Chapter 87 Your Majesty, Do Not Be Willful

"After the eunuch finished his explanation, I sent people to investigate the underground casino, but..." Si Xi glanced at Rong Yin before continuing, "Except for a few minions who knew nothing, the people who were responsible for threatening the young eunuch have all died."

Rong Yin frowned: "They silenced us so quickly."

Si Xi said, "I have already sent people to investigate the interpersonal relationships of those who died, but since the person behind them has been silenced, the remaining traces may have been dealt with as well."

Rong Yin sighed: "Just do your best."

Si Xi replied, "Yes," and then asked Rong Yin, "Master, have you decided what to do with that little eunuch?"

Turning his head to look in the direction of the bedroom, Rong Yin said, "Lock him up first, and let His Majesty make the decision after he wakes up."

After Si Xi left, Lu'e came to invite Rong Yin to have lunch. Rong Yin was about to refuse, but suddenly remembered Zong Zheng Xiao who was still asleep. She was afraid that she would be too hungry to take care of him, so even though she had no appetite, she still forced herself to eat half full.

Zong Zhengxiao had frostbite all over his body. The imperial physician prescribed ointment, and Rong Yin personally applied a little bit of ointment to Zong Zhengxiao. Looking at the red and swollen areas, he couldn't help but shed tears.

Blame him, it's all his fault.

Tired of crying, Rong Yin leaned against the head of the bed and quietly accompanied Zong Zhengxiao.

After an unknown amount of time, the hand that Rong Yin was holding with Zong Zheng Xiao suddenly moved. Rong Yin raised his head abruptly and looked over, only to see that Zong Zheng Xiao's eyes were slightly open and he was looking at him intently.

"Your Majesty..." Rong Yin spoke with a trembling voice.

Zong Zhengxiao raised his hand, stroked Rong Yin's still wet cheek, and said in a hoarse voice: "I'm sorry, I made you cry again."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zong Zheng Xiao started coughing uncontrollably. Rong Yin quickly poured him a glass of warm water, helped Zong Zheng Xiao up and fed him.

After drinking the water, Zong Zhengxiao's coughing gradually stopped.

Rong Yin patted his chest to calm him down, and asked worriedly, "Are you feeling better?"

Zong Zhengxiao nodded, and Rong Yin felt relieved.

"How long have I slept?" Zong Zhengxiao leaned on Rong Yin's shoulder and naturally moved closer to him.

"Not long, from yesterday morning to this afternoon."

After saying that, Rong Yin was silent for a moment before saying, "Actually, you don't need to punish yourself. I am also to blame for what happened yesterday. It was me who was unwilling to communicate with you. You lost your sense of security and therefore... lost your mind."

Zong Zhengxiao reached out and hugged Rong Yin, buried his face in his shoulder, and said in a muffled voice: "Ayin, you still like to take the blame on yourself. This matter is obviously my fault."

He took a deep breath, and the fragrance from Rong Yin's neck made him clear his mind. He sat up straight, stared into Rong Yin's eyes, and said, "I forced myself on you impulsively. This was absolutely wrong and there is no excuse. I realized that I was wrong, so I punished myself. All you need to do is choose whether to forgive me, instead of making excuses for the asshole things I did, or looking for them in yourself."

Rong Yin's eyes turned red again: "I forgive you, Zong Zheng Xiao, please don't torture yourself like this anymore."

Zong Zhengxiao held Rong Yin in his arms and gently rubbed his chin against his head. "Okay, I promise, I won't do such stupid things again in the future."

His Ayin is so good, how could he continue to hurt him.

"But you have to promise me." Zong Zhengxiao stressed, "Don't be depressed because of some messy rumors in the future. You know that I only love you, and you know that we made a promise that we can only love each other in this life. Why do you still care about those rumors? I don't want to marry a wife because of my own will. You don't force me to do it. You don't have to feel guilty."

Rong Yin thought of what Lu'e had told him, that Zong Zheng Xiao already knew that he had heard the rumors, and it seemed that he had seen through his thoughts.

Rong Yin leaned against Zong Zhengxiao's chest, speaking in a low voice: "I didn't break my oath, and I don't want you to marry, but the rumors are not wrong. If you don't marry, you won't be able to have children, and the country will have no heir. When you get older, you will definitely face a crisis. Maybe the noble families will use this as an excuse to attack you. I know you love Dasheng, which you built with your own hands, and I don't want you to lose it."

Zong Zhengxiao's ideal is to become a wise ruler whose reputation will last forever. He has spared no effort to make Dasheng prosperous and to gain the recognition of the people, and now he has achieved initial results.

But if it was because of him, Zong Zheng Xiao would be criticized by the world, and the country might not be stable, Rong Yin would really not be able to feel at ease.

He loved Zong Zhengxiao, so naturally he hoped that Zong Zhengxiao could be safe and sound.

"Who said that there is no one to carry on the throne?" Zong Zhengxiao suddenly said this when Rong Yin was feeling depressed.

Rong Yin was stunned at first, then looked at Zong Zhengxiao's belly in disbelief: "When did you hide from me that you had a child?"

Zong Zheng Xiao laughed: "Giving birth to a child? I don't have the ability of a woman."

"What do you mean?" Rong Yin was a little anxious, "I can tell you, I can't have a baby either."

Zong Zhengxiao raised his hand and tapped Rong Yin's forehead gently, "Rong Xiaoyin, is your husband so stupid in your eyes? I have done everything with you, don't I know whether you can have a child or not?"

Rong Yin covered his forehead with his hands, his eyes rolling around, as if he was thinking, "If he's not your biological child, then it can only be..."

An idea suddenly flashed through his mind, and he looked at Zong Zheng Xiao in surprise: "Do you want to choose your eldest brother's child to inherit the throne like in the original story?"

"You guessed it right." Zong Zheng Xiao smiled and said, "Didn't you say before that in the original story, Zong Zheng Lian Jun succeeded Zong Zheng Lian Qi and became a diligent and good emperor, so after I knew the plot of the original story, I had this idea."

Rong Yin counted carefully, and realized that it was a few years ago. He was a little annoyed: "Well, you actually kept such an important matter a secret from me. I felt sorry for you because of the rumors and was sad for a long time."

Zong Zheng Xiao touched his face and coaxed him with a smile: "Now that the noble families think that there is a barrier between us and the Ning Palace, I naturally cannot be close to the Ning Palace openly. The fewer people who know about this, the better. In addition, Zong Zheng Lianjun is still in the probation period. I haven't decided whether to make him the crown prince in the future. I don't want to tell you about uncertain things, so as not to worry you."

Rong Yin said, "If it weren't for this incident, would you have waited until Zong Zheng Lianjun was promoted to the position of Crown Prince before telling me the truth?"

Zong Zhengxiao stroked his chin and said, "It won't be that late. At least I will tell you all the truth on the day I decide to make him the crown prince."

Rong Yin glared at him: "Is there any difference between the two?"

Zong Zhengxiao raised his eyebrows, "How many days earlier was the latter than the former?"

Rong Yin was annoyed and hit him lightly, "Just keep your mouth shut!"

"Okay, I won't tease you anymore." Zong Zhengxiao hugged him and said coquettishly, "I'm still a little tired. Ayin, can you accompany me to rest for a while?"

"Yes, I will obey your majesty."

Rong Yin lay down with her clothes on, moved closer to Zong Zheng Xiao, and let him hold her in his arms.

At this moment, the feeling of security returned to him again, and he no longer had to endure the desolate loneliness of yesterday.

Just like two trees growing intertwined, inseparable, if one leaves the other, both will die.

This is the relationship that should have existed between the two of them.

Zong Zheng Xiao, who once again held his lover in his arms, let out a long sigh. Smelling the fragrance of Rong Yin, his restless heart gradually calmed down.

Rong Yin hadn't slept the whole night, but now that she felt at ease and with Zong Zheng Xiao by her side, she could no longer control her sleepiness and soon fell into a deep sleep.

Zong Zhengxiao was also tortured by the high fever last night. He kissed the sleeping Rong Yin on the top of his head, whispered "I love you", and went with him to meet Zhou Gong.

The palace maid wanted to come in and add some hot water, but when she saw the two people hugging each other tightly on the bed, a knowing smile suddenly appeared on her face. She retreated in a good mood and closed the door.

She was not happy without reason. The two masters were having a quarrel, and although they would not take their anger out on the servants, the atmosphere was too depressing and they would also feel uncomfortable.

Ginshasa Garden should always be filled with laughter and joy.

It was not until the evening that Rong Yin slowly woke up. As soon as she opened her eyes, she found that Zong Zheng Xiao was staring at her intently.

Rong Yin came over and nuzzled him. Because she was not fully awake yet, her voice was nasal: "Are you awake?"

Zong Zhengxiao said: "No, I just woke up not long ago."

Rong Yin woke up, then turned over, sat up and stretched his waist.

"Are you hungry?" Rong Yin looked down at Zong Zheng Xiao.

Zong Zheng Xiao propped his chin with his hand, still staring at Rong Yin: "Not bad, not too hungry."

Rong Yin felt a little embarrassed by his stare, and stretched out her hand to block his sight, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Zong Zhengxiao held Rong Yin's hand, pulled her over and kissed her, saying, "Look at you."

"You're so sweet." Rong Yin took the opportunity to stroke the "dragon head", then quickly jumped off the bed and called Zong Zhengxiao: "Hurry up and get up, even if you're not hungry, I am hungry, I want to eat!"

Zong Zhengxiao smiled and reached out to Rong Yin, "I'm sick and feeling uncomfortable. I need Ah Yin to hold me so I can get up."

Rong Yin put her hands on her hips and said in a serious tone, "Don't be willful. Get up quickly."

Zong Zhengxiao turned his face away: "I don't want to listen, the mermaid is chanting sutras."

Rong Yin: “…”

He used all my tricks!

"I'm scared of you." Rong Yin went to bed again, half dragged and half hugged the "giant baby" Zong Zhengxiao off the bed, dressed him personally, took him to wash, and wiped his face.

Taking Zong Zhengxiao's status as a patient into consideration, the food prepared by the kitchen was relatively light. Rong Yin took care of everything and fed Zong Zhengxiao mouthful by mouthful of rice.

"Ayin, you're so nice." Zong Zhengxiao had a smile on his face the whole time, and his eyes seemed to be fixed on Rong Yin's face, not moving away from her at all.

"You have good taste." Rong Yin joked with him deliberately.

看着兩人這黏黏糊糊的氛圍，宮人們的神色也跟着放松不少。

飯後，太醫來為宗政逍看診，已經确定他身上沒什麽嚴重的傷，只需要喝藥靜養幾天就能好。

盡管不知道昨天發生了什麽，但臨走前，太醫還是忍不住勸道：“陛下，有您在，大晟江山才能穩固，切勿仗着年輕就胡來，壞了根本，晚年可就遭罪了。”

戎音聽見太醫的話，又想起宗政逍淋雪的原因，眼神不由得黯淡了幾分。

這時，宗政逍卻默默握住了他的手，戎音看了過去，宗政逍對太醫道：“太醫的叮囑朕記住了，以後定會更加愛惜身體。”

太醫沒想到宗政逍居然會那麽客氣地回應他的話，心裏激動的同時，也十分欣慰，他們陛下果然不是那種不聽勸的昏君。

太醫笑呵呵地被送離銀鲛園，宗政逍才轉頭跟戎音對視，“又忘記我下午跟你說過什麽了？不要習慣性把責任都往自己身上攬。”

戎音噘嘴：“這又不是一時半刻就能改掉的。”

宗政逍摸摸他的頭，“那我就陪你慢慢改。”

戎音這才笑了起來，“好啊。”

睡前，一碗苦澀的藥汁被端到了宗政逍面前。

雖然知道宗政逍并不怕苦，但戎音還是提前備好了蜜餞，只等宗政逍喝完，就塞進宗政逍嘴裏。

宗政逍也果然不出他所料，豪邁地一口幹完了整碗湯藥，宗政逍把他塞的蜜餞吃進去，卻又不滿足地接着靠近他。

“我還想要點別的東西解苦。”他的視線落在戎音嘴唇上，意思不言而喻。

“哼，流氓。”戎音嘴上不樂意，但行動卻沒有半分遲疑，主動扣住宗政逍的後腦勺，吻住了他的唇。

糾纏間，戎音既嘗到了湯藥的苦，也嘗到了蜜餞的甜，宗政逍自我懲罰的後果，他通過這個吻，也替他承擔了一些。

夜間，兩人靠坐在床頭，戎音窩在宗政逍懷裏，聽他講述對宗政連鈞的看法。

“當初救下蘇婉兒和宗政連祺的偷梁換柱之計，就是他想出來的，對國家大事，他也有自己的見解，平日裏會将自己寫的策論交給我檢查，他對事件的看法鞭辟入裏，提出的策略也可圈可點，這幾年，他也将家人照顧得很好，無論是能力還是品德，他都算優秀。”

戎音也道：“在原小說裏，他接手男女主留下的爛攤子，不僅穩定了江山，還促進了農業和經濟的發展，只可惜就是太過勤政，最後反而壽命不長。”

“看來阿音你也很看好他。”

“至少在原小說裏，他是一個好皇帝。”戎音擡頭看向宗政逍，“陛下打算等完全扳倒世家，再立他為太子嗎？”

“嗯。”宗政逍道：“他的優秀，還不适合提前暴露于人前，要是被世家發現寧王府其實并沒有跟我鬧翻的話，他肯定會被世家針對，我之前布下的一些棋子也會失去作用。”

戎音聞言，眼神裏的疑惑漸漸消融。

這一夜，還未睡着的不止宗政逍和戎音。

崔家主看着下人，道：“都辦妥了吧？”

下人道：“回老爺，那宮女服毒自盡了，什麽都沒說出去，皇上的人在查她背後之人，不過在我們的刻意引導下，他們已經快找上李家了，至于我們的那幾個眼線，都已經滅了口，他們幾人與我們來往的證據也被處理幹淨，皇上的人即便抓到了那個小內侍，也查不出什麽的。”

崔家主道：“下去吧，有情況及時向我彙報。”

“是。”下人很快就退了出去。

明明計劃已經成功了，可崔家主臉上卻沒有多少喜色。

今天早晨，收到陛下生病不早朝的消息時，崔家主就知道自己這步棋走成功了，雖然損失了幾個眼線，但如果真離間了宗政逍和戎音的感情，那也值得。

但失去了小內侍那個內應，他們對銀鲛園的情況再次回到睜眼瞎的時候，他不知道宗政逍不早朝，是真的病了，還是在處理他和戎音的感情危機問題。

崔家主的心裏有些焦躁，總覺得計劃的結果似乎并沒有自己想象的那麽完美。

不過哪怕最後真不如他所願，計劃失敗了，宗政逍也追究不到他頭上。

只不過要勞煩李家，替他背下這個黑鍋了。

崔家主看向窗外的夜色，眸色陰沉。

李家，李楚無緣無故打了個噴嚏。

誰又在念叨他了？

第二天宗政逍準時去上早朝，他臉色雖然差了點，但眉宇間并無郁色，唇角反而挂着淡淡的微笑。

崔家主看見他這副表情就知道，自己這回輸了。

勝敗乃兵家常事，崔家主失落一會兒就迅速恢複了冷靜。

只不過事情還沒結束，他的替罪羊還沒到位呢。

下朝後，崔家主看着走在前面的李楚，露出了一抹意味深長的笑容。

李楚背後一涼，心道真是怪了，昨夜是耳朵燙，今天是後背涼，難不成自己要倒黴了？

不得不說，李楚預判了真相。

當被宗政逍宣進宮，一封奏折狠狠砸到頭上時，李楚那一瞬間是懵的。

自己又怎麽得罪這位神仙了？

“自己好好看看，這就是你的忠誠！”宗政逍厲聲呵斥，眼神冰冷得吓人。

李楚打開折子，看見上面對某位宮女關系網的調查結果後，一滴冷汗無聲地從他額頭滑落。

“好你個李楚，一邊裝作投誠于朕，一邊卻在朕身邊安插眼線，還命令她裝作勾引我，挑撥朕和戎音的關系，京城裏關于朕選秀的流言，也是你李家傳播出去的吧，李大人，你兩面三刀的本事，一般人可學不來。”

面對宗政逍的指控，李楚的第一反應是磕頭，磕得砰砰響那種。

緊接着，他大聲申冤：“陛下，這宮女确實是家主從前安排在您身邊的眼線，但家主和臣都從未啓用過她，臣轉投您的陣營以後，更是就當不知道她的存在，所以命她挑撥您和戎老板一事，還有外面的選秀流言，都絕不是臣所為，還望陛下明鑒！”

說完，他又重重磕了個頭，額頭已經磕破了皮，地板上沾了點點血跡。

李楚這人，對別人和對自己一樣狠！

宗政逍像是并不信他：“如今她已經服毒自盡，人都沒了，自然是你說什麽就是什麽了，反正死無對證。”

李楚跪行上前幾步，再次大聲道：“陛下，臣對你的忠心日月可鑒，而且如果臣真的是假意投誠，也真想挑撥你和戎老板的關系，又怎麽會用自己的人，只要您一查，臣不就暴露了嗎？”

宗政逍冷冷看着他：“萬一你就是利用這種心理，故意用自己人，再說這些話來為自己開脫呢？”

李楚默了默，眼神悲戚地看向宗政逍：“陛下已經篤定我就是元兇了，對嗎？”

宗政逍道：“你想要證明自己的清白，那就拿出證據來，告訴朕元兇不是你，而不是在這裏逼朕相信你是被陷害的。而且你以為你是完全無辜的嗎？朕身邊埋着你的眼線，哪天你要是起了歹心，命她在朕的茶水裏下毒，到時候朕才是有冤不能申。”

李楚趕緊道：“眼線一事是臣的過錯，臣願意接受懲罰，之後臣會把李家在宮裏安插了哪些眼線都全數告知陛下，算是臣亡羊補牢。請陛下放心，臣已經沒有退路，只會對陛下忠心耿耿，至于宮女挑撥和流言一事，求陛下給臣一點時間，臣一定會給陛下一個交代！”

或許是他誠懇的态度打動了宗政逍，又或許是宗政逍有別的想法，總之，宗政逍最後給了李楚半個月的時間。

半個月後，他必須把證據擺到自己面前，否則他将一力承擔所有罪過。

李楚頭破血流地從宮裏出來，并且又被宗政逍找借口降了職的消息，很快就傳進了崔家主耳朵裏。

知道自己嫁禍成功，本來因為計劃失敗有些沮喪的崔家主，心情意外好了許多。

再之後，宮裏的崔家眼線又傳來消息，說李家的卧底已經被宗政逍連根拔起，一個都沒剩。

崔家主還沒來得及幸災樂禍，一個流言就迅速在京中流傳起來。

說是崔家二郎早年騎馬時意外受了傷，那玩意兒壞了，起都起不來，雄風不振，因此在床事方面，養成了一個惡毒的怪癖。

他專挑年輕的女人和男子，在這些人身上使用特別殘忍的工具，以此發洩自己無法抒發的欲望，聽說玩死了不少人，但都讓崔家瞞了下來。

秦樓楚館裏的妓子兔兒爺，也爆料了崔二爺确實有那方面的嗜好，曾經弄殘過他們樓裏的人。

各種小道消息越來越多，還有無知小兒傳唱歌謠，一時間京城所有人的目光，都集中到了崔家身上。

連之前盛傳過一陣的陛下選秀的流言，都被這個驚天八卦所取代。

眼見崔家成了別人茶餘飯後的笑話談資，崔家主震怒，而崔二少則是徹底崩潰了。

It was true that he was injured and incapable of movement, and it was also true that he liked to torture young boys and girls. However, he thought that he and the Cui family had kept these secrets very well and that no outsider would know about them. Now that they were suddenly exposed, and with so much detail and credibility, they were completely caught off guard.

If the government finds out what he has done, will he be doomed like Li Ao?

"Dad, who spread this story? I'm going to kill him. I must kill him!"

Having not had a good rest for several days, the second young master Cui looked haggard, his eyes were red, and he walked back and forth in front of the head of the Li family with his head in his hands, like a madman.

Ever since the accident that year, his mental state has actually not been quite normal, but he has suppressed it because he has not been stimulated.

How could he remain calm when his biggest secret was exposed?