Unwittingly Becoming the Scholars' Queen Hornet - 1
As Chen Soyoung's carriage departed, Zhuge Liang looked at Huang Yueying with a troubled expression.
"The girl used the term 'consumable,' my lady."
"How so? Surely you couldn't have let that slide."
"It felt like she was likening a woman to an object. I nearly lost my composure out of pity for her."
"I understand your concerns a hundredfold, my lord, but your far-seeing wisdom seems to have overlooked the smaller details."
"What do you mean by that, my lady? I'm somewhat relieved, but I don't quite follow."
Chen Soyoung possessed innate talent.
That was Huang Yueying's conviction.
Chen Soyoung didn't realize it herself, but she had a knack for captivating men. Calling every man around her "Uncle" without a hint of hesitation was a prime example.
Once they grasped the implication—that she saw them as father figures—any man who heard her voice would surely feel enchanted, like a fox spirit had bewitched them.
Even Young Master Jin flushed beet-red upon realizing it and started avoiding her.
Chen Soyoung could act that way because she was untainted by the world, pure and innocent. That naturalness was what ensnared men.
The word "consumable" was the same. The nuance of it. The violence inherent in a single term. The effect it had when she likened herself to an object.
It amplified men's sadism and protective instincts, paralyzing rational thought.
Chen Soyoung's beauty was devastating, enough to topple kingdoms. It was inevitable, really! The girl took after her perfectly.
Her lord had sensed the intent and withdrawn his hand in caution, but even he had to guard against it. That overwhelming combat power emanating from her effortless naturalness.
The girl was born with it. Pure charisma. She could act like a true seductress without even trying.
She mustn't catch on to her own intent. If she started exploiting it deliberately, that feminine allure would lose its shine.
Chen Soyoung needed to grow strong. She had to cultivate herself on her own.
As her mother, she had to help her flutter those wings naturally, without her realizing it.
If she could manage that, Chen Soyoung would surely shake the world someday.
But... I myself fell for my lord's charms. Can a woman truly ignore her innate nature so easily?
Huang Yueying was projecting her unfulfilled dreams onto Chen Soyoung. She wanted the girl to become the world-shaking heroine in her stead.
Parental hearts hadn't changed much from past to present.
"Don't worry, my lord. The child's heart is soft and full of fears, so she's just speaking clouded words out of unease. If we embrace her warmly as parents, there'll be nothing to fret over."
"A woman knows a woman's heart best, so I'll trust you, my lady. My worries have eased—truly, marrying you is my greatest fortune."
"Since you've got me, my lord, shall you use me as you please tonight?"
"My lady!! How can you suddenly speak such indecent words?!"
Hah... My lord's fortress is impregnable.
"Heading to war?"
The carriage was flashy as hell—shiny, glossy, downright ostentatious.
Are you guys the emperor or what? Riding around in this won't you get backlash for showing off?Stuff like this makes me doubt history books entirely.Unbelievable. How corrupt do you have to be?Feels like a tax evader registering their address in some rural backwater. Ugh, embarrassing.
"War... Your resolve is admirably firm. Though it's merely a discussion of strategy, without that mindset of yours, it'd be like reciting scriptures to a cow. With your determination so steadfast, your foundation is solid. I'm deeply proud."
Huang's mother chimes in too.
"Soyoung, dear? You must be thorough about this. The unseen matters as much as the visible appearance, my child. Always cultivate yourself, as I teach you. This is just an extension of that. You're going to face those who look down on you—shouldn't you arm yourself completely?"
Hah?
What the hell is she on about?
"What about Uncle Gongming? Doesn't he think riding in this carriage is weird? Feels like we're paying respects to the Emperor just to visit Xu Shu. My face is burning here?"
"Aren't you aware of it yourself?"
???
"No idea?"
"Shouldn't you think of it as marching to war? Debating classics from a desk is utterly pointless, isn't it? Didn't I tell you yesterday?"
"No... Teacher? I mean, this seems a bit much. It's like using a cattle-slaughtering knife on a chicken right now."
"How can your thinking be so shallow! Would you say the same to me on the battlefield? Do you remember my words? A single mistake in battle means death—I've told you that countless times. Explain yourself honestly."
Ah. There it is. "Explain yourself honestly."
Chatting with Uncle Gongming, I'm starting to pick up his patterns.
He's sharpening his blade to scold me right now.
"Boo... I was just so worried, that's all I asked... But you're being so harsh, it makes me shrink and my heart ache so much I hate going to Xu Shu's now."
"My lord! How can you speak to our delicate girl like that! Soyoung, dear, he's just on edge worrying you'll get hurt, so his words came out sharp. He doesn't hate you. That's what parents feel—you need to understand his heart. Got it, my baby?"
Uncle Gongming's face turned red, looking utterly aggrieved.
"No... Goodness... Was I really that sharp? Soyoung, how is your heart so fragile like a reed? I fear I'll never understand a woman's heart even after two thousand years. But my lady's right, so I won't say more... Ahem."
Is this the weight of the family head?
Yielding a step for household peace amid all the irrationality, fabrications, oppression, and humiliation... Is that what a patriarch is?
This is a gentleman? A sage?
"Soyoung? See, even my lord says so—nothing to worry about, right? Anything you want to tell your mother, perhaps?"
Hmm. Suddenly curious.
How much weight can the family head's scale really bear?
"Mother! Yesterday, Teacher Gongming forced me to sit and said if I didn't know strategy, he'd beat me, and I was so scared..."
"No! When did I ever say that? Why would I beat you? What are you talking about? Hey? Answer me! Will you answer?"
Gasp.
Yueying's mad.
"My lord... What is this nonsense? I trusted you and stepped away, as you assured me. Is this really true?"
Uncle Gongming thumped his chest in frustration.
"It's utter fabrication! Soyoung, how can you speak like that? I never even thought such a thing, let alone acted on it!"
"My lord. Is that certain?"
"Yes, my lady. Why invent such lies... Do you hate going that much? If you'd spoken openly, I wouldn't have pushed. It's my fault for not drawing out your true feelings to avoid pressuring you."
The weight of the patriarch.
Piling on more might break the scale and cause a hilarious mess, so I'll save my curiosity for later.
Uncle Gongming can handle a fair bit of weight, lifting this lightly, so next time I'll need a heavier counterbalance.
"I was just so scared, fleeting thoughts crossed my mind. But seeing how much you care for me, how could I defy your will? My thinking was shortsighted; now I understand your intent, so I'll follow it."
Uncle Gongming took a deep breath and patted my head.
"Your heart is hard to read. But you must have your reasons for acting that way. I won't pry. But let me make this clear: even if you truly doubted me, there's no need for such tactics. Speak honestly, and I'll support your goals."
"Ah. It's not like that."
Just plain curiosity, really.
Honestly, isn't it fascinating? Zhuge Liang's right in front of me—how do you not ask questions?This situation still feels unreal.
"If you harbor misguided intents, I'll correct them; even if your dreams are fanciful, I'll understand. Didn't I tell you when we first met? Birth is heaven's decree, but a person's life isn't. Even without heavenly fate, that's human nature—you've nothing to fear."
"That's right, Soyoung. My lord's words are flawless. You're just like him, worrying needlessly! When I bore you, it was such agony. No doubt about it."
"...My lady?"
Why are they getting so serious...
This earnest nerd. Total bookworm.
Ah... embarrassing.
……
"Got it. Stop it. I get it, okay? Don't make me feel awkward. Seriously... I can't win. Can't win."
"So tense? Your face is hot... You sure you're okay?"
"Argh!!! Enough!!!"
I head toward the carriage. I feel their gazes.
The two, fully armored, glare at me. That look feels foreign.
I'm angry. Not embarrassed.
"But seriously, we're riding this?"
"Wasn't that the plan?"
"Ugh... so embarrassing."