Guo Zhang, Marquis of Haiyuan, had failed to personally attend his father Guo Guangchang's memorial day for three consecutive years. It was also discovered that a palace maid Guo Zhang had once favored was in fact his father Guo Zhang's concubine. Having committed such a grave breach of human morality, he was exposed by the Secret Directorate.
Upon learning of this, the Grand Minister of Works flew into a rage. Guo Zhang, Marquis of Haiyuan, was stripped of his title and reduced to a commoner, sentenced to ten years of hard labor to atone for his crimes. The Marquisate of Haiyuan had repeatedly committed acts of unfilial conduct; its fief was revoked and returned to the Empire.
Furthermore, the Marquisate of Haiyuan lay along the North Sea frontier, where warfare was frequent. Ye Zhen, King of North Sea, had repeatedly rendered extraordinary merit. In order to safeguard the Marquisate of Haiyuan and reward Ye Zhen, King of North Sea, for his exceptional achievements, the Marquisate of Haiyuan was abolished, Haiyuan Commandery was established, and an imperial edict ordered the King of North Sea to take up his fief.
After Ye Zhen slew Dongyang Lige at the Sacred Festival Grand Camp in Huzhou, he received an urgent message from the King of North Sea's Mansion.
It stated that the Imperial Decree granting him Haiyuan Commandery had arrived. The eunuch delivering the decree said that His Majesty had an oral edict, requiring Ye Zhen to personally come and receive it.
After a brief consideration, Ye Zhen returned to North Sea Commandery.
Ye Zhen had more or less understood why he was required to receive the decree in person.
A test.
Ji Ao, the New Monarch, wished to use this matter to test Ye Zhen's attitude.
If Ye Zhen was willing to comply