Cicero was finally gone, and no matter how many senators spoke for him, or how many writers and poets lamented for him, he went to Greece, and heard that he was warmly welcomed by various city-states and small kingdoms when he went there, and that there was an endless stream of people who came to greet and consult him every day, and that the gifts were piled up, but Cicero's whole person changed, and he was unkempt, he did not cut his hair, he grew a beard, and he said to all the visitors, I am not an eloquent, but a philosopher, Eloquence is the most unreliable in this world, and it is at best a means of studying philosophy or making a name for itself in politics.

When he was not a visitor, Cicero would walk alone on the seashore, looking with melancholy eyes at the ocean and the distance beyond the sky, his mother country, and now he had been expelled by his own mother, like a helpless child, like a sad man who had lost his lover, "and even so, he was thinking of Rome." "That's everyone's judgment of him.

Probably at the turn of winter and spring, and at the end of the most lively Saturnalia festival in Rome, Claudius and Li Bida rode lightly, with only two attendants, and boarded the gate of Cato the house of little Cato. When the servants of the Cato family saw these two, they all avoided them in panic, and even knocked over a lot of potted plants, and Posia, who had returned home to save her relatives, rushed out, and when she saw Li Bida, she was desperate to hold on to the pillars, with a paralyzed look: she was really a kind of ambivalence, and she certainly knew that the purpose of Li Bida's trip was to drive her father away from Rome as he had expelled Cicero; But she also remembered that it was Li Bida's operation before, and her husband Brutus broke away from the naïve and exploited assassination plan, preserving the family and even his reputation.

But Li Bida didn't say anything to Bothea head-on. He just glanced at the other person. That is, he walked side by side with Claudius into the inner court. Little Cato there was not in the least moved by the chaos and noise around him, lying on a circle chair quietly reading the family motto, which was his compulsory lesson every evening, that is, to let his actions at every moment be completed rationally under the guidance of his ancestors.

This time was no exception.

Claudius got straight to the point, but with rare politeness and humility, and he only asked Cato if the former consul, His Excellency Caesar, had left for the province to take up his new duties. Then, according to the collective resolution of the Senate and the Council, is it time for you, Your Excellency, Cato, to go to the island of Cyprus as well?

Seeing that Cato didn't answer anything, Claudius smiled and began to continue, "Actually, you should not be mistaken, your identity in Cyprus this time is not strictly the chief executive, because your Excellency is not yet old, so you are only sent to the other region as an inspector. So I had to speak for the Roman civic community. Let me be clear to you beforehand, there are no legions or guards to send you. ”

Then. Posia, who had been quietly following behind everyone, broke down and wept bitterly, now the situation on the island of Cyprus was clear to everyone, full of natives or pirates eager to kill the Romans, even the Ptolemy there was hostile to the Roman envoys or officials, if his father did not even have an army to protect him, how would his life be guaranteed? Isn't this a form of persecution?

"It doesn't matter, I will follow the reminder of my friend Caesar, temporarily set up my mansion in Rhodes, and then do my best to diplomatically submit Ptolemy of Cyprus to Rome again." Little Cato still had his back to everyone and said calmly.

Claudius applauded, then pretended to be surprised and excitedly said a lot of compliments, and beckoned, and a woman with heavy makeup and a hunchbacked one-eyed man walked up to Cato's side, "According to Julius's new case law, our people's council will implement a policy of reducing funding and retinue for officials who have foreign missions, so these two are the appointed attachés. Come, let me introduce you, this woman's name is Asher, she is from the Subpura district, you can call her 'braszrod', because no one dares to underpay her for prostitution, and this ugly man, who used to be a tomb robber, is called Dillinger. ”

Oh my God, a prostitute from Subura, a habitual thief, and Portia cried even louder, and she didn't know whether to sympathize with her father's future plight or praise Claudius for his evil humor.

"That's fine, there's nothing wrong with that. By the way, what's your name? Cato turned around in the circle chair and asked kindly, which caught the two men off guard, and could only report their origins again. Very well, Asher, you are in charge of the Governor's Palace, and Dillinger is the treasurer, and I entrust you with the cash box, but the silver coins in it may be pitiful. ”

Now, it was Claudius's turn to be bored with himself, and he said a few words briefly, meaning that since Cato's attaché had also been arranged, he should set off as soon as possible, otherwise if he did not take up his new post within the specified time, he would be held accountable by the people's council.

Finally, Claudius turned his cloak and left the Cato house, and when Li Bida left, he gave a look to Percia, who was holding the pillar, and Portia immediately noticed.

After nightfall, Pothea, dressed in a dark cloak, and under the escort of maids and servants, hurried to the villa of Lipida in Apilon, where she was already very familiar, after all, she had a good relationship with Potty, and the high walls of the villa hung torches similar to those of the barracks, illuminating the surrounding forest in black and white, and Posia gave her name and was allowed to enter the inner hall, where Liberda and Potty were sitting by the candlelight, and Potty saw that his friend had arrived, and he hurriedly got up to greet him.

"Lybidaeus, you'd better be on your father's side in this matter, or else," Percia was so flustered that she even pushed Potty's arm away, crying out of her anger or pleading.

"Dear Posia, please sit down, I am very embarrassed by this matter itself, when I entertained you and Brutus, I said that in my concept, Ling Zun is the embodiment of the republic, and I am also a naturalized citizen of the republic, how can I really watch Ling Zun suffer?"

After hearing Li Bida's words, Posia took off her cloak, sat down and cried with a whimper, and after her emotions were released, she remembered whether Li Bida's words just now were vain?

At this time, there was laughter and laughter from the other end of the living room, and Leo, the son of Leo, and his daughter, Corinna, as if they had seen something extremely excited, ran out with a smile.

Then came the little pigeon and Van Lun Lingna, who also covered their mouths, and felt very curious and happy, and finally Pothea saw a half-human, half-cat object in the dim light, jumping out one after another. (To be continued......)