Eavesdropping, are you?

Cao Mao began wandering around the Western Hall.

Four eunuch attendants followed behind him.

Two Yellow Gate officials stood at the entrance.

Several Armored Guards stood beneath the corridor eaves.

The four personal attendants beside him were all fairly young. With their heads lowered, they followed Cao Mao with the utmost deference. All four were eunuchs whom the Grand General had sent to look after him, fearing that Cao Mao might not take proper care of his own health.

Cao Mao would probably never be able to repay the Grand General's immense kindness.

Cao Mao curiously made several circuits of the hall.

His verdict was: Not as good as my residence as Duke of the Village.

The Western Hall was the most plainly furnished place in the entire imperial palace. When Emperor Wen, Cao Pi, had built Taiji Hall, he had not lavished money on his own quarters. He had made this place very plain, while making Zhaoyang Hall to the north exceedingly luxurious.

With this, he informed his ministers that he was an exceptionally frugal and unassuming emperor.

Having said that, he turned and walked straight into Zhaoyang Hall...

When Emperor Ming, Cao Rui, succeeded to the throne, he expanded Taiji Hall to some extent, but left the Western Hall untouched.

With this, he informed his ministers that he, too, was an exceptionally frugal and unassuming emperor.

Having said that, he turned and went to the newly built Xuanwu Hall outside the city...

Then came Cao Fang, who repeatedly complained that his quarters were too shabby and wanted somewhere better to live. He promptly became a tool for the ministers to burnish their reputations. Whenever they had the chance, they urged the emperor to manage his household frugally and avoid undertaking construction.

That was how the present, shabby Western Hall had come to be.

"I had heard that the Emperor of the Filial and Enlightened Ancestor was frugal and unassuming, but never quite believed it. Today, I finally do."

Cao Mao spoke with a trace of helplessness.

None of the four behind him answered. They simply remained silent.

Cao Mao turned to them with a cheerful smile. "You will be serving me from now on, yet I do not even know your names."

At Cao Mao's words, the four hastily exchanged glances before giving their names.

Having fully absorbed the lessons of the preceding dynasty, Cao Pi had "established the Attendant Cavalry and merged it with the Central Regular Attendants," appointing sons of great aristocratic families as palace officials rather than eunuchs.

The Attendant Cavalry held high rank. They had no clearly defined duties, but could review memorials submitted by the imperial secretariat, and usually moved on to important posts when transferred.

Thus, the Central Regular Attendants had been replaced.

This had indeed prevented eunuchs from wreaking havoc, but it also left Cao Mao without anyone he could use.

Cao Mao was certain that the four eunuch attendants before him would watch his every word and action and report them to the Sima Family.

Still, he remembered their names and even gave them rewards.

He then had the two Yellow Gate officials outside summoned and asked about their names and backgrounds.

Many people thought that Yellow Gate gentlemen were also eunuchs. In fact, these posts were held by educated men, and the two Yellow Gate attendants before Cao Mao were both scholars who had studied the classics.

The first was nothing remarkable, but the second caught Cao Mao's attention.

The second Yellow Gate attendant was named Jiao Bo.

He was not particularly old. He had thick, strong hands, a resolute expression, and handsome features-which was probably another reason he had been able to become a Yellow Gate official.

Cao Mao quietly committed this man to memory.

Historically, when Cao Mao launched his final charge against Sima Zhao, he had two trusted aides at his side.

The first was Li Zhao, the Director of Attendant Guards. That title could be understood as the emperor's chief bodyguard.

The second was Jiao Bo, who served as a Yellow Gate attendant. Yellow Gate attendants were mainly responsible for running errands for the emperor and conveying his spoken decrees.

Sure enough, when Cao Mao subsequently received the Imperial Guards, Li Zhao was among them.

The man's looks were unremarkable, but he had a burly build, much like Liu Lu.

At present, however, Li Zhao looked decidedly unhappy. Nor was he the chief of the Imperial Guards, only the deputy.

Cao Mao received them all, offered a few words of encouragement, then sent them back to their posts.

Seated on his couch, Cao Mao looked curiously at the four eunuchs before him.

"Where are you all from?"

"Well..."

The attendants exchanged looks. His Majesty was far more approachable and enthusiastic than they had imagined.

"This servant is from Shangdang Commandery..."

"Shangdang! That is a fine place!"

Cao Mao showed no intention of resting and struck up a conversation with the four.

Cao Mao mostly simply rambled. One moment he offered opinions on various places, the next on various people, and then he would launch into his many absurd ideas.

That day, Cao Mao talked with them until very late. Only when all four were close to breaking down did he finally yawn and announce that he wished to rest.

In the darkness, all of Luoyang lay silent.

Jia Chong sat in an Inner Chamber of his home, seemingly waiting for something.

A short while later, a eunuch attendant entered with several Armored Guards.

"Why are you so late? It is nearly dawn!"

Jia Chong was berating them when he looked up and saw the thick stacks of documents in the guards' hands.

Jia Chong was utterly dumbfounded.

What in the world is this??

The eunuch was Li Sheng, the head attendant who had been walking at the front earlier. Wearing a miserable expression, he hastily bowed to Jia Chong and admitted fault.

"Lord Jia, you truly cannot blame this servant! Once His Majesty starts talking, there is simply no end to it. You told us to record his words and actions. Not only do we have to memorize them, we must write everything down afterward and compare our accounts to make certain there are no mistakes..."

"He said this much???"

Bewildered, Jia Chong flipped through the documents before him.

"You do not need to record every single sentence! Besides, if he was only speaking to you, why write it down?"

"You do not understand, Lord Jia. His Majesty commented on many ministers of the Imperial Court, spoke about his views on various regions, and mentioned ideas and plans. We dared not leave any of it unrecorded..."

Looking at the mountain of documents before him, Jia Chong drew a deep breath.

"You... did well. Go back and rest for now. Work in pairs and keep watching him. Remember, if you do well, your families outside the palace will share in your wealth and honor. If you do poorly, they will suffer alongside you."

"Yes..."

After sending them away, Jia Chong opened the documents before him.

They were nonsense from beginning to end, yet he could not afford to skip them.

The veins on Jia Chong's forehead immediately bulged.

"That inhuman cur!!!"

The next day, Cao Mao woke in the Western Hall feeling thoroughly refreshed.

Hopefully, the worthy minister responsible for reviewing my words and actions yesterday slept well too!

He stretched, washed, changed his clothes, and ate in the Western Hall.

The food, too, was far inferior to what he had eaten in Yuan City.

Looking at the attendant before him, Cao Mao asked, "Was it not Zhou Sheng and the others who kept watch last night? Why do you look so exhausted?"

Li Sheng's eyes were bloodshot and swollen, as though he had not slept all night.

"Your Majesty... this servant is fine."

"Oh, good, as long as you are fine. Looking at you, though, if you cannot manage, go back and rest a while. I give you permission."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty! This servant is fine!"

"Ah, very well. Make the preparations, then. I am going to Zhaoyang Hall to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."

"Remember, from now on, the first thing I do every day must be to visit Zhaoyang Hall and pay my respects to the Empress Dowager. Great Wei governs the realm through filial piety, and I must set an example for everyone under heaven!"

"Yes!"

"Speaking of filial piety, that reminds me of something. Let me tell you about it!"

Li Sheng's eyes widened.

No!!!

In the end, however, he could not stop the emperor. Cao Mao leisurely began recounting the filial deeds of Wang Xiang, the current Minister of Agriculture. He expressed his immense respect for Lord Wang, then went on to explain what office he hoped Lord Wang would hold, what he hoped the man would accomplish in the future, and so forth.

The attendants' scalps tingled. They had to record this!

A smile filled Cao Mao's face. You want to record my words and actions? Then I will give you plenty to record. Better yet, send it all to the Grand General so he can have a good, thorough look too!

After finishing his meal, Cao Mao promptly rose and led everyone toward Zhaoyang Hall.

Even on the way, Cao Mao had no intention of letting them off. He unleashed his full firepower, leaving the eunuch attendants reeling.

Jiao Bo reached Zhaoyang Hall ahead of them and announced the emperor's impending arrival.

Soon, the attendants of Zhaoyang Hall hurried out to receive him, and Cao Mao entered with the utmost reverence.

Cao Mao's personal attendants were about to follow him inside, but Zhaoyang Hall's Imperial Guards stopped them.

"The Empress Dowager summoned only His Majesty. You will remain here!"

Hearing this, Li Sheng felt both uneasy and relieved.

At last, no more memorizing the emperor's sayings. But how am I supposed to explain this to Lord Jia tonight?

Sure enough, the Empress Dowager was not alone. Guo Jian was seated beside her.

As General Who Guards and Protects, he commanded the Palace Guards and spent most of his time in the imperial palace. Had he been there back then, Sima Shi might not have moved directly against Guo De.

Cao Mao paid his respects to the Empress Dowager, then turned to Guo Jian.

"Uncle!!!"

His face full of anguish, Cao Mao bowed deeply to him.

Then, through gritted teeth, he said, "I foolishly believed that cur Wang Su's flattering words! I caused Eldest Maternal Uncle's death! Please punish me, Uncle!"