge Liang didn't flinch, just stared at me.
Ah, my stomach already ached.
'Can't live like this.'
This called for the wisdom of ancient sages—and advice from life's veterans.
"Geum, you gotta rein in the wife from day one. Otherwise, regret forever." Huang Zu had said.
"Know why men get whipped? Wives don't see hubby as king. After kids, they strut like 'try killing me.' So man must hold power. Force. Get it?"
Huang Zu insisted men must always seize the initiative.
"Best is no marriage... Sigh, can't avoid it. Chin up. Remember: man must dominate woman!"
He'd failed, leaving me past turning back, so he gave earnest counsel before my wedding.
"Listen well. Whoever badmouths or picks fights first gets no attention from me."
"...Pardon?"
"Liang, don't provoke Yi. Yi, don't mock Liang. Plenty more to say, but no fighting."
They stared at me, faces sour, avoiding each other's eyes. I recalled another's words.
"Women fight with spirit. No yielding. Just admit defeat and submit." Cai Xuan had said.
"Especially principal wife vs. concubine—husband clueless. How'd I know? Before my son, she treated me like air... Ugh."
Cai Xuan, Liu Biao's later wife, vented her woes and advised me.
"Your women got strong spirits. Give up—or be mighty enough for three wives, four concubines. Crush 'em all."
I took her words to heart. To the pair still not meeting eyes, I stated clearly.
"Fight, and I go to Lady Cao."
"Ah…!"
"......."
My not-quite-threat worked; they finally eyed each other warily. Childish and petty, but shock therapy if needed.
"Prime minister's daughter—high office guaranteed. Got a house in Heodo too. Live cushy forever."
"Abandon Jingzhou for Heodo?"
"From here to capital? Promotion."
"...No."
Zhuge Liang shook her head.
"Can't send husband elsewhere."
"That's the mistake."
"...Huh?"
"Who sends me anywhere? I'm me. Not yours to decide."
"Th-that's."
I turned stern; she shrank instantly. Sima Yi too.
"I'm Geum Taeyang. I choose where I live, who I marry, how I live."
Fiercely. Here and now, against Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang, I became Lü Bu.
"Precisely when Zhuge Liang turns twenty and can drink. We'll share this wine, all three."
"......."
"Be precise, Master."
Sima Yi got it. But Zhuge Liang blinked innocently—naive, or seeking confirmation?
"Precise, eh? ...Heh, was prepping roundabout words. Fine."
I uncorked the bottle. Sharp aroma filled the room; I poured a tiny bit into my cup.
"Ah…."
Wine even Sima Yi hadn't tasted. I recorked quick and downed it.
"Mmm…."
Throat burned, stomach twisted. But it steeled my resolve. Not the booze, but savoring its taste, I declared.
"When Zhuge Liang can drink, we'll empty this together—all three."
"What does that mean?"
"Sigh... Once only."
I reached for both.
"You two. Both marry me."
"......My."
"......."
Silence.
"Object? Speak in three seconds."
"No, Mas—"
Mmch.
I sealed Sima Yi's lips.
"......."
"Three. Done. No complaints?"
"I too compl—"
Mmmch.
"...Wine taste. First time…."
"Hmph. No complaints then."
Face flushed—booze or heat?—I waved my hands on them.
"Here's to the future."
"Proposal by fiat?"
"Why? Hate it?"
"Not hate, but…."
Sima Yi touched her cheek awkwardly.
"Expected serious mood from Master."
"Dead serious now."
"Two women at once?"
"Yep."
Shameless, Geum Taeyang.
"Greedy me. Imagining you bearing kids for other men? Gut churns, unbearable. So I thought."
I stood, yanked their chairs close.
"Your kids? Mine. So let's."
I embraced their waists.
"Both, be my wives."
They yielded without resistance.
"Birthdays differ, but bear my children together."
"...What's that?"
"Liu Bei, to sworn brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei after becoming kin."
"Me and Sima Yi as sisters?"
"Wives, not sisters."
Zhuge Liang or Sima Yi? Wrong.
"I've had nothing. Wanted land—no land. House to lie in—none. Money to eat—no money. Now all set, I want true desire."
Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi.
"...I want family. Real family."
Once, alone with wine, I'd pictured them wed to others. Shattered the cup unwittingly. Realized then.
"Both, become my family."
Both, my wives. Teaching them, I knew: give to other men, I'd burst from rage.
"Stay by me in hardship. I'll support till you're Three Dukes, prime ministers, grand commandants. Your sturdy pillar-husband."
"...Sounds profound, but weird?"
Sima Yi smiled faintly, grasping my hand on her waist.
"Really... Hoped on way here, and yep, as expected."
"Was prepared."
Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang finally looked at each other.
"Don't love your ways, but only you could claim equal wife-status to me."
"Pot calling kettle."
"...Sigh. Heavens, why send this girl to Master."
"Agreed."
They finally opened up properly. Voices less sharp; I sighed in relief.
But one rivalry inevitable.
"So Master, principal wife?"
"Me, obviously? I'm younger."
"Older wife principal—natural?"
"Bragging age? Die sooner anyway; me principal stabler."
"Death no order?"
"Pray to outlive you?"
Ah, fighting again.
If ordinary, I'd mediate. But I'm Geum Taeyang.
"Listen. One situation for fighting."
I gripped waists, turned them to me. Softness in hands.
Zhuge Liang vs. Sima Yi showdown.
"First to bear my son wins. Got it?"
"......Yes."
"......Got it."
Geum Taeyang, victory.