Sima Shi sat hunched in the seat of honor.
Sima Zhao and the others sat before him, all waiting for his commands.
Sima Shi's complexion was dreadful, and his whole body swayed, as though he might collapse at any moment.
His health was already terrible, terrible to the utmost. Through Cao Mao's tireless efforts, the Grand General had finally reached his breaking point.
The ministers' sudden attack had been no less powerful than Wen Yang's charge through the enemy ranks.
Though the ministers had not shocked his eyeball out of its socket, Sima Shi could scarcely stand.
Now, sitting in the seat of honor, he did not even have the strength to move.
His gaze was calm as he surveyed the people before him.
Once Sima Zhao saw that his elder brother was conscious, he finally reined in his earlier fury and became rational again.
The other officials all kept their heads lowered, deeply uneasy.
Sima Shi was now the pillar supporting the entire family. If he fell, there was no telling how bad things would become. They had all witnessed Sima Zhao's behavior just now.
With behavior like his, all might be well if they sailed before a favorable wind, but facing such dire straits, what good end could they expect from following him?
Sima Shi seemed to have noticed their wavering hearts.
Of everyone present, only Sima Fu was still staring straight at Sima Shi, his brows tightly knitted and his eyes filled with worry.
Under the present circumstances, Sima Shi could not fall.
Sima Zhao appeared magnanimous, yet he harbored misgivings about both Sima Fu and Zhong Hui and dared not trust them at all. Once Sima Shi died, the Sima Family would crumble apart.
As Sima Fu was thinking this, he saw Sima Shi turn to