Chapter 054 The Sweetest in the World

Rong Yin couldn't hold back the smile on her lips. "Haven't you liked someone before? How come you are so good at saying sweet words?"

"It's natural, just like I was born good-looking." Zong Zheng Xiao teased him.

Rong Yin laughed even more happily: "Narcissist."

"I have a clear understanding of myself and know how to appreciate beauty, just like I think our Ayin is the most beautiful man in the world."

Rong Yin blushed, snorted, and said, "Well, actually I also like to hear your sweet words."

Zong Zhengxiao said: "If you like me, I will tell you more in the future."

Rong Yin deliberately said: "You don't have to say too much, just a few hundred sentences a day will be enough."

Zong Zheng Xiao raised his eyebrows: "You heartless little thing, are you really not afraid of exhausting me to death?"

Rong Yin chuckled a few times, patted his shoulder, and said, "Put me down first. Aren't you tired of holding me like this?"

"I'm not tired. I can hold you for as long as I want. Do you want to try?"

"I don't want to fall with you." Rong Yin said, and then said softly, "Just put me down, please, Your Majesty."

"Alright." Zong Zhengxiao put the man down and ruffled his hair. "Look, it would be better if you behave yourself. If you act coquettishly, I will agree to anything you ask for."

Rong Yin didn't believe it: "A man's mouth is a lie, even if you are the emperor."

As he spoke, he walked to the table next to him, picked up the pearl from the leg of the table, and returned.

Zong Zhengxiao said with a smile: "Ayin is also a man, why did you curse yourself as well?"

Rong Yin took Zong Zhengxiao's hand and put the pearl into his hand. She looked up at him and smiled, "But I am more capable of action. This is the first pearl I cried out. I give it to you."

The moment he touched the pearl, Zong Zhengxiao suddenly felt a surge of joy at surviving a catastrophe, as if it were happening to him, but he knew clearly that this was not his emotion.

Zong Zheng looked at Rong Yin in surprise. Rong Yin said, "Do you feel it? This is the special feature of the Mermaid's Tear Pearl."

Zong Zhengxiao said, "I heard that mermaids can turn their tears into pearls, but your tears didn't turn into pearls when you cried before. I thought the legend was false. I didn't expect that tears can really turn into pearls."

"Mermaid tears can turn into pearls, but it requires certain conditions." Rong Yin told Zong Zhengxiao what kind of tears would turn into pearls, and then continued: "The original owner of the mermaid body didn't know either, and I told him."

Zong Zheng Xiao was surprised: "Where did you tell him? Isn't he dead?"

Rong Yin said: "At that time, the Heavenly Dao took me to a special place, where I met the mermaid. He was indeed dead, but I saved him. To be precise, I used conditions to exchange his life with the Heavenly Dao."

Zong Zhengxiao was about to ask Rong Yin what the conditions were when Lu'e's voice suddenly came from outside: "Master, Your Majesty, the food is ready."

The conversation was interrupted, and Zong Zhengxiao became even more curious. He always felt that the so-called condition was not a good thing for Rong Yin.

Rong Yin understood Zong Zhengxiao's expression and coaxed him softly, "There's not enough time. I'll explain it to you in the evening. Let's go eat first."

Zong Zhengxiao also listened and put away his emotions, shaking his head: "You go first, I'll go to the next room to wash up."

He pointed at his face, which looked as emaciated as the homeless man's, and said, "Otherwise, I'm afraid it will affect your appetite."

"Nonsense." Rong Yin knew that Zong Zheng Xiao was trying to make him happy on purpose, but Zong Zheng Xiao became like this because he was worried about him. He didn't even have time to feel heartache, so how could he possibly dislike him?

"Okay, I know you don't mind, but I do. I don't want to be ugly in front of you. Be obedient and go now."

Zong Zhengxiao pushed Rong Yin out of the room. Rong Yin understood his feelings, so she turned around and waved to him, asking him to follow her quickly, and then left with Lu'e.

Lu'e had already tidied up her appearance. Not only did she wash her face and put on new makeup, she also changed into new clothes and combed her hair.

However, she couldn't completely hide her red eyes from crying.

Zong Zhengxiao hadn't arrived yet, so Rong Yin told them to serve the dishes later, and then sat aside to chat with Lu'e and other palace maids.

"In fact, the reason why I suddenly fainted that day was because I was going to evolve."

"Evolution?" Lu'e and others looked at Rong Yin. Now he not only had legs, but the rest of his body was also almost the same as that of humans. If they didn't already know that he was a mermaid, they would probably have mistaken him for a human.

Rong Yin said: "It is just like what you saw. Just like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, I have evolved from a mermaid into a human being and can move more freely on the shore."

The palace people suddenly realized that this was evolution.

Rong Yin continued, "Because in my memory, no merman has ever encountered such a situation, and evolution requires a lot of energy. Just like you will faint when you are very hungry, my energy was used up, so I fell into a coma. I thought I was going to die, so I asked Lu'e to ask His Majesty to come back, so that I could see him one last time."

Rong Yin was talking nonsense in a serious tone. The truth behind it was about ghosts and gods. Rong Yin felt that the fewer people knew about it, the better.

But he needed a reason to faint and turn into a human, so he could only use his storytelling ability.

Lu'e nodded as if she understood, and then asked Rong Yin: "My Lord, how come you suddenly died while His Majesty was holding you today? I touched your wrist and found that you had no pulse. Your Majesty and I were almost scared to death. His Majesty thought he had done something wrong and kept apologizing to you. You looked so pitiful."

Perhaps because she felt it was not nice to talk about the emperor behind his back, she lowered her voice when she said the words "how pitiful".

Rong Yin was stunned when he heard this. He was in a pure white space at that time and had no idea what was happening in reality. After waking up, he saw that Zong Zheng Xiao and Lu E seemed to be about to quarrel. Based on their appearance and conversation, he guessed that he must have been unconscious for several days.

He couldn't even imagine how devastated Zong Zheng Xiao would be when he found out that he might actually be "dead".

If Zong Zheng Xiao died in his arms, he thought, he might go crazy.

It seemed like he had one more thing to talk about with Zong Zheng Xiao tonight.

"Blame me." Rong Yin said guiltily.

Lu'e shook her head: "Master, don't say that. You didn't know this would happen. No one is wrong."

The other palace ladies also responded in unison and comforted Rong Yin.

Rong Yin felt warm in her heart and smiled, "Thank you, especially Lu'e, for never giving up on me no matter what the circumstances."

When Zong Zheng Xiao refused to allow anyone to enter the house, only Lu'e kept thinking of him in her heart. Even though she was afraid of Zong Zheng Xiao, she still mustered up the courage to plead for mercy.

Lu'e's eyes were moist: "Master, you have been so kind to me, I will always remember it in my heart."

It was because Rong Yin treated her sincerely that she would return the favor.

The two smiled at each other, with gratitude in their eyes.

"Ahem." Zong Zhengxiao, who had finished cleaning up, walked over and interrupted the "affectionate eye contact" between the two.

"You're here." Rong Yin said happily.

"Thank you for waiting for me, Ayin." Zong Zhengxiao smiled brightly at Rong Yin, pulled him to sit at the table, and said to Si Xi, "The food can be served."

The chef and the palace maids were very quick, and soon the table was filled with carefully prepared dishes, all of which were indeed cooked according to the two's tastes.

Zong Zhengxiao took a shower, changed his clothes, and shaved off his blue stubble. However, no matter how neatly he groomed himself, it couldn't hide the haggard look on his face.

Thinking back to what Lu'e had just said, he felt even more sorry for Zong Zheng Xiao.

Rong Yin was just about to pick up some food for Zong Zheng Xiao, but Zong Zheng Xiao held the bowl and fed the food to his mouth, just like he did before.

Rong Yin watched his movements and showed her hands with distinct fingers to Zong Zheng Xiao: "I don't need to bother you to feed me anymore. I can eat by myself."

Zong Zhengxiao's smiling face immediately fell. He did not withdraw his hand, nor did he say anything. He just stared at Rong Yin eagerly.

It seems like if you don’t let me feed you, I will fight with you today.

Rong Yin explained: "I just worry that you will be tired. I had no choice but to do it because my hands were not convenient. Now you can be free."

"Ayin, are you really stupid or are you just pretending to be stupid?" Zong Zhengxiao said, "Do you think I feed you just because your hands are inconvenient? Then why don't I let others feed you? Just because you have transformed into a human form, you are alienated from me, right?"

Zong Zhengxiao's expression seemed to be saying: You are a big scumbag who has unconventional ideas!

Rong Yin: “…”

My Lord! I am innocent!

"Don't say anything. I asked you to feed me, isn't that enough?" Rong Yin compromised and obediently opened her mouth to take the food that Zong Zhengxiao fed her.

Zong Zhengxiao was satisfied: "That's pretty good."

Feeding a pet is one thing, and feeding your wife is also one thing, and feeding your wife makes him happier.

However, Rong Yin was not just waiting for Zong Zheng Xiao to feed her. Since he had evolved two hands, they could not be wasted.

So they fed each other, and before they were full, the palace servants who were watching nearby had already finished their meals.

Si Xi stepped forward and reminded, "Your Majesty, before the imperial physician left, he asked me to tell you that you haven't eaten in the past few days. You should eat less for the first meal after you resume eating, otherwise it will easily upset your stomach."

Zong Zhengxiao gave him a cold look: "You're so long-winded."

"I know I was wrong." Si Xi understood that Zong Zheng Xiao was not blaming him for being too talkative, but was just afraid that Rong Yin would feel guilty after hearing it.

But Si Xi felt that since His Majesty had paid for Rong Yin, Rong Yin should know. Keeping this secret would only do harm to the relationship.

Just like Lu'e is on Rong Yin's side, he is Zong Zheng Xiao's man, so naturally he is on Zong Zheng Xiao's side too.

Zong Zhengxiao was well aware of Si Xi's painstaking efforts, but those hardships were his own to endure and had nothing to do with Rong Yin, so Rong Yin should not be made to bear the consequences.

眼看戎音表情不對，宗政逍連忙握住他的手，安撫道：“我沒你想的那麽慘，別把責任都往自己身上攬，知道了嗎？”

戎音軟軟地嗯了一聲，但宗政逍覺得他并沒有把自己的話聽進去。

飯後，宗政逍帶着戎音在院子裏轉了幾圈消食，能夠重新用雙腿走路後，戎音步伐都活潑了許多。

更晚一些時，宗政逍揮退宮人，跟戎音一起泡進了浴池裏。

浴池水溫适宜，戎音在水中一個轉身就變回了鲛人的模樣。

宗政逍好奇：“是碰到水就會變，還是受你控制？”

戎音游向宗政逍：“我精力充沛的時候，就受我控制，相反的話，可能會在陸地上變回鲛人，也可能會在水裏變成人形。”

宗政逍牽起他的手，将人攬進懷裏，捧起他的臉仔細查看。

戎音歪頭，臉頰貼着他的掌心，壞笑着問：“看得出來和之前那具身體有什麽不同嗎？”

“我沒看出來……”宗政逍緩緩說出這幾個字，果不其然，戎音臉色變了，但宗政逍又緊接着道：“騙你的。”

戎音生氣：“又逗我。”

宗政逍眼神溫柔至極，“我日日夜夜盯着你，怎麽會發現不了區別，即便同是鲛人形态，你與那位也有着不一樣的地方。”

他輕撫着戎音的臉，道：“那位的樣貌更偏向于少年的精致，你則多了幾分青年的成熟，他的眼角微微上翹，你的則平一些，他的眸子是廣闊無垠的海，你的眼睛是蔚藍遙遠的天空，他的嘴唇會習慣性上揚，你卻多了一絲苦相……”

在宗政逍眼裏，兩者的不同是那麽的明顯，他摩挲着戎音的肌膚，語氣肯定地道：“你的這具新軀體，融合了你原世界的肉身，對嗎？”

人的面相并非在出生時就會固定，後天的生活也會對面相産生影響，過得幸不幸福如不如意，心态是抑郁還是灑脫，都會體現在臉上，即便是刻意僞裝也擦不掉一些頑固的痕跡。

戎音那封未寫完的“遺書”裏，清楚地交代了他穿越前都經歷過什麽。

無父無母，從小在孤兒院長大，又在人生最美好的年紀被診斷出絕症，只能眼睜睜等待死亡降臨。

不是說所有過得苦的人都會生得一臉苦相，只是他的戎音吃了太多苦，多到心裏已經裝不下，在他不經意的時候，就從四肢百骸中滲透出來，沾染了他的眼角眉梢。

戎音點頭：“嗯，在征得了他的同意後，天道用我原來的肉身融合了鲛人族的所有特點，為我重塑了一具新的身體。”

戎音鲛人的身份深入人心，忽然只能以人類的形态出現，肯定會引起有心之人的懷疑，所以天道才想到了這個辦法。

宗政逍道：“他是個善良無辜的鲛人，說來他客死異鄉，我也有部分責任，你複活他，相當于也是幫我還了債。”

如果不是景王想讨他歡心，鲛人也不會被送進京。

戎音道：“他如今已經被天道送回家鄉，臨走前，他告訴了我一些事，其中包括的就有他不恨我和你，只恨當初利用他的善心将他抓上岸，又一直折磨他的那些壞人。”

在純白空間中，兩個異世的靈魂相聚，他們長着幾乎一模一樣的臉，在天道的幫助下，用不同的語言向對方表達了自己的謝意。

戎音感謝原主不介意自己借用他的身體，原主感謝戎音花費大量功德救活他，還送他返回家鄉。

親眼看着原主回到海裏後，戎音才從純白空間離開。

“我答應過他，會替他懲罰那些欺騙欺負他的壞人，你之前不是說我向你提供知識，你會給我報酬嗎，把這個算進報酬裏，去幫我實現承諾吧。”

“這件事我會去處理，但不算在給你的報酬裏，相反我還欠你呢，只是教訓幾個人而已，那裏比得上你救活了他。”

戎音明白宗政逍對原主也心存歉疚，為了讓他釋懷，便順勢同意了。

“那就聽你的。”

“真乖。”宗政逍真誠地誇獎。

戎音睨了他一眼，有些別扭地問：“那你會不會覺得現在的我，沒有以前的我好看？”

原主的美貌是一等一的，戎音自覺比不上他，他不在意外貌，但在意宗政逍會不會喜歡他。

宗政逍知道戎音內心有些自卑，所以也沒有像之前那樣開玩笑，而是凝視着他的眼睛，誠摯地道：“我喜歡的是你，無論你長什麽樣，就算你完全換了一副樣貌，只要你還是你，我的心就只會是你的。”

戎音被他說得臉紅：“你好肉麻。”

宗政逍這才笑起來：“那你喜不喜歡我的肉麻？不許撒謊，我要聽實話。”

戎音摟着宗政逍的脖子，笑容燦爛：“喜歡，超級超級喜歡，以後你只能對我一個人肉麻。”

“也不是不行，不過……”宗政逍指着自己的臉，“我都答應你的要求了，你給我點甜頭，不過分吧。”

戎音這會兒不害羞了，湊上去就是吧唧一口，完了還問宗政逍：“甜不甜？”

宗政逍眼眸放光，摟緊了戎音，語氣歡快：“很甜，快甜死了，我的戎音就是世界上最甜的。”

戎音也抱住了宗政逍，笑得見牙不見眼。

之後，宗政逍又仔細問了戎音在昏迷後都遇見了什麽事，他為了複活那位鲛人，又答應了天道什麽條件？

戎音清楚宗政逍早晚都會知道，而且以他倆現在的關系，他再瞞着宗政逍也不好，于是便将在純白空間裏發生的所有事、他和天道的每句對話，都一五一十地告訴了他。

聽見戎音居然用了大量功德去交換複活鲛人和留在自己身邊，宗政逍除了震驚和心疼，一時竟不知該做何反應才好。

于理，他覺得戎音這麽做很不值，可于情，要是戎音沒有選擇留下來，他們此刻已經天人永隔，自己也将抱憾終身。

戎音說完，忐忑地看向了宗政逍，發現他臉色鐵青，以為他是生氣了，便小聲地道：“你不可以罵我。”

“傻阿音，我怎麽會罵你，該挨罵的人是我。”宗政逍嗓子發緊，眼睛泛酸，啞聲道：“我宗政逍何德何能，值得阿音你舍棄那麽多東西只為留在我身邊，如果沒有我，阿音你只會過得更好。”

戎音搖了搖頭：“你說錯了，沒有你，我積攢不了那麽多功德，而且只要我喜歡，就談不上什麽值不值得，即便沒有功德，我就是當鬼，也會纏着你一輩子。”

“原來我們阿音還想玩人鬼戀啊，改天就陪你試試。”宗政逍想表現得輕松一些，可一想到戎音失去了什麽，他就笑不出來。

“阿音。”宗政逍握着戎音的手，一臉正色地發誓：“我以我的性命和整個宗政家的運道起誓，這輩子只愛戎音一人，只會有他一個伴侶，我會竭盡全力對他好，若有違背，任憑天道懲罰。”

戎音沒有阻止宗政逍，而是由着他說完了全部誓言，因為這不僅能安撫宗政逍覺得虧欠戎音的心，也給了戎音在異世立足的安全感。

他和宗政逍這一生都會糾纏在一起，至死方休。

戎音兇巴巴地道：“我不會後悔今天的選擇，但我會替天道監督你的，要是你敢負我，我就先把你給殺了，再自殺投胎轉世！”

宗政逍道：“我還要與阿音雙宿雙飛呢，所以我不會給你這個機會的。”

“油嘴滑舌。”戎音嗔怪了一句，然後轉移話題：“好了，我的事都告訴你了，你在我昏迷這些天都做了什麽，可得事無巨細都告訴我。要是被我發現你敢有所隐瞞，我就離開皇宮，不要你了。”

戎音最後那句話，對宗政逍來說跟要他命也沒區別了，而且他本就打算全數跟戎音坦白的，只是聽見戎音的話後，他準備說得更仔細。

從發現戎音留下的半截“遺書”，到日日夜夜不吃不喝守着他、連日罷朝、不願接見大臣、命令太醫輪流為他診治，再到戎音之前的身體被天道拿走，他精神崩潰，差點用玉簪紮穿左手。

若不是天道及時提醒，宗政逍的一只手就要毀了。

相同的時間，宗政逍的經歷要比戎音更“驚心動魄”，聽見宗政逍差點傷害了自己時，戎音下意識握住他的左手，緊緊護進了懷裏。

宗政逍摸摸他的頭：“都過去了，阿音不用在意。”

“怎麽能不在意。”戎音靠在宗政逍胸口，表情萎靡：“我差點害了你。”

“之前還念叨我呢，結果自己又自責上了？”宗政逍手指戳着戎音的嘴角往上提，笑着說：“我希望阿音能每天都開開心心的，你若愁眉苦臉，才是真的對不起我這幾天遭的罪。”

戎音聞言，努力揚起唇角，只是眼神還是有些悲傷。

愛情就是這樣的，生怕對方不為自己付出，又生怕對方付出得太多，過得太苦。

Zong Zhengxiao raised his hands and rubbed Rong Yin's face, trying to pull him out of his negative emotions, so he deliberately showed a nonsensical expression, "Instead of spending time here thinking about how much you owe me, why not take some practical actions to repay me."

Rong Yin looked at him: "What do you want in return?"

"I won't tell you yet." Zong Zhengxiao picked up Rong Yin and walked out of the bathtub, striding towards the bed.

Rong Yin looked at him in surprise: "You don't mean to..."

Zong Zhengxiao smiled but said nothing.

Rong Yin swallowed nervously, thinking that Zong Zheng Xiao was going to tease him again, but he was also afraid that he would really do it: "Although I don't mind doing it with you, wouldn't it be too hasty to complete our first time tonight?"

Zong Zhengxiao still didn't say anything.

Rong Yin was anxious: "Zong Zhengxiao, if you don't say anything, I will use the family rules!"