《资治通鉴·唐纪·唐纪二十三》
魏元忠还曾当面向武则天进言道： 从先帝在位直到现在，臣蒙受朝廷大恩，如今臣得忝列宰相之位，不能为国家竭忠效死，致使小人得以在陛下左右掌权，这是臣的罪过呀！ 
元忠又尝面奏： 臣自先帝以来，蒙被恩渥，今承乏宰相，不能尽忠死节，使小人在侧，臣之罪也！ 
Wei Yuanzhong once personally advised Wu Zetian: “From the reign of the former emperor until now, I have received great kindness from the court. Today, I have been fortunate enough to join the ranks of prime ministers, but I have failed to fully devote myself to the nation, causing treacherous men to seize power at your side. This is my fault!”
<s>[INST] Kindly elucidate the central themes in this passage in English: 元忠又尝面奏： 臣自先帝以来，蒙被恩渥，今承乏宰相，不能尽忠死节，使小人在侧，臣之罪也！  [/INST] Wei Yuanzhong once personally advised Wu Zetian: “From the reign of the former emperor until now, I have received great kindness from the court. Today, I have been fortunate enough to join the ranks of prime ministers, but I have failed to fully devote myself to the nation, causing treacherous men to seize power at your side. This is my fault!”</s>
Kindly elucidate the central themes in this passage in English: 元忠又尝面奏： 臣自先帝以来，蒙被恩渥，今承乏宰相，不能尽忠死节，使小人在侧，臣之罪也！
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Wei Yuanzhong once personally advised Wu Zetian: “From the reign of the former emperor until now, I have received great kindness from the court. Today, I have been fortunate enough to join the ranks of prime ministers, but I have failed to fully devote myself to the nation, causing treacherous men to seize power at your side. This is my fault!”
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