Wang Xiang was no Empress Dowager.
He also knew this was certainly not the Empress Dowager's intention. It was probably Cao Mao's own idea.
And Wang Xiang knew of Yang Hu.
Yang Hu was not very old, only in his early thirties, but his reputation was considerable. Especially after repeatedly refusing official recruitment, he had earned the praise of many eminent scholars.
To someone like Wang Xiang, who moved in the same reputation-conscious circles, Yang Hu was no stranger.
And he could more or less guess why Cao Mao wanted to promote Yang Hu.
The emperor was afraid.
Now that the Empress Dowager had fallen out with the Guo Family, relations between them were growing increasingly hostile, while the palace guards were all in the hands of those few members of the Guo Family. Was the emperor afraid they would obey the Grand General's orders and move against him?
Thus, he wanted to choose a reputable scholar whom the Sima Family could accept, but who was not their diehard supporter, to take over the position.
Wang Xiang could understand Cao Mao, too.
For a young emperor, this was probably the best solution he could think of.
"Your Majesty, this is not impossible. Please rest assured. It is inconvenient for me to meet the Empress Dowager at present. Simply tell her the truth, Your Majesty, and ask her to proceed freely without worrying about anything else."
"Also, Your Majesty, do not worry too much about your own situation. You are no longer alone. With this old minister, Chen Xiuyuan, the Empress Dowager, and others here, no one can move against you."
Wang Xiang offered reassurance.
Cao Mao hastily agreed.
Wang Xiang had already begun to act and had won over Chen Qian. This was a good thing.
*Of the Eight Dukes