Failed to earn himself credits as a member of royal family before coming to power, together with his ordinary capability , Sima Rui was not supported by the big northern immigrant landlords and the southern gentry.
司马睿即位后，因为他在皇族中声望不够，本人才能平平,所以得不到南北士族的支持，皇位不稳。
As he had little to start out with as an emperor now, Sima Rui enlisted the support of statesman Wang Dao, who wisely brought together the two powerful groups in a joint effort to prop up the newly established dynasty in southern China. Thus the Eastern Jin*s governing in the south was sustained.
但是,他重用了政治家王导。王导运用策略，使南方士族支持司马睿,北方南迁的士族也决意拥护司马睿，稳定了东晋政权, 维持了偏安局面。
Out of gratitude, Wang Dao was assumed the position of the chief Minister in control of the court and Wang Dun, the half brother of Wang Dao, grasped the power of army forces and defense. Besides ,other main posts in court were in the hands of Wang’s families as well.
司马睿十分感激王导，任他为宰相，执掌朝政，让王导的堂兄王敦都督军事，握有重兵，控制军权，其他重要的官职，大多数也由王导家族担任。
Virtually, it was a joint ruling of Sima Rui and Wang Dao in the Eastern Jin govern-ment.
东晋王朝，实际上是王导和司马睿共同掌握的。
Upon the ceremony of ascending the throne, Sima Rui repeatedly invited Wang Dao to sit together with him, which meant the sharing of authority, and was declined by the latter.
司马睿在登基大典上,几次请王导和他一起坐上宝座,接受群臣拜贺，王导谢绝。
No wander there was word that“Wang and Ma (Sima Rui)，under the sun”.
时人曾流传说:“王与马，共天下。”
Being well accepted by his people, Sima Rui became unsatisfied with the situation of sharing power with Wang Dao, and he kept close terms with Liu Kui and Diao Xie，meaning to dent the influence of Wang Dao in the court. He made an unsuccessful conspiracy to remove thoroughly Wang Dao's weight resulting from the fact that Wang Dun, hearing the words, took an initial strike, defeated Liu Kui in Wuchang (now Hubei), breezed through Jiankang, the capital, and killed Diao Xie.
司马睿在稳定了皇位后，开始不满“王马共天下”的局面，就起用刘隗、刁协为心腹，以削弱王导势力，并暗中进行军事部署，试图最终全面排除王导势力。王敦先发制人,从武昌（今属湖北)起兵击败刘隗，进入建康，杀死刁协。
It was under Wang Dao ’ s persuasion that Wang Dun withdrew to Wuchang leaving the power still in the hands of Wang Dao.
在王导的劝说下，王敦才退兵武昌，政权仍然由王导控制。
Realizing that there was no way to restrict the weight of Wang Dao and his order was like to that of the deaf ears despite he was the emperor, Sima Rui was upset and fell ill as the time being.
司马睿见无法动摇王导势力，自己名为天子，号令却不出宫门，渐渐忧愤成病，卧床不起。
As the last resort, he appointed Situ Xunzu, the only minister could be trusted, Tai Wei (officials in charge of the army force in court) and the Guard of the Apparent Emperor with purpose to suppress Wang Dao.
他想到大臣中只有司徒荀组对自己比较忠顺，就任命他为太尉兼领太子太保，打算让他参与朝政，钳制王导。
However, Situ Xunzu was ill and died shortly afterwards. Sima Rui was even mourned, and was his illness aggravated. On a night in November 322, Sima Rur^
died in his adytum leaving last order that his son, Sima Shao would succeed him.
不料司徒荀组受任不久就病死，司马眷更加忧伤，病势加重，公元322年11月的一个晚上，司马睿病死于建康宫中的内殿。遗诏宣布由太子司马绍继位。