Chapter 19: I Am Impotent

Lin Zhengting let out a cold sneer. Today, he had brought so many people precisely to give Zhao Kai a lesson. The incident that night concerned Zhao Yan’er’s reputation; no matter what, she would never admit it, much less speak of his assault. Thus, the blame would inevitably fall on Zhao Kai.

“That night, Miss Zhao was drinking at the tavern. You drugged her—here is the half-finished jug of wine. If you don’t believe me, you may ask a physician to examine it.”

Lin Zhengting had come prepared with evidence. Zhao Kai shifted his posture, leisurely watching him. “You wish to convict me based on a jug of wine? Isn’t that a little rash?”

He had anticipated such a response.

“Men.”

Lin Zhengting summoned his people. The tavern’s young attendant approached nervously. Lin Zhengting asked, “Was it Zhao Kai who took Miss Zhao away that night?”

“Yes...” he answered truthfully. It was indeed Zhao Kai who took Zhao Yan’er, though what happened thereafter, the attendant did not know.

Hearing this, Lin Fei’er could no longer contain herself. Her husband had clearly told her he only found Yan’er this morning... He had lied to her.

Lin Fei’er grew restless, and Lin Zhengting, perceiving her thoughts, stoked the flames. “Fei’er, your husband spent the night with another woman, and used such disgraceful means—surely you won’t tolerate this?”

Of course not. But her husband was already at a disadvantage; if she questioned him now, wouldn’t it mean leaving him alone to face so many?

She bit her lip. “I believe my husband.”

Zhao Kai’s heart warmed at her words, and he could not help but kiss her palm.

Seeing this, Lin Zhengting pressed further, “Fine, Zhao Kai, my sister trusts you so deeply—what else have you to say?”

“There’s nothing to say,” he replied.

With someone like Lin Zhengting, no amount of explanation would suffice.

“Then it stands—you defiled Miss Zhao and are using this to seize the Zhao family’s estate.” Lin Zhengting pressed his attack.

“Wait. When did I say I defiled Miss Zhao? It’s true I took her away that night, but... nothing happened between us.” Zhao Kai explained.

Lin Zhengting scoffed, “Do you take us for fools? A man and a woman alone in a room—how could nothing happen?”

“Indeed, nothing happened.”

The voice came from Zhao Yan’er, who stepped forward from the crowd.

Zhao Kai, seeing her, straightened slightly from where he had been holding Lin Fei’er, as if wanting to stop her from speaking.

Lin Fei’er felt a twinge of dissatisfaction. Why did her husband react so strongly upon seeing Zhao Yan’er?

“Brother Zhao, you need not bear so many accusations for me.”

Zhao Kai was her savior; how could she let him suffer such injustice? As for Lin Zhengting’s assault, she cared little, so long as he believed her.

“Lin Zhengting, do you even know what happened that night?”

Zhao Yan’er’s face was cold, her eyes full of contempt.

Lin Zhengting was delighted; with Zhao Yan’er present, she surely wouldn’t dare to speak openly about being drugged and assaulted.

“I don’t know. Perhaps Miss Zhao could enlighten me?”

“That night...”

“Of course she can!” Zhao Kai cut in, stepping between them to shield her from Lin Zhengting’s lecherous gaze.

He was no coward; how could a man let a woman defend him?

If Lin Zhengting wanted to use shameless tactics, Zhao Kai would be even more shameless.

“Yan’er, perhaps it’s better not to speak of that night... I fear it might wound Young Master Lin.”

Zhao Yan’er was baffled. Wound Lin Zhengting?

Lin Zhengting was stunned as well. Wound him? He was here precisely to wound Zhao Kai.

“Zhao Kai, if you have something to say, say it plainly.”

Zhao Kai looked at him with concern. “Do you really want me to say it?”

Lin Zhengting hesitated, sensing trouble.

“Very well,” Zhao Kai said regretfully. “It’s true—I was the one who administered the drug that night.”

The crowd was shocked. Zhao Yan’er hurriedly clutched his arm, “Brother Zhao, you need not—”

“Yan’er, don’t speak further. I know you concealed this for Fei’er’s sake, but matters of the Lin family ought to be settled by the Lin family. If there are truly no heirs in the future, you still have me. You need not worry about the Lin family’s future.”

What?

Everyone was puzzled. What did Zhao Kai mean by that?

Zhao Kai sighed and patted Lin Zhengting’s shoulder. “Impotence is not a shameful thing. I know you’ve tried hard for the Lin family’s heirs, but such matters cannot be forced. Isn’t there Fei’er, and myself?”

Lin Zhengting felt as if struck by thunder. The crowd stared at him in disbelief—Lin Zhengting impotent?

“You... You’re spouting nonsense!” Lin Zhengting’s expression was a spectacle.

Zhao Kai shrugged. “Am I wrong? Xiaocui told me everything.”

Xiaocui was the top courtesan in Jinghong County—everyone knew her.

“You sought out Xiaocui so many times and never paid. She had to come to me for the money. Fei’er and I kept quiet for your pride, but to cover up your deficiency by slandering Miss Zhao—surely that’s inappropriate? If you lack the manliness physically, must you also lack it in conduct?”

Lin Zhengting was nearly hemorrhaging with rage. Who said he was impotent? He was quite capable—just not for long...

“Nonsense! I am perfectly normal!”

He refused to admit defeat. If Lin Zhengting had “witnesses,” why couldn’t he?

“Men, bring Miss Xiaocui to settle accounts in person.”

At once, an alluringly dressed woman entered, and upon seeing Lin Zhengting, began to curse him. “I have served many men, but none as useless as you. If not for Young Master Zhao generously settling your debts, I’d have suffered a great loss.”

The crowd instantly looked at Lin Zhengting with disdain. To frequent a courtesan and not pay, and have Zhao Kai clean up after him—what shame.

Zhao Kai feigned an attempt to ease the tension. “Miss Xiaocui, don’t blame him. After all, not every man can do what others can. Now that it’s settled, you needn’t accept him as a client again.”

Lin Zhengting’s entire face turned crimson. This was a man’s pride, his dignity—how could Zhao Kai humiliate him so?

“Zhao Kai, stop dodging the issue. You just admitted to administering the drug, meaning you intended to act against Miss Zhao. Tell us, what happened that night?”

Even now, Lin Zhengting refused to relent. Clearly, he was courting utter ruin.

Zhao Kai sighed and said, pretending, “It was for your sake.”

“For my sake?”

“Yes. Ever since I learned of your impotence, I searched far and wide for remedies. For the Lin family’s heirs, to help you leave a child. I finally obtained a secret prescription—and immediately brought it to you.”