Illuminati-Fidgeting, Freemason-Fretting Secret Conclave -1: After Proposing Half-Boiled Eggs to Ma Su
After Chen Soyoung proposed half-boiled eggs to Ma Su.
Having roughly wrapped up the aftermath concerning Chen Soyoung, Zhuge Liang called a gathering.
Excluding the person in question, of course.
"First off... thanks for coming. The reason I summoned you all like this is nothing else."
On the surface, it was a casual party, but with so few invitees, the attendees could easily guess Zhuge Liang's intentions.
It wasn't the size for a boss raid or a hellish dungeon expedition, so everyone accepted the party invite with light hearts.
The party consisted of the Zhuge Liang family and four others who had a good rapport with Chen Soyoung at the academy.
They had timed this secretive gathering for the moment when Chen Soyoung, ensnared by the spell of a sickly kitten, had dozed off.
"Ahem..."
Party leader Zhuge Liang quietly picked up his feather fan.
Women's hearts were utterly inscrutable, so he planned to run some calculations for a rational decision.
Or that was the excuse—he just wanted his daughter to have an easier time at the academy.
"I only wish for that child to be happy. That's why I've arranged this gathering, so I hope we can speak frankly and openly."
Zhuge Liang cleared his throat repeatedly and fiddled with the lid of his teacup with a clink.
This was extremely embarrassing for him.
However.
The way his daughter acted at the academy was different from ordinary kids—no, exceptionally outstanding—so he hesitated to meddle rashly, lest he ruin things.
"Sigh... It's so hard to get the words out. Just... please take good care of my daughter."
Chen Soyoung was a clever but clumsy child, bold yet timid.
If there was one common feeling everyone here had when dealing with her...
A sunflower-like friendliness that started with a smile for everyone.
Sometimes a willow-leaf sharpness.
The curiosity bursting forth like dandelion seeds in bloom.
Her way of treating people. A steadfastness that treated everyone equally, regardless of status or age.
Cherishing people, loving people... a flower in a painting, untouched by worldly dust.
In this late Han era rife with schemes and plots, Chen Soyoung had steadily stacked up her goodwill, and Zhuge Liang's sincerity landed true.
"So? That's a given. How many years have we known each other? You think we'd bully your kid? You're the one with inscrutable schemes, so spit it out clearly. You want frank talk? What do you really want?"
Choe Jupyeong hated tedious chores.
If not for that unique hue Chen Soyoung had shown in such a short time, he could've just chuckled, bantered a bit, eaten, and gone home.
But with a bigger dopamine bomb than Ma Su right in front of him, how could he turn away from gold staring him in the face?
"It's rare to see Kongming bow his head like that."
Sekdo nodded at Choe Jupyeong's words, signaling tacit agreement.
Chen Soyoung's very ideas were unique. But that uniqueness drew people in.
Upon reflection, she viewed people at their essence.
She looked only at people, sought to understand them, so she ignored conventions—and because she understood people, even Ma Su had accepted her arguments.
"Ahem, if I may humbly speak, my daughter is an exceedingly delicate child. Since her father worries over that point, I am thus entertaining you all to make this request."
Huang Yueying wanted her daughter to achieve her dreams.
She wanted her to grow up and make countless men weep. To make the world weep.
Man is heaven, woman is earth.
Who decided that?
If that's truly the natural order, then couldn't a woman build a tower reaching the heavens?
"Yes... you're absolutely right. She is still just a child, after all."
As Zhuge Jun was her uncle by marriage, he felt a mix of joy and unease.
He'd been avoiding her lately. She was too casual, too unreserved.
Chen Soyoung only showed her clumsy, deficient sides. But he couldn't hate her for it.
Who could hate that child? Just visit Soyang and you'd find throngs asking after the heavenly child.
How would his brother evaluate her? What had prompted his brother to take her in?
"If I may speak, Lady Soyoung has convictions. She doesn't heed the master's words but gazes only at the text itself. After conversing with her, I began to doubt my own master. I realized my own shortcomings—I lack conviction."
The intense first impression from a peer.
That blazing conviction. The sincerity it revealed.
When viewing military texts, she saw not the rules, but war itself. That gaze, that sincerity.
The thrill that had crept up from his thighs had embedded itself deep in Ma Su's soul.
"Come on, Kongming. Time to reveal your scheme? I doubt you'd call this chat for such trifles."
Meng Jian was seeing this side of Kongming for the first time, so suspicion arose first.
Chen Soyoung was undoubtedly extraordinary.
But what justified hosting such a private gathering?
Just fatherly affection?
Or had he weighed the options and planned to use her strategically?
Or something else entirely?
"Shouldn't we enjoy ourselves first? Tiptoeing around with one-word quips will waste the whole day. My scheme, you ask, Meng Jian?"
"Your sudden invite had me thinking something big had gone down."
"Isn't it a father's plea? They say beauties and geniuses meet early deaths... Sigh. Guess I take after my teacher. This doting-dad trait must be contagious."
Zhuge Liang pressed his thumb to his forehead.
He steadied his heart and picked up his teacup.
"Raise your cups. I'm not asking too much of you all."
Party leader Zhuge Liang set down his feather fan and declared his ambition.
"Then... will you hear my will? A harmonious family ensures a harmonious state—this is the way of governance. To set that center right, I command you: Love my daughter. That's all. She's lacking and clumsy, but as her father, I raise this cup."
As Zhuge Liang at the head table lifted his cup, everyone grabbed theirs and raised them to the sky, honoring his intent.
"Then can I eat now? Do this regularly, and I'll think about it."
"People age and gain wisdom, yet how are you unchanged from ancient times?"
"Enough. You have a knack for infuriating people with every word, so I won't talk to you."
Choe Jupyeong livened the mood, and Zhuge Liang sighed as he took the banter.
The banquet's atmosphere ripened.
This place in Woljung buzzed with informal laughter and chatter, blooming into a flower of stories.
Zhuge Liang cherished this modest banquet hall's scenery.
As the ancient sages said, please those close by, and those far away will come.
"Heavens and earth, watch over all here! And bless my daughter's path ahead!"
As party leader Zhuge Liang raised his chalice, peach blossoms scattered.
All party members uniformly responded, grabbing their chalices once more.
In kind, peach petals fluttered profusely. The wind, laden with the moist fragrance of peach blossoms, bloomed as if boasting its fruit.
Birds returned to the fragrant woods, greeted by the emboldened sun.
The southeast wind blew.
The southeast wind, heavy with fruit's aroma, rose vigorously as if blessing Chen Soyoung, then hid its presence with the peach blossoms.
The southeast wind's scent even transformed the taste of the wine.
"Fit for the world's finest!"
Wine lover Meng Jian downed his drink with the peach-infused petals—truly worthy of being called the realm's top brew.
"The guest of honor's absent, though."
"Ahem, do you plan to tell my daughter about this, Lord Sekdo?"
"How can you say that, Lady Yueying? Wouldn't that be the proper thing?"
"Didn't you say she's delicate? If she knew of this chat, her heart would surely ache and she'd waste away!"
Sekdo didn't quite get it but nodded anyway.
He glanced at Lady Yueying and decided not to get entangled—better to avoid the fuss.
"Lady Yueying's words are spot on! It must be so. Now, if you'd avert your gaze."
Huang Yueying smugly dropped her glare.
"I'll say it again. Please take good care of my daughter!"
Zhuge Liang bellowed once more, doting-father style. Here, he held a wine cup, not his feather fan.
But he held back.
He itched to brag about the dragon statue in the western chamber but restrained himself.
As the world stirred, the dragon's horns grew ever clearer.
"If you're done eating, let's wrap it up!"
With Zhuge Liang's command, the secret conclave ended.
Useless to some, perhaps, but isn't this what must be done? What's wrong with a father wishing his daughter's happiness?
*
Bang bang bang!
I knocked on the door.
Second time climbing here, and it's already exhausting.
I pride myself on stamina, but damn, this is tough.
Ma Su rode it fine, though.
"Who is it!"
"Old man! Got a minute?"
"How did you make it all the way up here?"
"Got something to ask! Day off today? Where's everyone?"
"I can hear you reading classics from here, and you come with such nonsense?"
"Sorry! I'll be off! No business now!"
Ha... damn... today's really off.
As I turned to leave, a voice called out.
"What are you doing here? I was invited too, but felt my old bones didn't belong, so I declined."
"Huh? What're you talking about?"
"I'm asking why you're here when Kongming held a banquet."
??????
Ah.
Why do I keep feeling uneasy???
War breaking out? That guy's not the type to start something out of nowhere.