Second Disciple (4): Before Departing for Sukyung Academy
Before setting off for Sukyung Academy, Jeokgal Hyeon decided to stay in Yangyang in Jingzhou. Thanks to a family member who had worked in officialdom and somehow built a connection with Liu Biao, the Zhuge clan received considerable support from a prestigious house in Yangyang. The Huang family. Its head was a man named Huang Shengyan, but he had been away from home for a long time, leaving Lady Cai—Cai Xuan—in effective control of the Huang household as well.
Huang Shengyan didn't always stay away, though. By some miracle, when Jeokgal Hyeon arrived in Yangyang, Huang Shengyan happened to be at the Huang residence.
"Pleased to meet you! I'm Huang Shengyan."
"I am deeply grateful for your warm welcome—and for coming to greet me in person, family head."
"No need for such words. I spend my days wandering the land, after all. Ha ha! What I bring back from every corner of the realm is gold, and what overflows is wealth, so it's all good."
Huang Shengyan pointed to the courtyard piled high with ingots. The Huang household servants gaped at the mountain of gold and silver he had hauled in, busily carting it away.
"I wasn't trying to boast. It just happened to coincide with my return."
"I understand. I've heard tales of you, Lord Huang Shengyan."
"You know of me?"
"Well... you're famous in Yangyang as the 'fixer'..."
"Ha ha ha! Indeed. I'm somewhat known for sorting out troubles for folks around here."
Huang Shengyan let out a hearty laugh.
"So feel no burden at all. Long ago, I shared a brief connection with Master Zhuge Gu."
"My brother, you mean?"
"Yes. Though it was back in my youth, I owe him a great debt. Heh heh, that day still lingers in my mind... Oh, pardon my ramblings. So, these children are Master Zhuge's?"
Huang Shengyan waved at the two children standing behind Jeokgal Hyeon.
"Pleased to meet you. Though I recall... the eldest son..."
"There's a boy named Geun. He headed east to Yang Province. Someone there offered to teach him well."
"Hm... Did he leave with purpose, or slip away to avoid being a burden?"
"......"
Jeokgal Hyeon fell silent. Zhuge Gu's eldest, Zhuge Geun, had left Jingzhou for elsewhere. Not a complete severance of ties, but it was clear the boy had parted from his young siblings to forge his own path.
"It's fine. A child's heart might dream of success, then summoning his family to his risen station later. Who knows? He could thrive and call his kin from Jingzhou."
"...Yes. I can only hope Geun becomes a great man. As for Liang and Gun, too."
"Zhuge Liang, Zhuge Gun. Fine names—truly gifted children. Especially Liang..."
Huang Shengyan eyed Zhuge Liang appraisingly for a long moment. The girl, who had been staring blankly at the ground, startled at his close scrutiny and stepped back.
"Ha ha, no need to fear. Uncle's not a bad man. I want to help you, in fact."
"...How?"
Zhuge Liang spoke up, her trembling voice fragile as melting snowflakes.
"We just fled our home."
"Liang."
"It's true. We have nothing—no possessions but..."
"I've got it covered. Don't let my looks fool you; I'm quite wealthy. Lady Cai! A word, if you please."
Huang Shengyan called to Cai Xuan, who sat at a distance. Calling his own wife "Lady Cai" hinted at their dynamic.
"Could we spare them a manor?"
"......Which one?"
Cai Xuan scowled openly at Huang Shengyan but smoothed her expression before Jeokgal Hyeon and asked again.
"The one in Yungzhong?"
"That's..."
"Buy a new one with the gold I brought. Ah, how could I ignore Master Zhuge Gu's children, to whom I owe my life?"
"...Sigh. Fine."
Cai Xuan shook her head at the gold, though the Yungzhong manor was worth far less. Still, handing over a whole house wasn't trivial for her.
"Liang, Gun. Treat Lord Huang Shengyan as your godfather from now on. Understood?"
"We heed Uncle's words."
"Heh heh, godfather? Follow Lady Cai like a mother instead. I've only one adopted child myself—and haven't even met him yet! Ha ha ha!"
"...Pardon?"
Jeokgal Hyeon reeled at the baffling remark. Cai Xuan's face stiffened at the mention of the adoption, while Huang Shengyan chuckled and shrugged.
"Lady Cai took him in for various reasons. He'll inherit the Huang house after I'm gone. Do you know Sukyung Academy?"
"Ah, yes. I even met Master Sukyung on my way here."
"My adopted son works there. Hm... Right, Lady Cai—what's his alias again?"
"Geum Taeyang."
"Geum Taeyang."
Zhuge Liang, who had been quiet, echoed the name.
"Isn't it Kim...?"
"Geum's just a pseudonym. He's my adopted son. Taeyang's his given name, and his true surname is Huang."
"Officially my heir, for now. Ha ha—Huang Taeyang or Geum Taeyang, both golden all the same. Heh heh heh. How about sending them to learn from him? With your endorsement, Lady Cai, he'll accept them readily."
"That's..."
"Sukyung Academy draws children of the prefect and local elites."
"......"
A materialistic pitch, but networking wasn't evil. Besides, Sukyung Academy wasn't easy to enter on whim.
"My deepest thanks. How shall I repay this kindness?"
"Kindness? I'm just settling my debt."
Huang Shengyan rose.
"I'll escort you to Yungzhong myself. Lady Cai, mind them while I'm away."
"Sigh, alright. You're not planning to wander off from Yungzhong again, are you?"
"......Well."
Huang Shengyan laughed heartily and pointed outside.
"I've a pilgrimage to Mount Oak."
"Hey!"
"Whoa, ha ha—I'll be back soon! With more gold!"
Huang Shengyan departed. Cai Xuan hid her exasperation behind a fan; Jeokgal Hyeon gaped, watching him go.
"My husband embarrasses me to no end."
"N-no, how could a recipient of such grace..."
"...Think nothing of it. Oh, and..."
Cai Xuan clasped her hands and bowed.
"Jingzhou is safe. You've endured much reaching here. May this become a true home of rest for you all. The Cai welcome the Zhuge."
"...We are simply grateful."
After bowing to Cai Xuan, Jeokgal Hyeon led the children out, heading to Yungzhong. He asked softly,
"Liang."
"...Yes."
"Do you want to go?"
"......If permitted."
"No permission needed."
Jeokgal Hyeon sighed in relief at the spark returning to Zhuge Liang's eyes.
"If it's what you desire, I'll devote myself fully."
A few days later, Jeokgal Hyeon took Zhuge Liang and left Yungzhong for Sukyung Academy.
Though from Xuzhou, Jeokgal Hyeon was a man of considerable renown. His talents proven, Liu Biao planned to appoint him prefect of Yezhang. His settling in Yangyang and Yungzhong owed to Cai influence but also his wish for easy commutes to the Yangyang bureaucracy.
Jeokgal Hyeon had expressed intent to serve Liu Biao. Having heard via Lady Cai, I understood his entrusting Zhuge Liang to us.
'Raising girls must be tough.'
Zhuge Liang had younger sisters, a few years apart. Jeokgal Hyeon sought marriages for them with Jingzhou's elite houses. With Zhuge Liang not yet of age, circumstances made it impractical. Thus, he left her here to study—and be raised.
With Cai Xuan and my unseen adoptive father Huang Shengyan backing him, I couldn't refuse Zhuge Liang. Especially after Xuzhou's traumas. Politics aside, morally I couldn't abandon her.
Nor leave worries to a girl who would bloom into a beauty, her genius intellect shining.
"Perfect score. All correct."
"......Thank you."
Zhuge Liang aced my test—the same one I'd given Sima Yi at first. She nailed every problem.
'Sima Yi would miss three or four out of a hundred.'
This child's genius was extraordinary. I'd deemed Sima Yi the pinnacle in literary talent, but skies lay above skies.
"Accepted. You're my disciple from today."
"Thank you, Master."
"......"
Sima Yi's expression soured beside me. She eyed her new junior with displeasure.
"Yi, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. Nice to meet you, Junior Liang."
"......Why am I the junior?"
Zhuge Liang countered flatly, gaze steady.
"I'm Master's disciple, but I have no intent to be your junior."
"......Heh."
Sima Yi's eyes curved like crescent moons.
"Why?"
"You're..."
Zhuge Liang continued evenly.
"Just... dislikeable."
"......"
Xuzhou's scars? Or innate? Zhuge Liang was a child who spat venom to one's face.