My Dream is to Play and Eat (2)

Hwang Seung-eon was a fairly well-known scholar in Jingzhou, the head of a respected local clan. 'That's why they married him off to the eldest daughter of the Cai family.' The Ho clans didn't marry lightly. They only formed marriage alliances when it would elevate their own status, and sometimes they even viewed women as tools to forge connections between families. That was the case with Hwang Seung-eon and Lady Cai.

But me, becoming their adopted son? "Wait, what about the succession then?"

"Don't worry. Old Master Hwang has no children."

"Pardon?"

"It's been quite some time since they married, but no heirs. Rumors float around that one of them might be the issue... but that's not important."

Huang Zu grabbed my shoulders. "They need a son. Even an adopted one. You're the right age with real talent—they'll surely consider you favorably."

"They're recruiting an adopted son?"

"Exactly."

Recruiting an adopted son. I had no idea what it meant, but first I needed to weigh the pros and cons.

"No need to overthink it. You'd become part of the Hwang family, but you'd also forge deep ties with the Cai clan. In a broad sense, you could call yourself one of theirs too."

"The Cai of Yangyang..."

Sima Yi, standing beside me, started muttering something. "General Huang Zu. How do they compare to the Sima clan of Henei?"

"The Sima? Hmm... I hate to say this in front of a young lady, but their local prestige is about equal. Of course, everyone knows the Sima have produced many famous scholars..."

"Good enough. Master, accept it."

"Yi-ya?"

Sima Yi jumped in enthusiastically about me becoming their adopted son. "It's just nominal adoption, so there must be some backstory. This is a golden opportunity. Someone like you can negotiate terms upon adoption."

"Right. I already sounded them out casually. No need to attend family events or anything. Just put your name on the registry and live separately."

"So they just need a name on the books?"

It was getting even more baffling.

"Are they in a rush for an adopted son?"

"No. About... a year now."

"With all those other candidates, why hasn't anyone been chosen?"

"Well, Old Master Hwang said anyone would do. He's a bit of an... eccentric."

Calling someone an eccentric wasn't easy, but there it was.

"What does he do?"

"He's hardly home a year. Always off touring mountains and rivers. Sometimes I worry he'll drop dead at some inn, but that's beside the point." Huang Zu shook his head.

"Lady Cai picks the adoptee, and she's rejected every candidate so far. Said they weren't worthy of the Cai bloodline."

"And me?"

"Hmm." Huang Zu eyed me up and down, then nodded at my face. "You've got this going for you."

He swiped his hand across his own face like brushing with a broom and grinned. "Go meet them. Who knows! You might really become part of the Cai family."

"......"

Well, nothing to lose, so maybe a visit wouldn't hurt...

"Accepted."

Hwang Seung-eon's wife, Cai Xuan—the eldest daughter of the Cai clan—declared it the moment she saw me. She scribbled something on the silk before her and set it aside.

"Welcome, my son."

"My hair's this color."

"A perfect match for the Hwang name."

"Unknown origins, though."

"Unknown origins make you ideal for adoption."

"Officially, I'd be your son. You okay ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with that?"

"Officially and personally, I want to be your mother."

"Why?"

"You're handsome. And that golden—not yellow—hair? I like it."

"......"

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for giving birth to me.

"Your dark skin's from hard farm labor, right? I know. I can read people at a glance."

"What ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠am I, then?"

"Someone who wants to laze around sucking honey water?"

Lady Cai—was she a mind reader?

"Hehe, just teasing. Forgive my rudeness."

Her demeanor shifted instantly. The intimidating air from moments ago vanished like an act; she straightened up politely.

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Cai Xuan, eldest daughter of the Cai clan. If you accept, I'll be your mother."

"Pleased to meet you too, Mother."

"Oh, already?"

"It's an honor to have such a beautiful and virtuous mother."

I knew it the instant I saw Cai Xuan. This woman and I are cut from the same cloth.

"You know about me?"

"Of course. As you said, officially you'll be my son. I'd hardly skip gathering intel on such a man. Personally, I'm close with Hui-er."

"Hui-er?"

"Hui-er—Sima Hui. The Water Mirror teacher and I are old friends. Her recommendation played a big role in adopting you."

Truly, it's all about who you know.

"My nephew—my younger brother's son—is studying at your academy. The sturdy boy, right?"

"Ah, that kid!"

There was one boy with the Cai surname I'd treated specially. Big build, sharp mind, from a powerful clan—I'd paid extra attention, and here was the payoff.

"I hear his father uses a man named Deokgyu."

"My younger brother. Name's Mo, courtesy name Deokgyu. Hehe, he'll be your uncle now."

"...So that's how it works."

A bit burdensome. I'd come just to test the waters of adoption, but now I was deeply tied to the Cai clan.

"No need to meddle in family affairs. If you'd come scheming to use my husband and our clan's power, I'd have thrown you out. But your eyes show none of that."

"I'd be lying if I said none at all."

"My apologies. The 'power' I meant was official positions."

"Never crossed my mind."

If I'd wanted office, I'd have taken Huang Zu's endorsement.

"I just want to focus on teaching at the academy."

"And build close ties with Jingzhou's elite clans to become a power player yourself? In Xinya. You've got that big estate there."

"......How deep did you investigate me?"

"No place in Jingzhou escapes our eyes. Governors are appointed by the court, but here we rule like kings. Gold rolling in chests? Our people would know. Hehe."

"...Impressive. I knew the Cai were formidable, but..."

"Yes. But that's reaching its limit."

Cai Xuan shook her head firmly. "These are chaotic times. Not for local clans to hold sway. Like the Warring States, we must attach to a strong ruler. My goal is the Cai clan's survival. For that, I need your wisdom—the intellect that made Huang Zu a hero of Gangha."

"How'd you know?"

"General Huang is close with my husband. He discussed you with me right away."

Suddenly, I pictured Huang Zu throwing his arms wide, grinning savagely like 'Did I do good?!'

"The Cai clan seeks a path through this chaos."

"I'll have to rack my brains. As your adopted son, I'll be in-laws with the Cai too."

"Yes. Any good ideas?"

"Of course."

I lack talent in strategy or tactics. But how humans cling to power and thrive? That's my expertise.

"Marry into Liu Biao's bloodline."

"......."

Cai Xuan stared blankly. I cleared my throat.

"Governor Liu has become Jingzhou's master off this victory. Huang Zu was the hero, but Liu Biao appointed him to Gangha."

"Do you think Liu Biao will succeed?"

"Depends on your metric, but he'll reign as Jingzhou's king for a good while."

Jingzhou's king. Nice ring to it.

"Dong Zhuo's weakened by moving the capital to Chang'an—no strength left to appoint new governors or inspectors. Plus, Liu Biao's now at odds with Yuan Shu, a head of the anti-Dong coalition. Jingzhou's effectively his."

"Right. The clans are in uproar. Many fled thinking Liu Biao would lose, only to get trapped. Then Huang Zu pulled off the win."

Pulled off the win. Funny and sad. Relatable.

"Some clans abandoned Liu Biao and got blacklisted. But not us. My brother stuck it out, watching till the end. Gave us a foundation to build ties."

Others had fled like me, but Cai Mo stayed in Yangyang, aiding Huang Zu's breakout and rallying troops for a last stand.

"But will Liu Biao become Jingzhou's Dong Zhuo or Yuan Shao? That's why I want your advice."

"So, how's my answer?"

"Same as my little sister's."

"You have a sister?"

"Yes. Unmarried virgin still."

The puzzle pieces clicked.

"If I may guess why you want me as adopted son?"

"What?"

"You two don't plan on having kids?"

"How rude."

Rude as hell. In this era of Confucius's "no son, no words," childless couples were traitors.

"Why think that?"

"To use me as cover. You love each other enough for marriage, but no heir thoughts. If your unmarried sister weds Liu Biao and bears his child, it'd complicate things."

"...Hehe, spot on."

Cai Xuan sipped tea with a bitter smile. "If she bore his heir, it'd splash on me. But I don't want kids. Neither does my husband."

"You can say that?"

"Want my sister? Awkward. One kid's enough, and besides..."

She shook her head in disgust. "Raising sons and daughters to compete with my siblings'? Headache. They'd love it more."

She slid something toward me. "Adopted sons lack legitimacy, so no messy succession fights for us."

"No more guessing needed. Cai family lineage chart. Here's to the future, son."

"...Likewise, Mother."

And so I went from Geum Taeyang to Hwang Wol-yeong.

"So, the real reason? Beyond succession worries."

"......I hesitate ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to air my husband's shame, but since you're my son..."

Cai Xuan sighed deeply. "That man... he's impotent. Political marriage, and the Hwang hid it."

"......."

"Wedding night, he confessed. Bastard. That's why we live apart. One error in your words: I don't love him. I want him dead."

"......."

She reached out, stroking my hair. "So, take care from now on, son."

"......Yes, Mother."

Cai Xuan caressed my face, smiling with her eyes. "But son."

"Yes, Mother."

"Handsome as expected. And... such ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a fine body?"

"......."

"Hold on, let's chat."

And so I became Cai Xuan's adopted son.