Chapter 58: Dogs Rely on Their Masters

Demon!
No, it's Huang Liangcai.
Zhao Kai looked at this effeminate corpse, feeling an unsettling nausea.
Lin Zhenting, on the other hand, seemed to have spotted a lifeline. He scrambled and crawled over to Huang Liangcai's feet, clutching at his robes, bawling with snot and tears as though this man were his own father.
"Godfather, you've finally arrived! Your son was almost bullied!"
Almost? It was clear Lin Zhenting had been utterly powerless against the bullying.
Huang Liangcai swept the room with his slender eyes, spotted Zhao Kai, and asked in a shrill, piercing voice, "Are you the one bullying my son?"
That voice sent goosebumps all over Zhao Kai.
"I am not."
Everyone froze, then bowed their heads in fear. Evidently, Zhao Kai too feared Huang Liangcai, the chief eunuch of the palace.
But who wouldn’t? Huang Liangcai was a favored attendant by the Empress herself, and anyone who offended him would not escape unscathed.
Seeing Zhao Kai back down, Huang Liangcai snorted, "At least you know your place."
"Master Huang, you misunderstand. I did not bully your son—I humiliated him. Bullying and humiliation are two different things; don't confuse them," Zhao Kai said.
Hearing this, Huang Liangcai's eyes widened. Zhao Kai thought he saw powder fall from his face, disturbed by his expression.
"Insolence!"
It sounded like a rooster crowing.
"Master, would you like some water?"
That voice truly grated on Zhao Kai's nerves.
Huang Liangcai had intended to lose his temper, but seeing Zhao Kai offer him water, he assumed it was flattery and put on airs, "Bring it here."
Zhao Kai waved his hand, silently signaling Zhou Chengwang to hurry up with the tea.
After two sips, Huang Liangcai resumed his haughty pose. "Tell me, why did you humiliate my son?"
"He sold the ancestral estate. Who else would I humiliate, if not him? If any family ended up with such a wastrel, their life would surely be cut short."
With this double-edged remark, Huang Liangcai's face changed. "Well, well, such a sharp tongue! Men, pin him to the ground!"
At his command, several armed guards moved to restrain Zhao Kai. Lin Zhenting, now feeling victorious, straightened his back with pride.

Lin Feier’s face lost all color. She stepped in front of Zhao Kai, pleading, "No! It’s all my fault. Punish me, Master Huang."
"Don’t rush, I’ll deal with you one by one," Huang Liangcai said, sipping his tea.
"Yes, one at a time," Zhao Kai replied, his voice firm.
Huang Liangcai smiled smugly, but when he set down his cup and looked up, he saw the armed guards meant to chastise Zhao Kai stacked up atop each other. Zhao Kai sat leisurely on the pile, legs crossed.
Huang Liangcai nearly spat out his tea.
"Audacious! How dare you strike palace guards! Do you wish to die?"
"I think you’re the audacious one, letting palace guards bully honest folk. If the Emperor and Empress heard of this, you’d be charged with overstepping your bounds."
Zhao Kai was adept at handling eunuchs. Those rootless creatures always threw their weight around, bullying others by pretending to wield authority.
The crowd looked stunned. Was it wise to speak so to the palace’s favorite?
Huang Liangcai realized then that this man was not to be trifled with. He turned his scolding to Lin Zhenting.
"You useless fool! You’re my godson, yet you let yourself be bullied? Why didn’t you come to me sooner? Your godfather holds the Empress’s token—if anyone disrespects me, I can punish them!"
Every other word was "the Empress." Was she so beautiful, a goddess perhaps?
Lin Zhenting knew his godfather was saying this on purpose and obediently bowed his head. "You’re right, godfather. I only feared I’d trouble you or the Empress, so I dared not tell you."
With their sing-song act, they were missing their calling in the opera troupe.
"What’s there to fear? Here, take the Empress’s token. Let’s see who dares bully you."
Instantly emboldened, Lin Zhenting stood fearless. Zhao Kai finally understood what it meant to have a dog barking under its master’s protection.
"Master Huang, does the token really work?"
"Of course it works! This is the Empress’s—"
Halfway through, Huang Liangcai clutched his throat. His eyes glazed over; not a word came out.
"What’s wrong, Master Huang? You haven’t finished telling us about the Empress," Zhao Kai asked deliberately.
Huang Liangcai stared fiercely at the tea he’d just drunk, his gaze locked onto Zhao Kai.
"Godfather, godfather… what happened?"
Lin Zhenting grew even more anxious, terrified his powerful protector might be lost.
Zhao Kai inquired with concern, "Did you offend the Empress and suffer retribution?"

"Zhao Kai! It must be you—you did something to my godfather!"
"I swear, I did nothing. Everyone saw."
Zhao Kai spread his hands. Huang Liangcai was struggling to breathe, and Lin Zhenting, unable to care about anything else, hurriedly led his people away.
Zhao Kai laughed heartily. A dead eunuch dared to swagger before him—did he think himself Wei Zhongxian? Even Wei Zhongxian didn’t live long; rootless things never do.
Lin Feier, anxious, asked, "Husband, what shall we do? We’ve offended Master Huang. Will we—"
"Don’t worry, he’s a nobody."
"But he’s still from the palace…"
"So what if he is?" Zhou Chengwang jumped in. "The Emperor does business with our family, we’re on friendly terms. If they dare trouble Brother Zhao, I’ll have my uncle speak to the Emperor himself. Besides, Brother Zhao and I are sworn brothers, and he’s my uncle’s esteemed nephew. That dead eunuch has no authority to punish Brother Zhao."
Zhou Chengwang firmly supported Zhao Kai. Zhao Kai praised him, "Good brother, that silencing tea was well-served."
"Rest assured, anything you need, leave it to me."
Huang Liangcai was nothing but a dog relying on his master’s power. He wanted to help Lin Zhenting? How ridiculous.
But why had Huang Liangcai left the palace specifically—certainly not just to rescue his godson? Zhao Kai wondered.
After Lin Zhenting brought Huang Liangcai home, he soon recovered his voice.
"Godfather, are you alright? I was so frightened just now."
Whether he was alright or not was another matter, but losing his voice and face so suddenly was truly humiliating.
"You useless thing! You couldn’t even handle one person and made your godfather suffer!" Huang Liangcai berated him.
"I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. But Zhao Kai… he’s not easy to deal with."
"What’s so difficult? I have the Empress backing me. With her support, who can stand in my way? You’re my godson—slapping you is slapping me. In the palace, everyone courts my favor. Who does he think he is?"
Still fuming over his humiliation, Huang Liangcai vowed, "The brat dared to scheme against me—he must have a death wish. All this fuss over a deed? Does he think himself the Emperor? I’ll get it back for you! And teach him a lesson while I’m at it!"
Lin Zhenting, delighted, thanked his godfather.