Chapter 107 Small White Fish Becomes Small Yellow Croaker
Her heart, which had been hanging in the air, finally settled down. Rong Yin could no longer hold on, her body softened, and she fell backwards into Zong Zheng Xiao's arms.
Zong Zhengxiao smeared everything in his hands on Rong Yin's waist and began to knead it like a massage.
After waking up, the anger from being teased surged up, Rong Yin turned around and glared at Zong Zheng Xiao: "Get out."
Zong Zhengxiao refused to give in, hugged Rong Yin tighter, and said coquettishly, "No, Ah Yin, please be kind and let me stay for a while, okay?"
Rong Yin was furious: "You just bullied me like that, and you still dare to ask me to be kind, Zong Zheng Xiao, you stinky hooligan!"
Zong Zhengxiao saw that he was so angry that his eyes were red, and it was obvious that he was really angry, so he quickly comforted him, "Ayin, don't be angry, I didn't mean to tease you, it was just a kind of interest, didn't you also taste the taste of it?"
Rong Yin wanted to refute, but when he recalled the moment he was released, when fear and taboo mixed with overwhelming desire attacked him wildly, he did feel a stimulation that was different from the ordinary way.
But Rong Yin quickly reacted and argued, "I enjoyed the fact that you teased me. There was no conflict between the two, so is there anything wrong with me being unhappy?"
"No problem, no problem." Zong Zhengxiao quickly comforted him, "Blame me, it's all my fault. I let you, Ayin, take revenge. Ayin, please forgive me and stop being angry with me, okay?"
Hearing what Zong Zhengxiao said, Rong Yin also felt that revenge would be a good way to vent her anger, so she turned her head and looked at him, "Don't regret it."
Zong Zheng Xiao heaved a sigh of relief: "I will never regret it."
There was still a chill wind outside the window, and the little tree was so tormented that it started to get a little angry.
The small tree used its branches to entangle one end of the strong cold wind, and the twigs moved and kneaded this end as it pleased, watching it jump and swell, as if it was playing with some interesting toy.
The cold wind wanted to struggle, but was ruthlessly suppressed by the small tree.
This end was filled with thick snow, and some of it would occasionally fly out while the branches were being played with, which actually added a bit of fun to the play of the little tree.
As the branches moved for longer and longer, this end of the cold wind had expanded to the point of exploding, and the snowflakes inside were also very dishonest, crashing wildly in an attempt to escape.
It was a pity that the branches firmly controlled the exit, and the snowflakes could only rage helplessly and return to torture the cold wind that trapped them.
Zong Zhengxiao forced out a plea from his throat: "Ayin, please spare me."
Rong Yin was concentrating on his studies and ignored Zong Zheng Xiao.
The cold wind's instinctive struggles became stronger and stronger, and it was about to get out of control. The little tree decided to stop while it was ahead, and after pressing hard through the exit, it witnessed with its own eyes the cold wind trembling and releasing the snowflakes that had been imprisoned for a long time.
The snowflakes were free and scrambled to escape. Some fell to the ground, some fell back on the cold wind, but more of them flew towards the small tree.
After recovering from the shock, Zong Zhengxiao pulled Rong Yin into his arms, face to face, kissed the dirt off his face, and then kissed him on the lips, sharing the fruits of his efforts with him.
"I didn't even know that Ayin's skills are so advanced now?" Zong Zhengxiao whispered softly in Rong Yin's ear in a low voice.
Rong Yin snorted, "After all, I've practiced for so many years. Even a fool would have learned it long ago."
Zong Zhengxiao suddenly laughed softly, and the vibration of his chest was transmitted to Rong Yin along the two people's tightly pressed skin.
Rong Yin was puzzled, "What are you laughing at?"
Zong Zhengxiao's eyes were full of smiles: "I was thinking, my little white fish has now turned into a little yellow croaker."
Rong Yin understood what he meant and said angrily, "Who did this?"
Zong Zhengxiao actively admitted his fault: "It's my fault, it's my fault. I'm such a bad person that I also brought bad luck to A Yin."
"You are quite self-aware." After Rong Yin finished speaking, he suddenly felt a pain in his waist. He hissed subconsciously, and then lay on Zong Zheng Xiao's shoulder without any hesitation.
"My waist is hurting. Please rub it for me." Rong Yin called Zong Zhengxiao naturally.
"Okay." Zong Zhengxiao agreed, his hand already on Rong Yin's waist.
Rong Yin enjoyed his service and gradually became sleepy. She said lazily, "I have been focusing on this matter since I came here. I even forgot to ask you, have you finished reviewing the memorials?"
Zong Zhengxiao glanced at the table and said honestly, "There are still some."
Hearing this, Rong Yin suddenly woke up from his doze. He pulled away Zong Zhengxiao's hand that was pressing on his waist, stood up and got off his legs, picked up the outer robe on the ground beside him, and put it on while saying, "Then you continue to criticize, I'll wait for you, we'll go back and rest together."
After changing clothes, Rong Yin sat down next to Zong Zheng Xiao, picked up a book and slowly read it, like a well-behaved cat, and did not disturb Zong Zheng Xiao again.
With him by his side, Zong Zhengxiao felt very comfortable. Thinking about taking Rong Yin back to the room to rest early, his work efficiency improved more than a little.
Half an hour later, Zong Zhengxiao put down his red brush, put away the last memorial, turned around, picked up Rong Yin, let him sit in the crook of his arms, and took him out of the study.
Si Xi was always paying attention to the movements inside. When he heard the footsteps, he stood still. When the two came out, he hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the hot water in the bath is ready."
Zong Zheng Xiao hummed, and after carrying Rong Yin to clean her up, the two of them fell asleep in each other's arms.
Not long after, the Cui family, having recovered from their grief, held a funeral for Cui Xin.
Because the body could not be found, they could only build a cenotaph. I don't know whether it was out of pity for Cui Xin and wanted him to pass away in a dignified manner, or whether the Cui family just liked grand ceremonies, but in any case, the scale of Cui Xin's funeral was extraordinarily grand.
The coffin was of the highest specification that the aristocratic class could use. They invited many masters from Buddhist temples to chant sutras for three days and three nights just to pray for the soul of their son who died in a foreign land. On the day of the funeral, the procession filled the entire street, and paper money fell like snowflakes, even more than at the Chen family back then.
It was quite a coincidence that the funerals of Chen Ershao and Cui Xin were held only a few days apart. It must be said that they were indeed destined to be together, but it was an ill-fated one.
When Cui Xin was buried, Cui Ershao, as the elder brother, had to go and carry the coffin whether he was willing or not.
Looking at the paper money flying all over the sky, he wondered quietly in his heart, I wonder what kind of funeral I will have when I die?
If the head of the Cui family discovered his true identity, I am afraid he would not even be willing to buy a coffin board, but would just wrap him in a roll of cool mats and throw him on the grave.
But it doesn't matter if he is a wandering ghost. At least he is free. He doesn't have to be trapped in this family even after death and can't escape even if he wants to.
While the Cui family was wailing and attending the funeral, the Chen family was celebrating behind closed doors. The eldest and third sons of the Chen family were drinking and laughing until tears came out.
"In a few days it will be the anniversary of the death of the second brother. Let's go together and tell him the good news. We are not cowards. We have avenged him."
Mr. Chen was holding the wine glass with his hands shaking.
Third Master Chen shed tears, but the corners of his lips were raised: "The Cui family has also experienced the pain of a loved one's death unjustly. Karma and retribution are inevitable. This is what the Cui family deserves."
The brothers expressed their joy outwardly, while Mr. Chen and Mrs. Chen were more reserved.
The head of the Chen family wrote in the study for several hours, and he was extremely satisfied with every word he wrote. Mrs. Chen, who had been ill all day since the death of her son, drank an extra bowl of soup at dinner today.
The entire Chen family was immersed in the joy of successfully taking revenge without the other party knowing the truth.
During the New Year's Eve, the Chen family, unlike the sad silence of previous years, not only visited relatives everywhere with smiles on their faces, but also specially invited a troupe of actors to perform at their home, which formed a sharp contrast with the bleakness of the Cui family.
By the beginning of the following spring, the lives of the people in the disaster-stricken areas in the south had returned to normal, and the tragedy in Anchang County had gradually faded from people's sight. The Chen family withdrew their troops from the south, secretly rejoicing that they had assassinated Cui Xin without anyone noticing, but an accident occurred.
On this day, a steward who was most trusted by the Cui family had just finished checking the accounts of a store and was about to get on a carriage to go to the next store when a dark shadow suddenly rushed out from behind him like a cow and bumped into him directly.
The steward and the black shadow fell to the ground together.
The servant following the steward cried out in surprise, then hurried forward and pulled away the "thing" that was pressing on him.
At this point, everyone realized that the person who knocked the manager down was an individual, or to be more precise, a male beggar.
Because this man was ragged, skinny, his face was so dirty that his original appearance could not be seen, and he had a lame leg. He did not look like a normal person at all.
The steward was helped up by the servant. He was grimacing in pain and was about to ask the servant to beat up the ignorant beggar. But the beggar suddenly said, "I have a plan. Steward Cui, do you remember me?"
When these words were spoken, the steward was stunned on the spot. He stared at the beggar in shock, as if he could see through his face.
"You are..." The manager started speaking subconsciously, but halfway through his words he suddenly realized the seriousness of the matter.
He no longer felt any pain, and he didn't mind the beggar's filthiness. He grabbed the beggar's hand and took him to the carriage, shouting to the driver, "Go home, right now, right now!"
The beggar was brought back to the Cui Mansion, and before he could even tidy up his appearance, the steward brought him before the head of the Cui family.
The hermit has his own tricks - this is one of the code words used by Cui family guards to verify their identities, and only the few guards who were sent to protect Cui Xin that year would use this sentence.
That's why Manager Cui was so shocked after hearing the beggar's words, because they all thought that those guards had died in the flood along with Cui Xin.
On the way back, Manager Cui already knew which guard the beggar was, but the beggar refused to mention the truth about Cui Xin's death, saying that he would only speak after meeting the head of the Cui family.
In the study, wisps of white smoke rose from the incense burner, and the expensive spices exuded a light and charming fragrance.
這本是崔家主最喜歡最常點的香，可在聽完護衛所言後，他直接氣得砸出一方硯臺，硯臺恰好撞倒了香爐，香爐滾落，香灰撒了滿地。
可這會兒卻沒人顧及這些，管事和護衛都被崔家主憤怒的表情吓得低下了頭顱。
當初崔炘被暗殺，護衛在拼殺時重傷昏死過去，那些刺客檢查得并不仔細，以為他也已經死了，這才讓他逃過一劫。
護衛醒來時洪水已經爆發，他抓住一根浮木，在水上漂流了好幾天，最後幸運地被一個小村子裏的人救了下來。
出于警惕，護衛沒敢說自己是桉常縣洪災的幸存者，而是随便說了個附近的地名，當時爆發洪災的也不止桉常縣一個地方。
村人良善，沒有懷疑他的說辭，護衛用自己随身的銀兩雇傭村人照顧自己，直到去年年末，他的傷勢才有所好轉。
他害怕那些刺客發現，便直到開春，才裝作乞丐，一路流浪到了京城，最後在崔家鋪子門口，攔下了崔管事。
崔家主克制着怒氣，看向護衛：“你是說，那些刺客動手前，曾跟炘兒說過，這是血債血償？”
護衛跪在地上，哆嗦着道：“小的以性命發誓，這便是他們的原話。”
崔家主把拳頭攥得咯吱響，閉眸沉思了半晌，忽然怒極反笑：“好一個血債血償，倒是我小看你陳家了。”
為什麽崔家主現在就能确認刺客是陳家派去的？因為近些年跟崔家有人命債，且有能力刺殺崔炘的，也就只有一個陳家。
當初他就知道，陳家篤定殺害陳二少的就是崔家人，可這些年陳家一直沒什麽大動作，他就以為是陳家怕了他崔家，這才忍氣吞聲不敢報仇。
可他萬萬沒想到，陳家不是不敢複仇，而是抱着血債血償的念頭苦苦隐忍，伺機尋找機會，想要給崔家致命一擊。
而他們也确實是成功了。
崔炘一死，不就是要了崔家半條命。
崔家主深呼吸一口氣，因為悲傷和憤怒，他的眼眶已經紅了。
他吩咐管事：“給我查，陳家能知道炘兒的行蹤，肯定是有崔家人通風報信，我一定要将這個叛徒碎屍萬段！”
管事哆哆嗦嗦地應下，帶着護衛離開了，沒過一會兒，崔家主也走了。
仆人進來打掃，一個婢女扶起香爐，将地上和爐內的香灰都清理幹淨，又重新将香點了起來。
崔府的下人分工明确，這個婢女是專門負責管理崔家主書房的香爐的，是以盡管她忙前忙後，也沒人來幫助她，全程就只有她一個人碰到了香爐和香灰。
崔府西邊的院子內，崔二少獨自一人靠在寝屋的軟榻上小憩。
或許是已經隐約覺察到了風雨欲來，他這一覺睡得極不安穩，夢裏都是些光怪陸離的東西，他還夢見了他的弟弟崔炘。
崔炘對他說：“哥，你馬上就要下來陪我了！”
“咚咚！”敲門聲響起，崔二少從夢中驚醒，額頭上滿是冷汗。
“少爺，您醒了嗎？”
外面是他的貼身小厮，如果不是急事，知道自己脾氣的他，不會大膽到打擾他休息。
崔二少想起剛才的夢，似有所感，啞聲叫小厮進來。
小厮推開門，神色匆忙地道：“家主的院子那邊傳來了消息……”
小厮快速說完崔家主書房裏發生的事情，知道自己死期将至，崔二少臉上卻不見一絲慌張和恐懼，也沒有起過任何想要逃走的念頭。
他等這一天已經等了很久了。
他淡定問小厮：“你的嘴，應該夠嚴實吧？”
小厮聞言，立即就跪了下來，誠懇地道：“當初是二少爺您大發慈悲，從人牙子手裏選中了小人，小人一家才能有機會活下去，小人這條命都是二少爺您的，小人定會誓死追随您。”
崔二少俯身，拍了拍他的肩膀，道：“趁着還有時間，去跟家裏人告個別吧。”
小厮身體一僵，明白了崔二少的意思，砰砰磕了兩個響頭以後，就退出了房間。
崔二少走到窗邊，看着院裏發出新芽的小草，很輕很輕地笑了笑：“小弟啊小弟，終究還是我贏了。”
無論是害他的大哥，取代他的小弟，還是漠視他的崔家主，他們全都敗在了他的報複之下。
“我才是真正的崔家繼承人，我才是……”
這聲極輕的呢喃，一點點随着春風消逝，最後也只有崔二少一個人聽見。
兩天後，崔二少曾經的所作所為以及相關的證據全都擺到了崔家主面前，而管事之所以能那麽快那麽順利就查到這些，也是因為崔二少那邊不再隐瞞。
不然管事大概率會像之前一樣，每次調查崔二少都會撲空。
到了這個時候，崔二少都還在跟崔家主較量。
不是我輸給了你，而是我不屑再跟你鬥了。
崔家主的神情看不出喜怒，香煙缭繞中，他冷着聲音對管事道：“去給我把那個逆子帶來。”
管事點頭應是。
結果他氣勢洶洶地去，卻是驚慌失措地回。
管事臉色慘白地沖進書房裏，眼睛瞪得像是要爆出眼眶，顫聲道：“老爺，二少爺他服毒自盡了！”
崔家主聞言，只覺得耳中嗡嗡作響，連管事後來又說了什麽，他也聽不清了。
崔二少帶着他的小厮服了毒酒，一起死在了房間裏，而酒裏的那種毒藥，曾經也毒殺過陳二少。
崔二少這人，連死亡都充斥着挑釁嘲諷的意味。
他所做的一切，都只為了報複崔家，拖着崔家和他一起下地獄。
崔家主應了兒子的挑釁，直到崔二少被匆忙下葬，崔家主都沒有去看過他一眼。
崔二少是崔家的罪人，但家醜不可外揚，特別還是他們這種世家。
所以盡管惱怒，崔家還是給崔二少辦了一個合格的葬禮，也将其葬進了崔家的祖墳，只不過是在一個清冷的邊角，離祖墳中心遠之又遠。
對外界，崔家公布崔二少是急病暴斃而亡。
一連死了兩個嫡子，不知情的人都在感嘆崔家真是流連不利，而知情的人卻早已流露出惶恐的神情，因為崔家的複仇，即将如狂風暴雨般襲來。
陳家在崔家是留有耳目的，雖然只是個粗使的下人，但他也打聽到了，崔家主再見到某個人後大發雷霆，接着派管事去調查了什麽，再然後就是崔二少服毒自盡。
收到消息後，陳家主很快就理清的事情的經過。
崔炘的行蹤是崔二少透露給他們的，陳二少是崔二少殺的，從某種程度上來說，他們都只是崔二少報複崔家的棋子。
這麽多年了，他們陳家自始至終都被崔家壓一頭，最後甚至淪為了崔家一個孩子的複仇工具。
陳家主凄然一笑，心裏情緒複雜到了極點。
宗政逍在崔家也有眼線，是以當護衛踏進崔府大門的那一刻，他就預料到了後面會發生什麽。
他跟戎音說了崔二少已經服毒而亡後，戎音蹙眉，神情厭惡，“他這是沒膽子面對家人的審判，提前送自己下了地獄，他死了倒是一了百了，可他犯下的那些罪孽，又由誰去償還？”
崔二少墜馬後發瘋，行徑比李傲還要惡劣數倍，死在他手上的無辜者不計其數，但他卻死得輕巧，并沒有像李傲一樣身敗名裂，讓所有人都知道他其實是個罪人。
宗政逍從背後抱住戎音，安撫道：“他死了，可崔家還在，等到崔家也倒下的那一刻，他們所有的罪惡都會暴露于陽光下，接受世人的唾罵和審判，無辜者也能得以申冤。”
戎音轉身，緊緊回抱住宗政逍，低聲卻語氣堅定地道：“我期待那一天的到來。”
崔炘的死亡真相被揭開，崔陳兩家的戰鬥正式拉開帷幕。
宗政逍穩坐高臺之上，看着兩頭原本對他虎視眈眈的野狗為了自身利益互相撕咬，鮮血碎肉濺了滿地，波及的人數一再增加，像是要将整個京城的天都給颠覆了。
崔家主本以為都是外敵在作祟，但沒想到真正的主謀卻是自己家裏人，這種被親人背刺的痛苦占滿他的心髒，勾起了他的怒火，讓他失去了所有冷靜。
崔二少自殺，讓崔家主一腔怒火無處發洩，只能将矛頭轉向陳家。
崔家主自我催眠，他想如果陳家之前沒有起過跟崔家作對的心，崔二少就不會趁機殺了陳二少，挑起兩家的仇恨，最後害死他的愛子崔炘。
這一切禍端的源頭都是陳家，他們罪該萬死。
是以崔家主即便知道兩家相鬥，最後得益的只有宗政逍，他也沒有絲毫忍耐的意思，複仇的利刃直接斬向了陳家，沒有任何的猶豫。
兩個世家相争，其它小世家無法獨善其身，只能被迫站隊。
而但凡腦子清醒的，都知道陳家絕對鬥不過崔家，于是即便原來是陳家那邊的人，也紛紛轉投崔家，生怕晚一秒，就會被崔家當成陳家同夥給滅了。
The Cui family is a prominent family, and this move was a major move that could disrupt the officialdom in the capital, and rumors about the Chen family soon spread.
The Chen family and their allies were corrupt and accepted bribes, and created many false and wrongful cases.
Because of a political disagreement, Master Chen beat to death a sixth-rank official from a poor family after getting drunk. He then used his power to intimidate the official's family not to report the incident to the authorities and concealed the official's real cause of death.
In order to compete with a wealthy businessman from another place for business, Chen Sanshao forced local officials to accuse the businessman of false charges and put him in jail. In the end, the businessman went bankrupt, his wife and children left him, and he jumped into the river and died in despair.
And this is not an isolated case. Young Master Chen has done such a big business over the years, and there are countless deaths on his hands.
There is solid evidence for each and every one of these things, and the Cui family has made all the necessary preparations.
Memorials impeaching the Chen family and their allies filled Zong Zhengxiao's desk, and every word in the memorials was aimed at bringing down the Chen family.
The Cui family's attack is fierce, and the Chen family dare not show weakness. If my Chen family is not clean, your Cui family will not be much better.
If you release the charges and evidence, my Chen family will also release them.