Chapter 83 The Little Demon King Under the Moonlight

He still did not attend the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet this year, but took advantage of Zong Zhengxiao's absence to prepare a big surprise for him.

It is said that they have a special connection with the Mid-Autumn Festival. Several of their previous relationship breakthroughs occurred on this day.

Rong Yin thought happily while sitting on the swing and moving around to make sure that the thing could withstand the tossing and turning before running back to the house to make preparations.

After the dinner, Zong Zhengxiao entered the garden and found that neither Rong Yin nor Xiao Ai came to greet him, and it was surprisingly quiet inside. This familiar scene made him suddenly understand something.

This time, all the palace servants, including Lu'e and Si Xi, withdrew. The garden was so quiet that only the chirping of insects could be heard.

When he approached the pavilion, Zong Zhengxiao heard the sound of Rong not far away.

The autumn chrysanthemums are in full bloom, and each one is as gorgeous as fireworks. The heart-shaped sea of ​​flowers is illuminated by the moonlight. In the middle of the sea of ​​flowers is an unfamiliar swing, and sitting on the swing is the person Zong Zhengxiao is most familiar with.

Rong Yin's white dress fluttered lightly, and was blown by the night wind as he swung on the swing, like a fluttering butterfly, flapping its wings wantonly.

In his half-merman form, Rong Yin was like a night elf. The faintly visible scales on his cheeks glowed eerily in the moonlight. His light blue eyes held a charming smile, the corners of his rosy lips raised slightly, and he tilted his head slightly to look at Zong Zheng Xiao, issuing a silent invitation.

Zong Zhengxiao walked step by step into the sea of ​​flowers, his eyes never leaving Rong Yin's face, his eyes were deep, as if he was suppressing some impulse.

Zong Zhengxiao didn't stop until he came in front of Rong Yin.

He looked at the seductively beautiful Rong Yin and said in a deep voice, "Where did you come from, you little devil, how dare you not kneel before me?"

Rong Yin's slender white fingers entangled her black hair and played with it. There was no fear in her tone: "I was practicing under the moon, and you trespassed into my territory without permission. I'm not even angry yet, but you, the emperor of the human race, are putting on airs first."

"Little merman, aren't you afraid of me?" Zong Zhengxiao leaned over to look at Rong Yin, holding the swing pillar with his hands.

Rong Yin raised her chin and said proudly, "I am the monster that eats people, why should I be afraid of you?"

Zong Zhengxiao chuckled: "Are you that amazing?"

"That's right." Rong Yin boasted, "I am the king of the demon race."

Zong Zhengxiao smiled and said, "You said you are a powerful demon king, but do you know that there is a method of cultivation that is a hundred times more effective than absorbing moonlight?"

Rong Yin's eyes lit up and she asked, "What method?"

Zong Zhengxiao looked at the white gauze on Rong Yin and said, "Why do you ask this question when you know the answer?"

"How do I know if the method you're talking about is the one I know?" Rong Yin raised her leg, stretched her jade-white bare foot towards Zong Zheng Xiao's leg, kicked it playfully, and said with a wicked smile: "My method can make you unable to stop, do you dare to try it?"

Zong Zhengxiao held Rong Yin's wrist and slowly lifted her up. The white veil fell uncontrollably, and the scene was just perfect for the moment.

He looked down and his eyebrows jumped suddenly.

Empty.

Zong Zheng Xiao raised his eyes and met Rong Yin's proud gaze. He smiled and winked at Zong Zheng Xiao: "Human Emperor, are you satisfied with the way this demon king is dressed tonight?"

Zong Zhengxiao stepped forward and got closer to the sound of the army.

"Satisfied, extremely satisfied." Zong Zhengxiao lifted Rong Yin's chin, his voice hoarse, "The demon king's cultivation method, is it to absorb my yang, huh?"

Rong Yin smiled and said, "The emperor of the human race is really smart. This demon king wants not only your yang*, but also your dragon*. Do you dare to give it to me?"

Zong Zhengxiao leaned over, and the two of them were so close that their faces were almost touching.

"Why shouldn't I?"

Rong Yin raised his head, and his breath caressed Zong Zhengxiao's lips: "Aren't you afraid that I, the demon king, will suck you dry and kill you?"

Zong Zheng Xiao laughed: "Why didn't I ruin you first?"

Rong Yin raised her hands and hugged Zong Zhengxiao's shoulders, "How about a competition?"

Zong Zhengxiao said, "Okay, I will do my best to fulfill my duties as a host and make sure the Demon King's trip is worthwhile."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zong Zheng Xiao had already leaned forward.

The picture book contained instructions on how to play on the swing, and the two of them tried it out tonight. In the end, Rong Yin was the first to admit defeat, and she cried and begged Zong Zhengxiao to come again next time.

Zong Zhengxiao sat on the swing, and Rong Yin sat on him again. He held Rong Yin's face with his hands, kissed away the tears from his eyes, and chuckled in a hoarse voice: "Did the Demon King admit defeat?"

Rong Yin cried so much that her eyes were red and tears were still hanging on her eyelashes.

He held onto Zong Zheng Xiao's shoulders and sobbed, "I said I don't want to play anymore, why are you still calling me the Demon King?"

Zong Zhengxiao bit his face lightly, and after Rong Yin cried out in pain, he kissed him comfortingly.

"If the Demon King doesn't admit defeat himself, the game won't end. We have to keep playing."

Rong Yin glared at him: "I admit defeat, you win, is this okay? You will bully me!"

Zong Zhengxiao said: "I am respecting the rules of the game, how can that be considered bullying you?"

"You're still trying to make excuses." Rong Yin was so angry that he dropped a few more golden beans.

Zong Zhengxiao quickly confessed upon seeing this, "Okay, okay, blame me. I bullied you. Okay, little ancestor, stop crying."

"Humph, who wants to be your ancestor? My surname is not Zong Zheng." Rong Yin was being unreasonable.

Zong Zhengxiao also leaned over him and coaxed him softly, "I'll take your last name, Rong Xiao. Is that okay?"

Rong Yin burst into laughter and said, "That's pretty good."

"Okay, if the little ancestor is happy, I can continue." Zong Zhengxiao helped Rong Yin to stabilize her body and pressed his soft lips against hers, "Ayin, hold on tight, be careful not to fall."

Rong Yin hugged Zong Zheng Xiao obediently, rested her chin on Zong Zheng Xiao's shoulder, and said, "This is the last time. I want to sleep."

Zong Zhengxiao started to act: "Okay, I'll listen to A Yin."

Rong Yin snorted: "You are just relying on the fact that I like you, so you dare to be so presumptuous."

Zong Zhengxiao laughed softly: "Yes, I am almost spoiled to the heavens by our A Yin."

Under the moonlight, the colorful autumn chrysanthemums are swaying in the evening breeze.

Finally, Rong Yin was carried by Zong Zheng Xiao to clean up the mess while wearing her tattered white gauze. Even though she was almost asleep, he did not forget to remind her, "Can you please clean up the swing later? I don't want them to see us."

Zong Zhengxiao tilted his head and kissed his cheek, saying, "Okay, I will definitely clean it up thoroughly, Ayin, you can sleep well."

Rong Yin finally stopped resisting her fighting eyelids and closed her eyes as they pleased.

Before he lost consciousness, he still remembered to praise her: "Thank you, husband. My husband is the best..."

Before he could finish his words, the man had been dragged away by Zhou Gong.

Zong Zhengxiao laughed: "Sometimes you don't have to be so polite."

After putting Rong Yin back on the bed, Zong Zhengxiao did the cleaning work diligently and cleaned up all the traces on the swing and the nearby chrysanthemums without leaving any evidence. He was truly a model cleaner.

The next day, Rong Yin got up with back pain. Zong Zhengxiao fed him porridge and asked him, "You refused to do the swing before, why did you do it last night?"

Rong Yin had the expression of a domineering CEO: "You are allowed to quietly help me take care of my stomach, but I am not allowed to give you the little surprise you want?"

Zong Zhengxiao said: "Yes, of course I will. I'm just too happy."

Rong Yin lifted his chin and said in a haughty tone: "You are my man, if I don't pamper you, who else should I pamper?"

Zong Zheng Xiao followed suit and leaned over to kiss him, and then continued to feed him porridge, "Domineering demon king, fill your stomach first and then pamper me."

Rong Yin patted his shoulder with satisfaction: "My beloved concubine, you still care about me."

The two actors were so dramatic that the palace maids around them could hardly hold back their laughter.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Zong Zhengxiao summoned several ministers to the palace to discuss important matters, and then announced the results of their discussion at the morning court the next day.

Zong Zhengxiao planned to announce the existence of corn to the world next year. While distributing corn seeds, he also planned to start collecting taxes from next autumn.

In order to allow the people to rest and live, Zong Zhengxiao has not collected a single cent of tax since he ascended the throne. From the capital to the local areas, the operation of the government basically relies on funds allocated by the capital or self-sufficiency, and everyone from top to bottom advocates integrity and frugality.

But it would not work to continue like this. If there was no fertilizer, Zong Zhengxiao might have to wait a few more years, but with fertilizer, the people had a good harvest every year and were able to pay taxes.

Of course, you won’t pay the highest tax level right away; it will definitely increase year by year until it reaches a normal level.

This gradual approach will not cause resentment among the people.

Zong Zhengxiao had also discussed this matter with the officials of the aristocratic families, so after he spoke out, no one from the aristocratic families came out to refute it, and it was rare for both parties to reach a consensus.

The main reason is that the head of the Li family has become disabled, and the representative of the Li family, Li Chu, is pretending to be deaf and dumb. The Cui family and the Chen family both want to protect themselves and no one wants to get involved, so the court naturally seems much more peaceful.

After court was dismissed that day, the two heads of the Cui and Chen families gathered together. Looking at the seat next to them that should have belonged to the head of the Li family, and thinking about his current situation, they both frowned at the same time.

Patriarch Cui said, "This young man Li Chu doesn't seem to be very obedient."

After the head of the Li family became paralyzed, Li Chu rarely participated in activities between the aristocratic families. Even if he came, he just played dumb and didn't take it seriously at all.

His behavior was suspicious, as if he was deliberately avoiding having any further relationship with them.

The head of the Chen family said, "I don't know whether this is what Lord Li meant, or whether Li Chu made his own decision. The Li family seems to want to keep itself out of trouble."

Patriarch Cui sneered: "Does the Li family think this is just a game of house? If they want to withdraw, then withdraw. Without us, their Li family will only become a helpless and helpless target. Will the little emperor let them go then?"

Lord Chen nodded: "That's right. The conflict between us and Zong Zheng Xiao is too deep. Either he dies or we die. There is no compromise."

Patriarch Cui spun his teacup, his expression gloomy. "Come to think of it, why did Lord Li suddenly become paralyzed? Although he was ill before, he still looked strong. However, it is a bit unreasonable that he became like this after favoring his concubines a few times."

“我聽說他和那妾室聽了高僧的話，覺得早日懷孕，就能早日讓李傲重新投生到李家，再加上其他小妾平日争寵，他精力有限，年紀又大了，會出問題也正常，之前也不是沒有過例子。”

崔家主神色凝重：“我還是覺得有哪裏不對，李大人剛出事的時候，你派人去看望過他嗎？”

陳家主點頭，“還是我親自去的，我到了李府，親眼見到了他，他躺在床上，幾乎渾身都動不了了，吃喝拉撒都需要人伺..候，李夫人和李楚有空就在床邊伺..候，李大人看他們的眼神挺和善的，不像是有什麽隐情。”

陳家主去的時候，李家主還沒識破李楚母子倆的陰謀，是以在陳家主面前，他表現得很是信任兩人。

至于崔家主，他沒那個閑心自己上門，而是派了他兒子去的。

他兒子回來說，他打聽到害得李家主中風的妾室，也就是李傲的娘，已經被送到莊子上去了。

李家人都說李家主就是因為縱欲過度才會出事，沒有別的外因。

至于李家主本人，俨然成了真正的廢物，他連崔少爺都沒見，只讓李楚招待他，然後客客氣氣地将他送走。

據李楚所說，李家主出問題後就羞于再見客人，還希望客人們諒解。

崔家主道：“現下李家，怕是快要完全落進李楚手裏了。”

陳家主搖頭，道：“李家主癱得太突然，李楚前些年一直被冷落，等李傲死了才被李家主重用，所以他幾個叔伯好像都不太服他，最近給他找了不少麻煩。”

“好事啊。”崔家主眼眸亮了一下，“既然他那麽不乖順，就讓他吃吃苦頭，讓他明白想逃離我們獨善其身會有什麽下場，等吃夠教訓，他自然就聽話了。”

陳家主一愣：“崔大人的意思是？”

崔家主唇角上揚，笑容滿是惡意：“去他幾個叔伯那裏走動走動，給他找點麻煩，還有，我總覺李大人中風這事兒有蹊跷，剛好趁着這段時間，仔細調查一下。”

陳家主懂了：“如果真能拿到李楚的把柄……”

崔家人接道：“那連帶着他和李家，都會是我們手裏最好用的擋箭牌。”

聞言，陳家主眼裏也閃過一抹邪笑。

正所謂死道友不死貧道，他們想安全，就需要有人在前面沖鋒陷陣，抵擋宗政逍帶來的所有危險。

“阿嚏！”

李家，李楚剛進入李家主的卧房，就被裏面的氣味熏得忍不住打噴嚏。

因為李母的示意，下人們對待李家主的态度也怠惰了許多，不僅不及時給他翻身，連吃飯和處理大小..便，都是什麽時候高興了什麽時候再做。

但屋裏味道太臭了也不行，顯得他們懶惰，所以就有下人想着拿香粉沖散一下臭味，結果卻不小心形成了更嗆鼻的氣味。

李楚聞一次就受不了了，趕緊退出來，冷着臉質問下人：“你們就是這麽照顧老爺的？”

他故意留李家主一命，就是為了讓他經受長久的折磨，順便讓他當鎮宅寶，免得李家主死後，他還沒完全掌控李家，那些叔叔伯伯就跳出來跟他掰扯。

他是想讓李家主不好過，但他懷疑臭成這樣，可能會讓李家主一命嗚呼。

下人們慌亂不安地跪下，顫聲求饒：“少爺恕罪！”

李楚也懶得教訓他們，畢竟他也不希望李家主過得太好，“進去給老爺打理幹淨，把人擡到外面來曬曬太陽，別悶發黴了。”

“是是。”下人們見他沒有要追究的意思，連忙聽命辦事去了。

秋季陽光不燥，李楚坐在庭院裏喝着茶，看着下人們端水進進出出，又重新給李家主換了被褥衣服，這才将洗漱幹淨的李家主送到了李楚身邊。

因為久躺沒人翻身，再加上衛生環境堪憂，李家主身上長了不少褥瘡，看上去十分惡心可怖。

他幹巴巴地躺在躺椅上，歪斜着腦袋看向跟自己隔着一個石桌的李楚，眼神怨毒得如同惡鬼。

正是因為李楚，他最疼愛的傲兒才會死，他也從高高在上的一家之主變成了癱瘓在床的廢物老頭。

李楚像是沒有察覺到李家主陰狠的眼神，他咽下嘴裏的茶水，微笑着看向自己的父親：“爹近來過得可好？”

這明擺着是明知故問，語氣裏還滿是嘲諷之意。

李家主被氣得胸口劇烈起伏，蒼白的臉蛋都憋紅了，喉嚨裏發出呵呵的喘..息聲。

李楚自顧自地回答：“面色紅潤，看來過得還不錯。”

李家主快被他氣厥過去了。

李楚繼續跟他閑聊：“今年咱們莊子上的莊稼大豐收，各個店鋪的生意也十分紅火，到年底結算，應該能賺不少銀子，只可惜了，爹你只能看不能碰。”

李家主算是反應過來了，這小子今天就是專門來氣自己的，他還不想死，只能盡力去克制怒氣。

但李楚明顯不準備給他冷靜的機會，接着道：“如今皇上越來越得勢，世家們開始着急了，可沒了你這個蠢貨在前面當擋箭牌，崔家和陳家都不是傻子，誰也不願意去觸皇上黴頭，他們就想勸我學你，繼續給他們當刀，只可惜沒能成功。你應該慶幸李傲已經死了，要是讓他按你的心願來繼承李家，那李家怕是得落得跟賀家一樣的下場。”

聽見李楚提起李傲是這副蠻不在乎的語氣，李家主恨不得親手殺了這個孽種！

他當初唯一做錯的一件事，就是即便不喜歡發妻，還是縱容她生下了這個兒子，并将其撫養長大。

他應該在李楚出生的那一刻，就親手掐死他！

看着他無能狂怒的表情，李楚當即大笑出聲。

“爹啊爹，這就是你辜負發妻親子的報應。”李楚舉起茶水，緩緩倒在李家主身上，“放心，我暫時還不會讓你死，你就靜靜待在深宅裏腐爛發臭，看着我怎麽牢牢把整個李家掌握在手裏吧。”

“呵……呵……”李家主氣急，一口氣沒上來，又暈了過去。

見李家主是真昏迷了，李楚才慢悠悠地叫旁邊低頭裝聾作啞的下人去找府醫來。

而崔家那邊，因為李府被李楚管理得跟鐵桶一般，根本打聽不到有用的消息，他們便将目光投向了被送去莊子上的李傲母親身上。

崔家人廢了不少功夫才找到關押姨娘的莊子，經過一番打聽才知道，姨娘如今在這裏每天幹的都是粗活，吃不飽穿不暖，哪裏還有當初李府貴妾的派頭。

這無疑是李楚母子的報複。

對外宣揚自己仁善的名聲，說把姨娘當親娘看待，背地裏還不是有仇報仇有怨報怨。

姨娘或許是受夠了這樣辛苦的生活，在崔家人悄悄找到她，許諾可以帶她回京城，但代價是她得把李家主出事的前因後果說出來時，她毫不猶豫就答應了。

從姨娘那裏，崔家主才知道李楚癱瘓不是意外，而是被姨娘下了藥，而藥又是自己的貼身丫鬟拿來的。

最後姨娘受罰，那丫鬟卻繼續留在了府裏。

一瞬間，崔家主就想明白了來龍去脈。

李家主寵溺李傲苛待李楚是全京城公認的事實，李楚對他又怨也很正常，現在李傲死了，李楚再沒了競争對手，想早點取李家主而代之也不是不能理解。

老友被兒子算計，崔家主沒有過多憤怒，反而很是欣賞李楚的忍耐力和謀略。

如果他能以積極的态度幫助世家對抗皇上，于現今的世家來說，無異于是如虎添翼。

而能拿捏這個小輩的把柄，此刻就掌握在自己手裏。

崔家人把姨娘偷偷帶走了，莊子上的人發現她消失以後連忙去禀告李楚。

李楚知道這個消息後還來不及想太多，崔家主就派人來請他，說有要事相商，請他過府一敘。

面對這突如其來的鴻門宴，李楚很快就明白了過來，告訴母親不用叫人去找了，他知道姨娘在哪兒了。

崔府，崔陳兩位家主坐在庭院裏賞着秋菊飲酒，李楚被下人帶進去時，兩人同時擡起頭來看向他。

李楚做足晚輩的禮數，向兩人問好。

陳家主皮笑肉不笑：“賢侄坐吧。”

李楚從善如流地坐下，旁邊的丫鬟上來給她斟酒，陳家主跟話家常似的問：“賢侄近來可還好？聽聞你幾個叔伯前些日子鬧出了些亂子？”

李楚霎時就懂了，怪不得他那幾個原本饞他家産卻畏畏縮縮的叔伯，前些天忽然像吃了熊心豹子膽似的，居然敢去李家店裏鬧事。

現在看來，這其中少不了面前這兩位的手筆。

李楚笑道：“謝陳伯關心，晚輩與叔伯本是一家人，因為誤會鬧出了點小矛盾，現下已經說開了。”

李楚可不是他爹，會縱着家裏的親戚，自然是早就設法把那些家夥趕走了。

“是嗎？那就好。”陳家主笑容不達眼底，“你父親意外癱瘓，家裏的重擔都落到了你肩上，賢侄辛苦了。”

"Fortunately, it is within the tolerance of this younger generation." Li Chu lowered his eyes and looked at the clear wine, pretending to be humble.

This time it was Patriarch Cui's turn to speak. His eagle-like eyes stared at Li Chu: "Come to think of it, I remember your father was usually in good health. How come he suddenly collapsed?"

They were beating around the bush, and Li Chu was in no hurry to expose their thoughts. He just played dumb and said, "Father fell ill after hearing the news of my brother's death. He had a chronic illness. In addition, he was old, and my aunt coaxed him into partying every night just because of a monk's unfounded words. It happened so many times that my father couldn't bear it anymore and that's when the accident happened."

"Oh, according to you, that aunt is the culprit." Patriarch Cui held up his wine glass with a smile on his face. "But as far as I know, that aunt's confession is very different from what my nephew said. What do you think is going on?"