Chapter 97 Ayin, you bully me

Zong Zhengxiao turned his head away, like a child throwing a tantrum, "I'm in a bad mood and don't want to talk."

Rong Yin blushed, "Are you still thinking about what happened last night? But it was you who was wrong first, so I punished you. What happened last night has already been settled. When will it be time to start a revenge war, Your Majesty?"

Zong Zhengxiao said aggrievedly: "You have gone, but I haven't."

"So what do you want?" Rong Yin asked, "How about you punish me like I punished you last night?"

"What's the point? I just want to be with you, Ayin." Zong Zhengxiao hugged Rong Yin and buried his face in his shoulder, like a pitiful big puppy.

Facing Zong Zheng Xiao like this, Rong Yin couldn't bear to be cruel. She immediately touched his head and said, "Don't be sad. Next time, I'll listen to you no matter what position I use, okay?"

Zong Zheng Xiao: "Really?"

Rong Yin: "More real than pearls."

Zong Zhengxiao raised his head, no longer showing any sadness on his face, his eyes were filled with the joy of having succeeded in his plan, "I knew you were the best, Ayin."

Rong Yin: “…”

He jumped into the fire pit again while sober. Looking at Zong Zheng Xiao's expression, he would be burned to death next time.

"Okay." Rong Yin sat up straight and looked at him. "Now can you tell me about your and Li Chu's plan?"

Zong Zhengxiao smiled broadly: "Of course you can."

Rong Yin nestled into Zong Zheng Xiao's arms, holding his hand and playing with it while listening to what Zong Zheng Xiao said.

"Li Chu came to me the other day and said that since it was already a foregone conclusion that he was leaving the capital, why not use this opportunity to set up a trap for the Cui family before he left..."

Li Chu knew very well that the Cui family must be resentful of him because they agreed to so many conditions in order to let him take his aunt back. Given the vengeful character of the head of the Cui family, the Cui family would definitely take action against the Li family once he left the capital.

Therefore, before Li Chu leaves, he must get a guarantee that the Cui family will not only not target the Li family, but will also be willing to protect the Li family.

Because Zong Zhengxiao had promised Li Chu that he would protect the Li family when Li Chu left Beijing, this way, there is double protection to reassure Li Chu, and it can also prevent the Cui family from harming the Li family and causing trouble for Zong Zhengxiao, and it can also further cover up the fact that Li Chu has already joined Zong Zhengxiao.

Li Chu used the undercover agents he had planted around his uncles and aunts to deceive them, saying that something happened to his aunt in the Cui family. Li Chu received benefits from the Cui family, so he brought the person back and buried her in the name of the Li family.

If the Cui family came out at this time to throw dirty water on Li Chu, accusing him of deliberately killing his aunt and taking human life lightly, Li Chu would not dare to offend them and would have to swallow the bitter fruit himself.

When the time comes, they will spread rumors that he harmed his father, brother, and aunt out of jealousy. Even if there is no evidence to arrest him and put him in jail, his reputation will be ruined, and his uncles will have reason to oppose him becoming the head of the family.

Once Li Chu falls, won't the entire Li family belong to them?

After hearing the plan from the undercover agent, the uncle and aunt thought that it had a great chance of success, so they followed the agent's instigation, quickly brought the aunt's brother and sister-in-law over, and lured them to work for them with huge sums of money.

This led to the bustling scene at the gate of Li's mansion that day, and also explained Rong Yin's doubts about why there were so many onlookers and why the Li family ignored the commotion, because this was Li Chu's deliberate plan.

This morning in the court, Zong Zhengxiao and Li Chu were acting together in order to deceive the aristocratic families, especially the Cui family, and make the head of the Cui family think that Li Chu suffered all these misfortunes because of his Cui family.

Because Aunt Li died because of the Cui family.

Is the result of the plan as predicted by Zong Zhengxiao and Li Chu?

Subsequent facts proved that they succeeded.

After the court session that day, Li Chu was ordered not to attend court sessions for the time being and to stay at home to cooperate with the investigation.

Doing this may seem like Zong Zhengxiao is bullying Li Chu in disguise, but in fact it is to give him more time to supervise the plan to proceed smoothly.

Because the evidence of Li Chu's murder of Li Ao and Patriarch Cui had been cleared up by him long ago, and Zong Zhengxiao's people deliberately let them off, the officials investigating the case did not find anything in this matter.

But there is a story about the cause of my aunt's death. The doctor in the Li Mansion who treated my aunt was locked up. No matter how he was interrogated, his answer was that my aunt unfortunately passed away due to a cold that caused lung heat. It was not at all like what my aunt's brother and sister-in-law said, that there was another cause of death.

There is nothing wrong with Li Chu, but it is different with Cui's family.

Zong Zhengxiao had known about the affair between his aunt and Mr. Cui for a long time, which was like looking for a problem with an answer. In addition, Zong Zhengxiao's people investigated seriously, and it didn't take long for them to find solid evidence that his aunt had lived in the Cui family for a period of time before her death.

The head of the Cui family was panicked. It was obvious that the person they were investigating was Li Chu, so why was all the criticism directed at him?

Within a few days, the news that my aunt and Mr. Cui were having an affair could no longer be concealed.

If this news breaks through the circle of power and spreads throughout the world, the Cui family will lose all their reputation.

I thought the matter was over with my aunt's death, but I was struck back unexpectedly.

The head of the Cui family had a face as cold as ice all day long. Young Master Cui was once again punished to kneel in the ancestral hall. This time, no one could persuade him, so the head of the Cui family went straight to the family punishment. From then on, he completely hated this eldest son in his heart.

The second young master Cui stayed quietly in his own yard these days. He didn't have to come up with any tricks. He could just watch the Cui family panicking and worrying. However, he had sweet dreams every night and even gained a few pounds.

When he was suffering alone, he was desperate and angry. When his whole family was suffering like him, he began to enjoy the feeling of being devastated and dying together.

When the head of the Cui family fell into endless anxiety and was ready to force Li Chu to take all the responsibilities for his aunt's death, otherwise their Cui family would be in trouble and he would drag the Li family into the water, Li Chu took the initiative to come over.

Li Chu said, "Uncle, Zong Zhengxiao finally got this opportunity, and he will definitely investigate thoroughly. Then neither of our families will be able to escape, especially the Cui family. I believe that you, uncle, will not be willing to watch the Cui family's century-old reputation destroyed because of a woman, right?"

Patriarch Cui looked confused: "What do you mean, nephew?"

Li Chu looked at the head of the Cui family and said, "I can probably guess what method my uncle will use to solve the problem in the end. I came here today just to exchange the safety of the Cui and Li families at the lowest price."

"What have you thought of?" The head of the Cui family didn't care that her original idea was seen through by Li Chu. Aren't all of them like this anyway, calculating everything and their alliances just to protect their own interests.

Li Chu's expression suddenly became very solemn. He said in a serious tone, "Before I tell you the plan, I want a promise from your uncle. If anything happens to me, your uncle will never attack the Li family, and will protect the Li family from being disturbed by others. As long as your uncle swears to do these things, I will definitely guarantee that Zong Zhengxiao's knife will not fall on the Cui family this time."

In the eyes of Patriarch Cui, Li Chu knew that he would use the Li family as a shield, so he simply proposed it himself and could also use it to get a few demands.

The current situation does not allow Mr. Cui to refuse. Instead of shirking responsibility and fighting with the Li family to the death, he will let Zong Zhengxiao's family take advantage.

It would be better to give up some small profits and get a docile scapegoat, so as to get the Cui family out of this incident more cleanly. Why not do it?

The Cui family head pretended to be kind and said, "Since it is your nephew's request, if I don't agree, I will be letting you down. I swear, as long as you take the blame for this incident, if anything happens to you, I will not attack the Li family, but will protect the Li family and prevent others from bullying the Li family. If I break my oath, the Cui family's century-old foundation will be destroyed in one day."

The Cui family is what the head of the Cui family cares about the most. When he made this oath, at least his attitude was very correct.

Seeing this, Li Chu no longer concealed his intention and told it out.

He would admit that there were indeed other reasons for his aunt's death, but he would not link it to the miscarriage. Instead, he would portray it as an unfortunate murder caused by a family feud.

The reason why the Li family said that the aunt died of illness before was because Li Chu was afraid that others would say that he couldn't even handle the affairs of the inner house, so how could he manage the entire Li family, which would cause trouble for him to ascend to the position of head of the family.

He had already fabricated the evidence, and Zong Zhengxiao's people would definitely not be able to see the flaws.

Li Chudu had already confessed his guilt, so Zong Zhengxiao's people had no excuse to continue the investigation.

After hearing Li Chu's plan and knowing that the Cui family was about to get out of trouble, the head of the Cui family showed a relieved expression on his face.

At the same time, he also felt a rare sense of guilt towards Li Chu. Although he was more relieved, what Li Chu wanted was his guilt, even if it was just a tiny bit.

After all, it is a luxury to find some human emotions from these cold-hearted and calculating people from the aristocratic families.

Soon, the news that Li Chu had submitted evidence and confessed his guilt spread throughout the government and the country.

Li Chu said that the aunt had a conflict with another concubine. The two of them quarreled frequently, and the concubine, in a fit of rage, bribed the maidservant around the aunt and poisoned her.

Now, no one knows where the concubine and the maid have fled to, and the people in the Li Mansion are looking for them. Now that he has told the truth, the task of finding them has been handed over to the government.

In the eyes of others, Li Chu deliberately ran away to take the blame in order to protect the Cui family.

But the fabricated evidence was conclusive, and Zong Zhengxiao had no choice but to admit it even if he wanted to. He originally thought he could deal a heavy blow to the Cui family, but in the end he was intercepted by Li Chu. No one would be happy about this.

Everyone agreed that Zong Zhengxiao would severely punish Li Chu, and the result was as they expected.

宗政逍在朝堂上宣布，李楚因為管理家宅不當，一開始又隐瞞姨娘真正的死因，屬于欺君，數罪并罰，便革去他現在的職位，将其貶至閩南，如無皇帝傳召，今生永不得回京。

不僅被調離京城，還無诏不得入京，這等于是給李楚判了死刑，簡直是慘得不能再慘了。

宗政逍話音未落，李楚直接當着文武百官的面暈了過去，最後是被人擡出大殿的。

崔家主也沒想到宗政逍會這麽狠，他這相當于是毀了李楚的未來。

畢竟在崔家主眼裏，李楚還是他們這邊的人，李楚這枚棋子毀了，對他們世家也是一大損失。

想到李楚頂罪的原因，崔家主心裏的愧疚又增加了那麽一點點。

李楚回家以後就大病了一場，但宗政逍根本不顧他的病情，要求他必須在半個月內啓程前往閩南赴任。

即便知道兒子和皇上是在演戲，可看着兒子憔悴的容顏，想到閩南之地的艱苦，李夫人還是沒忍住哭腫了眼睛。

這幅畫面落在世家的人眼裏，為宗政逍和李楚本就毫無破綻的計劃又增添了一道保障，誰也不會猜到，這一切都只是兩人針對崔家的陰謀。

事情發展到如今這一步，李家那幾個叔伯還沾沾自喜，以為自己的詭計成了。

等李楚一走，整個李家都會被他們收入囊中。

而姨娘的哥嫂倆，也拿着叔伯給的大筆銀子，笑得見牙不見眼，開始考慮這些錢要怎麽花了。

至于把“枉死”的妹妹遷墳帶走，他們更是想都沒想過，來了京城這麽久，他們甚至沒去姨娘墳前看望過她一次。

因為他們本來就是不在意姨娘的。

當初姨娘的爹娘早亡，姨娘跟着哥哥嫂嫂長大，哥哥嫂嫂覺得養她費錢，就恨她入骨，她剛及笄就商量着要把她賣給有錢人做妾，然後把錢裝進自己腰包。

哥嫂是生意人，有次進京城進貨，帶着妹妹當仆人，讓她沿路照顧他們倆。

沒想到妹妹因為容貌出衆，被外出的李家主看中，花重金将她買了下來，還給了哥嫂一筆錢，威脅他們不許再來京城打擾姨娘，不然就讓他們有命進沒命出。

哥嫂灰溜溜地跑了，這次要不是李家叔伯說姨娘已經死了，李家主也癱在床上連話都說不出來，他們才不敢冒風險來京城。

不過跟做生意一樣，這次他們演戲也是高風險高回報，李家叔伯給的賞錢，他們做幾年生意都賺不來。

但姨娘的哥嫂不知道的是，即便李家主癱了，但他當初的威脅還有效，并且會有人替他裁決違背承諾的兩人。

于是在李楚離京前，姨娘的哥嫂就慘死在了租住的小院裏，他倆的頭顱被人砍下，屋裏的錢財也全部被席卷一空。

說是入室□□，但沒人看見兇手，也沒人為他倆申冤，這注定了會成為一樁懸案。

至于在李楚病倒後就跑來他面前耀武揚威，等着他一走就接管李家的叔伯幾人，也全都受到了不致命的警告。

一個早上醒來發現自己床頭插着一把刀，一個喝醉了莫名其妙掉進水裏差點被淹死，另一個晚上被人套麻袋打了一頓，估計要在床上躺幾個月才能起得來……

總之觊觎李家家主之位的人，這段時間都倒黴到了極點。

在收到姨娘哥嫂倆的死訊後，這些人更是被吓破了膽，知道是李楚在報複他們，可能背後還有崔家的幫忙。

遭到恐吓後，幾人都老實了下來，至少沒有再去李楚面前礙他的眼了。

有聰明的，知道現在崔家最大，就想着去讨好崔家，以求得到崔家支持，坐上家主之位。

可崔家卻将他們通通拒之門外，理由是現在的李家主依舊是李楚的父親，只要他人在一天，李家的家主就永遠不會變。

其實殺人和教訓叔伯這些事都是崔家主做的，算是對李楚的補償，也是在發洩自己的憤怒。

如果不是這幾個叔伯多事，姨娘的死因也不會被舊事重提，他們世家也不至于落得這個下場。

盡管李楚以一人之力承擔了所有責任，但崔大少和姨娘勾結在一起過的事情還是傳到了民間。

雖然只是些捕風捉影的消息，但還是對崔家造成了影響。

如果不是這幾個叔伯，這本來是可以避免的，所以即便沒要了他們的命，崔家主還是狠狠報複了他們一番。

李楚離京前，特地帶着母親去拜訪了崔家主，用一張滿是病容的臉聲淚俱下地懇求崔家主幫忙照顧留京的李家主和李夫人，還給崔家主磕了頭。

崔家主被架了起來，不答應也得答應，而且還是當着陳家家主以及另外幾個小家主的面。

崔家主在衆人的注視下，發誓會護着李家，不讓其他人對李家出手，這其實是在開罪其餘世家的人。

你崔家欠李家的，我們又不欠，李家那麽大一塊肉餅，你不吃，也不許我們吃，簡直是霸道得沒邊了。

李楚臨走前，看着神色各異的幾個家主，眼裏滿是陰恻恻的笑意。

“算起來，李楚都走了一個多月了，應該快到閩南了吧。”

銀鲛園裏，戎音修剪着花枝，順口跟宗政逍閑聊。

宗政逍将戎音剪好的花枝整理好，回道：“應該快了。”

戎音：“季燮在沿海幾個地方找糧種，等李楚到了，就可以帶着他到處跑了，也不知道季燮制不制得住他。”

“阿音放心，李楚不簡單，季燮也不是什麽善茬，當初他跟着我宗政家南征北戰，若是沒幾分本事，早死在了戰場上，哪裏還有機會在你我面前裝傻耍寶。”

“也是。”戎音點了點頭，又問：“你承諾李楚，如果他和季燮一起找到土豆紅薯，就調他回京城，你真會遵守承諾嗎？”

宗政逍雖然相信季燮的本事，但他也不想李楚過去以後太作妖，耽誤季燮辦正事，所以就給了他一點希望，省得他一時頭腦發熱，給宗政逍惹下大禍。

宗政逍微笑：“等他找到了我再考慮這個問題。”

戎音看着他：“說是到時候再考慮，其實心裏早就謀劃好了吧，還想在我面前裝，我還不了解你嗎？”

宗政逍笑眯眯地靠近戎音，在他臉上親了一下，“阿音，你可真是我的知音。”

“哼，少甜言蜜語。”戎音嘴上這麽說着，臉上卻全是竊喜的表情。

看着戎音靈動的神情，宗政逍一陣心癢，伸手奪過戎音手上的剪刀放到一邊，将他抱坐到桌上，捧着他的臉就吻了上去。

感受到宗政逍的蓬勃，戎音趁着換氣的空檔哼哼：“大白天的，不可以。”

宗政逍啞聲：“為什麽不可以？我們在屋裏，這裏也沒外人，阿音可以盡情釋放自我。”

戎音推開宗政逍，擦掉嘴角的津液，正色道：“我現在只想完成我的插花工作，不想當你的花瓶，所以只許親親，不許做。”

宗政逍嘴角一撇，還沒開口，戎音就提前預判：“裝可憐也沒用。”

宗政逍：“……好吧。”

宗政逍放開戎音，一邊任勞任怨幫戎音插花，一邊等着自己激動的大兄弟冷靜下來。

花了小半個時辰，一瓶裝滿春花的花瓶被放到了戎音的書桌上，他拍了拍手上的碎屑，滿意地點頭：“真漂亮，不愧是我花了好幾天學來的手藝。”

戎音前幾天去找寧月聊天，發現她那裏花瓶裏的花束都非常好看，無論是顏色還是種類搭配都恰到好處，色彩深淺得當，高低的設計無論是遠還是近距離觀察，都有各自的特色。

他一時頭腦發熱，想着春季正是百花盛開的時節，就請寧月教他插花手藝。

只幾天時間肯定出了不了師，也學不精，但戎音勤于練習，成績還是不錯的，至少他自己很滿意。

宗政逍抱着手站在旁邊，看着歡歡喜喜的戎音，語氣裏滿是醋勁兒，“剛才我說錯了，我和阿音你不是知音，你和清秋閣那位才是。”

宗政逍一吃醋就愛喊寧月“清秋閣那位”。

戎音有些好笑：“這有什麽可醋的，你明明知道我和寧月只是朋友。”

宗政逍還是醋意不減，陰陽怪氣：“嗯嗯，只是朋友。”

戎音眼珠子滴溜溜轉了一圈，故意道：“其實我不止跟寧月學了插花，還學了點別的東西，本來還想等練熟了再給你看的，不過既然你不樂意我去找她，那我就不學了，也不給你看了。”

他這麽一說，宗政逍的好奇心果然被勾了起來。

“你還跟她學了什麽？”宗政逍問。

“沒什麽。”戎音不止口頭嚴實，心裏也安靜一片，宗政逍想通過作弊聽心聲都不行。

“阿音。”宗政逍從背後抱住戎音，将下巴搭在他肩上，軟着聲音，“告訴我吧，你告訴我我就不吃醋了。”

戎音皮笑肉不笑：“你繼續吃醋呗，反正難受的也不是我。”

"Ayin, my dear Ayin." Zong Zhengxiao turned from a jealous person to a coquettish person, rubbing Rongyin's face non-stop, "I know Ayin loves me the most, she definitely won't have the heart to let me guess all the time, right? My dear wife, just tell me."

Rong Yin turned her head and looked at him: "Then when I go to see Ning Yue in the future, will you still say sour words to me?"

Zong Zhengxiao: “…”

As long as he loves Rong Yin, he will never stop talking about it.

"It's hard to change one's nature." Rong Yin made his comment, and then said: "I will definitely show you when I have learned it, but I can't guarantee how long it will take. Your Majesty, just wait patiently."

Zong Zhengxiao almost cried: "Ayin, you bully me."

"You're right. I want to bully you." Rong Yin teased him, "Is Your Majesty unhappy? Will I be beheaded?"

Zong Zhengxiao said in an ambiguous tone: "Of course not, how could I hurt A Yin?"

Rong Yin: “…”

Bad feeling.

The next day, Rong Yin went out of the palace to inspect the store and found that the staff and customers kept looking at him secretly. Rong Yin was full of questions and found Lu'e and asked, "Why do you keep looking at me? Is my face not clean?"

Lu'e shook her head, wanting to laugh but not daring to. She raised her hand and pointed at Rong Yin's neck, whispering, "Master, the marks are so obvious."