赵廷美 / Zhao Tingmei

Zhao Tingmei / 赵廷美 is the younger brother of [[ZhaoKuangyin|赵匡胤 / 宋太祖]] and [[ZhaoGuangyi|赵光义 / 宋太宗]] in 170.宋太祖之死：烛影斧声，阴谋论中的人性谜团（下）. He becomes important because the brother-to-brother logic of the [[GoldenCabinetPledge|金匮之盟]] could make him Taizong’s next heir.

The episode says Taizong initially elevated Tingmei by giving him major titles and making him Kaifeng prefect, but that his position became dangerous after [[ZhaoDezhao|赵德昭]] and [[ZhaoDefang|赵德芳]] died. Tingmei tried to retreat politically, yet was soon accused of plotting rebellion.

The Tingmei case is presented as the clearest political clean-up after Taizong’s accession. [[ZhaoPu|赵普]]’s return to the chancellorship and the use of the Golden Cabinet story make the case look less like ordinary criminal prosecution than an effort to close the succession question.

Connections

• [[ZhaoGuangyi|赵光义 / 宋太宗]] - brother and ruler who turns him into a succession threat.
• [[GoldenCabinetPledge|金匮之盟]] - document claim that can either justify Taizong or point toward Tingmei.
• [[ZhaoPu|赵普]] - returning minister whose argument helps isolate Tingmei.
• [[ZhaoDezhao|赵德昭]] and [[ZhaoDefang|赵德芳]] - alternative heirs whose deaths change Tingmei’s danger.
• [[SongSuccessionLegitimacyCrisis|宋初继承合法性危机]] - broader frame.