Chapter 32: Sudden Upheaval

“Husband—”

Lin Fei’er could no longer restrain herself; like someone possessed, she rushed to Zhao Kai’s side.

The assassins, seeing Zhao Kai lying on the ground covered in blood, disappeared into the night with the wind.

Zhao Kai felt pain coursing through his body, an unnatural chill seeping into his bones. The agony in his legs and chest made every breath a struggle.

Lin Fei’er collapsed to her knees at his side, nearly fainting from grief.

“Why are you crying…”

He tried to lift his hand to wipe away her tears, but found he could not even move his fingers.

“Husband, you mustn’t leave me. What will I do if something happens to you? I can’t go on without you…”

Lin Fei’er wept with wrenching sorrow, a single thought consuming her: if her husband were to die, she would not linger in this world alone.

Zhao Kai managed a feeble smile. In two lifetimes, the only person who had truly cared for him was Fei’er.

“Don’t be afraid…” He used the last of his strength to whisper these words before losing consciousness.

“Husband—”

Zhao Yan’er had just entered the western courtyard when a heart-wrenching, anguished cry pierced the night. She rushed over and, upon seeing the blood-soaked figure on the ground, felt as if her heart had ceased to beat.

How could this be…

“Brother—” Stumbling and scrambling, Zhao Yan’er reached Zhao Kai’s side. Seeing him unconscious, and Lin Fei’er weeping in utter despair, tears sprang to her eyes as well.

But before they could fall, she slapped herself hard, forcing herself to remain calm.

“Someone! Fetch a physician at once! And all the guards—come in, now!”

At that moment, Zhao Yan’er mustered her full authority as the eldest daughter of the Zhao family, stabilizing the chaos while comforting Lin Fei’er.

“Fei’er, this isn’t the time for tears. We must get help for my brother.”

Yes, that’s right… Lin Fei’er struggled to pull herself from the depths of sorrow.

“Doctor! Please, save my husband!”

All night, the Zhao household did not rest for a moment. More than a dozen physicians arrived, while Master Zhao, Yan’er, and Fei’er waited anxiously outside.

Lin Fei’er’s eyes were swollen and red from crying. She berated herself for not shielding her husband from harm, wishing she could trade her own life for his.

Zhao Yan’er, on the other hand, forced herself to hold together, not shedding a single tear. She believed Zhao Kai would be all right, that he would pull through.

At the first light of dawn, the exhausted physicians emerged.

The two women rushed up, speaking in unison, “Doctor, how is he?”

“He’s out of danger.”

The two breathed a sigh of relief.

“But…”

“But what?” Their hearts leapt once more.

“But Young Master Zhao’s leg injury is severe. I’m afraid he will never walk again.”

With a thunderous crash, Lin Fei’er felt as if the world had imploded around her.

“No, doctor…” Lin Fei’er shook her head in despair. “He’s so young, with so much left to do—how can he be paralyzed for life?”

The doctor sighed. “There’s nothing more that can be done.”

“He is so talented, he loves to engage with people in business—how can this be… Doctor, is there any way to transplant my legs to him? If it would restore his health, I would do anything.”

Lin Fei’er was speaking nonsense—such a thing was impossible. Yet for Zhao Kai, she would have given him everything she had.

Zhao Yan’er looked at her deeply, her heart aching with sorrow.

“Fei’er, the doctors have done all they can. Let them rest for now,” Zhao Yan’er urged gently.

“It’s all my fault! If I hadn’t left, if I’d stayed, I could have prevented all of this. As long as my husband recovers, I’d give my life without hesitation!”

Zhao Yan’er’s gaze flickered. She put an arm around Fei’er’s shoulders, patting her gently.

“As long as my brother is healthy, I ask for nothing more. Even if he’s crippled, he is no different to me than before…”

Hearing their words, Zhao Kai was overwhelmed by emotion. What had he done to deserve such devotion?

Men are said not to weep easily, yet at this moment, his eyes grew damp.

“Fei’er,” he called.

At the sound of his voice, Lin Fei’er hastily wiped her tears away, forcing a smile as she entered.

“Husband, you’re awake.”

“Yes, I just woke up.”

Zhao Kai gazed at Lin Fei’er, unable to look away.

“Why do you look at me like that?”

“You’ve cried all night—your eyes are red.”

At his attempt at humor, Lin Fei’er nearly burst into tears again, but she fought it back with all her might. “You only know how to tease me.”

Zhao Kai stroked her cheek. “I’m all right.”

“Are you truly all right? Brother, if anything hurts, you must tell us. Your leg, your wounds—how are they?”

At this tender concern, Zhao Kai turned to Zhao Yan’er. “Don’t worry, I’m fine. I’m talking to you both now, aren’t I?”

Zhao Yan’er managed a faint smile.

Yan’er had always been strong-willed, molded by years at Master Zhao’s side, and could remain calm in a crisis. Zhao Kai, knowing this, spared her little worry.

He focused on comforting Fei’er. So what if his leg was broken? It wasn’t the end of life; he, Zhao Kai, could still live fully.

Seeing his optimism, Master Zhao finally allowed himself to relax, though his hatred for the culprits only deepened.

“Who would dare to do such a thing?!” Master Zhao was furious.

“Those brazen fools—if I ever find them, I’ll flay them alive!” Zhao Yan’er echoed his anger.

But Zhao Kai remained unexpectedly calm. Seeing this, Zhao Yan’er asked in surprise, “Brother, aren’t you angry?”

Angry? Of course he was. But now was not the time for anger—the most important thing was secrecy.

Now that both the gambling house and the rouge shop were under his sole management, if word spread of his accident, ambitious rivals would certainly target the Zhao family.

Worse still, it could spell utter ruin for him.

Master Zhao had evidently realized this as well.

“What do you plan to do next?” he asked.

Zhao Kai pondered for a moment, then said, “A secret can only be kept for so long. Sooner or later, the truth will come out. Besides, those who tried to kill me are only hoping news of my injury and paralysis will spread.”

He did not know exactly who was behind the attack, but it must be those envious of him and eager to seize his wealth.

He accepted that the tallest tree catches the wind.

Yet from his position, he had to bear the responsibilities that came with it. His business was like a great piece of meat—if no one guarded it, it would be torn apart.

“It’s better to be upfront. But I will announce one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“All of the Zhao family’s holdings, including my own accounts, will be handed over to Yan’er.”

Yan’er was Master Zhao’s only daughter. She was capable. And besides, he was merely crippled, not dead. With Yan’er in charge, he could still hold the Zhao family together.