Chapter 068: Found corn and made paper
This was truly an unprovoked disaster for the two little maids.
Li Ao was unhappy with the way the brothel incident was handled and he got angry with his family, refusing to eat or drink for the entire day.
The head of the Li family and his aunt loved the child, but Li Ao didn't want to see them, so they asked the maids to use any means to make the young master eat his meal obediently.
On one side are the head of the Li family and his concubine who can decide their life and death, and on the other side is the irritable Li Ao. The little maids are caught in the middle and are in a dilemma.
They picked the prettiest maid to deliver the meal, thinking that Li Ao was lustful and would be more polite when he saw a pretty girl.
But Li Ao didn't buy it at all. Seeing the maid trying to persuade him again and again, he got so angry that he overturned the food and beat the maid.
The maid who was kicked fell to the ground and couldn't get up. Except for a scream at the beginning because she was caught off guard, she would rather bite her lips than make any movement, wishing she could be as quiet as a dead person.
Fortunately, Li Ao's mind was not on her. When he saw that she shut up, he ignored her.
"Where is my brother?" Li Ao suddenly asked in a sharp voice.
The servant at the door said, "It's almost the end of the year, the government is very busy, and the young master hasn't been home for three days."
"No wonder, no wonder..." Li Ao said, "My brother is not at home. I was wondering why he agreed to the Cui family's compensation, which was like giving alms to a beggar. I was harmed so badly, and they couldn't catch the criminal. They wanted to send me away by giving me some money, and my father and mother actually agreed. They don't care about my feelings at all."
Hearing this, the servant actually wanted to say, Young Master, if you were more sensible and could consider the entire Li family and your parents who love you, you should silently endure this result instead of threatening everyone with a hunger strike.
Because the matter has been settled, this is the best result that the head of the family can get. It will be useless for you to make trouble. On the contrary, if the Cui family finds out that you are dissatisfied with the Cui family's compensation, it may cause trouble for the Li family.
But think about it, the servant was afraid of death, so how could he dare to really persuade this little bully.
The little bully was still mumbling: "When my brother comes back, I will go to him to make the decision for me. He is so smart, he will definitely find a way for me. He is definitely not as timid as my father and mother."
The servant sighed, what kind of young master was he following? The head of the family couldn't even handle the problem, so what was the use of the eldest young master coming?
Just as the servant had predicted, the eldest master Li Chu came back a few days later, and Li Ao went to ask him for help, but the eldest master said he could do nothing.
However, one thing was beyond the servant's expectation. Li Chu could not help Li Ao, but Li Ao did not hate or ignore Li Chu as he did to his parents.
Because Li Chu promised to go to his father to help Li Ao and see if he could convince his father to send someone to find out who harmed Li Ao, but Li Chu somehow offended the head of the family and was punished by the head of the family to kneel in the ancestral hall and was also punished by the family law.
Li Ao felt that his brother was punished because of him, so even though his brother did not help him, he did not hate him. Instead, when Li Chu was bedridden, he visited him every day and listened to him by not making a fuss and going on a hunger strike.
"Father and aunt asked you to come over for dinner yesterday, why didn't you go?" Li Chu looked at Li Ao disapprovingly, "I know you are angry, but father is also helpless. You know he loves you the most. If he can seek justice for you, how could he let you suffer any injustice?"
Li Ao was not angry after being nagged by Li Chu. He just said in a weak voice: "Brother, you don't have to persuade me. I just don't want to see Dad... I suddenly realized that Dad doesn't seem to love me as much as I thought."
Li Chu showed a surprised expression: "How can you say that? From childhood to adulthood, your father has always satisfied you with whatever you want. Can this not be called love?"
"Then why did he compromise with the Cui family this time? Why didn't he care about my opinion? I was obviously the victim, and I just wanted to catch the person who hurt me, but my father didn't even bother to investigate and advised me to give up. Did my father also think that it was because I drank too much that this happened, and there was actually no outsider who wanted to harm me?"
Hearing his brother's accusation, Li Chu sneered in his heart, what a fool.
"Didn't I explain this to you? There's a reason why Dad didn't investigate the person who hurt you."
"What's the reason? Isn't it because he's afraid of losing face? Haven't I lost face enough in these years? I'm not afraid, so what is he afraid of? In the final analysis, he still doesn't care about me enough, so he just makes excuses."
"Alas..." Li Ao sighed, with an expression of "helplessness at being unable to persuade", "One day you will understand your father's painstaking efforts."
Li Ao said angrily, "If being afraid of this and that like a coward, and sacrificing one's own son in exchange for temporary peace, is considered to be painstaking, then I would rather never understand it."
"Silly brother..." Li Chu sighed softly, and when he lowered his head, the corners of his lips raised evilly.
In less than half a day, the conversation between the two brothers reached the ears of the head of the Li family. Hearing that his little son, whom he had always doted on, actually looked down on and hated him so much, the head of the Li family was so angry that his face turned red and he smashed a lot of furniture in the house like a madman.
In a sense, Patriarch Li and Li Ao are indeed father and son; even they lose their tempers in the same way.
In a rage, Patriarch Li got really mad at his youngest son for the first time. Not only did he call him to the study and scold him, he also put him under house arrest and told him to stay in his own yard before the New Year to reflect on where he had gone wrong.
This time the house arrest was different from the last minor fight. The head of the Li family really kept Li Ao under surveillance and even invited a teacher to discipline him. He also told the servants that anyone who dared to help the young master escape would be beaten to death if caught.
Li Ao's mother went to plead for mercy, but was turned away by the head of the Li family.
This was the first time in all these years that the mother and son were ignored by the master of the house. People in the mansion were whispering that the master had finally given up on the good-for-nothing young master, and this time he was using the brothel incident to show his attitude, and he no longer wanted to clean up the young master's mess.
These rumors continued to spread. Li Ao's mother was stupid and could not realize that this was someone else's scheme. She thought that the head of the Li family was really going to abandon her and her son.
So she went to cry in front of the head of the Li family every day. After a long time, the head of the Li family, who was originally not annoyed with her, became annoyed and scolded her several times.
Li Ao's mother was sad, so she quietly ran to her son to confide in him. After hearing the rumors his mother told him and his father's attitude towards her, Li Ao felt very sad.
It seems that my guess was right, his father really doesn't love him anymore.
Both Li Ao and the head of the Li family were angry, and neither of them was willing to give in first. In addition, Li Ao was under house arrest, with fewer sources of information and hearing his mother complain every day. Over time, his feelings towards his father changed from resentment to hatred.
He had always wanted to get Rong Yin and had thought of many plans, but he gave up again and again because he was afraid of bringing harm to his father.
But now his father doesn't care about him anymore, why should he consider his father?
He just wants to do whatever he wants, no matter what means he uses.
In the courtyard of the mistress of the Li Mansion, Li Chu and his mother smiled after listening to the servants' report on the recent situation of Li's father, Li Ao and his mother.
The mother said, "It looks like my son's plan will soon succeed."
Li Chu smiled, his expression gloomy: "Everything is ready, only the east wind is missing."
The Li family's sinister plot did not affect the increasingly strong New Year atmosphere outside. New Year's Eve was only half a month away. Because every household was preparing New Year's goods, the bread and biscuits of Yunduo Bakery were also listed as one of the must-have New Year's goods this year, so the business was unusually hot in the past few days.
However, Rong Yin did not force employees to work overtime just for the sake of making money. When it was time for the holiday, even though customers repeatedly asked them to stay, Rong Yin still closed the store, gave employees big red envelopes, and let them go home to celebrate the New Year.
At the end of the year, Rong Yin found that his wallet had become much fatter in the past six months. If he wanted to do something in the future, at least he would have the financial support.
His and Zong Zhengxiao's plan to enrich the people and strengthen the country will cost a lot of money.
Three days before New Year's Eve, Zong Zhengxiao and Rong Yin received two pieces of good news.
One is that after continuous searching, Ji Xie finally found grain seeds that were suspected to be corn.
The reason why it is suspected is that according to the picture given by Rong Yin, it meets the conditions, but the seeds he found are not called corn. They are called golden grain locally because their color is the same as gold when they mature and they can fill the stomach.
Ji Xie handed the seeds over, and after Rong Yin checked them, he confirmed that this was the corn he was looking for.
Da Sheng had new food seeds, Zong Zheng Xiaolong was very happy, and asked Ji Xie what reward he wanted.
Ji Xie said righteously: "What I have done is my duty. I am very lucky that I have not let down your majesty's trust. How can I be greedy and seek rewards? However..."
As he was talking, Ji Xie's expression suddenly changed. He stroked his face which was tanned black outside and said with a silly smile, "But if Your Majesty insists on giving me a reward, I am willing to accept it. I heard that Your Majesty opened a bakery and milk tea shop. The snacks and drinks sold there are the most delicious. I am very tempted by it and want to try them."
Zong Zhengxiao laughed: "Look at you! But the bread and milk tea were made by Rong Yin. If you want to eat them, it's no use telling me. You have to find him."
Ji Xie turned his gaze to Rong Yin, who was sitting next to Zong Zheng Xiao. He looked at him with his big eyes, his desire evident in his words.
"Lord Rong, can you please fulfill this small request of mine?"
Rong Yin smiled and said, "You are the one who helped me find the seeds. It's just bread and milk tea, you can have as much as you want. I will make a new food in a few days that will use the seeds you brought back. You will be the first to taste it then."
Ji Xie smiled happily: "Thank you, Your Majesty, and thank you, Lord Rong."
季燮歡歡喜喜地回家去了，當然，季燮說不要賞賜只是客氣，該給的宗政逍還是會給，不然豈不是辜負人家在外為他的命令奔波的忠心和辛苦了。
至于第二個好消息，宗政逍在收到消息前其實就已經預料到了，因為時間算起來确實差不多了。
這個好消息就是，他們成功造出紙來了！
因為造紙材料不同，産出紙的時間也不同，工部負責造紙的那幫人先拿來的是竹紙。
宗政逍将送來的紙與世家所造的最好的紙做了對比，他們的紙更細膩更輕薄，也不暈墨，質量顯然比較上乘。
工部的人道：“陛下，我們備貨量是充足的，是否要在年後開始售賣？”
宗政逍點頭：“可。”
他看似表情平靜，其實內心還是挺激動的。
想當初，世家只輕飄飄一個漲紙價的消息就能威脅到他這個皇帝，因為漲價會造成市場混亂，從而影響到他在意的那些寒門學子。
可如今不一樣了，他自己掌握了造紙的技術，從此以後至少在這方面，世家對他再無威脅性可言。
等工部的人走後，宗政逍回到屋裏，抱起正伏案寫東西的戎音就是一個猛親，氣得戎音直攥拳錘他。
“幹什麽幹什麽，都把墨弄我身上了！”
宗政逍在戎音唇上輕輕咬了一口，眼眸閃爍着光芒，臉上的笑根本克制不住。
“阿音，我好高興，這都是你的功勞，我愛你。”
戎音不好意思地哼了一聲，也回給他一個吻，霸道總裁上身，道：“你是我的男人，我不疼你疼誰？”
宗政逍低聲笑了起來：“我們阿音還是那麽可愛。”
戎音瞪他：“知道你愛我愛得不得了，但你能不能先把我放下來，我東西還沒寫完呢。”
宗政逍跟抱小孩似的抱着戎音坐到凳子上，低頭去看他寫到一半的東西，“這是什麽？”
戎音故意道：“制作擦屁屁紙的方法。”
“嗯？”宗政逍愣了兩秒才反應過來他這句話的意思，“你是說專門用來如廁的紙？”
“對啊。”戎音把手撐在宗政逍肩膀上，“今天他們把紙送過來後，我才想起還有衛生紙這麽個全國百姓都需要用的生活商品，你想想看，有錢人用得起綢緞如廁，但大部分普通人用的還是廁籌，那滋味不用多說，麻煩還不幹淨，如果出現一款柔軟得跟布料一樣的如廁紙，價格還便宜，你說他們會不會買？”
宗政逍道：“換成是我，只要在能力範圍內，我會買。”
“畢竟人人都舍不得自己的身體受委屈，特別還是屁屁這麽脆弱的地方。”戎音分析道：“到時候咱們就走薄利多銷的路子，如廁紙可是消耗品，占每個人每個家庭的固定支出，這是門細水長流的生意。”
宗政逍聽完也很心動，道：“明天我就把配方給他們送去。”
戎音看他：“那你現在能放開我了嗎？”
“不放。”宗政逍邊說邊又把人往懷裏帶了帶，從戎音手中拿過筆，“你說我來寫，不能累着我們的大功臣。”
戎音見狀也不跟他争了，就乖乖坐在宗政逍懷裏，說出了衛生紙的制作方法。
于是第二天造紙的負責人就收到了一份有着兩種筆跡的新紙配方，前半部分筆跡俏皮活潑，後半部分沉穩內斂，一看就知道是出自哪兩人之手。
明明可以重新謄抄一份再送過來，可陛下偏偏直接送了原件，說不是炫耀他倆感情好誰信啊？
負責人苦笑：這也是給我們的賞賜之一嗎？
這日沒有落雪，宗政逍也早就封了筆，他牽着戎音的手在宮中漫步，慢慢走過他熟悉的每面宮牆。
周圍的樹木花草，甚至是腳下的地磚，在成為皇帝後，他都曾看過無數遍，早就爛熟于心，但因為今天身側有戎音在，便讓他覺得眼裏的每一副風景都是全新的。
兩人一路上都沒怎麽說話，只是牽着的兩只手一直握得很緊。
戎音從前不懂為什麽小情侶都喜歡壓馬路，現在他明白了，兩個互相喜歡的人在一起，哪怕無聊得坐在一處看螞蟻搬家，那也是幸福指數爆棚的甜蜜約會。
為了給他倆營造二人世界，侍衛們都是遠遠地跟着，反正是在宮裏，而且陛下武功比他們還高，哪怕遇到危險，也能撐到他們趕過去。
最後宗政逍帶着戎音登上了城樓。
冬季的天空顯得十分灰暗，可與其相反的是，地上的城池因為除夕即将到來都挂上了喜慶的紅色，百姓們穿着新衣走街串巷，商鋪小攤上的吆喝叫賣聲不絕于耳，正是一番欣欣向榮的景象。
宗政逍眺望着遠處的熱鬧，唇角微微上揚，眼神堅毅：“朕希望未來大晟領土內每個角落的百姓，都能過上豐衣足食，無憂無慮的生活。”
戎音的眼眸也因親眼見證了世間繁華而變得柔和了許多，他轉頭看向宗政逍，道：“陛下的願望，終有一天一定能實現。”
宗政逍也看向他，兩人四目相對：“阿音願意陪我見證這個願望成真嗎？哪怕這個願望可能要過幾百年幾千年才能實現，到時候或許大晟已不複存在，而我們也早就投胎轉世，成為了陌生人。”
宗政逍這是在向戎音讨一個生生世世的諾言。
戎音笑容燦爛：“我願意，我願意和陛下一起見證你願望的實現，也願意永生永世和你在一起，就算變成了陌生人，我也一定會找到你，讓你重新愛上我。”
宗政逍握緊戎音的手：“我亦會永生永世愛你，守護你。”
情到濃時，再難自抑。
當夜，戎音難得順着宗政逍一回，成為了歡愉的主導者。
宗政逍當初的夢境在此刻重現，戎音的每一次起落，每一聲**，都飽含對宗政逍的深刻愛意；宗政逍的每一次*撞，每一次*哼，都是對戎音愛意的回應。
汗水滾落堆積在一起，在寒風入骨的夜晚，兩人一起營造出了獨屬于他們的春天。
……
除夕前夜，宗政逍辦了個宮宴，不僅朝中重臣會赴宴，連在宗政連祺和蘇婉兒死後就歸于沉寂的寧王一家也來了。
這一年來寧王一家幾乎成了京城的透明人，除了寧王妃因為信佛鬧出了些笑話外，寧王府整體都安靜得宛如不存在一樣，幾乎完全退出了京城權貴的交際圈。
即便是跟宗政逍，至少表面上也沒什麽往來。
這次一家人剛進宮，基本在場所有人的目光都集中到了他們身上。
寧王比起大兒子出事前，似乎蒼老了十幾歲，頭上多出不少白發，神情也頹然滄桑，像棵即将枯敗的老樹。
看來他還沒從失去大兒子的陰影中走出來。
寧王妃臉色就明顯要好上許多，即便是來參加宮廷晚宴，她也依舊只着一身素衣，手上捏着佛珠，神情淡然，看不出喜怒。
夫妻倆一個心死，一個沉迷信佛，都不像是能撐得起場子的樣子。
再看兩人身邊帶着的孩子，宗政連鈞和宗政連星從衣着和行動上來看都顯得很低調，偶爾還會表現出怯懦的樣子，從進場到落座，始終規規矩矩，跟個提線木偶似的。
衆人都在議論，這兩孩子是被自己大哥的死吓着了，如今應當是怕皇位上那人怕得不行，唯恐自己太出挑，招來皇上注意。
只能說宗政逍不愧是踩着兄弟屍體登基的皇帝，現在連唯一跟他關系比較好的親人也避他如蛇蠍，親緣淡薄到這個份上，倒叫他成了真正的孤家寡人。
寧王一家像是沒察覺到周圍人的目光和議論，只是自顧自地低頭吃菜。
宗政逍到後，百官跪地行禮，高呼萬歲。
這宴席其實跟公司年會沒什麽區別，老大宗政逍總結今年的收獲，展望來年的成功，再跟幾個大臣互動幾句，賣一下君臣情深，緊接着就是吃菜喝酒，欣賞表演。
宗政逍也叫寧王起來，跟他說了幾句話，無外乎就是讓他照顧好身體，然後又賞了他一些東西。
對話平平淡淡，兩人的态度也平平淡淡，就是走個流程。
這下旁人對宗政逍和寧王早生出隔閡的消息又信了幾分，畢竟中間夾着兩條人命，地位又差距太大，破鏡重圓是不可能了。
原本因為這一年都在吃癟，看着宗政逍和他的人得意洋洋，心裏十分憋悶的世家，在瞧見這樣的畫面以後也不禁竊喜起來。
你看，你宗政逍也不能做到事事如意，所以在那裏得意個什麽呢？
一場晚宴在衆人各懷心思的情況下結束，回到王府後，忍了一晚上的宗政連星長出一口氣，懶懶地挂在哥哥身上，嘆氣：“好累，以後我都不想去這種宴會了，時時刻刻都得端着，一點也不自由。”
他本就是個跳脫的性子，今天出發前，父母和哥哥千叮咛萬囑咐他要乖一點慫一點，不要太張揚。
After entering the palace, his parents and brother seemed like different people. They went from being full of energy and smiles at home to being gloomy and depressed, which made him nervous too.
Princess Ning touched his head and said meaningfully: "The lack of freedom now is for the freedom in the future."
Zong Zheng Lianxing didn't understand: "What do you mean?"
"You will understand in the future." Princess Ning used her trick to fool the child again.
Zong Zheng Lian Xing was really unhappy when he heard this. He looked up at his brother, wanting him to explain it to him. But Zong Zheng Lian Jun said, "Mom is right. I will listen to her."
"Hmph, you guys never tell me anything. I'm going to ignore you." Zong Zheng Lianxing shook off his brother's hand, turned around and left angrily.
Princess Ning showed a distressed expression on her face, and Zong Zheng Lianjun hurriedly said, "Mother, you and father should rest first. I will go and explain to Xingxing."
After saying that, Zong Zheng Lianjun chased in the direction his brother left.