The sun sets in the west, and after the nomadic performance, it's almost time for the evening banquet.
The light in the hall gradually dims, and the eunuchs carefully light the candles inside the hall.
The palace maids streamed in one after another, carrying tray after tray of exquisite dishes, which they arranged on the tables before the guests.
The menu for tonight has also been specially designed. Cao Rui personally selected twelve of his favorite royal dishes and instructed the Grand Eunuch to prepare an adequate supply of osmanthus wine, determined to enjoy a night of feasting and not return until everyone is drunk.
The hall is lit up brightly by the candlelight, and an attendant musician begins to play a soothing melody nearby. This is the first imperial banquet held after Cao Rui's accession, and the table is set to be served soon.
But Cao Rui's heart was not as happy as that.
Or, Cao Rui was waiting for some results.
Actually, it was quite unusual for the official office of the Ministry of Education to deliver Sima Fu's memorial at noon.
According to common sense, after the emperor issued an order, the chief secretary Liu Fang or the chief of staff Sun Zi would draft the imperial edict, and then it would be sent to the official office of the Ministry of Education for execution.
The normal process is usually very smooth.
But there are actually two doubts regarding Sima Fu's memorial today.
The first doubt is that the emperor's will sent to the official office of the Ministry of Education is usually received by a vice director on duty, and then sent to the director of the Ministry of Education for confirmation and execution.
Even if Sima Fu was the vice director on duty and could see this edict from the emperor, did he pass this edict to the ministers assisting the emperor?
If he did pass it on, Cao Xiu, Cao Zhen, Chen Qun, and Sima Yi would have seen it. Who was blocking it? Clearly, it didn't seem to be like Cao Xiu or Cao Zhen, because the officials mentioned in the edict included the sons of both of them.
Did Cao Xiu and Cao Zhen become mere decoration, being bypassed or deceived at the official office of the Ministry of Education?
If Sima Fu did not pass it on, where did he get the courage to offer advice? As Sima Yi's brother, was it Sima Yi who ordered him to do so, or was Sima Fu acting on his own initiative to gain fame and reputation?
These are all the doubts in Cao Rui's heart, and things he will definitely investigate after ending this banquet.
The eunuch called for the chief secretary Liu Fang again, and he took back the document from the door. This time, it wasn't just one, but two.
Liu Fang walked back without expression on his face, it was unclear whether he had something on his mind or if he had completely given up.
Liu Fang walked over to Cao Rui and bowed: "Your Majesty, this is another memorial from Sima Fu. The other scroll is a reply to Liu Zhong.”
Liu Xie is an exceptional writer, and he wrote a letter to Sima Fu in a few moments while watching the acrobatics at the banquet. Just one hour later, he received a reply.
Cao Rui didn't even look at the two bamboo slips before tossing them onto the ground.
Cao Rui angrily exclaimed: "Sima Fu's courage is too bold! Who is ordering him to repeatedly reject the emperor's edict?"
It's almost unheard of for the Ministry of Personnel to reject the emperor's edict. More often, they would keep the edict at the Ministry and not execute it, while also advising the emperor.
Advising is essentially delaying the execution of the emperor's edict, which is another form of rejection.
In the face of an enraged emperor, Liu Fang felt very awkward at the moment. He didn't know whether to leave or stay. He could only silently pick up the two bamboo slips on the ground and slowly place them on the corner of the table.
Cao Rui glimpsed the two documents: "Liu Zhong, weren't you writing to Sima Shuda? Come and take a look at his reply."
Liu Xie slowly walked over, opened the bamboo slips with both hands and began reading, his expression also gradually becoming serious.
It's serious. Liu Xie still dare not show anger in front of the emperor.
Cao Rui said, "Minister, read it out."
Liu Xie showed a difficult expression.
In truth, Sima Fu swore at Liu Xie in his letter, and swore quite dirty. Liu Xie did not want to lose face in front of everyone.
But today the emperor has been refused twice already. Liu Xie did not want to touch this bad luck and again defy the emperor's will.
Liu Xie read: "Liu Xie is flattering and unfaithful. He pleases the emperor with biased and partial words. This is what happened with Liang Qiu Ju who pleased the court by flattering, just like Liu Xie. Please let the officials discuss his punishment to clear the imperial temple."
Sima Fu really cursed dirty. Cao Rui had also never seen someone so good at vitriol before.
Sima Fu's letter to Liu Xie said that Liu Xie was a flattering and sycophantic person. In order to gain favor, he went up to worship and praise the emperor's biased and partial words. Something like that.
The last sentence of Sima Fu's letter said that Liu Xie should be imprisoned.
After reading the article that cursed him, Liu Xie was momentarily puzzled. Sima Fu, when did I Liu Xie get into such a grudge with you?
Cao Rui saw Liu Xie being cursed so harshly and knew that this was because Liu Xie was speaking up for himself.
Liu Xie, although extremely intelligent, was always good at gauging the emperor's thoughts.
Liu Xie was cursed because he wrote a letter supporting the emperor in rejecting Sima Fu. Now that Sima Fu has cursed Liu Xie back, isn't it as if he's cursing Emperor Cao Rui?
Cao Rui temporarily held back: "Read the other scroll."
Liu Xie picked up the second memorial from Sima Fu to the emperor, his expression somewhat stiff, but he still read it out loud.
Liu Xie read: "I have heard that the Five Emperors and the Three Kings, none were not clear in their origin and establishment of teachings, governing the world with filial piety. Your Majesty is benevolent and saintly, compassionate as ancient heroes. I hope to follow in their footsteps, so that future generations may take them as a model. How can one in a time of mourning, entrust such affairs of banquets and music to those close to him who are unwise and dull? I dare to bring this up at the risk of my life, only for Your Majesty to investigate."
The hall was filled with a loud commotion.
"Has Sima Fu gone mad?"
"Who is ordering Sima Fu? How can he be so audacious?"
"Sima Fu, this little traitor should be beheaded!"
Sima Fu's second memorial was even worse than the first.
Sima Fu said that the emperor should not be employing foolish people close to him during the period of mourning, let alone indulging in feasts and revelry.
This is too much.
It's about the emperor, and there are secret spies in Luoyang, so people dared not speak out against the emperor.
But today, in his memorial, Sima Fu said that Cao Rui was using close associates to host large banquets during his period of mourning. He also criticized Cao Rui for misusing people and not being filial.
No wonder Sima Fu's memorial stirred up such a fierce anger in Cao Rui.
The edict issued by the emperor to the Ministry of Personnel has been rejected twice in the form of memorials.
Is the official office of the Ministry of Personnel still listening to the emperor's orders? What are the ministers doing?
With Sima Fu being so audacious, does he have a backing? Is there someone ordering him to do this?
The most critical issue is whether what the emperor, Cao Rui, says still counts in this Wei country, after just two months on the throne.
These questions flooded Cao Rui all at once.
The angrier Cao Rui was at this moment, the faster his thoughts raced, and a sense of strange calm filled his mind.
In just these two months, Cao Rui has been slowly adapting to this era. The throne is not given by the heavens, and the ministers are not necessarily obedient. How many years have passed since Wei Dynasty replaced Han Dynasty? How much respect can the ministers have for the throne in their hearts?
The emperor needs to test the ministers, and the ministers are also testing the emperor.
Sima Fu's memorial appears to be a forthright statement, but in essence, it is a challenge to the emperor's authority and also a warning to Cao Rui.
The struggle between the ministers and the throne is eternal. Cao Rui just didn't expect it to come so quickly.
