Let him die of illness!

Inside the General's Residence.

Sima Zhao sat in the seat of honor, his face stern.

His many trusted aides sat to his left and right.

The atmosphere was solemn, and no one spoke.

News of what had happened in Yuan City had already reached Luoyang. Sima Zhao had received it at dawn that day, and, shocked and furious, he had hastily summoned everyone again.

When they arrived at the General's Residence, their expressions were complicated.

Sima Zhao immediately understood that the news had already spread.

His expression was grim. Naturally, Sima Zhao knew exactly what repercussions this news would bring.

Even what these trusted aides before him were thinking at this moment was difficult to say.

"Gentlemen... you have probably all heard what the Noble Rural Duke said."

"Lord Xiahou, Lord Li, and the others ruined their reputations through rebellion. They deserved their punishment. The Noble Rural Duke is still young, has never come to Luoyang, and knows nothing of affairs of state. Others provoked him into saying such things."

"What are your thoughts?"

As Sima Zhao spoke, he looked first at his chief adviser, Du Yu.

Du Yu was frowning as well.

"General... Lord Xiahou and Lord Li were renowned throughout the realm, and people everywhere sympathize with their plight. When the Grand General first intended to punish them, even you submitted a petition pleading for mercy."

"Now that the Noble Rural Duke has spoken, I fear even more people will submit petitions asking that their names be cleared."

"Since their clans were executed, there can be no going back."

"If we yield now, all the Grand General's previous efforts will have been wasted."

"What we must do now is find a way to suppress this matter. Furthermore, I consider the Noble Rural Duke young and frivolous, easily led astray by others, and no fit choice for a wise ruler. Wang Su and the others can be recalled."

Du Yu gave his opinion.

Xiahou Xuan and Li Feng had both enjoyed enormous prestige, greater even than that of Wang Su, Wang Xiang, and the others today. Xiahou Xuan was learned and knowledgeable, well versed in Xuanxue. Together with He Yan, he had pioneered the Xuanxue of Wei and Jin, making him its rightful leader and a leading figure among scholars.

Li Feng, meanwhile, had made his name appraising the notable figures of the realm, helping powerful aristocratic houses establish their reputations.

Although Li Feng's prestige fell short of Xiahou Xuan's, he belonged to a neutral great clan, much like many of the aristocratic houses of the day. His fate had likewise stirred apprehension and sympathy among those houses.

Sima Zhao listened to Du Yu and was about to question him further.

But another man spoke up. "I believe that would be inappropriate."

Sima Zhao looked at him. The man possessed an aristocratic bearing that put Du Yu utterly in the shade. He wore a smile, and his every movement was graceful.

His name was Xun Xu.

He was Xun Shuang's great-grandson and had once served as an Administrative Clerk to Cao Shuang. After Cao Shuang was killed, he was the only man who dared to offer condolences, and the Sima Family had let it pass.

Afterward, his official career had soared as though he had been granted some miraculous advantage. He rose steadily through the ranks and now held the distinguished position of military adviser to Sima Zhao.

Sima Zhao trusted him deeply and was very willing to heed his counsel.

Xun Xu said, "General, Lord Xiahou and Lord Li are already dead, and their clans have also been executed. Restoring their reputations now would cost you nothing. On the contrary, it would win you the hearts of the ministers of the Imperial Court. Everyone would admire you all the more for it."

"The traitors within the Imperial Court have already been removed. Why not follow the wishes of these worthy men and restore their reputations? Pardon their distant relatives and demonstrate your generosity and benevolence."

"As for the Noble Rural Duke, he is indeed unfit to preside over the Imperial Court. There is no need to concern yourself with him."

Sima Zhao's eyes lit up. He was sorely tempted.

That was right. Xiahou Xuan and Li Feng were dead, after all, and the dead could not return to life. Their clans had also been slaughtered; those who remained were all insignificant figures.

If he cleared their names and steered the boat with the current, he could earn an excellent reputation and gain even more support from the great aristocratic clans.

Naturally, Du Yu saw that Sima Zhao was tempted. He hurriedly said, "General!"

"This is not so simple a matter."

"Clearing their names would bring endless disaster!"

Xun Xu looked at Du Yu in surprise. "Oh? Endless disaster? Why not tell us plainly, Master Du?"

Du Yu's face reddened, but he could not explain more clearly. He merely said, "General, think carefully!"

Sima Zhao immediately began to hesitate.

Sima Zhao turned to the other officials, who naturally offered their own opinions. The vast majority of his trusted aides sided with Xun Xu.

They all felt that he might as well steer with the current and use this matter to gain prestige.

As for Cao Mao, they had naturally all abandoned him.

Cao Mao certainly could no longer be used. He would have to disappear. But clearing those men's names was still perfectly feasible.

Yet as most of them began siding with Xun Xu, Sima Zhao grew wary.

Sima Zhao fell far short of his elder brother.

But Sima Zhao was by no means incompetent.

Sima Yi's two sons each had their strengths.

Sima Shi excelled at decisions and action, while Sima Zhao was better at dealing and communicating with people. He had promoted many key figures and maintained good relations with people from different factions.

The ministers all feared Sima Shi, but they were willing to draw close to Sima Zhao.

Sima Zhao was a cut below his elder brother, but he still had his own areas of expertise.

For instance, now, he saw his trusted aides-men who ordinarily argued endlessly over conflicting interests-suddenly standing together.

Sima Zhao immediately sensed something was wrong.

But he did not show it. Smiling, he nodded. "You have all considered this very carefully. I shall inform my elder brother about clearing their names!"

"You came in such haste that you probably have not eaten. Have some food first, and then we can discuss this matter with the Grand General."

Everyone was delighted. Only Du Yu looked worried.

Sima Zhao ordered Du Yu to carve meat for him. Amid the hubbub, he asked quietly, "What are you worried about?"

"General, if you open this door, those who oppose you in the future will be beyond counting. Furthermore, the Grand General's prestige will be swept into the dust, and the great undertaking he has painstakingly planned will fail..."

"Clearing their names benefits everyone except you. You must consider this thoroughly."

Du Yu spoke without betraying anything, then returned to his seat.

Sima Zhao narrowed his eyes. He already understood.

But he did not rush to rebuke or expose the men before him. Instead, he began to worry about the senior ministers in the Imperial Court.

Gao Rou, Zheng Chong, Lu Yu, Wang Xiang, Wang Guan, Zhong Yu...

If even his own trusted aides behaved like this, what stance would those ministers occupying the key positions throughout the Imperial Court take?

They ordinarily maintained friendly relations with the Sima Family and remained neutral. Now, however, they might not let this opportunity slip by.

Sima Zhao felt a pounding headache.

Sure enough, an armored soldier soon hurried in and whispered a few words in Sima Zhao's ear.

The soldier brought news that the ministers apparently wanted to convene a court session to discuss clearing the names of Xiahou Xuan and the others.

Sima Zhao forcibly restrained his anger, his face still smiling.

"Very well. I understand."

He looked at his trusted aides before him and said loudly, "I shall inform the Grand General of this matter and ask him to handle it."

"If you have all eaten and drunk your fill, please return home!"

He smilingly bid them farewell and returned to his study.

The moment he entered, Sima Zhao furiously kicked over the table before him.

"Dogs! Not one of them can be made loyal, no matter how well I feed them!"

"Greedy, shameless scoundrels!"

Even if the Sima Family could be ruthless and utterly shameless, they could not ignore a request from the alliance of aristocratic houses. Furious though Sima Zhao was, he knew very well that he absolutely could not fall out with them.

The consequences of a rupture would be even worse for the Sima Family.

He looked at Du Yu beside him.

"This matter is already beyond my ability to resolve. My elder brother's illness... ah, it could not have come at a worse time. He still has not summoned me or sent a letter."

"I do not even know whether he has heard about this."

"Now we can only rely on ourselves to resolve it."

"Hateful as these scoundrels are, we cannot break with them now."

"But I will not spare the scourge who caused all of this!"

Sima Zhao's eyes blazed with towering fury.

"Send men to Yuan City!"

"The Noble Rural Duke was frail and sickly, and died young of illness!"

Du Yu's face drained of color. He hastily said, "General! You must not do this!"

"Yuan Kai! My mind is made up. Do not try to dissuade me!"

"No one can make me change my mind!"

"This wretch is only thirteen or fourteen, yet he has already caused such harm. If we let him live any longer, Great Wei will be in danger!"

"He must be eliminated at once!"

"See to it immediately!"