Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

The imperial court meeting lasted a whole day. This high-intensity meeting was a great test of both mental and physical strength, no less than a forced march.

Seeing that Chen Jiao wanted to say something, Cao Rui was not in a hurry. He gestured to Chen Jiao to sit down, and said to Zhuge Xu, who was standing beside him and bringing him a midnight snack, "Ask the eunuch to serve a portion to Chen Pushe as well."

Zhuge Xu nodded in response and then left.

Cao Rui looked at Chen Jiao and said, "Chen Qing, please have some porridge with me. It contains venison that has been stewed for a day. It is the most nourishing food in winter."

Chen Jiao was old and in poor health, so he would be even more tired than the emperor. But since the emperor said so, he had no choice but to accept it patiently, took the meat porridge that Zhuge Xu brought again, thanked the emperor, and sipped it slowly with a spoon.

Cao Rui took a glance and decided that no matter what Chen Jiao was planning, he had to be patient. It was already late at night, and since Chen Jiao had already waited for a day, it would be okay for him to wait a little longer.

About a quarter of an hour later, Cao Rui called the eunuch to take away the midnight snack. Chen Jiao straightened his collar, sat upright and looked at the emperor.

"Mr. Chen, what do you want to tell me?" Cao Rui said with a smile, "After a day of meetings, I am a little tired. I know Mr. Chen's body is weak, so he should be tired too."

Chen Jiao said, "Your Majesty, what I want to say today is not an urgent matter, but it has been on my mind for a long time."

"Your Majesty, I am already over sixty years old. Although I can still serve Your Majesty, time is not forgiving. I am getting weaker and weaker, my hair is gray and my teeth are shaking. I don't have many years left to live..."

Cao Rui looked at Chen Jiao's face, interrupted Chen Jiao and said, "Chen Qing, please don't say such unlucky words. What does sixty mean to me? Mr. Dong is almost eighty years old, isn't he still serving the country? Chen Qing is now at the age of hard work, and maybe he can even become one of the Three Dukes in the future!"

"I cannot compare myself with Lord Dong." Chen Jiao smiled awkwardly and raised his head and said, "I disturbed Your Majesty tonight because I want to ask for Your Majesty's favor for something."

After saying that, Chen Jiao raised his head and carefully looked at the emperor's face, which actually showed a hint of nervousness.

Cao Rui's expression did not change at all, and he asked calmly, "What do you want to tell me, Mr. Chen?"

Chen Jiao paused and said, "Your Majesty also knows that I have two sons, Chen Ben and Chen Qian, who have both come of age. I have always loved my second son Chen Qian, so I would like to ask Your Majesty for a favor and pass my title of Marquis of Dongyang County to my second son Chen Qian after I pass away."

Cao Rui was not in a hurry to express his opinion: "I have met Chen Qian once, but Chen Ben was my Imperial Guardsman, and was also one of the first batch of students in the Imperial College. He also served as a seaman and made contributions. How can he not be worthy of Chen Qing's heart?"

Chen Jiao was a little embarrassed: "It's not that Chen Ben is a bad person. It's just that I have always loved my second son. Otherwise, I wouldn't have the nerve to ask Your Majesty for this favor."

Of course Chen Jiao knew what Chen Ben had done. His Majesty was familiar with Chen Ben and was willing to appreciate him, and Chen Jiao also knew that.

But not everyone in this world can act according to absolute rationality. Everyone has likes and dislikes, especially when it comes to the question of which of the two sons he prefers. Chen Jiao's likes and dislikes of his sons only affect who his title of Marquis of Dongyang County is passed on to, which is not a big deal. But if this kind of question is placed on the emperor, then he will have to decide who the future monarch of a country will be.

Facing the current emperor, Chen Jiao has followed the emperor for a long time and knows that any sweet words are futile. Talking about feelings with the emperor is the most direct and feasible method, no other.

A court without human touch can only cultivate a group of extreme egoists, and Cao Rui understood this very well. Therefore, in front of his ministers, Cao Rui's image was always open, sincere and generous.

Cao Rui thought for a moment and said, "In theory, the title has always been passed down to the eldest son in the past ten years of the imperial dynasty, and there has been no other example of violation. But since Chen Qing has told me that the title is yours, it is okay for me to agree to it. But how are you going to explain this to Chen Ben? After all, he is your eldest son, and it is common sense for the eldest son to inherit the title."

Chen Jiao was silent for a long time, then shook his head: "When he really inherits the title, I will be dead, what else can I say?"

Cao Rui nodded: "I understand. Chen Qing, please go back."

"Then Your Majesty has agreed to my request?" Chen Jiao asked.

Cao Rui said, "I have no objection to who you give your title to. It's just that it's slightly inconsistent with the system. Tomorrow I will go and tell Xu Xuan from the Ministry of Rites. If the Ministry of Rites says there's no problem, then it's settled. There are always exceptions for everything."

"As for how to appease Chen Ben..."

Chen Jiao replied, "I ask Your Majesty to give some of my fief to Chen Ben so that he can become a marquis."

This meant that he had to ask the court for another Tinghou. Although a Tinghou was a position that many people could only dream of in their lifetime, for Emperor Cao Rui, it was just a matter of asking for it.

"I understand. Chen Qing, please go back." Cao Rui said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!" Chen Jiao bowed deeply and then slowly retreated.

After walking out of the study courtyard, Chen Jiao slowly paced towards the palace gate, feeling relieved, and even his walking posture seemed much more relaxed. The next day, in the afternoon, in the study.

Minister of Rites Xu Xuan responded to the emperor's summons and went to the palace to meet him.

"Today I summoned Minister Xu to the palace, and I have only one question to ask. Yesterday Chen Jibi told me that he wanted to pass his title to his second son in the future. I have no objection, but this matter needs to be handled by the Ministry of Rites. How do you think this can be done?"

Ever since Xu Xuan heard the word "Chen Jiao" from the emperor's mouth, he became alert almost instinctively. After listening to every word, Xu Xuan's nerves became tense, and he was ready with the words he had rehearsed countless times in his mind.

Xu Xuan knew that he had always been known to the emperor as someone who knew how to handle things properly, so he maintained his usual persona and asked tentatively, "I wonder if Your Majesty wants me to do it, or not?"

Cao Rui curled his lips and said, "I have always been open and aboveboard. Is it necessary for me to pretend to ask you this? Even if it is the literal meaning of what I just asked, how can the Ministry of Rites handle it?"

"In that case, I will discuss the matter at hand." Xu Xuan said, "Your Majesty, I think this is absolutely unacceptable. The Ministry of Rites will never set a precedent for Chen Pushe, so as to avoid future disasters!"

Cao Rui was somewhat surprised: "How could this bring disaster to the future?"

Xu Xuan bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, the emperor is the supreme ruler and the father of all people. His words and deeds can influence people all over the world and even be passed down for thousands of years. Since ancient times, the eldest son has always inherited the title, and in the common people, the eldest son also inherits the business. Chen Pushe is a cabinet minister and should be a role model for the subjects."

"In the family of Chen Pushe, the eldest son Chen Ben is loyal and has served in many posts, including Imperial College Scholar, Imperial Guards, and Imperial Censor. He has done nothing wrong and has not committed any crime. The second son Chen Qian has not been promoted yet, and is not known for his virtues or talents. Chen Ben and Chen Qian are brothers from the same mother. If the second son is replaced by the eldest son without reason, and this precedent is set, how will the court manage people who are given titles in the future? What will happen if the people know about this?"

At this point, Xu Xuan bowed again: "Your Majesty, the clan law is the foundation of the etiquette system. The king is the king, the minister is the minister, the father is the father, the son is the son, and the etiquette system is the foundation of the world. I have received the emperor's grace and am honored to be the Minister of Rites. I must explain this matter to Your Majesty so as not to let Your Majesty down!"

After listening to Xu Xuan's words, Cao Rui couldn't help but become alert instinctively.

On the surface, there was nothing wrong with what Xu Xuan said, and the logic was clear and understandable. But it just didn't feel right.

Since Cao Rui ascended the throne in the seventh year of Huangchu, due to Cao Rui's own style, the cabinet, the ministers such as the Shizhong, who were close to Cao Rui on a daily basis, always talked about the matter concisely and without any empty talk.

Xu Xuan's statement today undoubtedly escalated Chen Jiao's matter into a big deal.

Somewhat abnormal.

But things don't go wrong for no reason.

Cao Rui knew almost all the details of the ministers in the court that he should know. Governing a country starts with governing people, and it is not good to be ignorant of the ministers' resumes, likes and dislikes, factions, and relationships. Xu Xuan and Chen Jiao had an old grudge, and Cao Rui knew about it.

Then try him again.

Cao Rui listened to what Xu Xuan said: "What Xu Qing said makes sense. But Chen Jibi is a minister of the Great Wei, and he came to me to ask for mercy for such a family matter. I am embarrassed to directly reject him. Moreover, Chen Pushe is your superior, you should also consider his face, right?"

"Could you, Mr. Xu, think of a way for me to have the best of both worlds?"

In front of Cao Rui, Xu Xuan sighed and shook his head, then clasped his hands and replied, "Your Majesty, it is precisely because Chen Pushe is my superior that he knows that this matter is not in accordance with the clan law, so he did not tell me directly, but reported it to Your Majesty. The clan law and etiquette were not set by me, and I cannot change them without authorization. It is what it should be."

"I am just worried that this precedent will be set, and the ministers of the world will think that Your Majesty disdains the clan law and blurs the importance of the eldest son. I clearly remember that a few months ago Your Majesty asked the ministers to express their opinions on the matter of enthroning the crown prince. Now the princes are young, and Prince Ye is the oldest, so there is no dispute on this matter."

"If there is no lack of virtue and talent, it is common sense for the royal family to appoint the eldest son as the heir. If the choice of the eldest son is not confirmed, I am worried that there will be chaos in the future. This matter will not happen in five or ten years, but in twenty or thirty years! As the Minister of Rites, I must speak frankly for Your Majesty!"

Cao Rui nodded thoughtfully: "Xu Qing, do you have anything else to say?"

Xu Xuan had already made his position clear, so he clasped his hands and responded, "I have nothing else to say. I have already said what I should say to Your Majesty."

"Okay." Cao Rui nodded: "Xu Qing, please go back."

"As you wish, I'll take my leave." Xu Xuan agreed, stood up and walked out in small steps.

The matter of appointing a crown prince... Cao Rui instinctively felt that there was something fishy going on. (End of this chapter)