A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

In the seventh year of Emperor Huang of Han, Wang Feng of the Wang family first expelled Feng Yewang of the Feng family, who were related to the emperor by marriage. Then, taking advantage of Emperor Huang's appointment of Xu Jia as Grand Minister of Agriculture, he expelled Xu Jia, the father of Empress Xu, and ousted Wang Shang, thus basically seizing control of the court.

With no one to restrain him and with the deliberate indulgence of Wang Feng and Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun, Emperor Huang of Han became completely addicted to wine and women.

In the eighth year of Emperor Huangdi of Han, the reputation that the Wang family had built up over the years for Wang Mang finally came to fruition.

Over the years, he has been diligent in his studies, humble, filial to his mother and sister-in-law, respectful to his uncles and elders, and open to talented people. He is known as a moral exemplar of his generation.

Therefore, he was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Xindu, Grand Master of the Palace, and Attendant-in-Ordinary.

This also reflects Emperor Huang's intention to further strengthen the power of the royal family. Emperor Huang did not have many forces at his disposal, and in his view, the maternal relatives were one of them.

Moreover, the stronger the Wang family's power, the more clashes they will have with the Wei family.

Therefore, he actively supported the Wang family's influence as well as the Empress Xu family's influence.

Empress Xu's father, Xu Jia, was appointed General of the Cavalry by Emperor Huang of Han, who intended for his father-in-law to seize military power.

With the help of Empress Dowager Wang and Wang Gen, the second Grand Marshal of the Wang family, Wang Mang was now a moral exemplar praised by the literati of the time.

In addition, Wang Mang himself was also very capable, achieving great success in literature.

Some people began to compare him with the ancient sages, saying that he had the demeanor of Confucius.

After assuming a high position, Wang Mang did not become arrogant or disdainful of others; instead, he became even more humble.

He never considered himself superior, but instead treated scholars with respect and lived a simple and honest life.

He even distributed his salary to his retainers and ordinary people in Chang'an.

When traveling to various places for work, if he encountered poor people, he would even sell his own carriage to help them.

Wang Mang also intended to continuously promote his virtuous reputation among the people, deeply remembering the saying that he wanted to mobilize the masses.

At his suggestion, Wang Gen allowed him to travel throughout the country as a court attendant, thus spreading his virtuous reputation throughout the nation.

This coincided with the Wang family's original plan for him.

In the ninth year of Emperor Huang of Han, an unusual celestial phenomenon occurred, including a solar eclipse. Some ministers attributed this to Empress Xu, saying that her monopolization of favor in the harem had led to the premature deaths of all her children, which was an ominous sign.

This was used to persuade Emperor Huang of Han to expand his harem.

Emperor Huang of Han, seeing that Empress Xu was old and faded, agreed to the memorial and selected concubines to enter the palace.

In the same year, Emperor Huang of Han saw the graceful and ethereal Zhao Feiyan at Princess Yang'a's residence.

Zhao Feiyan was thus summoned to the palace and gained the favor of Emperor Huang of Han.

In the eleventh year of Emperor Huang of Han, Empress Xu's sister used witchcraft to curse a pregnant concubine and Zhao Feiyan in the harem. Zhao Feiyan exposed her, and Emperor Huang ordered her to be executed. Empress Xu was implicated and deposed.

Emperor Huang of Han wanted to make Zhao Feiyan his empress, but the empress blocked it on the grounds that she was of humble birth.

Emperor Huang of Han took the opportunity to enfeoff Zhao Feiyan's father as the Marquis of Chengyang and support Zhao Feiyan to become empress.

Later, in order to consolidate her position, Zhao Feiyan sent her younger sister into the palace as well. The two of them gained the emperor's favor and controlled the entire harem.

Any concubine who posed a threat to their position would be killed by them using various means.

In the entire palace, only Zhang Fang, the male favorite of Emperor Huang of Han, could be somewhat compared to him.

Two years later, with the Wang family's constant advocacy, Wang Mang's reputation was second only to that of Wang Gen, the Grand Minister of Agriculture, and in terms of his reputation for virtue, no one in the Wang family could match him.

Even in the whole world, his literary achievements rank among the top, and his reputation is second only to a few others.

Although Emperor Huang of Han was very dissatisfied with the Wang family's behavior towards Wei Jia, he felt that he had seen through the Wang family's thoughts when he saw Wang Mang's reputation.

The Wei family had an excellent reputation, whether among the Liu imperial family, other powerful families, nobles, officials, or even ordinary people who were unseen by the emperor.

In their eyes, the Wei family's morality and character were impeccable.

Now that the Wang family has such a sage, with Wang Mang, the Wang family has the right to provoke the Wei family and has the possibility of suppressing the Wei family.

"Go quickly and report to the King's minister."

Upon receiving the emperor's decree, Wang Mang immediately changed into his court robes and had someone escort him to the palace.

Even though he now holds a high official position and is famous throughout the court and the country, he still does not overstep his bounds in the slightest.

Every movement and word conformed to the etiquette of the court. After entering Weiyang Palace, Wang Mang kept his head down and walked forward with small steps.

Upon seeing Emperor Huang of Han's shoes, he immediately knelt down and bowed, a gesture so perfect that even the most demanding etiquette officials could not find fault with it.

This respectful attitude made Emperor Huang of Han very happy.

Even the eunuchs around him had never been so respectful.

This made him feel extremely favorable towards Wang Mang.

The eunuchs around Emperor Huang of Han were dumbfounded. "Aren't you a scholar and a sage? How come you're even more obsequious than us eunuchs?!"

If you're being so obsequious, doesn't it make us look useless?!

Where is your scholarly pride?

What happened to the noble status of your Wang family, which had been nobles for generations?

Do they even know you're like this?!

"You may rise, my dear subject."

"promise."

Wang Mang bowed deeply to Emperor Huang of Han once more before slowly rising, still leaning to one side and not daring to look directly at the emperor.

comfortable.

Emperor Huang of Han felt as if he had drunk iced soda on a sweltering summer day, feeling refreshed and invigorated from the inside out.

"If the court were filled with ministers like Wang Qing, why would I have any worries about state affairs?!"

"Isn't the reign of the three kings right before our eyes!"

Wang Mang knelt down again in fear, "Your Majesty is too kind. The officials in the court are all learned men, how could I, a mere junior, compare to them!"

"Get up, get up."

"They are indeed learned men, but they have learned nothing of it; they cannot even uphold the most basic loyalty to the emperor."

"What good are they, no matter how capable or knowledgeable they are!"

"Not only is it useless, it will actually have the opposite effect!"

Emperor Huang of Han sighed.

"Only a loyal minister like Wang Qing is my true reliance."

Emperor Huang of Han personally went over and helped Wang Mang up, saying, "From now on, when you see me, my dear minister, do not perform such a grand ceremony."

"Your Majesty, this is against the rules."

"Your Majesty, please rescind your order."

Wang Mang bowed again, his eyes revealing fear.

"This is my decree. Do you intend to disobey it, my dear minister?"

Emperor Huang of Han said forcefully.

"Your Majesty, I thank you."

Wang Mang bowed again and again.

"My dear ministers, what are your plans to deal with the Wei family now?"

Emperor Huang of Han couldn't help but ask.

He felt increasingly depressed during this time; the Wei family was like a mountain weighing on his heart.

It made even the supreme ruler like him breathless.

This doesn't look like an emperor at all!

No emperor ever lived such a miserable life.