"Minister Xiahou, say no more! It is not your turn to speak here."
Cao Rui's words left Xiahou Xian stunned on the spot.
He had thought Cao Rui would be quite willing to hear his advice.
But he had been wrong. Cao Rui was a ruler with firm views of his own, and once he had decided something, he would brook no further comment.
Clearly, Cao Rui had made up his mind to support Cao Xiu this time.
There was another reason as well, which Xiahou Xian only learned later.
For a mounted attendant, especially a mounted gentleman attendant of an even lower rank, being allowed to accompany the emperor and listen to court proceedings was already an immense imperial favor. As he stood now, he had no right to remonstrate with the emperor or participate in policy discussions unless the emperor himself asked his advice.
Of course, Cao Rui had established this unwritten rule himself.
If he opened that door, would not just anyone come running to decide affairs of state, or give the emperor a thorough lecturing?
Xiahou Xian sighed. Some things could not be changed simply because he wanted to change them.
After the proceedings ended, Xiahou Xian slunk out of the Eastern Hall. Today, he had once again learned something of this young emperor's methods.
Though only a few years older than Xiahou Xian, he was already well versed in the arts of imperial rule.
Xiahou Xian simply did not know whether Cao Rui truly acted for the realm's sake or merely to play games of power.
A week later, Xiahou Xian heard a piece of news while on duty.
Xiahou Xuan had been demoted.
Just as history had unfolded, Cao Rui had taken considerable offense at his disdain for Mao Zeng, so he had found a casual pretext to transfer him to the post of Supervisor of the Feathered Forest Guards.
This essentially sealed off Xiahou Xuan's path to advancement, leaving him to become an idle, superfluous official like He Yan.
Inside the office building, Xiahou Xuan was packing his belongings from his desk. Once the brushes, ink, bamboo slips, and other items formerly arranged with orderly elegance had been cleared away, it looked particularly forlorn.
"Brother Taichu..." Xiahou Xian opened his mouth, unsure what to say.
"It is nothing," Xiahou Xuan said calmly. "But Fengming, you must be careful with your words before His Majesty from now on. I shall take my leave."
Xiahou Xuan cupped his hands in farewell, then turned to leave. At the doorway, he looked back. "Oh, yes. I shall be hosting a banquet at my residence tomorrow. Would you happen to be free, Fengming?"
Xiahou Xian considered it. He had already declined several invitations, and refusing again would hardly be appropriate. After all, they had been colleagues for so long.
"Thank you for the invitation, Brother Taichu. I shall certainly come and impose upon your hospitality."
"Excellent." Xiahou Xuan smiled and walked out of the building.
The following day, Xiahou Xian arrived at Xiahou Xuan's residence as promised.
Xiahou Xuan had enjoyed considerable renown from his youth. People of the time described him as "radiant as the sun and moon gathered into one's embrace."
His residence also possessed a distinctly scholarly air. Behind the seat of honor in the main hall hung an exquisite work of calligraphy.
It was said to be the work of Zhong Yao, Great Wei's celebrated calligrapher. Not only was Zhong Yao highly accomplished in calligraphy, he also had considerable achievements in governance and military strategy.
Great Wei's current Grand Tutor was none other than Zhong Yao.
That Xiahou Xuan could receive a work of art from someone of such high rank and authority showed how extensive his connections were.
There were no household entertainers singing or dancing at the banquet. Everyone simply sat drinking and enjoying themselves.
Though Xiahou Xuan's demotion was hardly cause for celebration, they truly did manage to converse quite merrily.
"The sage has no joy, anger, sorrow, or pleasure, for the sage possesses nature but no emotion."
"Ordinary men follow their emotions, their joy and anger defying principle. Yan Hui followed the Way, and his anger never exceeded its proper bounds."
The speaker was He Yan, who blurted this out as his drinking reached its height.
"Bravo!" Ding Mi, Deng Yang, and the others waved their hands in praise.
Xiahou Xian swept his wide eyes around the gathering. Besides Xiahou Xuan's seat of honor, there were eight places at the banquet.
As one of the leading figures in the study of the profound, He Yan naturally occupied the foremost seat, with the likes of Ding Mi seated after him.
Xiahou Xian had, of course, taken the lowest seat of his own accord. First, as a newcomer, he ought to keep a low profile; second, he really could not join their conversation.
Just as he was listening in utter boredom to their impassioned debate over metaphysical theories, the man seated beside him greeted him.
Xiahou Xian had paid him little attention at first. His features could not quite be called delicate, but his complexion was fair and clear, with sharply defined features and deep-set eyes.
Really, Xiahou Xuan ought to have introduced everyone to Xiahou Xian at the outset, but he seemed to have forgotten that this was Xiahou Xian's first visit.
The man said, "You must be Xiahou Fengming."
"Indeed I am. And you are?"
The man replied with impeccable courtesy, "Sima Shi, courtesy name Ziyuan."
Hiss...
So it's you.
At this time, Sima Shi was the same age as Xiahou Xian, having only just passed twenty. His eyes showed none of that ruthless decisiveness in matters of life and death; they were even somewhat clear...
"So you are the son of Lord Sima, General of Chariots and Cavalry. I have long admired your name," Xiahou replied with a salute.
Sima Shi said, "I heard that you won military merit in Guanzhong just after entering service, Fengming, and have now been specially appointed a mounted attendant by His Majesty. You have truly soared into the heavens in a single flight."
"Only after hearing Brother Taichu today did I learn that you have only just come of age, Fengming, and are actually the same age as me."
Oh? This Sima Ziyuan was quite the flatterer.
Xiahou Xian glanced at him. "May I ask what office you currently hold, Ziyuan?"
Sima Shi shook his head. "I am ashamed to say that, lacking talent, I have yet to enter service."
"No need to be so modest, Ziyuan. A talented man will surely accomplish something one day," Xiahou Xian said.
Unless something unexpected happens, you'll be the general-in-chief whose power overshadows court and country. What's the hurry?
"Ah, what are you two discussing, Ziyuan, Fengming?" Xiahou Xuan suddenly interrupted their conversation.
Only then did he remember that he had forgotten to introduce this new friend to everyone.
Resigned, Xiahou Xian rose to offer toasts and make the acquaintance of everyone present, one by one.
When he reached He Yan, He Yan said with biting sarcasm, "As I recall, Xiahou Fengming was not particularly willing to associate with people like us before. Why have you honored us with your presence today?"
As it happened, He Yan was Cao Cao's stepson and had married Princess Jinxiang, so Xiahou Xian even had to address him as his aunt's husband.
He Yan's face was so fair and smooth that it looked powdered, like a woman's, yet his voice was still male. This struck Xiahou Xian as rather awkward for a moment, but he still had to explain.
"Uncle, you truly have misjudged your nephew. I really did have many household matters to attend to, and my mother is very strict, so I had no opportunity to feast with you all."
"Today is different, however. Now that I have entered service, I have a legitimate reason, and my mother cannot very well stop me."
"I shall drink three cups myself, as an apology to you all for our past misunderstandings."
As he spoke, Xiahou Xian took his cup and drank one after another.
"Splendid!" He Yan slapped his desk. "So Fengming is such a forthright fellow! I shall join you for a cup!"
Good. That managed to fool him.
Afterward, emboldened by wine, He Yan opened another topic.
After listening for a while, Xiahou Xian more or less understood why Cao Rui detested these people so much.
One moment they were saying that Central Army Protector Jiang Ji lined his own pockets and lacked the virtue befitting his office; the next, they were saying that General of Valiant Cavalry Qin Lang had amassed an immense fortune through bribes.
Qin Lang and He Yan could be considered brothers of different fathers and mothers, yet even he could not escape He Yan's denunciations.
"If the Grand Marshal succeeds in this campaign, our Great Wei will gain a firm foothold in Yang Province. The rebel Wu's days are numbered."
And there it was-the conversation had shifted to the front lines again.
The speaker was Ding Mi.
He Yan disagreed. "Wu State's surrender is highly suspicious. If our army suffers a crushing defeat at Wu's hands, not only will Great Wei's strength be severely diminished, but the eastern front will never know another peaceful day."
It had to be said that He Yan did have some military sense.
Then he continued, "Tell me, could His Majesty be doing this deliberately, with the aim of having the Grand Marshal die in Yang Province?"
"What makes you say that?"
"The Grand Marshal is one of the ministers appointed by the late emperor to assist the throne, but His Majesty has long since taken personal control of government. Do you not think four assisting ministers are too many?"
"Er..." Ding Mi, Deng Yang, and the others lowered their voices considerably.
Xiahou Xian, meanwhile, felt somewhat frightened.
Wait, aren't you being far too bold about what you're discussing?
"All right, we had better not continue this topic." Xiahou Xuan interrupted in time, then raised his cup. "Everyone, let us drain our cups!"