赵廷美 / Zhao Tingmei

Zhao Tingmei / 赵廷美 is the younger brother of 赵匡胤 / 宋太祖 and 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 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 赵德昭 and 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. 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

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