；　and　the　Beloved　Consort's　ambition　led　her　to　intrigue　to　replace　the　Empress。　She　took　Zhang　Tao；　a　minister　at　the　court；　into　her　confidence。

At　that　time　the　Emperor　was　indisposed；　and　Zhang　Tao　alleged；　saying；　〃In　the　palace　of　the　Empress　has　been　dug　up　a　wooden　image　with　Your　Majesty's　date　of　birth　written　thereon。　It　is　meant　to　exercise　a　maleficent　influence。〃

Cao　Pi　in　his　anger　forced　his　Empress　to　mit　suicide；　and　he　set　up　the　Beloved　Consort　in　her　place。

But　Lady　Guo　had　no　issue。　Wherefore　she　nourished　Cao　Rui　as　her　own。　However；　loved　as　Cao　Rui　was；　he　was　not　then　named　heir　by　the　Empress。

When　he　was　about　fifteen；　Cao　Rui；　who　was　an　expert　archer　and　a　daring　rider；　acpanied　his　father　to　the　hunt。　In　a　gully　they　started　a　doe　and　its　fawn。　Cao　Pi　shot　the　doe；　while　the　fawn　fled。　Seeing　that　the　fawn's　course　led　past　his　son's　horse；　Cao　Pi　called　out　to　him　to　shoot　it。　Instead　the　youth　bursts　into　tears。

〃Your　Majesty　has　slain　the　mother。　How　can　one　kill　the　child　as　well？〃

The　words　struck　the　Emperor　with　remorse。　He　threw　aside　his　bow；　saying；　〃My　son；　you　would　make　a　benevolent　and　virtuous　ruler。〃

From　this　circumstance　Cao　Pi　decided　that　Cao　Rui　should　succeed；　and　conferred　upon　him　the　princedom　of　Pingyuan。

In　the　fifth　month　the　Emperor　fell　ill；　and　medical　treatment　was　of　no　avail。　So　the　chief　officers　were　summoned　to　the　bedside　of　the　Emperor。　They　were　mander　of　the　Center　Army　Cao　Zhen；　General　Who　Guards　the　West　Chen　Qun；　and　Grand　mander　Sima　Yi。

When　they　had　e；　the　Emperor's　son　was　called；　and　the　dying　Emperor　spoke　thus：　〃I　am　grievously　ill；　and　my　end　is　near。　I　confide　to　your　care　and　guidance　this　son　of　mine。　You　must　support　him