Though a Tiger Cub Is Young, Its Fangs Are Inborn

"Lord Cao! Liu Lu is missing!"

The next day, Cao Mao had barely opened his eyes when he saw Guo Ze standing before him, his face full of anxiety.

Cao Mao rubbed his eyes, then sat up.

"Oh, Liu Lu? Something happened at home, so he went back to take care of it. It's nothing. You needn't worry."

As Cao Mao spoke, he unhurriedly began putting on his clothes.

"Has that letter of yours been sent?"

"It was sent yesterday. Rest assured, it will reach the empress dowager within five days."

"Mm, good."

Cao Mao and Guo Ze left the Inner Chamber together. The weather was lovely, crisp and refreshing. The gallant heroes had probably drunk too much the day before; few of them were awake yet.

"Make some preparations. With such fine weather today, I imagine we'll have distinguished guests."

At Cao Mao's words, Guo Ze looked thoughtful. "You mean Wang Su will come?"

"He hasn't left Yuan City, so naturally he intends to come again... either today or tomorrow."

"Then what will you do?"

"The Grand General's power holds sway over all under heaven. If a minor member of the Imperial Clan like me wants to stay alive, of course I must heed Lord Yang's advice and become the Grand General's dog. What else can I do?"

"My lord?! You're..."

"Hahaha, don't worry. This time, I still cannot agree, because there's something else I must do. I need to keep Wang Su and the others steady first. I have my own plans. Just do as I say!"

Guo Ze nodded firmly. "As you command!"

After washing up, Cao Mao began exercising in the front courtyard again. He had kept this up for over a year without ever slacking off.

Indeed, practicing martial arts could be called the thing Cao Mao had taken most seriously over the past year.

The prospect of ending up skewered by Cheng Ji's spear was his greatest motivation. Surely he had to be strong enough to fight back, at least?

The wooden staff swept through his hands with a tiger's ferocity, its blows heavy and powerful, whistling as it cut through the air.

Naturally, this drew the retainers over to watch again.

Some retainers felt their hands itch and could not resist sparring with Cao Mao.

The ducal residence was lively indeed.

Cao Mao fought three men at once without giving ground, and the retainers cheered him on.

The sudden arrival of distinguished guests interrupted the lively atmosphere.

Leading his entourage, Wang Su once again appeared outside the Noble Rural Duke's residence.

This time, they did not send men to seal off the route. There was really no need: everyone along the road was frightened by the procession and hurried out of its way.

Even the children playing outside were frightened into loud sobs and carried away by the adults in their families.

The common people rushed fearfully into their homes and shut their doors.

Within moments, scarcely a pedestrian remained on the street. It lay empty, like a ghost city.

It was a scene utterly unlike what happened when Cao Mao normally went out.

The horsemen clearing the way ahead were immensely proud at the sight. They held their heads high, smugly delighting in their extraordinary show of might.

This time, they could finally enter the Noble Township residence.

Guo Ze had already made preparations. Leading the old soldiers of the household, he threw the gates wide open and stood to the left of the entrance, maintaining a bow.

Standing on the right was Yang Zong. For some reason, his face was flushed today. He stood there in a daze, merely mumbling something.

Wang Su nodded in satisfaction, glanced to either side, and instructed, "Everyone else will remain outside. Lord Zheng, you may enter with me."

Although Hua Biao was somewhat displeased at being left outside, he did not dare show it.

Holding the Ceremonial Staff, Wang Su strode into the residence. He looked straight ahead, displaying no curiosity about the place and never glancing around. Zheng Mao was even more restrained, following behind him in small steps with his head lowered, never raising it.

Cao Mao stood alone in the front courtyard and bowed to the two men.

Just as Wang Su was about to speak, Cao Mao hurried forward and seized his hand, his eyes brimming with sincerity.

"Lord Wang, might we speak in the Inner Chamber?"

Wang Su frowned but did not refuse.

The three entered the Inner Chamber. With utmost deference, Cao Mao invited the two men to take the seat of honor. Naturally, Wang Su dared not do so. Cao Mao took the upper seat himself and began speaking with an air of fearful trepidation.

"Please forgive me, Lord Wang. I truly cannot shoulder such a great responsibility."

"There are things I dare not say openly outside. I can only discuss them with you in private."

Wang Su cut him off at once, giving him no opportunity to continue, and demanded, "Do you truly intend to defy the empress dowager's decree?"

"This has nothing to do with the empress dowager. Even an ignorant child like me knows that the affairs of the realm rest with the Grand General."

Wang Su immediately replied, "The affairs of the realm rest neither with the empress dowager nor with the Grand General, but with Your Majesty! How can Your Majesty speak like this? Would that not chill the hearts of loyal and worthy men?"

Cao Mao appeared even more frightened and hastily said, "I have always held the Grand General in the highest esteem."

"I have no particular talent among the Imperial Clan. I was born of a concubine and am not as exalted as the others. I have heard that Ju, the Prince of Pengcheng, is renowned throughout the Imperial Clan as a great worthy!"

"He is benevolent, righteous, gentle, modest, kind, loving, valiant, and resolute. As an elder of the Imperial Clan, he is deeply revered by the entire clan. Even people in the countryside know of his virtuous reputation!"

"Worthy men say his talent rivals Chen Si's and his martial prowess equals Emperor Taizu's!"

"He honors the worthy and humbles himself before scholars, loves the people as his own children, is diligent and frugal, generous and sincere. Truly, he possesses the qualities of Yao and Shun!"

"With such a wise and virtuous member of the Imperial Clan, how could it be the turn of a callow boy like me to inherit the throne?"

"Please inform the Grand General that I am willing to yield this great undertaking to the Prince of Pengcheng! Let him accomplish the mighty task of restoring the imperial house of Wei and bringing peace to all under heaven!"

"With so wise a ruler and so loyal a servant as the Grand General, why should we fear that Great Wei will not flourish?!"

Wang Su was struck dumb.

How did I never know the Prince of Pengcheng was so wise and virtuous??

Everyone knew that Sima Shi had advocated enthroning the Prince of Pengcheng, while Empress Dowager Guo had favored Cao Mao.

In the end, Sima Shi had reluctantly compromised and allowed Cao Mao to inherit the throne.

Yet now Cao Mao was offering to yield it to the Prince of Pengcheng.

For a moment, Wang Su had no idea what to say.

Wang Su cherished his reputation and avoided involvement in dirty business whenever he could. He had accepted this assignment only because he had thought enthroning the Son of Heaven would bring few complications.

He had never imagined it would become so tangled.

Why couldn't you just agree? Why insist on stirring up trouble?!

By now, Wang Su was beginning to lose patience.

Should we simply choose someone else??

But it was only a passing thought. As a high-ranking official, Wang Su understood that Cao Mao's succession was the result of negotiations between the Guo Family and the Sima Clan.

The Guo Family and the Sima Clan were close allies.

There was one condition, however: neither side could trespass upon the other's bottom line. The position of empress dowager was plainly the Guo Family's bottom line.

Junior in generation, young in age, without father or mother, without close kin, and close to the Guo Family through Guo Ze-Cao Mao was practically the perfect candidate for them.

With Cao Mao on the throne, the inner palace would remain the Guo Family's domain.

He could not be replaced on a whim. Even if a replacement really were necessary, it was not Wang Su's decision to make.

Besides, Wang Su could not make the choice for Sima Shi. Who knew what Sima Shi was thinking? Perhaps he truly wished to ride the current and let the Prince of Pengcheng become emperor?

After all, the Sima Clan had designs on power within the inner palace as well. Over the years, they had replaced quite a few of the Guo Family's people with their own.

Cao Ju, the Prince of Pengcheng, was the full younger brother of Cao Chong, Prince Ai of Deng. Despite belonging to the Imperial Clan, he actually enjoyed fairly good relations with the Sima Family. After the Sima Family began taking power, his fief had grown to forty-six hundred households.

He loved pleasure and luxury goods. During Cao Rui's reign, he had lost two thousand households for secretly having luxury items made. He also lacked courage and was always meekly compliant, without a trace of Emperor Wu's bearing.

If he became emperor, the Sima Family's control over the inner palace would grow stronger.

Because he belonged to a generation senior to Emperor Ming, Empress Dowager Guo would lose her titular basis for authority. The Guo Family could then be removed from the inner palace as a matter of course, and Sima Shi could administer it directly.

However close an ally might be, they naturally could not compare with one's own family.

Wang Su went on trying to persuade him at length, but no matter what he said, Cao Mao simply kept praising the Prince of Pengcheng and asking that he inherit the throne.

Wang Su's second visit once again came to nothing.

When Wang Su walked out of the Inner Chamber with a stony face, never looking back, Zheng Mao lingered half a step behind.

He turned back to look at the young man behind him, who appeared so fearful and uneasy.

"Your Majesty... the Grand General is certainly worthy of respect, but Empress Dowager Guo is not someone to trifle with either. Speaking this way may offend her. I hope Your Majesty will consider this carefully."

With that, he followed Wang Su out.

His words sounded like a warning, yet also like a reminder.

Cao Mao narrowed his eyes. Of course he knew the consequences. That was precisely why the letter to the empress dowager had already been sent yesterday.

This Zheng Mao doesn't seem to be a die-hard member of the Sima faction.

When Wang Su emerged looking displeased, no one dared ask questions. He led the entourage away once more.

The worthies of Yuan City soon learned of this explosive news.

The virtuous men of the entire city erupted with excitement!

He had refused!!

He had actually refused again!!

The Duke of the Village truly had Emperor Wen's bearing!!

How had they never noticed before that the Noble Rural Duke was such a modest gentleman?!

Seated in the Inner Chamber, Cao Mao once again considered the situation before him.

This time, he had followed Yang Zong's scheme and played the dog not to cling cravenly to life, but to lay the groundwork for his ultimate plan.

The key lay in Wang Su's third visit.

When that day comes, I can stake everything on one attempt without holding back!

I must let everyone under heaven know that though a tiger cub is young, its fangs are inborn!