Chapter 108 No Biting the Neck
Are the officials of the Chen family not clean? The officials of your Cui family are the same, they are good at corruption and bribery, and they also form cliques for personal gain and oppose the emperor every day.
Was it really because the quality of the paper that your Cui family was able to occupy most of the market in Dasheng that you relied on it? It was because all other paper-making families were persecuted and bought off by you. The Chen family still has the evidence of your persecution of them.
The Cui and Chen families presented charges and evidence, and Zong Zhengxiao had no choice but to investigate, so he could only let his own people verify the situation.
But verification also takes time, so during this period, the Cui and Chen families were quarreling in the court and competing in the business world. Today you smash my place, and tomorrow I will put you in a sack. The noise was more lively than a play.
When Rong Yin went to talk to Ning Yue with a small cake, he found that Qingqiu Pavilion's business was very slow. The girls gathered together to drink tea and chat, and even the boss was so idle that he dozed off in the rocking chair in broad daylight.
Rong Yin seemed to be the first customer of the day. As he was usually kind, the girls had a good impression of him. As soon as he stepped into the door, the girls greeted him with a smile.
"Boss Rong, you haven't been here for a long time."
"I was busy some time ago."
"Then you must take good care of yourself."
"Thank you girls for your concern. It's a bit cold these days, so be careful not to get caught in the cold wind."
"Sister Ningyue is upstairs. There are no customers recently. She is always available to see you."
"Okay, thanks for the reminder. Come to my place for afternoon tea when you are free."
"Okay."
The boss was sleeping soundly and didn't wake up even after Rong Yin went upstairs. The girls wanted to wake her up to entertain Rong Yin, but Rong Yin stopped them with a wave of his hand.
Ningyue's maid heard the noise on the second floor. As soon as Rongyin came up, she came over and greeted Rongyin happily.
Rong Yin handed her the small cake she had brought and told her to go and have a rest while he chatted with Ning Yue for a while without her serving him.
The maid understood Rong Yin and knew that he was not being polite, so she left obediently.
But before leaving, she said shyly: "Boss Rong, can you bring Xiao Ai and the little beans with you next time? I miss them a little."
After the little beans were born, Rong Yin brought them and classmate Xiao Ai to Qingqiu Pavilion several times. The cute appearance of the little beans charmed the girls, and they all smiled and joked with Rong Yin, saying that they wanted to ask him for one to raise.
Rong Yin said, "Student Xiao Ai went out to play with the puppies today. I will definitely bring them along next time."
After hearing this, the maid left with satisfaction.
When Rong Yin entered, Ning Yue was standing at the table painting. The two had known each other for many years and were from the same camp, so they became friends a long time ago and their attitude towards each other became much more casual.
"Boss Rong, please sit down first. The tea has just been changed and is still hot. It's inconvenient for me to stop writing. Please wait for me for a while." Ning Yue only raised her head to glance at Rong Yin, and after saying hello, she continued to paint with her head down.
Rong Yin also sat down and ate some snacks and drank some tea to relieve her greasy feeling.
It was not until half an hour later that Ning Yue put down her pen. She stared at the painting while rubbing her sore wrist, a look of satisfaction on her face.
Rong Yin stood up and asked, "Can I see what you drew?"
Ning Yue smiled: "Of course I can. My painting skills are poor, I hope Boss Rong won't make fun of me."
Rong Yin said, "If your painting skills are poor, most of the painters in the capital will be ashamed of themselves."
Ning Yue has been able to sit firmly on the top seat in Qingqiu Pavilion in recent years. In addition to her outstanding appearance, her abilities are also top-notch, not inferior to those young ladies from aristocratic families.
As Rong Yin spoke, he walked to Ning Yue's side, stood side by side with her, and lowered his head to look at her painting.
There was a full moon in the sky, and its clear light cast over the elegant courtyard. Under a phoenix tree dyed with autumn red, a woman in green clothes was sitting on a stone bench, holding a snow-white rabbit in her arms and stroking the rabbit's head tenderly with a look of tenderness on her face.
The visual focus of the entire painting is on the woman. The hairpin on her head, the folds on her clothes, and even the falling hair are all painted in great detail, and it is obvious that much effort has been put into the painting.
The woman's expression in particular is gentle and compassionate, like a goddess with mercy on the world.
From this we can see that the painter has feelings of admiration and respect for the woman in the painting, because the painter appears to be painting a person, but in fact he is painting a spirit.
"Who is this?" Rong Yin had actually guessed it, but he still wanted to hear Ning Yue say it in person.
"It's Miss He Yan." When Ning Yue mentioned He Yan's name, her voice was extremely gentle.
She said, "Her birthday is in a few days, and this is my birthday gift to her."
Rong Yin said: "It seems that your relationship is getting better and better."
Rong Yin just sighed subconsciously without any other intention, but after he finished speaking, Ning Yue suddenly fell silent.
"What's wrong?" Rong Yin looked at her.
"I'm sorry." Ning Yue's face showed a guilty look, she lowered her eyebrows, "After all these years, I still can't make Miss He trust me wholeheartedly, and I haven't obtained any evidence of the family's crimes."
Rong Yin quickly comforted him, "It doesn't matter. The evidence would be icing on the cake if it exists, but it wouldn't hurt if it doesn't. Besides, no one can guarantee that the He family girl really has any evidence in her hands. You have done a good job, so don't blame yourself."
Ning Yue shook her head: "But I have been looking for evidence all these years. If I get nothing in the end, wouldn't it be a waste of time?"
"How could that be?" Rong Yin comforted her. "Look, the friendship you had with the girls from the He family over the years was not fake. You were willing to take the trouble to paint for them, so you must have really considered them as your friends. Otherwise, wouldn't it be more convenient to just spend money to buy a gift? Even if you didn't get any evidence, you have gained some good friendships, haven't you?"
Ning Yue was a little confused: "But I approached them with a purpose. This kind of friendship is not pure. I am sorry for them."
Rong Yin said, "What's the big deal? It's true that you have a purpose, and it's true that you have feelings for them. You haven't caused any substantial harm to them. Just like when I tried to please His Majesty, I was afraid that he would kill me, but that didn't stop us from falling in love later."
Ning Yue's tense brows slowly relaxed and the corners of her lips curled up again. She must have been convinced by Rong Yin.
"Boss Rong is right. I am too picky."
"I'm glad you figured it out. I brought you a new flavor of cake. Try it and see if you like it."
"Thank you, Boss Rong."
"Why are you being so polite to me?"
While Ning Yue was eating, Rong Yin told her about the funny things that happened in the palace and the store. When she heard about the little kids carrying Zong Zhengxiao's shoes around the garden and being severely spanked after being caught by Zong Zhengxiao, Ning Yue also laughed with her eyes curved.
After Ning Yue finished eating the cake, Rong Yin started talking to her about the fight between the Cui and Chen families.
Ning Yue said, "You should have noticed when you came up here. Qingqiu Pavilion has been in a downturn recently because too many people have been affected by the fight between the two families. Everyone is either too busy or needs to keep a low profile at this time. So naturally, no one comes to a place like ours where we spend our days drinking and partying."
Rong Yin recalled the scene downstairs just now, nodded, and said: "This time the two families are fighting fiercely, and they have already torn their faces apart. There is no chance to retreat like before, and they can no longer make peace. In the end, it can only end in a life-and-death struggle."
Ning Yue took a sip of tea and then said, "The Chen family was only forced to resist and had no chance of winning. Moreover, when I went to meet the He sisters a few days ago, He Yan accidentally let it slip that the charges that the Cui and Chen families are now using to accuse each other are only the tip of the iceberg of the crimes that the two families have committed."
Rong Yin was stunned, and his expression gradually became serious. "That is to say, the Cui and Chen families still have some leeway and have not revealed each other's past... But then again, how could a family with hundreds of years of history have only this little bit of dark side, but..."
Rong Yin paused for a second before looking at Ning Yue and meeting her gaze. "Since He Yan said so, it proves that even if she has no evidence, she should be very clear about what the Cui and Chen families have done over the years. It seems that at least your initial guess was correct, Ning Yue."
Ning Yue sighed slightly: "It's just that He Yan and the others are very defensive. After she said that sentence that day, she never mentioned the court dispute again. I mentioned it several times but she fooled me. I was afraid of arousing suspicion, so I didn't dare to say it again."
"With their current status, if they were not on high alert, they would not be alive until now." Rong Yin comforted Ning Yue, "Don't worry, so many years have passed, and we don't need to waste time. Maybe we can defeat the aristocratic family before He Yan even opens her mouth."
Ning Yue heard this and said firmly: "I believe that you, Boss Rong, and His Majesty can do it."
Rong Yin smiled: "Then I'll borrow your good words, Ning Yue."
After that, Rong Yin instructed her: "Ningyue, even if you can't get evidence from Miss He in the end, you have worked so hard for so long. Even if you don't get any credit, you have worked hard. So if you have any wishes that need my help, just ask. Don't feel embarrassed. Just promise me, okay?"
Listening to Rong Yin's words, Ning Yue's eyes slightly reddened, and she said with emotion: "Okay, thank you, Rong Yin."
She called Rong Yin, not Boss Rong, which proved that Ning Yue really regarded Rong Yin as a friend and really listened to what Rong Yin said.
Rong Yin stayed in Qingqiu Pavilion for the whole afternoon before leaving. When he left, the boss had already woken up and apologized to him with a smile, saying that he had fallen asleep and was unable to get up to entertain him, which was really rude.
Rong Yin quickly said it was okay.
The boss personally escorted Rong Yin out the door. When they reached the door, she whispered, "Boss Rong, how long do you think they will continue to fight? If this continues, the girls in the attic and I will not be able to afford to eat."
When lives are at stake, who has time for romance? Normally, those officials are the frequent customers of Qingqiu Pavilion, while rich people or ordinary people prefer to go to brothels. Now the performance has declined seriously, and the boss is so worried that his hair is about to fall out.
The boss knew that Rong Yin had a good relationship with the current emperor and might be well-informed, so he specifically asked him.
Rong Yin said honestly, "Boss, I can't guarantee that. The two families are fighting fiercely right now. His Majesty needs to confirm the evidence and make a judgment. These steps will take time, at least half a year."
"Oh, my life is so miserable." The boss threw his handkerchief and complained bitterly.
Rong Yin didn't believe that Qingqiu Pavilion would go bankrupt in just half a year, and he had no suggestions to offer. He could only comfort his boss with a few dry words and then slip away.
And the facts were indeed just as Rong Yin said. In the following months, the Cui and Chen families exposed each other's shortcomings. Zong Zhengxiao sent people to investigate. When the evidence was conclusive, he would arrest the relevant people and then sentence them. The Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple were extremely busy during this period.
Although the Cui and Chen families have been attacking each other, the ones who are suffering right now are just scapegoats and minions, and the real central figures of the two families are still safe and sound.
When summer came, Rong Yin arranged the affairs of the store and stayed in the palace to escape the heat.
Now the court is extremely busy, and Zong Zhengxiao has no time to take Rong Yin to the palace to play. Moreover, compared to the leisurely Rong Yin, the cases he has to deal with every day are piling up like a mountain.
He often goes out in the morning and comes back in the evening, and doesn't even have time to have lunch with Rong Yin.
After Rong Yin told Zong Zhengxiao what she had learned from Ning Yue about He Yan's words, Zong Zhengxiao was prepared. He was not fooled by the appearance of the two families fighting to the death, and was not anxious to pick up the spoils, so as not to be dragged into the water and bitten back by the two families.
By the end of summer, this dog-eat-dog battle finally came to an end. As expected, the Chen family was defeated and trampled under the feet of the Cui family.
Although the Chen family escaped immediate execution due to insufficient evidence and the fact that someone took the blame, the eldest son Chen was dismissed from his post, the third son Chen was forced to give up most of his business, and Chen's father at least kept the black veil hat, but his official position was demoted by more than one level.
Chen's father was transferred from the capital to Cangzhou to serve as the prefect. Although this position was not low, there was no comparison between local officials and officials in the capital. Leaving the capital meant being far away from the political center.
What's more, the Chen family was driven away like a bereaved dog, and it will be difficult for them to come back in the future. Li Chu at least has a piece of cake given by Zong Zhengxiao to hang on, but the Chen family has truly lost hope.
After leaving the capital and being suppressed by the Cui family, the Chen family fell into decline in just two or three generations.
After the matter came to an end, Zong Zhengxiao finally had the chance to breathe a sigh of relief.
He gave himself a two-day holiday, and every day when he woke up, he would hold his little fish and suck it like crazy to heal himself from the pain of working overtime every day.
Rong Yin joked with him: "I've seen people sucking cats and dogs, but I've never seen people sucking fish. If others knew about this, they would definitely laugh at you."
"Ayin smells so good, why can't I breathe it in? Whoever is making fun of me is just jealous." Zong Zhengxiao said righteously, burying his face in the back of Rong Yin's neck and breathing in the fragrance emanating from his body.
Feeling Zong Zhengxiao's intoxicated look, Rong Yin suddenly remembered a novel setting she learned from her deskmate in modern times - abo.
Rong Yin told Zong Zhengxiao about this setting, and said in a teasing tone, "You are now like an Alpha in the susceptible period. You can't leave your Omega for a moment. You even want to bite the glands in the back of my neck and inject your pheromones into me so that I will be covered with your scent."
Zong Zhengxiao hugged Rong Yin tightly and said with a smile: "This setting is quite interesting and also fits my current state of mind. I also want to bite through your neck to see what kind of strange place can emit such a charming fragrance."
"It hurts, don't even think about it." Rong Yin instinctively shuddered and warned, "If you dare to bite, I will end my friendship with you."
Of course Zong Zheng Xiao didn't dare to do that. He kept sniffing at Rong Yin's neck like a big dog with a grudge. He sighed and said, "If only you, Yin, had estrus like an Omega, then you wouldn't want to leave me. You might even beg me to mark you."
Rong Yin asked, "Who said that if I'm an Omega I can only look for you to mark me? What if I meet an Alpha who's more handsome than you?"
Zong Zheng Xiao heard this and clamped his chin to turn his face to look at him, with a half-smile on his face, "A Yin, are you saying this to deliberately induce me to punish you, huh?"
Rong Yin rolled her eyes at him and said, "Stop flattering yourself."
Zong Zhengxiao came over and kissed him on the mouth, saying aggrievedly: "Ayin, can't you say something sweet to comfort me?"
"No." Rong Yin said, "Because you will be too arrogant, and I will be the one who suffers."
Zong Zhengxiao lowered his eyebrows, rested his chin on Rong Yin's shoulder, and said, "Abo settings are similar to animals, and they all have fixed estrus periods. Ah Yin, you are half a mermaid, so in the memory of a mermaid, is there such a thing as estrus?"
"Yes." Rong Yin said, "Every spring, the mermaids gather together. No matter if they are men or women, if they fall in love with each other, they hold hands and go to the bridal chamber to have children. This is similar to ordinary animals."
Zong Zheng Xiao tilted his head in surprise and looked at Rong Yin, his tone puzzled: "Then why didn't I see you in heat in the spring? Cats in heat will call in the middle of the night, and I see that you are no different from usual."
Rong Yin smiled falsely: "Your Majesty, I spend most of my time on the shore in human form, and humans are a species that can be in heat all year round. We never work at any time, just according to our mood, so the estrus period of mermaids is meaningless to me."
Zong Zhengxiao suddenly realized, "What Ayin said makes sense."
"Since you think I'm right, why don't you let me go? It's so early in the morning, and you have to hold me and not let me get up. I'm hungry." Rong Yin pushed Zong Zheng Xiao angrily.
But after hearing this, Zong Zhengxiao not only did not let go of Rong Yin, but instead turned over and pressed the man under him again.
"Your Majesty, what are you doing?" Rong Yin was confused.
Zong Zhengxiao's hands were already moving. "Ayin said that humans are animals that can be in heat all year round. Now that you know this theory, why not put it into practice? Before breakfast, Ayin, eat something else first."
Rong Yin: “…”
Rong Yin: Rogue! Lecher!
Zong Zhengxiao chuckled: "Ayin is right to scold."
After saying that, he lowered his head and kissed Rong Yin's soft lips.
After all, the little fish couldn't escape the big shark's pursuit and was swallowed into its stomach in one gulp, making its whole body wet.
Xiaoyu's neck was not spared either. When the passion reached its peak, Rong Yin agreed to Zong Zhengxiao's request in a daze. As a result, his neck was bitten and bled, and it took several days for the scar to heal.
He was so angry that he ignored Zong Zhengxiao for half a month. At night, he even put a pillow between them in the middle of the bed to prevent him from hugging him when he slept.
Although he would roll into Zong Zheng Xiao's arms in the middle of the night, he still made his attitude clear.
The Chen family left the capital in early autumn. They left before dawn and no one saw them off. Their departure was even more undignified than Li Chu's.
Once the Chen family left, it meant that the fight was truly over. The business of Qingqiu Pavilion gradually returned to normal, and the boss's bitter face began to smile again.
On this day, Rong Yin was enjoying his first hot pot and milk tea of autumn when the little monkey rushed in and exclaimed, "Boss, big news, big news!"
Rong Yin took a sip of milk tea and said indifferently: "What big news could there be?"
The little monkey sat down next to him, his eyes brightening unexpectedly: "I just left the Chen family in the capital, do you still remember them?"
"Remember, what happened to the Chen family?" Rong Yin became interested now.
The little monkey said excitedly: "The Chen family went to Cangzhou to take up their posts, but they encountered bandits on the way. The Chen couple and the third young master Chen were hacked to death on the spot. The eldest young master Chen was stabbed in the back, but fortunately he survived. I heard that the blood flowed so much that the mud was stained red. It was really tragic!"
Rong Yin was stunned. He had thought that the Chen family's departure from the capital was the final outcome, but he had not expected there would be such twists and turns.
"How do you know it so clearly?" Rong Yin finally reacted. How could this little monkey describe it in such detail as if he had seen it himself?
The little monkey said, "It was a coincidence. When the Chen family encountered the robbers, a team of escorts who were delivering goods to the capital happened to pass by. One of the escorts had done business with the Chen family before, so he kindly stepped forward to rescue them. If it weren't for them, Young Master Chen would not have survived. The escorts entered the capital early this morning, and the news spread quickly. Not only me, I'm afraid half of the capital has heard about it."
Rong Yin put down his chopsticks, not in the mood to eat anymore. He stood up and walked out, "I'm going home first. Thank you for cleaning the pot."
Little monkey: "You don't have to be so polite. Boss, please be careful on the road."
"Okay, got it."
After returning to the palace, Rong Yin and Zong Zhengxiao understood each other's eyes as soon as they met.
Zong Zhengxiao: "Have you also heard about the Chen family's affairs?"
"Yes, I just found out." Rong Yin frowned, "Your Majesty, do you think it was the Cui family who did it?"
Zong Zhengxiao said: "It is very likely."
Rong Yin was puzzled: "Although the Chen family lost, neither side revealed the other's past, which means that they both tacitly agreed to leave the other a way out. Then why did the Cui family regret it halfway? Isn't the Cui family afraid that the Chen family will be desperate and expose all the bad things they did?"
Zong Zhengxiao explained for him: "As the saying goes, only the dead can keep secrets forever. The Chen family is always a threat when they are alive. The Cui family must want to wipe them out completely. If it weren't for that team of escorts, Young Master Chen would not have survived. Then the Cui family's goal of silencing him would have been achieved."
Rong Yin was shocked and asked hurriedly, "What about Master Chen? If he knew that it was the Cui family who did it, he would definitely avenge his family. He must have other evidence of the Cui family's crimes."
Zong Zhengxiao shook his head: "As the only survivor, he probably guessed that it was the Cui family who was trying to silence him. He was afraid that the Cui family would continue to hunt him down after knowing that he was still alive. So after thanking those escorts, he left alone. No one knows where he went."
Rong Yin touched his chin and said, "The Chen family also has branches in other places. Do you think Young Master Chen will go to them for help?"
Zong Zhengxiao confirmed his idea: "It is possible. I have already sent people to investigate. I believe the Cui family will not let the tiger go back to the mountain. Now it depends on who finds him first, me or the Cui family."
Rong Yin raised her head and looked outside the palace, her eyes full of worry.
The news that the Chen family was brutally murdered by robbers spread throughout the capital in less than a day. Upon hearing the news, some people lamented the unpredictability of the world, while others cursed that the crime was deserved.
However, in the Jiaofangsi, a group of women happily raised their glasses and drank until they were drunk.
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