A Secret Meeting to Make the Illuminati Fret and Freemasons Panic -3
"That's a lie."
"No, it's not."
"It totally is."
"I said it's not!"
"It is, though."
Something's off.
No matter how I think about it, it's weird. Even pondering it deeply, it's still weird.
"Milady, what's got you so dissatisfied? My throat's parched—it feels like I'm sitting in a marketplace."
"You're in on it too, Uncle Shi Dao?"
I glared at them, and the four men just looked wronged as they focused on their food.
A little time passed, and they started chatting among themselves, excluding me—gossip about how grateful they were for the free meal and dull stories about life at the academy.
Just listening made me feel like I was the one who had completely misread the situation. They seemed so natural.
"Um, excuse me?"
I cautiously spoke up, and the four of them switched back to silent mode.
Did I do something that wrong?
Is this awkward vibe—like a mafia who's already been outed in Mafia Game desperately acting innocent—something only I feel?
They're all acting consistently like they're dealing with an incredibly annoying woman, making me feel embarrassed for even asking.
"Come on, isn't this a totally reasonable suspicion? I'm not the weird one here!"
"Sis, you're acting strange today."
"You—finish your food and prepare for a nice, long chat in the carriage."
At my one-sided declaration, Ma Su's face hardened by the second before he burst into tears.
"Milady? It's not something to be that upset about."
"Uncle Meng Jian, do you think I'm doing this because I'm upset?"
"Hm... you're right, milady. Let's just eat."
I caught a subtle flicker of annoyance on Meng Jian's face.
Excluding the crying Ma Su, the other three kept their faint smiles without fail, but do they really think I can't pick up on this subtle atmosphere?
No matter how I slice it, I'm the wronged one here.
Why are they treating me like some pushover? Is it because I've been through this kind of thing so many times that I'm building up a victim complex? Doesn't my side make sense?
"No! Just hear me out! Fine, say it's a misunderstanding. If this isn't reasonable suspicion, then what is? Cao Cao's focused on the north, Sun Quan is cracking down in Jiangdong, and Yizhou—er, Chengdu—is too busy with their political turf wars to care, right?"
Shi Dao paused mid-bite of his noodles.
"Since our Lady Soyoung seems so concerned about the realm, it's no wonder Master Kongming is hovering close."
That remark—treating it like an elementary school kid's book report on the nine o'clock news—really grated, but I stood my ground and replied to Shi Dao.
"So what I'm saying is weird? Why would Uncle Kongming suddenly do this now, of all times? I've never read about anything like it in the books."
"Milady reads the histories too, I see."
"Can you stop fidgeting with that thing? Am I really that annoying right now?"
Whoa. Look at their faces.
They're all frowning like they ate something bad.
I bought the food, and this is how you act? Not human. Definitely not.
"Soyoung, enough with the random chatter and just eat, okay?"
Choi Jupyeong looked at me with pitying eyes.
I'm this close to smacking him.
"You think so?"
"Think what?"
No one's on my side, and I'm starting to feel depressed.
Before it gets worse, I need to build some allies.
"So if you say it's random talk, then maybe the answer's somewhere random too!!!"
I couldn't hold back and waved my hand wildly. The innkeeper jumped in surprise and came scurrying over with a bow.
I figured the innkeeper, as an objective outsider, could give me a straight answer.
With that in mind, I looked at him.
"Can I ask you something?"
Yangyang in Jingzhou is a hub of knowledge. It's also the source of countless rumors.
Common knowledge among the locals.
So? The innkeeper must have heard plenty of rumors too.
"What do you think will happen to the realm, innkeeper?"
"Pardon? The realm, you say?"
The innkeeper looked flustered, and I realized I'd said something dumb. The question was way too broad.
"Sorry, that was poorly phrased. Let me reword it. Cao Cao's putting everything into pacifying the north, Sun Quan's solidifying his position without rest, and even Yizhou's elders are unstable politically, squabbling with clans over their rice bowls. In this situation, what do you think Jingzhou will do?"
The innkeeper fidgeted before slowly speaking.
"But... might I ask whose daughter milady is?"
"House of Kongming. The Zhuge household?"
The innkeeper's face lit up in an instant, his mouth wrinkles twitching faintly.
"Then Jingzhou will surely remain at peace. Lord Liu Biao rules like a sage king—no war reaches us, and people flock here. It's impressive that milady discerns the realm's state from mere rumors, but Jingzhou has always been this way, so no need to worry overmuch."
His opinion irritated me a bit.
First off, if Liu Biao were such a sage, I wouldn't have spent nine years worrying about food, clothing, and shelter. Second, am I the idiot here?
"I understand milady's concerns, but as long as Lord Liu Biao lives, war won't spread to Jingzhou—the innkeeper's right."
As I pondered how to respond, Shi Dao across from me lifted his eyes like he was reading the classics.
Uncle Shi Dao with that serious aura is scary.
"Why do you think that?"
"War inevitably requires justification, and Cao Cao has none to attack Jingzhou."
"Justification?"
Justification? Isn't this the era where all the warlords are battle maniacs itching for a fight?
Hang it on your nose, it's a nose hook; on your ear, an earring—that's justification here.
"As milady says, pursuing pure profit: when war broke at Guandu, Lord Liu Biao should've seized Xudu. But if he did, whose throat would Yuan Shao's blade—having crushed Cao Cao—turn to next?"
"...Jingzhou?"
"Precisely. This is mere personal opinion, but Cao Cao and Lord Liu Biao must have made a secret pact then. Thus, Cao Cao could focus on the north without worry, and Jingzhou avoids war."
I mulled it over.
Cao Cao's northern pacification was completed by seizing four provinces; after three and destroying the Yuans, the Yuzhou campaign—opposed by all but endorsed solely by Guo Jia—was the only one.
The basis for Cao Cao overriding all advisors for Guo Jia alone.
Liu Biao rejecting Liu Bei's proposal to attack Xuchang.
...It makes sense.
"Then... why aren't Jingzhou people worried about war?"
"As long as Lord Liu Biao maintains friendly ties with Cao Cao, the latter can't start a war without cause. What happened to Dong Zhuo? A causeless war grants legitimacy to all warlords."
"Even if your assumption holds, wasn't it the wrong choice in the end? Cao Cao will seize hegemony over the realm."
"Lord Liu Biao chose profit. The only way for Jingzhou to avoid war was smooth relations with Cao Cao, who in turn faced no interference at Guandu—leaving him no cause to attack."
"And when Lord Liu Biao dies?"
"The realm's balance shifts. But that day hasn't come, so people live carefree. Cao Cao values oaths, enforcing strict laws with sworn pledges across his lands. Starting a causeless war would lose the people's hearts, sparking countless rebellions."
It was convincing, but this nagging unease wouldn't quit.
"Was I just thinking stupidly? Have I been the annoying one all along?"
"Milady merely saw through the murk with deep thought—no need for such worry."
"So that's really it? Long live Chen Soyoung party? Why? Did Uncle Kongming get drunk or something?"
"Ahem..."
Seeing them deliberately avoid my eyes and bury their noses in food confirmed the conspiracy.
"He drank, yeah. But that's it."
"Uncle Choi Jupyeong, you agree with Uncle Shi Dao?"
"I don't care about that stuff. Who eats the realm— what's it to me? Listen up, Soyoung. I don't say this to just anyone. Even if it's a family heirloom rope, grab the wrong end and your head rolls."
After that, my stomach churned like bad food, chest tight.
In the end, I failed to uncover the truth behind Uncle Kongming's suspicious banquet.
This filthy, lingering feeling.
"Fine, whatever. Sorry for interrupting." I waved at the innkeeper again. "Can you put the food on tab? Someone named Zhuge Jun will pay."
I said it so confidently that the innkeeper looked genuinely embarrassed.
"N-no... no need! Please don't! With lords like you visiting, the shop will boom again! It's on me."
"I'm so sorry. What do I do? This wasn't the plan. I meant to pay properly."
The innkeeper waved it off stubbornly.
"No need at all! Word of your visit will spread, bringing tenfold the profit—no need for milady to trouble over lowly matters!"
"If you refuse so firmly, I'm embarrassed. I'll accept the gesture and settle up next time."
Is there really such a kind person in the world?
Was the innkeeper Mother Teresa in a past life?
Ah... hindsight.
"Thanks for the meal. Everyone, let's go!"
"Take care!"
The innkeeper's eyes never left Chen Soyoung's group.
Once the satisfied group vanished from sight, the innkeeper dashed to the passage under the kitchen.
Descending a ladder, he entered a cramped tunnel barely four paces wide.
It was cluttered with mismatched bedding and utensils. Three men waited there, including the innkeeper.
The tunnel connected to a smithy near downtown—clearly not built for good intentions.
"Inform Lady Cai. Master Zhuge Kongming shows suspicious movements—warn her to be vigilant. Mention it's tied to Xinyang and Jiangxia beforehand."
"Yes. I'll go at once."
Spies dotted Yangyang, living up to its reputation as rumor central.
The tea house owner spy climbed the ladder with relief.
Kids can't lie. Their thoughts are simple too. Master Kongming's daughter must be voicing his very intentions.
The boy was a crybaby, the girl sharp but unable to hide her thoughts.
Legitimacy wasn't for a mere spy to judge, so he summarized and transcribed what came from the daughter's mouth verbatim.
*
On the way back, Ma Su and I didn't exchange a word.
I considered cracking a joke first, but his bloodshot eyes just glared bitterly, so we rode in silence.
I gazed out at the carriage whipping by, my mood a vague mix of calm and emptiness.
Clouds of dust from the horse's hooves trailed long, slipping from view.
Beyond where those trails faded, the temple stood as verdantly serene as ever.
As dusk spread across the blue sky, the carriage halted at its destination.
"Sis. Sis?"
As I was drifting off, Ma Su shook my shoulder. I straightened my clothes and stepped down.
"You're here. I recommended my general meet you once."
For some reason, Sima Hui was waiting as I alighted.
Sima Hui was the same old sage as always, and the academy unchanged.
I sensed it. The world hadn't shifted—only changes loomed ahead.
"Chen Soyoung."
Unease flickered in my heart.
A sleeping strategist deep within awoke, lending courage.
Bolder than anyone. With conviction.
I bowed fully, then slowly raised my head.
Maybe from the moment I met Uncle Kongming, I'd foreseen this.
Sure enough, Uncle Kongming had some scheme behind that banquet.
"Liu Bei, Left General of Han, Righteous Prime Minister, Governor of Yuzhou, and Imperial Uncle of the House of Han, greets Lady Soyoung."