The Three Excellencies

"Greetings, my lords!"

Cao Mao returned the assembled ministers' salutes with the utmost respect.

This was Cao Mao's first meeting with the ministers.

Cao Mao was handsome, imposing, and strikingly martial. In an age when everyone judged by appearances, his looks gave him a considerable advantage.

Facing the ministers now, there was no trace of panic in his eyes. He was perfectly composed.

He fit quite well with the image of a wise young Son of Heaven that everyone had imagined.

Wang Su, standing beside him, reminded him, "Your Majesty, you are the Son of Heaven. You need not return your ministers' bows."

Cao Mao said earnestly, "How could I neglect courtesy toward so many worthy ministers who have rendered great service to the court?"

Most of the ministers nodded in approval. Only the powerful men standing at the very front wore differing expressions.

Wang Su pressed his lips together and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty has traveled far. You may rest in the front hall for now and enter Luoyang tomorrow."

Wang Su was genuinely afraid. This brat had the gall of a dog bold enough to swallow the heavens. It was best not to let him have too much contact with the ministers. Who knew whether he might suddenly lose his mind and start spouting nonsense?

Jia Chong was absent now, presumably having gone into Luoyang to meet Sima Zhao. If anything happened here, Wang Su would have to answer for it himself.

Cao Mao paused and looked at him in surprise. "The lords of the court have gathered here to welcome me. They are all wise and worthy men of great virtue and prestige. How could we slight them like this?"

"I did not mean to slight them..."

"Then how could I leave them behind and go off to rest in the front hall?"

Without giving Wang Su another chance to speak, Cao Mao walked up to the ministers in a few strides and looked at them.

"Your servant Gao Rou pays his respects to Your Majesty."

At the head of the ministers stood Gao Rou, the Minister over the Masses.

Gao Rou was tall, with a stern, resolute face. He had a reputation at court for uprightness and strict impartiality.

A veteran minister who had witnessed five generations of Cao rulers, he had countless former students and subordinates. His influence was formidable, and even Sima Shi dared not move against him lightly.

He was one of the Sima Family's most powerful allies at court. At the same time, he was on excellent terms with the Empress Dowager and was also a close ally of the Guo Family.

For some reason, the Minister over the Masses looked at Cao Mao with rather cold eyes.

Was it because of the Guo Family? Or because of the Sima Clan?

This was a man Cao Mao had to win over. In the Imperial Court, he was the only minister who dared openly challenge Sima Shi.

"Minister Gao!"

Cao Mao appeared quite excited and hastily bowed to Gao Rou again.

"I have long heard of your reputation and have always wished to meet you. Today, that wish has finally come true!"

"You flatter me."

Gao Rou took a step back, his gaze toward Cao Mao still distant.

Gao Rou had the standing to challenge Sima Shi, but that did not mean he wished to make enemies of the Sima Family. On the contrary, he had been on excellent terms with Sima Yi and had worked very happily with the Sima Family.

The Sima Clan had never mistreated this ally. When Cao Shuang died, Gao Rou was enfeoffed as Marquis of Wansui Township. When Cao Fang was demoted, he was promoted to Marquis of Anguo and appointed Grand Commandant. When Cao Mao died, his fief was enlarged, and both his sons were made pavilion marquises.

He had no intention of changing allies, nor did he wish to grow close to this young emperor.

But whether he wished to or not was outside Cao Mao's considerations.

They had gathered together for shared interests, and shared interests could also drive them apart.

He could offer them no benefits at present, but there would always be opportunities to create some for them.

"Minister over the Masses, I am still young and know nothing of governing a country. I must trouble you with affairs of state. That you must still worry over national affairs at your age is my failing. How many subordinate officials do you have now? When do you eat each day? How late do you work?"

Faced with Cao Mao's string of questions, Minister Gao answered hesitantly, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I have enough subordinate officials, eat at regular hours every day, and do not work too late."

"That is good. Your responsibilities are heavy, Minister over the Masses. Please take good care of your health!"

Gao Rou assented. A man beside him hurried forward and bowed in greeting.

Unlike Gao Rou, this man's face was full of excitement, and his gaze toward Cao Mao was warm.

"Your old servant Sima Fu pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Realization dawned on Cao Mao. No wonder.

Sima Fu was Sima Yi's younger brother, a man of noble character and a famously loyal minister of Cao Wei in the history books.

This great loyal minister firmly opposed overmighty ministers, so during the Gaoping Mausoleum Incident, he stationed troops at Sima Gate alongside Sima Shi and took control of the capital.

This great loyal minister firmly opposed deposing and enthroning emperors, so his own name stood boldly on the memorial demoting Cao Fang to King of Qi.

This great loyal minister firmly opposed regicide, so when Cao Mao grew too close to his son Sima Wang, he had his son hastily resign and leave to serve as a general in the provinces.

This great loyal minister remained a minister of Wei all his life. Though he held the exalted title of Prince of Anping, though several of his sons were made princes, though he wielded great power, though he knelt and bowed before Sima Yan, he was a loyal minister of Great Wei.

Perhaps Sima Fu was the escape route Sima Yi had left behind. If the plot to seize the state failed, at least one branch of the family could carry on. Yet this "escape route" had a truly ambiguous position.

His loyalty seemed to exist only on his lips. Judging by his actions, he and Sima Shi were merely raccoon dogs from the same hill.

"Grand Commandant!"

"I dare not accept Your Majesty's bow! I dare not!"

Sima Fu hastily stopped Cao Mao. So overcome was he that tears even fell from his eyes.

"Seeing Your Majesty reminds me of the Emperor of the Filial and Enlightened Ancestor. What an extraordinary resemblance!"

"Is welcoming Your Majesty today not a blessing for Great Wei?"

"Grand Commandant, though I lack talent and virtue, I am willing to govern the house of Wei well alongside you all and fulfill my ancestors' cherished wishes."

The two exchanged a few words. Tears streamed down Sima Fu's aged face, and he seemed delighted by Cao Mao's arrival.

Before the last of the three, Cao Mao bowed first. "Greetings, Minister of Works!"

This was Zheng Chong.

Zheng Chong was exceedingly refined, with the air of a sage removed from worldly affairs. He bowed to Cao Mao with the utmost respect.

He had always attended only to his own work, never interfering in government affairs or expressing his own views. He lived like a hermit within the Imperial Court.

Naturally, Cao Mao also expressed his admiration for him and his thirst for knowledge.

Afterward, Cao Mao greeted the remaining ministers.

Not all the ministers had come. Apart from the Three Excellencies, only a few officials of lesser standing had accompanied them. Yet Cao Mao showed these men no disdain either, meeting and speaking with each in turn.

Wang Su stood a short distance away, listening to their conversation, his expression cold and unmoved.

No amount of talk would make any difference.

The Imperial Court of today had long since ceased to be the Imperial Court of the past.

Just then, Cao Mao suddenly asked, "I wonder, is this place safe? Could more soldiers be sent here?"

Sima Fu asked in surprise, "Why would Your Majesty say such a thing?"

"You may not know, Grand Commandant, but while I was in Yuan City, several villains entered my residence and tried to assassinate me. Had it not been for the Privy Treasurer, Lord Zheng, and the others, I would surely have died on the spot... Later, the Grand General personally went to Yuan City not only to welcome me, but also to investigate this matter."

"Ever since then, I have been afraid. I cannot sleep at night and always feel that villains are lurking nearby."

Cao Mao recounted the matter with a somewhat helpless air.

"What?!"

The ministers were aghast. Shortly after the incident, Sima Shi had arrived in Yuan City and sealed off all news from the city. Few people at court knew of it.

Sima Fu said angrily, "Please do not worry, Your Majesty. The Grand General will certainly uncover the true culprit! As for Luoyang, you need not worry at all. This is the safest place under heaven. With your old servant here, no one will dare run wild!"

Gao Rou exchanged several glances with the ministers beside him.

An attempt on His Majesty's life? Could it be connected to the matter of Xiahou Xuan?

Was this why Sima Shi had personally gone to Yuan City?

Why did this matter deserve so much of his attention?

At that moment, Wang Su's face remained calm, but inwardly he could not help cursing.

I knew you, you dog of a villain, would never submit so easily! Sure enough, you had to stir up trouble!

Once the enthronement ceremony is over, I will never come within a single step of you again for the rest of my life!

He hastily said, "Your Majesty, at such an auspicious moment, it is truly inappropriate to discuss these matters. You are already very tired. Please return to the front hall to rest."

Cao Mao glanced at Wang Su, then leaned close to Gao Rou's ear and whispered a sentence. Afterward, he bowed to everyone and departed.

Gao Rou stared blankly as Cao Mao's retreating figure gradually vanished, his eyes full of astonishment.

Sima Fu asked curiously, "Minister over the Masses? What did His Majesty say to you?"

"Nothing important."

"Oh."

Sima Fu did not press further, but Gao Rou continued pondering Cao Mao's whispered words.

Just moments earlier, Cao Mao had leaned close and told him in a low voice.

"It was Wang Su who wanted to kill me!"