I warmed his cold blood

Fanny stayed at home.

The doctor diagnosed her many times, and each time her complexion became more serious.She was very sick, and could only eat light vegetable soup, which seemed to be stuck in the bed, and her body smelled of strong herbs, and she had to take a break every time she talked.

Felitina waited on her non-stop, serving soup and medicine, with great care and loyalty.

In the study room, the crumpled parchments are neatly arranged, the papyrus smells green, the wax boards full of words are scattered on the ground, and the water clock ticks time.It seems that even the air is engraved with Latin.

A ray of sunlight hit Lucas's hair, giving it a thick gilt color.The rough gladiator showed a bookish look at this moment, holding the engraving pen in his scarred hand.It was supposed to be something he would never touch.

The room was very quiet, save for the rustling of needles scratching wax.

Herron fulfilled his promise and taught Lucas how to read and write.

Lucas leaned on the table, struggling to copy the stick-like Latin.Sweat dripped from his forehead, his eyes widened, and he bit the pen from time to time, stumbling and writing like a child, holding the pen in an extremely weird posture.

Herron crossed her legs and sat on the table, leaning back with one arm, slowly nibbling on an apple.

He saw the crooked "Pollio" under the nib, like a frozen worm in winter, so pitiful.

After Lucas finished writing, he traced a few strokes back and forth, trying to make the words more correct, but it was of no use.

"It's well written." Herron took a bite of an apple and said, "At least I can see that you wrote Polio."

Encouraged, Lucas engraved it again, this time visibly more rounded.

Satisfied, he put down the engraving pen and breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing that he had finished writing, Herron bit the apple in her mouth and closed the shutters sideways.

The sunlight between the window leaves illuminates his eyebrows and eyes, while other facial features are hidden in the shadows.Blindfolded by the sun, his deep black eyes frame the figure of Lucas, his crayon and engraving pen.

—and everything in the world.Lucas thought.

His heart skipped a beat, and he said suddenly: "I'd love to learn to read and write. I'd also like to learn Greek from you, if you have the kindness."

"Of course. The premise is that you can read and write first." Helen took the apple from his mouth.

He stretched out his index finger, brushed across a row of sheepskin rolls beside him, fixed on one roll and pulled it out.He opened the scroll, tapped the title with his nails, "Do you recognize it?"

Lucas shook his head at the new word.

"This book is called "Theogony". It is very suitable for people like you who just know how to recognize letters. Back then, my servant forced me to copy it. It is very useful."

At this time, a slave ran in in a panic, his face covered with sweat, and his wet robe stuck to his body.

"Master, there was an accident in the bath... The marble beam suddenly broke and killed three slaves... The contractor said he wanted you to pay compensation." He wiped his face with his sleeve, "He said that if you don't pay, you will pay Polio The title will be withdrawn."

"Three slaves?" Herren restrained his smile, "How much do you want to pay?"

"300 dinars. They are skilled slaves and cost more."

"Isn't there income from the Rose Garden?" Herron said, "Use that to pay for it."

"The money hasn't arrived yet. Lord Pliny signed the contract with Antony." The slave said, "You also know that that family always likes to default on the payment of goods, and they are notoriously stingy!"

Helen thought for a while, "Aren't there gold and pearls in the shrine? Pawn them for money."

The slave looked up at him in shock, refusing to move.

"Go!" Herron urged, "Those things are useless except for stealing."

The slave secretly looked at his face, got up and left quickly.

Heron was a little impatient.As in the past, he was in debt crisis.Even though it was less serious this time around, he had to tighten his belt to get by.

"You really are short of money." Lucas coughed and said gloomily.

Heron turned around, and put down the apple that was moved to his mouth, "Let me teach you a little rhetoric." He chuckled, "Can you understand this sentence—those who lead the way for the devil will eventually be caught by the devil?" lead the way."

Lucas froze, a little confused.

Herron raised an eyebrow, "You'll soon understand what it means."

"I don't want to understand what the devil leads the way now." Lucas sighed, "I just want you not to live in poverty."

Herron put down the apple and smiled at him mysteriously.

……

As Herron said, the news came quickly.

Brutus was banned by the Senate for smuggling salt.When he was unlucky enough to be in the limelight, he was used as a negative teaching material to make a warning to others.He was fined a large sum of money, and his reputation in the court plummeted, becoming a stain that he could not wash away.The court even traced his past business records and checked his business partners one by one.

For a while, people were in panic, and no one asked him to cooperate.The colleagues washed their hands one after another, and lamented pitifully after dinner: "That poor Brutus..." and smiled gloatingly.

When Lucas told Heron the news, he was happily sifting almond flour, slowly brewing it with boiling water, and spooning a spoonful of honey.

"It is said that it was reported by a silk reseller. Brutus received the money, but never delivered the goods. The silk merchant rushed to his house to ask for the goods, but found that there was only private salt in the box." Lucas said, "He is a It's over. Those elders finally caught a private salt dealer, and they can't wait to announce it to the world!"

Helen stirred the almond flour, "As I guessed, he really forged the exact same contract and asked Horace for the goods. I reminded him not to make a wrong decision."

"He's so stupid," said Lucas. "Wouldn't he have done business with Horace himself?"

"He's not stupid at all." Helen smiled, "The contract was originally signed in his name. Horace only sells silk to acquaintances, and Brutus has never had contact with him. Forging a contract is the best way." The easy way. He just didn't expect that I would rather lose a mansion than have his reputation ruined."

"Those who lead the way for the devil will eventually be led by the devil..." Lucas looked complicated, "Is this what you're talking about?"

"That's right." Helen nodded, "I tricked him and lost a lot of money; if he wanted to cut off my money, my reputation would be ruined. If I think badly, there will be retribution. Both he and I There is no escape from this law."

Lucas stared at him. "But you did provoke the devil, didn't you?"

"I'd be happy to see him blacklisted by the court, far more than the pain of provoking the devil." Heron's eyes showed light, "I can guarantee that if he files a lawsuit in the future, those old guys in the court will In favor of the accused..."

"You pawned the gold, the dinner also excludes fish, and even the spices are common Indian spices... just to make him lose the asylum of the court?! With all due respect..." Lucas raised his brows, "It's not worth it ..."

"You control too much! Lucas. You don't know many things..." Helen interrupted him, "Based on what you know so far, I can only tell you that the three people I hate the most in this world , two of which are Brutus and Gnaia."

"Who is that third person?"

Herun's face was gloomy, and he said sarcastically, "Pliny, my good father."

Lucas gripped the edge of the table sharply, digging his nails into the varnish...

Since that day, Lucas didn't learn to read very much, and he practiced fighting more often.

During the practice, the female slaves would lean against the corner and watch him secretly.He always uses the most comfortable dagger, sharp and light.The thin calluses on his palms were thickened by the friction of the sword hilt, and he felt pain at first, then went numb.

He worked very hard, often sweating profusely, and looked up at the empty high platform from time to time.Those blue eyes should have been dull due to fatigue, but they always maintained a look of excitement.

Helen cut down on food and clothing, abandoned expensive food, reduced the use of incense, and no longer held large banquets.

But the facts proved that he was indeed protected by the gods, and there was always someone to help him when he was in trouble.

When the female slave ran to her eyes holding the papyrus, Heron was soaking in the bathtub.He casually took the paper, glanced at it hastily, like a thunderbolt from the blue sky.

[Sorry for not asking you for instructions.I went to the underground arena to earn you some money. 】

——The words were written by Lucas, and only his words look like half-dead earthworms.

"Bastard!" Herron cursed.

He walked out of the bath with his arms stretched out, casually put on his underwear, and didn't even bother to wipe off the water droplets.

He ordered his slaves to prepare the carriage, and set off at once for the arena.

……

Since being banned by the Senate, Brutus has been abandoned by his peers.The atrium of his house has not been visited for a long time.

He was even more taciturn, always staying in the bedroom and not coming out.

The slave took the food and knocked tentatively on the bedroom door, but there was no answer.

He was a little anxious because his master hadn't shown himself all day.

After hesitating for a while, he pushed the door open and walked in.

A candle was lit in the bedroom, and the light was very dim.

Brutus leaned on the bed and looked sideways, "Do you want to be thrown to feed the lions by me?! I didn't allow you to come in."

"Madam asked me to serve you the food." The slave walked over tremblingly and put the food on the bedside.

"Kneel down, raise your head and open your eyes." Brutus glanced at the meal.

Feeling bad about it, the slave had no choice but to follow through.

With the faint light, he saw that the master's round nostrils were getting bigger and smaller, and the small eyes were shining sharply.

Brutus grabbed a handful of seasoned salt from the plate and pressed hard on the slave's eyes.

The slave screamed and hid back, but Brutus grabbed his hair.

He was shaking with pain, his feet kicking wildly behind him.Waves of screams seemed to howl from hell, like sinful undead being scalded by a branding iron.

Gnaia lit up the lampshade and went to the bedroom, saw the slave's miserable condition, and said flatly, "Are you venting your anger on the slave again?"

Brutus let go, went to her feet and knelt down, took her hand and kissed it, and treated the saint like a devout believer: "Mother, I was deceived by that cunning Polio. I lost everything... ..."

His tone was a bit coquettish that didn't match his age.

Gnaia frowned, "That's just Harun, he doesn't represent all Polio."

Brutus' shoulders trembled violently, and the hand holding her was getting tighter and tighter. He was panting like he had a lung disease, as if he would suffocate to death in the next moment.

"Mother... don't you stand with your son..." He put his face on the back of her hand, "The court no longer trusts me. Even if I show my will, those old things will question me... ..."

"You're hurting me, Brutus!" Gnaia pulled back her hand, "Of course I'm on your side, since the day I adopted you."

"But you only have that indifferent and rigid Pliny in your eyes!" Brutus gritted his teeth, "He deceived you and left you alone, and his heart is like a disgusting maggot crawling in the mire..."

"I won't let you talk about him!" Gnaia yelled.She grabbed Brutus's hair, looked him in the eyes and said, "I warned you, no one can slander Pliny. You should remember what happened to your adoptive father..."

Brutus sobbed.His face was flushed, big teardrops rolled down his cheeks, his facial features were tightly packed, like a little old man. "Are you going to treat me like that... If I lose your protection, no one in this world will love me anymore..."

He hugged Gnaia's legs, snot and tears on her skirt.

Gnaia's livid face softened, and she stroked his hair, "Wait a minute, my child. Polio must be ours. Once that bitch Fanny dies, I'll get everything Pliny has ..."