Chapter 72 The Active Little Mermaid
Rong Yin said that she wanted to listen to his singing to put her to sleep, Zong Zheng Xiaosi did not hesitate and just hummed the song.
As a result, Rong Yin was laughing so hard because of the emotionless singing style and the out-of-tune voice. Instead of falling asleep, he became more energetic.
Rong Yin also said that he used to feel sleepy when listening to the teacher's lectures at school, so Zong Zhengxiao picked up a book and read it to him, and he specially chose a book with obscure and difficult-to-understand language.
Rong Yin did indeed doze off while listening, but he would wake up as soon as Zong Zheng Xiao stopped. Rong Yin was reluctant to let him recite all night, so he gave up this plan.
Later I heard from Si Xi that in his hometown, if children are troubled by nightmares, they can put a pair of scissors under their pillow.
Afraid that the scissors were too small to be useful, Zong Zhengxiao simply gave his sword to Rong Yin to hold while sleeping, but it was still useless and Rong Yin would still be woken up.
Later, Zong Zhengxiao accompanied Rong Yin to run around the Silver Shark Park for more than ten laps. Rong Yin was so tired that he couldn't even lift his arms. But the effect was obvious. Rong Yin fell asleep in seconds and didn't wake up halfway. However, he was still troubled by nightmares and didn't sleep well.
Until the end, the old lady who came to check their pulse said to Zong Zhengxiao: "Heart disease needs heart medicine."
Zong Zhengxiao suddenly realized that the reason why Rong Yin dreamed about what happened that night every night was because the shock was too great for him to digest.
It seems that only by letting him feel relieved can he finally get rid of the nightmare.
But when she was sober, Rong Yin didn't want to talk about what happened that night, so Zong Zhengxiao specially brought a pot of wine to find Rong Yin. Under the anesthesia of alcohol, Rong Yin slowly let down his guard.
Looking at the drunken Rong Yin, Zong Zhengxiao asked him, "Ayin, are you afraid that the dead person will come to you in your dream?"
Rong Yin clutched the wine glass and shook his head: "I'm not afraid of him. He wanted to kill me. I was just defending myself. I just felt disgusted."
"Disgusting?" Zong Zheng Xiao asked.
Rong Yin raised his head and drank another glass of wine. With red eyes, he looked at Zong Zheng Xiao and said, "Your Majesty, this is the first time I have killed someone in my life. His blood was still hot when it splashed on my face. He twitched for a long time under my feet before he died. I don't regret killing him. I just feel disgusted to kill someone."
Zong Zheng Xiao was startled, and heard Rong Yin continue: "These nights, what I dreamed about most was not him coming to seek revenge on me, but the process of me killing him over and over again. I even fantasized about killing the other two people. The feeling of killing makes me hate it, but at the same time it also gives me a sense of security. This feeling is very contradictory and makes me very uncomfortable, so I don't want to sleep and don't want to dream."
Seeing Rong Yin's painful expression, Zong Zhengxiao reached out and held his hand, stared into his eyes, and asked, "You think you will become a bad guy, right? Because only bad people like to kill."
His words hit the most confused point of Rong Yin, making him wake up all of a sudden.
Yes, what he was actually afraid of was himself, or more precisely, the dark side of his heart.
Rong Yin lowered his eyes and said, "Your Majesty, do you think I am too cowardly? I was so frightened by such a small matter that I couldn't even sleep."
Zong Zhengxiao shook his head: "Ayin, this is not cowardice, this is human nature. The first time I killed someone, I didn't perform as well as you."
Rong Yin raised his eyes and looked at Zong Zhengxiao. Zong Zhengxiao continued, "I was just fifteen years old at that time. My father's rebel army was small and insignificant at first, but it was still besieged by the government of the previous dynasty. My brothers and I were forced to separate from our parents. When facing the siege, I drew my knife and slashed a pursuer in the chest. He screamed in pain and fell in front of me."
"Before this, I had been practicing martial arts diligently, but the only living creatures I had killed were pheasants and rabbits in the mountains. It was the first time that I attacked a person who could speak and think like me. I took a person's life with just one swing of the knife."
"I was so frightened that I froze and felt numb all over. If my second brother hadn't pulled me back in time, I would have been killed by someone else."
"On the same day, in order to survive, after I killed the first person, I went on to kill so many pursuers that I couldn't even remember how many I killed. But the one that left the deepest impression on me was still the first one I killed."
"After we got to a safe place, I ran to the side and vomited until I was dizzy. For a long time afterwards, I couldn't eat meat or sleep because my dreams were filled with the people I killed. They came to take my life and I was often awakened."
"So..." Zong Zhengxiao's smile was extremely gentle. He touched Rong Yin's head and said, "You see, you are much more powerful than me."
Rong Yin shook her head: "You were younger than me at that time, so it's normal that you were more scared than me."
"In fact, no matter what age, people will feel afraid of killing people." Zong Zhengxiao held Rong Yin in his arms and continued, "Later, I told my father about this incident. He quietly told me that he was almost scared to death when he killed the first person, but after so many times, he became numb."
"The number of people who died in my hands could probably form a small mountain. Every time I came back from the battlefield, I would ask myself, was I killing for the sake of survival, or just for the sake of killing?"
"The answer I gave myself was that I killed people in order to live. If I were given the opportunity to choose, I would rather live a stable and peaceful life with my family like I did in the beginning, rather than thinking about how to kill people and how not to be killed all the time..."
He held Rong Yin's face, stroked his cheek, and said, "Real bad people don't reflect on whether they are bad people or not. They regard killing as normal as eating and sleeping. Killing makes them excited, not feel safe and disgusted. So, don't be too hard on yourself, Ayin, you didn't do anything wrong."
After Zong Zhengxiao said the last sentence, Rong Yin could no longer hold back and buried her face in his arms, sobbing.
"Wuwuwu, I'm not a bad person. I was once named a three-good student. I just wanted to escape, but they wanted to kill me. I just wanted to live. I don't want to be separated from you, wuwuwu..."
Zong Zhengxiao gently stroked Rong Yin's back and soothed him softly, "Our A Yin is the best person in the world, not a bad guy who has committed ten unforgivable crimes. Don't blame yourself in the future. In this matter, there are others who should be blamed."
Rong Yin wiped her tears and said in a sobbing voice: "You are right. As a victim, why should I feel remorseful or blame myself? They have suffered such a fate because of their own actions."
Zong Zhengxiao laughed: "I should have thought of this earlier."
Rong Yin also burst into laughter. The tears on his face were not yet dry, and the smile on his lips looked a little silly.
Zong Zhengxiao wiped his tears, Rong Yin held his hand, and suddenly said: "Your Majesty, you are so kind, I want to kiss you."
Zong Zheng Xiao picked him up and held him against his chest, making a gesture of letting him be picked, "Come on, you can kiss me as long as you want."
Rong Yin chuckled, lowered his head and kissed him.
In normal kisses, Zong Zhengxiao usually took the lead, either coaxing or forcing, gradually going deeper with the sound of military force.
But this time, Rong Yin seized the leadership, like a serious explorer. He was cautious at first, eliminating all possible dangers, then tested with restraint, expecting a response from the other side, and then launched a massive attack, conquering cities and territories, and finally ran rampant, so ferocious that there was a smell of blood.
When the two separated, there was an embarrassing sound of water. Zong Zhengxiao's hand had already lifted the hem of Rong Yin's clothes, touched his waist, and kept moving up.
Rong Yin held his hand, lowered her eyes and rubbed his forehead, and said hoarsely: "I'm sleepy, can you sleep with me?"
Zong Zhengxiao paused for a second, looked at Rong Yin's pitiful expression, and finally softened his heart.
He took a deep breath, tried his best to suppress the surging desire, and softly agreed: "Okay."
After saying that, Zong Zhengxiao picked up Rong Yin and walked towards the bed.
He originally just wanted to put Rong Yin on the bed, but as soon as Rong Yin's body touched the bed, she lifted her legs and hooked them around Zong Zheng Xiao's waist, almost causing him to fall on him.
Zong Zhengxiao placed his hands on both sides of his head and looked at him in confusion: "Ayin?"
Rong Yin showed a mischievous smile, "I just lied to you, I don't want to sleep, I want to do it."
He hooked onto Zong Zheng Xiao's collar and smiled seductively: "Fuck me to death, Zong Zheng Xiao."
Zong Zhengxiao's breath was choked, and the desire that had not yet subsided swept over him with unstoppable force, quickly engulfing his reason.
Rong Yin was terribly crazy tonight. Normally, even if she was very comfortable, her shy nature would still make her stubborn and she would rarely cooperate actively or express her true feelings. It was common for her to shout that she didn't want to continue.
But this time he seemed like a different person. He let Zong Zheng Xiao do whatever he wanted and devoted himself to the act. He no longer cried or complained about being tired. He changed positions more frequently than Zong Zheng Xiao and talked non-stop.
For example: "If I say stop later, you should pretend you didn't hear me and don't do what I say."
Another example: "If I can get out of bed the next day, Zong Zheng Xiao, you are not a man."
Another example: "If you keep digging like this, will the well water run dry? Will I die of lack of water?"
Before, even if he didn't tease Zong Zheng Xiao, Zong Zheng Xiao would be as ferocious as a wolf or a tiger. But this time, he teased him again and again, and Zong Zheng Xiao couldn't stand it at all. He wanted to use his ultimate move ten times in one minute.
The palace maids who were on guard tonight were also surprised. Although the young master loved to joke with His Majesty during the day, he was actually a very shy person when it came to actual actions.
Before, Rong Yin would never make a sound for outsiders to hear unless he couldn't help it. But tonight he seemed to have completely let go of himself, and his movements were louder than His Majesty's, causing several eunuchs to blush and think that he had a good voice, and could do more than just sing.
At the end of the commotion, Rong Yin lost consciousness. It was unclear whether he fell asleep or fainted.
宗政逍抱着他去洗澡的時候他都沒醒，像個任人擺布的玩偶一樣。
給他清洗時，看着他身上的那些痕跡，宗政逍這個始作俑者居然生出了他倆今晚好像有點荒唐這個念頭。
等洗自己時，摸着有點刺痛的後背，宗政逍想：不是有點，是非常荒唐！
床褥已經完全不能看了，宗政逍也懶得再換，抱着戎音去了另一張小一點的床榻上入睡。
其實宗政逍能明白戎音今夜性情大變的原因，雖然戎音解開了心結，但這些日子的擔驚受怕需要一個宣洩口。
再加上戎音愛他，想要從他身上獲取安全感。
所以選擇與他歡好，就是最佳的放松方式。
因為戎音昨晚的挑釁，宗政逍是半分餘力都沒留，第二天戎音果真沒能下得了床，他全身疼得一度以為自己殘廢了，連吃飯都是宗政逍扶他起來，一勺一勺喂他的。
年輕輕輕，戎音就過上了衣來伸手飯來張口的頹廢生活。
昨晚被他倆滾過的床簡直沒眼看，不僅被褥得重新換一套，床柱好像也松了，一副馬上要散架的樣子。
四喜有點想笑，但更多的是佩服，他轉頭就通知內務府換張更大更結實的床來，還嚴格叮囑，一定要質量最好的。
不然要是摔了兩位主子，他們這些宮人就得挨罰了。
一夜放縱，戎音花了半個月才緩過勁來。
不過萬幸的是，從那晚起，他再沒做過噩夢，夜夜都是被宗政逍哄着入睡，第二天安安穩穩地醒來。
後來他聽宗政逍說，世家那邊為了維護自己的利益，準備放棄拯救李傲，并且讓他擔下全部罪責。
這招不是世家第一次用了，戎音并不驚訝。
他只是有些好奇：“李傲不是李老頭最疼愛的兒子嗎？他竟然願意舍棄李傲？”
宗政逍坐在戎音身後，用梳子給他梳頭發，“誰叫李傲作惡多端，非要自己找死，不過姓李的自然是舍不得的，他前些日子去探監，在李傲面前哭得跟個什麽似的，回去以後就病了，直到今天都還沒回來上職。”
戎音問：“李傲呢？知道自己要完了，他是什麽反應？我聽說他一開始還很嚣張，一直罵我呢。”
宗政逍道：“天天哭着求他爹來救他，說他不想死，身上的傷口又複發了，挺慘的。”
戎音驚訝：“他至今都不肯認錯？”
宗政逍：“他就是我之前說過的那種真正的壞人，從來不會意識到是自己錯了，他只會怪自己家權勢還不夠大，不能幫他掩埋所有罪過。”
“拒不認錯，這何嘗不是另一種有骨氣呢。”戎音無情嘲笑。
宗政逍給他把頭發束好，笑道：“還是阿音會說。”
戎音對着銅鏡左右歪腦袋，臉上的笑容甜得跟蜜似的，“宗政逍，你束發的手藝越來越好了。”
因為綠娥要忙着生意的事，已經很久沒有幫戎音梳新發式了，戎音近些日子也沒空在意自己的形象，每天就自己随便紮個高馬尾。
是宗政逍主動站出來說要幫戎音梳頭發，還自學了好些适合戎音的發式，不過也不是天天都給他梳，有空了才會試上一次。
畢竟宗政逍是皇上，要以政務為重。
宗政逍從背後抱住戎音，看着鏡子裏的戎音和自己，微笑道：“因為阿音願意給我嘗試的機會，我才能練出這麽好的手藝，這都是阿音你的功勞。”
戎音扭頭看他，“嘴這麽甜，是不是瞞着我偷偷吃糖了？讓我嘗嘗。”
說着，他便勾住宗政逍的脖子吻了上去，宗政逍眼眸含笑地摟緊他的腰，熱情地回應着。
……
在新春來臨，百姓們忙着下地耕種時，李傲的審判結果也出來了。
經過李家主四方奔走，到處拉關系，又積極賠償受害者，以求獲得他們的原諒，再加上自請降職，向宗政逍服輸認慫，李家最後還是留住了李傲一條命。
但他最後還是被判流放苦寒之地，像他這樣的公子哥，先不說能不能受得了邊疆恐怖的環境氣候，單就徒步走幾千裏這一點，怕是就能要了他的命。
短短一個多月，李傲的身份就發生了翻天覆地的變化，從前是傲氣跋扈的世家公子，如今只是一個落魄活該的階下囚。
因為重傷再加上絕望抑郁，李傲很快就瘦脫了相，之前雖然一臉腎虛，但至少白白淨淨，但如今再看，跟街上的乞丐也沒什麽區別了。
在李傲被押送離京前，李家主想辦法讓他跟全家人見了一面。
當看見形容枯槁的兒子時，李傲母親差點哭暈過去，不過一個多月沒見，他的寶貝兒子怎麽就變成現在這樣了？
姨娘抱着李傲哭嚎，她這些日子也不好過，在确認李家主不會出手救李傲後，她心裏就只剩下悲痛和後悔了。
如果她當初對李傲嚴格一點，不慣着他縱情聲色，是不是就不會得罪那麽多人，也不會招惹到皇帝了？
可世上沒有後悔藥可吃，姨娘再悲傷，事情也無可挽回了。
李家主站在旁邊，看着被姨娘抱着哭卻如同石頭般無動于衷的李傲，眼裏滿是無奈與愧疚，垂在身側的拳頭緊緊地攥在了一起。
他當然知道李傲為什麽會變成現在這樣。
那天他沒臉面對李傲的哀求，匆匆逃走，後來獄中傳來消息，說李傲哭着喊着要見他，為此還絕食了幾天。
但清楚自己救不了兒子的李家主沒有再去探監過，全當自己不知情，因為他再也無法承受兒子那難以置信又驚恐的目光了。
他明白兒子恨他，他也恨自己，恨自己無能為力，沒有站在權利的最高點，為家人提供無人可侵犯的保護。
李家主和李傲母子的痛苦被李楚和李楚母親盡收眼底，他們越是悲傷，兩人就越是高興。
原來仇者痛親者快的滋味如此美妙。
但僞裝了十幾年，他們不可能在這個時候露餡兒，所以也跟着演出不舍和無奈的表情來。
李傲知道事已成定局，無可更改，便也沒浪費時間再求他爹和他哥了。
他只是看着他爹，用像是被沙石磨過的粗啞嗓子道：“爹，我馬上要走了，往後我們大概一輩子都見不到了，等我離開後，你好好待娘，至少讓她能安享晚年。”
聽他這麽說，姨娘頓時哭得更大聲了，不停地喊着“我的兒，我的兒”，像是立馬就能哭暈過去。
李家主鄭重地點頭：“傲兒你放心，只要我活着一日，就會護你娘一日周全。”
得到自己想要的答案，李傲也不再理會父親，轉頭看向了他大哥李楚。
李楚上前，扶着李傲的手紅了眼睛：“傲兒，對不起，是哥沒用，哥幫不了你。”
李傲搖頭：“我知道你們盡力了。”
李楚剛想繼續說什麽，但李傲緊接着又道：“但我還是很恨你們。”
李楚愣住，李傲自顧自道：“我不想死，也不想被流放，當初是你和爹告訴我，我是李家小少爺，無論闖什麽禍你們都能替我擺平，可上次青樓的事，還有這一回，你們卻半點沒有幫到我。”
直到這個時候，李傲依舊沒有意識到自己的問題，還是習慣性地把責任都往別人身上推。
李家主臉色慘白地閉眼嘆氣，像是失望，又像是無奈。
李楚低頭說着對不起，但心裏卻在獰笑。
其實李傲也沒完全說錯，确實是他把李傲給養廢了，李傲能有今天的結局，都是拜自己所賜。
他李楚，親自捧殺了他的弟弟。
李楚擡起眼眸，神色複雜地望向李傲，乍一看去，他臉上都是懊悔歉疚，可仔細看了才發現，他眼底全是掩藏不住的得意。
李傲也看出了哥哥眼神不對，可他又說不出來哪裏不對。
他不喜歡哥哥這樣看着他，就像是在嘲笑他一樣。
情急之下，李傲便将李楚一把推開，冷聲道：“離我遠點！”
李楚踉跄着後退幾步，露出哀傷的神色來：“小傲……”
見此情景，連向來不喜大兒子的李家主，也生出了幾分心疼。
這次李傲出事，受波及的不止他，連李楚也跟着被貶職了。
但李楚從未因此抱怨過，後面還跟着他一起忙前忙後，想盡各種辦法，只為留下李傲的性命。
不過考慮到李傲此時心情不好，發點脾氣也很正常，李家主即便心疼李楚，也并未站出來為他說話。
李楚像是沒覺察到李家主的偏心，又或者說，即便覺察到他其實也不在乎了。
他接着扮演他的好哥哥角色，直到李傲被獄卒帶走。
這最後一次見面，終究還是不歡而散了。
李傲被押往邊疆後，李家主和李傲母親同時生了場大病，李傲的離開像是抽走了他們的魂，讓他們淪為了一具毫無生機的行屍走肉。
When Li Chu was "fulfilling his filial duty" at his father's bedside, he also specifically told him that he had spent a lot of money to ask the escorting officers and soldiers to take good care of Li Ao. He believed that Li Ao would be able to reach the place of exile safely, and he would also find a way to help him live a normal life there.
The sickly head of the Li family patted Li Chu's hand, praising him for valuing brotherhood and being a good boy.
Li Chu said: "Xiaoao is my most beloved brother, how could I really abandon him?"
Patriarch Li looked pleased.
But before Mr. Li could feel relieved for long, a piece of bad news reached his ears - Li Ao was dead.