Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

It only took Sima Yi more than half an hour to travel to and from the Secretariat.

When Sima Yi repeated what he had asked in the Shangshutai, Cao Rui just nodded slightly and said, "I know what Sikong said just now. Go back first. I will find you later if I have something else."

"As you wish." Sima Yi bowed and took his leave.

The four ministers were still in the study. Cao Rui looked around and said, "I am going to call Chen Jibi again. You can also listen together."

"Yes." The four people responded.

After Chen Jiao entered, Cao Rui gestured for Chen Jiao to sit down and asked in a deep voice:
"Mr. Chen, I have called you here to ask you a few questions. You and Xu Xuan are fighting each other. How will it end? Mr. Chen, have you ever thought about it?"

Chen Jiao bowed and responded: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for speaking frankly, but Xu Baojian wants to put me to death. He wants to use this unprovoked incident to completely erase all the merits and hard work I have put in serving the Wei Dynasty for more than 30 years!"

"Your Majesty!" Chen Jiao became more and more excited as he spoke, and he even stood up from his chair: "Your Majesty, you know what kind of person I am over the years. Am I not even as good as Xu Xuan in front of Your Majesty?"

"Your Majesty, there is no such thing as him in the court, and no such thing as me! It was Xu Xuan who threatened me with his words, not my fault!"

Cao Rui had heard about the fight between Chen Jiao and Xu Xuan before, but he was a little skeptical. But when he saw Chen Jiao's excited expression, Cao Rui instantly thought of a scene many years ago.

Chen Jiao is still the same Chen Jiao.

In the seventh year of Huangchu, when Cao Rui had just ascended the throne, he wanted to go to the Shangshutai to check documents, but was stopped outside by Chen Jiao, the then Shangshu Ling, and was not allowed to enter. Cao Rui therefore removed Chen Jiao from the position of Shangshu Ling and transferred him to Shizhong.

The past events were still vivid in his mind. When Cao Rui recalled this scene, he was actually a little dazed for a moment.

“Your Majesty!” Chen Jiao saw Cao Rui sitting in his seat thinking without moving, and his tone became more and more anxious: “I hope Your Majesty will think of my hard work and sympathize with me. Don’t let evil people like Xu Xuan succeed!”

Cao Rui looked at Chen Jiao and sighed. This felt like he was being forced into a fight with words.

'As a minister, I shouldn't be like this...' Cao Rui thought secretly in his heart.

However, Cao Rui did not directly rebuke him, but said calmly: "I already know what Chen Qing said just now. Don't think too much, go back and deal with government affairs first, I and the court will give you a proper explanation."

Chen Jiao actually knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"

After kowtowing, Chen Jiao didn't say much. He just stood up and left the study, looking very angry.

Cao Rui's face gradually turned cold.

Pei Qian was very good at observing people's expressions. He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, although Chen Pushe did something inappropriate, Your Majesty should not be angry about it, lest you get sick from anger."

Cao Rui snorted lightly: "I am not angry with him, but I have other things to do. Aren't they going to fight? Isn't someone going to cause trouble? I will sit in this palace and see how big a mess they can make!"

"Pass the order!" Cao Rui said, "Order all officials above the rank of 2,000 stone in Shouchun City, including cabinet ministers, ministers, privy councilors, and titled generals, to express their opinions on the matter of Chen Jiao and Xu Xuan. No one should be left out!"

Lu Yu was a little doubtful, and asked with his hands clasped aside: "Your Majesty, is this a bit too big?"

Wang Su turned to look at Lu Yu: "If it's not big, then how can we see everyone clearly? You and I have seen what Chen Jibi did just now, so how can we talk about others?"

Lu Yu sighed and said nothing more. For the ministers in Shouchun City, this year was indeed eventful. The ministers had to express their views on the issue of opposing the crown prince, and they also had to express their views on the issues of Chen Jiao and Xu Xuan. The whole Shouchun City was in an uproar.

The results came out quickly. Chen Jiao and Xu Xuan each had their supporters, some supported Xu Xuan, and some supported punishing both of them at the same time. Apart from these three options, there were no other options.

Only four attendants were not asked to make such a choice and remained in the position of judges together with the emperor.

October 5th, in the study.

Four attendants and four cabinet ministers were all here, sitting on both sides.

"The Minister has collected the statements of the four ministers, but I have not read them. I am waiting for you to tell me in person." Cao Rui said slowly: "Although you are ministers, you are doing what the prime ministers did in the Han Dynasty. There should be no gap between you and me. Say what you think, and don't hide anything."

"By the way, Chen Qing, there's no need to say anything. I know what you're thinking."

Chen Jiao was about to speak but was suppressed again. He could only bow and say nothing.

"General." Cao Rui pointed at Cao Zhen.

Cao Zhen shook his head slightly: "Your Majesty, I think the matter should end here. There should be no more twists and turns. Chen Pushe and Xu Shangshu will each be fined and stripped of their titles as punishment. Chen Pushe will change the title that caused the dispute and will not mention it again. He will submit a letter to Your Majesty to confess his guilt, and the matter will be over."

"Ji Bi, Chen Pushe, what do you think?" Cao Zhen turned his head to look at Chen Jiao, but Chen Jiao turned his face away and did not look at Cao Zhen.

Cao Zhen also sighed helplessly, and then bowed to Cao Rui: "Your Majesty, this is my opinion, I have no other ideas."

"Let Sikong speak again." Cao Rui pointed at Sima Yi.

Sima Yi said firmly: "Your Majesty, I spoke in an impartial and honest manner in front of you today, only speaking about right and wrong, not personal friendship. It is indeed the fault of Chen Pushe in this matter."

Chen Jiao thought he had heard wrongly, and his whole body froze for a moment. His neck slowly turned towards Sima Yi, and his eyes gradually widened as he stared at Sima Yi's face.

Sima Yi did not pause and continued, "Your Majesty, there are six things that are wrong with Chen Pushe."

"First, he disregarded the etiquette of the country. As a cabinet minister, he did not set an example for the world and wanted to pass the title to his second son."

"Secondly, he wanted to use his personal feelings to force Your Majesty, and took advantage of Your Majesty's kindness to his subjects to fulfill his own selfish desires. Later, he openly said in front of the emperor in the study that there was only me and no one else, making Your Majesty embarrassed."

"Third, he disregarded the dignity of a minister and openly beat his subordinates in the Shangshutai. The situation was terrible and it was the only thing heard of since the founding of the country. If he is not punished, it will not be enough to thank the world."

"Fourth, it is extremely inappropriate to speak to subordinates, misrepresent one's personal affairs as state affairs, and accuse subordinates of being spies for the enemy country."

"Fifth..."

Chen Jiao listened to Sima Yi's words, his face first turned pale, then turned red. First, second, third... After listening to them one by one, Chen Jiao could no longer bear it, and immediately pointed at Sima Yi's nose and said:

"Sima Zhongda, why do you want to frame me like this! How have I, Chen Jiao, ever done anything wrong to you, and how have I ever done anything wrong to the country! Is it just because of a trivial matter of being granted a title?" (End of this chapter)