Sima Zhao's memorial cut off the ministers' avenue of remonstrance outright.
For the ministers, this court assembly had therefore lost its meaning.
When the court assembly ended and the ministers departed in silence, Sima Zhao was in no hurry to leave.
At a signal from several eunuchs, Sima Zhao quickly caught up with the emperor and walked beside Cao Mao.
This time, Sima Zhao had truly been frightened.
Even his elder brother had never dared lay hands on the literati in the streets.
When Sima Shi had executed Xiahou Xuan and the others, Luoyang's literati had gathered in protest, and Sima Shi had chosen to ignore them.
But this emperor had sent men straight out to cut them down. And judging by what they had asked him to remonstrate about, the emperor was preparing to purge them outright on the charge of attacking the General of the Guards.
Sima Zhao felt his hair stand on end. Just what sort of creature had his family placed on the throne back then?
Now, facing Cao Mao, Sima Zhao had become considerably more polite.
He was beginning to understand why his elder brother had told him to follow the emperor wholeheartedly and leave the opportunity to those who came after.
As long as this fellow lived, he had little chance of success.
If his elder brother knew what the emperor had done today, even he would probably have been startled.
Cao Mao was very pleased with Sima Zhao's performance that day. He said warmly, "General of the Guards, sorry for all the trouble these past days."
"My heart is greatly comforted!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Despite his inner turmoil, Sima Zhao still maintained the outward bearing of a distinguished scholar.
He said airily, "There is no need for that, Your Majesty. This is