Zhao Zhi’s sudden death came abruptly, but it was within everyone’s expectation.
He merely got caught in a spring rain, inadvertently caught a cold, and then lingered in illness, yet never recovered even by late summer.
The distance from Xiping to Luoyang wasn’t very far, but Zhao Changyu was still afraid that moving him might worsen the condition, so he took a long leave, brought a renowned physician, and rushed back to Xiping.
Zhao Zhi was already emaciated, a mere skeleton.
As soon as they met, Zhao Changyu knew he wouldn’t make it.
Sure enough, the physician didn’t even feel his pulse, but whispered to Zhao Changyu: “Zhao Zhongshu, be prepared.”
Zhao Changyu had seen many family members off in his life—his grandparents, his uncle’s family, his father, his mother, and his wife—but none as heart-wrenching as this one.
For although they had passed, they left successors, and they were at an age where they had fought for their ideals. Whether successful or not, their lives were not in vain.
But his son Zhi... was barely in his prime. He was only confirmed as first-class talent at the spring recruitment banquet and hadn’t even entered officialdom yet.
He had only traveled through Si Province, Yu State, and Jizhou, yet had not had the chance to explore more places. Nor had he found a wise master to illuminate the way forward, to know where his career would lead.
Zhao Changyu sat quietly, seemingly accepting the physician’s diagnosis, though his heart was filled with indignation.
He resented Empress Jia, the foolish and incompetent Emperor, the frequently rebellious Vassal Kings, the self-preserving yet inactive courtiers, and more than anything, his own powerlessness.
If not for these people, if not for himself, how could his son have sought refuge in Ru Nan, avoiding disaster, only to fall ill without a physician available?
Zhao Zhi seemed to sense his father’s unwillingness, and with difficulty draped himself in clothes, assisted by a servant to sit beside his father, gently comforting him, “Father, countless people have succumbed to typhus throughout history. Thank the ancestors’ and father’s blessings that I have survived till now. Life and death are predestined, not to be forced.”
Zhao Changyu’s finger in his sleeve tightened, his heart filled with the greatest reluctance, yet his face was calm, nodding, “You are right, your great-grandfather and grandfather were both men of virtue, contributing to the state. Although I am not their equal, I have never harmed anyone. I presume this is merely heaven testing your body and spirit—a trifling cold at best. Rest assured, the doctor has prescribed medicine, and after three doses you will surely see an improvement.”
Even if three doses did not yield results, he wanted Zhao Zhi to believe they would. He did not accept defeat by heaven.
Zhao Changyu firmly ensured Zhao Zhi was supported back to his room to rest.
Zhao Zhi had a belly full of thoughts he could not voice, and could only return quietly to lie down.
After taking the medicine for three consecutive days, Zhao Zhi could hardly keep his eyes open, slowing down only the inevitable passage of time.
Zhao Zhi felt very cold, despite it being late summer. Zhao Changyu wore only light summer clothes, but Zhao Zhi, under two quilts, still felt chills.
Finally unable to hold back, Zhao Zhi spoke again, “Father, I haven’t much time left. I wish to entrust you with three things.”
Zhao Changyu finally allowed Zhao Zhi to speak, sitting by the bedside, silently in tears, before chokingly responding, “Speak.”
Zhao Zhi softly said, “The first is to ask my father to take care of his health, as happily sending me off as we did my grandmother, alright?”
Zhao Changyu tugged at the corners of his mouth, “Others might hear this and think I’m being unfilial.”
Zhao Zhi chuckled lightly, “Father has always been insightful; life and death cannot be altered, better to face them calmly.”
The dull pain in Zhao Changyu’s heart was slightly relieved as he forced a smile, asking, “And the second thing?”
“The second thing concerns my son and daughter. Hezhen is young, and the Second Son is still in swaddling clothes; I cannot watch them grow, so I ask father to raise them well.”
Zhao Changyu agreed.
Zhao Zhi: “And the third thing concerns Lihua. She is still young; if she ever meets a good person in the future, please prepare a generous dowry for her and take good care of her. If she chooses to stay home to raise the children, please watch over her.”
“I dragged her into our family’s quagmire out of selfishness at the start. Over the years it has wronged her, and unexpectedly, my failing health further wronged her.”
Zhao Changyu comforted him, “Don’t think blindly. Marrying you isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The Wang family’s traditions have worsened; look at her cousins, how many have married well, especially those marriage arrangements after her marriage. You feel it wronged her, yet you don’t know how fortunate she was to marry you.”
Zhao Zhi bitterly smiled, “Father, why do you compare me downward? Why not compare me upward?”
Zhao Changyu remained silent. He rarely spoke harshly about others, but could not help a sharp comment now. His son was so exceptional, none would be unworthy of him.
Yet, given his son’s condition, Zhao Changyu did not wish to trouble him, so he agreed to all three requests.
Even with foresight, when Zhao Zhi truly passed, Zhao Changyu was heartbroken.
Despite their mental preparations, they could not accept Zhao Zhi’s passing.
It was merely a cold, how could it come to this?
For the first time, Zhao Changyu, weak from a family member’s death, would act with more severity and less leniency than before.
At the time, the Cold Food Powder was rampant; even some among the growing Zhao Family were partaking in its consumption.
Upon learning this, Zhao Changyu dispatched troops to search and destroy all Cold Food Powder, and arrested anyone using it for forced withdrawal, decreeing that anyone found using the Cold Food Powder in the clan would be severely punished!
The lighter punishments were fines and caning alongside education; the heavier, direct expulsion from the clan.
Besides, for the first time Zhao Changyu used his special privileges to handle matters, instructing the County Magistrates of Xiping and Shangcai to prohibit the circulation of Cold Food Powder in the two counties, even inspecting apothecaries and destroying any found within them.
Pharmacies selling the Cold Food Powder suffered great losses; those in the clan consuming it equally so.
Everyone knew Zhao Changyu was taking out his anger over Zhao Zhi’s death. Zhao Zhi had gone to a banquet where the host had gathered people to consume Cold Food Powder and angrily left midway, only to run into a spring rain during the cold return period, and thus fell ill.
The pervasive consumption of Cold Food Powder, especially among the gentry and the majority of Wang family’s disciples, deterred the Zhao Family from offending these families, so they kept this matter quiet.
No one dared publicize anything despite the harsh punishments induced within the clan.
However, restricting talk did not mean there was no resentment.
So when Zhao Erlang, at five, still couldn’t recognize a word, pent-up resentment suddenly erupted onto Zhao Erlang and Mrs. Wang.
Back in the day, after Zhao Changyu reorganized the family, rumors spread in Xiping and Shangcai that Mrs. Wang’s fate jinxed her kin.
She lost her mother in childhood—evidence of jinxing her mother. Soon after marrying into the Zhao Family, Lady Wang passed. Then it was her father, now her husband, all her close relatives were nearly gone—what else could it be but a jinx?
At the first sign of the rumor, Zhao Changyu scolded the clan, reprimanding their ignorance, stupidity, and cruel shamelessness.
No one in the clan dared to discuss it openly anymore.
But when Zhao Erlang showed no academic promise, proving to be a fool just like Emperor Hui, previously suppressed rumors surged like a flood toward Mrs. Wang from all directions.

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