The Secret Meeting That'd Make Illuminati Fidget and Freemasons Freak Out - Part 2: "I Got Pocket Money—Let's Grab a Bite!"
I kicked open the door to the central hall of the academy and blurted it out to the three of them.
"I got some pocket money, so let's go eat together."
They'd totally ditched me yesterday and cooked up some shady plot. No doubt about it.
Honestly, I was feeling super paranoid. I was scared shitless and dying to sniff it out.
"Lady Soyoung, whatever possessed you to say something like that out of the blue?"
Sekdo folded up his bamboo slips with a sour look on his face. Yeah, they were definitely up to no good.
"Just... there's this regular teahouse I know? They make great food. Haven't been in forever, and it's got me all nostalgic."
"Is that so? But we have no idea how far it is."
"Like three hours?"
Ma Su, who'd trailed in behind me, made a face like he'd just bitten into shit when he heard the time. The other three started whispering awkwardly among themselves.
"Hmm... what do you think?"
"Sitting here twiddling our thumbs ain't gonna accomplish jack. I'm fine with it—how about you, Maeng Geon?"
"Since we've received something... isn't it only right to return the favor?"
The three of them nodded reluctantly, like they had no choice.
"Will you be all right, my lady? It seems pretty strenuous."
"Ma Su and I are taking the cart, though?"
"Then we'll just..."
"It's only got room for two."
How could she be so selfish?!
The three stared at Chen Soyoung, but her face was pure innocence, without a shred of malice.
A kid was innocently offering to treat them to a meal—brushing it off just because the mountain path was rough would be rude.
They'd already been treated by Gongming, so returning the gesture made perfect sense.
"Haa... Since your will is so firm, we'll gladly accept with joy."
Choi Jupyeong straightened up seriously.
"What? Hey, Soyoung? This is Sekdo's idea—I'm honestly kinda torn."
"Hey now, Jupyeong! How can you say something so heartless? I'm all for it, Lady Soyoung. Where to?"
The three accepted the invitation readily, probably thrilled at the free meal.
Choi Jupyeong talked big, but if he really hated it, he'd say so straight up—he was the assertive type.
"Namgyeong Pavilion. Uncle Gongming loves it too. Haven't been in a few weeks. I'm a regular, so I'm tight with the owner. That Yuan Zhi guy? Or Sa Won? Shame they couldn't join us."
Sekdo pressed his thumbs into the soles of his feet, then stood up.
"Understood. With Wolryong and Bongchu there, and even Xu Shu joining, it must be a storied eatery. Your words only heighten my anticipation, my lady. As guests, we'll accept your kindness without falling short."
Sekdo started prodding the other two.
"Come on, let's get moving now that it's decided."
"Sekdo, I just wanna chill here? I hate anything bothersome."
Choi Jupyeong looked like he wasn't into it at all.
He suddenly went limp and face-planted on the desk, so I gave him a piece of my mind.
"It's one of my business spots too. They've got tons of sculptures I sold there."
"You into that stuff?"
"Not like love it, but... yeah, that's what I do. Straight up, I do like it. Feels good when they turn out pretty."
"Then I'll go check 'em out. Food's whatever, but you can't see that stuff anywhere else, right?"
As Choi Jupyeong perked up, Maeng Geon got dead serious.
"My lady, allow me one earnest word."
"Uncle Maeng Geon?"
"Any chance I could snag a few sculptures? My family's fortunes have been rough lately with the bets. I know it's shameless, but..."
Sekdo smacked Maeng Geon upside the head.
"My lady? This fool loves his jokes. He even raises crickets himself—call it stubbornness, or whatever. Everyone's got their quirks, right? You like sculptures, I fancy the classics, Jupyeong's all about the booze. Maeng Geon's just... vulgar."
"How dare you speak so carelessly! Gambling is the foundation of the realm!"
As the two bickered, I slipped out of the central hall wordlessly and headed for the stables.
Ma Su followed, still looking peeved.
"Sis, wouldn't it be better if I walked too?"
"I figure you'd climb that mountain like a champ. But no matter how fit you are, you're riding with me."
"Why?"
"Lie in front of me, and you'll get in trouble. I'll cross-check what you say with those three and figure out what you all did without me yesterday. Better spill the truth."
I left the stunned Ma Su behind and ducked into the guest quarters.
The coachman was resting.
"Coachman, sorry, but I need to head into Jingzhou city center. Could you drive the cart?"
"Of course. I'm at a loss for words that a noble lady like you would concern herself with a lowly wretch like me."
From the coachman's view, this was a godsend job. Drive two hours a day, loaf around seven, get paid and fed at quitting time.
In my book, coachmen earned it. Handling horses was a serious skill.
Hell, there were even epic tales passed down about taming mad stallions.
"By the way, what's your name, Uncle Coachman?"
"No clan for a lowly sort like me—just Inma."
Me neither, I thought.
"Got it. Thanks, Inma."
Inma brought the cart from the stables. Ma Su and I hopped on, and it started rolling slowly.
"Spit it. From now on, answer my questions right. Even if you lie, I've got ways to tell."
Ma Su was freaked, eyes squeezed shut.
He hadn't said a peep since earlier—normally he'd be chattering nonstop, stacking up twenty tangents by now.
"How could I lie to you, sis? I don't get why you're mad about the classics."
"I'm just curious what went down yesterday. You all did something without me, right?"
Ma Su's face went whoa!
Pure kid—couldn't lie to save his life.
"That... I can't say!"
"Can't? Why?"
"...Lady Huang scares me."
?????
"What's scary about her? It's fine—I got you."
If they were gagged this tight, something huge must've gone down.
"F-for real?"
"Totally."
Ma Su cracked reluctantly.
"Teacher Wolryong invited us because he wants things to go well for you, Lady Soyoung."
???
"Dude, that make any sense?"
Haa... lying again? That uncle's not the type.
"Hands up. Side by side."
"Huh?"
"Hands up. I'll ask again in five minutes—reflect."
"I told the truth! This is unfair, sis!"
"Fine, whatever—hands up."
Time to straighten out this brat. Lying's bad.
"Sis, I swear it's the truth..."
"You wanna piss me off more?"
*
The coachman dropped us at the teahouse and went to park the cart.
Still the same old place.
Rich tea aroma mixed with faint earthy dust. The change? Instead of venomous glares, passersby shot cold looks laced with envy or hate.
The world was still brutal, and all I'd snagged was a sliver of luck—late Han was ice-cold to the weak.
Folks hustled for survival, scholars crammed in the fringes of the crowds.
Today, I was one of the fringes.
"Sniff..."
Ma Su had bawled the whole way.
Poor kid, but tough love—he wouldn't quit lying.
Ma Su lied with passion, then resignation.
Lies. Kinda hitting me sentimental.
Why the blues?
"You really won't spill?"
Ma Su stayed mum to the end.
We went inside.
I pulled out a chair for pouty Ma Su, sat him down, and probed gently—no dice.
I took my seat, ignoring his sulk.
Something off, though. The owner always popped up like a ghost when I showed—now, nada. My getup had changed, so maybe he didn't recognize me.
I waved casually at a server.
"Owner off today? We're regulars."
Quick reply.
"I'm the owner now. The old one's mom fell ill, so he went back home."
Damn, that sucks.
Two years knowing him—hits harder.
"Hope she recovers soon. Three more coming—big table. Business good lately?"
"Slow since the thugs came by. It'll pick up, but foot traffic's down."
The owner sighed and vanished into the kitchen.
So... how to cheer up this sulky punk?
"Sorry, sis. But no lying, okay?"
"...Wasn't lying."
He's pissed. Harsh, but I'll apologize later.
"We'll order."
I ordered, ignoring Ma Su.
"Over here! Here!"
Uncle Sekdo's voice.
I waved big to signal our spot. The three shuffled over awkwardly and sat across from Ma Su and me.
"My treat, so dig in."
Of course, nothing's free.
Time to talk bill first.
"So, why'd Teacher Gongming invite everyone but me?"
"My lady? Really, it was nothing—don't take it to heart."
"Save it, Uncle Sekdo. Look me in the eye. Uncle Gongming's not the type for pointless meetups."
Including Ma Su, all four looked baffled.
From their faces, they couldn't even guess—kinda frustrating.
"What're you even getting at?"
Choi Jupyeong got aggressive.
"You plotting a Jingzhou uprising or something? Even a nine-year-old like me knows now's the time."
The three just looked clueless.
Pure paranoia on my part, but Uncle Gongming had killer execution.
Situation deviated from the history I knew. Weird rumors Wolryong had raised his hand for Liu Zong swept Jingzhou. Cao Cao focused north, Sun Quan busy consolidating east.
Summoning his pals now to drop some bombshell...?
Knowing history, suspicion was logical.
"For real, nothing big? Why's Ma Su all teary then?"
"For lying."
"Sis!"
Ma Su burst into tears again.
The three (minus bawling Ma Su) seemed genuinely clueless. Good actors, or actually innocent?
"So I jumped to conclusions? That it?"
"Jumping? More like—look, owner's glued to you."
Crash!
Startled by Choi Jupyeong, the owner scrambled to pick up a dropped clay bowl.
"S-sorry! I'll remake it quick!"
He bolted to the kitchen before I could reassure him.
"Why say that? Whatever—answer me straight. Not Yangyang. Xinyang? Jiangxia?"
Maeng Geon got serious.
"My lady, what on earth are you talking about?"
No matter how I spun it, something felt off.
Just shadowboxing for real?