Chapter 043 Little Mermaid's Love Snowball
When Fang Lin and his family and accomplices were escorted to Beijing, even in the middle of winter, countless passers-by watched.
There were people who were dedicated to publicizing the crimes of the Fang family, including but not limited to: private mining, kidnapping innocent people to work as illegal miners, resulting in the deaths of many people; selling the mined minerals that could be used to forge weapons to other countries, seriously threatening the safety of Dasheng; using the canal to make money and accepting bribes from a large number of merchants; privately manufacturing weapons and raising troops with the intention of rebellion; intending to assassinate members of the royal family, which was an even greater crime...
Under Zong Zhengxiao's arrangement, storytellers in the capital have recently been talking about Fang Lin's rebellion, telling the people how heinous the crimes he committed were and how much harm they had caused to Da Sheng.
Originally, after the incident of selling low-priced ice in the summer, the royal family's reputation among the people had been rising again and again. Now the people knew that Fang Linan was not only wasting time on peaceful days, but was actually trying to rebel and become the emperor, completely disregarding the fact that the people had just experienced ten years of war and were still recuperating.
If such a person really became the emperor, no one in the world would have a good life!
Moreover, Fang Lin's plan is to sell the mines to outsiders. When they make good weapons, it will be our Dasheng people who will die. He is treasonous and betraying the country.
Zong Zhengxiao's people promoted these two points to tell the people that the royal family that allows you to live a stable life is named Zong Zheng, and the interests of the royal family and the people are closely related.
The royal family arrested Fang Lin not only because he wanted to rebel against the Zong Zheng family, but also because he was doing evil things that harmed the people of the world.
In just a few days, the Fang family's reputation was ruined to the core, and everyone wanted to kill them.
Perhaps he knew that the matter was irreversible, so the people from the Ministry of Justice did not even question him. Fang Lin confessed everything and acknowledged all the crimes he had committed.
At the same time, the aristocratic families were extremely anxious, fearing that Fang would expose the remnant factions in the capital and implicate them.
The He family had connections in the Ministry of Justice, but this time Zong Zhengxiao used ruthless means. Not only were all the people in charge of the case his, but he also protected Fang Lin and his family very strictly, making it impossible for the He family to silence them.
But soon the He family no longer had to worry, because Fang Lin confessed to the case, saying that he knew several impoverished nobles from the previous dynasty in the capital, and these people also wanted to rebel.
Within an hour, all the remnants of the previous dynasty in Shijing Street were arrested and brought to justice.
As soon as Qin Shan walked out of Hong'er's house, he was pinned to the ground by soldiers. He shouted loudly, causing Hong'er to run out. Before being taken away, Qin Shan desperately shouted to her: "Hong'er, go find the noble man and ask him to save me!"
The nobles he was referring to were naturally the He family.
"Okay, I'll go right away!" Hong'er was so scared that tears came out of her eyes, and she responded in panic.
Qin Shan couldn't help but feel relieved when he got her response. He and the He family were in the same boat. The He family was afraid that he would betray them, so they would definitely save him.
But what Qin Shan didn't know was that as soon as he left, Hong'er, who had tears in her eyes, immediately put away her panicked look, turned around, ran into the house and started packing her luggage.
In the evening, she arrived at the designated location and met the person who was responsible for contacting her.
"I have done everything you asked me to do, sir. Now that Qin Shan has been arrested, it is time for you to fulfill your promise."
After she finished speaking, the man handed her a bamboo slip and told her to go to the East City Gate, find a carriage parked on the roadside, and show the bamboo slip to the old man driving the carriage. The old man would naturally take her to where she should go.
Hong'er fearfully found the old man with the bamboo slips in her hand and got on the carriage as she wished. In the carriage, she saw the silver that the man promised to give her, as well as a brand new identity certificate.
Even after leaving the capital and reaching her destination, Hong'er still felt that it was a little unreal.
The man did not lie to her, nor did he kill her to silence her. All her wishes came true!
"Go, your supporters are inside. Don't come back to the capital again." The old man instructed Hong'er.
"No, I will never go back again." Hong'er's eyes were wet as she strode towards a new life.
In the big prison in the capital, Qin Shan and his entire family were locked up, but the cells for the men and women were not in the same place, so the children were locked up with the women.
Although Hong'er did not inform the He family, the He family still came to find Qin Shan and others, but not to save them, but to warn them to shut up.
"If you dare to tell anyone about your relationship with the He family, I guarantee you won't see the sun tomorrow!" the man threatened viciously.
Qin Shan was almost frightened to death. He knelt down and grabbed the corner of the man's robe, begging, "Sir, we can keep it a secret, but you have to save us!"
The visitor's eyes flashed with disgust, and he said perfunctorily: "Of course, as long as you behave yourself and don't say anything nonsense, with my master's ability, saving you couldn't be easier."
"Okay, okay, we'll shut up. We promise not to mention the He family to the interrogators. Sir, we don't want to die. Please ask Sir He to get us out quickly."
"Got it. Just wait, you will be able to leave here soon." The man said this casually and left.
Qin Shan and others were skeptical about his words, but they also knew that at the moment they could do nothing but trust the He family.
During the interrogation the next day, even though they were tortured, Qin Shan and others only confessed that they had dealings with Fang Lin'an. As for the He family, they did not mention a word.
Seeing this, the He family breathed a sigh of relief. The head of the He family couldn't help but sigh. Fortunately, he only placed people around Fang Lin'an and hadn't contacted him yet. Otherwise, the He family might have been in jail now.
But the head of the He family did not think that the He family could rest easy, because if Qin Shan and his group of idiots could not bear the torture and betrayed the He family, they would still not be able to escape.
The head of the He family was at a loss and could only seek advice from the other three families on countermeasures.
To his surprise, the three families did not even bother to pretend. When he asked for help, they looked puzzled and said, "It is the He family that cooperated with the rest of the party. Now it is about to be discovered and it is also the He family that is facing a catastrophe. What does it have to do with us? Why do you want us to find a solution for you?"
"You, cough cough cough..." The head of the He family had not yet fully recovered from his illness. His already pale face instantly lost all color after hearing these words, like a dying person.
The other three looked at him coldly. From the day Fang Lin was escorted to Beijing, they knew that the plan had failed, and they all gave up on the He family.
It can't be said that he cut off his arm to survive, but he just found an unlucky person to take all the responsibilities.
Looking at their indifferent expressions, the head of the He family knew that everything was over. Their families had come together because of interests, and they would naturally separate because of interests.
"Do you think that you can be safe with my He family as a shield?" The head of the He family said, "Don't forget, I know everything you have done. If you reveal any of them to the emperor, you will be in big trouble. What do you think? Do you want to give it a try?"
The four companies have been cooperating for many years, and the other three companies are basically aware of any dirty deeds done by each company.
After hearing what he said, the Li and Chen families started to feel a little fearful, but the head of the Cui family, who was sitting at the top, didn't even blink an eye.
He looked at the head of the He family calmly: "You have leverage over us, and we have leverage over you, but don't forget that you have cooperated with the remnants of the previous dynasty, and you have committed the crime of deceiving the emperor and treason, which is punishable by death. As for us, even if the emperor really knew what we had done, at most he would kill a few people to vent his anger, but it would not shake the foundation of our three families."
Seeing that the more he spoke, the uglier the face of Patriarch He became, Patriarch Cui did not stop, but continued: "According to the Dasheng law, if you participate in rebellion, the elders in the three clans will be beheaded, the younger men will be exiled to the frontier, and the women will be enslaved and sent to the Jiaofang Bureau. You will definitely not survive, but what about your grandchildren?"
"It's all over if the adults die, but it's a pity for the children. If you honestly confess all the crimes, we can still take care of your children. But if you anger us, no one can predict what will happen to those children in the future."
This is a threat, a naked threat. Mr. He understands it, but what can he do?
The He family has a young son, and it is pitiful that they were implicated because of the mistakes of the adults. If the adults die, it will leave hidden dangers for the children, which is even more sinful.
The head of the He family hesitated for a long time, looked at the three people, and spoke slowly and firmly: "My He family is willing to bear all the charges and will not implicate you three families in the slightest. But you must also swear that you will never embarrass the living young people of the He family in the future. Those who violate the rules will be struck by lightning and die a miserable death!"
After he finished speaking, there was silence in the room. The head of the He family and the three men exchanged greetings, neither giving in at all.
Finally, Patriarch Cui spoke first: "Okay, I promise you."
After saying this, he swore an oath according to the wishes of the head of the He family, and the other two followed closely.
Things have come to this point, looking at the faces of these three people will only increase resentment, so the head of the He family stood up, forced his back to straighten, and walked away steadily without looking back once.
Did he believe the oaths sworn by the three family heads? Of course not. In the face of absolute interests, oaths were shit. The reason why he asked them to swear was just a delaying tactic.
Even if they really came to the point of being desperate, as long as the He family members were not all dead, the evidence of the other three families' crimes would remain in the hands of those who were still alive. If the three families dared to break their promise, they would send the evidence to the emperor and would bite off a piece of meat from the three families even if it meant death.
After returning home, the head of the He family fell seriously ill. He did not let his son continue to send people to threaten Qin Shan and others not to betray the He family, because he knew that what was coming would come.
Sure enough, within a few days, the He family received news that Qin Shan’s wife took the initiative to expose Qin Shan, saying that they were cooperating with a noble family and preparing to rebel together.
除了她這個人證，還有物證，世家給秦山他們的錢都在屋裏藏着呢，秦山他們準備從世家坑到足夠的錢就離開京城，結果提前被抓了。
秦山他們經常到這個世家的店鋪裏撒潑要封口費，還去世家的銀莊取過錢，稍微查查就知道秦山妻子說的都是實話。
這個世家就是賀家。
沒多久，賀家人同樣被抓進了牢裏，皇帝派人去查，果真發現了賀家跟這些前朝餘孽合作的證據。
秦山知曉是自己妻子揭發了自己時，怒得想要立馬沖過去打死這娘們，可他沒想到的是，第二天他就收到了妻兒全部身死的消息。
說是妻子掐死幾個孩子，自己又撞了牆，人沒搶救回來，當場就沒了。
現在屍體已經被扔到亂葬崗了。
秦山不信，說要見妻子和孩子的屍體确認一遍，獄卒嫌他吵，就把他揍了一頓，說以後你被砍了頭，到陰間見到他們母子，想看多久就看多久。
至于秦山的妻子和孩子是否真的死了呢？答案為否。
當初秦山家隔壁的嬸子勸過妻子，說他們的身份就是擺脫秦山的籌碼，那會兒嬸子含糊其辭，并沒有完全說清楚，不過秦山妻子還是将她的話放在了心上。
直到她和孩子被秦山帶累關進牢裏，再次見到那位嬸子，她才知道了嬸子真正的身份，也明白了她當時那句話是什麽意思。
因為她是秦山的妻子，清楚他的所有事，所以她揭發作證，查案的官員肯定會相信。
嬸子向她保證，只要她揭露秦山等人與賀家的關系，就放她和孩子一條生路，不過秦山就必死無疑了。
妻子沒有絲毫猶豫就答應了嬸子，她早就受夠了秦山，巴不得他去死。
嬸子說到做到，在證據足夠拉賀家下馬後，立即就使計讓秦山妻子和孩子死遁，偷偷将他們送往很遠的地方，要求他們隐姓埋名，以後都不能再出現在京城。
不過不是所有人都像秦山妻子一樣幸運，頂着參與造反的罪名，等待他們的只有死這條路可走。
一起造反案，震動了整個京城和北江官場，身為老牌世家的賀家不過一夜便轟然倒塌，跟賀家有關聯的官員多多少少都受到了牽連，特別是刑部，一半的世家官員都被踢了出去，換成了皇室的人。
至于北江，那就更是從頭撸到尾，方臨案在北江幹了那麽多惡事，當地大大小小的官員敢說一點都沒發現？如果發現了，又為什麽隐瞞不報？
一通查下去，北江官場一半是收了方臨案賄賂，一半是怕死，不敢上報，但無論是哪一樣，都會讓他們烏紗不保。
隐瞞不報的，算是玩忽職守，降職處理。
收受賄賂的，當事官員被判斬首，全家流放。
知府趙令雖有罪，但他協助公主捉拿方臨案，算将功折過，賜其毒酒一杯，奪其官職，可不禍及家人。
宗政逍派了個欽差前去配合宗政惜處理北江事宜，方臨案養的私兵收編進北江軍，以後由朝廷垂直管理，漕運的各項權力也收回到了皇室手裏，至于找到的礦山，當然也歸朝廷所有。
霍家主也很識趣，将兵權上交後，自請辭官回老家去了，畢竟他曾經是方臨案的人，不适合再待在這個位置上。
北江有公主在，宗政逍的注意力更多還是放在京城這邊。
賀家很老實，知道逃不過，幹脆一力扛下所有罪狀，并沒有将另外三家牽扯進來。
不過，或許是因為不甘心只有自己家遭罪，又或許是出于報複皇室的心理，賀家便把蘇婉兒是前朝公主的秘密公之于衆了。
蘇婉兒是寧王的兒媳，這麽說的話，寧王一家豈不也犯了隐瞞不報的罪行。
既然其他官員犯了這個錯都要被罰，出于公正考慮，皇上也該追究寧王府的責任。
另外三個世家知道這是打擊皇室的好機會，也不置身事外了，跟着到處宣揚這件事。
他們當初确認蘇婉兒身世時找到了不少證據，此時剛好可以用上。
早朝上，世家一系的官員向宗政逍施壓，要求一定要嚴懲寧王，不可因為他是皇室之人就包庇他，否則會寒了天下百姓的心。
宗政逍看着咄咄逼人的官員們，并沒有給出回答，臉色冷得可怕。
寧王府。
世子院中，蘇婉兒高燒不退，剛強行灌了藥進去，只能等着慢慢退燒。
宗政連祺守在床邊，盯着妻子憔悴的容顏，目光呆滞。
自從親手埋葬了父母後，蘇婉兒的身體就每況愈下，體弱多病不說，瘦得連往常正合适的衣裳都大了兩圈。
寧王和寧王妃沒提休妻的事，但宗政連祺和蘇婉兒知道這都是暫時的，所以愈發地珍惜能相處的時間，心裏也越來越悲傷。
自從方臨案被押解進京後，知曉蘇婉兒身世的宗政連祺就不安了起來，他總覺得妻子會被卷進這場風波中。
果不其然，賀家告發了寧王府，蘇婉兒這才知道自己原來是前朝公主，并且他父親私底下跟前朝餘孽有聯系，也想要跟着造反。
更讓她痛苦的是，丈夫早就知道了這些事，卻一直瞞着她。
悲痛之下，蘇婉兒再一次病倒，宗政連祺守着妻子，寧王卻在直面不斷襲來的狂風暴雨。
他本想進宮請罪，宗政逍卻提前叫人送了消息過來，讓他稍安勿躁，先等等再說。
這一等就等到蘇婉兒蘇醒，強撐病體來到寧王夫妻倆面前跪下，求他們提前賜自己一封休書。
蘇婉兒啞聲道：“爹娘作惡多端，婉兒身世自帶罪孽，寧王府待我如至親，你們本就是無辜的，婉兒自覺不該連累你們，請王爺王妃做主休了婉兒，蘇家和婉兒身份的所有罪過，都該由婉兒來獨自承擔。”
寧王看着地上幾乎瘦得只剩骨頭的蘇婉兒，輕聲嘆氣：“你還能心存感恩之心，說明寧王府往日對你的好不算白費，但你可要考慮清楚了，離了寧王府，以你前朝公主的身份，可就只有死路一條了。”
蘇婉兒低頭：“婉兒明白，但婉兒不怕，或許這就是婉兒的命吧。”
“你倒是個看得開的。”寧王這話也不知是誇還是貶，蘇婉兒緊緊攥住衣角，并沒有回應。
寧王妃眼眶泛紅，幾欲落淚，但到底沒有開口制止，就像蘇婉兒說的，這都是各自的命。
外面又飄起了雪，寧王正想先叫蘇婉兒起來，他們再商量休書的事，宗政連祺卻在這時忽然推開門口的侍衛們跑了進來，面對着父母，挨着蘇婉兒身邊噗通一聲跪了下來。
宗政連祺沒想到，他就是因為守妻子守得太久，累了回去休息一會兒，再次醒來，聽見的卻是妻子要自請下堂的消息。
這下宗政連祺還有什麽不明白的，外界拿蘇婉兒的身世攻擊寧王府，蘇婉兒不願意連累寧王府，才想自己離開。
宗政連祺絕不允許這樣的事情發生。
寧王在看見自己這蠢兒子又表現出一副倔驢樣時，就知道今天這事兒簡單不了。
他剛這麽想完，宗政連祺就開口道：“父親，母親，婉兒是我的妻子，要休妻也是我自己來，你們無權取代我。”
寧王早就被他氣夠了，也懶得跟他分辯，冷聲道：“沒人想取代你，既然你來了，就自己寫休書吧。”
說着，他就讓管事拿來了筆墨紙硯。
“寫啊，還跪着不動做什麽？”寧王看着宗政連祺道。
宗政連祺旁邊的蘇婉兒身體一顫，默默閉上眼睛，淚珠從眼角滾落。
她來求寧王和寧王妃，就是不想讓丈夫親自休了她，但沒想到終究還是走到了這一步。
可下一刻，蘇婉兒冰涼的手卻被熟悉的大掌握住了，她擡頭看去，宗政連祺正沖她溫柔地笑。
蘇婉兒愣住了，宗政連祺也沒跟她解釋，而是轉頭看向寧王和寧王妃。
“爹，我寫你也寫，我寫休書，你寫斷親書。”
“什麽？”寧王眉頭突突地跳，感覺大事不妙。
宗政連祺道：“我與婉兒成親那日，就許下過一生一世永不分離的誓言，如果這次她必死無疑，那我就陪她一起，為了不連累寧王府，你就寫下斷親書，把我從寧王府剔除出去吧，從今往後，我和婉兒都跟寧王府再無瓜葛。”
他這番話震驚了在場的每一個人，寧王本以為無論兒子再做什麽糊塗事，他都能不怒不氣了，但他沒想到，他這個兒子居然能混賬到一再突破他的極限。
“宗政連祺！你瘋了是不是？”寧王怒吼。
寧王妃哭着去拉兒子，“連祺，你起來，別說傻話了，你是爹娘的兒子，是寧王府的世子，你怎麽能忍心抛下我們一家人啊！”
蘇婉兒也跟着勸：“相公，你別這樣，我不需要你為我付出這麽多。”
最初知曉丈夫瞞着自己真實身世這麽大的事情時，蘇婉兒說不生氣是假的，但她又回想起，自己之前不也沒把父親的所作所為告訴寧王一家。
每個人都有自己的迫不得已，她不該怪丈夫，更不該再害了他們。
宗政連祺搖了搖頭，堅定地道：“你們不用再說了，我意已決，父親，就當兒子求你，請你寫下斷親書吧！”
寧王顫聲道：“因為我讓你休妻，所以你這是在報複我？”
“不是報複，我只是在用我自己的方法，同時保全我的家和我對妻子的感情而已，父親，你不必如此揣測我。”
寧王胸膛劇烈起伏着，魔怔般點了點頭，道：“好，你想脫離這個家是吧，那我就成全你！”
他說着就要去拿紙筆，寧王妃和管家都撲上去拉他，“王爺，不可，萬萬不可啊！”
寧王看向兩人，怒道：“不可？那你們告訴本王該怎麽辦？！”
兩人也想不出對策，但就是不肯讓寧王去寫斷親書，現在逞一時之氣，以後後悔就晚了。
“母親，你們就放開父親吧，難道您想讓整個寧王府跟着陪葬嗎？”
“我……”寧王妃猶豫不決，但抓着寧王的手卻慢慢松開了。
“相公……”蘇婉兒已淚流滿面，看着宗政連祺，滿臉的不忍。
最終宗政連祺還是如願拿到了斷親書，只是蘇婉兒的休書變成了和離書，代表兩人正式從此跟寧王府再無關聯。
只不過無論是斷親還是和離，都需要把文書交到官府衙門去蓋章做記錄才算真正起效，和離書還好說，但這一國王爺和世子的斷親書，京城府衙的人還真不敢蓋章。
要是以後鬧不明白，說不定得拿他們開刀。
沒有辦法，寧王父子只得進宮，請聖上親自宣判這封斷親書有效。
寧王府的鬧劇早就被暗衛傳進了宗政逍耳朵裏，此刻他看着跪在下面的父子倆，淡聲道：“你們真的考慮好了？一旦斷親，可不容你們後悔。”
父子倆同時答道：“回陛下，臣已做好決定。”
宗政逍負手而立，輕嘆一聲，“那朕就如你們所願。”
說完，宗政逍便在文書末端蓋上了自己的私印。
見狀，寧王父子倆表情都發生了變化，寧王是無奈的釋然，宗政連祺是悵然若失的茫然，但緊接着，他眼神又恢複了堅定。
這是他自己選擇的路，他寧死也得走下去。
辦完斷親的事，宗政逍的注意力就轉移到了宗政連祺身上。
要不說江山易改本性難移，宗政連祺在戎音看過的那本書裏将愛情放在國家危亡之前，如今即便情況有所改變，他的第一選擇依舊是自己的妻子。
宗政逍一時有些不知道該怎麽評價自己這個侄子。
“連祺。”宗政逍喊他。
宗政連祺連忙應道：“陛下，臣在。”
宗政逍盯着他的臉，道：“你可清楚，如今世家抓着蘇婉兒的身世不放，而她又和寧王府有瓜葛，若我不處置她，恐難堵悠悠衆口。”
造反的方臨案、參與其中的賀家跟那些前朝餘孽，現在都被關在牢裏等着判決呢，蘇婉兒作為前朝公主，在這個緊要關頭被爆出真實身份，宗政逍不殺她，讓百姓們怎麽看待皇室？
宗政連祺雖然心裏只有妻子，但也不是傻子，他早就看清了局勢，所以才會逼着父親寫下斷親書。
宗政連祺毅然決然地道：“陛下所說臣都明白，婉兒以後不再是寧王府的兒媳，卻始終是臣的妻子，無論她未來是生是死，臣都願追随她而去。”
即便早就清楚兒子的心意，但再次聽見這番話，寧王還是沒忍住露出了痛苦的神色。
宗政逍将父子倆的反應看在眼裏，他對着宗政連祺道：“倒是個癡情種，朕定會成全你。”
宗政連祺跪下磕頭：“臣，謝陛下隆恩。”
寧王父子倆走後，宗政逍在書房獨坐了許久，直到将心裏的情緒都消化完了，才去銀鲛園找戎音。
他到時，戎音還在外面堆雪人。
穿書前戎音在南方生活，見過下雪，但沒見過那麽大的雪，再加上他也不怎麽怕冷，最近幾日就時常到雪地裏玩。
一大一小兩個圓雪球疊在一起，就是一個“人”了，戎音拿石子給雪人安上眼睛鼻子嘴巴，看看雪人，再看看宗政逍，意思說這雪人是宗政逍。
宗政逍挑眉道：“我在你眼裏就是這幅形象？”
“啊。”戎音心道：不然呢？
戎音指着雪人筆直得沒有半點弧度的嘴巴，看着宗政逍：你現在就是這樣的，看起來很不開心。
宗政逍順着他指的方向看過去，雪人“表情”嚴肅，當真是半點笑意也無。
他以前也不是時時刻刻都唇角上揚，但戎音從來沒有像這次一樣明白地指出來，因為不笑不一定是不高興，還有可能只是單純的心緒平靜。
宗政連祺的事多少也影響到了他的心情，宗政逍以為自己掩飾得很好，但沒想到還是被戎音發現了。
“好聰明的小魚啊，觀察得真仔細。”宗政逍笑着誇獎，眼神裏卻有些自己都沒覺察到的憂傷。
他擡手捧着戎音的臉，對上他幹淨的淺藍眼眸，忽然産生了一種兔死狐悲的感覺。
出于身份原因，宗政連祺和蘇婉兒本來就不該走到一起，所以他們最後迎來了悲劇的結尾。
那他和戎音呢？他是人類，戎音是鲛人，自己身為帝王，未來可能會遇見許多的不得已，戎音若是跟他相愛，大概率會過得很不開心吧。
或許他和戎音保持目前的關系，不要再有進一步的感情，對戎音來說才是最好的，因為越是在意，就越是會受折磨。
戎音也聽出了宗政逍語氣不對勁，再看他的眼神，包含心疼和不舍，又有猶豫和掙紮，以及許多他看不懂的情緒。
宗政逍此時似乎難過到了極點。
“啊。”戎音蹭了蹭宗政逍的手心，靠過去抱住他，安撫地輕輕拍着他的後背。
同時在心裏道：我不知道你為什麽傷心，不過作為好兄弟，希望我的擁抱能讓你堅強起來！
宗政逍聞言有點不知道是該哭還是該笑了，他是覺得和戎音永遠做朋友最好，可當戎音真這麽說時，他又會感到不甘和失落。
見擁抱過後宗政逍情緒還是很低落，戎音又捧起雪捏出一個巴掌大的圓滾滾的愛心，雙手送到宗政逍面前。
他笑容燦爛，眼眸閃爍着細碎的光芒。
戎音：看！愛心雪球！代表着我對你深沉的愛意！我本來是想留着這招追姑娘的，但沒想到第一次居然是用在了你身上，不過這輩子，我可能也只會給你送愛心了。
他沒有多少日子可活了，等不到下一個冬天，也等不到心愛的女孩出現了。
戎音壓根就沒想過一個古人能懂愛心是什麽意思，他動手的時候只想捏個小東西逗宗政逍開心，愛心是他第一時間想到的，也是最方便捏的。
愛不一定僅限于愛情，兄弟之愛也是愛嘛！
果然，這麽做很管用，戎音看見宗政逍愣了幾秒，而後眼眶忽然紅了。
宗政逍将戎音擁進懷中，按住他的後腦勺和腰，将他緊緊扣住，而後低頭，把臉埋進了他的肩窩。
“謝謝……”宗政逍悶悶的聲音傳來。
戎音在心裏笑着回應：你喜歡就好。
四喜和綠娥等宮人站在旁邊，看着雪地裏相擁的兩人，明明是那麽美好的畫面，他們卻憑空生出了幾分感傷來。
那顆雪捏的愛心被宗政逍叫四喜拿去珍藏了起來，讓他必須日日拿冰雪凍着，要是哪天化了，就唯他是問。
冬日天冷，宗政逍晚上就泡了回溫泉，戎音不太喜歡很熱的水，但考慮到宗政逍今天心情不好，也進去陪他了。
雖然不知道這些日子到底發生了什麽大事，無論是宗政逍還是四喜都未在他面前提過，但通過觀察，戎音還是隐隐能猜到朝堂上大概率不平靜。
因為宗政逍每日早朝的時間延長了許多，還經常去禦書房面見大臣，偶爾會錯過和他一起吃飯，晚上回來臉上的疲憊感也很重。
今天宗政逍表現得不高興，應該也和這些事有關。
水池裏，宗政逍張開雙臂倚靠在池邊，眼眸微閉，感受熱氣蒸騰皮膚的舒适。
戎音游到他面前，也不說話，就巴巴地盯着他。
宗政逍睜開眼睛看向他，有些好笑：“想做什麽？”
“啊。”戎音推他的手臂，讓他轉過身去背對着自己，然後握緊拳頭，把尖利的爪子藏進手心，兩只手來回交替着給宗政逍錘起了肩來。
宗政逍沒想到他會來這出，回頭看着他，唇角上揚。
戎音迎上他的目光，傲嬌地揚了揚下巴，心道：無需多言，我技術可好了，絕對把你伺候得舒舒服服的。
宗政逍眼底的笑意更深，也如戎音所願轉過身去，安心地享受起了他的錘肩服務。
I have to say, Rong Yin was not bragging. After he hammered with just the right amount of force for a while, Zong Zheng Xiao's originally tense body gradually relaxed, his breathing became long, and even his unconsciously frowned brows relaxed.
Seeing Zong Zheng Xiao looking much more relaxed, Rong Yin nodded with satisfaction. His efforts were not in vain.
After all, people and fish are different. No matter how comfortable a hot bath is, it should not be taken for too long. After Rong Yin finished hammering his shoulder, Zong Zhengxiao stretched his limbs, stepped onto the steps, and took the towel handed to him by Si Xi to wipe his body.
Rong Yin also went ashore and waited for Lu'e and the others to change the water in the pool to a temperature suitable for him before he went back.
After wiping the water off his body, Zong Zheng Xiao was helped to put on his pajamas. Rong Yin glanced at him subconsciously and saw Zong Zheng Xiao's private parts again.
Rong Yin: Tsk.
Well, even though he had seen it many times intentionally or unintentionally, he still felt that Zong Zheng Xiao's thing was too majestic and powerful, and his wife would probably suffer in the future.
But as he watched, Rong Yin's focus shifted.
Rong Yin: Hehe, although it’s big, it’s very pink. There’s an inexplicable cute contrast to it, it’s quite adorable.
Because Rong Yin's gaze was too fiery, Zong Zhengxiao, who was trying not to stand up, said: "..."
I really want Rong Yin to try it out for herself to see whether he and it are cute or not.
After Zong Zheng Xiao put on his pants and Rong Yin had nothing to watch, he quietly turned his eyes away.
Zong Zheng Xiao was provoked for no reason, so he naturally would not let Rong Yin go easily.
After the palace servants helped Rong Yin dry her body and hair, Zong Zhengxiao immediately went over to carry her up, then strode towards the bed.
"Ah?" Rong Yin was confused as his vision suddenly turned upside down.
Before he could react, Zong Zhengxiao threw him onto the bed like a salted fish.
The palace servants nearby: "!!!"
Your Majesty, what are you doing? It's not what we thought, is it?