Certain death!

"Alas, my elder brother left with many of the Palace Guards. I tried several times to dissuade him, but he wouldn't listen."

"Yang Zong has disappeared too, after you always treated him with such courtesy, my lord!"

"Even those retainers have abandoned you..."

"How could they do this? Without you, would they even have lived to this day?"

"They always shouted about serving you, but when trouble truly came, they all abandoned you and left."

"My lord... only the two of us remain."

Guo Ze's face was desolate, his eyes filled with an indescribable sorrow.

He did not understand what had happened to this world.

Why were loyal and righteous men growing ever fewer? What he had read in books was utterly at odds with what he saw now.

He could accept his elder brother's departure. He knew his brother had never been a particularly loyal or virtuous man.

When Yang Zong left, he cursed him a few times and let it go.

But even the Wanderers had left, and that was something Guo Ze could not accept.

Once again, he sank into bewilderment, standing beside Cao Mao with his hand on his sword hilt.

Cao Mao sat smiling beneath the shade of a tree. This had been the spot where Yang Zong spent his days, but Cao Mao had now claimed it.

The residence was very quiet.

Ever since Cao Mao had refused Wang Su for the third time that day, things had changed.

Without another word, Guo Jian had fled the Cao Residence with many of the Palace Guards.

He no longer dared live here, or even speak to Cao Mao.

He might not have been clever, but he knew whom he could provoke and whom he could not.

Sima Shi had personally orchestrated the matter of Xiahou Xuan and the others' rebellion.

Sima Shi had always governed through intimidation. The outcome of this case was also his way of displaying his power to the entire Imperial Court and establishing his authority.

He had deposed and enthroned emperors, purged the supporters of Cao Wei, and laid the groundwork for his greater plans.

There was absolutely no turning back on this. Exonerating Xiahou Xuan and the others would be a slap in Sima Shi's face. Given his temperament and methods, once someone dared drag this matter into the open, he would not care who they were.

The Guo Family, the Wang Clan, the Imperial Clan, his allies-Sima Shi would kill them all without hesitation.

No connection or status meant anything before him.

He was a cold political machine, a merciless killing machine!

There was no need to describe the terror in Guo Jian's heart. He fled the residence as though about to soil himself, not even daring to look back.

Even Sima Shi's staunch allies, such as Wang Su, were probably too frightened to leave their homes now.

Hua Biao had been so frightened that he had fallen ill outright and was still receiving treatment.

None of them dared concern themselves with the Cao Residence anymore.

Yang Zong had also vanished, which Cao Mao had not anticipated. He had thought the man did not care about such things.

As for the Wanderers, they had actually left under orders.

There was no longer any use in keeping them at the residence.

If Sima Shi wanted to kill him, a dozen or so Wanderers could do nothing. One command from Sima Shi, and the people from the County Office could wipe out Cao Mao and everyone with him.

Cao Mao did not want them to die alongside him. He also wanted them to do something more useful.

The residence fell utterly silent.

"Lord Guo, this is a perilous move... I have already prepared myself for death."

"There is really no need for you to die with me. When Sima Shi kills, he always leaves no loose ends. Don't let your clan become implicated because of me."

Guo Ze shook his head, his expression utterly solemn.

"My lord, I am incapable."

"At such a critical moment, I cannot devise strategies for you or serve as your right arm."

"There is truly nothing worth clinging to in a world so faithless and treacherous."

"If Your Majesty does not disdain me, this incapable servant is willing to die alongside you, my lord."

Cao Mao raised his head and looked at the tall figure standing before him.

Cao Mao laughed. "Who says you're incapable? Ten Marquises of Liu couldn't compare to my Guo Ze!"

"Come, Lord Guo, let's get some meat from the storeroom and have something to eat first!"

"My uncle ran off in such a hurry that he didn't even take the meat he'd just bought. We can't let it go to waste... if we're to die tonight, we must at least eat and drink our fill!"

An autumn breeze drifted gently through the empty residence. Beneath the great tree, sovereign and subject bustled clumsily about, chatting and laughing without the slightest trace of fear.

Yuan City, however, had none of the harmony found within the Cao Residence.

Mounted couriers kept galloping out through the city gates, all carrying letters. Every so often, another departed. This had continued from yesterday until now.

With Yuan City at its center, a tremendous upheaval was spreading outward.

The city's Wanderers and merchants had suddenly begun discussing the matter. Even in several neighboring county towns, the news had stirred a boiling uproar.

The officials realized what was happening and hurriedly sent men to intercept it.

But before they could even begin, the news had already started spreading throughout Hebei, causing an enormous sensation.

Inside Wang Su's residence.

"It was Cao Mao! It was definitely Cao Mao!"

"He arranged this long ago! This was absolutely no spur-of-the-moment decision!"

Shu Wan's eyes were bloodshot, with dark circles beneath them and red blisters covering the corners of his mouth. He looked utterly exhausted.

He knelt before Wang Su in great agitation, terrified beyond measure.

"Lord Wang! You must save me!"

"The Governor says my inept administration allowed rumors to spread and unsettled the people. He says he'll submit a memorial demanding that I be punished!"

"This wasn't my fault! For news like this to spread throughout Hebei in a single day, it must have been planned beforehand. Otherwise, there wouldn't even have been enough time to travel!"

"Cao Mao has been colluding with those merchants! Those Wanderers!"

"The Wanderers and merchants of Hebei all follow his lead. They're wolves and jackals conspiring together! They laid out this scheme seven or eight days ago!"

"He sent men to lie low in different places long ago and release the news on the same day. That's how he managed to stir up all of Hebei!"

At this point, Shu Wan was calling Cao Mao directly by name.

He could no longer think about the distant future. His life was in danger now.

Everyone knew this sort of matter could not be allowed to spread. Now that the authorities had failed to stop the news, it had somehow all become his fault.

Shu Wan felt utterly wronged. This was plainly Cao Mao's scheme. How could they blame him?

Terrified, he had hurried to Wang Su's residence, hoping to obtain his protection.

But Wang Su did not even feel like looking at him.

He knew that Shu Wan, sitting before him, was certain to die.

The news had leaked. Someone had to die for neglecting his duties, didn't he?

Was I to die, or the Governor?

Of course, you should go on ahead in place of virtuous men like us. We must remain to govern the country and continue bringing blessings to the realm.

The only reason he had admitted Shu Wan was to learn how serious the situation had become.

"It has spread throughout Hebei?"

"Yes. Overnight, rumors appeared in many of the surrounding county towns. Everyone is discussing it..."

"Yuan City has the most. I sent men to stop it. The commoners and merchants were easy enough to deal with, but the scholars have learned of it too, and I can't force them to keep quiet."

"By today, who knows how far the news has spread? Many people have been arrested in various places, but it has done no good."

"But quite a few of those arrested are willing to testify that Cao Mao instructed them!"

At those words, Wang Su flew into a rage. "Utter nonsense! How could His Majesty do such a thing?"

"Guards! Throw this insolent wretch out!"

Shu Wan was terrified and hurriedly begged for mercy at the top of his voice.

"Lord Wang! Please save me! I'm willing to help you! I'm willing to help the Grand General kill Cao Mao!"

"Lord Wang!"

"Get out!"

Wang Su angrily hurled the books from his desk, and the Armored Guards hurriedly dragged Shu Wan away.

Shu Wan continued begging loudly for mercy.

The scene was exactly like the one when Shu Qu had been dragged away.

Only once Shu Wan's irritating cries could no longer be heard did Wang Su exhale and turn to Zheng Mao beside him.

"Lord Zheng, I fear the good name I've built over a lifetime is about to be ruined in a single stroke."

Wang Su's eyes were filled with bitterness.

He knew all too well what sort of man Sima Shi was.

He had already dispatched mounted couriers, urging their horses onward with whip and spur. Within four days, the Grand General would learn the news. Another four days after that, mounted men would probably arrive here, and Cao Mao would vanish without a trace.

A man who dared depose and enthrone even emperors would hardly care about a minor member of the Imperial Clan.

Cao Mao was going to die. Let him die, then-but Wang Su's reputation would rot along with him.

How would the histories record this? That Wang Su, serving as Grand Minister of Ceremonies, had driven a virtuous heir to the Son of Heaven to his death?

At that thought, Wang Su, who had spent his entire life seeking renown, felt his head spin and his vision blur.

Just then, Zheng Mao narrowed his eyes.

"Not necessarily."