Sima Yan had once yearned for the lives of celebrated scholars.
But when Cao Mao brought him into their circles for real, Sima Yan felt somewhat disappointed.
The circle was not as wonderful as he had imagined. Debating the classics, in particular, was abstruse and difficult to understand; for anyone who did not understand it, it was sheer torment.
Although Sima Yan disliked discussing the classics, he still arrived punctually, because this affair had brought him tangible benefits.
As the contents of that day's debate spread, the East Hall Banquet immediately became famous throughout Luoyang.
Over the past few days, countless celebrated scholars had come to visit Sima Yan, hoping to secure admission to the East Hall Banquet. Some had even traveled from surrounding provinces and commanderies expressly to see him.
Sima Yan rose quickly, his reputation spreading far and wide. With celebrated scholars all vouching for him, he had all but become the rising star of their circle.
Not long ago, his younger brother Sima You had enjoyed a greater reputation than he did, but now their reputations were no longer remotely equal.
With Cao Mao's assistance, although Sima Yan had yet to acquire a faction of his own, he had already gained a fine reputation, which amounted to winning the ministers' recognition in another form.
With admission to the East Hall Banquet in his hands, Sima Yan no longer worried about his young brother.
Although this affair had brought benefits, Sima Yan could no longer be as carefree and unrestrained as before.
Looking at the celebrated scholars around him with their varied expressions, and at the slightly ingratiating smiles they directed toward him, Sima Yan found that their halos had unwittingly dimmed considerably in his eyes.
*So celebrated scholars fawned on others too. So they wanted to rise