Wang Ye was from Wuling Commandery (武陵郡),[3] which is around present-day Changde, Hunan.
He started his career as an official in the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period and served as a Regular Mounted Attendant (散騎常侍).
Cao Mao failed in his coup against Sima Zhao and ended up being killed in June.
[4] Wang Ye continued serving under the Western Jin, which replaced the Cao Wei state after Sima Zhao's son, Sima Yan, usurped the throne from the last Wei emperor Cao Huan.
In the early years of Sima Yan's reign, Wang Ye was promoted to Central Protector of the Army (中護軍).