The streets of Yuan City were as peaceful as ever.
When Wang Su led the many riders out onto the streets, everyone seemed already accustomed to them.
The riders hung their heads, utterly bereft of the arrogance they had shown on their first visit.
They felt they were practically becoming monkeys put on display for people to gawk at.
Wang Su sat in his carriage, still holding the Son of Heaven's Processional Standard high.
The pedestrians in the distance no longer shrank away in fear. Instead, they stole glances at them.
They made their way toward Cao Mao's residence at an unhurried pace.
At Cao Mao's residence, everyone had also made their preparations.
The old soldiers had cleaned the residence, while the Palace Guards Guo Jian had brought stood at the entrance to lend it an imposing appearance.
Guo Ze was still going over the various ceremonies to come.
For once, Yang Zong had not taken his medicinal powder that day, and had dressed in clean, tidy clothes.
Guo Jian stayed beside Cao Mao.
Everyone looked excited, their faces wreathed in smiles.
The retainers chatted excitedly. Even Guo Jian held Guo Ze's hand, chuckling as he spoke of the credit they would earn for helping enthrone the new emperor.
Only Cao Mao looked somewhat grave.
His brow was furrowed, his expression shifting constantly.
"Lord Cao... what are you planning to do?"
Someone interrupted Cao Mao's brooding.
Cao Mao turned his head. The speaker was Yang Zong.
Yang Zong's face was solemn as he stood beside Cao Mao, and there was even worry in his eyes.
Cao Mao smiled. "Follow Heaven's mandate and become emperor, of course."
"Please do not deceive me."
"Where has Liu Lu gone?"
"He had something to attend to at home."
"No. With his temperament, how could he go home at such a critical moment?"
Yang Zong shook his head. "He went to seek outside support for you, didn't he?"
"Given the current situation, neither Shu nor Wu could provide outside support. Reinforcements would have to come from within the country. Is it Guanqiu Jian?"
Cao Mao narrowed his eyes. "There is no outside support."
"Lord Cao, whatever you intend to do, please abandon it."
"It cannot succeed."
"Guanqiu Jian is a powerful regional official. Sima Shi has many informants around him, keeping him under strict surveillance. Neither your man nor your letters could possibly reach him."
Cao Mao smiled. "I know."
"You worry too much."
"Lord Cao!"
Yang Zong continued, "Guanqiu Jian is indeed a loyal subject, but his loyalty is not to you. He is loyal to the Emperor of the Filial and Enlightened Ancestor, and to Cao Fang, the King of Qi!"
"You were chosen for the throne by Sima Shi and the Empress Dowager. To Guanqiu Jian, you are one of the rebels too!"
"He will not trust you, nor will he help you. This is your last chance. Stop clinging blindly to this course!"
Cao Mao drew a deep breath.
Naturally, he understood all of this.
There were many people monitoring Guanqiu Jian. Liu Lu could not possibly meet him.
Besides, Guanqiu Jian was loyal to the Emperor of the Filial and Enlightened Ancestor, while Cao Mao's position resembled that of Liu Xie, whom Dong Zhuo had placed on the throne. Guanqiu Jian might not even recognize him as emperor.
Even if Cao Mao foolishly sent someone to propose an alliance, Guanqiu Jian would pay it no heed.
Yet Cao Mao could not abandon this one remaining loyal and upright man.
He said, "Lord Yang, do not forget the instructions I gave you before."
Just then, Wang Su and the others approached from the distance.
Compared to their first visit, they now had no imposing presence whatsoever.
Cao Mao searched among them, but found no sign of Sima Yan.
When Wang Su stepped down from his carriage once more, carrying the Son of Heaven's Processional Standard, everyone hurried to offer a formal bow.
Before the Son of Heaven's Processional Standard, even Sima Shi had to perform the full obeisance.
Hua Biao once again read out the Empress Dowager's decree.
It was the same old procedure.
This time, Wang Su changed his argument.
"In his day, Emperor Wen declined three times and yielded three times, demonstrating his noble virtue to all under Heaven. Today, we have come for the third time to ask Your Majesty to ascend the throne. Clearly, Your Majesty truly possesses Emperor Wen's bearing and is worthy of tending the ancestral temples!"
"This is a blessing for all under Heaven!"
"Please return to Luoyang with your subject, Your Majesty!"
Wang Su's words sounded pleasing, but a careful examination revealed the coercion within them.
Even the noble Emperor Wen only declined three times. Do you intend to surpass him? Do you think your virtue is greater than your grandfather's?
Once again, he raised the great banner of filial piety to deliver a righteous barrage at Cao Mao.
"I am young and lack the talent to govern a country. How could I tend the ancestral temples and rule all under Heaven?"
Cao Mao asked.
Wang Su replied, "There are many worthy talents in the Imperial Court. They are all important ministers left to us by the Emperor of the Filial and Enlightened Ancestor. Your Majesty is young, but the lords at court can serve as your arms and legs, while the commanders guarding the four quarters can give you powerful support."
"With these virtuous ministers of your forefathers to rely upon, you will surely bring prosperity to the nation and peace to all under Heaven."
Everyone held their breath, waiting for Cao Mao to say yes.
Yet as everyone stared at him, Cao Mao let out a long sigh.
"Did the country not have these worthy ministers when the King of Qi was still on the throne?"
Wang Su was aghast.
An uproar broke out among the crowd.
Even Guo Jian was stunned, at a complete loss.
Cao Mao continued, "According to past precedent, when the emperor made a mistake, his ministers had to bear the blame. How absurd is that?"
"I heard that Li Feng, Xiahou Xuan, and the others who assisted the King of Qi only plotted rebellion because they had received instructions from Zhang Ji!"
"Zhang Ji was the King of Qi's father-in-law. When he approached these worthy ministers to plot in secret, they mistakenly believed they were carrying out the King of Qi's wishes. They died believing they were serving their sovereign. Is that not worthy of sympathy?"
"Xiahou Xuan, Li Feng, and the others were worthy men and gentlemen renowned throughout the realm!"
"Scholars throughout the realm knew their virtue. Would they have rebelled without cause?"
"Because of Zhang Ji, even the Empress Dowager was burdened with the guilt of failing to discipline the emperor properly. Can this be right?"
"Every fault, every wrong, lay in Zhang Ji's ambition and the King of Qi's lack of virtue!"
"Whenever I think of this matter, my heart cannot find peace. I tremble with fear, as though standing at the edge of an abyss!"
"I am still young, and my abilities may not equal those of the King of Qi. If I fail to judge people clearly and cause worthy men of our country to die because of me, how could I atone before all under Heaven?"
"I earnestly ask the Imperial Court to restore the good names of Xiahou Xuan and Li Feng, release their clansmen who were seized as slaves, grant them posthumous honors, and give them proper burials!"
"Great Wei honors worthy talents and cherishes its scholars. Unlike what came before, it must never allow ministers who were deceived to bear such infamy!"
"If innocent, worthy ministers are punished because a sovereign failed to perceive the truth and imperial in-laws ran rampant, and the wise Empress Dowager is burdened with infamy, how could I go to Luoyang with an easy heart to inherit this great undertaking?"
"Please send someone at once to inform the Three Excellencies at court!"
"Unless the good names of the Empress Dowager, Xiahou Xuan, Li Feng, and the others are restored, I cannot bear to become emperor!"
When Cao Mao finished speaking, silence enveloped the space outside the residence.
Wang Su felt his whole body begin to shake. Even his teeth were chattering.
That year, Li Feng, the Secretary of the Central Secretariat, and Zhang Ji, the Empress's father and Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, had plotted to kill Sima Shi, the Grand General's Secretary, and replace him with Xiahou Xuan. Sima Shi had learned of the plot beforehand and swiftly arrested all three, executing them and exterminating their clans.
It was because of this affair that the emperor had been deposed, for Sima Shi believed the emperor had instructed Zhang Ji to carry out the plot.
Everyone at court understood the stakes involved.
The affair had become an extremely sensitive subject. Even the Three Excellencies at court deliberately avoided it.
Whoever touched it died.
Sima Shi never left threats behind. Everyone involved in this affair had to die.
When Cao Mao asked the Imperial Court to restore Li Feng's and Xiahou Xuan's good names, Wang Su felt as though something had struck him beside the ear, leaving it ringing.
At that moment, the looks everyone directed at Cao Mao turned to horror.
Even Guo Jian was no exception.
He was so frightened that he nearly collapsed to the ground.
Without the slightest fear, Cao Mao bowed to Wang Su again.
"That is all I have to say!"
"Please return!"
Wang Su said nothing more. He did not even look at Cao Mao again, simply turning and leaving. At last, Hua Biao understood what Zheng Mao had meant. Head lowered and face pale, he left the place almost at a run.
Guo Jian trembled all over. Looking at Cao Mao beside him, he wanted to question him, but dared not say a word.
"Uncle!"
"This will surely clear the Empress Dowager's name! Please do not worry!"
Cao Mao smiled and gave him an approving look.
But Guo Jian offered no reply. He no longer dared have anything to do with the man before him.
He was so terrified that he wished he could flee back to Luoyang that very instant and pretend he had never come.
Guo Ze happily held Cao Mao's hand. Clearly delighted with what Cao Mao had done, he kept praising his lord's wisdom.
Yet Guo Jian's eyes were filled with despair.
It's over. These two bastards are going to get me killed!
If we're dragged into this affair, our entire clan will be exterminated!
Before you continue