How dare a firefly's glow vie with the sun and moon?

"Lord Wang, yesterday I dreamed that I was drawing a blanket over the Emperor of the Filial and Enlightened Ancestor. What omen do you think this might be?"

Inside Zhaoyang Hall, Empress Dowager Guo asked with a puzzled expression.

Sitting before her was an old man with an exceedingly kindly face.

The old man looked utterly benevolent, a faint smile always on his face and his eyes clear. No one could harbor ill will toward him. At that moment, he sat respectfully to one side of Empress Dowager Guo, listening attentively to her question.

"Since the Emperor of the Filial and Enlightened Ancestor passed away, Empress Dowager, you have devoted yourself to affairs of state, instructed the new sovereign, entrusted worthy ministers with responsibility, and labored for the late emperor's great undertaking. Perhaps that is what the dream foretold."

"Lord Wang, your reputation is known throughout the realm. There are some matters about which I can only consult you."

Empress Dowager Guo said sorrowfully, "Back then, His Majesty entrusted the King of Qi to me and asked me to teach him well. Yet my abilities proved inadequate, and the King of Qi became so immoral, committing every manner of wicked deed, that he could not carry on the Founding Ancestor's great undertaking."

"I had no choice but to order his removal from the imperial throne and send him away to his fief."

"But the Emperor of the Filial and Enlightened Ancestor had no children of his own. He adopted the King of Qi precisely so that he could inherit the Founding Ancestor's mantle, carry on his great undertaking, remember the sacrifices owed to him, and maintain the offerings at his temple."

"The King of Qi lacked the virtue to fulfill these duties."

"The Emperor of the Filial and Enlightened Ancestor had nine younger brothers. One died in infancy, and six passed away early, most leaving no offspring. Only the Ding Prince of Donghai had many children."

"The Ding Prince of Donghai was intelligent from his youth and deeply cherished by Emperor Gaozu. After the Emperor of the Filial and Enlightened Ancestor ascended the throne, he too showed him exceptional affection, granting him the richest rewards and making an exception to permit him to visit Luoyang. Holding his hand, he told me, 'He is my own flesh and blood!'"

"The Ding Prince's son, Cao Mao, inherited his father's looks and virtues. After the Ding Prince passed away, he voluntarily left his fief, refusing a life of pleasure, and observed mourning for his father for two years."

"He regards the Emperor of the Filial and Enlightened Ancestor as his father and me as his mother."

"He often writes to ask after me, and every day he bows toward the Founding Ancestor's tomb to pay his respects."

"He is humble and yielding. When the worthy men at court prepared to enthrone him, he feared that his abilities were insufficient and that he would disappoint my expectations. He refused repeatedly and even wished to take his own life. Fortunately, the Director of Guidance stopped him in time."

"Now there is no one to offer sacrifices at the late emperor's temple, and no one to carry on his great undertaking."

"I wish to adopt Cao Mao, the Noble Rural Duke, as a son of the Emperor of the Filial and Enlightened Ancestor, making him the late emperor's heir and a rightful successor to the throne. What do you think, Lord Wang?"

Having finished, Empress Dowager Guo stared fixedly at the old man's face.

The old man showed not the slightest surprise. From beginning to end, his face wore the same cheerful smile.

His name was Wang Xiang.

The very man from the story of lying on ice to obtain carp!

His exceptional filial devotion to his stepmother had made him famous in his youth, and everyone knew him as a paragon of filial piety. Later, he repeatedly declined summons to serve at the Imperial Court, making his reputation soar.

At this point, his unblemished reputation even overshadowed Wang Su's.

After all, humility and filial piety were the qualities most prized in those days.

He had thus become the moral leader of the scholarly elite.

Of course, he was also capable in his own right, with considerable skill in administration. After accepting an official summons, he had advanced triumphantly through the ranks and now held the post of Minister of Agriculture.

Wang Xiang had taken part in Empress Dowager Guo and Sima Shi's "war of candidates," casting a crucial vote for Cao Mao and securing his position.

In return, Empress Dowager Guo had decided that once the emperor ascended the throne, she would appoint Wang Xiang as Court Steward for his "meritorious role in determining the succession."

Sima Shi also attached great importance to this moral exemplar.

The Sima Family badly needed this moral leader's support. They needed him to testify for them in the future that they had not usurped the throne without virtue, but had acted in accordance with Heaven's mandate.

Wang Xiang had powerful connections and was on friendly terms with many great families. Whatever unexpected circumstances arose, he remained entirely unruffled.

After Empress Dowager Guo spoke, Wang Xiang nodded with a smile.

"Empress Dowager, you have considered this most thoroughly. You may certainly do so."

During the Late Han, Wei, and Jin periods, it was exceedingly common for childless men to adopt their brothers' children. Cao Rui and Sima Shi had both done so.

Empress Dowager Guo let out a long sigh. "I am merely a woman and should not involve myself in great affairs of the Imperial Court. Besides, with the King of Qi's precedent before us, I fear the worthy men at court may object."

Wang Xiang was somewhat puzzled now. He did not know why the Empress Dowager was so eager to build support for Cao Mao and establish his legitimacy.

Could Sima Shi have changed his mind?

Impossible. He was rather different from his father, not a man who went back on his word lightly.

He ventured, "Empress Dowager, since the ministers have all agreed to enthrone the Noble Rural Duke, they will not oppose making him the late emperor's heir. He is already meant to inherit the Emperor of the Filial and Enlightened Ancestor's mantle. Why would the ministers object?"

The Empress Dowager said helplessly, "I have heard that someone at court is slandering the Noble Rural Duke and wishes to enthrone another man."

Wang Xiang understood at once.

She feared Sima Shi would change his mind, so she wanted to settle the matter and prevent further complications?

Wang Xiang smiled. Enthroning the emperor was not merely a matter for the Guo Family and the Sima Clan. Men like him had also participated.

Something they had all settled together was not for the Sima Family to change at will.

Cao Mao's repeated refusals must have made the Guo Family fear that the Sima Family would propose the Prince of Pengcheng again, so she was determined to nail the coffin shut on this decision.

A woman after all. She did not even have this much patience.

"Empress Dowager, you worry too much. Enthroning an emperor is a matter of importance to the entire realm. There can be no question of changing it lightly."

Wang Xiang said earnestly, "The matter Empress Dowager, you have raised will certainly receive the support of many worthy men."

The Empress Dowager nodded. "Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease. The Noble Rural Duke is young and filial by nature. When he comes to Luoyang, he should seek instruction from a great worthy such as yourself. You ought to teach him as his tutor, so that he may learn the principles of filial piety!"

Her words sounded like an order, but at heart they were still a bargain.

And how could Wang Xiang dare refuse the Empress Dowager's command?

He hurriedly rose and said with profound trepidation, "This old minister lacks talent and virtue and dares not serve as His Majesty's tutor. But I shall certainly assist and remonstrate with His Majesty, so that he does not fail the mantle of the Emperor of the Filial and Enlightened Ancestor!"

The bargain was struck.

Leaning on his walking stick, Wang Xiang left the palace with trembling steps.

The next day, calls for the Noble Rural Duke to become the heir of the Emperor of the Filial and Enlightened Ancestor swept through Luoyang. Many men of moral standing declared in anguish:

The King of Qi lacked virtue and could not offer sacrifices to the Founding Ancestor, yet the Founding Ancestor's sacrifices must not cease. The Noble Rural Duke, his closest relative, should therefore be adopted as his son.

This struck the Sima Family squarely where it hurt.

After all, everyone knew perfectly well how the sacrifices to the Emperor of the Filial and Enlightened Ancestor had been interrupted.

Although the Sima Family was now like the sun at its zenith, it had not yet reached the fully developed form it would attain under Sima Zhao. It could not ignore an issue as grave as the cessation of sacrifices to the Emperor of the Filial and Enlightened Ancestor.

No one realized that what had originally been a fill-in-the-blank question, choosing one of the many members of the Imperial Clan, had somehow become a multiple-choice question between Cao Mao and Cao Ju.

Sima Zhao flew into a rage and immediately summoned numerous worthy men to his residence.

He then prepared to impose martial law within the city.

Just as Sima Zhao decided to have it out with those sons of bitches, a handsome young man appeared.

His arrival interrupted the meeting.

The man was tall and richly dressed, with a hint of arrogance in his eyes. Unlike with Guo Jian, however, everyone hurriedly rose to greet him.

His name was Zhong Hui.

He was the youngest son of Zhong Yao, a leading minister of Cao Wei. Already renowned at the age of five, he had read widely and won Sima Shi's esteem, later becoming one of his key advisers.

He brought an order from Sima Shi.

"The Grand General says, 'There are many loyal and worthy men at court. That they concern themselves with the Founding Ancestor's posthumous affairs is a good thing.'"

Sima Zhao frowned, hurriedly rose, drew Zhong Hui to his side, and pressed him into a seat.

"Shiji, what exactly is the Grand General thinking? If we agree to their demands, won't he be able to inherit everything belonging to the Emperor of the Filial and Enlightened Ancestor... If something changes in the future, how can this possibly work?"

Sima Zhao had all but asked how they were supposed to ascend the throne in the future.

Zhong Hui held his head high, his face brimming with confidence.

"With the Grand General here, what do you have to worry about? How could we possibly fathom his thoughts?"

Zhong Hui held Sima Shi in profound reverence.

Sima Shi had praised Zhong Hui as a talent fit to assist a sovereign, while Zhong Hui regarded Sima Shi as the discerning patron who recognized his worth and devoted himself wholeheartedly to supporting him.

Hearing this, Sima Zhao immediately deflated.

Fortunately, Sima Zhao also had ample trust in his elder brother. He waved a hand and dismissed his subordinates.

"Had I known, I would never have supported Cao Mao's enthronement. The fellow hasn't even ascended the throne, and he's already caused so much trouble. Won't it be even worse once he actually becomes emperor?"

Zhong Hui said solemnly, "His Majesty possesses the virtue of humility and the bearing of a gentleman. Is that not a blessing for the state? Besides, General, how can you address His Majesty directly by name?"

Sima Zhao froze. Looking at this young man, whose speech and manner increasingly resembled his elder brother's, he could only smile bitterly.

"Fine, fine, fine. You have the final say."

"His Majesty is wise indeed!"

"The Grand General is wise indeed!"

Hearing Sima Zhao's mockery, Zhong Hui laughed.

"General, do not be impatient. These petty tricks are not worth mentioning before the Grand General."

"They are merely playing to the crowd and inviting suffering upon themselves."

"How dare a firefly's glow vie with the sun and moon?"