“What on earth is happening! Ho Pil… Kang Yoon-ho is the son of the Tang Family Head!”
The Elders’ Council was in disarray that morning.
The previous day’s incident with the Black-haired Barbarian marrying into the Zhuge Family ended with the intrusion of the Tang Family.
Misunderstandings from the Tang Family, the Zhuge Family’s inability to respond, the sudden revelation of birth secrets, the hidden fiancée, the scheme of Man Geum-jeon, and Lady Jang’s tacit approval—it was a lot to unpack.
“There was something strange about it after all.”
“What?”
“How could a Joseon person be more skilled in the Martial Arts World and the Romance of the Three Kingdoms than the people of the Central Plains? There must have been connections.”
“Could it be because his father was the Tang Family Head?!”
“Exactly. From what I’ve heard, he certainly lived in Joseon, but there was a reason for his active interest in the culture of the Central Plains.”
“Indeed… So that was it.”
It was surprising that a child born and raised in Joseon knew so much about the Martial Arts World. There must be a hidden background.
He surely must have tried to access the culture of the Central Plains while growing up. The stories of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and martial arts would have been the easiest for him to connect with. Most of the elders were inwardly convinced.
“The son of the Tang Family Head. It’s common for hidden children in the martial world, but to think that the head of the Tang Family actually had a love child.”
It was only natural that the elders of the Zhuge Family were taken aback.
The Tang Family Head was a martial artist without a single rumor surrounding him. In fact, he had been renowned as a hero since his youth.
“Since he’s acknowledged in the family tree, he’s considered an officially recognized son and not just a love child. Anyway, it seems clear that there’s a lot of backstory.”
“It feels like he looks more like a Central Plains person than a Black-haired Barbarian.”
“Really? He certainly does look extravagant for a Joseon person. When I first saw him, I thought Hyang fell for his looks!”
“Thinking back, he does resemble the Tang Family Head when he was young. Didn’t the Tang Family Head have looks that could make women weep back then?”
The elders nodded in agreement. Even though the Black-haired Barbarian’s appearance created prejudices, it couldn’t be denied.
“But what’s important right now is not that!”
Elder Oh, who couldn’t hold back any longer, shouted out in frustration, drawing everyone’s gaze toward him.
“Elder Oh? What is it?”
“Didn’t you all hear what the Tang people are saying?!”
“…Are you talking about them taking Kang Yoon-ho away?”
Elder Oh nodded, tightening his brows.
This was no time for leisurely conversations. The main reason they had gathered this morning was precisely due to the words spoken by the martial artists of the Tang Family yesterday.
Kang Yoon-ho shall return under our protection.
“If we stay idle, we might lose Ho Pil to the Tang Family!”
With Elder Oh’s words, a great sense of crisis enveloped the Elders’ Council.
“There’s no way we can let the treasures of the Zhuge Family fall into the hands of the Tang Family.”
“Exactly. How could we let go of the son-in-law we found with such difficulty!”
The Elders’ Council had already agreed to Kang Yoon-ho’s marriage. Of course, there had been many twists and turns, but thanks to that, they were able to gauge Kang Yoon-ho’s worth and realize just how shining of a presence he was.
The Elders’ Council found it hard to give up on Kang Yoon-ho.
“But there’s another fiancée, isn’t there?”
There was indeed a significant issue involved.
“That’s!”
“Even hiding the engagement, he came asking for marriage permission.”
“Strictly speaking, he was dragged here.”
“Ahem. Anyway.”
“Even if Man Geum-jeon forcibly took Kang Yoon-ho, it’s a valid issue from the Tang Family’s viewpoint.”
A family’s internal issues are different from the disputes between families.
Whether the head of the household tacitly allowed it or the father-in-law of the family plotted it, in the end, it would be a problem for the Zhuge Family. Even the Elders’ Council couldn’t significantly counter the Tang Family’s issues.
Of course, one of the reasons behind this was their own Elders’ Council.
“Man Geum-jeon was a person who never once asked for help from the Zhuge Family in his whole life. How could the father-in-law of the family cause such a problem!”
“The successor issue isn’t something trivial. With his age, he must be feeling the urgency.”
“I can’t say I don’t understand, but….”
“Weren’t we supposed to stop mentioning that issue? The current problem is Kang Yoon-ho’s other fiancée.”
That there was a fiancée in the Tang Family.
Who would have thought there would be another woman when they had come to get marriage permission from the direct line of the Zhuge Family? Especially since the marriage was forced, it made matters even more complicated.
The faces of the Elders’ Council darkened.
“It seems the family head is quite in shock.”
“Right before bringing a Black-haired Barbarian into the family, this happened. Who wouldn’t be shocked?”
“It must be troubling. Who would easily give their daughter to someone declaring he’d take another wife while asking for marriage permission?”
“Is there really no way to resolve this?”
When it came to the sudden issue of bigamy, there was a very simple solution.
“The engagement with the Tang Family’s fiancée can be nullified….”
“Do you think that’s even possible?”
“It wouldn’t happen.”
The Elders’ Council had observed Kang Yoon-ho until now. A man who would take responsibility for both women till the bitter end. He wasn’t the type to give up one over the other.
“It wouldn’t look good either. If it really happens, it would seem like the Zhuge Family forcibly ripped something away.”
“The Tang Family certainly wouldn’t just sit back and let it happen.”
“Besides, it’s not something the family head can easily approve of.”
“This is a dilemma. No matter how big-hearted one may be, it’s a different matter to allow someone to marry while also taking his own daughter.”
The elders were cautious about discussing this issue. Understanding the family head’s feelings, the Elders’ Council found it hard to speak up.
“Is it really such a big issue that Kang Yoon-ho has a fiancée in the Tang Family?”
Except for Elder Oh, who had firmly supported Kang Yoon-ho from the beginning.
“Elder Oh, what are you saying right now?!”
“He said he’d been in a deep love for ten years. Isn’t it a bit late to get married in his thirties?”
Elder Oh pointed out a part that everyone had overlooked regarding Kang Yoon-ho’s bigamy issue.
“That’s right. Didn’t he mention that his fiancée is in recovery…?”
“The successor of Man Geum Battlefield and the author Ho Pil. What on earth is the issue with getting married at thirty?!”
“Certainly….”
Even at the latest, men usually marry in their early to mid-twenties. Women, too, get married in their early twenties. To be getting married at thirty, though?
When will he get married? It wasn’t just complaining; it was a situation where men would be pointed at and questioned if there was something wrong with them.
“Honestly, I don’t think the fiancée issue is that big of a deal.”
With Elder Oh’s reasonable point, others slowly began to chime in.
“Seventh Elder?!”
“What you’re saying is true. What’s the problem if a capable man takes a second wife? Especially one after ten years!”
“Even the Third Elder?”
“Now that I think about it, I can understand Man Geum-jeon’s perspective. Perhaps as an adult, he helped a young person’s love in a very realistic way.”
“Kang Yoon-ho. That kid seems quite stubborn. If he hadn’t been determined, he wouldn’t have mentioned he had no intention of getting married.”
“You guys….”
Originally, the Elders’ Council would have fiercely opposed this matter.
To dare to propose a marriage with the direct line of the Zhuge Family and brazenly declare one’s intention for bigamy. But the counterpart was Ho Pil. Kang Yoon-ho.
For a man proven to possess literary talent before the Elders’ Council, the narrative changed significantly.
Before long, the Elders’ Council found it reasonable to consider bigamy. They understood and were even supportive of Man Geum-jeon’s actions.
“What Man Geum-jeon said also makes sense. Although it was a bit forceful. A man should get married and start a family as soon as possible for stability. Especially since the Black-haired Barbarian would need the Zhuge Family’s support even more.”
“That is true.”
“Everyone wishes for an easy solution.”
A person who had quietly been observing the situation finally stood up.
“Elder Councilman?”
It was Elder Councilman, the head of the Elders’ Council.
“One mustn’t only consider the head of the family. We have too many misunderstandings and issues with the Tang Family right now.”
Rather than voicing his opinion, Elder Councilman always listened to the opinions of the Elders’ Council from a step behind. For him to rise with a serious expression was noteworthy.
It was only natural for all eyes to be on him.
“That’s true enough, but…”
“Without distinguishing right from wrong, regarding the Tang Family issue, we are in the wrong. We need to think carefully about what problems may arise if we push for this marriage.”
Even if the Tang Family had misunderstood, the Zhuge Family had indeed made a mistake.
A heavy atmosphere fell upon the Elders’ Council at Elder Councilman’s remark.
“It’s obvious the Tang Family will cling to this until the end.”
“We might have to bow our heads to the Tang Family.”
Elder Councilman said with a pained expression.
“We’re supposed to bow our heads to the Tang Family?!”
The Zhuge Family and the Sichuan Tang Family had been rivals in the martial world for a long time. Each represented Hubei and Sichuan Provinces, possessing mutual pride and rivalry as pillars of righteous martial society.
This could easily become a matter of pride. The expressions of the Elders’ Council changed to one of shock.
“It might also be a solution to simply withdraw.”
As Elder Councilman sighed, he glanced at the ground, mumbling for everyone to hear.
“What?!”
“Elder Councilman!”
“Everyone loves Ho Pil. But before consolidating opinions, we need to think about the other circumstances.”
It is good to support Kang Yoon-ho’s marriage. That’s not to say they’re opposing it. But there are many problems that arise when they support the marriage.
As Elder Councilman, and as the head of the meeting, this was a reasonable critique meant to prevent biased opinions.
“Hmm….”
“If we withdraw now, we would have to offer an apology of sorts, but the situation with the Tang Family won’t worsen either.”
With Elder Councilman’s words, other elders began to voice potential issues that could arise in the future.
“If we push for the marriage, will the problems expand?”
“The Tang Family Head has said he was angry. It won’t be something that can be easily resolved.”
“Having his own child, it’s obviously a sore point. It’s to be expected he would be angry.”
“Plus, the fiancée under the protection of the Tang Family. One side is the son of the Tang Family Head, and the other is a fiancée recognized by the Tang Family. Hyang is wedged in between them; the Tang Family surely won’t just sit idle.”
“The head of the family is an issue, and the Tang Family’s problems are complicated.”
“Hmm….”
There are too many concerns. The more the Elders’ Council continues discussing, the more problems arise from Kang Yoon-ho’s marriage.
Should they keep supporting the marriage between Kang Yoon-ho and Zhuge Hyang?
It’s hard to conclude. A heavy silence enveloped the Elders’ Council.
“However, we will now never see Zhuge Seolrok Volume 2.”
“Elder Councilman?!”
The one to break the silence was none other than Elder Councilman.
“That’s!”
“Isn’t it Ho Pil? It’s a book he wrote. Won’t he write Volume 2 one day?”
“It’s a novel meant for marriage. Why would he write it when he’s been annulled?”
“True.”
It’s a flawless piece of fiction, but it’s forced writing. When there’s an annulment, there’s no way there’ll be a next volume.
“One more thing to consider.”
“Another one?”
“Think about it when Zhuge Seolrok comes into the hands of the Sichuan Tang Family.”
Zhuge Seolrok falling into the hands of the Sichuan Tang Family? The Elders’ Council pondered Elder Councilman’s point for a moment.
“Naturally, they would be amazed. ‘The Rise of the Tang Family’ is a steamy story, but isn’t it a novel starring the true hero of the Zhuge Family?”
The most entertaining story among Ho Pil’s works was undoubtedly Zhuge Seolrok.
Although they forced him to write it as an exam, the elders took immense pride in their connection to Zhuge Seolrok.
“That Zhuge Seolrok could become Tang Seolrok.”
That pride struck the Elder Council hard.
“What…!”
“Elder Councilman, what are you saying?!”
“He’s the son of the Tang Family Head, and his fiancée is the child of the Tang Family. It would stand to reason that when the novel is published, it would instead be Tang Seolrok.”
The Elders’ Council couldn’t come to grips with Elder Councilman’s calm statement.
“Not Zhuge Seolrok, but Tang Seolrok? The child of the Zhuge Family turns into the child of the Tang Family…?”
“That’s impossible! Whoever puts forth the claim that Zhuge Seolrok is from the Zhuge Family cannot be right!”
“Right! He clearly comes from the Zhuge Family!”
Elder Councilman shook his head resolutely against the outrage of the Elders’ Council.
“He might claim it as a child of the Tang Family by saying he’s skilled with poisons, saying he created something like healing liquid.”
“Huh….”
“Could Zhuge Seolrok really become Tang Seolrok…?”
“The Sichuan Tang Family gaining ‘The Rise of the Tang Family’ alongside ‘The Rise of the Tang Family’? It’s envy-inducing. The Elders’ Council couldn’t stop their jaws from hanging at what was about to unfold.
“If Kang Yoon-ho breaks off the engagement, then it’ll be inevitable.”
Elder Councilman gazed at the shocked Elders’ Council and smiled faintly.
“What?!”
“Wait, what do you mean by that…?”
“This is a crisis. There are issues with the head of the family. The problems with the Tang Family also exist. If he’s not careful, he could end up facing an annulment. At such times, the elders of the family should maintain control.”
If they support Kang Yoon-ho’s marriage, problems will arise. It’s not a simple decision. Yet considering all that, isn’t Ho Pil’s marriage, Kang Yoon-ho’s marriage worth supporting?
It was the first time Elder Councilman, who always listened to all voices, voiced his opinion before everyone.
“Elder Councilman….”
“What do you all think?”
There was only one response to Elder Councilman’s question.
“Tang Seolrok? We absolutely can’t let that happen!”
“We must somehow convince the head of the family to support this marriage!”
“Right!”
“We must hold onto Ho Pil and Zhuge Seolrok tightly from the scheming Tang Family!”
“Kang Yoon-ho and Zhuge Hyang. They knew each other and got together! How could we separate them in the name of the family!”
“Exactly! They are good together! As the elders of the family, we should support them!”
“Kang Yoon-ho must become the son-in-law of the Zhuge Family!”
“The promise the Elders’ Council made to Kang Yoon-ho will remain unchanged.”
From today, the Elders’ Council of the Zhuge Family would go beyond merely opposing and instead actively support the marriage of Ho Pil and Kang Yoon-ho.
The Elders’ Council would strongly back Kang Yoon-ho as much as the hard work he’s put in till now, in unwavering promise.
Elder Councilman declared this with a satisfied smile before the Elders’ Council.
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