A Rundown of Powerful Ministers, Starting with 'Why, Your Majesty, Did You Rebel?'

["Your Majesty, why have you turned against us? My father and I have served the realm well. How have we wronged Your Majesty?"

The commander of the Imperial Guard, Niaoluo Shougongfa, called out to the emperor from behind: "Your Majesty, don't ride away. The Great General is angry." Wenxiang once attended a drinking party and raised his cup high: "Your servant Cheng offers Your Majesty a drink." The emperor was displeased and said: "Since ancient times, no kingdom has been imperishable. What use have I for this life?" Wenxiang flew into a rage: "'I'? 'I'? You dog-legged 'I'!" Wenxiang ordered Ji Shu to strike the emperor three times, then flung his sleeves and stormed out.

Those were all legendary moments from Northern Qi's master of outrageous antics.

Gao Cheng: Have you no manners?]

[Everyone, stay seated inside. Leave the affairs of state to this old servant.

Before Li Shimin had even recovered from the shock, he saw Emperor Zhaozong run around a pillar in a single robe, pursued by a rebel with a sword.]

[Cao Cao had just been moved by the stirring declaration, "I would rather die as the noble Prince of Gaogui than live as the Prince of Changdao," when he turned and saw Cao Mao killed in the street by the Sima clan. Sima Yi didn't even have time to slip away before seeing his foolish great-grandson lead imperial expeditions time and again.]

[Faced with Zong Ai, who had murdered two emperors in succession, Qin Shi Huang couldn't decide whether Zhao Gao or Zong Ai was more detestable. His sole comfort was Lu Buwei. By comparison, Lu Buwei truly was my righteous adoptive father.]

[The Northern Song literati felt deeply that our dynasty had come to power through the most legitimate means.

Emperor Yin of Han: Say that again. Guo Wei and Chai Rong, say that again?]

[Zhu Di pleads his case: There were treacherous villains around my nephew, so I came to purge the court on his behalf. But as soon as I reached Nanjing, my nephew disappeared. The realm and its people couldn't go a single day without a ruler, so I had no choice but to ascend the throne.]

[Watching the chaos of demons running wild, Emperor Wu of Han felt a surge of relief. Huo Guang really is a loyal subject of the Han!]

Theme: Utterly devoted and loyal, with Heaven as my witness!