Walking with the New Progenitor

"Xiang'er, I had a splendid carriage made for you. Would you like to ride with me?"

"In the paintings left behind from ancient times, wise rulers had worthy ministers by their sides. It was only the last rulers of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, Jie of Xia, Zhou of Shang, and You of Zhou, who had their favored consorts sitting beside them. In the end, their kingdoms fell and they lost their lives. If I were to travel in the same carriage as you, that would be most inauspicious."

"..."

The next day, Wang Mang issued an edict: "Appoint three He Pin, Mei Yu, and He Ren, with ranks equivalent to dukes; nine Pin Ren, equivalent to ministers; twenty-seven Mei Ren, equivalent to senior officials; and eighty-one Yu Ren, equivalent to junior officials."

Hmph! My consorts surpass my ministers in both learning and loyalty. I shall be a wise ruler, and the worthy ministers riding with me shall be my worthy consorts!