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

Dong Xian was chilled to the bone by Emperor Ai's words. He knew his own limitations; the Imperial Seal was not a treasure that would allow him to ascend the throne, but rather a life-saving measure that would lead to the execution of his entire family.

If he becomes emperor, will anyone in the court agree?

What would the feudal lords, high-ranking officials, and relatives of the Han Dynasty think?

He can be a powerful minister, that's fine.

Throughout the Han Dynasty, powerful ministers were a common sight in every dynasty.

But becoming emperor required immense courage. Dong Xian was so frightened that he lost his composure. By the time he came to his senses, Emperor Ai of Han had already passed away.

He quickly invited the Empress Dowager, Wang Mang, the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers of the Imperial Clan Court, and others in.

Since the Wei family left, no one has dared to take the position of Grand Minister of Agriculture, so the current high-ranking officials in the court are only the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers.

None of the people who came in gave Dong Xian a friendly look, especially after they learned that the emperor had died; their expressions became even more sour.

Before his death, instead of arranging state affairs for his important ministers, the emperor spent time with a male favorite concubine!

"Did His Majesty make any arrangements regarding his successor before his passing?"

The Empress Dowager asked Dong Xian.

"No."

Dong Xian silently observed everyone present, knowing that the Wang family would likely be in power for the foreseeable future.

So, for the sake of his future wealth and glory, he decided to do the Wang family a favor.

"His Majesty has given me the Imperial Seal of the State, instructing me to pass it on to the Empress Dowager."

"Please, Empress Dowager, together with the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, decide on the selection of the new emperor."

Dong Xian knelt before the Empress Dowager and held the Imperial Seal of the State high above his head.

Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun temporarily took charge of the Imperial Seal of the State in her capacity as Empress Dowager.

Wang Mang also began to take the first step in his grand undertaking.

With the support of the Queen Mother, he requested that the ministers in the court recommend a candidate for the new prime minister.

Due to Wang Mang's good reputation, the power of the Wang family, and the strong support of the Empress Dowager, Wang Mang was appointed as the prime minister.

He officially became the most powerful person in the empire.

After Wang Mang became prime minister, he gathered the court officials, relatives, and marquises together, with the Empress Dowager Wang as witness, to discuss choosing one of the relatives to succeed to the throne.

Emperor Ai of Han had no sons, and Emperor Huang of Han, who went back to Emperor Ai of Han, also had no sons.

The ministers had no choice but to count back to Emperor Jing of Han.

Emperor Jing of Han had several sons. One lineage was that of Emperor Huang of Han, who had no sons. Another lineage was that of Emperor Ai of Han, who also had no sons. In addition, there was another lineage, that of Liu Xing, the Prince of Zhongshan.

Liu Xing's youngest son, Liu Kan, was only 9 years old, which was just the right age to be controlled.

He was also the purest in bloodline, and with Wang Mang's support, Liu Kan, only 9 years old, ascended the throne.

He was known to later generations as Emperor Ping of Han.

Because Emperor Ping of Han was young, the Empress Dowager ordered Chancellor Wang Mang to act as the head of the court.

Because of Wang Mang's good reputation, this order received unanimous support from both the court and the public.

Moreover, the power held by maternal relatives was an old tradition in the Han Dynasty, and everyone was used to it.

After Wang Mang seized power, he continued to consolidate his rule.

Looking at historical cases of failed reforms, he concluded that they all stemmed from the fact that the decision-makers failed to seize the power to make the choice, allowing others to take their place.

Therefore, before Wang Mang started his reforms, he first eliminated dissidents in the court. When he had completely seized power in the court, that was when he launched his reforms.

In the second year of Emperor Ping of Han, in order to facilitate his own actions, Wang Mang, in the name of Emperor Ping of Han, bestowed the title of King upon the past heads of the Wei family and the title of Duke of Yan upon the current head of the Wei family.

The Wei family naturally refused; if they wanted it, they would have gotten it long ago.

However, this was just a prelude to Wang Mang's conferment of the title of Duke. Since the Wei family had not been granted the title of Duke, no matter how great his achievements were, he could not be promoted further.

Therefore, Wang Mang directly issued an imperial edict to elevate the Wei family's rank.

Anyway, the Wei family doesn't need to handle any political affairs regarding the nobility title, so they can just be forcibly promoted.

Moreover, no one in the world would object, and it would even enhance his reputation.

Anyone who can promote the Wei family must be a good official.

After the news spread that Wang Mang had requested that the Wei family be granted the title of Duke, the people's impression of this prime minister improved even more.

Taking advantage of the momentum, Wang Mang used the emperor's private treasury to reward officials and fund the establishment of state-run nursing homes in various regions to help the widowed, orphaned, and lonely.

With the help of the Wang family's influence, Wang Mang was almost portrayed as a saint.

A sage appears every 500 years, and the sea and rivers are peaceful and tranquil.

Wang Mang's power in the court and his prestige among the people reached their peak.

In the third year of Emperor Ping of Han's reign, in order to test his authority in the court and his prestige among the people, he instructed his ministers to submit a memorial to grant him the title of Duke.

Wang Mang, who had enjoyed success for so many years, suffered a crushing blow.

Obstacles poured in from all over the world like snowflakes, in all sorts of languages. Wang Mang saw a few crooked words between the lines: "The head of the Wei family has only just been granted the title of Duke. What makes you think you can be ranked alongside him?!"

Wang Mang had no choice but to settle for second best and changed his title from Marquis of Xindu to Marquis of Anhan.

Increase the fiefdom to ten thousand households.

Wang Mang began to feel wary of the Wei family, and only then did he realize that he had actually forgotten about this behemoth.

There must have been time travelers in the Wei family, who must have left behind historical traces.

The Wei family must have discovered his anomaly by now, but he is being very careful in his actions, and everything he does is based on reason and evidence.

Wang Mang estimated that the Wei family only thought that he appeared due to the butterfly effect, so they had not taken any action against him.

But if he were to usurp the throne, the Wei family would certainly not allow history to unfold beyond their control.

He will then face off against the Wei family.

Judging from the current situation, no matter what happens when the time comes, everyone in the world will blindly side with the Wei family.

This is the reputation that the Wei family has accumulated over 200 years and several generations.

No matter how capable Wang Mang was, he couldn't catch up in just a few decades.

A familiar figure appeared once again in front of the Yanhou Mansion.

Wang Mang personally visited him.

This time, however, the person who received them was changed from Wei Lun to Wei An.

After exchanging pleasantries and complaining about Emperor Huang of Han, the atmosphere of their conversation suddenly became lively.

No matter who you are, as long as you join me in complaining about Emperor Huang of Han, you can at least become my friend on the surface — Wei, the petty-minded An.

"What brings the Marquis of Anhan to the Wei family?"

After exchanging pleasantries, the two got down to business.