Chapter 1836: Eat Well, Drink Well

Under the night sky, the Duke of Rong's mansion remained as imposing and solemn as ever, its high-hung gilded plaque inspiring awe. Four sword-bearing guards stood ramrod straight at their posts, their cold gazes devoid of any emotion.

Zhao Kuangyi dismounted, paused briefly to look up at the imposing entrance of the Duke of Rong's mansion, and only then stepped forward to enter. Naturally, the guards dared not obstruct Zhao Kuangyi, and the doorman's attendant was especially eager in guiding and serving him—this was, after all, the most powerful man of the Zhao family at present.

Inside the mansion, upon learning that Zhao Kuangyi had arrived, Zhao Kuangyin's fourth son Zhao Defang quickly came out to greet him. Seeing Zhao Kuangyi's stern expression, he hurriedly bowed: "Greetings, Third Uncle!"

Zhao Kuangyin had four sons in total, but only Zhao Dezhao and Zhao Defang had grown to adulthood. Zhao Dezhao had long entered official service and was now serving as Prefectural Administrator of Xiangzhou in the Jinghu North Circuit.

Zhao Defang, now twenty-seven years old, remained in the capital to care for his aging father, serving as a bureau director in the Ministry of Rites. Because Zhao Kuangyin was old and his health was failing day by day, all matters of the Duke of Rong's mansion, great and small, were in fact managed by Zhao Defang.

Zhao Defang enjoyed a reputation for refinement in the capital—upright and gentle in character, a graceful gentleman, and handsome in appearance. There had been a rumor in the capital that Emperor Liu was very fond of Zhao Defang and had once intended to marry him to the Seventh Princess, Liu Hui, only abandoning the idea because he already had a betrothal. Though the rumor was unreliable, it had done wonders for Zhao Defang's reputation.

In official history, Zhao Defang died young at the age of twenty-two—a "death from illness while in bed" that concealed much deeper implications. Now, seeing his distinguished bearing and spirited gaze, it was clear that some speculations were not mere conjecture.

However, in the era of the Great Han, relations among the Zhao brothers, uncles, and nephews had always been harmonious. Zhao Kuangyi had always been affectionate toward his two nephews born of Zhao Kuangyin, and Zhao Dezhao's post in Xiangzhou had been personally arranged by him after consulting opinions.

"Mm!" He responded to Zhao Defang, much of the gravity in his expression easing. Zhao Kuangyi asked: "Where's Second Brother?"

"Father is in the tea room!" Zhao Defang replied, a trace of worry on his handsome face as he pleaded with Zhao Kuangyi: "Please, Third Uncle, help persuade him!"

Hearing this, Zhao Kuangyi's brows knitted slightly, casting a puzzled look at Zhao Defang.

Though it was called a tea room, there was no scent of tea—instead, the air was thick with the heavy smell of wine. When Zhao Kuangyi stepped inside, he was assailed by the potent odor, his face showing discomfort. But what surprised him even more was Zhao Kuangyin's current state.

Zhao Kuangyin, who had just passed his fifty-ninth birthday celebration not long ago, had aged extraordinarily. More than half his hair was white, his face covered in furrow-like wrinkles, his body emaciated to an alarming degree, his hands nearly skin and bone—all traces of his former fierce and heroic commander's bearing gone.

He was reclining among the mats, his face full of drunkenness, a wine cup in hand, with meat dishes on the low table before him, his mouth greasy from eating. When he saw Zhao Kuangyi, he stared blankly for a moment before recognizing him, then waved hazily with aged eyes: "Kuangyi's here! Come, keep me company with a couple cups of wine!"

Seeing Zhao Kuangyin behaving like a drunkard, Zhao Kuangyi strode forward and snatched the wine cup from his hand, saying with some agitation: "Second Brother, how have you started drinking again—and in such excess!"

Looking up at Zhao Kuangyi and noting his concerned expression, Zhao Kuangyin smiled, casually wiping his wine-dampened hands on his brocade robe, and said: "Drinking should be done to one's heart's content! Without excess, where's the pleasure? These are all imperial wines—fine brews aged over thirty years. How could ordinary people ever get to drink these? Come, let me pour you a full cup!"

Seeing Zhao Kuangyin's casual demeanor, Zhao Kuangyi was both puzzled and irritated, saying in confusion: "You are old and plagued by illness, already sick to this point—why do you show no regard for yourself, ruining your body like this?"

Hearing this, Zhao Kuangyin glanced at Zhao Kuangyi again. In his heart, he knew well that what this younger brother of his truly cared about now was probably not his health, but rather the adverse effects this frail body might bring him.

"Sit!" He gestured to Zhao Kuangyi, then had a serving girl pour him another cup of wine. Taking a sip, he said calmly: "I've always loved wine in my life, but in these past years, I've been too restrained, too stifled. Now I'm old and decrepit, nearing the end of my days—there's not much time left. If I don't enjoy myself properly now, I fear I'll die with regrets. If I wait until after death for descendants to offer libations, that would be far too dull..."

"Second Brother!" Hearing Zhao Kuangyin speak this way, Zhao Kuangyi couldn't help but call out.

Zhao Kuangyin's eyelids drooped slightly, and he said in a low voice: "Besides, all this wine was bestowed by His Majesty..."

Those words extinguished the emotions surging in Zhao Kuangyi's head. He stood frozen for a moment before slowly taking a seat. Looking at Zhao Kuangyin, who was still drinking, his stern face was filled with troubled thoughts.

Zhao Kuangyin was not supposed to drink, and especially not to overindulge in food and drink. The greasy meat dishes and inflammatory foods on the table were even more forbidden. Emperor Liu knew this, yet in these past few months, Emperor Liu had deliberately bestowed fine wine and rich meats every few days, even sending palace eunuchs to the mansion for "spot checks," asking whether Zhao Kuangyin was eating well, drinking well...

The intent behind this—the implication, or rather, the explicit statement—was truly chilling to the bone. After a long, pensive silence, Zhao Kuangyi said gravely to Zhao Kuangyin: "Second Brother, why is His Majesty doing this?"

The resentment suppressed in Zhao Kuangyi's tone was palpable the moment he spoke. However, Zhao Kuangyin appeared quite open-minded about it, waving his hand to stop him and saying softly: "With His Majesty's suspicious nature, is it not ordinary for him to distrust meritorious officials? Can you still not see this clearly?"

"What I don't understand is why he targets our Zhao family so specifically!" Zhao Kuangyi's face showed indignation, still struggling to restrain himself, looking deeply pained.

"So many meritorious officials and nobles, elder statesmen and veterans—our Zhao family has always been law-abiding, never doing wrong, always loyal and devoted, single-mindedly serving the state..." Zhao Kuangyi raised his cup and drained it in one gulp. The bitter wine burned as it went down, his face full of grievance and unwillingness.

"Of the twenty-four ministers of the Qianyou era, only two or three remain now. Naturally, His Majesty keeps them in mind at all times—and the feeling of being on His Majesty's mind is not a pleasant one!" Zhao Kuangyin sighed with a bitter smile: "I am not as close to His Majesty as Li Shaoyou, nor am I a founding follower like Xiang Xun, so naturally it's even harder for me!"

"You're already in this state—what more is there to worry about!" Zhao Kuangyi blurted out.

Seeing Zhao Kuangyi's righteous indignation, Zhao Kuangyin was somewhat surprised. His hazy drunken eyes cleared a few degrees as he looked at him, and after a moment's deliberation, asked: "Kuangyi, your emotions today are off—this is quite different from your usual conduct!"

Hearing this, Zhao Kuangyi froze, instinctively glancing at the serving girl attending nearby. Realizing he had misspoken, he quickly took a deep breath, adjusted his mindset, gradually pulled himself out of his negative emotions, and regained his composure.

After thinking it over, he replied: "I lost my composure. It's just that there are many disturbances these days—above and below court, inside and outside the household—and I've grown somewhat agitated!"

Zhao Kuangyin took another drink and asked: "What business brings you to the mansion tonight?"

Originally, Zhao Kuangyi had intended to discuss matters with his elder brother, but seeing his current condition, he abandoned that notion and shook his head: "It's just that I hadn't seen Second Brother for many days, and having heard you were unwell, I came specially to visit!"

Clearly insincere, Zhao Kuangyin chuckled lightly: "It's about the tax reform, isn't it!"

Though Zhao Kuangyin resided in his mansion, he was well informed about matters both inside and outside the court. Even if he didn't proactively inquire, there were always people of one sort or another who would voluntarily relay news and information to him.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Kuangyi fell silent, then nodded. After a moment's deliberation, he said: "The tax reform is progressing very slowly at present, with obstacles at every turn. There are many dissenting opinions both inside and outside the court, and Li Fang cannot coordinate and pacify all sides. Seeing the reform stall, I had the intention to take over this task myself, but His Majesty would not permit it! Today, I heard that His Majesty has summoned Zhao Pu back to the capital—he has already passed through Kaifeng and is heading west; he should arrive in the capital within two or three days..."

Zhao Kuangyi said little, but the information he revealed was substantial. Zhao Kuangyin finally set down his wine cup, thought seriously for a moment, and then said: "You're being a bit hasty!"

Hearing this, Zhao Kuangyi fell silent again before sighing: "I know, but if I don't actively fight for it, I'll forever remain in place! Setting aside more distant examples—from Zhao Pu to Song Qi, from Song Qi to Li Fang—His Majesty would rather let Zhao Pu return to the capital than give me a chance! Using me on one hand while suppressing me tightly on the other—it's truly hard to accept!"

"Isn't that His Majesty's usual style of employing people?" Zhao Kuangyin said softly: "I'll say it again—you need to be more patient!"

"Second Brother, I'm also approaching the age of knowing Heaven's mandate!" Zhao Kuangyi said.

Hearing Zhao Kuangyi say this, Zhao Kuangyin fell silent as well. After a long while, he said wearily: "Once the tax reform was launched, opinions diverged among the court, and the situation became treacherous and unpredictable. At such a time, you should act cautiously, handle things carefully, and not make too many moves. Wasn't the lesson of the Lu Duoxun case from back then profound enough? Some things cannot be rushed!"

"I understand!" Zhao Kuangyi sighed: "It's just that I truly feel unwilling in my heart!"

"Have Dang Jin, Yang Guangyi, Wang Zhengzhong, Liu Shouzhong, and those other brothers come looking for you recently?" Looking at Zhao Kuangyi, Zhao Kuangyin asked.

Hearing the question, Zhao Kuangyi nodded: "They have!"

"Plenty of complaints, I imagine!" Zhao Kuangyin sighed. After thinking it over, he said to Zhao Kuangyi with some solemnity: "Carry a message to them for me—tell them to take good care of themselves! The old brothers, unable to withstand the erosion of time, have been withering away one by one, gradually departing. Few remain now. Tell them to retire and enjoy their old age well, not to rashly involve themselves in court affairs, and certainly not to attempt to oppose the great policies of the state.

Especially Dang Jin—tell him to restrain his temper and enjoy his remaining years in peace! Compared to the continuation of bloodlines and blessings upon descendants, what are a few acres of land or some coins and silk compared to that?"

Clearly, these words also carried a message of admonition for Zhao Kuangyi. At the same time, having Zhao Kuangyi deliver the message also subtly implied a transfer of political resources and an entrustment of affairs after death.

Zhao Kuangyi thought it over and said solemnly: "Yes! I will deliver the message!"