Chapter 038 The Little Mermaid is Drunk

After both of them had eaten half their fill, Si Xi came forward to pour wine. Zong Zheng Xiao had a good alcohol tolerance and he always liked to have a few drinks during festivals in the past, so the palace servants put wine on the table today.

Before Rong Yin traveled through time, he couldn't even drink beer, let alone liquor. The mermaid had no experience of drinking, and no one knew whether his body could accept alcohol.

Zong Zhengxiao took a few sips and saw Rong Yin staring at the wine glass in his hand motionlessly, so focused that she even forgot to eat the mooncake.

"Want to drink?" Zong Zhengxiao put the wine glass in front of Rong Yin.

Looking at the clear wine, Rong Yin was eager to try it, but the strong smell of alcohol warned him not to try it lightly.

Rong Yin pursed her lips and thought: Just a little taste, should it be okay?

He raised his eyes to glance at Zong Zheng Xiao, and seeing that he had no intention of taking back the wine glass, he lowered his head and held the edge of the wine glass in his mouth.

What Rong Yin didn't notice was that the place where his lips touched was also touched by Zong Zheng Xiao's lips just now.

As for whether Zong Zhengxiao deliberately put this position to Rong Yin's lips, only he himself knows.

Rong Yin wanted to drink, and Zong Zhengxiao cooperated by tilting his glass.

To Rong Yin's surprise, the wine was not as spicy as he had imagined. Instead, it had a sweet taste and did not scratch his throat.

Rong Yin blinked his eyes and thought happily: I didn’t expect that the liquor in this world is so delicious. From now on, I will also be a wine lover who can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk!

Seeing Rong Yin slowly finish half a glass of wine, Zong Zhengxiao did not stop him. After he finished, he poured another glass and passed it to him, asking, "Do you want more?"

Rong Yin shook his head and pushed away Zong Zhengxiao's hand: I agreed to taste it a little, and I am very principled.

Zong Zheng Xiao smiled, raised his head and drank the glass of wine in one gulp, with his lips in the same position as Rong Yin's just now.

Afterwards, Zong Zhengxiao continued to drink, and he and Rong Yin fed each other food from time to time.

It was not until Rong Yin grabbed a ball of air and tried to stuff it into Zong Zhengxiao's mouth that Zong Zhengxiao realized that his little mermaid seemed to be drunk.

Most people get red-faced and confused when they are drunk. Some people will make a lot of noise, some will dance like crazy, and some will just lie down and fall asleep.

But seeing that Rong Yin was drunk, not only did his complexion and eyes look normal, but he was also able to sit still and feed Zong Zheng Xiao with steady movements.

Zong Zhengxiao held Rong Yin's hands that were about to press against his lips, and couldn't help laughing: "You are drunk silently."

"Ah." Rong Yin tilted his head in confusion, not understanding why Zong Zheng Xiao didn't let him feed him.

Rong Yin looked at Zong Zheng Xiao aggrievedly, her rosy lips parted, and questions were about to come out of her mouth.

Zong Zheng Xiao also seemed to have a telepathic connection and suddenly realized what the mermaid wanted to do. He was surprised and immediately covered Rong Yin's lips with his free hand.

"Huh?" Rong Yin's eyes became even more confused. It would be fine if he didn't feed her, but why wasn't he allowed to even talk?

Rongyin: Tyrant! Bad guy! Control freak!

Zong Zhengxiao, who wanted to help Rong Yin maintain her disguise, said: "..."

Well, he couldn't argue with a drunk.

"Mmmm!" Maybe that's what drunks are like, they do whatever they want based on their heart and are very stubborn. Even with his mouth covered, Rong Yin still tried hard to make a sound.

Zong Zhengxiao thought about it and realized that even if he asked the palace maids to stay away, it was still empty here. If Rong Yin really couldn't control herself and spoke, there was still a possibility that she would be heard.

So he acted decisively, pressed the mermaid's head into his arms, picked her up, and strode into the house.

"No need to follow me, stay away, and don't come near without my order."

As soon as Zong Zhengxiao finished speaking, Si Xi and Lu E, who were about to follow, immediately stopped.

After Zong Zhengxiao entered the room, Lu'e asked worriedly, "Is everything okay?"

Si Xi narrowed his eyes and said, "I don't know, but your Majesty will definitely not harm the young master, you can rest assured about this."

Lu'e believed what he said, but she still didn't understand why the emperor suddenly took the young master away.

Suddenly, Lu'e seemed to have thought of something and her eyes widened.

Your Majesty, you don't want to do that to the young master, do you?

This shouldn't be possible. Is it really possible without any preparation?

Lu'e was very worried, but Zong Zhengxiao had told her not to get close, so she didn't dare to go and inquire.

She had decided not to sleep tonight. She would not be able to rest assured until she saw that the young master was okay.

In the room, the drunk Rong Yin was writhing in Zong Zheng Xiao's arms, not using any strength at all. In addition, his tail was flapping everywhere, and even someone as strong as Zong Zheng Xiao almost couldn't hold on firmly, allowing him to break free.

Fortunately, they arrived at their destination smoothly. Zong Zhengxiao pushed the man down on the bed and used all his limbs to control him. Then he said helplessly: "You heartless little thing, you must torture me to death before you are satisfied, right?"

After lying on the bed, Rong Yin gradually calmed down. He looked at Zong Zheng Xiao who was pressing on him, his light blue eyes clear and innocent.

"Who are you?" Rong Yin asked.

Zong Zheng Xiao was slightly startled. This was the first time he heard Rong Yin speak. Although the voice and his inner voice were exactly the same, Zong Zheng Xiao still found it novel.

It's like everyone has seen a portrait of a beauty, but when they actually see the beauty in person, even though they know that she looks no different from the portrait, they still subconsciously think that the real person is prettier.

Seeing that Zong Zheng Xiao did not answer, Rong Yin asked angrily, "Why don't you tell me your name?"

Zong Zhengxiao came back to his senses, looked at his cute expression, and said with a smile: "You were feeding me just now, how come you don't know who I am now?"

"Hmm?" Rong Yin looked confused and said, "I forgot. Can you tell me again?"

Facing the merman's expectant eyes, an idea quickly flashed through Zong Zheng Xiao's mind. He stared at the person under him and said nervously, "Tell me your name first, and then I'll tell you mine."

Rong Yin didn't think much about it and said stupidly, "Keep your word."

Zong Zhengxiao nodded.

Then, Zong Zheng Xiao saw the merman smiling and saying, "My name is Rong Yin, the sound of lingering sound."

"Rong Yin..." Zong Zheng Xiao followed subconsciously, it turned out that this was the name of the little mermaid.

"Yeah." Rong Yin thought he was calling her, so she responded and then said, "Okay, now it's your turn to tell me your name."

Zong Zheng Xiao said: "My name is Zong Zheng Xiao, which means free and easy."

"Oh, I see." Rong Yin's eyes sparkled, and she said happily, "Hello, Zong Zhengxiao, I'm Rong Yin."

After saying this, he seemed to be amused by his own words and he kept chuckling, his body shaking with laughter.

Zong Zhengxiao was also infected by him and a warm smile appeared on his face.

After seeing that Rong Yin would not make any more noise, Zong Zheng Xiao stood up and helped him sit up.

Perhaps because she was even more drunk, Rong Yin couldn't even sit still. She leaned limply on Zong Zhengxiao's shoulder and hugged his arm.

Zong Zheng Xiao held him close and asked tentatively, "Can I ask you any other questions?"

"Sure." Rong Yin said cheerfully.

Zong Zheng Xiao asked: "Where are you from?"

Rong Yin chuckled and said, "I won't tell you."

Zong Zhengxiao: “…”

Okay, let's change the question.

Zong Zheng Xiao: "How did you come to this world?"

Rong Yin snorted: "I still won't tell you."

"..." Zong Zhengxiao, "But didn't you just promise me to ask you questions?"

Rong Yin said: "I only agreed to your question. If I didn't agree, I would definitely answer."

Zong Zhengxiao thought that after the little mermaid got drunk, her brain became more active.

“Forget it.” Zong Zhengxiao sighed, “Some things might be better if you tell me when you are sober.”

Rong Yin turned to look at Zong Zheng Xiao, with a look of triumph on his face, "You don't want to ask anymore?"

"No more questions."

"Okay." His tone was still a little disappointed.

Rong Yin leaned back again and said after a while, "I'm thirsty."

Zong Zhengxiao glanced at the tea on the low table next to him and said, "Do you want some water? I'll pour it for you."

Rong Yin shook his head. "It's not me who wants to drink water, it's Weiba who wants to drink. Weiba said he's thirsty."

Drunk people sometimes have this kind of illogical sense of humor when they talk.

Zong Zhengxiao looked down at Rong Yin's tail hanging on the ground, and it was indeed a bit dry.

"I'll carry you into the water."

"Thank you." Rong Yin hugged Zong Zheng Xiao's neck and let him pick her up. She said softly, "Zong Zheng Xiao, you are a good person."

Zong Zheng Xiao smiled and said, "Thank you."

If you can still think this way when you are sober, it would be great.

Rong Yin soaked in the water and squinted his eyes comfortably. "The tail is full and I'm not thirsty anymore."

After shaking his tail in the water, Rong Yin looked up and saw Zong Zhengxiao still standing on the steps. He asked him curiously, "Why don't you come down? Isn't your tail thirsty?"

Zong Zhengxiao said patiently: "I only have legs but no tail, so my legs won't get thirsty."

"Oh, so that's it." Rong Yin looked down at the long silver tail in the water, as if talking to himself, "I didn't have a tail before. I got it after coming here. The tail looks good, but legs are more convenient."

As he spoke, he also evaluated the advantages and disadvantages.

Zong Zhengxiao squatted down, looked into Rong Yin's eyes, and asked, "Why did the legs turn into a tail?"

Rong Yin was stunned for a moment, as if recalling the past, and then murmured: "In the water, the legs will turn into a fish tail."

He drowned for saving someone, and to reward him, God made him reincarnate into the body of a mermaid, so he has a fish tail.

This is what Rong Yin really wanted to say, but because he was drunk, the meaning changed when he said it.

Zong Zhengxiao thought Rong Yin was talking nonsense and did not take it seriously.

"So that's how it is." Zong Zhengxiao cooperated very well and pretended to understand.

Rong Yin was delighted to receive a positive response, "That's it!"

Zong Zhengxiao turned his head and glanced at the length of the candle, realizing that it was getting late.

"Rong Yin, are you sleepy? Do you want to sleep?"

“不困。”戎音說完，眼珠子滴溜溜地轉了轉，暗戳戳地提示，“不過你要是想讓我早點睡覺的話，可以拿東西來換哦。”

宗政逍好笑道：“你還要人哄你睡覺啊？”

“怎麽了？”戎音叉腰，傲嬌地道：“你不願意嗎？”

“願意。”宗政逍笑道：“那戎音你想要什麽東西呢？”

“要貴的！”戎音激動地道：“特別貴特別貴那種！”

宗政逍想笑，好吧，他家小鲛人喝醉了也是個小財迷。

宗政逍從腰帶上解下一塊雕刻着龍紋的玉佩，遞給戎音，“這個可以嗎？”

戎音把玉佩捧在手心裏，忙不疊地點頭，“可以！”

這東西不止值錢，還象征着帝王身份，只有皇帝可以使用，但這些宗政逍都不在意，只要戎音能開心就好。

以往拿到寶貝，戎音都會第一時間放進他的藏寶盒裏，這次卻不同，他翻來翻去把玩了好幾遍後，仰頭看向宗政逍，道：“它很漂亮。”

“你喜歡嗎？”宗政逍問。

戎音點頭，“很喜歡。”

自己提的條件被滿足，戎音也遵守承諾，乖乖躺下睡覺了，只是手裏一直握着那枚玉佩。

宗政逍見他是真喜歡，心裏也很欣慰。

屋外，綠娥守了一整夜，直到裏面傳來宗政逍的聲音，叫四喜伺候換衣洗漱，她才跟着進去。

房間裏除了床榻亂了些外，跟往日并沒什麽區別，而且被褥幹幹淨淨，不像是有人在上面做過什麽。

綠娥稍稍松了口氣。

等宗政逍離開後，綠娥才跑去看戎音，戎音蜷縮着躺在斜坡上，尾巴浸泡在水裏，他手中握着一枚玉佩，睡得香甜。

綠娥仔細觀察了，戎音雪白的肌膚上沒有任何可疑的痕跡，這讓她徹底放下心來。

大概是因為昨晚喝了酒，綠娥都去補完覺，宗政逍也回來了，戎音還在呼呼大睡呢。

宗政逍看了看時辰，還是決定把人叫醒，不能餓着睡覺。

不知是不是兩人之間有心靈感應，宗政逍剛進入房間走到水池邊，原本還沉睡不醒的戎音忽然動了一下，然後撐起身體爬了起來。

宗政逍一過去，就對上了戎音那張睡眼惺忪的臉。

聽見腳步聲，戎音下意識擡頭看去，他眼眸微眯，再加上那睡得有些淩亂的頭發，看起來就格外的憨傻。

宗政逍笑了起來。

宗政逍的輕笑聲讓戎音意識稍微回了籠，他擡手揉眼睛，揉完才發現自己手裏好像握着什麽東西。

低頭一看，是一枚乳白色的玉佩。

哪裏來的？戎音不記得了。

“醒了。”宗政逍這時已經來到戎音面前，單膝蹲下，伸手捏了一把他的臉，幫他清醒清醒。

“啊！”戎音甩甩腦袋，瞪了宗政逍一眼。

戎音：讨厭，大早上就欺負我。

不過經過宗政逍這麽一鬧，戎音腦子确實清醒了許多。

戎音被綠娥她們服侍着洗漱，綠娥還給她梳了新的發式。

等他來到宗政逍身邊坐下時，矮幾上已經擺滿了吃食。

戎音沒忙着吃東西，而是把玉佩遞給宗政逍看。

宗政逍見戎音一臉迷茫的樣子，就知道他大概是不記得昨晚的事情了，一時也不知是該慶幸還是失望。

“這是我昨晚給你的，你收着吧。”宗政逍握着戎音的手，扣住了玉佩。

“啊！”莫名其妙又多了一件寶貝，戎音自然高興，對着宗政逍笑得燦爛。

宗政逍也笑着摸了摸他的頭。

戎音的記憶還停留在喝完酒後，他想喂宗政逍吃月餅，但宗政逍不同意，還抓住了他的手。

之後又發生了什麽，他是一點都記不起來了。

不過他也沒往自己掉馬了的方向去想，因為宗政逍的表現很淡定，說明他可能喝醉後很快就睡着了，什麽都沒幹。

他要是發了酒瘋，宗政逍今天肯定就不是這個态度了。

深以為然的戎音很快就将昨晚喝醉的事情抛到了腦後，歡歡喜喜地等着宗政逍投喂。

至于那塊玉佩，綠娥看戎音實在是愛不釋手，都舍不得放進盒子裏，就拿來一根細長不勒人的皮繩給他吊着戴在了脖子上。

美玉養人，對戎音也有好處。

至于上面雕刻的龍紋，反正皇帝本人都不在意，她們又何必鹹吃蘿蔔淡操心。

秋風蕭瑟，城外的山林黃了一大片，很快就到了深秋。

這天，宗政逍收到了一個消息。

自從知道前朝餘黨的存在後，宗政逍就派出了許多人去調查他們在外面是否還有同夥。

一開始查到的都是些小喽啰，地位最高的也不過是一縣的縣令，還位于偏遠地區，不足為慮，他就叫人提前處理了。

至于他說的可能在培養軍隊的同夥，倒是一時沒有找到，不過宗政逍并未放棄調查。

直到半月前，終于功夫不負有心人，在種種證據和線索的指引下，他們很快就确定了目标。

此人乃北江都統方臨案，今年五十有餘，總管北江全軍，在宗政逍的印象裏，這人是個有勇有謀的鐵血漢子。

當年起義時，北江并不屬于宗政家，而是在另一支起義軍呂家的勢力範圍內，北江都統自然也是呂家的人。

宗政家和呂家都是活到最後的起義軍，雙方都想入京稱帝，自然就打了起來，最後以宗政家獲勝為結尾。

北江算是呂家的老本營，呂家落敗後，一部分人逃回北江想集結殘餘部下卷土重來，結果沒想到，在他們回來之前，北江就發生了內亂。

方臨案領兵殺了呂家的都統，自己坐上了這個位置，還把逃回去的呂家人盡數斬殺，将其人頭奉上，以示對宗政家的忠誠。

那會兒宗政逍的父親健在，查過這人背景幹淨，就接受了他的投誠，還跟宗政逍誇過他幾句。

宗政逍登基三年以來，方臨案始終老老實實，從不參與黨派争鬥，盡心盡力幫宗政逍管理北江。

本以為他是個純臣，但沒想到私底下居然還隐藏着狼子野心。

據暗衛傳回的消息，方臨案跟前朝封地在北江的某位王爺有點沾親帶故的關系，只是關系太過隐蔽，所以當初太上皇的人沒查出來。

前年方臨案進京述職時偶然遇見了那些前朝餘黨，後面便維持了聯系。

方臨案是想造反，但他不是想幫那些落魄貴族複辟前朝，他是準備和宗政家一樣，建立屬于方家的新朝代。

他根本就看不起那些個前朝餘黨，之所以跟他們合作，不過是仗着自己跟那位王爺有點關系，得到他們的承認，到時候造反也師出有名罷了。

方臨案覺得自己簡直是倒黴透頂，各方英雄起義那十年，他因為各種原因成就不了自己的勢力，好不容易熬到整死呂家，又還有個宗政家在頭上壓着。

表面上他對宗政家俯首稱臣，實際恨不得立馬取而代之。

北江的軍隊人數有限，方臨案就悄悄屯養私兵，地點就放在靠近海岸的那些小島嶼上。

養軍隊要錢，北江漕運海運發達，這三年又免稅，大晟商業繁榮發展，方臨案作為北江的老大之一，能抽到的油水自然多。

軍隊訓練要武器，目前大晟境內已經被發現的金銀銅鐵礦都有國家管理，方臨案不可能在這些地方搞到打造武器的礦石，唯一的可能就是他發現了新的礦山，但是隐瞞了朝廷，自己私自開采。

暗衛的密信裏也寫明了有這方面的線索，只是還沒完全查清楚。

知道方臨案想造反，宗政逍其實并不詫異，如果時機合适，以方臨案之才，不難成為一方枭雄。

只是可惜了，現在的天下是宗政家的，是他宗政逍在做主。

無論是英雄還是枭雄，只要他還活着，就別想逃脫他的手掌心。

“北江……”宗政逍手指在扶手上輕輕敲擊着，過了一會兒才道：“小妹在颍州，離北江更近，這次就請她出馬吧。”

下定決心後，宗政逍寫下一封密信交給暗衛，要他快馬加鞭送去颍州。

賀家。

賀家主正在檢驗幾位孫子的學習成果，在長房長孫背誦文章時，他本來略帶滿意的臉突然變得猙獰，伸手一把按住胸口，噗通一聲從椅子上滑落在地。

一群人頓時尖叫慌亂起來，最後還是大兒媳進來穩住場面，叫了下人去請府醫過來。

賀家人口多，男女老少住了好幾個院子，誰都難免會有些小病小痛。

他家有錢，專門請了府醫住在家裏，各種藥材更是應有盡有。

賀家家主昏厥後，府醫很快就趕了過來，先是針灸，後又灌藥，折騰到晚上，賀家主的情況才算平穩下來。

第二天賀家主醒後，從府醫那兒知曉了自己的大概情況，說是心疾，無論男女年紀大了心髒都容易出問題，無法根治，只能好生将養着。

賀家主沒為難府醫，揮揮手叫人先出去，自己則靠坐在床頭，青白的臉上挂着一雙滿是憂愁的眼睛。

He Yan came to visit his father. Seeing that his father looked serious, he thought he was worried about his health, so he said a few words to comfort him.

Who would have thought that the head of the He family would say: "Birth, aging, sickness and death are the natural laws of nature. They are beyond human control. I have long since let it go."

He Yan was puzzled: "Why is father unhappy?"

The head of the He family frowned, "Before I fainted, a wave of uneasiness that I had never experienced before surged into my heart. In panic, I had heart pain and fell to the ground."

He Yan asked tentatively, "Father, do you mean that you think something bad is going to happen?"

The head of the He family said nothing, which was considered as his tacit agreement.

He Yan didn't believe in things like premonitions, but since his father was like that, he couldn't refute it.

After a long while, the head of the He family asked, "How is your investigation into the former dynasty's accomplices going?"