The snowflakes of early winter have turned the entire Gallic forest white, and the forest that used to be vibrant has now become quiet and long, and the lonely and dilapidated carriage driving in the forest path, creaking and bumping, becomes the only sound in this forest, this environment and atmosphere makes Apis feel like the protagonist of a medieval novel, a wandering swordsman or a poet, who is exploring in a hidden convoy to an unknown and mysterious place. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

"We're almost there."

The groom shouted loudly, pulling Appis's mind from imagination to reality. The dilapidated carriage deliberately made a detour to the Roman province during the winter, and from there to the north, to the family. The purpose was simple: to confuse the Gauls, and at the same time the owner of the household.

"Honorable Claudia, it is a pleasure to meet you, you are really as your husband portrayed, beautiful and intelligent, generous and elegant and noble."

As soon as he arrived at the Roman villa at the edge of the forest, the "merchant" in the carriage jumped out and began to talk to the Roman lady in front of him, but the opening words had already begun to make Appis feel uncomfortable. Although the Roman aristocratic woman in front of her is elegant and dignified, she is not necessarily as good as he portrays, this is the so-called aristocratic etiquette? Appis didn't want to complain, maybe his diaosi nature would not understand......

"Don't shiver, my guest from afar, come, come in, tell me what kind of business you want to do with me this time?"

The Roman aristocratic woman in front of her invited Appis and his "master" into their home.

Built on the edge of an open meadow, with forests and some undulating hills stretching out behind him, this splendid Roman villa is a modern and scenic gem, and it seems that some of the individual villas were built here not surprisingly, but it seems more secluded and free of the hustle and bustle of Roman cities and barracks. However, it has its own elegant and refined aesthetic conception.

"Dear Claudia, your husband and I are business partners, long-term partners, and when I met him in Aletion before, he told me that there is a lack of governess in your home in Gaul, and I have heard that very few people are willing to leave Rome and go to Gaul during the winter."

Appis's "master", a merchant disguised as a Roman quartermaster, quickly struck up a conversation with Claudia, the elegant and generous hostess. Appis, on the other hand, looked around admiring the interior of the Roman mansion.

"Yes, the winter nights in Gaul were long and cold, and needless to say that the Greek teachers could not stand it, and even I did not want to stay here for long. But it's true that the upper wines here are much better than those from Rome, and I can't let go of what I'm doing. ”

What Claudia was talking about was at hand, Appis didn't know, but he didn't dare to ask more. Sometimes, when you come to a strange place, the best thing to do is to listen more than to ask more, because if you ask too many questions, it is easy to expose yourself. Although Appis did not want to do this job, such a task. But there is no way, the legion has its own regulations, and the military orders are like a mountain, which is not only the case in ****, but also in ancient Rome, a country with a perfect military system, and it will be a terrible end for you to disobey the military order, and the legion is now the lifesaver for Appis, and it is the only place where it is possible to change your status.

"By the way, I haven't asked your name yet. Did my husband sell those slaves in Arethion? And does he have any little lover there. ”

It is impossible to imagine that the Roman woman was so open in the matter of lovers, and Claudia did not use a question mark when she said that her husband was having an affair, but directly in an affirmative tone, which Appis could feel almost immediately.

But this is not surprising, a man who has not been at home for a long time is still an aristocratic tycoon, and when he goes out to do business, it is unusual that he will not pick flowers and mess with grass. But as his wife, it is indeed incredible, that the Romans' concept of sexuality is indeed incredible. Appis could even understand why there was a special Valentine's Day in the West later......

"Haha, he's an honest businessman, how can he be interested in those low-grade Ji girls. And my name is Antix. ”

Barbur, the quartermaster disguised as a merchant, replied politely. At the same time, Claudia also burst out laughing, her voice was not loud, and her words and demeanor still revealed the elegance of the aristocracy. Although no one knows what exactly happened behind the scenes, Apis can imagine that a lavish villa, with her husband not at home, must have kept many of the mistress's "pets" during the winter months, with the openness of Roman women.

"He's the tutor you introduced me to?"

Claudia turned her head to look at Appis, and it was evident that her haughty eyes revealed distrust and surprise at the man whom Antix had introduced.

"Yes, beautiful Claudia. He is the Greek teacher I found for you from Capua. ”

Babur replied with a smile on his face. He looks like a low-level merchant who is flattering a noblewoman, but his acting skills are so first-class that even Apis himself feels that if he didn't know in advance, he might have been deceived by him.

"Are you happy with him?"

Seeing Claudia staring at Apis for a long time, but not responding, Bable asked uneasily. Claudia didn't care, though.

"Is he really a teacher? I feel that he is too young, how can he read so many books at such a young age? Although there is a shortage of tutors in my family, not everyone can come to this job. ”

Claudia's words were sharp, and she showed no mercy to Appis. And Babur on the side hurriedly explained-"He is very young, but his knowledge is guaranteed to be sufficient, I have personally tested him, in fact, at the beginning I had the same opinion as you, how can such a young civilian have a wealth of cultural knowledge, but when we tested him, we found that the result was so unexpected." This young man, Apis, not only knew Greek classics, but also had a gift and knowledge of philosophy and music. Although we don't know how he did it, he acquired a lot of cultural knowledge at such a young age, but according to his own statement, early formal education and hard research are the key to today's success. ”

Babur spoke in front of Claudia, lying does not need to be drafted, and for a moment Apis even thought that it was a pity for this thing to be an ordinary officer in the barracks, it might be good that he should be a politician, anyway, that's what the nobles and Roman politicians did every day, or it was not bad to be a businessman, one thing on the surface, another thing behind the scenes, and he was very good at, improvising.