Zhao Changyu also planned this; with the political situation in the court unclear, his brother’s meager intelligence in Luoyang could be schemed against at any time.
For the sake of his own life, and to avoid implicating the family and clan, he decided to send him out.
Thus, Zhao Changyu maneuvered things a bit and managed to send Zhao Zhongyu away.
With one less brother at home, Zhao Changyu immediately felt the air was much fresher, his body and mind comfortable, and he couldn’t help but say to Lady Wang, "Thankfully we have no sons; otherwise, if they were as foolish and inflexible as Second Son, I don’t know how much anger I would suffer."
Living comfortably is best.
Rebellious sons are not wanted, not wanted.
In a good mood, he generously invited some close friends to his home to eat plums as the family plums ripened.
This plum tree was discovered by him during an outing one year, then dug up and carefully tended, bearing fruit for five consecutive years. The fruit is particularly delicious, the best plums he has ever tasted.
Usually frugal, Zhao Changyu is only a little more generous with food; the plums from this good plum tree, he generally only keeps for himself and close friends, rarely sells.
His friends knew this and always craved his plums, but he was stingy, only giving them a little each year.
So upon hearing his invitation, they immediately dropped other affairs and ran over, a group of youths leaning against the tree, chatting and bragging while picking fruit to eat.
When still unsatisfied, Zhao Changyu said, "Eating too many plums hurts the stomach. Let’s go eat something else."
"I’ve only eaten over ten, where’s that too many? I can eat ten more."
Fu Zhi also laughed and said, "It’s fine not to finish today; let me pick some and I’ll eat them tomorrow."
Another friend said, "Such delicacy; how can I enjoy it alone? Please let me pick a few to honor my parents."
Zhao Changyu said sternly, "Fruits are best eaten fresh; overnight they’re not good."
He forcibly drove them away.
The friends knew he must be feeling his stinginess again and laughed heartily, pulling him out and saying with a laugh, "Let’s go, let’s go. We won’t let you suffer a loss; we’re inviting you to drink."
Yet the sweet taste of plums remained unforgettable for the friends, and thus someone inadvertently mentioned them in front of the Emperor.
The Emperor became curious about Zhao Changyu’s plums and how delicious they were, so after one discussion, he asked.
The next day, Zhao Changyu took a few plums into the palace and presented them to the Emperor, saying, "Food outside the palace is not easy to bring in; Your Majesty, please just taste the flavor."
This was the Emperor’s first encounter with Zhao Changyu’s stinginess, which amused him greatly. Holding back laughter, he took the plums, nodded, and after eating one, his brows rose, eyes lit up, nodding in approval, "Indeed, extraordinary flavor, as sweet as honey yet with a fresh aroma like the morning breeze."
Wang Ji also heard of this and became interested in the plums that even the Emperor praised, so he went to Zhao Changyu, "Brother-in-law, I hear the plums at your place are particularly delicious, give me some."
Zhao Changyu slightly frowned; recently many have asked him for plums, if he had known, he wouldn’t have boasted and invited friends to taste them.
But since the brother-in-law asked, Zhao Changyu was rare in his generosity and picked dozens for him.
Wang Ji was stunned to receive the plums; who doesn’t deliver fruit baskets or heaps, yet he gave only so few, what to fill the gap between his teeth?
Angered, Wang Ji ordered Zhao Changyu to be watched, and as soon as he went to court on duty, he led his group of friends openly to the Zhao Mansion.
The Zhao Mansion’s manager didn’t think much; Wang Ji being Zhao Changyu’s brother-in-law, was still young and often came to the mansion seeking Lady Wang, so he merely informed the rear courtyard before letting them in.
Upon entering, Wang Ji headed straight for the plum tree, with the group of youngsters climbing it to eat and take, then took out an ax and chopped the tree.
Zhao Changyu was frugal, with few household staff; by the time the staff noticed something amiss and went to find Lady Wang, the tree’s branches and leaves were hacked off, the trunk left merely a stump.
Lady Wang was in the drawing room handling affairs; with such a large estate, naturally, Zhao Changyu couldn’t manage all details himself; if he were the chairman, then she was the general manager, with plenty to do daily.
Upon hearing the commotion caused by her brother, rushing in to cut the tree, she was so mad she staggered upon standing.
Upon seeing the garden, the tall, sturdy tree, once laden with fruit, now scattered, with some unpicked fruit strewn all over the ground.
These were the fruit her husband cherished, usually reluctant to eat too many plums, but now her eyes reddened with anger!
"Wang Ji, what are you doing?!"
Usually gentle, Lady Wang was livid, spinning in place, grabbing a branch to whip him, discovering the branch too hefty to lift, covering her chest, pointing at Wang Ji loudly, "Get out, get out!"
"Someone, bring me the ruler, fetch the master’s ruler! I’ll beat him to death, beat this scoundrel to death!"
Wang Ji was unafraid, resolutely sawing the tree in front of her, a group of servants unable to stop him, Lady Wang angrily tried smashing him a few times, only for him to push her aside.
He climbed onto the fallen trunk, raised his arm, loudly shouted, "Come, brothers, let’s drag these branches to my stingy brother-in-law!"
A chorus of youths echoed, each dragging a branch and headed out.
The maid exclaimed behind, "Madam—"
"Madam fainted!"
Wang Ji heard but didn’t care, dragging the branch, head unturned, marched out like a victorious general returning.
The carriage awaited outside, with the group of youths loading the branches onto it, squeezing into it, flaunting through town, loudly informing onlookers, this was the plum tree chopped from the Zhao Family.
After circling enough, Wang Ji drove the carriage outside the palace gates, waiting for Zhao Changyu to finish his duty, inviting him to see the branches on the carriage, "Brother-in-law, how does this carriage of plum branches compare to your plum tree?"
Zhao Changyu silently watched.
Wang Ji laughed heartily, jumped down and said, "This carriage of plum branches is yours."
Zhao Changyu sighed inwardly, but smiled and nodded, silently accepting Wang Ji’s "gift."
Once the crowd dissipated, he immediately summoned a follower, "Quickly return home, see how Lady Wang fares."

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