Yu Xi, Neishi of Yangzhou and concurrently its Grand Zhongzheng, had an aunt who had been Emperor Ming of Jin's empress. After the six-year-old Emperor Cheng of Jin, Sima Yan, ascended the throne, Empress Dowager Yu presided over court, and all affairs of state were decided by her elder brother Yu Liang. As the emperor's maternal uncle, Yu Liang served as Provincial Governor of Jiang, Jing, and Yu provinces and commander of military affairs in six provinces, stationed at Wuchang. His power eclipsed that of the Langya Wang clan. After Yu Liang died of illness, both his younger brothers rose to high office. Yu Bing became Director of the Secretariat, Provincial Governor of Yangzhou, commander of military affairs in Yang, Yu, and Yan provinces, and General Who Conquers the Caitiffs, with Acting Imperial Commissioner authority. He succeeded Wang Dao in assisting the government and was promoted to General of the Left. Yu Yi became General Who Conquers the West and Provincial Governor of Jingzhou. The Yu clan's power reached its peak.
Yu Xi was Yu Bing's eldest son. Taking Cold-Stone Powder was fashionable in the Yu clan, so many of its children died young. Fourteen years earlier, Yu Bing and Yu Yi had died in succession. Since the Yu clan had no particularly outstanding figure, Huan Wen, a native of Longkang in Qiao Commandery who had married the Princess of Nankang, seized the clan's power on the grounds that Yu Xi and his brothers were young and inexperienced. He became General Who Pacifies the West and inspector of Jingzhou. Thus, Yu Xi regarded Huan Wen as an enemy.
Throughout the Eastern Jin, importance was placed not only on lineage but also on individual distinction. Aristocratic clans could certainly occupy high positions, but how high those positions were, how much power