The emperor would rather have a

Chapter 155 Zhao Hongyin Passes Away

At dawn the next day, Li Yi led Li Hanchao on horseback to the Zhao residence.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the streets and alleys of Tokyo were still shrouded in a hazy mist, making the sound of horses' hooves on the bluestone slabs particularly crisp.

Li Yi gazed at the approaching gate of the Zhao residence in the distance, his mind churning with thoughts.

Yesterday evening, Li Hanchao received his instructions to prepare gifts for his visit to the Zhao family today. Unexpectedly, when he passed by the Zhao family mansion, he saw that white banners had been hung at the gate, indicating that a funeral was being prepared.

Li Hanchao immediately returned to his residence and informed Li Yi of the matter.

After some thought, the two deduced from what Li Hanchao had seen that Zhao Hongyin was probably still alive, but he was likely nearing his end, otherwise the Zhao family would not have made preparations for his funeral in advance.

Li Yi couldn't help but wonder: Zhao Hongyin's sudden illness was a bit strange. Could it be because he was furious after hearing that he had made a great contribution?

After all, Zhao Kuangyin himself had personally explained the feud between himself and the Zhao family last year at the residence of the Inner Palace Guard, expressing his desire to let bygones be bygones.

Of the entire Zhao family, only Zhao Hongyin seemed unable to let go of something... Thinking about it this way, it's quite possible that Zhao Hongyin fell ill because of me.

"Hanchao, what do you mean by General Zhao's illness..." Li Yi suddenly began, but then stopped.

Li Hanchao understood and whispered, "Does Big Brother find something strange?"

As a member of the righteous society, he was well aware of the feud between his elder brother and the Zhao family. Li Yi started the conversation, and he wasn't stupid; he immediately guessed what was going on.

Li Yi nodded slightly: "Han Chao should know about what happened between me and the Zhao family last year. However, when the Imperial Guards were being reorganized, Zhao Kuangyin received my recommendation and intended to completely sever ties with me. He personally came to the military camp to explain to me, and his attitude was sincere and not like he was faking it."

"Judging from his words at the time, it seemed that only General Zhao remained resentful throughout the Zhao family."

He stroked the horse's mane thoughtfully, "Now that I have achieved further military merit and been promoted, if General Zhao were to hear the news, he might feel quite depressed."

Li Hanchao, finding it difficult to respond, could only nod slightly in response.

Li Yi sighed softly, turning his gaze forward. "In any case, our visit today is a small token of our sincerity. Let the Zhao family think what they will."

As they spoke, the two arrived at the gate of the Zhao residence.

When the gatekeeper learned that the visitor was the Commander of the Imperial Guards, he immediately sent a servant into the mansion to inform the master.

Before long, Zhao Kuangyin came out to greet him upon hearing the news. He bowed and said, "I am very grateful that Commander Li has come to visit my father."

Although he tried to appear energetic, the dark circles under his eyes and the weariness between his brows were undeniable.

Since his wedding, Li Yi had not seen Zhao Da for several months. However, the way Zhao Da addressed him was no longer "my worthy brother" or "my foolish brother," but rather a respectful and humble one.

However, considering their current status, the difference between them is indeed vast. One is merely a commander of the garrison, while the other is the second most important figure in the Palace Guard, second only to Zhang Yongde.

Zhao Kuangyin may not have wanted to get closer to Li Yi, but the difference in their status was undeniable, so it was only natural that he would take the initiative to lower his stance.

Li Yi cupped his hands and said, "Brother Zhao, there's no need for such formalities. How is your father's condition?"

Zhao Kuangyin shook his head and smiled bitterly: "The doctor said it was a recurrence of an old eye injury, plus my advanced age..." As he spoke, he led the two towards the inner courtyard.

After passing through several courtyards, Li Yi noticed that the servants in the mansion looked solemn and walked hurriedly, which showed that their master's condition was indeed critical.

Upon entering the inner room, a strong smell of medicine wafted out. Zhao Hongyin lay on the couch, his face ashen, his eyes closed, and his breathing so faint it was almost imperceptible.

When Zhao Kuangyi, who was standing by the bedside, saw the guest arrive, he silently retreated to the side.

Li Yi stepped forward for a closer look, his heart filled with silence. The once healthy future "Emperor Xuanzu of Song" had now become so weak, the veins on his wrists protruding beneath the brocade quilt like vines entwined on withered branches.

Judging from his complexion and condition, he does seem to have a long life ahead of him.

"My father was still talking about going to court yesterday..." Zhao Kuangyin said in a low voice, "but he suddenly fell into a coma last night. We've called in many doctors, but they're all helpless."

Li Yi understood perfectly, but remained expressionless.

He bowed deeply to the sickbed, then turned to Zhao Kuangyin and said, "Brother Zhao, rest assured, I have already sent someone to prepare top-quality medicinal herbs, which will be delivered shortly. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask. By the way, I also have a Taoist priest in my household who is skilled in alchemy; I'll have him come and take a look later as well… perhaps there is still some hope for the situation."

Zhao Kuangyin was immediately moved and said, "I am deeply grateful for the kindness shown to my Zhao family by Commander Li..."

Li Yi waved his hand to interrupt, saying, "Why do we need to say such things between brothers? Back when we joined the army in Daming Prefecture, we shared a cup of wine and a blanket... The bond between us brothers has never changed."

His words were a way of flattering Zhao Kuangyin. Although both of them joined the army when Guo Wei raised an army against the Later Han, they were not very close at first.

Moreover, it was Li Yi who took the initiative to befriend Zhao Kuangyin, and only then could the two be considered brothers in the army... As for the saying "sharing a bag of wine and sharing a quilt," it was more of a formality.

But Zhao Kuangyin was also a smart man, and he naturally knew that Li Yi's attitude was entirely out of respect for him. Otherwise, what did the life and death of the Zhao family have to do with Li Yi?

Zhao Kuangyin immediately cupped his hands and said, "Brother Yi is right. Our brotherhood will never change."

Given their current status and position, it's already a huge honor for him to be able to address Li Yi as a brother, since not everyone is qualified to be on friendly terms with the second-in-command of the Palace Guard.

Upon hearing Zhao Da change his form of address, Li Yi patted him on the shoulder: "General Zhao's condition is critical, so I won't bother you any longer. If Brother Zhao needs anything, please feel free to send someone to my residence to let me know."

Zhao Kuangyin no longer declined and had a heart-to-heart talk with Li Yi.

As they were talking, Zhao Erniang walked in gracefully. She wasn't surprised to see Li Yi there, as if she already knew the news.

"Brother Yi." Zhao Erniang curtsied.

She wore a simple dress that concealed most of her voluptuous figure, and her pretty face was free of makeup, yet she possessed a unique and refreshing charm.

Walking to the bedside, Zhao Erniang saw her father lying on the bed with his eyes closed. Her beautiful eyes couldn't help but well up with tears. She took out a handkerchief and gently wiped her father's face, tears falling uncontrollably.

Although she had always been dissatisfied with the marriage her father had arranged for her, they were, after all, father and daughter connected by blood. Seeing that her father was terminally ill and beyond medical help, she couldn't help but feel grief.

Seeing this, Li Yi, out of good intentions, comforted her, saying, "Good people are always blessed by heaven. General Zhao may be able to turn danger into safety this time. Second Madam, don't be too sad, lest you hurt yourself by crying."

"I thank you for your concern, Brother Yi." Zhao Erniang nodded gently.

Li Yi said no more, cupped his hands and said, "Brother Zhao, Kuangyi, and Second Madam, I won't bother you any longer, I'll take my leave first."

Zhao Erniang hurriedly said, "I'll go see Yi-ge'er off." As she spoke, she wiped the corner of her eye, got up, and walked to Li Yi's side. These were the words Zhao Kuangyin originally wanted to say, but his younger sister beat him to it. He opened his mouth, hesitated for a moment, and nodded slightly, saying, "Then, Second Sister, you can see Yi-ge'er off on my behalf."

When we left the Zhao residence, the morning mist had already dissipated.

Zhao Erniang escorted Li Yi to the gate and suddenly said out of the blue, "Brother Yi has married the daughter of the Prince of Wei, and I haven't had a chance to congratulate him yet... It's just a pity that many young ladies inside and outside Kaifeng will be heartbroken."

After saying that, she realized she had misspoke, so she quickly said goodbye, turned around, and hurriedly went through the gate.

What business is it of other women if I get married?

Li Yi was taken aback by what she said, but he quickly realized what she meant and couldn't help but stare at Zhao Erniang's back, trying to figure out what she was thinking.

Could it be that Zhao Da's sister has taken a liking to him...? He shook his head, deciding not to think about it anymore. Guo Shi and Zuo Ling'er at home were enough of a headache for him; he had no time to bother with other women.

Li Yi mounted his horse and said to Li Hanchao, "When we get back, bring Master Zuo to the Zhao residence so he can properly examine General Zhao's illness."

"Big brother..." Li Hanchao hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

Li Yi gazed ahead, his tone calm: "Grievances aside, the proper etiquette must be observed. As for whether General Zhao can overcome this hurdle…" He lightly flicked the reins, "that remains to be seen."

As the sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance, the tall lintel of the Zhao residence cast a long shadow in the morning sun.

Li Yi knew that once Zhao Hongyin passed away, his feud with the Zhao family would come to an end.

Moreover, to put it bluntly, it was actually a good thing that Zhao Da's father died, at least it allowed his relationship with Zhao Kuangyin to improve further.

Thinking back, the heartfelt words Zhao Kuangyin spoke to me when he personally visited the inner palace guards' residence must have been entirely true. According to him, apart from Zhao Hongyin, the other members of the Zhao family didn't hold much grudge against Zhao's aunt and nephew for what happened last year.

Judging from the future Emperor Taizu of Song's character and Li Yi's interactions with him over the past few years, Zhao Da was definitely not the kind of person who would deliberately fabricate stories about his own father to deceive and mislead outsiders.

Once Zhao Hongyin is dead, then it seems that there will be no more grudges between myself and the Zhao family.

Moreover, according to ancient tradition, sons were required to observe mourning at home after the death of their parents. Although the rules during the Five Dynasties period were not as strict, and it was not necessary to observe mourning for three years at a time, it was still required to observe mourning for several months.

In other words, Zhao Kuangyin was temporarily out of the running for war against the Southern Tang.

He was already worse off than his contemporaries in history, and if he couldn't gain merit in the war against the Southern Tang, his promotion would be even slower.

Zhao Kuangyin was indeed very capable, but if he had no opportunity to use his abilities, it would all be for naught.

Li Yi now intends to recruit Zhao Da into his sworn brotherhood; the worse Zhao Da fares, the more advantageous it will be for his plans.

Because of their different social statuses, people see things from different perspectives. Zhao Kuangyin's threat to Li Yi is now minimal. As long as he doesn't make a mistake along the way, Li Yi can naturally be used by him.

But if things really go wrong... even without Zhao Da, there are still Wang Da and Zhang Da, so it doesn't really matter anymore.

Back home, Li Yi told Zuo Congqin about Zhao Hongyin's condition. Although Zuo Congqin said he wasn't good at medicine, since Li Yi had already asked, he eventually went with Li Hanchao to Zhao's house to take a look.

However, just as Li Yi had predicted, Zuo Congqin returned and conveyed his opinion: Zhao Kuangyin's father was beyond saving.

There's nothing more to say.

That same day, Li Yi sent people to deliver all the precious medicinal herbs he could find to the Zhao family, which could be considered as doing his utmost. As for the rest, he could only leave it to fate and do his best.

However, Zhao Hongyin ultimately could not pull through. On the third night after Li Yi visited the Zhao residence, the future Emperor Taizu of Song's father passed away in a coma.

Li Yi couldn't help but feel a little sad, as Zhao Hongyin's death occurred more than half a year earlier than in history.

Moreover, in essence, whether he was angered to death by himself or his arrival caused the timeline to be moved forward, Zhao Da's father's death seemed to be inextricably linked to himself.

Of course, that's what he thought, but Li Yi didn't think he had done anything wrong.

A person's fate is predetermined, and life and death are not something that can be decided by human power. Rather than lying in bed and suffering from illness, it is better to die early and be reborn sooner.

Out of gratitude for Zhao Hongyin's status as a veteran general who had served several dynasties, Emperor Chai Rong issued an edict posthumously granting him the titles of Grand Commandant and Military Governor of Tanzhou after his death.

Although the posthumous titles bestowed upon a deceased person are worthless, they still represent the emperor's good intentions, and it's good to have some honor left on the epitaph.

On the day of the funeral at the Zhao residence, many military officers from the Imperial Guards also attended. Zhao Hongyin had served in the Imperial Guards for many years and had a considerable network of connections, so the funeral was quite grand.

Most of those who came were military officers; the civil officials at most brought a gift, and even then, they were few in number.

Zhang Yongde, the commander of the Palace Guard, was also present. He had a fairly close relationship with Zhao Kuangyin, and his father also had a good personal relationship with Zhao Hongyin.

However, due to Li Yi's sudden emergence, the relationship between Zhao Kuangyin and Zhang Yongde is no longer as close as it was in history, and has been replaced by Li Yi.

"Brother Zhao, please accept my condolences!"

After the funeral rites concluded, Li Yi and Zhang Yongde joined hands to bid farewell to Zhao Kuangyin.

The presence of the two most powerful figures in the Palace Guard made everyone else look like mere extras, and it also gave the Zhao family a lot of face. Zhao Kuangyin personally escorted the two to the main gate.

After leaving the Zhao family, Li Yi accompanied Zhang Yongde on horseback to the entrance of the neighborhood, where the two held hands and chatted.

"I suppose my brother is aware that since the founding emperor ascended the throne, I have had a strained relationship with Li Chongjin."

Zhang Yongde suddenly sighed, and then lowered his voice and said, "To my shame, although I am now on equal footing with Li Chongjin, the Emperor also intends for me to be a counterbalance to him. Everyone knows this without me saying it."

"But I'm not so sure about this. In terms of prestige and seniority, I'm still a notch below him. And that guy has a terrible temper. I'm usually a little afraid of him."

"However, now that my virtuous brother is helping me in the Palace Guard, I suddenly feel much more at ease."

However, Li Yi frowned upon hearing this. What Zhang Yongde said was indeed true, and everyone in the court knew the intricacies of the matter.

But to say these things out loud is rather intriguing.

Li Yi remained expressionless and immediately declared, "Brother Zhang, rest assured, I will share your glory and your loss, and I will do my utmost to assist you in managing the Palace Guard."

(End of this chapter)