The Bewitching Beauty of the Divine Mountain - 2
"I'm thinking of taking you as my adopted daughter. I was just wondering what your thoughts on the matter are."
Zhuge Liang's casual bombshell turned my brain completely white.
It felt like just yesterday that he'd pulled all that aggro with the Three Kingdoms Division plan. And now he's pulling out this "you're like a daughter to me" countermeasure out of nowhere? I couldn't hide my shock.
"…We only met yesterday."
"Does it not please you?"
"How could I serve two fathers under the same sky?"
"Didn't you lament your lowly birth so bitterly? Why, then, do you wear such a displeased expression?"
"No... isn't that just obvious?"
Zhuge Liang's eyes somehow drooped as he fixed his gaze on me without blinking. Meeting that intense stare made my stomach churn like I'd swallowed a spoonful of sesame oil.
Overwhelmed, I whipped my head away to stare at the scenery outside.
Is he staring like that because he's afraid I'll run away?
This is inside a carriage, not some action flick. If I suddenly flailed around and flung myself out the window like in a Hollywood blockbuster, I'd just end up with crippled legs.
"Isn't this too sudden?"
"Is it?"
Whoa. Look at that shamelessness.
He probably thinks just grabbing hold like this skips all the paperwork and makes us family. I'm not a Pokémon, you know.
"I already have a father who's raised me, so please withdraw your words, sir."
"You spoke casually to me just moments ago, and now you're all formal again. Since your will is firm, I won't force it. However, that does put us in quite a bind."
Master Kongming wore an ambiguously uneasy expression that made a person anxious, then turned to gaze at the scenery.
Judging by the level of ambiguity, it felt like silent pressure urging me to ask.
I'd been about to anyway. This guy had flipped my whole family upside down in a single day, so of course I was dying to know what was so "binding" now.
"What exactly is so troubling, sir?"
"Never mind. You needn't know."
I pondered his response seriously for a solid three seconds.
From my experience chatting with him, Master Kongming was a master of three techniques guaranteed to annoy people.
First: repeating himself. Second: cutting off mid-sentence. Third: acting like the answer was predetermined, so just nod along.
This reply perfectly blended all three, pissing me off so bad I was about to lose my mind from curiosity.
"But... shouldn't I know what the trouble is too?"
"Your resolve is firm, so there's no need to say more."
"Aaaargh!!! Come on! Just tell me!!!"
Seemingly satisfied by my outburst, Master Kongming smiled good-naturedly.
"What's so funny?"
"I know you're clever, but your grasp of the core is still childish for your age—quite amusing."
"No... it feels like you're just toying with me. Do you have any idea how bewildered I am right now?"
"Is that so? Toying with people, you say. That's quite a frightening accusation."
Master Kongming stopped laughing and turned serious again.
"Your filial piety runs so deep that I hesitated to press, but the matter is already settled."
??????
"The matter's already settled?"
"I've already spoken with your father, which is why I brought it up with you. Lord Cheonma seemed most satisfied with my proposal, and I thought it only right that you rise to glory and honor your father's virtue. Yet your will differs."
"No, don't beat around the bush like that. What exactly did you settle, and how? Lord Cheonma? Why slap 'Lord' onto my dad's name?"
My dad's name is Cheonma. Pretty cool name, right? Too bad the guy's a mess.
In the late Han, two-character names were practically the norm—better recognition, like a nickname.
One punishment even forced people to add a character to make it three.
Zhuge Liang's family name is Zhuge. Mine's Cheon Soyoung, so with "Cheon" as the surname, I'm undeniably lowborn.
"I thought your filial piety was profound, yet why do you disparage your father so?"
"No, I'm just stating facts. Gambling addict, loves his booze, suddenly stops working and just lounges around mooching off others. Back in his prime, he was a Yellow Turban... mmph. Mmph."
I clamped both hands over my mouth.
That was close. Big trouble.
Three months ago? Someone from our village got drafted as a Yellow Turban. They hand out yellow scarves as a "thank you" gift and make you perform in front of everyone.
"Listen, Soyoung. Surely you know this too? The land is in dire chaos, perfect for great ambitions to unfold. Warlords rise across the realm, flaunting their power. Didn't you say as much yourself?"
"Me?"
Zhuge Liang sighed with an utterly serious expression, like a veteran grading a failing exam. I clamped my mouth shut.
"All because they forsake the Duke of Zhou's rites, the world is abnormal, you said. Your words ring true. In turbulent times, the worthy must be employed heavily for the realm to find peace—that is the way of governance. To shun the worthy for lowly birth is to court certain doom, no?"
Well, yeah, that's true. But there's one major flaw here.
"My dad isn't some 'worthy' person... He's just your average joe among average joes, a peasant among peasants. Yeah. He... doesn't have the caliber for a hat like that. Jumping straight to county magistrate or something would be way too radical..."
I defended Dad as best I could, but Zhuge Liang cut me off firmly.
"After speaking with him yesterday and today, I'm convinced. Though he feigns dullness, his hidden depths are profound—how could I not see it?"
????????????
"Nooo!!! Ah!!! No, he's not! Sir!!! I'm gonna lose it and jump around. Please! Just! Listen to me!!!"
"Even a sharp girl like you fell for it so easily. Do you truly see me as some dim-eyed fool collecting fish eyes?"
I let out a deep sigh.
Answer predetermined, huh.
"Then how shall you address me? I said I'd take you as my daughter, but since that's not your wish, I can't very well insist you call me father."
"I'll just call you Uncle."
"Uncle? What does that mean?"
"It means a man like a father."
Uncle Kongming nodded, seemingly pleased with the title.
*
Deep in the lush green mountains, an incongruously grand gate bore flamboyantly elegant Hanja characters. As torches flickered and horses stepped into the shadows, a cheerful neigh rang out.
Hiiiing!
Whoa. We're here. What a back-breaking ride.
Guessing from the location, some country estate of a high official in Yungzhong somewhere.
An attendant bowed his head, and Zhuge Liang waved him off.
The moment I stepped down from the carriage, a gentle hand nudged my back, making me shuffle forward hesitantly.
Is he pushing me because he's afraid I'll bolt?
"Has the master returned?"
A demure woman bowed her head in welcome to Zhuge Liang.
The time was early evening, stars twinkling just beyond her shoulder.
Zhuge Liang stepped in front of me. He gazed silently at the woman greeting him, then elegantly fanned himself with his white feather fan.
"Do as you wish, my lady."
With that, he strode into the wooden building without a backward glance.
My eyes lingered on the Zhuge Liang who'd abandoned me, but I couldn't ignore the sparkling gaze of the woman before me.
"Child, it must have been a hard journey here."
"Yes. Sir took good care of me, so it was comfortable."
It was empty flattery, but I said it prettily anyway.
Zhuge Liang had peppered me with personal questions the whole carriage ride, and by the end, my head felt like it might split from annoyance.
"I see? You're not too tired?"
"A bit, but nothing to worry about."
From our exchange, I easily guessed who she was. Huang Yueying, right?
"I'm Cheon Soyoung. I ended up coming here by chance."
I bowed demurely to show respect.
Huang Yueying was a beautiful woman.
From what I'd read, Zhuge Liang's father-in-law Huang Chengyan had said his daughter was ugly in appearance but possessed the arts and knowledge to support Kongming.
But the Huang Yueying before me was a classic cat-like beauty. A perfect black cat, so flawless you'd suspect Hua Tuo plastic surgery. Huang Chengyan must've trashed his own daughter to hype up his son-in-law.
"How precocious! I heard about you from my husband. I thought you'd be bigger, but you're so tiny! Euhuhu."
...?
"Um, what was that you just said?"
"Ahem, nothing at all. Shall we freshen up first?"
"N-no... it's just... I thought I misheard something."
"Oh my. What could be so bothersome?"
Huang Yueying looked genuinely puzzled.
Yeah, I must've misheard. That laugh sounded like something creepy old neighborhood uncles would do.
"Yes! Yes! I've prepared a bath, so let's wash up clean!"
"Um, if I may ask... why are you so excited?"
"Ah! Because my husband said our Lady Soyoung is so clever and wonderful! Seeing you in person exceeds expectations. Ahem."
"Lady? Isn't that... too awkward? Um, Lady Huang? Right? Lady Huang."
"How about Princess Soyoung then?"
Ah, I get it. This is that thing.
Zhuge Liang's mental attacks must've melted my brain. My brain function's seriously impaired, hearing weird stuff. My head's starting to ache—that's gotta be it. Frontal lobe shrunk to pea size for sure.
"Why does our Princess Soyoung look so glum!"
"Um."
Huang Yueying was super hyped... and kinda scary.
I'd mostly seen this energy at Dad's favorite gambling den, and across from someone overflowing with uncontainable joy like that was always someone depressed.
This time, it's me.
"You're joking, right?"
"Of course! Just teasing. I got too eager to get close—did it show?"
"It startled me pretty bad. But since it's a joke, I'm a bit relieved."
"Good. My husband's handling some business, so shall we chat as company until he's done? Ah! Not the time. Let's freshen up properly! 'Body, hair, skin—all gifts from our parents,' as they say. We must always keep ourselves neat and tidy! Euhuhu."
Ha... damn... why do I keep hearing weird voices???
Did my powers awaken? About time for a status window or something. Honestly, I'd been secretly hoping. Figured hitting 10 years in late Han would net me something.
'Status window!!!!!'
Suddenly feeling pathetic, I stared at the ground and closed my eyes for a moment. Huang Yueying misread the signal, came over, and gently stroked the back of my head.
"Did you hear my story? I'm Huang Yueying. Your carving was so impressive—I waited neck-deep in anticipation for our Lady Soyoung to arrive. How could such delicate hands craft with such precision!"
Huang Yueying seemed fascinated by my troubled expression and knelt to peer at my face. She suddenly snatched my right hand, rubbing it wordlessly with both of hers, so I cautiously spoke first.
"Um, about that..."
"Now that I'm to be your mother, why not try calling me Mother?"
"...Mother."
"How utterly adorable!"
Huang Yueying grinned ear-to-ear, delighted.
Chewing over the "mother" that had slipped out, a wave of embarrassment and shame washed over me.
"It's embarrassing."
"Oh my."
I'm not being coy—it's really embarrassing.