Chapter 82: Lifting Abstinence

Rong Yin originally thought that Zong Zheng Xiao was just angry because she said she wouldn't do more with him, and that she could just act coquettishly to comfort him.

But who knew that Zong Zheng Xiao was as hard-hearted as a rock this time, and he just wouldn't let him eat ice cream, no matter how much he begged for mercy, Zong Zheng Xiao wouldn't give in.

Even classmate Xiao Ai could occasionally chew a few pieces of ice to cool off, but Zong Zhengxiao issued a strict order that when he was not in the garden, whoever caught Rong Yin stealing ice food would be rewarded with ten taels of silver, and Rong Yin who was caught would face punishment.

After her buttocks were spanked several times, Rong Yin no longer dared to have sex in the palace.

Because Rong Yin made ice cream and popsicles and sold them in the milk tea shop, the business of the milk tea shop quickly took off. The fruit merchants who supplied them were so happy that they would wake up with laughter in their dreams in the middle of the night, saying that they could make a lot of money following Boss Rong and that they would definitely reserve the best fruits for his shop in the future.

Seeing the business flourishing, Rong Yin finally found an excuse to leave the palace, saying that she was going to check the accounts, but actually she wanted to sneak some ice cream in the store.

But what Rong Yin didn't expect was that, except for going to the toilet, from the moment he left the palace, no matter what he did, there would be a guard watching him, and they were so dedicated that they didn't even blink.

It was simply wishful thinking for Rong Yin to have an affair.

In order to regain Bingshi's freedom, Rong Yin endured the humiliation and crawled into the quilt in the middle of the night, hoping to bite Zong Zhengxiao once to tempt him to break the agreement.

If they did, then he could continue to eat his ice cream.

But Zong Zhengxiao's abstinence was incredibly strong. As soon as Rong Yin's hand touched his pants, he was pulled out and held in his arms, and his hands and feet were controlled.

"Don't make noise, be good and sleep well." Zong Zhengxiao's lazy voice rang in Rong Yin's ears.

Rong Yin asked, "Really not going to do it?"

Zong Zhengxiao said calmly, "You said once a month. We have already done it this month. For the sake of health, we can't do it again."

Rong Yin: "...You are just trying to piss me off on purpose, right?"

Zong Zhengxiao: "I fell asleep and couldn't hear you."

Rong Yin: “…”

Rong Yin cursed in her heart: You stingy guy, drink some cold water!

Zong Zhengxiao remained indifferent.

Since cold food was forbidden, Rong Yin could only drink cold tea with Zong Zhengxiao. It was a luxury for her to have a glass of iced sour plum juice occasionally.

In addition to prohibiting the use of cold food, Zong Zhengxiao also called the imperial physician to diagnose and prescribe medicine for the two of them. Rong Yin had to drink a bowl of medicine every day that was more bitter than his life. Although Zong Zhengxiao had to drink it every day like him, Rong Yin still accepted it helplessly.

But with Zong Zheng Xiao watching him, he had no choice but to drink.

Rong Yin asked what the medicine was, and Zong Zhengxiao said it was for health, so that they wouldn't end up like old man Li when they get old and have a stroke just by going to bed.

Rong Yin drank the bitter medicine, feeling extremely regretful. She wished she could go back to the day when she first heard Old Man Li's joke and shut her trouble-making mouth tightly.

I drank the bitter medicine for a month. After the imperial physician came to check my pulse, he felt that the effect was almost enough, so he changed the medicine into pills, and I only needed to take one pill every three days.

Upon hearing the news, Rong Yin was so excited that she almost cried. Finally, she didn't have to drink that stuff anymore.

In the evening, after the palace servants left, Rong Yin, wearing only a single layer of clothing, snuggled into the arms of Zong Zheng Xiao, who was still reading, hugged his neck, and rubbed against him like a kitten.

"Your Majesty, stop reading and look at me."

Zong Zhengxiao grabbed Rong Yin by the back of his neck and pressed him into his arms, but he did not get intimate with him. Instead, he continued to read with his head down.

"Abstinence and health preservation." Zong Zhengxiao said calmly.

Rong Yin leaned on his shoulder and said, "We agreed to do it once a month. It's been a month since we last did it."

Zong Zhengxiao's voice remained flat: "Next time."

Rong Yin: "When is the next time?"

Zong Zhengxiao: "When the time is right."

Rong Yin was furious. He supported Zong Zhengxiao's shoulders and sat up, staring at him fiercely, "You really won't do it?"

Zong Zhengxiao said nothing and acquiesced.

"Hmph, then just live your life with your books!" Rong Yin rolled to the side, pulled up the thin blanket and wrapped himself in it, turned his back to Zong Zheng Xiao, and didn't look at him again.

Looking at Rong Yin who looked like a cocoon, Zong Zhengxiao sighed helplessly.

In the following months, Rong Yin didn't mention going to bed again out of spite, and Zong Zheng Xiao also acted as if he didn't know about it, and just insisted on sleeping with Rong Yin in his arms every night.

Until the arrival of autumn, Zong Zhengxiao had been quite busy with the autumn harvest, so when the imperial physician came to Yinjiao Garden to take the pulses of the two masters at the appointed time, only Rong Yin was there.

After taking Rong Yin's pulse, the imperial physician checked Rong Yin's tongue and asked him about his diet in recent days, what he had eaten, how his appetite was, how his sleep was, and whether he had any discomfort in his stomach.

After Rong Yin answered all the questions, the doctor said, "You can stop taking the medicine. Eat some medicinal food regularly and rest on time. Don't eat spicy or cold food for a long time to avoid damaging your intestines and stomach. To protect your intestines and stomach, you still have to start with the small details in your daily life."

Rong Yin didn't quite understand: "What do you mean by protecting the stomach?"

The imperial physician was also confused when he heard his words: "My young master, you have been taking these medicines these days, and you have also avoided eating cold foods, abstinence, and resting on time. Aren't they all for the purpose of protecting your intestines and stomach? The last time you had a stomachache in the middle of the night, I was not in the palace, and it was my apprentice who came to treat you. Later, His Majesty asked me to come and see you again and prescribe medicine according to your specific situation."

Rong Yin asked, "Then is the medicine your majesty drank also for the stomach?"

The imperial physician nodded and said, "Your Majesty fought on the battlefield in his early years, and later he was busy with government affairs. It was common for him to have irregular diets, so he also had some stomach problems. However, he has been taking care of himself over the years, and the situation has improved a lot. In fact, it doesn't matter whether he takes medicine or not."

Rong Yin sent the imperial physician away in a daze, and only then did he find time to think about this matter.

A few days before Zong Zhengxiao forbade him to eat ice cream, he was making ice cream and ate a lot of it because he was greedy. One night, he had a stomachache, which made him pale and sweat broke out on his forehead.

Zong Zhengxiao called the imperial physician over overnight. After taking the medicine prescribed by the imperial physician, Rong Yin's pain was quickly relieved, and he was alive and well as usual the next day.

He didn't take it to heart, but he didn't expect that Zong Zheng Xiao still remembered it.

The reason why Zong Zhengxiao agreed to his casual request for abstinence that day was probably to take advantage of the situation and seize the opportunity to implement the stomach-nourishing plan.

Rong Yin also understood why Zong Zheng Xiao hid the truth from him. If Zong Zheng Xiao openly asked Rong Yin to abstain from certain foods and asked him to drink such bitter medicine just to protect his stomach, Rong Yin would definitely not do it.

Rong Yin was embarrassed. Her husband really understood her.

At dinner time, Chef Yu really served a dish of stomach-warming medicinal chicken soup. Rong Yin drank it obediently and also served a bowl for Zong Zhengxiao.

"You have already taken the medicine with me, so drink this soup as well. Your Majesty, you also need to nourish your stomach."

Hearing this, Zong Zhengxiao was stunned for a moment, and then said in a positive tone: "You know."

Rong Yin nodded: "The imperial physician came to take my pulse today, and I asked him."

Zong Zhengxiao looked at him and said, "I lied to you, are you angry?"

Rong Yin shook her head: "No, I know you are doing this for my own good."

Zong Zheng Xiao laughed: "I didn't do it with you before because it was for your own good, so why were you angry then?"

Rong Yin blushed: "We're eating, why are you talking about this?"

As he spoke, he looked at the palace maids beside him. Fortunately, they were all very tactful. When they heard the topic getting more and more inappropriate, they immediately lowered their heads and pretended that they heard and saw nothing.

Zong Zhengxiao was amused by his shy expression: "Okay, okay, I won't say anything more. Come, eat meat."

Zong Zhengxiao picked up the meat and fed it to Rong Yin's mouth. Rong Yin glared at him angrily, but at least he did not refuse his feeding.

At night, after washing up, Rong Yin handed the medicine jade box to Zong Zhengxiao and said, "Here, you come tonight."

Zong Zhengxiao was a little surprised to see this. Rong Yin was usually very shy, except for the occasional time when they were doing it and Rong Yin couldn't hold on any longer and fell asleep. Zong Zhengxiao would help him clean up and put the medicine jade in his pocket. The rest of the time when he was awake, Rong Yin did everything by himself.

Now it is self-evident what his action means.

Zong Zhengxiao took the box and asked Rong Yin, "Which one do you want to use, A Yin?"

In fact, Zong Zhengxiao knew which one Rong Yin had been using before, and he was deliberately teasing her.

Rong Yin was indeed embarrassed, but he did not avoid answering. Instead, he sat on Zong Zheng Xiao's lap, leaned closer to him, and his breath was as sweet as orchid.

"I want to try the one on the far right tonight, but I'm afraid I can't do it."

From left to right, from S to XXL.

Zong Zhengxiao held him, "I'll help you."

Rong Yin leaned close to Zong Zheng Xiao and asked in a low voice, "How can you help?"

Zong Zhengxiao raised his hand: "Besides this, there is also..."

He hadn't finished speaking, but Rong Yin understood what he meant.

"You are quite smart..." Rong Yin blushed.

"Do you want to try it?" The breathing of the two people gradually blended.

"Let's give it a try!" Rong Yin said without showing any fear.

The night is quiet and insects are chirping. It is a wonderful night.

Even though they hadn't been intimate for several months, Zong Zhengxiao still restrained himself and only did it once.

Before going to bed, he carried the tired Rong Yin to clean up, and then fulfilled Rong Yin's request to him.

Of course, the one on the far right was a joke between the two of them, and he chose the original one because he knew Rong Yin could only bear this one.

This year, more places used fertilizers, and more people had good harvests. In addition, with Zong Zhengxiao's deliberate publicity, now if you ask any citizen on the street what he thinks of the current emperor, he will sincerely and eloquently talk about Zong Zhengxiao's great achievements and how much he loves the people of Da Sheng.

"Hey, I heard that toilet paper is cheaper again, let's go buy some later and store it."

"Sure, I have a big family, and a roll of toilet paper will be used up in a few days. Fortunately, the price of this paper is not expensive, and there are often discounts. Otherwise, ordinary people like us can't afford it at all."

“這都是陛下的功勞啊，最近不止衛生紙降價了，連讀書人用的寫字的紙也降了，聽說是中秋節做活動呢，我隔壁的林書生今早就買了好多回來。”

“是啊，之前城裏只有崔家紙賣，不僅價格貴，質量也不好，我兒子每月都要花一大筆錢去買紙，現在好了，陛下賣的宣紙質量更好，逼得崔家不得不降價，可為我家省了不少錢呢。”

“還是嬸子你命好，有個讀書的兒子，如今咱們陛下重視科舉，以後他要是能考個秀才舉人什麽的出來，你們家後半輩子就享福咯。”

“哈哈，還是得謝謝陛下，沒有他，哪來的太平盛世，又哪來的我們的好日子啊。”

“是啊，咱們陛下就是最好的陛下。”

一輛馬車從說話的婦人身邊緩慢駛過，車裏人将她倆說的內容都盡收耳底。

“哼，無知婦人！”一道滿是酸意的男聲響起。

這輛馬車是陳家的，而說話這人正是陳家二公子。

他身旁坐着閉目養神的陳家主，他們正要去宮裏參加中秋晚宴。

面對憤怒的兒子，陳家主沒多少表情，只是道：“待會兒到了宴席上，如果不想被皇上抓住把柄，拿陳家開刀的話，記得收一收你的表情。”

如今陳家主算是看明白了，擁有一個正常的後代對自己和對家族有多大的好處。

賀家因為賀老大壞了事，被迫參與造反，最後落得個家破人亡的下場；李家因為李傲得罪了皇帝，李傲被迫承擔罪責，客死異鄉，李家主因此重病還被妾室算計，如今只能跟個廢人一樣躺在床上。

宗政逍和世家的戰争中間涉及了那麽多利益和人命，不可能也不會善終，反正不是你死就是我亡。

陳家主可不想陳家被提前犧牲掉，好在他的幾個兒子雖無多大才能，但算是比較聽話的，只要自己不出錯，總不會被宗政逍抓到漏洞，從而擊垮陳家。

陳二少撇了撇嘴，道：“爹，我又不是李傲那個傻子，我知道有些話什麽時候該說，什麽時候不該說。”

陳家主淡淡道：“你最好是真的知道，不然你要是像李傲一樣惹出禍事，我可不會想辦法保你。”

陳二少垂眸，“兒子知道。”

與重視孩子的賀家主和兒子稀少的李家主不同，陳家主光是跟發妻就有三個兒子，其它妾室也為他生了幾個庶子。

而且他的三個嫡子也都很出色，老大随他從政，前途似錦，老三喜歡賺錢，且把家裏的生意打理得井井有條，老二雖不務正業了些，但總共老實，也孝順，目前還沒有給陳家捅出多大婁子。

或許是因為兒子多了，不稀奇了，再加上陳家主性格所致，所以他對家裏的孩子都是公平公正地對待，很少偏向或者冷待誰，即便是幾個庶子，他也依舊認真教導。

但若是這些孩子做下有害整個陳家的錯事，還被人抓個正着，他可不會像李家主一樣竭力營救，只會将其舍棄，還要趕緊撇清關系。

之前陳家有庶子和李傲一起在青樓謾罵皇帝，被人舉報後，要不是有李傲在前面頂罪，陳家主肯定會毫不猶豫地把那個庶子丢出去。

父親公正，但也冷情。

這是陳家所有孩子都心知肚明的事情。

陳大少被外放出京歷練，陳三少跑商去了，陳母又恰好病了，所以才會輪到陳二少陪父親進宮。

陳二少一開始罵婦人那句話雖然本意是想讨父親歡心，但其中也不乏真情實感。

宗政逍當初讓季家開冰鋪，第一年擠掉陳家大半的市場，第二年陳家直接做不下去冰生意了，只能灰溜溜關門大吉。

不巧的是，在季家冰鋪出現前，陳家冰鋪的生意如日中天，陳二少便向父親讨來管冰鋪的生意，想着即便自己什麽也不做，也能賺得盆滿缽滿，還能在父親面前有個好形象。

可誰知冰鋪偏偏在他手裏出了問題。

其實大家都明白，季家冰鋪的低價冰一出現，陳家冰鋪做不下去是很正常的，因為他們沒底氣去跟季家比降價，即便是陳家主出馬也無可奈何，更別說陳二少一個啥也不懂的公子哥。

但畢竟那段時間是他在管冰鋪，所以哪怕家裏人沒有責怪他，他還是覺得丢臉。

後來幾個世家都開始研究戎音那邊的面包和奶茶，看這些東西賺錢，他們也想分一杯羹。

陳二少又主動請纓，攬下這個活計。

面包他研究不出來，奶茶和果茶就簡單許多，他搶在另外幾家前面開了奶茶店，一開始生意很火爆，甚至超過了戎音的奶茶店。

這使他家原本空置的冰庫也可以重新啓用了。

陳二少得了父親誇獎，又看見自己的店生意好，心态就有些飄了。

他任人唯親，導致親近的人在購買材料時吃回扣，果商送來的水果很多都是爛的，而且店裏的員工也是親戚的親戚，仗着這層關系，根本不認真工作，更不注意衛生問題。

這種種原因導致奶茶出問題，害得客人生病，店裏髒亂差的現象被曝光出去，生意瞬間一落千丈。

最後還是他三弟幫他整頓店鋪，開除涉事員工，賠償客人醫藥費，還做了促銷活動，才勉強留住一些客人，但收益是遠遠不如最初的時候了，更別說跟戎音的奶茶店比。

陳二少不否認自己有問題，但他覺得要是沒有宗政逍和戎音，他也不至于倒黴成這樣，現在害得他在家連頭都擡不起來。

所以聽見那兩個婦人誇贊宗政逍時，他才沒忍住罵了一句。

到了宴席上，陳二少坐在父親身側，看見今天宴席上不僅每張桌子都有一塊奶油蛋糕和一份雪糕作為飯後甜點，旁邊的一個盒子裏還放着幾張跟雪一樣潔白，手感柔軟，散發着淡淡香味的紙。

據宮人介紹，這東西叫紙帕，可以用來抹嘴、擦手，用完就丢，不像手帕一樣需要清洗，很是方便。

再後來，坐在高臺上的宗政逍又說，桌上的食物，包括月餅，都是今秋的新糧所做，讓大家一起品嘗豐收的喜悅。

衆臣順勢高呼陛下聖明，世家的人卻是心中苦澀。

宗政逍的所作所為，再加上今天宴席上的一切，不都是在告訴他們，現在宗政逍有多厲害多得勢，他們要是再與宗政逍針鋒相對，結果只會是落敗。

與那群面色如土的世家不同，李楚坐在席間，愉快地吃着蛋糕雪糕還有月餅，其它菜也沒放過，之後再來一杯桂花酒，用紙帕擦着手，欣賞臺上的舞樂表演，簡直是再惬意不過了。

而此刻的李家，李母同樣也是心情愉悅。

她先是當着李家主的面吃完從雲朵面包店賣來的蛋黃月餅，又喝了口戎音奶茶店的低糖奶茶解膩，最後還不忘記跟李家主誇贊這些食物的味道有多好。

李家主還沒病倒前曾嚴令禁止他們買宗政逍那邊的東西，李母想吃點好吃的都得藏着掖着，畢竟她和兒子在李家主那裏可沒有李傲母子的特權。

現在不一樣了，李家主病歪歪地躺在床上，連吭聲都艱難，更別說罵她責罰她了。

在李母享受美食的時候，李家主就惡狠狠地瞪着她，可表情再兇，他也對她無可奈何。

吃飽喝足，李母坐得離李家主更近了一些，像是沒嗅到他床上傳來的惡臭。

李家主如今癱瘓，吃喝拉撒都在床上，即便整理的再幹淨，也不可能沒味道。

李母一邊鏽着花，一邊道：“往常這個時候，你去參加宮裏的晚宴應該快回來了，大概剛進府，就會被李傲和他母親拽去自己院裏，陪他們一起賞月吃月餅，阖家團圓。”

說到阖家團圓幾個字時，李母語氣裏滿是譏諷。

他不是嫉妒，只是覺得大仇得報，舒心至極。

曾經恩愛和諧的一家三口，現在陰陽相隔，天各一方，果真是報應不爽。

李家主一天沒進食喝水了，也沒力氣再哼哼，只不過看着李母的眼神愈發仇恨。

他也是等姨娘被送走了才知道，原來李楚母子倆之前的孝順溫厚都是演的，他們恨他和李傲母子恨到了極點，現下自己癱瘓，姨娘被送走，李傲死了，是正中他們下懷。

李家主恨不得将他們倆都給殺了，但可惜他癱了，連自盡都做不到，又何談傷人性命。

李母将繡花針刺進布料，又緩緩拔出，微笑着道：“你是不是以為我和兒子恨你，只是因為你冷落我們，優待李傲母子，我們嫉恨了？”

李家主看向李母的視線像是在表達：不然還能是為了什麽？

李母笑容更盛，跟他對視，道：“多年前，你喝醉了，把我認成了你的愛妾，然後親口告訴我，你以後會除掉我和兒子，将李家留給李傲……所以你說，我和兒子想報複你們，想讓你們死，有問題嗎？”

聞言，李家主瞳孔緊縮，呼吸不受控制地急促起來。

He had indeed planned this a long time ago, when Li Ao was about two or three years old. He had always disliked his first wife and eldest son, so how could he be willing to leave the Li family to them.

After Li Ao's death, he began to get close to Li Chu, which was also a last resort.

He didn't even tell Li Ao and his mother about his little thoughts. He thought he was the only one who knew about it, and he thought he had hidden it well.

It turned out that due to a moment of negligence, his plan had already been exposed to Li Chu and his mother...

It was he who harmed himself and killed Ao'er!

In excitement, the head of the Li family rolled his eyes and fainted again. Only then did Li's mother put away her embroidery and asked someone to call the court doctor.

Rong Yin had no idea what was going on in the palace banquet or outside the palace. He was testing whether the newly built swing was sturdy.