Recaps

Sima Shi endured worsening eye pain while managing the pressure to take the throne and secretly securing Zhuge Dan’s cooperation. In the palace, Cao Mao inferred where Sima Shi and Zhuge Dan had met, then unsettled Sima Yan by asking whether he or Sima You would inherit power.

• Sima Shi dismissed Deng Ai, endured his eye pain without taking Five-Stone Powder, and read Jia Chong’s report about Cao Mao and the palace.
• Sima Shi rejected Jia Chong’s call to move against Cao Mao immediately, choosing to wait until Guanqiu Jian’s threat was contained.
• Sima Yan visited Cao Mao and told him that Zhuge Jing was leaving for Yu Province after Zhuge Dan summoned him.
• Cao Mao deduced that Sima Shi and Zhuge Dan had met in the Liang Kingdom and concluded that Zhuge Dan’s cooperation against Guanqiu Jian had been planned.
• Cao Mao asked Sima Yan whether he expected to become Grand General or General Who Conquers the West, then raised the question of whether Sima Yan or Sima You would inherit power.

Cao Mao used a visit to the Empress Dowager to pass a dangerous message to Guanqiu Jian through Jiao Bo, after learning Zhuge Dan had aligned with Sima Shi. He gained a loyal ally inside the palace and continued pressuring Sima Wang to resign.

• Cao Mao warned Sima Yan to keep his distance from Jia Chong, then realized he had no direct way to alert Guanqiu Jian that Zhuge Dan was cooperating with Sima Shi.
• Cao Mao wrote a secret message on the floor asking Jiao Bo to inform Mouqiu Dian, who could warn Guanqiu Jian and spread a rumor that Zhuge Dan had betrayed him.
• Jiao Bo returned Cao Mao’s jade pendant and silently confirmed that he would carry out the request, giving Cao Mao a trusted ally inside the palace.
• Cao Mao presented the Classic of Filial Piety to the Empress Dowager and raised the subject of Sima Wang, whose reluctance to visit him pleased her.

Jiao Bo risked a humiliating disguise to deliver Cao Mao’s message to Mouqiu Dian, who promised to spread the news and aid the emperor despite Sima Shi’s surveillance. The chapter left Mouqiu Dian and Liu Lu resolved to support Cao Mao and assured him that allies and resources remained in Luoyang.

• Yin Damu watched Jiao Bo leave Taiji Hall and privately regretted helping Sima Yi, while vowing to wait for Guanqiu Jian’s chance to take revenge.
• Jiao Bo prepared to contact Mouqiu Dian, surveyed the heavy surveillance around his residence, and sneaked inside concealed in a night-soil bucket.
• Mouqiu Dian welcomed Jiao Bo, and Jiao Bo relayed Cao Mao’s message despite Liu Lu’s initial suspicion.
• Mouqiu Dian promised to spread the news publicly and told Jiao Bo that his father had stationed men in Luoyang.
• Liu Lu asked Jiao Bo to tell Cao Mao that he remained ready to help, and Jiao Bo left encouraged by their resolve.

Cao Mao welcomed the newly appointed Ruan Ji with wine, and the two exchanged poems that voiced grief and indignation. Jia Chong later read the record of their meeting and feared Cao Mao was becoming too close to the influential scholar.

• Ruan Ji arrived at court as a Regular Attendant Cavalry official, ignored Zhao Cheng’s demand that he announce himself, and revealed his fondness for wine.
• Cao Mao recognized Ruan Ji, invited him to drink, and teased him about showing his approval and composing poetry.
• Cao Mao recited lines about war, prompting Ruan Ji to answer with a poem of longing and grief.
• Cao Mao recited “Sparrows in an Empty City,” and Ruan Ji repeated its verses before officials stopped the two from drinking further.
• Cao Mao drunkenly claimed that Jia Chong would marry his daughter to him and had told him about the Liang Kingdom.
• Li Sheng and Zhou Sheng recorded the day’s events, and Jia Chong read the poems and worried that Ruan Ji’s bond with Cao Mao would cause trouble.

Jia Chong panicked after reading Cao Mao’s remarks exposing secret events in Liang Kingdom, then faced Sima Zhao’s fury over rumors that Sima Shi was meeting Zhuge Dan. Jia Chong blamed Wang and suggested he had helped Cao Mao learn the secret, leaving Sima Zhao alarmed and reconsidering the source of the leak.

• Jia Chong read Cao Mao’s drunken remarks about Liang Kingdom and feared the Grand General would suspect him of leaking the secret.
• Cheng Ji summoned Jia Chong to Sima Zhao’s residence, where Sima Zhao demanded to know where Sima Shi was and why rumors about Zhuge Dan had spread through Luoyang.
• Jia Chong denied leaking the information and offered to take all the blame, prompting Sima Zhao to reassure him and ask what he knew.
• Jia Chong accused Grand Minister of Ceremonies Wang of behaving suspiciously and pointed to his possible role in Cao Mao’s rise, the Xiahou Xuan affair, and the assassination attempt.
• Jia Chong recalled that Sima Shi had told him and Wang he could not yet return from Yuan City, leaving Sima Zhao to consider how Wang might have learned about the secret.

Sima Zhao considered Jia Chong’s accusation against Wang Su and rejected Xun Xu’s suggestion to clear Xiahou Xuan’s name, then flew into a rage over Emperor Cao Mao’s poem, “Sparrows in an Empty City.” Cao Mao, who had secretly helped spread the rumors, summoned Jia Chong to discuss something important.

• Jia Chong blamed Wang Su for the rumors, but Sima Zhao doubted Jia Chong’s honesty and worried that Zhuge Dan and Guanqiu Jian would become more cautious.
• Xun Xu urged Sima Zhao to submit a memorial clearing Xiahou Xuan’s name, but Sima Zhao recognized the political motive and offered no commitment.
• Xun Xu told Sima Zhao that Ruan Ji had shared Cao Mao’s poem, “Sparrows in an Empty City,” prompting Sima Zhao to demand Ruan Ji’s arrest before restraining himself.
• Cao Mao woke and, after asking Li Sheng how long he had slept, ordered Zhao Cheng to summon Jia Chong for an important discussion.

Jia Chong struggled to protect himself after Cao Mao learned of the secret concerning Zhuge Dan, then met with the emperor to negotiate. Cao Mao secured Jia Chong’s public assurance that the palace eunuchs would stop sending him memorized documents, though he knew the surveillance might continue.

• Jia Chong returned home, comforted his infant son Li Min, and began writing an account of the day’s events.
• Lady Guo killed the wet nurse and accused Jia Chong of seducing her, leaving him overwhelmed and unable to resume writing.
• Jia Chong accepted Cao Mao’s summons and confronted him, demanding to know why the emperor was endangering him.
• Cao Mao persuaded Jia Chong that Lord Wang, the Grand Minister of Ceremonies, had leaked the secret about Zhuge Dan.
• Jia Chong pledged loyalty and offered to let Cao Mao choose palace eunuchs, but Cao Mao insisted on keeping the current attendants.
• At the palace doorway, Cao Mao asked whether the eunuchs would still send Jia Chong memorized documents; Jia Chong said they would not, and Cao Mao let him leave.

Cao Mao used Jia Chong’s surveillance order to turn the palace attendants’ fear into loyalty, then met secretly with Jiao Bo and learned that allies outside the palace were spreading news of Zhuge Dan’s dealings with Sima Shi. Jiao Bo recruited Li Zhao to their cause, and Li Zhao agreed that he would risk death for the realm’s great righteousness.

• Cao Mao privately confronted Li Sheng about spying for Jia Chong, forgave him, and told him to keep protecting his family while continuing to follow Jia Chong’s orders.
• Cao Mao met Jiao Bo, heard that Mouqiu Dian and Liu Lu supported him and that rumors about Zhuge Dan and Sima Shi were spreading through the city, and asked Jiao Bo to find trustworthy palace allies.
• Jiao Bo recommended Li Zhao, and Cao Mao accepted his judgment and sent him to recruit the Imperial Guard leader.
• Jiao Bo approached Li Zhao after Li Zhao had been demoted for resisting Jia Chong, and explained that he had cooperated only to stay alive and serve Cao Mao.
• Jiao Bo asked Li Zhao to join the effort against the realm’s traitors, and Li Zhao declared he would risk death for the great righteousness of the realm.

Jia Chong forced the palace eunuchs and Yellow Gate officials to keep spying on the emperor, then had Zhou Sheng beaten to death for refusing. As they left his residence, Zhao Cheng resolved to resign and escape the palace, while Jiao Bo was left shaken by the bloodshed.

• Jia Chong told Li Sheng and the others to pretend to obey the emperor while continuing to report his words and actions to him.
• Zhou Sheng refused to help Jia Chong spy on the emperor, and Jia Chong ordered guards to beat him to death.
• Jia Chong threatened the remaining eunuchs, paid them, and ordered them to keep spying and tell no one what had happened.
• Zhao Cheng told Jiao Bo that he wanted to resign and leave the imperial palace, then hurried away.
• Jiao Bo remained behind, troubled by the bloodstains left at Jia Chong's residence.

Sima Shi and Zhong Hui discussed the court’s demands for rewards and whether to reform noble ranks, but Sima Shi refused to act hastily. After Sima Shi received a letter reporting rumors that Zhuge Dan had betrayed Xiahou Xuan and conspired with him, his eye growth ruptured and he ordered an immediate return to Luoyang.

• Sima Shi told Zhong Hui that the ministers at court were demanding benefits, and Zhong Hui advised reforming noble ranks to win their support.
• Sima Shi rejected the proposal to move quickly and instead decided to suppress the court’s demands by another means.
• Zhong Hui urged Sima Shi to treat his worsening eye condition, but an envoy arrived with a letter from Sima Zhao.
• Sima Zhao’s letter reported that people in Luoyang were spreading claims that Zhuge Dan had betrayed Xiahou Xuan and conspired with Sima Shi.
• Sima Shi’s eye growth ruptured, and he ordered men to stop Zhuge Jing and a carriage to take him back to Luoyang immediately.

Cao Mao recruited Imperial Guards through Jiao Bo and Li Zhao, then learned that Palace Commandant Yin Damu might be a loyal ally. He resolved to win Yin Damu over and lead the growing group against the Sima Family.

• Cao Mao judged the Guo Family cowardly and greedy, and decided he no longer needed their help to contact potential allies.
• Jiao Bo told Cao Mao that Li Zhao and more than ten Imperial Guards had agreed to serve him.
• Cao Mao privately praised Li Zhao and urged him to recruit more trusted people inside the palace.
• Li Zhao recommended Palace Commandant Yin Damu, and Cao Mao recalled Yin Damu's guilt over Cao Shuang's downfall and recognized the value of his eight hundred Armored Guards.
• Cao Mao assured Li Zhao that he trusted Yin Damu and urged him to tell the commandant the truth carefully, since the Sima Family had spies throughout the palace.
• Cao Mao reflected on Wang Jing's loyalty and resolved to lead the men gathering around him against those who had betrayed Wei.

Li Zhao recruited Yin Damu to support Cao Mao after explaining that the emperor wanted to gather loyal men and wait for the right moment. With Yin Damu joining his hidden network, Cao Mao realized he was no longer entirely powerless, but chose to keep building his strength before confronting the Sima Family.

• Li Zhao told Yin Damu that Jia Chong had ordered the guards to monitor Cao Mao and report his words and actions.
• Li Zhao explained that Cao Mao wanted him to contact loyal men, not launch an immediate attack against the Sima Family.
• Yin Damu admitted his guilt over betraying the Cao Family, then pledged to serve Cao Mao and warned that Sima Shi's health was failing.
• Li Zhao reported Yin Damu's allegiance to Jiao Bo, who relayed the news to Cao Mao.
• Cao Mao considered whether his growing network could help him kill Sima Shi and Sima Zhao, but decided to remain cautious and build his strength.

Jia Chong asked Sima Zhao to let him rest after his son’s death and his exhausting work supervising Cao Mao, but Sima Zhao persuaded him to stay and then confronted Wang Su about resigning. Cao Mao was turned away from the Empress Dowager’s hall by Eunuch Guo and found Wang Su waiting for him at the Western Hall.

• Jia Chong asked Sima Zhao for a few days of rest, explaining that his son had died and he could no longer manage his duties.
• Sima Zhao pleaded with Jia Chong to remain at his side, and Jia Chong agreed to continue working for him.
• Sima Zhao visited Wang Su, accepted his request to leave his post, then insisted that Wang Su personally handle an important matter.
• Eunuch Guo refused to let Cao Mao enter Zhaoyang Hall, and Cao Mao left without arguing despite Jiao Bo and Li Sheng’s anger.
• Cao Mao arrived at the Western Hall and saw Wang Su standing there.

Wang Su became Cao Mao’s teacher and was astonished by the emperor’s exceptional scholarship. As Cao Mao’s lessons kept him confined, he used Li Sheng to refuse the Empress Dowager’s summons, prompting Guo Li to prepare to intervene.

• Sima Zhao forced Wang Su to teach Cao Mao, and Cao Mao eagerly welcomed him as his teacher.
• Wang Su taught Cao Mao Supreme Mystery and was stunned when the young emperor quickly understood and challenged his explanations.
• Wang Su continued teaching Cao Mao for several days and brought him additional books after recognizing his talent.
• When Eunuch Guo summoned Cao Mao for the Empress Dowager, Cao Mao told Li Sheng to refuse unless the Grand General or Jia Chong approved.
• Li Sheng invoked orders from the Grand General and Jia Chong to block Eunuch Guo, who angrily reported the refusal to the Empress Dowager.
• Guo Li condemned Wang Su’s appointment and declared that he would go to Taiji Hall himself to bring Cao Mao to the Empress Dowager.

Cao Mao persuaded Empress Dowager Guo and Guo Jian that Wang Su and Jia Chong were oppressing him, then secured Guo Jian’s promise to send a guard. The guard proved to be Man Changwu, grandson of Man Chong, whom Cao Mao eagerly welcomed and rewarded.

• Guo Li brought Cao Mao to Zhaoyang Hall, where Guo Jian scolded him for refusing the Empress Dowager’s summons.
• Cao Mao blamed Wang Su and Jia Chong for keeping him under control and pretended he had given up resisting.
• Empress Dowager Guo and Guo Jian urged Cao Mao to continue, and Guo Jian promised to assign him a guard.
• The next day, Man Changwu arrived with four soldiers to patrol around the Western Hall.
• Cao Mao learned Man Changwu was Man Chong’s grandson, then warmly welcomed and generously rewarded him.

The celebrated scholars discussed Cao Mao’s poem “Sparrows in an Empty City,” whose imagery had angered powerful ministers and the General Who Conquers the South. As Ruan Ji went home with Lü An, he called himself and his companions owls whose cries grated on the ears.

• At a gathering in Luoyang, Ji Kang drunkenly argued that those called sparrows were really phoenixes being pecked at by self-proclaimed crows and kites.
• Liu Ling recited lines from “Sparrows in an Empty City,” prompting the scholars to recognize its bleak portrait of their place in the world.
• Wang Rong warned Ruan Ji that the poem had angered ministers and the General Who Conquers the South, and said the General Who Conquers the West had banned phoenixes from poetry.
• The scholars set aside political discussion and spent the rest of the gathering drinking and appraising poetry and celebrated figures.
• As Lü An walked Ruan Ji home, Ruan Ji described the emperor as crafty and a great ruler born in the wrong age.
• Ruan Ji said they were owls whose cries grated on the ears, and laughed when Lü An asked why he had spread the sparrow’s voice through Luoyang.

Sima Zhao sought Lu Yu’s help in stopping ministers from neglecting government work, but offended him by offering rewards, then sent Du Yu to order Pei Xiu to arrest scholars who had attacked Zhuge Dan’s residence. Pei Xiu abruptly feigned a powder-induced frenzy and fled, leaving Du Yu realizing he was evading the order.

• Sima Zhao asked Lu Yu to persuade the ministers to resume their duties, but Lu Yu stormed out after Sima Zhao proposed enfeoffing him and promoting his son.
• Du Yu told Sima Zhao that the offer had insulted Lu Yu, and advised him to send an apology without asking him to intervene again.
• Du Yu reported that scholars had forced their way into Zhuge Dan’s residence while searching for Zhuge Jing, worsening rumors that Zhuge Dan planned to compromise.
• Sima Zhao ordered Du Yu to have Pei Xiu arrest the scholars and investigate who was directing them.
• Pei Xiu suddenly stripped off his clothes and ran out laughing, and Du Yu concluded he was pretending to be overcome by powder to avoid making the arrests.

Cao Mao continued maneuvering amid Luoyang’s unrest while Sima Shi unexpectedly arrived at the palace to investigate the leaks and question Jia Chong’s associates. Zhong Hui hinted that the investigation could expose anyone who had concealed information, leaving Cao Mao under pressure to hide what he knew.

• Wang Su taught Cao Mao, who claimed Guo Jian had warned him to avoid Wang Su, and Wang Su insulted the Guo Family.
• Cao Mao told Guo Jian he planned to invite Sima Wang to banquets, then reported that Wang Su had called him a bird, prompting Guo Jian to curse.
• Sima Shi arrived at the palace with Jia Chong, and Cao Mao greeted him warmly before Zhong Hui escorted the emperor to the East Hall.
• Cao Mao suspected Sima Shi had come to investigate the leak about Zhuge Dan’s movements and believed Jia Chong was the chief suspect.
• Zhong Hui told Cao Mao that Sima Shi would question people connected to Luoyang’s disturbances and warned him against concealing anything.