Chapter 098 The dissolute Zong Zhengxiao

Rong Yin was stunned for a moment before he understood what Lu'e meant. He said that when he went out this morning, Zong Zhengxiao kept stopping him and didn't allow him to look in the mirror. It turned out that it was because he had played a prank.

But the two of them clearly didn't do anything last night. Could it be that Zong Zhengxiao secretly left the kiss mark in the middle of the night?

Rong Yin was speechless. Her husband could be really stingy sometimes.

Rong Yin had a look of despair on his face: "A lot?"

Lu'e said, "There is only one spot, but it is very obvious."

Rong Yin gritted her teeth and said, "I'll deal with him when I get back."

Lu'e thought to herself that the Emperor would be in trouble when she returned home that night.

Rong Yin walked back and forth between several stores, and finally someone couldn't help but tease, "Boss Rong, your man at home is very possessive. He was afraid that you would be noticed by others when you went out, so he left a mark on you."

The customers only knew that the bakery owner's surname was Rong and that he had some relationship with the emperor, but they didn't know that he was actually the legendary mermaid in the palace. They probably thought that his other half was a woman.

A female guest continued: "If my husband is as handsome as Mr. Rong, I'm also afraid that he will be noticed by others."

"Hahahaha, that's exactly the truth."

"Who wouldn't like this godlike Boss Rong?"

Faced with the guests' teasing, Rong Yin could only respond with a smile helplessly.

After returning to the palace, Rong Yin went to settle the score with Zong Zhengxiao first.

He snatched the red pen that Zong Zhengxiao used to review memorials, stared at him fiercely and questioned: "Why did you leave a kiss mark on my neck? Do you know how embarrassed I am today? So many people saw it!"

Zong Zhengxiao said calmly: "How can I be embarrassed? This is proof of my love for you."

"Nonsense." Rong Yin said, "If you have the guts, let me leave you a few kiss marks. Then we'll see how you can face the civil and military officials."

Zong Zhengxiao tilted his head, exposing his neck, and invited, "Come on, Yin, print a few more, preferably all of them."

Rong Yin looked at him and said, "Do you really not care or are you just pretending not to care? Aren't you afraid that the censors will scold you for losing the dignity of an emperor and being excessively licentious?"

Zong Zheng Xiao laughed: "I really want to see which censor is so bold that he can even care about the kiss mark on the emperor's neck."

Rong Yin: "...You are the king of heaven, you are amazing, okay?"

Zong Zhengxiao kept his neck tilted and asked, "Then will you still kiss me, Ayin?"

"Of course, I wouldn't be a gentleman if I don't take revenge!" Rong Yin rushed forward and bit Zong Zheng Xiao's neck, even though he knew that this was not revenge for Zong Zheng Xiao but a reward instead.

But he just wanted to give others a taste of their own medicine, and he could also take the opportunity to do whatever he wanted to Zong Zheng Xiao, which actually felt pretty good.

So when the two of them came out of the study, every palace official who passed by saw the red marks on Zong Zhengxiao's neck that spread from his collar, and they could tell at a glance how fiercely Rong Yin's kiss had been.

The palace servants couldn't help but sigh: It's a good thing that the two masters are in love, but it's hard for them who are still single.

The next day, Zong Zheng Xiao really went to court with a neck full of kiss marks, which left the officials speechless. However, since this was Zong Zheng Xiao's private matter, they couldn't say anything. They could only secretly complain about Zong Zheng Xiao's dissolute behavior.

As Zong Zhengxiao expected, none of the officials stood up to speak.

Although dying for one's advice was the greatest honor for a censor, no censor wanted to be recorded in history books as being killed by the emperor because he scolded the emperor for going to court with a kiss mark on his face. This would not be remembered forever, but would instead be a laughing stock.

The censors also give advice based on the event and the occasion.

Spring has gone and summer has come. This summer the temperature is higher than last year. The ice cream and milk tea businesses have hit new highs. On the contrary, the hot pot restaurant business has entered the off-season. Rong Yin simply closed the store and dispersed the hot pot restaurant employees to work as temporary workers in several stores with good business.

Whether you are an employee of the bakery or the papermaking workshop, you will have benefits in the summer. Not only will you get a bowl of free edible ice every day, but you can also get a discount coupon from the milk tea shop every month, which means you can buy two cups of milk tea with the price of one cup.

Such good benefits make some people jealous.

The female workers who joined the paper-making workshop last year have not encountered any major problems so far. Instead, they bring money home every day and keep their families white and plump.

Tian Xiaocui's milk tea discount coupons are basically for family members. For the villagers, milk tea is a high-end sweet drink. No matter whether they are men, women, young or old, everyone loves it.

Every time she went home, she would bring a portion for her family. No matter if it was her grandparents, her husband or her daughter, everyone could have a drink without any favoritism.

At first, the two old people were reluctant to drink it, saying that they were old and didn’t like these things, and that they could just buy it for Juan’er.

But the younger generations had no idea whether they liked it or not. After Juan'er's coquettish and reasonable persuasion, the two old people finally agreed to eat the same thing as the children.

Now Juan'er is the king of children in the village. She can read and write. Her family bought two acres of good farmland this year. Her mother still works in the paper mill and brings her delicious and fun things every now and then.

The children played with her and occasionally got some snacks and candies.

Not only the children, but the Zhao family is now like "stars" in the village. Anyone who sees his family will greet them happily, and they all hope that when the papermaking workshop recruits workers again, Tian Xiaocui will bring them to enjoy the good life.

In previous years, Rong Yin, who was afraid of heat, would not like to leave the palace in midsummer. But this year was different. Even in the high temperature, he would go out of the palace from time to time.

And the destination was not the store, but Qingqiu Pavilion where Ningyue was.

Zong Zhengxiao knew that he was still learning that mysterious thing, so he didn't stop him. He just told him that he planned to take Rong Yin to live in the summer palace for a few months this year, and reminded him that if he hadn't finished learning yet, he should hurry up.

The emperor was leaving the capital for the temporary palace, and the various arrangements involved would definitely take a lot of time. Rong Yin calculated carefully and decided that he would have enough time before leaving.

But just setting out on the expedition was not enough, Rong Yin had to prepare props. This time he went out of the palace himself to find someone to prepare them. He did not allow the guards who were protecting him to follow him, nor did he allow them to report his whereabouts to Zong Zheng Xiao.

The guards had to obey Rong Yin's orders, and seeing that Rong Yin was not doing anything bad, the guards kept their mouths shut.

Of the officials who went to the palace with Zong Zhengxiao this time, half were from aristocratic families and half were from meritorious officials. The Ning Wang family, which had been silent all these years, was also in the queue. To outsiders, this family's attitude towards Zong Zhengxiao was still mostly fear and resentment, and they did not have the closeness of a family at all.

Rong Yin cannot stay away from the water for too long, especially in summer, so Zong Zhengxiao tried his best to dress simply when traveling, hoping to reach the palace as soon as possible.

However, he was the emperor, and the number of his followers could not be too small, so it took them three full days to reach the summer palace.

During these three days, Rong Yin basically stayed in the carriage except for taking a walk, which made him feel suffocated.

When he arrived at the palace, he looked listless, like a useless fish.

The only thing to be thankful for is that he didn't suffer from motion sickness, otherwise the process of rushing would have been even more uncomfortable.

He forced himself to take a cold shower to soak his body with water, then fell into a deep sleep holding Zong Zheng Xiao. He fell asleep in the evening of the first day and woke up in the afternoon of the second day.

After washing up, the two sat at the dining table to eat.

Lu'e was afraid that Rong Yin had no appetite, so she asked the kitchen to make him his favorite cold noodles. After eating the spicy food, Rong Yin's appetite was opened, and he was able to stuff other food into his stomach.

Dessert after dinner was a bowl of ice cream.

There was a big lake in front of the palace where they lived. There were green trees nearby. At night, when the sun was gone and the evening breeze blew, it was cooler than mid-autumn.

Rong Yin and Zong Zhengxiao sat together on the recliner, one holding a bowl of ice cream and the other holding a glass of iced sour plum soup.

A cool breeze blew past, ruffling the strands of hair on Rong Yin's forehead. He swallowed the ice cream in his mouth, closed his eyes, and took a long breath.

“This is the life people should live.”

Zong Zhengxiao took a sip of sour plum soup and asked casually, "Ayin, it shouldn't be that hot where you are."

Rong Yin didn't notice anything wrong with his tone and answered honestly, "It's hot too. It's not so bad in the countryside, but in the city, where buildings are densely packed and green, it's like a big steamer in the summer. Without fans and air conditioning, you can't survive. There are also elderly people and children who can't stand it and die of the heat."

"Ayin, do you have an air-conditioning fan for summer?"

"Yes, but both of these things stay in fixed places, so most of the time it's still very hot and unbearable."

Zong Zhengxiao breathed a sigh of relief: "So relatively speaking, it's not bad here. At least if you want, you can stay in the water every day and sleep with ice in your arms without worrying about being killed by the heat."

After hearing this, Rong Yin finally realized something was wrong.

He suddenly turned around and looked at Zong Zheng Xiao. Zong Zheng Xiao didn't react in time, and he saw the cautiousness and a little bit of secret joy on his face.

"Zong Zheng Xiao." Rong Yin called his name.

Zong Zheng Xiao hummed, and his heartbeat suddenly quickened, like a child who had done something wrong and was caught by an adult.

"I have no regrets for choosing to stay before, and I won't regret it now or in the future. You have given me more than enough good things, so don't worry that I will feel dissatisfied and leave you."

Zong Zhengxiao raised the corners of his lips and smiled very reluctantly: "Sorry, my acting skills are never good enough in front of you, Ayin."

Rong Yin put down the ice cream bowl, stood up and walked over to sit on Zong Zheng Xiao's legs, holding Zong Zheng Xiao's face, and said seriously: "You are Zong Zheng Xiao, the most supreme man in Da Sheng. Unless I am blind, how could I give up such a good person like you, so be confident, I will never be willing to leave you."

宗政逍也将杯子放到桌上，擡手抱住戎音的腰，把臉埋進他懷裏，悶聲道：“阿音，沒有一個人在愛人面前，會覺得自己是完美無缺的，而且我确實給不了你完美的生活，你在現代擁有的許多東西，我都給不了你。”

戎音回抱住他，輕聲道：“這世上沒有十全十美的事兒，得到了什麽，就注定會失去什麽，我放棄了現代的高科技生活，但我擁有了一個恩愛的戀人，自己的事業，以及一群志趣相投的朋友，這都是從前的我不曾擁有的，說起來還是我得了更多的好處，所以我沒有什麽可後悔的。”

宗政逍擡起頭，對上戎音清澈的眼眸，忍不住壓低戎音的後頸，輕輕吻住了他的唇瓣。

這個吻就如今晚的夜風，溫柔細膩，使人心曠神怡。

宗政逍貼着戎音的臉，低聲道：“抱歉，我不該提起這些讓人喪氣的話題，害得你也跟着我一起不高興。”

戎音用力蹭了蹭他的臉，元氣滿滿地道：“有什麽可道歉的，誰還沒個傷春悲秋的時候了，我以前覺得我這種沒什麽用，單純用來充數的人就不該降生在世界上，還起過自殺的念頭，現在不也還好好活着嘛。”

宗政逍想起戎音穿越前的經歷，心裏跟針紮似的疼，他道：“我們阿音才不是充數的，你是這個世界不可或缺的一部分，如果沒有你，我可能早跟原書裏寫的一樣英年早逝了。”

戎音點頭，道：“嗯，我以前的想法是錯的，每個人來到世上都有自己的使命，比如我，就是為了能遇見陛下你。”

宗政逍道：“我是使命，亦是遇見你，愛上你，守護你。”

兩人對視，情到濃時，又相擁着吻在一起。

月光清透，繁星閃耀，夜幕下的愛人嘴唇貼合，心跳也逐漸同頻。

此生有你，便不負來這世上走一遭。

行宮的湖泊占地面積極廣，第二天用過早點，戎音就迫不及待拉着宗政逍登上游船，欣賞湖面的風景。

今天的陽光依舊刺眼，但湖面有風，人又是坐在船裏，所以戎音并不覺得有多熱，反正比在京城裏涼快多了。

戎音喝着冰奶茶，趴在圍欄上吹風，再時不時張嘴接過宗政逍喂的點心，有吃有喝還曬不着，簡直是舒坦得不能再舒坦了。

肚子飽了，戎音又開始跟宗政逍下棋，當然下的是五子棋，對于圍棋，戎音屬于一竅不通。

但就是最簡單的五子棋，戎音都鬥不過宗政逍，五把他能輸四把，唯一贏的那次還是宗政逍故意放水的。

戎音苦悶：“你們這些玩計謀的，走一步恨不得要看十步，誰能玩得過你們。”

宗政逍很是理解他的不高興，道：“那阿音想玩其它什麽游戲嗎？我陪你玩。”

戎音想了想，道：“那來玩手心打手背吧。”

宗政逍應和道：“好啊。”

十分鐘後。

“我不玩了。”戎音捂着被拍紅的手背，再一次輸得徹底。

宗政逍尴尬地輕咳一聲，他真不是故意的，主要是他不認真玩就會被戎音發現，戎音不準他放水，要他必須發揮真正的實力。

然後就成現在這樣了。

宗政逍牽過戎音的手，給他吹了吹，道：“我不應該下手那麽重的，我們阿音很疼嗎？”

戎音有點不好意思：“其實也沒那麽疼，而且我打你也打得挺用力的。”

宗政逍的手背也紅了一片，只是他皮膚沒戎音白，所以不怎麽明顯。

“我皮糙肉厚，不疼。”宗政逍安慰戎音。

“那我也不疼，我剛才是故意表現得很誇張的。”

兩人你一言我一語，很快就把戎音輸游戲的不愉快一掃而空。

戎音閑來無事，就靠在宗政逍懷裏給他唱情歌聽，歌詞不是情就是愛，直白露骨，不見半分文雅，在這個時代的人聽來，跟淫詞豔曲也沒什麽區別了。

但偏生戎音有一把好嗓子，能把口水歌唱出不一樣的味道，讓人很容易忽視掉那些膚淺的歌詞。

今天來游湖的不止他倆，世家的，功臣集團的，甚至是宗政連祺和宗政連星兩兄弟，也坐了條小船跟在宗政逍的大船附近。

戎音的歌聲随着清風傳向四周，世家的人痛批戎音唱這些不正經的曲子，簡直是污了他們的耳朵。

功臣集團的人反而很是欣賞，他們這些大老粗，就喜歡這種豪邁直接的示愛，更何況還有戎音歌聲的加持，這讓本就對戎音尊敬有加的他們，是越發地崇拜戎音這個人了。

不止長得俊美，會做生意，唱歌還那麽好聽。

作為宗政逍的伴侶，好像除了不會生孩子，戎音就沒有什麽缺點了。

不過這也不是缺點，畢竟他的男的，本來就沒有生育能力。

但宗政逍身為帝王，總不能一直不娶妻生子，一個國家沒有繼承人，很容易引發社稷不穩定，可宗政逍現在只愛戎音一個人，真不知道他們未來打算怎麽辦。

功臣集團表示很擔憂。

“原來鲛人的歌聲真的有如天籁啊。”

小船裏，宗政連星捧着臉，認真聆聽着戎音的歌聲，忍不住發出這樣的感嘆。

宗政連均喝了口涼茶，道：“這就是鲛人的珍貴之處，不然他也不會被景王千裏迢迢送來京城，還為本該被賜死的景王獲得了一線生機。”

宗政連星道：“要是誰能送我一個鲛人，我也能原諒他犯下的所有錯。”

宗政連均好笑：“咱們也只能想想了，畢竟不是誰都能當上皇帝，也不是誰都能如陛下這般好運，你看之前的帝王，有誰擁有過鲛人嗎？”

宗政連星郁悶嘆氣：“陛下果真是天龍之子，無論是能力還是運氣都是一頂一的，咱們這些凡夫俗子，哪裏比得上。”

宗政連均安慰他：“又何必非要跟陛下比呢，我們雖然養不起鲛人，但擁有別人羨慕的家世、溫暖的家人，甚至連陛下也對我們照顧有加，知足才能常樂。”

宗政連星無奈嘆氣：“哥，你說話怎麽越來越像夫子了？總愛講些大道理。”

“有嗎？”宗政連均不覺得弟弟這麽說他是冒犯，反而笑道：“能有夫子半分風采，就已經是我的幸運了。”

宗政連星一臉受不了的表情。

下午天邊飄過來幾朵雲，暫時擋住了烈日，宗政逍和戎音游完湖，又去山林裏閑逛。

這裏的山林都是原來的野山林，裏面有不少成熟的野果，宗政逍确定能吃後就給戎音摘了一堆，放進布袋裏，讓他自己提着吃。

走到一座亭子附近，兩人正準備過去歇會兒腳，到了才發現那裏已經有人了。

正是提前下船的宗政連均兄弟倆。

見宗政逍過來，兩人連忙起身行禮，宗政逍擡手示意他們不必多禮，然後問：“介不介意我們也在這裏歇會兒？”

宗政連均趕緊道：“整座行宮都是陛下的，我們不過是客人罷了，哪用得着問我們意見，陛下快請坐。”

宗政逍道：“終究得有個先來後到，朕又不是不講理的惡霸。”

宗政連均微笑道：“陛下自然是通情達理的。”

幾人一起走進亭子，戎音看看應對自如的宗政連均，再看看悄悄縮在哥哥背後，努力降低自己的存在感的宗政連星，他不得不感嘆，宗政逍選人的眼光果然沒錯。

宮人們迅速擺上茶水點心，戎音把那一兜子野果也放了上去，笑吟吟地道：“這是剛才陛下親手摘的野果，味道不錯，你們倆嘗嘗。”

說着，怕他們不好意思拿，戎音自己抓起兩把塞給了他倆。

宗政連均驚訝了一瞬，不過很快就收斂起表情，邊道謝邊接過果子，而宗政連星則是看了哥哥一眼，得到他的同意後，才怯怯地把果子捧進手裏。

“路途奔波勞累，寧王和寧王妃可有身體不适？”宗政連均看着宗政連祺詢問。

宗政連均道：“謝陛下關心，母親長時間沒有趕遠路了，有些不舒服，大夫看過以後開了幾服安神的藥，說是很快就能好了，父親倒是沒什麽問題，就是怕母親覺得孤單，就留在院子裏陪她，沒有同我們出來游玩。”

宗政逍道：“你們逛完了，要是覺得哪個地方不錯，等你母親病好了，可以再帶他們過來看看。”

宗政連星聽到這裏，下意識插了句嘴：“我和哥哥就是這麽想的。”

他話說完，才反應過來自己不該多嘴，立時就緊張地看向了宗政逍，像是怕他生氣。

盡管知道宗政逍對寧王府沒惡意，甚至還打算培養自己哥哥當太子，但宗政逍長時間身居高位，早造就了一身上位者不怒自威的氣勢，再加上宗政連星平時很少能見到他，自然避免不了對他有畏懼心理。

像是知道宗政連星的想法，宗政逍笑了笑，道：“你們兄弟倆考慮得很周全，寧王和寧王妃知道你們的用心，一定會很高興。”

Seeing Zong Zheng Xiao smiling so approachably, Zong Zheng Lianxing gradually let down his guard and raised the corners of his lips towards him.

Rong Yin laughed in her heart: The elder brother is smart and clever, while the younger brother is a little silly.

Zong Zhengxiao held Rong Yin's hand under the table and stroked it gently.

Rong Yin saw Zong Zheng Lianjun peel the wild fruit before passing the flesh to his younger brother, and the younger brother took it very naturally, as if he was used to his brother's meticulous care.

Rong Yin: It turns out that this innocence was spoiled by the elder brother. I think the cunningness of the Ning Wang family was probably inherited from the Ning Wang’s father, his wife and the second son. The third son and the eldest son are both straightforward and innocent, without any scheming.

Zong Zhengxiao tapped Rong Yin's hand, agreeing with what he said.

When Zong Zheng Xiao saw Zong Zheng Lianjun peeling fruit for his brother, he did not want to be outdone, so he grabbed a handful of fruit and started peeling it for Rong Yin.

Moreover, his behavior was even more excessive than Zong Zheng Lianjun's. Zong Zheng Lianjun at least peeled the flesh and let his brother eat it himself, but he directly fed it into Rong Yin's mouth.

Rong Yin: “…”

Rong Yin: Your Majesty, I actually prefer to eat the unpeeled ones.