I put out his fire

In this way, Nero brought Rhodes home in a way that was close to self-harm.

Worried by nature, he dreaded Agrippina.Except for a few occasional visits to the Senate, he was always attached to Rhodes, almost inseparable from him.

It is difficult for the outside world to understand his approach, and criticism of him is rampant.Some elders impeached Nero, accusing him of being bewitched by evil blood, blindly favoring his confidants, and unable to bear the important task of emperor.

The current emperor, Claudius, takes the same view.

In the palace, even the cooks are well dressed.They mince boiled mushrooms and toss them with lavender flowers and passion fruit pulp, served with a small bowl of fava beans and wine mixed with honey water as an appetizer before the main meal.

Claudius was lying on his side with a hunched back, tasting his favorite mushroom sauce with a silver spoon, and his skinny cheeks agitated.

Across the table lies his niece Agrippina.She ate very politely, her silver hair was in high bunches, and she was covered with orange gauze, which was both elegant and dignified.

Even at their bedchamber, the titular couple dress smartly, making sure their collars don't hang below their collarbone.

Claudius put down the silver spoon and said euphemistically, "I heard that... Nero has encountered a little trouble during this time."

Agrippina's heart sank, but her expression remained indifferent, "I believe he will handle it well."

"I also believe..." Claudius pretended to say, "But the Senate doesn't think so. Many seniors sent me secret letters, recommending to me a few young people with noble backgrounds and good education..."

Agrippina's pupils tightened, and the spoon in her hand collided with the dinner plate with a soft sound.

Claudius glanced at her, "Plus... Octavia's marriage has not yet been settled. I hope to use this to choose a reliable and loyal husband for my daughter."

Agrippina put down the spoon and said dully: "You're going to give up Nero completely, aren't you?"

Claudius was said to be the center, and coughed twice in embarrassment, "The court turned a blind eye and closed one eye, and did not pursue the crime of the personal guard. The Senate believed that Nero was in collusion with the court, and the people Questioning that he gave the court benefits, exaggerating the corruption of the palace..."

Agrippina listened quietly, without any emotion on her calm face.

Claudius said in a tactful tone as much as possible: "I recognize Nero's political talents, as well as his achievements in marching and renovating the bathhouse. But I have to admit that he is now full of scandals..."

He tried to look regretful and said:

"I know you are very protective of your son, Agrippina. But unfortunately, I cannot entrust Rome to him in spite of public grievances. The illegal salt that has been banned, the devil's flood, the theater that needs to be renovated... I am now every day I have to face verbal attacks that grow like weeds, and I can't bear more grievances. I hope you can understand my difficulties, my dear niece."

Agrippina stared at him fixedly, expressionless, and said nothing for a long time.Those dark brown eyes were faint, like a dark stream flowing in the dark, staring straight at Claudius's back.

Suddenly, she burst into a correct and decent smile, and said thoughtfully: "I understand what you think and do very well. Nero is now causing public grievances, and he doesn't have a subduing army in his hands. He is neither your son-in-law nor Not your adopted son, just relying on the blood of Augustus and a little bit of military achievements, it is indeed too weak."

Claudius breathed a sigh of relief, and the anxiety in his heart gradually dissipated.

As early as when Nero refused to marry Octavia, he wanted to establish another prince.Nero is now in the vortex of public opinion, and this is undoubtedly the best time to point it out to Agrippina.

The two ate in silence for a while.The slave brought two grilled lobsters covered with garlic and butter, with roses in four huge prawn claws.They wear gloves studded with silver thread, which prevent the shells from scratching the skin when peeling the lobsters.

Agrippina also put on gloves and peeled the lobster for Claudius sensibly.

She lowered her head as she peeled the shell and asked, "Why are there silver threads on the gloves? This will only put more weight on the hands."

Claudius wiped the mushroom sauce from the corner of his mouth, smiled and explained: "The silver thread on the glove is to check whether the food has been poisoned. You also know... After all, the emperor is a high-risk occupation, so be careful good."

Agrippina dipped the peeled lobster into the mushroom sauce and handed it to his plate.

She spread her hands and turned them over slightly, like silver-faced gloves passing the dazzling cold light.She narrowed her eyes slightly, and said thoughtfully: "My dear uncle, I'm afraid you are still being careless. As far as I know, there are actually many poisons that will not turn silverware black."

Claudius chewed on the lobster meat and asked inadvertently, "Really?"

Agrippina remained calm and said no more.

……

Rome is already very cold, and the leaves of the banyan tree are covered with frost from time to time.Slaves began digging cellars in the backyard to store ice for the coming winter.

The female slave drives out the chickens raised in the kitchen and cleans the cages where the poultry are raised with a brush to prevent chicken plague.

Rhodes was lying on a branch of a banyan tree, covered with a soft lambskin.

He was wearing comfortable casual clothes, his eyes were squinted by the sunlight that slipped through the gaps in the trees, and his hands, which were often wrapped in leather gloves, were bare at this time.He didn't look energetic, a look full of inertia.

This is the seventh day Rhodes has been home.

Nero told him not to go to the training ground again, and strictly supervised his diet.In order to prevent an ambush, Nero didn't even let him approach the door, and the banyan tree was already the farthest limit of Rhodes' activities.

So Rhodes had nothing to do all day.

A group of released chickens clucked and jumped under the banyan tree. From time to time, a few fluttered up and flew up, raising a layer of yellow dust.The whole courtyard was as noisy as a poultry market.

A little light flashed across Rhodes' dim pupils.He sat up on his knees, caught a glimpse of a group of chickens pecking at the ground under the tree, with a playful smile on the corner of his mouth.

He jumped off the tree suddenly, and the chicken was frightened by him and flew around, making way for him.

There were a few cotton-like chicken feathers on his hair, but he didn't care, and went straight to the kitchen to get a basket of vegetable leaves.

The slaves cleaning the courtyard all cast strange glances, but they dared not say anything.

Rhodes rolled up his sleeves, crushed all the leaves, and sprinkled them on the ground to feed the chickens.

He was squatting on the ground when a cock cooed and flapped its wings and jumped on his back, picking at a lock of his hair.

When Nero came back from the Senate, he saw this somewhat comical picture as soon as he entered the door.

Rhodes looked up sharply and beckoned to him.There were still some shredded vegetable leaves hanging on his forearm, chicken feathers stuck to his hair, and he was squatting in the flying dust.

Nero just felt inexplicably sad.

Rhodes stood up and washed his hands with water from the patio.He shook off the water drops on his hands, and smiled at Nero, "I'm back."

Nero soured his nose and nodded, "Hmm..."

Rhode jumped onto the banyan tree with a light jump.He leaned against the tree trunk, pointed to the tree with his chin and said, "What are you doing in a daze? Come up."

Nero took off his cloak and jumped up a tree next to him.He groped along the dry and rough branches, and took Rhode's cool, wet hand.

Rhodes swept across his slightly tired face, "Why did you stay in the Senate for so long this time? Has the attack on you by the elders not diminished..."

Nero spoke at an unreasonable speed: "... Few people have accused me of it." His eyes were lowered for a long time, somewhat evasive.

Rhodes said plainly, "You don't have to lie to me to keep me, Nero."

Nero held his hand tightly and hurriedly argued: "It's true! Please believe me..."

Rhodes withdrew his hand, folded his arms, and looked back and forth at his dodging expression.

Nero stammered and added: "...it's true, Rhodes, don't worry about me..."

He touched his chin subconsciously, blinked his eyes a few times quickly, and a small patch of freckles covering the bridge of his nose trembled slightly, looking as if he was sitting on pins and needles.He felt guilty, like a believer who made an empty wish to a god.

Rhodes shifted his gaze and didn't bother him anymore.

He crossed his legs, and his posture was quite casual. "As the fire chief, I haven't been on patrol for a long time. Maybe the firemen under me have almost forgotten what I look like."

Nero quickly responded: "I have already supervised the work of the fire brigade for you, increasing the number of patrols from one patrol per night to two patrols in the morning and evening. Residents living on high floors are equipped with water pipes and hook rakes. I also ordered all fuel dealers to Show the sales contract, which can supervise the evil of arson and make the fuel business more regulated. Except for temples and theaters, Rome does not have any unnecessary fire."

Rhodes looked at him, and praised him without hesitation: "As expected of an administrator."

A faint blush appeared on Nero's pale face.

"Speaking of the theater," Rhodes thought for a while and said, "How about your plan to renovate the theater?"

"No progress." Nero was a little sad. "I know it lacks bright spots, but it seems to have all the bright spots, which makes it impossible for me to develop. I spent too long..."

"Don't worry." Rhodes said, "It's not about time, but about opportunity."

Neroton felt relieved.He got closer and reached out to pick the chicken feathers stuck to Rhodes' hair. "I want to take you out for a walk." He said.

"Where are you going?" Rhode raised his eyebrows.

"Beach," Nero said.

He took off the chicken feathers, inserted his fingers into Rhode's hair, and stroked them with the touch of gurgling water, "I don't want to see you change from a free soldier to a person who is so boring that he wants to feed chickens .”

Rhodes leaned against the tree trunk leisurely, a pair of sharp beautiful eyes squinted from between the thin forehead hair, very proud.

"Okay." He chuckled.

……

It was already dusk when we arrived at the beach in a carriage.

The orange glow shot over the sea, like a flame bursting out from the gap between the sky and the sea.The sound of waves came from all directions, and the pure white waves floated over one by one like clouds falling on the sea.

Rhodes was barefoot, stepping on the shells of shrimp, shells and crabs pushed ashore by the waves, and the smell of the sea surged under the tip of his nose.

He stared at the sea, two layers of dark blue sky and sea sandwiched a layer of yellow clouds in his eyes, like oil paint on black glass beads.

Looking at it, he took a deep breath of the fishy and salty air, and slowly evoked a nostalgic smile.

Nero looked at him stupidly, and smiled with his smile.

He sometimes really felt that Rhodes' every frown and smile was the foundation of his life.His body and even his entire soul are nothing but derivatives of Rhodes.

"It's on this kind of sea..." Rhodes looked at the half-orange and half-blue sea, "I used to float on driftwood for three days and three nights, and I once threw the bodies of fellow travelers who died of the disease overboard. I even ate the sails of the boats, of course when I lost my nets and harpoons and was starved to death."

Nero was surprised, "Is it during the march?"

Rhodes smiled faintly: "That's right."

At this time, a cargo ship with full sails appeared on the horizon, like a black dot floating on the sea.

Rhode's eyes were shining brightly, he raised his hand and pointed to the distant sail, and said with a smile, "See? It's that kind of sail, I've eaten it before!"

His proud smile was dazzling to Nero.Nero frowned spontaneously, feeling a stabbing pain in his heart.Every nerve in his body tingled, as if they were all subordinated to Rhodes, and he could no longer decide for himself.

"Then do you feel uncomfortable seeing these sails..." Nero looked in the direction he pointed.

"Of course not!" Rhode denied with a smile, "I like the sea, and I like boats!"

These words struck like an oracle.

Inspired by Nero, his expression froze for a moment, and the blue-orange seascape washed into his brown eyes.An idea, like a rising mountain on the spot, rumbled up from his mind.At this moment, Nero felt as if he was empowered by the gods, and his mind was full of radiant things.

He gasped and said in a trembling voice, "I see..."

Rhodes turned his head, "What do you know?"

Nero blushed with excitement.Like a puppy acting like a baby to its master, he jumped up and threw himself into Rhode's arms, saying incoherently: "I love you! Rhodes! I love you...you gave me everything! You are simply my god! Oh...you brought me good luck! You are my goddess Fortuna!"

He buried his face into Rhode's neck, and kissed Rhode's Adam's Apple hard, making quite loud noises.

Rhodes pushed away the sticky kiss, looked at his face that seemed to be lit up, and asked with a smile, "What do you know?"

"I know how the theater should be remodeled!" Nero grabbed his shoulders, "I want to introduce naval battle performances!"

"Sea battle?!" Rhodes raised an eyebrow.

"Yes!" Nero said excitedly, "use the pipes hidden under the theater to lead the river water into the performance area, forming a deep lake for performing sea battle scenes. Ships are usually stored in the arches of the theater. Just pull in with the rope."

Rhodes imagined it, smiled and said, "That's right, I'll definitely go and see it after it's completed."

The orange-red sunset covered the sky and covered the sky, and it was so heavy that it was turned upside down like a bowl.The cargo ship far away on the sea gradually revealed its shape.The milky white sails are fully bulged, and the sails are dyed a layer of orange, like a piece of slightly burnt bread.

The cargo ship was slowly driving towards the shore while making rolling waves.

Nero also took off his boots and took Rhode's hand.The two of them walked together on the sea-soaked beach, and the two rows of footprints they stepped on were immediately flattened by the waves constantly washing up.

The two are like walking into a gilded world.

Nero had an unconcealable smile on his face, and said excitedly: "You are saving me, Rhodes. From finding out the poisonous reed, to pirates, marching and fighting, to renovating the bathhouse and theater, you have been saving me all the time. You let me get everything step by step, I really don't know what kind of surprise you will give me..."

Rhodes stopped suddenly, his face gradually hidden under his long hair.

He who was still relaxed quickly became a little depressed, his feet stopped, and he sank deep in the sand. A small crab the size of a thumbnail burrowed into the sand from his feet.

Nero looked hard at his ambiguous expression, and his heart sank.He had a premonition that Rhodes was going to say some sluggish words.

"There is something I want to tell you." Rhodes paused, "It's about my life experience."

Nero choked, and said in a muffled voice, "Tell me..."

Rhodes was silent for a moment, and said: "Actually, Thales is not my father, and the identity of my biological father is still unknown. The only thing I can be sure of now is that my mother is Thales' sister. But these boring blood relations have no effect on me. It doesn't really matter..."

Nero lowered his eyes and listened quietly, looking very dull.

"The important thing is that my mother used to be the virgin who guarded the sacred fire in the temple. Do you know what that means?" Rhodes said calmly, "It means that I will let you have everything And if you lose it, maybe that is your fate."

Nero stared at him steadfastly, motionless, seemingly holding his breath.His eyes didn't move, but his pupils looking at Rhodes were shining brightly, like a little whale swimming.He, who is naturally sexual, is unusually calm at the moment, so calm that he seems to be wearing an invisible armor.

Rhodes examined his face, paused and said, "You don't look surprised. You already know that, right?"

Nero nodded, and said frankly, "I found this out during the month you left home."

Rhodes took a few steps back and sat directly on the dry sand.He pushed back his hair that fluttered with the sea breeze, revealing a snow-white ear that seemed to be forged with a small chisel.

He glanced at Nero and asked seemingly casually, "So, what do you think?"

Nero was still standing, looking at him from a condescending angle, from his brows and eyes drawn like a magic brush to the delicate auricles.

He was a little dazed, staring at Rhode's ears obsessively.He ignored all the magnificent beauty of the seaside, as if all the aesthetics in the world were concentrated on that small pinna.

He sat down next to Rhodes and took his hand again.

Rhodes looked over slowly.

Nero's lips moved twice, and his eyes trembled a little.He is like a youthful, impatient mute, limited by his flaws but wanting to say a lot.

Finally he uttered a swear word: "Fucking fate!"

Rhodes laughed, "Nero..." He half sighed and half chuckled.

The sailing cargo ship gradually moved to the center.

The sunset glow darkened, and the lively orange was pulled away, leaving only the setting sun like blood dripping into the water.The sunset glow is too red, so intense that it is hard to dispel it, it almost condenses into blood and rains down.

Rhodes turned sideways and lay on the sand.He casually bent one leg, resting his head on Nero's legs, his thick black hair scattered between Nero's legs.

Nero looked down at him.The two stared at each other silently for a while.

Rhodes' eyes were calm, from Nero's disheveled bangs to his slightly blood-colored lips.Nero's eyebrows and eyes are very gloomy, which more or less shows his bad and dark temperament.

Rhode's heartbeat became heavier.With the hammer-like heartbeat at this moment, he felt the position of the heart in the chest cavity with unprecedented precision.

"It seems like I haven't kissed for a long time." He said suddenly.

He raised his arm, hooked Nero's neck and pressed down.Nero was stunned for a moment, and after he realized it, he raised his face and kissed him.

Rhodes kissed and closed his eyes naturally, and put his fingers into Nero's curly hair.He's even slow when kissing.

Because of the excitement, Nero's pale skin became flushed.He couldn't hold himself back very quickly, so he stood up and pressed directly against Rhodes' body.

He sucked Rhode's lips hard and bit him like he wanted to eat him.Rhodes frowned, and groaned softly; this soft but deafening sound stimulated Nero's blood.Nero's heart was pounding like thunder, so heavy that he worried about his sudden death.He opened his eyes and peeked at Rhodes. Rhodes' beautiful eyelashes were trembling slightly, and he immediately closed his eyes again, not daring to look any further.The feeling of being too happy made him burst into tears involuntarily.

Rhodes felt his face was wet, opened his eyes quickly, held his hot cheeks and said, "What's wrong with you?"

Nero was as groggy as a drunk, and his vision was very blurred.

He had long heard the beauty of love in Greco-Roman poetry.But when he really fell in love with Rhodes, he realized that love, like philosophy, is difficult to express in words and languages, because it is something at the limit of human perception.

Nero put his cheeks against Rhodes, and said in his ear like a dream:

"I love you, Rhodes...I love you, I love you...I can't wait to kiss you all the time! I am a hostage to the throne and a slave to ambition, and falling in love with you is really the only thing I can get in my life The things that were shot..."

Rhode looked at Nero with some pity in his eyes.

He hugged his back and said with a complicated expression: "Stop talking, Nero. I don't feel sweet when you say these things, I just feel sad..."

Nero lay on top of him and said in a choked and sore voice, "So... don't leave me, never leave me..."

Rhodes listened silently without saying anything.

They lay like this for a while hugging.The blood-like setting sun turned dark blue.A few seagulls flitted across the sky, and a ray of dark yellow glow squeezed between the sky and the sea, like the last breath of the sun before it died.

It was getting dark and the sea breeze was getting bitter, but neither of them wanted to part this hug.

——Until the cargo ship sailed over and docked at the platform not far away.

The crew members walked out of the cabin holding torches, pulled the chains together, and slowly lowered the ladder of the ship and put it on the platform built by wooden boards.The number of crew members is not large, and there are less than ten people by visual inspection.

Under the command of a captain wearing gold and silver, they carried wooden boxes and walked off the ship.

The cargo ship was still submerged in sea water, and it undulated and wobbled slightly as the crew moved around.The crew lit the braziers on the platform, and the scattered flames barely illuminated the path under their feet.

Rhodes rubbed Nero's head and motioned him to get up, "There are people over there." He whispered.

Upon hearing this, Nero stood up slowly and returned to a listless look.

Those crew members who have been working as coolies all year round are extremely fast on their feet, and the cargo on the deck is quickly unloaded.

The two slap each other off the sand from their clothes.Rhode glanced over and saw the family name of "Otto" engraved on the hull.

"It's your political enemy's cargo ship." Rhodes looked at the ship and said, "It seems that they can make a lot of money again."

Nero turned around, looked over quietly, and said solemnly: "Anthony often imports bronze statues from India, and then relies on his brother's connections to sell them to Romans who believe in gods. With this kind of business that is sure to make money, he He is about to rise from a demoted commoner to a nobleman."

Rhodes was thoughtful, "Bronze statue..."

"Yes." Nero said, "He has almost all the statues in all the temples. Anyone who goes to worship can see the 'Otto' carved on the base of the bronze statue."

After a while, all the wooden boxes were unloaded on the platform, and the deck of the cargo ship became bare.

Rhodes focused on the cargo ship.It was swaying there, soaking in the sea water and slowly sinking and floating, like a huge but inconvenient monster.

His pupils suddenly tightened.

"No," he said firmly, "the draft of this ship is wrong."

Nero was puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Rhodes looked back and forth at the cargo ship, his brows were tightly locked, and his voice was a little urgent: "Go and have a look."

So the two quickly walked to the shore and found the captain who was cursing the crew.

After Nero took out his seal ring to reveal his identity, the humble crew members knelt down one after another, and the captain wearing gold and silver was like a prey that was still bitten by the neck while trying to escape, with a struggling expression.He twitched all over, the torch in his hand almost slipped to the deck, every pore was terrified by overflowing.

"Oh...my lord Domitius..." He bowed his body and said with difficulty, "It is my great honor and surprise to meet you..."

"Stop complimenting me," Nero said indifferently, "tell me what's on these two ships."

"Yes...it is a bronze statue, my lord, it is a bronze statue imported from India." The captain smiled, "You know, Lord Otto is the bronze statue contractor for all the temples, and he has been in the bronze statue business for a long time .The cargo ship in his hand, all procedures are legal."

"Take out one and let me see." Nero ordered.

The captain graciously opened a wooden box and offered Nero a bronze statue the size of a vase with both hands.

The bronze statue is carved in the image of Jupiter, and even Jupiter's beard is carved clearly. The bronze statue shows that it has been contaminated with a layer of greasy water vapor because it has been transported at sea.

Nero examined the bronze statue carefully and weighed it in his hands.

"The bronze statue is very light," he said to the captain, "which is totally out of proportion to its size."

"Because the bronze statue is hollow." The captain said with a flattering smile. "Now only Indians with ingenuity can master the technique of hollowing bronze statues."

Nero observed for a while, but couldn't find any problems.He silently cast a glance at Rhodes.

Rhode scanned the empty deck and asked, "Have all the bronze statues been moved down?"

"Yes..." the captain replied hesitantly, "They have all moved to the shore."

Rhodes took a few steps, knocked on the deck with his boots, and there was a muffled sound.His eyes froze for a moment because of thinking, and then he showed a relieved expression.

"Open the deck," he said, "I want to see what else is under the deck."