Chapter 47: The Mermaid's Vest Fell Off
Rong Yin glanced at Zong Zhengxiao and nodded woodenly.
The dinner table was exceptionally silent tonight. Rong Yin still obediently let Zong Zheng Xiao feed her, but her face showed no expression and she didn't eat as much as usual.
After Zong Zhengxiao fed Rong Yin, he ate a few bites himself and asked the palace servants to take away the rest.
The palace servants sensed that the atmosphere was not right, and they all restrained their expressions and did their jobs with trepidation, fearing that they would displease His Majesty in any way and be punished.
After the palace servants had finished cleaning up, Zong Zhengxiao said to Si Xi, "You all go out first. No one is allowed to come in without my order."
"Yes." Si Xi agreed, but Lu'e had an expression as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. Si Xi looked bitter, thinking that his majesty was very unhappy when his master saw him holding you just now. If you make a mistake again, you will be walking into danger!
Just as he was about to pull Lu'e away, Rong Yin took action first. Rong Yin waved to Lu'e, motioning her to go out first, and at the same time gave her a smile, meaning that she didn't have to worry about him.
Lu'e was unwilling to disobey Rong Yin's order and had no choice but to agree.
The door slowly closed, and the two people left in the room looked at each other, and no one spoke for a moment.
Finally, Zong Zhengxiao couldn't help himself and raised his hand to pick up the teapot to pour a cup of tea for Rong Yin. However, he accidentally pulled the wound and frowned subconsciously and took a breath of cool air.
I don't know if he did it on purpose or not, but when Rong Yin saw his movements, his dead eyes finally showed some movement, and he said with a guilty tone, "Does it hurt a lot?"
Zong Zhengxiao smiled and said, "Not bad."
Rong Yin looked at his shoulder with a complicated expression. Zong Zhengxiao spoke first, "Don't feel embarrassed or sorry for me. I was the one who lied to you and kept it a secret. You have reason to be angry. As long as you can calm down, I don't think it's excessive for you to bite me or even eat my flesh raw."
Rong Yin glared at him and said, "I don't eat human flesh."
Zong Zhengxiao: "Well, I know you like to eat fish."
Thinking about how Zong Zheng Xiao had fed him almost every meal since he traveled through time, Rong Yin's resentment of being deceived, which had originally been very little in his heart, suddenly dissipated a lot.
He sighed and took the initiative to ask the question he had been curious about all afternoon: "How much do you know about me?"
Zong Zheng Xiao answered honestly: "You are from another world, and you are not a mermaid originally. You are living in the body of a mermaid. You have read a book that records the future of me, Zong Zheng Lianqi, Su Wan'er and this country. You also mastered a lot of knowledge that I don't know, such as ice making, paper making, coal, gunpowder, etc...."
These contents were indeed what Rong Yin thought about after entering the book, and Zong Zhengxiao heard them all.
Rong Yin: "Did you make ice using the method I told you?"
He remembered that soon after he had thought of the method of making ice in his mind, more ice appeared around him.
"Yes, I'm sorry. I used your method without your permission." Zong Zhengxiao said, "I've only been on the throne for a few years and the treasury is empty, so I used the ice-making method you provided to make money and also won a good reputation among the people. All of this is your credit. I will always remember it, so no matter what you ask for, I will do my best to meet it."
As if he was afraid that Rong Yin would be angry at his presumptuous behavior, Zong Zhengxiao said a lot of things in a row, and after he finished, he looked at Rong Yin nervously.
Rong Yin's emotions did not fluctuate: "I also learned this knowledge from others. It does not belong to me. You can use it if you want. You don't have to apologize to me."
Zong Zhengxiao heaved a sigh of relief when he heard this. He was not afraid that Rong Yin would argue with him about gains and losses. Even if Rong Yin wanted to take all the money from selling ice cream, he would not feel the slightest bit reluctant. He was just afraid that Rong Yin would dislike or hate him because of this.
But Zong Zhengxiao also refuted Rong Yin's point of view: "Master's knowledge was taught by the master, but the master taught the disciple, and the disciple still has to respect the master. What's more, I learned it secretly, which is even more wrong. You don't have to be humble."
What he said was actually true. Rong Yin was tongue-tied and could only say, "It's up to you if you want to think so."
Looking at his silly look, Zong Zheng Xiao wanted to pinch his face, but when he thought of the current situation, he could only silently suppress the restlessness in his heart.
"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that I already know your name." Zong Zhengxiao smiled at Rong Yin's puzzled look and said, "In fact, you talked to me the first time you got drunk. I knew your name then."
Rong Yin thought of the two times when she had blacked out due to drinking, and her heart began to panic: "Besides my name, what else did I tell you?"
He wouldn't have done anything shameful, would he?
Rong Yin looked at the jade pendant hanging around his neck. It was a gift from Zong Zheng Xiao to him after he got drunk for the first time. He still had no idea what happened during that time.
Zong Zhengxiao knew his worries and comforted him, "Don't worry, you didn't tell me anything more about yourself except your name, and you didn't get drunk. You were very well behaved when you were drunk. The worst thing you did was to ask me to give you something before you would go to bed. Well, that was the jade pendant hanging around your neck."
As for the two times they got drunk and the ambiguous conversations and actions between them, Zong Zhengxiao chose to keep them secret for the time being.
Rong Yin's face turned a little red. How come he became a greedy rogue after getting drunk? He has always been a person who loves money but makes it in a legitimate way, okay?
"Then I'll return the jade pendant to you." Rong Yin said as he was about to take it off.
Zong Zhengxiao said quickly: "No, this is a gift from me, you can keep it."
He still remembered Rong Yin saying after getting drunk that he treasured this jade pendant very much.
"Okay." Rong Yin withdrew his hand, picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea to hide his embarrassment.
Zong Zhengxiao looked at Rong Yin and was communicating well with him. After thinking for a while, he said boldly: "I have some questions for you, Rong Yin. If you are willing to answer, please answer. If you are not willing, I will not force you. May I ask you?"
Rong Yin held the teacup and hummed, indicating her agreement.
Zong Zhengxiao's heartbeat quickened a little. He was very excited at the moment because he was about to know the answer he had been seeking for for a long time.
Zong Zheng Xiao: "Where are you from?"
Rong Yin did not answer, and had no thoughts in her heart.
Zong Zhengxiao thought he didn't want to answer, but he wasn't disappointed and continued to ask the next question: "How did you come to this world?"
He was still silenced in response.
Zong Zhengxiao then asked: "Your inner voice said that you saw the ending of me, other people and this country from the book. Is this book you are talking about a history book or some special book?"
This time, Rong Yin did not remain silent. He looked at Zong Zheng Xiao with a heavy face and spoke with difficulty: "I didn't answer your question just now because I was hesitant. The truth may be a little cruel to you, and it may subvert your cognition and make you doubt this world... I don't want to hurt you."
Zong Zhengxiao was a little uneasy after hearing what Rong Yin said before, but when he said "I don't want to hurt you", Zong Zhengxiao's heart suddenly calmed down. No matter what the truth was, he just wanted to know that Rong Yin was on his side.
"It's okay, just tell me. This is my own choice. I will take full responsibility for all the consequences. You don't have to feel pressured." Zong Zhengxiao's tone couldn't be more serious.
After staying with Zong Zhengxiao for so many days, Rong Yin also understood that he was not a weak person. Now with his guarantee, Rong Yin had no reason to back down.
Rong Yin took a few deep breaths, and then slowly said: "I come from the future, but not the future of your world. I saved a drowning child, but accidentally drowned myself. God felt sorry for me, so he put my soul into the body of a mermaid who just passed away in your world. As for the book that records the future of this world..."
Rong Yin paused for two seconds, then glanced at Zong Zheng Xiao. Seeing that he was relatively calm, she continued, "The book I'm talking about is a novel, which is what you usually call a storybook. You, Lu'e, Zong Zheng Lianqi, and Su Wan'er are all characters in the storybook. Because I have read that storybook, I know the future fate of you and this country."
The further he spoke, the faster Rong Yin spoke, as if if he was a step slower, he would be burned by his own words.
He lowered his eyes, not daring to look at Zong Zheng Xiao's reaction. Zong Zheng Xiao did not make any movement after hearing this. Perhaps he was shocked, or perhaps he was about to collapse.
After all, not all characters in works of art can accept the cognitive impact brought about by the breaking of the "fourth wall", and it is possible that their worldview collapses and they go crazy.
He didn't know how much time had passed, the tea in Rong Yin's hand seemed to have gone cold, and he heard Zong Zheng Xiao speaking opposite him.
"You said you drowned while saving someone?"
"Ah?" Rong Yin was dumbfounded. He didn't understand. Shouldn't Zong Zhengxiao's focus be on his identity at this time? Why would he ask him such an irrelevant question?
Curiosity prompted Rong Yin to look over, only to see Zong Zheng Xiao staring at him steadily. His expression was no different from before, but the pain and sadness in his eyes were so full that they were about to overflow.
Rong Yin's heart felt like it was hit lightly. It was a little painful, but more of it was a sourness and subtlety that he did not understand yet.
Something in his heart seemed to be about to burst out of the ground, and Rong Yin began to panic unconsciously. He smiled dryly and pretended to be relaxed: "Oh, I was wrong. In fact, to be precise, I was sent here by God before I drowned. I didn't really experience the pain of death at all."
Zong Zhengxiao's expression did not lighten up because of Rong Yin's words. His throat was a little dry, and he asked hoarsely, "It must be very painful, right? Before being rescued, you can only watch yourself greet death."
Rong Yin's voice was hoarse. He stared at Zong Zheng Xiao, his mouth corners turned down, and his eyes instantly turned red.
"Zong Zheng Xiao, why are you so annoying..."
Why did they insist on exposing him? He wanted to live, but he was suffering from a terminal illness and could only count down the days until he could live. Who would be willing to accept this kind of fate?
He was glad that he had saved a life, but he still felt despair and loneliness when he was swept away by the river alone and powerlessly.
This kind of emotion is very strange. If no one cares or asks about it, I won’t think it’s a big deal.
But when I felt the compassion of outsiders, it was like drinking a bowl of hot soup given by someone else when I was shivering in the cold winter. The suffering and grievances that I had forced myself to hide before could no longer be controlled and all burst out.
Tears rolled down like a dam bursting. Rong Yin cried silently, but it made people feel extremely distressed.
Zong Zhengxiao could no longer restrain himself, he stepped forward and took Rong Yin into his arms, Rong Yin obediently buried his face in his left shoulder, his hands tightly grasping his clothes, like a ship that had been drifting for a long time and finally found a harbor to dock, relying on the sense of security he gave her.
Zong Zhengxiao was also not calm at this moment. He recalled the first time Rong Yin got drunk. He asked Rong Yin why his legs turned into a tail. Rong Yin's answer at that time seemed light and nonsensical, but in fact, he was full of pain in his heart.
He never thought that his lively and silly little mermaid would come to him in this way.
Zong Zhengxiao's emotions were extremely complicated. He wished he could immediately ingrain Rong Yin into his bones and love and protect him forever.
But no matter how excited he was, what Zong Zhengxiao did in reality was just to quietly tighten his arms around Rong Yin.
He loves Rong Yin, but doesn't want his love to become a burden to Rong Yin.
After a long time, Rong Yin's deep sorrow was finally vented and he stopped crying.
During this period, neither of them said a word. Zong Zhengxiao just held Rong Yin in his arms and protected him silently.
"Thank you." Rong Yin sat up and said thank you softly in a nasal voice.
However, when he saw that his tears had wet Zong Zhengxiao's clothes, his face turned red with embarrassment.
Zong Zhengxiao saw his embarrassment and said softly, "It's okay."
Rong Yin felt a little relieved, but she did not let go of Zong Zhengxiao's clothes.
Finding that Rong Yin had no intention of distancing herself from him, Zong Zhengxiao was happy to play dumb and let Rong Yin sit intimately in front of him.
Rong Yin took a good breath, then looked up at Zong Zheng Xiao, staring at him with red eyes from crying, "I told you that you are a character in a storybook. Aren't you surprised? Do you think this world is fake and find it hard to accept?"
Zong Zhengxiao smiled: "What if it's true or false? Rong Yin, after you came to my world from your world, you will feel that this world is false. Am I false?"
"No." Rong Yin shook his head, and said in a confused tone, "It seems to be the case."
There are so many worlds in the world. Even though he has traveled through a book, he is still the same as before. He can breathe, feel pain, have emotions, smell the birdsong and flowers, taste delicious food, and he has a few more friends.
These are things he can feel and touch personally; they are real, not false.
"I only seek the truth, but I will not be swayed by the truth." Zong Zhengxiao wiped away the tears from Rong Yin's eyes with his warm fingertips, and said in a carefree and indifferent tone, "Be yourself, do your job well, cherish the things and people in front of you, and only then will you be worthy of your life in this world."
Rong Yin sighed: "I am the one who is narrow-minded."
Zong Zhengxiao shook his head: "Everyone thinks from a different perspective. You are worried about me and are afraid that I will find it difficult to accept the truth. This is not narrow-mindedness."
It's your love for me.
Zong Zhengxiao said this in his heart.
Rong Yin couldn't help laughing and said, "Why are you so talkative today?"
Normally he is fierce and wants to fight everyone, but now every word he says is full of high emotional intelligence.
He was happy, and Zong Zhengxiao felt much more relaxed as well. He replied, "Then do you like what I said?"
Rong Yin looked at him: "If I say I like you, can you always be like this?"
Zong Zhengxiao looked embarrassed: "I'm afraid it won't work. I still feel more comfortable scolding people."
"Pfft." Rong Yin laughed.
Zong Zhengxiao also laughed.
The heavy atmosphere from before was swept away. Rong Yin was thirsty from crying, so Zong Zhengxiao poured him another cup of hot tea and asked him to drink it slowly.
Zong Zhengxiao looked at Rong Yin who was sitting in front of him drinking tea. After thinking for a while, he said, "I have an unwelcome request. I wonder if you can agree to it?"
Hearing Zong Zhengxiao's slightly serious tone, Rong Yin knew that what he was going to say was not a trivial matter, and he also showed a more serious expression: "You say."
Zong Zhengxiao said, "I learned some useful knowledge about strengthening the country and enriching the people from your voice before. I want to learn a thing or two from you. I wonder if you are willing to teach me? As for the reward, don't worry. You can put forward the conditions. As long as I can do it, I will definitely do it."
As an emperor, Zong Zhengxiao knew that Rong Yin was a treasure trove of good things that could be unearthed. He had many ways to get Rong Yin to tell him what he knew, but he still chose to ask Rong Yin for his agreement in the most respectful and humble manner.
As for Rong Yin, he only had one year to live in this world, and he knew that this was just a novel, so from the beginning he had no intention of interfering with the development of the people and things in it. It was not his original intention to cause some butterfly effects later.
But now looking at Zong Zheng Xiao's expectant eyes, and thinking about those who were kind to him, even if he did not admit it, the fact was that he had already developed an unsolvable bond with this world.
Since watching from the sidelines means living one year, and lending a helping hand also means living one year, why not use your greatest enthusiasm to give back to the world for the happiness and love it has brought to him?
Rong Yin nodded and said something similar to Zong Zhengxiao: "As long as I know it, as long as you want it, I will tell you."
Zong Zhengxiao knew Rong Yin. He had expected that Rong Yin would agree to his request, but he was still very happy that Rong Yin said so.
"Thank you, Rong Yin." Zong Zhengxiao looked into Rong Yin's eyes and said solemnly.
Rong Yin smiled softly: "You're welcome."
outside the house.
Lu'e paced back and forth anxiously, glancing towards the door from time to time. The lights inside were still on, but no sound or movement could be heard, and she had no idea what had happened between His Majesty and the master.
Si Xi advised, "Lu'e, please sit down and rest for a while. I am dizzy from all the spinning."
Lu'e frowned: "The young master is still in there, how can I feel at ease?"
Si Xi: "What are you worried about? His Majesty cherishes and values the young master the most. Believe it or not, even if His Majesty kills all of us servants, he will not touch a hair of the young master."
Lu'e didn't say anything, but just glanced at Si Xi. Her eyes seemed to say: You are his majesty's man, so of course you will side with his majesty. But I don't think so.
Si Xi: “…”
I'm telling the truth! It's also the truth!
When both of them were muttering to themselves, the door was suddenly opened and Zong Zheng Xiao appeared. Si Xi and Lu E hurried over to listen to his instructions.
Zong Zhengxiao said, "Go get some ice and make a cup of fruit tea."
They both agreed at the same time, and soon everything was ready.
Zong Zhengxiao wrapped crushed ice in a clean cloth and gently applied it to Rong Yin's eyes. He cried too much today, and if the swelling didn't go away, he would not feel well tomorrow.
Lu'e was considerate and thought that Rong Yin didn't eat much for dinner. Seeing that the relationship between the two masters was no longer as stiff and unnatural as before, she thought that they should have reconciled, so she took the initiative to bring up a plate of snacks and fruit tea.
After Rong Yin's mood improved, he was indeed a little hungry, so he did not refuse Lu'e's feeding.
Zong Zhengxiao helped her apply ice to her swollen eyes, and Lu'e fed her snacks when she was hungry. Rong Yin leaned on Zong Zhengxiao's shoulder like a salted fish, enjoying herself to the fullest.
"It's time to go to bed. Don't eat too much. Be careful of indigestion." After calculating the time for the ice compress, Zong Zhengxiao removed the ice and asked Rong Yin and Lu'e to stop.
Rong Yin showed his support and even ate a snack as if it was delicious, which made Lu'e more enthusiastic in feeding the fish and she forgot about this for a moment.
She said ashamedly: "It was my carelessness."
"Ah." Rong Yin also said in his heart: Don't blame Lu'e, blame me.
Zong Zheng Xiao laughed and pinched his face: "Neither of you did anything wrong, I was just reminding you."
"Ah." Rong Yin: You are still careful.
Zong Zhengxiao's smile became even gentler.
Seeing this, Lu'e beside him was curious: "Your Majesty, why do you look like you can understand what the young master is saying? Was it like this before?"
Lu'e felt as if she had suddenly lost her memory and had forgotten how Zong Zhengxiao and Rong Yin had communicated before.
After washing up, Rong Yin swam in the water for a while. After her tail was full of water, she came ashore and snuggled into Zong Zhengxiao's arms, falling asleep with him as usual.
After talking about it, Rong Yin returned to his previous carefree self and did not deliberately avoid getting close to Zong Zheng Xiao, which made Zong Zheng Xiao feel a lot more relieved.
Although he applied ice last night, Rong Yin's eyes were still a little swollen when he woke up in the morning, and there was a sour feeling, which made him feel listless all day long.
Zong Zhengxiao didn't bother him. He dealt with the memorials himself and let Rong Yin sleep next to him.
Soon it was spring. In order to show the emperor's emphasis on farming, Zong Zhengxiao went to the fields himself to plow the land. Many people watched and praised his actions.
Before returning to the palace, Zong Zhengxiao broke off a newly sprouted willow branch for Rong Yin on the roadside so that he could also feel the New Year's atmosphere outside the palace.
Rong Yin liked the gift he gave her. Lu'e found a porcelain bottle with a thin long neck, filled it with water and placed it on the low table. He personally inserted the willow branches into it.
"Thank you, Lu'e." Rong Yin looked at Lu'e and smiled, but the words he said sounded a little awkward, like a child who had just learned to speak.
Although this was not the first time she heard Rong Yin speak, Lu'e still felt her heart tremble.
Ever since that day when His Majesty and the young master reconciled, His Majesty began to teach the young master how to speak in front of them.
Lu'e and the others had never thought that Zong Zhengxiao's sudden and whim-like action would succeed, because they had said before that the young master could not speak human language, and the young master stayed with them every day, but they had never seen him imitate their speech.
But to their surprise, not long after, the young master actually learned to speak like a human.
When he called out "Lü'e's" name for the first time, Lü'e was so moved that she shed tears, like an old mother hearing her child call her mother for the first time.
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