As he looked at the somewhat surprised emperor before him, Wang Mang's face was full of deference. The image of a sage who had always been respectful and courteous before All Under Heaven now stood before the emperor.
This was because Wang Mang had come to understand that All Under Heaven ultimately belonged to the emperor.
The Empress Dowager's status was indeed higher than the emperor's, but most of the state's power still lay in the emperor's hands. The emperor was born with authority bestowed by Heaven, whereas the Empress Dowager's power came from the great principles of human relations, such as filial piety.
When faced with an adult emperor, even an Empress Dowager could hardly shake his position, unless she was someone like Empress Lü. An Empress Dowager's power was usually greatest while the emperor was still young.
In ancient times such as the Qin-Han era, no complete system of bureaucratic promotion and dismissal had yet taken shape. Monarchs primarily relied on their imperial clans, maternal relatives, and close ministers to rule. This was a remnant of aristocratic politics: aristocrats were noble by birth, possessed power beyond dispute, and could freely elevate their close ministers to prominence.
Thus, historical records frequently showed people occupying high office at a young age. The Luo Clan followed precisely this path; the only difference was that a thousand years of cultivating their reputation and their towering prestige made people overlook it.
Wang Mang had likewise entered officialdom through his family background. He saw nothing wrong with this. So long as his heart was upright, what did it matter how he achieved his position?
"Ju Jun, you've changed somewhat."
Wang Mang walked along a passage in the Imperial Palace, watching the sunlight fall from the sky and leave great swaths of shadow in