Chapter 045 Do you want to try it?

In just half a year, the situation in the capital had changed dramatically. Many people who had gathered together for reunion dinner on New Year's Eve last year had already died on this year's New Year's Eve.

Zong Zhengxi had made great contributions in Beijiang this time. Zong Zhengxiao invited her to go to Beijing to receive the reward and meet him, but she declined.

Zong Zhengxiao had anticipated this situation, so he was not too disappointed. He just sent someone to deliver the rewards to his hometown in Yingzhou.

In previous years, Zong Zhengxiao would hold a family dinner in the palace at this time, and Prince Ning and his family would all come. However, this year it was not appropriate, so Zong Zhengxiao simply canceled the event.

The Yinjiao Garden became lively early on. Lu'e led the palace servants to paste blessing characters and hang red lanterns. Various delicacies were also prepared. Rong Yin could eat a lot just by tasting the food every day.

"Ah!" Rong Yin pointed at the paper-cuts that Lu'e had just cut with surprise. Her big eyes twinkled and her expression was full of surprise.

Because Lu'e cut out a Q version of a mermaid, with complete eyebrows, eyes, limbs, and even details like hollowed-out fish scales on the tail, which looks particularly cute.

"As long as the young master likes it." Lu'e looked at the happy Rong Yin and laughed too.

Rong Yin applauded Lu'e, then took the beautiful mermaid window paper-cut from her hand, held it in his hand and looked at it, and the more he looked at it, the more he liked it.

When Zong Zhengxiao came, Rong Yin excitedly showed him the window paper-cuts. Zong Zhengxiao also thought that Lu'e was very skillful and cut them in a very unique way, so he praised her a few words.

"Ah!" Rong Yin pulled Zong Zheng Xiao in front of Lu'e, and picked up the red paper used for cutting window flowers and handed it to Lu'e, meaning to ask her to cut one for Zong Zheng Xiao as well.

"This..." Lu'e hesitated. Zong Zhengxiao was the king of a country, and his relationship with her and Rong Yin was different. She didn't dare to act rashly. If she cut it badly, it would be a serious crime.

Rong Yin looked at Lu'e's embarrassed expression and understood her thoughts. He turned around and blinked at Zong Zhengxiao, his eyes full of pleading.

Rong Yin: Wuwuwu, Zong Zhengxiao, please ask Lu'e to cut one for you.

Zong Zhengxiao pinched his face, smiled helplessly, and said to Lu'e: "Do as you wish. Cut it however you like. I will pardon you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Lu'e saluted, picked up the scissors and paper, looked at Zong Zheng Xiao a few times, and after she had made up her mind, she lowered her head and quickly danced with the scissors.

Rong Yin was watching from the side, his eyes never leaving Lu'e's hand, his eyes were full of surprise and admiration, several times he had to cover his mouth to prevent himself from screaming out.

Fearing that they would feel pressured by staring at Lu'e, Zong Zhengxiao took Rong Yin away and took him to the side to have some snacks and drink hot tea while waiting.

Rong Yin doesn't like drinking plain tea, he prefers sweet tea. When Lu'e found out, she made him sweet fruit tea by mixing dried fruit with honey and hot water.

Normally, when he drinks, he would have a plate of snacks and Rong Yin would sit quietly for the whole afternoon.

"Ah!" Rong Yin took a sip of today's fruit tea and thought it tasted good, so she naturally fed it to Zong Zheng Xiao's lips.

Zong Zhengxiao also lowered his head and took a sip, saying, "It tastes good, and it's the sweetness you like."

"Ah." Rong Yin grinned foolishly: It turns out that you still understand me.

Zong Zhengxiao raised the corners of his lips and started feeding Rong Yin some snacks.

The two of them rested there for a long time, feeding each other. Then Lu'e came over with the cut window paper-cuts and presented them to Zong Zhengxiao with both hands.

Zong Zheng Xiao didn't move. Rong Yin took it actively and excitedly opened it to show Zong Zheng Xiao.

The level of detail of this paper-cut is similar to that of Rong Yin. Zong Zhengxiao is wearing casual clothes and has a stern look on his face. Even though it is just a piece of paper, one can get a glimpse of his extraordinary demeanor from it.

"Ah!" Rong Yin was very happy: It looks good.

Zong Zhengxiao gave a look and Si Xi immediately stepped forward and gave Lu'e a bag of golden melon seeds, which was a reward from Zong Zhengxiao.

Lu'e first bowed and thanked Zong Zhengxiao, then took the purse.

Seeing this scene, Rong Yin remembered that Lu'e also cut paper-cuts for him, so he should also appreciate Lu'e's things.

Rong Yin put down the window paper-cut, grunted as he went to open his treasure chest, carefully selected a piece of ornament suitable for a girl's home, grunted as he came back and personally put it into Lu'e's hand.

They were a pair of ruby ​​earrings. The ruby ​​was clear and translucent, shining brightly under the candlelight. Although they were small in size, they were very valuable.

"This is too valuable. I cannot accept it." Lu'e knelt down in front of Rong Yin and tried desperately to return the earrings to Rong Yin.

She was Rong Yin's concubine. Thanks to him, she was able to escape from the sea of ​​suffering, and was later promoted to the head aunt.

Not to mention a window paper-cut, even if Rong Yin wanted to take her life, she would do it without hesitation.

To her, Rong Yin was both her master and her benefactor. She cut the mermaid window paper-cut just to make Rong Yin happy. If she accepted such a precious reward from Rong Yin, it would be against her true intention.

"Ah!" Rong Yin wanted to help Lu'e up, but unless he took back the reward, Lu'e refused to move.

Si Xi wanted to step forward to help and persuade them, but was stopped by Zong Zheng Xiao. He said that Lu'e was Rong Yin's concubine, and this matter should be handled by him himself.

Rong Yin and Lu'e argued for a long time and found that Lu'e was determined. If the stalemate continued, she would really kneel here forever.

Rong Yin had no choice but to take back the earrings, thinking: I will give Lu'e a big red envelope on New Year's Eve in two days, and then she will have no reason to refuse.

Listening to his thoughts, Zong Zhengxiao took a sip of tea and felt relieved that his little mermaid was quite quick-witted.

Finally, the two exquisite window decorations were pasted on the windows by Zong Zhengxiao and Rong Yin together.

I don’t know whether it was Lu’e’s intention or just a coincidence, but the hands of Rong Yin and Zong Zhengxiao in the paper-cut just happened to touch each other, making it look like the two were holding hands.

Zong Zhengxiao was very happy and decided to give Lu'e a big red envelope on New Year's Eve.

Lu'e who was standing next to me said: Why do both my ears feel hot?

Fortunately, there was no snow on New Year's Eve and the sun came out for a while. Rong Yin opened his arms and raised his face to greet the long-awaited sunshine, feeling so comfortable that he almost sang a song.

The dazzling light fell on Rong Yin's snow-white face, making his skin transparent, like foam in the sun, dazzlingly beautiful, but so fragile that it would break at the slightest touch.

Rong Yin, who closed his eyes and carefully felt the sunlight, didn't know that beside him, Zong Zheng Xiao was looking at him quietly, his eyes were as gentle as water, and full of deep affection.

Only Rong Yin and Zong Zhengxiao were present at the reunion dinner in the evening, but because they both had each other in their hearts, they did not feel lonely at all.

It was inconvenient for Rong Yin to pick up the food, so Zong Zhengxiao fed him himself. Rong Yin was not willing to be left behind and enthusiastically served soup to Zong Zhengxiao. Even though he didn't say a word, the scene was very lively.

The palace servants who were robbed alive stood by obediently: Well, we are used to it.

After the meal, in order to make Rong Yin happy, Zong Zheng Xiao personally gave red envelopes to the palace maids in Yinjiao Garden. Sixi and Lu'e received the most money in their red envelopes. Lu'e's red envelope also had special care from Rong Yin and Zong Zheng Xiao, so it was so heavy that it made her drop in the palm of her hand.

Lu'e knew what her two masters were thinking, so she didn't refuse this time.

They had to stay up all night, so the palace maids brought some dried fruits for the two masters to while away the time. As for drinks, Rong Yin still had fruit tea, while Zong Zhengxiao had warm wine.

Zong Zhengxiao peeled a handful of melon seeds and handed them to Rong Yin. Without urging him, he let him use his hands as a bowl and eat the seeds one by one.

After Rong Yin finished eating, he took a sip of wine and continued peeling.

As a result, when he turned around after peeling the wine, he found that Rong Yin was staring at his wine bottle.

"Want to try it again? Did you forget that last time you drank a certain fish in one glass?" Zong Zheng Xiao teased with a smile.

"Ah..." Rong Yin was a little scared when he remembered that he had blacked out due to drinking, but he still kept his eyes on the wine bottle.

Rong Yin: I want to experience the light feeling of being drunk again.

Zong Zhengxiao also recalled the cute and naughty Rong Yin when she was drunk last time, and how could he not want to see her again.

Lu'e next to her didn't think so. That night she thought that His Majesty was going to favor the young master, and she was so scared that she couldn't sleep the whole night. She is still scared now.

However, her two masters were unaware of her worries, as they both had their own little thoughts, so Zong Zhengxiao poured a glass of wine and handed it to Rong Yin, who did not refuse and drank it in one gulp.

Zong Zhengxiao smiled and said, "As for your drinking capacity, you just need to practice more."

Lu'e: "..."

Your Majesty is very scheming.

After drinking, Rong Yin became dizzy after a while. As usual, Zong Zhengxiao asked all the palace servants to leave and left himself in the room to accompany Rong Yin.

Rong Yin's eyes turned red. He stared at Zong Zheng Xiao for a while, then suddenly laughed: "I remember you. You are Zong Zheng Xiao."

Zong Zhengxiao raised his eyebrows, wondering if he could still recall the memories from the last time he got drunk?

He said, "I remember you too. You are Rong Yin."

"Yeah, I'm Rong Yin~" Rong Yin shook her head. Her eyes, which were originally a little confused, suddenly brightened up when she saw the peanuts and melon seeds that Zong Zhengxiao had peeled on the table.

"Is this for me?" Rong Yin stared at Zong Zheng Xiao with watery eyes.

Zong Zhengxiao's heart trembled when he saw his eyes like that, and his cheeks became hot. He coughed lightly and said, "Well, it's for you."

"Wow, you're so nice." Rong Yin ate a few nuts and suddenly seemed to remember something. She picked up the milky white jade pendant hanging on her chest and showed it to Zong Zheng Xiao. She said happily, "I think the jade pendant you gave me last time is very beautiful. I have been wearing it all the time."

Among the pile of treasures that Zong Zhengxiao gave to Rong Yin, this is the one Rong Yin treasures the most. He wears it around his neck every day. It is the only accessory on his body.

No matter how beautiful the jewelry is, it will look inferior in front of Rong Yin, who has a nearly perfect appearance. Only the jade pendant that Rong Yin accidentally asked for from Zong Zhengxiao when he was drunk is particularly suitable for him.

戎音沒有掩蓋玉佩的華貴，玉佩也沒有削弱戎音的美貌，他們仿佛就是天生一體的。

宗政逍伸手牽過玉佩，戎音也跟着俯身靠近，一雙明亮的藍眸巴巴地盯着宗政逍，跟只黏人乖巧的小狗狗似的。

宗政逍本意只是想看看玉佩，沒想到戎音會跟着過來，對上他憨憨的神情，宗政逍就忍不住起了捉弄的心思。

他将玉佩拉得離自己越來越近，戎音也跟着離他越來越近，雙手撐在矮幾上，眼看兩人就要臉貼臉了。

宗政逍想看看戎音是會貼上來還是讓開，但結果是他兩個都沒猜對。

因為戎音忽然開口說了一句：“你的鼻子好高好挺啊，可以在上面坐滑滑梯了。”

宗政逍：“……”

好吧，他的小鲛人總是能出乎他的預料。

宗政逍不知道滑滑梯是什麽，但顧名思義，大概能懂戎音想表達的意思。

“你想坐上來試試嗎？”宗政逍逗他。

戎音搖搖頭，認真地道：“我這是誇張的說法，不是真想坐你臉上，那樣會把你坐壞的。”

聽見他這話的宗政逍差點想歪了，覺得自己心有點髒。

“不坐的話可以摸摸，不會摸壞。”宗政逍提議。

戎音眼睛刷一下亮了：“真的可以摸摸嗎？”

宗政逍伸手将人攬進懷裏，牽着戎音的手放到了自己鼻梁上。

“哇，比我的高。”戎音摸了宗政逍的鼻子，又去摸自己的。

宗政逍剛想說你的也不差，誰知戎音的臉忽然在他視線裏放大。

戎音用自己的鼻尖蹭了蹭宗政逍的，傻裏傻氣地說：“沾沾你的福氣，這樣我的鼻梁也能變得和你的一樣好看了。”

只能說人酒醉後，是不會按正常邏輯來思考的。

宗政逍沒想到自己方才沒完成的捉弄，居然會以這種方式成功，他感受着戎音溫熱的呼吸，心跳有些不穩。

他捧起戎音的臉，嗓音有些啞：“誰告訴你這麽做有用的？”

“沒誰呀，我自己想的。”戎音嘿嘿一笑：“我是不是很機智？”

他一笑，宗政逍也跟着笑：“嗯，很機智。”

“嘻嘻。”聽見宗政逍誇他，戎音露出一個驕傲又羞澀的笑，他說：“宗政逍，你真好，不僅送我玉佩，還誇我。”

宗政逍聞言動了心思，盯着他的眼睛，問道：“我這麽好，那你喜歡我嗎？”

“喜歡啊。”戎音毫不猶豫地回答。

宗政逍心跳都漏了一拍，哪怕已經知道答案，他還是又追問道：“你對我是哪種喜歡？是朋友的、親人的、還是……愛人的喜歡？”

最後那幾個字，宗政逍說得艱難，又滿含希望。

戎音表情呆滞了片刻，像是在思考問題的答案。

沒一會兒他就回過了神，只是臉上的笑容消失了。

“我不想回答這個問題。”戎音小聲嘟囔。

宗政逍的心情由忐忑轉為疑惑：“為什麽？”

“沒有為什麽，就是不想。”

宗政逍摩挲着戎音的臉龐，語氣有些急切地哄他：“戎音乖，回答我好不好？我今天只問你這一個問題了。”

戎音不說話，低下腦袋，進行無聲的拒絕。

“戎音……”宗政逍還是不肯放棄。

“我都說了我不想回答。”戎音有些生氣了，他把臉埋進宗政逍肩窩，委屈巴巴地道：“宗政逍逼我，宗政逍是壞人，讨厭宗政逍……”

嘴上這樣說着，雙手卻緊緊拽住了宗政逍的衣服。

宗政逍摸着他的頭嘆氣：“抱歉，是我太心急了。”

他停頓了幾秒，又問：“真讨厭我了？”

戎音哼哼唧唧不回答，宗政逍就道：“既然你讨厭我，那我還是離你遠點吧。”

他說着就假意要起身，戎音趕忙抱住他，聲音像是要哭了，“不許走，宗政逍是大壞蛋！”

宗政逍失笑：“你又說讨厭我，又說我是大壞蛋，那為什麽還不讓我走？”

“唔……”戎音憋了半天，終究還是沒憋住，他眼淚汪汪地看向宗政逍，軟聲道：“不讨厭，不是壞蛋，戎音喜歡宗政逍的，喜歡。”

宗政逍坐了回去，擡手替戎音擦去眼角的淚珠，神色複雜：“你啊你，不給我明确的回答，又要纏着我，我看啊，大壞蛋是你才對。”

“戎音才不是大壞蛋，宗政逍胡說。”戎音像是怕宗政逍再走似的，雙臂抱着他的腰，腦袋貼着他的胸口，很是依賴的模樣。

宗政逍是真拿他沒辦法了，輕輕撫着他的頭發，柔聲哄道：“是宗政逍胡說，戎音一點都不壞。”

“本來就是。”戎音傲嬌地回了一句。

宗政逍還是只能嘆息，總不能真把人給打了。

或許是習慣了在宗政逍懷裏入睡，戎音沒一會兒就打起了哈欠，宗政逍低頭看他：“困了？”

“嗯。”戎音懶懶地回了一個字。

“那就洗洗去睡吧。”宗政逍帶着戎音來到宮人們早就準備好的洗漱用水前，半哄半幫地讓戎音完成了睡前洗漱。

“呀，不對。”宗政逍正拿着布巾子給戎音擦臉呢，戎音忽然來了這麽一句，然後拉開宗政逍的手，失落地說：“不能睡，還得守歲呢。”

宗政逍心道你都喝醉了還記得這個？

宗政逍勸說：“不守也沒事，你困就睡吧，我不會告訴別人的。”

“不行。”戎音道：“我要做一個持之以恒的人。”

宗政逍：“是嗎？”

半個時辰後，要持之以恒的某魚窩在宗政逍懷裏，早去見了周公。

宗政逍戳戳戎音肉肉的臉蛋，眼眸裏全是笑意。

夜半，宗政逍抱起戎音，在将他放回水池裏前，垂首在他額頭落下一吻。

他無聲道：晚安，戎音。

過了除夕，後面的日子就跟按了加速鍵似的，轉眼就到了皇帝和各部門府衙開始工作的時間。

對于方家等罪犯的刑罰已經執行得差不多了，該流放的被押去流放，該入奴籍的也入了奴籍，如今就只差砍頭這項了。

因為去年事發時接近年關，砍頭這玩意兒太血腥，只能延後再行。

不過再拖下去，可就要入春了，百姓們到時各有各的事要忙，也不适合，所以就選了冬過臨春這麽個時間點。

因為被判斬首的犯人數量不少，足有上百人，還分了幾天去砍。

菜市口哭嚎聲成片，行刑過後，屍體滿地，血流成河，劊子手的刀都砍鈍了。

還好犯人的頭被套了麻袋，不然一連咕嚕嚕滾下那麽多人頭來，個個面目猙獰，圍觀的百姓非得被吓死不可。

宗政連祺和蘇婉兒上刑場時，寧王府無一人來送，最後兩人身首分家，屍體被混進其他死去的犯人裏一起被運到了亂葬崗。

亂葬崗野狼多，新送過去的屍體不過一夜就被啃得面目全非了。

無論生前多顯貴，死了也不過一把爛肉。

世家為了以防萬一，還派人去亂葬崗看過。

前去檢查的人回來說，雖然屍首被野獸咬得都不完整了，但依舊能看出是宗政連祺和蘇婉兒的樣貌。

下人來報：“今早宗政連鈞又遞了牌子進宮，請皇上派兩個禦醫到寧王府去，說是寧王和寧王妃的病情又加重了。”

崔家主問：“确認真的病了？”

下人道：“奴才重金收買了一位前去寧王府給寧王夫妻倆看過病的大夫，據他所說，寧王妃還好，就是心病難愈，才導致纏綿病榻，寧王就嚴重多了，說是戰場上留下的舊疾複發，又受兒子死訊刺激，吐了好幾次血，人整日都是昏迷着，若是挺不過來，怕是要不成了。”

聽完這話，崔家主這才滿足地笑了。

無論寧王夫妻倆死沒死，也不管他們恨不恨宗政逍，以宗政逍的小心程度，以後大概是不會再信任寧王府了。

這樣的話，即便他們挑撥寧王和宗政逍的關系不成，宗政逍也失去了一個有力助手。

對世家來說，這是好消息。

崔家主一掃被宗政逍奪走賀家生意的郁悶，當夜歡快地多喝了幾杯酒。

入春後，氣溫上升，冰雪融化，銀鲛園的各色花草都有了冒新芽的跡象。

這日天晴，宗政逍忙政務去了，綠娥組織宮人進行灑掃，忙進忙出，也沒空陪戎音。

戎音躺在露臺上曬太陽打盹，忽然想起自己那箱寶貝，打算趁着今日天氣好拿出來再擦擦。

說幹就幹，戎音也沒叫宮人幫忙拿，想自己親力親為。

箱子在有浴池的房間裏，戎音過去時，有幾個宮人正在擦洗浴池。

或許是見兩個主子和管事的綠娥都不在，他們就大膽了些，一邊忙活一邊聊了起來。

“欸，我昨日去給陛下送茶時，聽見四喜公公跟陛下彙報，說又送了好些補品到寧王府去，這個月都第五次了吧。”

聽見“寧王府”三個字，戎音停下不再靠近，并悄悄豎起了耳朵。

畢竟是原書男主和女主的家，說不定有什麽大八卦呢。

Another palace servant continued, "I think Prince Ning and Princess Ning are suffering from a mental illness. No matter how many supplements they take, it will probably be useless. However, no one would feel good if they were to encounter such a thing."

Rong Yin raised his eyebrows. There really is something new to eat!

"Who says it's not true? The Ning Wang family is unlucky. His daughter-in-law is a princess of the previous dynasty. She may have colluded with the remnants of the previous dynasty. His son was also involved. In order to save his family, the Ning Wang had no choice but to break off the relationship with his son. He watched his son and daughter-in-law being beheaded, and he himself ended up sending off his son."

"Come to think of it, those two people were beheaded more than a month ago. It is said that they didn't even have a burial place, and were thrown into a mass grave."

"Alas, all I can say is that good deeds will be rewarded and evil deeds will be punished."

Rong Yin, who was hiding nearby and eavesdropping on every word, said: "?!!!"

There is a bigger question mark in the big eyes.