Chapter 044 Do you like sleeping with me so much?

"Ah." Rong Yin propped himself up and looked up at Zong Zheng Xiao, not understanding what was going on: "What are you doing? I'm not sleeping here."

Zong Zheng Xiao snorted and laughed, like an eager old rogue, he knelt on one knee beside the bed and leaned over to press down.

"Ah!" A palace maid accidentally exclaimed in surprise, and was glared at by Si Xi. She quickly shut her mouth and lowered her head.

Lu'e, who was directing other palace maids to change the water, heard the noise and turned around to see Zong Zheng Xiao covering Rong Yin and moving his hands and feet, while Rong Yin kept struggling.

"Don't move." Zong Zhengxiao restrained Rong Yin's hands.

"Ah!" Rong Yin subconsciously wanted to get rid of him.

Lu'e was so frightened that her eyes widened and she immediately ran over in a hurry. She looked like she wanted to go up and pull the person away.

Si Xi took a big step forward, opened his arms and stopped the man.

Regardless of whether Zong Zhengxiao really wanted to do that to Rong Yin, even if he did, as servants, they had no right to stop him. Forcible intervention would only harm Rong Yin and themselves.

"Lü'e, calm down." Si Xi winked at her and lowered his voice to persuade her.

"But……"

"No buts, think about your identity."

Lu'e was so anxious that she almost cried, "Isn't your Majesty the most doting on the young master? How can you force him like this!"

On the bed, Rong Yin didn't understand why Zong Zheng Xiao was pressing him down, and Zong Zheng Xiao's expression was also very strange, like a wolf about to eat a lamb, revealing his lustful ferocity.

Wasn't he fine just now? Why did he suddenly change his expression?

Rong Yin instinctively sensed the danger and wanted to escape, but Zong Zheng Xiao had him firmly under his control and he would not be able to break free with ordinary force. But if he put up a desperate resistance, he would definitely hurt Zong Zheng Xiao.

"Ah..." Rong Yin looked at Zong Zheng Xiao aggrievedly: If you scare me again, I will get angry, and when I get angry I will chase you and slap you with my tail!

Zong Zheng Xiao was unmoved. Instead, he suddenly lowered his head and moved closer to Rong Yin's face, as if he was about to kiss her.

Rong Yin's pupils shrank slightly and she stepped back in surprise, but Zong Zheng Xiao got closer and closer.

It seemed that their faces were about to touch.

Just when Rong Yin was about to lose control and was about to fight Zong Zheng Xiao, Zong Zheng Xiao leaned close to his ear and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "Will you dare to look around again in the future?"

Rong Yin paused: What?

Zong Zhengxiao raised his hips slightly. Others might not have seen it, but Rong Yin, whose entire body was almost clinging to Zong Zhengxiao, felt it clearly.

"I will teach you a lesson every time you see me next time." Zong Zhengxiao said again.

Rong Yin understood. This was because Zong Zheng Xiao found out that he had just peeked at his little brother and was unhappy, so he pretended to be unhappy to scare him.

"Ah!" Rong Yin was angry: You stingy guy, drink some cold water!

Zong Zheng Xiao raised his head, met Rong Yin's angry eyes, and suddenly laughed.

"Hahahaha, I just like seeing you like this sulky little look." Zong Zhengxiao even pinched his face.

Hearing Zong Zhengxiao's laughter, Lu'e, who was worried to the point of tears, was stunned.

Si Xi's expression was similar to hers. They both turned their heads at the same time and found that Zong Zheng Xiao had let go of Rong Yin, but was still holding her in his arms and they rolled onto the bed together.

"I punish you by letting you lie down with me for a while. You can come back when I fall asleep."

Others: Huh?

It turns out that the fierce look you had just on your face as if you were about to kill someone was just an act! Did you really just want someone to sleep with you?

My Lord, you are such a great actor!

Si Xi: Even though I know His Majesty well, he didn’t notice it this time.

Lu'e, whose makeup was all ruined by her tears: The emperor is really...

The palace servants were submissive and dared not say a word when they were deceived, but the person involved had a different tone.

Zong Zheng Xiao pressed his face against his shoulder, and he took the opportunity to bite Zong Zheng Xiao's shoulder, cursing angrily in his heart: You stripped naked in front of me, why don't you let me see it? I'll see it, I'll see it every day from now on, and make you so angry that you'll die!

"Hiss, it hurts." Zong Zhengxiao whispered in Rong Yin's ear.

Rong Yin: Humph, you’re talking nonsense again. I clearly didn’t use much effort.

"Be gentle, it really hurts." His tone already sounded a little pitiful.

Rong Yin was now losing confidence, but thinking of Zong Zheng's cunning and scheming character, he still didn't give in.

Zong Zhengxiao continued in a soft voice, "I handled a lot of government affairs today. I'm very tired and sleepy. I want to sleep."

Rong Yin: A self-torture tactic?

"I'll give you a shoulder massage next time, okay?"

Rongyin: Draw a big cake, don’t believe it.

"I really like the snow peaches you pinched for me. Just looking at them makes me feel better."

Rong Yin: “…”

He recalled Zong Zhengxiao's expression when he received his love snowball.

Rong Yin opened his mouth, letting go of Zong Zhengxiao's shoulder meat, and then the whole fish shrank into his arms.

Rong Yin: I will settle the score with you later. Let you sleep well tonight.

Zong Zheng Xiao chuckled, hugged Rong Yin, rested his chin lightly on the top of his head, smiled and closed his eyes.

Rong Yin originally wanted to slip back into the water after Zong Zheng Xiao fell asleep, but as he waited, his consciousness gradually became blurred. He only felt that Zong Zheng Xiao's arm, which he was resting his head on, was so strong, and he felt safe resting on Zong Zheng Xiao's chest...

If conditions permit, it's not impossible to just lie there for the rest of your life.

Rong Yin was fantasizing happily and fell into a dream without even realizing it.

After the two masters lay down quietly, the palace servants huddled in their corners. The room was so quiet that only the slight movement of burning candles could be heard. It was indeed a perfect place to fall asleep.

Listening to Rong Yin's regular breathing, Zong Zheng Xiao slowly opened his eyes. He lowered his eyes and looked at Rong Yin who was sleeping soundly, with a helpless smile in his eyes.

His little mermaid is still so soft-hearted.

Seeing that it was almost time for Rong Yin to return to the water, Zong Zheng Xiao didn't need Lu'e to remind him. He sniffed the fragrance coming from behind Rong Yin's neck, then carefully picked her up, walked over and put her back into the pool.

Zong Zhengxiao's movements were gentle, and Rong Yin was sleeping soundly, and did not wake up from beginning to end.

He tucked Rong Yin's hair behind his ears and looked at his peaceful sleeping face. Zong Zheng Xiao thought to himself: You are so stupid and kind, it's so easy for you to be fooled. You'd better stay by my side, even if it's just as a friend.

When Rong Yin woke up the next day, he was surprised to find that he had fallen asleep on Zong Zheng Xiao's bed last night. However, he felt that it was not his fault. If there was anyone to blame, it was because it was too comfortable to sleep next to Zong Zheng Xiao.

I feel like Zong Zheng Xiao is a natural human pillow. Whether I use him as a pillow or hug him, he helps me sleep very well.

Last time, Zong Zhengxiao served as his mattress during his nap, and he slept well.

In order to verify whether her guess was correct, that night, after Zong Zhengxiao went to bed, Rong Yin took the initiative to climb up, and without any hesitation, she snuggled into Zong Zhengxiao's arms and took his hand and put it on her waist.

As expected, he fell asleep quickly, and it was Zong Zheng Xiao who sent him back into the water.

Rong Yin repeated the same operation on the second and third days. On the fourth night, he was too lazy to wait for Zong Zheng Xiao, so he lay down on the bed first. When Zong Zheng Xiao looked over at him, he patted the empty space beside him with a smile.

Rong Yin: Come quickly, there’s a seat reserved for you.

Zong Zhengxiao: “…”

If he remembered correctly, it seemed to be his bed.

Zong Zhengxiao hugged Rong Yin's waist and touched his face, "Why do you like sleeping with me so much?"

"Ah!" Rong Yin blinked her big eyes and smiled brightly.

Rong Yin: I like it. I like it very much.

Zong Zhengxiao lay down holding Rong Yin, and quietly replied in his heart: I like it too, I like it very much.

Unlike the warmth in Ginshasa Garden, the situation outside is becoming increasingly serious.

The news that Su Wan'er and Zong Zheng Lianqi had divorced and that Zong Zheng Lianqi had severed his engagement with Prince Ning's Mansion spread widely in the capital.

Everyone was confused about what Prince Ning’s Mansion meant.

If they just wanted to cut off ties with the remnants of the previous dynasty, wouldn't it be enough to just divorce Su Wan'er and kick her out of the house? What were they trying to do by separating their own son from her?

While everyone was still confused, Zong Zheng Lianqi and Su Wan'er remarried with new identities. The couple also turned themselves in, saying that they were the only ones in Ning Palace who knew about Su Wan'er's identity, and it was Su's father who told them.

They have been keeping this matter a secret from other people in Ning Prince's Mansion, so the people in Ning Prince's Mansion are not aware of it, and now they have nothing to do with Ning Prince's Mansion anymore, so just punish them if you want to.

Originally, because Su Wan'er was the daughter-in-law of the Ning Palace, the emperor had not expressed his opinion, and there was no conclusive evidence to prove that everyone in the Ning Palace knew Su Wan'er's identity, it was not convenient for the government to arrest Su Wan'er.

But now that the couple has come to us themselves and admitted that they knew about the incident, it would be unreasonable not to lock them up.

Although his son and daughter-in-law were imprisoned, the gates of Prince Ning's mansion were closed. No one went to the palace to plead with the emperor, nor did they visit the couple.

Some people say that Prince Ning's family is ruthless, some people say that Prince Ning did this to protect himself. The young couple hid such a big thing from them and almost implicated the entire Prince Ning's Mansion. It is reasonable for Prince Ning to dislike them.

The aristocratic families were unwilling to accept this, as they felt that Su Wan'er's life experience was such a big secret, yet the entire Ning Palace was not brought down.

They spread the word everywhere that Prince Ning and his men might have known about it, and that pushing Zong Zheng Lianqi and Su Wan'er out to take the blame was just a drastic measure.

But no one had any evidence to prove that other people in Prince Ning's Mansion knew about it. In addition, Prince Ning's son was imprisoned, which showed that the emperor did not protect any members of the royal family, so the people did not believe the rumors about the aristocratic family.

The aristocratic families couldn't afford to make trouble, so they could only give up in anger.

Su Wan'er and her husband were not just thrown into jail. They later revealed the names of the remaining students who had bribed Su Qian to leak the questions but had not been exposed before. They said that these were all told to Su Wan'er by Su Qian.

她都這麽說了，官府的人肯定要去調查，一調查才發現蘇婉兒說的是真的，于是又有一批人被抓了起來。

而蘇婉兒說出的這些學生的家人，剛好就是前些日子才被用賬本威脅着加入世家一系的官員們。

這些官員沒想到自己都聽世家的話了，他們的孩子還是被供出來了，現在不僅孩子要挨罰，他們的官途也受到了影響。

如今沒了把柄在世家手裏，他們也不再聽從世家的命令了，反而記恨上了世家當初的威脅。

“砰！”

崔家主猛地将茶杯砸到了地上，向來自信的他沒想到居然會被蘇婉兒給擺了一道，從前的布局通通作廢不說，還被那些官員給記恨上了。

“這個賤人，當真狡猾。”崔家主恨得咬牙切齒。

雖然推了賀家出去，保住了另外三家，但說到底這次和皇室的比拼還是他們世家輸了。

本想利用蘇婉兒的身份重創皇室，但沒想到卻被蘇婉兒這枚棋子反将一軍，真是氣煞他也。

旁邊的李家主道：“蘇潛和他夫人都死在咱們手上，蘇婉兒估計還惦記着為他們報仇，以身入局，為的就是拉咱們下水。”

崔家主深吸一口氣，蹙眉道：“罷了，反正只要有我們在，她和宗政連祺都別想活，別看宗政連祺跟寧王簽了斷親書，但打斷骨頭還連着筋，宗政連祺自己找死，那就別怪我們心狠手辣了。”

李家主有些擔心地問：“我們之前用賬本名單威脅過那些官員，他們受審時不會把咱們招出來吧？”

“呵，他們現在都因為自家孩子搞出來的破事降的降級，被外放出京的外放出京了，說出來就是罪加一等，只要不是個傻的，就會牢牢閉緊嘴巴。”陳家主冷着臉回答了。

李家主還是有些擔心，“也不清楚蘇婉兒還知道些什麽，要不派人去告訴她，當初毒死他母親的是賀家的人吧，省得她又想辦法報複咱們。”

“沒這個必要。”崔家主道：“在外人眼裏，我們世家就是一體的，況且蘇婉兒的身世可是我們宣揚出去的，你以為她不知道？”

李家主抿了抿唇，這下是真無話可說了。

管家重新給崔家主上了杯熱茶，崔家主喝完一口，火氣頓時消了大半。

“好生盯着蘇婉兒那邊，別又像這次一樣，被人家打個措手不及。”

李家主跟陳家主應是。

這道命令下去後，世家一邊瘋狂在民間制造恐慌，說以蘇婉兒的身份，如果她一直活着的話，就會引得不懷好意的人時時刻刻想着造反，從而危害天下，所以她必須去死。

一邊又緊緊監視着蘇婉兒，生怕她又爆出什麽大料來。

但不知是蘇婉兒藏着大招，還是真沒什麽可說的了，反正後面一段時間她都非常老實。

今年的冬季，刑部、大理寺、各府縣衙門忙得不可開交，牢房更是都快被塞滿了，大人們日日得忙到很晚才能回家，家裏的父母妻子無不心疼。

宮裏的宗政逍也是如此，因為造反一事涉及到皇室，所以哪個犯人要怎麽判，判得合不合适，這些都要一一上報給宗政逍，讓他定奪。

于是戎音才享受了幾日的人肉抱枕福利沒了，偶爾宗政逍還會因為辦公到很晚，覺得回銀鲛園麻煩，并且容易吵醒已經睡着的戎音，幹脆就歇在禦書房側殿了。

戎音習慣了天天跟宗政逍待在一塊兒，如今沒了他，飯吃不香，覺也睡不好了。

終于等到休沐的日子，宗政逍這才空出半天的時間前往銀鲛園。

一見到宗政逍，戎音就撲上去把人抱住，将臉埋進他胸膛，委屈地哼哼唧唧。

宗政逍摸摸他的頭，心軟成了一灘水，心疼地道：“是不是想我了？”

“唔。”戎音在宗政逍心口蹭了蹭：嗯，想宗政逍，很想。

宗政逍抱起戎音坐到軟榻上，看着他委屈的表情，解釋道：“臨近年關，确實忙了些，等事情都塵埃落定，就能回來陪你了。”

到時候，他也可以和戎音坦誠布公了。

“啊。”戎音表示理解，悲傷的神情也緩和了一些。

午飯時，往常都是宗政逍喂戎音，這回換成了戎音喂宗政逍，雖然因為戎音不方便用筷子，導致過程有些艱辛，但好歹心意是達到了。

飯後，戎音給宗政逍錘肩，順帶還唱起了歌，歌聲悠揚，叫人聽了覺得心曠神怡，仿佛所有的疲憊都被歌聲一洗而空。

戎音嘿咻嘿咻地幹活，恨不得把宗政逍全身上下都錘一遍，最後累得癱倒在宗政逍懷裏，還是宗政逍幫他按摩的手臂。

戎音抱着宗政逍的手蹭了蹭，笑得傻氣：宗政逍真好啊。

宗政逍手指在他光滑的臉蛋上摩挲着，心道等過段時間你如果還能這麽想就好了。

等戎音在自己懷裏熟睡後，宗政逍将其放回水裏，才離開銀鲛園繼續去辦公。

禦書房裏，暗衛将民間對蘇婉兒和宗政連祺的仇恨和怨怼都說了出來，順便告知這都是世家在背後搞鬼。

“既然他們都想讓他倆死，那朕也只好成全他們。”

宗政逍面無表情地說完這句話，四喜和暗衛都沒敢出聲。

緊接着，宗政逍又問：“聽說寧王和寧王妃都病了？”

暗衛趕緊回複：“禀告陛下，宗政連祺和蘇婉兒離開寧王府後，寧王夫婦倆便一病不起，大夫日日上門，開了不少藥，但就是不見好。”

宗政逍沉默了一會兒，對暗衛道出一個人的名字，然後說：“把人帶進宮見朕，別叫旁人發現了。”

“是。”暗衛接到命令後就退下了。

四喜上前，也彙報了宗政逍吩咐他去辦的事情的結果。

“經過禦醫的醫治，蘇婉兒病情穩定了許多，宗政連祺對着皇宮的方向磕了頭，請老奴轉告陛下，他們夫妻倆多謝陛下的大恩大德。”

蘇婉兒在經歷父母離世後，身體就飽受病魔摧殘，之後離開寧王府，又進了監牢，那可不是适宜病人修養的好地方，再加上沒了好藥好補品滋養，蘇婉兒沒幾日就病得起不了身了。

宗政連祺知道妻子的情況，求着獄卒幫忙請大夫，剛好負責他們這個案子的是皇室這邊的人，這位大人不敢擅作主張，就上報給了宗政逍。

宗政逍沒多考慮，就叫四喜帶着禦醫給蘇婉兒診治去了。

其實按宗政逍的計劃，他暫時還不打算抓捕剩下的那些學子，他準備在世家和那些官員進行深度合作後，再将他們以結黨營私的罪名一網打盡。

不過蘇婉兒為了給父母和自己報仇，提前把那些學生的名字公告天下，導致世家和那些官員合作破裂，反目成仇，這個結果對皇室也是有利的，算不上破壞了宗政逍的布局。

而蘇婉兒之所以會知道那些學生的名單，恐怕也是在找到賬本時就看過了。

這對小夫妻，一個有勇有謀，一個至情至深，倒是般配。

“哪裏有什麽大恩大德，我也利用了他們去對付世家。”宗政逍冷冷地說道。

不過宗政逍并不後悔自己的做法，為了自己，也為了天下太平，他絕不能容忍這兩個禍患活在世人眼皮底下。

感受到宗政逍身上散發出來的冷意，四喜默默低下頭，努力降低自己的存在感。

夜晚，宗政逍見了那個被暗衛帶進宮的人，兩人秉燭夜談，在天亮前，那人又被暗衛送出了宮。

終于在除夕前幾天，帝王即将封筆，各部門也馬上要放假回家過年時，方臨案跟賀家等人的審判結果大致出了爐。

方家是造反的主謀，不出所料禍及九族，近親砍頭遠親流放，牽連的人達到上千人之多。

賀家稍微好一些，只株連三族，賀家的男女老少，十歲以上斬立決，十歲以下男丁流放邊境，女子貶為奴籍充入教坊司，且永遠不能贖身。

賀府被抄家，除去田莊山林店鋪，光是現銀和古董字畫，就得拿箱裝馬車拉，負責該案的官員幾乎沒日沒夜整整清點了半個月才算完。

這些金銀財寶，九成進了國庫，一成被宗政逍收入囊中。

光是這一成，就超過今年宗政逍賣冰的收益了。

窮哈哈的功臣集團看見那些多到能晃瞎他們眼睛的銀子，真是又恨又嫉妒。

不愧是百年世家，這錢跟泥石似的到處都是，怕是連呼吸都帶着銅臭味。

賀家倒臺，其餘三個世家本想瓜分他家的生意，但沒想到卻被宗政逍先截胡，全數打包交給功臣集團的人分了，他們連個影子都沒看見。

這氣得崔家主又砸了幾個茶杯。

相較于方家跟賀家還要查抄家産和懲處相關的官員，對那群前朝餘孽和蘇婉兒夫妻倆的判決就簡單了很多。

沒什麽可說的，全部都得被砍頭。

When they heard that Zong Zheng Lianqi, who was once the prince of Ning, would also be beheaded, some people still didn't believe it, but someone explained to them that Zong Zheng Lianqi was hiding the remnants of the previous dynasty. If he had a child with Su Wan'er in the future, wouldn't it confuse the royal bloodline? So beheading was justified.

After the verdict came out, some curious people turned their attention to Prince Ning's Mansion, wanting to see how Prince Ning's family would react.

But to their disappointment, from the surface, Prince Ning's Mansion was still the same as before, with no movement at all.

However, the people of the aristocratic family found out that Prince Ning and Princess Ning had been seriously ill for a long time, and now the second son, Zong Zheng Lianjun, is the manager of Prince Ning's mansion, and it is said that many troubles have occurred there.

From this point of view, Zong Zheng Lianqi's severance of the engagement with Prince Ning was not a pretense, and he would really die with Su Wan'er.

The aristocratic families just couldn't believe it. Even after the death of a son, Prince Ning could really have no grudge against Zong Zhengxiao.

They have the opportunity to sow discord among the royal family members.