Chapter 33: You Were Poisoned by Your Younger Brother

Zhao Kuangyin spoke these words with great confidence. Regarding his own martial arts, as well as those of his third younger brother, he understood the reality far better than most. It was not that he looked down upon his brother, but the truth was that his brother simply lacked the skill. When it came to hand-to-hand combat, his brother was nowhere near his level. And this was precisely what he found most baffling at present.

"Your Majesty, that is an excellent question. It is not just you; many others have harbored the same doubt. Regarding this matter, explanations were provided long ago. For instance, during the Ming and Qing dynasties, many scholars speculated that the most likely scenario was that you, Your Majesty, were poisoned to death by the Prince of Jin."

Zhao Kuangyin’s expression flickered, but he remained silent.

Li Cheng continued, "This is not merely baseless speculation or a slander against the Prince of Jin by later generations. There is evidence to support it. Qian Chu, the former King of Qiantang who surrendered his lands and came to reside in the capital, died shortly thereafter. He passed away suddenly on his birthday. The emperor at the time, Zhao Guangyi—or Zhao Jiong, as he renamed himself after ascending the throne—had offered him poisoned wine, causing his death. Coincidentally, in that same year, Li Yu, the Former Sovereign of Southern Tang who had been held in confinement in the capital for several years and was about to be summoned, also died suddenly on his birthday. He, too, was poisoned by wine gifted by Zhao Guangyi. This event is explicitly recorded in the 'Silent Records' written by Wang Zhi in the late Northern Song Dynasty. It states clearly that Li Yu died after consuming poisoned wine gifted by Zhao Guangyi, which contained 'Qianji'—the 'Pulling Mechanism' toxin. Wang Zhi was a man of good reputation and integrity. It is precisely because of these events that later generations labeled him the 'Master of Fatal Poisons.' With such facts at hand, how could one not make the connection? Speculating that he used poisoned wine to dispose of you, Your Majesty, is entirely reasonable and not mere slander."

Zhao Kuangyin sat in silence, his dark face revealing no change in expression.

Li Cheng suddenly recalled something else. "Oh, by the way, Your Majesty, I have seen theories from later generations suggesting that Meng Chang, the fallen monarch of Later Shu, might have also died from wine gifted by you after he arrived in Bianliang. Do you know if there is any truth to this?"

Few people are uninterested in gossip, especially gossip concerning the imperial palace, which is all the more alluring. Li Cheng currently possessed an advantage that no one else had; while others could only engage in endless speculation about these matters, he could inquire directly with the person involved.

Zhao Kuangyin, who sat in his chair with a dark complexion, lost in thought, turned even darker upon hearing Li Cheng’s question.

"I am an upright man! How could I commit such a despicable act? Meng Chang’s death was a natural one. He was merely a fallen monarch who had already lost the support of the people in Shu; why would I be unable to tolerate his presence? Furthermore, the Southern Tang had not yet been destroyed, and Qian Chu of Wuyue was still alive. Even if I had the inclination, I would never have done such a thing."

"Haha, I also feel that is highly unlikely. If this were the work of the Prince of Jin, I would have no doubts, but to pin it on you, Your Majesty, is indeed unbelievable."

Li Cheng wanted to ask further about the rumors between Lady Huarui and Zhao Kuangyin to verify them, but seeing the dark, pot-bottom expression on the older Zhao's face, he decided against it for the moment. He could wait for a more suitable opportunity in the future.

Zhao Kuangyin sat in his chair for a long time without speaking. Although he appeared calm on the surface, the things Li Cheng had said were inevitably affecting his state of mind. Li Cheng also remained silent, waiting quietly in his chair, giving the older Zhao enough time to digest the information.

...

"Cough, cough, cough..."

In the Prince of Jin’s residence, Lady Fu, the wife of Zhao Guangyi, could not stop coughing. She had been ill for some time, and despite seeking various doctors and medicines, her condition had not improved. Over the past two or three days, it had become increasingly severe. She coughed incessantly, her body was weak, she could not sleep through the night, and she suffered from fevers. She was so frail she could barely get out of bed.

"Can you hold it in? Stop coughing, it’s infuriating! Cough, cough, cough—you look like a consumptive ghost! My good fortune is being coughed away by you!"

Facing his increasingly ill wife, Zhao Guangyi showed no concern; instead, he reprimanded her with great impatience. It was evident that although Zhao Guangyi had told Lu Duoxun and Cheng Dexuan that he did not mind Zhao Dezhao replacing him to welcome Li Yu, in reality, he was deeply resentful. Not daring to express his frustration to the outside world, he vented it upon his wife.

Scolded by Zhao Guangyi, Lady Fu froze, then tried her best to suppress her cough. Tears flowed from her weary eyes, and she looked deeply aggrieved.

"Crying? You have the nerve to cry! I just said two words to you and you start crying! You think you’re the only one wronged? What kind of bad luck did I have to marry someone like you! You can’t share my burdens, you only drag me down! You’re like a jinx, why don’t you just hurry up and die?!"

Zhao Guangyi’s rage flared up, his brow furrowed in cold disdain. After saying this, he ignored Lady Fu, turned around, and slammed the door shut as he left. He looked at Lady Fu as if she were a dead dog or a mere burden. The cold-bloodedness and ruthlessness of Zhao Guangyi were fully exposed in this moment.

Lady Fu lay on the sickbed, staring at the window paper still trembling from the slam of the door, stunned and in utter disbelief. It was as if she were seeing this man, with whom she had shared her days and nights, for the very first time. She knew her husband was narrow-minded, vengeful, and somewhat cold-blooded, but that was always directed at outsiders; he had always treated her well. That was why she had never paid it much mind or thought such traits were particularly problematic.

But who could have imagined that now, as she lay gravely ill, his true attitude toward her would be so thoroughly revealed!

"I have become a burden? I am of no help to you? Who was it that begged the Emperor time and again to act as a matchmaker? Who was it that kept saying I was a virtuous wife? And who was it that relied so heavily on my maternal family back then? Now that you are the Prince of Jin and stand high above, and my father, the Military Governor of Tianxiong, passed away this year, you have changed your tune! You say I am a burden! You... you have such a cruel heart! After so many years as husband and wife, you are like this!"

As Lady Fu spoke, she was already bathed in tears. She felt a bone-deep coldness. Zhao Guangyi’s words and actions were truly like a knife, continuously carving at her heart. Lady Fu’s maternal family was no simple clan; they were veteran warlords. Her grandfather was Fu Cun-shen, the Military Governor of Xuanwu during the Later Tang, who had fought over a hundred battles, large and small, with almost no defeats. He was honored in the ancestral temple of the Later Tang's Emperor Zhuangzong and posthumously titled the Prince of Qin. Her father was Fu Yanqing, who served five dynasties—Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, Later Zhou, and the Northern Song—holding various high-ranking military and civil posts, eventually titled the Prince of Wei. Her two older sisters were both wives of Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou, Chai Rong, and were successively crowned empresses. When Zhao Guangyi married Lady Fu, there had been many strategic considerations involved. This was why Lady Fu was so heartbroken and why she spoke those words.

After a while, footsteps sounded outside the room, followed by Zhao Guangyi’s voice. "Do not let your mind wander. Rest well and recover. I am going to the palace to see the Emperor and will request better imperial physicians to treat you."

Lady Fu, still weeping, felt a little better upon hearing this. She told herself that her husband could not truly be so heartless toward her. However, the reality was far different from what Lady Fu imagined. Zhao Guangyi’s decision to do this was not because he truly wanted to fetch the imperial physicians, but because he had found a pretext to meet the Emperor with a righteous excuse, thereby probing his brother’s attitude...

...

"Even so, these are still just speculations. One cannot conclude that my third brother harmed me and usurped the throne based on these alone."

In the Flower Pavilion, after a long silence, Zhao Kuangyin’s voice rose again, revealing no discernible emotion.

Li Cheng said, "Your Majesty is right to say so, but there is more than just this to corroborate it. Your Majesty might also look at the reactions of those around the Prince of Jin after you... passed away. A conclusion will naturally be reached."

Zhao Kuangyin nodded slightly, signaling Li Cheng to continue.

Li Cheng said, "For instance, on the night the incident occurred, Wang Ji'en, he..."

Zhao Kuangyin: ???!!!