The emperor would rather have a

Chapter 215 "Seizing the Chance" Reinstatement

In the secluded courtyard of the Zhao family mansion, a quiet little hall, far from the hustle and bustle, became Zhao Kuangyin's residence during his months of mourning.

The room was furnished very simply, with only a couch, a small table, and a desk. The desk and table were spotless, with no wine vessels or trinkets in sight, except for a well-worn copy of "The Divine Mechanism for Enemy Enemies: The Yin Classic of Taibai".

At the very head of the small hall, in the highest position, stood a dark shrine containing Zhao Hongyin's memorial tablet. Offerings of pastries and wine were laid out on the altar, and wisps of smoke rose from the octagonal bronze incense burner.

Zhao Kuangyin sat cross-legged on a hard wooden couch, not wearing the coarse mourning clothes, but a plain cotton robe with a coarse hemp belt tied around his waist, symbolizing that he was still in mourning.

During this period, those observing mourning must cease all external affairs, refrain from participating in banquets, singing and dancing, and other celebratory events such as weddings, and maintain proper appearance and demeanor in accordance with funeral rites.

Even more extreme cases involve returning to one's ancestral home, building a hut near one's parents' graves, and temporarily living separately from one's wife, children, and family, as a way of remembering the nurturing grace of one's parents.

The system of observing mourning for the deceased continued even during the Five Dynasties period when ritual and music had collapsed, but there were many variations in its actual implementation.

Under normal circumstances, if one of their parents dies, officials will often voluntarily request to leave their posts to observe mourning.

Depending on the specific circumstances, the imperial court usually granted their requests and allowed them to resign from their official posts and return to their hometowns to fulfill their filial duties. This was known as "dating mourning and observing mourning."

However, sometimes, when the person making the request held an important position or when national affairs were urgent, the court would reject the request and order the person not to leave their post to observe mourning, but instead to work in plain clothes.

Alternatively, there were those who had not completed their mourning period but were summoned back to their posts by the court—these two situations were collectively referred to as "reinstatement after mourning."

However, military officers were an exception. During the mourning period, they were not relieved of their official duties, but were granted leave ranging from one to several months. They would also be granted additional leave on days of mourning such as the major mourning, minor mourning, and the day of the mourning for the dead.

Such preferential treatment was not only a favor from the emperor to the military men, but also a practical need based on the chaotic circumstances of the time.

After all, wars were frequent and ever-changing, making military generals indispensable. The court relied heavily on them, so they were allowed to remain in their posts to observe mourning, so that they could be reinstated and respond to summons at any time.

"Alas—" Zhao Kuangyin suddenly sighed softly, breaking the silence in the hall.

His gaze seemed to be fixed on the open military treatise, but his eyes seemed to pierce through the pages, appearing somewhat empty and unfocused, carrying a hint of dazedness and weariness.

Although he had been living in seclusion and observing mourning for several months, Zhao Kuangyin was not isolated from the world, nor was he oblivious to what was happening around him. He remained very concerned about the situation both inside and outside the capital, and within and outside the court.

The initial setback in last year's southern expedition did not diminish the emperor's ambition to conquer the Jiangnan region. On the contrary, since the suburban sacrifice at the beginning of the month, the court has begun to take significant actions, and a second southern expedition is imminent.

However, with a major battle looming and people in need, Zhao Kuangyin was slow to receive his edict of reinstatement.

Could it be that the emperor has forgotten that there is still a general like him in the Imperial Guards...? The anxiety and disappointment in his heart, mixed with the sorrow for his father, all intertwined together, made Zhao Kuangyin feel extremely annoyed.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps approached from afar and finally stopped outside the tightly closed hall door.

Immediately, the steward's voice came clearly: "Second Master, Commander Li from the Palace Guard has come to visit. He says he has come specifically to see you. This old servant has invited him to the front hall to serve tea."

"Li... huh?!"

Zhao Kuangyin was about to ask which "Commander Li" it was, but before he could finish speaking, a sudden inspiration flashed through his mind.

He almost instinctively sprang up from the couch and swiftly strode to the door.

squeak-

The hall door was abruptly pulled open by Zhao Kuangyin from the inside, and a chilly breeze swept in. Without waiting for a reply, he asked, "Is the visitor Li Yi, the Commander of the Palace Guards?"

"Exactly!" the steward hurriedly nodded in response.

After receiving an affirmative answer, Zhao Kuangyin took a deep breath, straightened his plain robe, and tightened his loose hemp belt.

Having done all this, he immediately strode along the veranda toward the front yard.

……

The front hall of the Zhao family's reception area was furnished in a simple and unpretentious style, with a faint smell of decaying wood permeating the air.

Li Yi sat upright on the couch in the host and guest seats.

He casually rested one hand on his knee, picked up a teacup from the table with the other, and took a small sip.

The rising steam, carrying the aroma of tea, blurred his sharply defined features, making it impossible to discern his expression.

Li Yi's visit to the Zhao family today is not simply a reunion. He has a deeper intention—to completely bring Zhao Kuangyin into his camp.

Li Yi pondered the matter carefully in his mind, and the more he thought about it, the more confident he felt about it.

Because Zhao Kuangyin's current situation is vastly different from the "historical" trajectory he is familiar with! Historically, Zhao Kuangyin should have held the position of Commander of the Palace Guard and become the second-in-command of the Palace Guard, but now he is merely the Commander of the Left Wing of the Crane Controlling Division.

Although in terms of official rank, salary, status and treatment, there doesn't seem to be much difference between him and the Palace Guard Commander of the same period in history.

However, the power and influence they wield, and the meaning they represent, are worlds apart.

More importantly, the task of reorganizing the Imperial Guards, which originally belonged to Zhao Kuangyin, was "hijacked" by Li Yi in the current timeline.

Zhao Kuangyin could no longer use the opportunity to befriend generals and install cronies in the Imperial Guard as he had in history, and his greatest reliance naturally disappeared.

In addition, his father Zhao Hongyin died more than half a year earlier than "historically recorded".

It should be noted that Zhao Hongyin survived the turmoil of four dynasties and had extensive connections within the Imperial Guard.

While he was alive, these sentiments might have been effective. But once he died, the old friendships naturally faded.

As the saying goes, "When a person is alive, relationships remain; when a person dies, relationships are severed..." This is the reality of interpersonal relationships; the essence of social connections is still self-interest.

As for how much of their parents' connections they can maintain, that depends entirely on the Zhao family's own hard power.

In the original historical trajectory, when Zhao Hongyin died, Zhao Kuangyin was already the Commander of the Palace Guards and had achieved remarkable results in attacking the Southern Tang. Soon after, he was promoted to Commander of the Palace Guards.

Even if his father suddenly passed away, he could still maintain his father's network of connections through his own hard work.

Moreover, he had also cultivated a group of brothers and confidants within the army.

But what about now?
Li Yi did more than simply replace the "niche" that should have belonged to Zhao Kuangyin in history.

He even surpassed Li Yi in every aspect – whether it was military achievements, official position, or status as a relative of the emperor by marriage, what could Zhao Dayou at the beginning of the third year of Xiande compare to Li Yi?

We are inferior in power, strength, and affection!

Li Yi believed that Zhao Kuangyin would have no reason to refuse his offer.

Just as his mind was racing, a cheerful and loud voice rang out from outside the hall: "Oh! Brother Yi has graced my humble abode with his presence. I have failed to greet you properly, and I hope you will forgive my lack of courtesy!"

Before the words were even finished, a tall and imposing figure strode into the hall.

It was Zhao Kuangyin!
He wore a simple cloth robe, tied with a coarse hemp belt, and his eyes radiated a familiar smile. Although he looked a little thinner than last year, his bold and unrestrained demeanor was still undeniable.

Upon hearing Zhao Kuangyin address him as "Brother Yi," Li Yi smiled and rose to greet him, saying, "Brother Zhao, you're too kind. We're brothers, why stand on ceremony?"

“Brother Yi is right, I was wrong…” Zhao Kuangyin affectionately took Li Yi’s arm and led him to sit down on the couch. The wooden couch creaked under the weight.

The two sat on the same bed. Zhao Kuangyin gently patted Li Yi's hand, sighing deeply as if he had a lot of feelings to express.

He let out a sincere sigh: "Alas! My father has just passed away, and there are so many things happening both inside and outside the household that I am utterly exhausted. Yet my dear brother still remembers me and has come to visit me in person. I, your foolish brother... alas!"

Li Yi said softly, "Since General Zhao's funeral last year, I had intended to visit your residence to pay my respects at another time. But as you know, Brother Zhao, I have been busy with important responsibilities for the past few months and have not been able to spare the time. I took a day off today, so I came here without notice. I hope you don't mind me bothering you."

The two men, holding hands and talking intimately, resembled blood-related brothers. One addressed him as "Brother Zhao," the other as "My dear brother," their deep affection seemingly overflowing, as if they wished they could immediately take off their pants and share a pair.

As they spoke, Zhao Kuangyin's gaze swept to the side and he noticed the gifts Li Yi had brought. His thick eyebrows immediately rose, and his tone carried a hint of helplessness: "Brother Yi, look at you. You've come all this way, just like coming home. Why bring all this rubbish?"

Li Yi smiled warmly and said, "Brother Zhao, please don't mind. It's nothing valuable. I just brought some small trinkets for my nephews and nieces as a token of my appreciation as their uncle."

He said this very naturally, in a very casual tone, as if they were just some worthless trinket.

In reality, the gifts Li Yi brought were worth at least several hundred strings of cash. In addition to Zhao Da's children, he also prepared gifts for his mother, Lady Du, his younger brothers and sisters-in-law, and his two wives and concubines.

However, compared to winning over Zhao Kuangyin, the cost of a mere few hundred strings of cash was nothing.

Li Yi's words immediately eased the tension in the hall. Zhao Kuangyin sighed repeatedly, "Oh dear, my dear brother... Never mind, I'll thank you on behalf of the children! I'll call Zhuang'er and Yuru out later to kowtow and pay their respects to your uncle!"

Li Yi shook his head slightly and said, "No need. I appreciate Brother Zhao's kindness, but there's no need for the children to come and kowtow!"

He paused slightly, his expression becoming more solemn, and looked at Zhao Kuangyin with open and sincere eyes. "To be honest, Brother Zhao, besides visiting you and paying respects to the old general to express my condolences, I also have something I'd like to discuss with you."

Upon hearing Li Yi say that he had something to discuss with him, Zhao Kuangyin's eyes immediately became focused, but he did not rush to ask any further questions.

Instead, he pulled Li Yi up by the arm and replied cheerfully, "My dear brother, you are too kind. If my father knew this in the afterlife, he would be extremely pleased! In that case, I will take you to pay respects to my father. Besides, it is a relatively quiet place..."

(End of this chapter)