[The Three Kingdoms] Golden Sun Exhibition

23 – Dreaming of Pleasure and Leisure (2)

Hwang Seungyeon.

Quite famous within Hyungju, he’s a respectable man known in the territories he rule over.

‘It means that he arranged a marriage with the eldest daughter of the Chae family.’

Nobles do not marry easily.

They only agree to marriage when it increases the power of their clan, and sometimes, they perceive women as tools to establish in-law relationships for the unification of their clans.

The relationship between Hwang Seungyeon and Madame Chae was also like this.

But to become their adopted child?

“No, then what about the succession?”

“Don’t worry. Lord Hwang doesn’t have any children.”

“Really?”

“They’ve been married for a long time but they don’t have any children. Some people say that one of them might be sterile…. Well, that’s not important.”

Hwangjo grabbed my shoulder.

“They need a son. Even an adopted one. Considering your age and your abilities, they will definitely consider you positively.”

“So, you’re saying they are looking to adopt?”

“That’s right.”

Looking to adopt.

I’m not sure what it means, but I need weigh the pros and cons if I become an adoptee.

“Don’t think too complicatedly. You will become a member of the Hwang family, but you will also have a deep connection with the Chae family. In a broader view, you can be seen as a person from the Chae family.”

“The Chae of both…”

The retainer who was next to me began to mumble something.

“General Hwangjo. How does it compare with my own retainer, Samaga?”

“Mr. Sama? Hmm…. Although it’s not right for me to say this in front of the young lady, wouldn’t their status within the region be similar? Of course, I’m aware that the Sama family has produced many famous figures….”

“That’s enough. Master, please accept.”

“Really?”

Sama started to actively pursue the matter of me becoming their adoptive child.

“Given it’s an adoptive child, there must be some issues, right? It’s a good opportunity. For a master like you, you would have say on the conditions when joining.”

“That’s true. I’ve subtly asked about this as well. There’s no need to partake in the family events or anything of the sort. They were okay with just listing my name in the family register and living separately.”

“So all they need is an existence?”

It became more and more incomprehensible to me.

“Was it urgent for the family to adopt?”

“No. It had been about… one year.”

“There must have been many other eligible candidates as well, but why has no one been adopted yet?”

“That Mr. Hwang Seung-un, he was fine with anyone. He is a bit… eccentric.”

It was unusual for someone to be labeled as eccentric, but he indeed was.

“What kind of person is he?”

“He’s hardly at home throughout the year. He roams around looking at mountains and lands every day. I do worry if he’ll fall ill from staying out too much, but that’s not the most significant issue.”

Hwang shook his head gravely.

“Choosing the adopted son is the lady’s responsibility, yet all the candidates so far have been turned down by her. She thought they didn’t qualify to be part of Chae clan.”

“Am I qualified?”

“Hmm.”

Hwang took a glance at me from head to toe, then nodded as he stared at my face.

“It seems like you can do it.”

Hwang combed his hand through his face as if he was sweeping with a broom, chuckling.

“Let’s see how it goes. Who knows? You might actually be a member of the Chae family!”

“…….”

Well, it won’t hurt to give it a try…

* * *

“Accepted.”

Chae Hyeon, the eldest daughter of the Chae Clan, and the wife of Hwang Seung-Un, announced my acceptance the moment she saw me. She then started to write something on a piece of silk before sliding it over to the side.

“Welcome, son.”

“But my hair is this color.”

“The hair color suits the Hwang well.”

“I’m of unknown origin.”

“That’s what makes it even more suitable for you to be adopted.”

“Officially, I become your son. Are you okay with that?”

“I would like to be your mother, officially or personally.”

“Why?”

“You’re handsome. With golden, no, rather blond hair, even better.”

“…..”

To the parents who gave me life, I express my gratitude.

“Your skin is darkened because of hard fieldwork, isn’t it? I know it all. When I look at someone, I know in a glance what kind of person they are.”

“What kind of person am I?”

“Someone looking to live idly while sipping on sweet water?”

Lady Chae, is she a mind reader?

“hehehe, it’s a joke. Forgive my rudeness.”

The atmosphere around Lady Chae changed instantly. As if her intimidating demeanour was an act, she straightened up with a polite manner.

“Nice to meet you. I am the eldest daughter of the Chae family, Chae Hyeon. If you’re willing, I will be your mother.”

“Nice to meet you too, mother.”

“Oh, right away?”

“It’s an honor to serve a beautiful and wise mother.”

As soon as I saw Chae Hyeon, I recognized it.

This woman, she and I are of the same kin.

“Do you know about me?”

“Of course. As for your words, officially, you’re going to be my son. There’s no way I wouldn’t keep track of a person like that. Personally, I have a close tie with Hwia.”

“Hwia?”

“Hwia(徽兒), Sama Hwia. I have a personal relationship with Professor Sogyong. His recommendation was a part in adopting you as my son.”

As expected, people should get along well with people.

“My nephew, in other words, my brother’s son, is studying at your school. Have you noticed any distinguished kids?”

“Oh, that kid!”

There is one person I’ve specially treated knowing his surname Chae. He was big in size and has a decent mind, from powerful noble family Chae, I took good care of him, and sure enough, it paid off like this.

“I heard that you use the name ‘Deokgyu.'”

“It’s my younger brother. His name is Mo. Chae Mo, his name is Deokgyu. hehehe, now he is going to be your uncle.”

“…So it turns out.”

It’s a bit of a burden.

I originally came to taste the benefits of becoming a foster son, and suddenly affiliated with the Chae family.

“You don’t necessarily have to mind the family affairs. If you were here to utilize your husband and my family’s power, I would have neglected you, but I see none of that in your eyes.”

“It wouldn’t be truthful if you said there was nothing.”

“I’m sorry. The power I was talking about was an official position.”

“I never thought about taking an office.”

If I had thought about obtaining a position, I would have accepted the Emperor’s selection.

“I want to focus on teaching children at school.”

“And then establish a close relationship with influential nobles in Hyungjoo to become an influential person in Hyungjoo? In Shin-Ya. There’s plenty of camping grounds there.”

“……How far have you investigated me?”

“There’s nowhere in Hyungjoo where our household’s gaze can’t reach. The state might appoint the governor, but here in Hyungjoo, we are kings. There’s no way in our family wouldn’t know about large amounts of money flowing around. hehehe.”

“…I see. I’m surprised again. I knew Chae family had a great heritage…”

“Yes. But even that has limits now.”

Lady Chae firmly shook her head.

“These are the troubled times. It is not a time for noble families in the provinces to enjoy power. It is time to attach to a strong ruler just like in the Era of Spring and Autumn Warring States. My aim is the survival of the Chae family. For that, I need your wisdom… which turned the Emperor into a hero of Ganghwa.”

“How did you know that?”

“General Hwang is a friend of my husband. After conversing with you, my husband immediately discussed it with me.”

Suddenly, the image of Hwangjo, spreading his arms wide and laughing at me, sprang up in my mind. He laughed ferociously as if to say, ‘Didn’t I do well?!’

“We are seeking a plan for the Chae family to survive in this age of chaos.”

“I must find wisdom. After all, I am to be adopted by the Chae family.”

“Yes, do you have any good ideas?”

“Of course, I do.”

I do not have talent in strategy or warfare.

However, how humans could live in power, this is my area of expertise.

“We should form a blood tie with Yoo Pyo.”

“…….”

Lady Chae stared at me glaringly. I cleared my throat with a fake cough.

“Yoo Gyung Seung has become the ruler of Hyungju based on this victory. Although General Hwangjo is the protagonist of this victory, the one who appointed such General Hwangjo as a general was Yoo Gyung Seung, right?”

“Do you think Yoo Pyo will succeed, according to your estimation?”

“It could vary depending on where you set the standards for success, but he should reign as the king of Hyungju for quite a long time.”

King of Hyungju.

It has a pleasant ring.

“Dongtak lost power due to the transfer of the capital to Jangan, and no longer has the power to send fresh generals or focus to the provinces. Especially considering that Yoo Pyo has broken off ties with Won Sul, who was one of the leaders of the anti-Dongtak alliance because of this matter. In reality, Hyungju is now in the hands of Yoo Pyo.”

“That’s right. The noble families are in chaos right now. They all thought Yoo Pyo would lose and tried to flee, but they got trapped and could not go because General Hwangjo won out of the blue.”

Won out of the blue. It’s a funny yet sad expression. I sympathize with it.

“Some of the noble families abandoned Yoo Pyo. Thanks to that, they fell out of favor. However, the Chae family is different. Because my sister did not abandon Yoo Pyo and saw it through to the end, we are left with the basis for a solid relationship.”

Among other generals and aides, there were those who ran away on the spot, like me.

However, Chae Mo stayed at Yangyang Fortress and helped Hwangjo break through the siege and encouraged the soldiers to hold out to the bitter end at Yangyang Fortress.

“But we don’t know if Yoo Pyo will become Dongtak of Hyungju or Won Soo right away, do we? So, I wanted to hear your advice.”

“So, what is your evaluation of my answer?”

“You gave the same answer as my younger sister.”

“Do you have a younger sister?”

“Yes, an unmarried maiden.”

The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place.

“May I guess why you want to adopt me?”

“What do you mean?”

“You have no intention of having a child, do you?”

“That’s insolent.”

It was an insolent question.

In this age, as Confucius said, a couple who don’t have children could be considered the enemy of all.

“Why do you think we have no intention of having children?”

“To use me as a decoy. Both of you are in love enough to form a bond as a married couple, but you don’t have any intentions about the succession of the Chae family. But if your sister has a child after marrying Yoo Gyeong Seung, wouldn’t it cause several complexities.”

“…Ha, Ha, that’s right.”

Lady Chae sipped her tea and laughed bitterly.

“If my sister has Yoo Gyeong Seung’s child, the sparks will fly towards me too. But I don’t plan on having kids. My husband feels the same.”

“Is it okay to talk about this?”

“Oh, you want a sibling? That’s a problem. I believe that one child is enough. Above all,”

Madam Chae shook her head back and forth, expressing her dislike.

“It’s a headache and I dislike the idea of my child competing with my sibling’s children. Do you think the siblings would like that better?”

Madam Chae handed me something.

“Having more than one child deviates from the tradition, so we as a couple won’t need to struggle in the headache-inducing succession disputes. Inside the white silk, there were long lines of characters and lines, and at the end, my name was written. Hwang Seung-un-Chae Hyun-Hwang Wol-young. There is no need to consider it anymore. It’s Chae’s family tree. Please take care of it from now on, son… I’m counting on you, mother.”

Thus, I became Hwang Wol-young from Geum Wol-young.

“So what’s the real reason? The real reason for you two to adopt, aside from the worry about the succession dispute… I don’t want to reveal my husband’s disgrace, but since you’re my son, I’ll tell you.”

Chae Hyun sighed deeply.

“That man, he’s impotent. It was a political marriage, and it was hidden by the Hwang family… On the day of the wedding, he said he was impotent. The bastard. That’s the reason for everything now. There was one mistake in your words. I’m not in love with him. He’s a man I want to kill…”

Chae Hyun reached out and stroked my hair.

“So please take care of yourself from now on, son… Yes, mother.”

Chae Hyun began to smile as she stroked my face.

“But son. Yes, mother. You’re handsome. But… you have a good body? … Shall we talk for a moment?”

Thus, I became Chae Hyun’s adopted son.