I heard you have a daughter

Every day, Jia Chong reported Cao Mao's words and actions to Sima Shi truthfully, down to the smallest detail.

Even the flattery Cao Mao directed at him was faithfully recorded, without the slightest concealment.

He knew his Grand General very well. The man would never suspect him over such things.

Just as he had expected, the Grand General soon sent a letter by mounted courier.

It told him to assist the emperor with peace of mind and harbor no misgivings.

As the carriage drew closer to Luoyang, the emperor's attitude toward Jia Chong grew increasingly warm.

That day, the two shared another meal.

Cao Mao had even begun chatting with Jia Chong about family matters, as though he had come to regard him entirely as one of his own.

"Lord Jia, because of me, something like this happened to Eldest Maternal Uncle. When I return to Luoyang and see the Empress Dowager, what should I do? Will she loathe me?"

"What are you saying, Your Majesty...? The Empress Dowager will surely regard you as her own son..."

"Lord Jia, I have always regarded you as my trusted aide. Please speak frankly and hold nothing back."

Jia Chong looked somewhat hesitant. He glanced around and lowered his voice. "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is extremely angry over this matter. Once you reach Luoyang, you must not provoke her again."

"But you are, after all, the supreme ruler of the realm. If she insults you, there is no need to be afraid. Simply pay her little heed."

"Then what should I do when I first pay my respects? Should I explain what happened to Eldest Maternal Uncle?"

"There is no need to explain! The more you say about this matter, the more likely you are to inflame the Empress Dowager's anger. Simply pay your respects with the utmost reverence, tell her of your great ambitions, and swear to carry on the grand achievements of the Emperor of the Filial and Enlightened Ancestor... The Empress Dowager cares little for petty family matters; she is more concerned with the great affairs of the realm. Once she hears this, she certainly will not make things difficult for you!"

"Then I know what to do!"

Cao Mao saw the light. When he met the Empress Dowager, he would thoroughly explain what had happened to Eldest Maternal Uncle and never breathe a word about grand achievements. Everything would revolve around the Guo Family: plenty of talk about the family's great affairs, none about the realm's petty ones.

From now on, Jia Chong would be his foremost adviser. As long as he did the opposite of everything the man suggested, success was assured!

Cao Mao resumed eating.

He remarked casually, "I heard you have a daughter who is virtuous and beautiful. Is that true?"

Jia Chong's expression changed in alarm.

You little brat, surely these past few days of currying favor with me haven't all been for my daughter??

No wonder people say you inherited your ancestor's ways!

"How does Your Majesty know about my family affairs? Who told you??"

Cao Mao laughed. "Do not be alarmed, Lord Jia. I heard it from Anshi. Lord Jia, I find Anshi an extraordinary man with an exceptional bearing, and he is also the eldest legitimate son of the General Who Conquers the West. Why not marry your daughter to him?"

Jia Chong asked suspiciously, "Did Anshi say that too?"

"No, no. That was merely my own idea."

"Do not worry over it. If you have other plans, just pretend I never mentioned it."

"Your Majesty, how could I be blessed with such good fortune? Please do not bring this up again."

"Then how about marrying her to me?"

"What??"

So you really are after my daughter!!!

Jia Chong's eyes widened, his expression growing still more alarmed. "No, no! My daughter is lowly and unworthy. How could she dare serve Your Majesty...?"

"What kind of talk is that? Lord Jia, if even your daughter is unworthy, whose daughter would be worthy?"

"I... would not dare! Your Majesty will shame me to death! Please do not speak this way!!"

Jia Chong was genuinely frightened.

He was an exceedingly selfish man who always placed personal interests first and the nation's interests last.

Many suspected that he had ordered the emperor's murder to force Sima Zhao to take another step forward, allowing himself to rise alongside him.

Having a daughter become Cao Mao's empress would benefit some people and harm others.

As for Jia Chong, after seeing Sima Yi, Sima Shi, and Sima Zhao, he had become firmly convinced that wholehearted allegiance to the Sima Family would bring him success. He wished he could chain himself permanently to the Sima Family's ship. How could he dare become entangled with Cao Mao?

This wreck of a ship was nearly sinking. He could approach Cao Mao under orders, but it was best not to become his relative.

Watching Jia Chong's reaction, Cao Mao looked somewhat regretful. "Very well. Please rise, Lord Jia."

Cao Mao did not want to become Jia Chong's son-in-law. He wanted to eliminate him.

Although Jia Chong behaved like a petty villain, he enjoyed the Sima Family's deep trust. He counted among Sima Shi's important advisers and would later become one of Sima Zhao's closest confidants.

But how could he get rid of this man?

He would have to find Jia Chong's weakness. What was that weakness?

He valued his own interests more than the Sima Family's.

He would not sacrifice his own interests for theirs. At present, his interests aligned with the Sima Family's, with no conflict between them.

But what if their interests came into conflict?

Which side would Jia Chong stand on?

Today's affair had merely been a test by Cao Mao. If Jia Chong's daughter married him, would that harm the Sima Family?

Probably not. They trusted Jia Chong deeply. Having him become an imperial relative would allow them to control Cao Mao even better.

But what about Jia Chong?

It would absolutely be a bad thing. He could already board a new ship and sail toward a New World, yet he would instead be forced aboard a wreck. Even if the Sima Family offered some compensation, could that possibly compare?

He wanted his daughter to become an empress, but not an empress of the Cao house!

Would Jia Chong report this matter truthfully to Sima Shi?

Cao Mao was very curious.

That evening, when Jia Chong wrote his customary letter to the Grand General, he too fell into hesitation.

Surely the Grand General won't ride the current and order me to marry my daughter to Cao Mao?

By the time Cao Mao becomes the late emperor, the Grand General will probably be gone too. As a relative of the late emperor, will I still be able to claim a greater share of the benefits in the new dynasty?

Jia Chong hesitated for a moment, then looked at the candle flame before him and suddenly came to his senses.

"Jia Chong, Jia Chong, how can a few words from a little brat leave you so unsettled?"

"Could the Grand General possibly fail to see the advantages and dangers involved?"

His expression immediately hardened with resolve. He lowered his head and wrote down everything truthfully.

Finally, he also wrote that he truly did not wish to do this.

He believed his own value and potential outweighed the value of marrying his daughter to Cao Mao. The Grand General would never do such a thing!

Only after finishing the letter did Jia Chong raise his head. His eyes narrowed, and his expression shifted between light and shadow.

"If this brat is not eliminated, he will bring endless trouble. Once Guanqiu Jian has been subdued, we must kill him swiftly and leave no seed of disaster."

In the days that followed, Jia Chong continued to accompany Cao Mao, his face wreathed in smiles as always, without the slightest change in attitude.

Seeing his manner, Cao Mao knew that the fellow had reported everything truthfully to Sima Shi.

Otherwise, he certainly would not have dared keep approaching him so eagerly.

The closer they drew to Luoyang, the more excited Cao Mao became.

Once he reached Luoyang, there would be so much he could do.

The children of Guanqiu Jian, Zhuge Dan, and others were in the city, the Empress Dowager was in the imperial palace, and numerous ministers remained at court.

He was confident he could bring this lifeless Luoyang to life and fill it with a little more clamor.

The person he valued most was Mouqiu Dian, who currently served as Attendant Censor.

For now, however, he could not rashly make contact with him.

Once he reached Luoyang, he would undoubtedly be surrounded by secret agents arranged by Jia Chong. He would be watched inside and out, and his movements would be strictly controlled.

Still, this situation was far better than it had been in Yuan City.

Although there would be many restrictions, there would also be quite a few people he could make use of.

The carriage and books continued onward, bearing the spirited young emperor. At last, they crossed the river and reached the Black Tortoise Lodge on Mount Mang in Luoyang's northern outskirts.

This had once been a temporary residence of the Emperor of the Filial and Enlightened Ancestor, furnished with Two Halls and Four Chambers.

Led by the Three Excellencies, the assembled ministers had already arrived.

This New Son of Heaven had yet to ascend the throne, but he had already given these ministers quite a shock.

And now, he had finally arrived.

None of the ministers had expected that the man ultimately ascending the throne would still be Cao Mao, the Noble Rural Duke. When Cao Mao proposed overturning the unjust verdict, many had already thought he would never be able to take the throne.

What had happened with Guanqiu Jian could not, in the end, be concealed from these men.

They all wanted to know just what sort of man this New Son of Heaven was, to have won Guanqiu Jian's personal support.

Jia Chong did not come. Citing a flare-up of the Grand General's eye ailment, he had entered Luoyang ahead of time.

Wang Su and his two companions would have to undertake all the arrangements for leading Cao Mao to meet the assembled ministers.

When Cao Mao stepped out of the carriage with Hua Biao's support, the ministers in the distance had already formed their ranks according to ritual. Led by the Three Excellencies, they bowed deeply to Cao Mao.

"We pay our respects to Your Majesty!!!"