Emperor Zhi, as young as he is, is keenly aware of how much Liang Ji is abusing power (but befitting of a young child, not aware of how Liang Ji also has the power to do him harm), and on one occasion, at an imperial gathering, he blinks at Liang Ji and refers to him as "an arrogant general."

Liang Ji becomes angry and concerned.

In the summer of 146, he poisons a bowl of pastry soup and has it given to the emperor.

After the young emperor consumes the soup, he quickly experiences great pain; he summons Li immediately and also requests water, believing that water will save him.

However, Liang immediately orders that the emperor not be given any water, and (regardless of whether water would have helped), the young emperor quickly expires.

Li advocates a full investigation, but Liang is able to have the investigation efforts quashed.

After Emperor Zhi's death, Liang Ji, under pressure by the key officials, is forced to summon a meeting of the officials to decide whom to enthrone as the new emperor.

The officials are again largely in favor of Prince Suan, but Liang Ji remains concerned about how the difficulty of controlling an adult emperor, and instead persuades Empress Dowager Liang to make the fourteen-year-old Liu Zhi, the Marquess of Liwu, a great-grandson of Emperor Zhang, to whom Liang Ji's younger sister Liang Nüying is betrothed, emperor (as Emperor Huan).