But she was only lighting a fire, making sure that the water was clean, that the bedding had been sun-dried and patted, and that the floor had been mopped and sprinkled with corduroy, and that there was really nothing to complain about.

A candle made by Ariana burned in the center of his desk, bringing a pine scent to the musty room, but Borges didn't appreciate it, snarling that it didn't look like his own room at all. And Filin had to settle him down on the bed and put a bottle of brandy in his hand.

Filin knew too well why he needed to drink to drown his sorrows. As he carried him up the stables to his room, they passed one empty stable after another, and not only were the horses gone, but also the fine hounds, and Filmin could not bear to go to the delivery room to see it, because Filmin was sure that it must be empty.

Ah Fa walked beside the people, seemingly silent and suffering a lot of blows, but his good intentions were obvious. The stables were spotlessly cleaned, the rest of the horses were combed to a shiny coat, and even the empty stables were cleaned and painted.

However, just like an empty cupboard, no matter how clean it is, it cannot satisfy a hungry person. Firin, knowing that the stables were Borges' treasure and home, returned to find that both had been looted.

After leaving Borges, Filin went alone to the barn and corral, and found that the best breeding animals were missing, and the situation was as miserable as the stable. The winning bull is gone, and the curly-haired black sheep that used to fill an entire corral are now reduced to six ewes and one young ram.

Filin didn't know what other animals were there, except that the corrals and stables, which were supposed to be full of cattle at this time of year, were now almost empty.

As he strolled from the barn to the warehouse and the outbuildings, he saw a group of people loading sacks of grain into wagons outside one of the buildings, while the two adjacent wagons were already full.

Filming paused for a moment to look at them, and seeing that the wagon was getting higher and higher, and the bags of goods were getting harder to load, he stepped forward to help them carry them, and they immediately accepted Film's assistance, so Filmin started talking to them as he went.

When the work was done, he waved goodbye to them happily, and then walked slowly back to the castle, wondering why an entire warehouse of grains had to be loaded onto a barge and transported to Tuhu upstream.

Filin decided to check on Borges before going back to his room, so he climbed the stairs to his room, only to find the door open. Worried about what kind of conspiracy this was, Filin pushed the door open and entered, frightening Ariana who was arranging food on the small table next to Borges's chair.

It was so embarrassing for Filin to see her here that he could only stare at her, and then turn around to see Borges looking at Filin.

"I thought you were alone in your room. Fei Lin said weakly.

Borges looked at Filmin with a solemn expression, and had apparently drunk some brandy. "I thought I could be alone and quiet. He said solemnly, as energetic as ever.

But Ariana was not so easy to deceive, seeing that she continued to work with her lips tensed, ignoring the presence of Filin at all, and instead speaking to Borges.

"Film won't bother you for long. Mrs. Xingcai has instructed me to come and see if you have eaten hot food, for you have eaten very little this morning. Filmin will leave after finishing the meal. ”

"Please also convey your gratitude to Dai Feilin. Borges added. He turned his gaze from Filmin to Ariana, feeling a pang of embarrassment and Ariana's displeasure at him, and then tried to apologize.

"I've just finished a hard journey, ma'am, and my injuries are painful to me, and I hope I won't offend you. ”

"I am in no position to be offended by anything you have done, my lord. She replied as she laid out all the food she had brought. "Is there anything else that Filmin can do to make you feel more comfortable?" she asked, her tone saying nothing but the politeness she should have, and not looking at Filmin at all.

"Please accept Film's gratitude. Not only the food, but also the candles that freshen the air in the film, he knows that you made it yourself. ”

Filin saw that her attitude was a little more relaxed. "Lady Rainbow told me to bring some here, and I was happy to serve her. ”

"I see. He struggled to say the next words, "Please convey Filin's thanks to her, and of course Rem." ”

"I will. So, don't you need anything? Filin happened to be in Fort Stag to help Lady Starstar with some errands, and she told Filin that he could bring something back from the city if you needed it. ”

"No need. However, she was really thoughtful enough to think of this for Filin, thank you. ”

"You're welcome, sir. Ariana walked out of the room with an empty basket and held her head held high, as if she wasn't there.

Borges and Filin had to look at each other. Filin looked at Ariana's back, then tried to remove her out of Filin's mind. "It's not just the stables. Filin told him, and then gave a brief report on what Filin had seen in the barn and warehouse.

"I should have told you something about that. He said angrily, looking at the food Ariana had brought, and poured more brandy for himself. "When people go all the way to the Buck River, they hear a lot of rumors and messages.

Some say that His Majesty sells cattle and grains to finance the defense of the coast, while others say that he sends the breeding animals to safe pastures in the inland territory of Tirth. He drank the brandy in one gulp.

"The best horses are missing, as soon as I get back. Fei Lin was skeptical that he would be able to breed an animal of this caliber in ten years. He poured another glass of wine.

"All my life's work has gone down the drain, Kaz. One always wants to leave something in this world. The horses and pure bloodlines that Filin had raised here were now scattered across the five principalities and were nowhere to be found.

Oh, it's not that the horses can't improve the breed there, it's just that Filmin can no longer see the results of his work that Filmin could have sustained. Sitting tight will undoubtedly breed with a tall and thin Tirce mare, while the person who delivers the next litter from the embers will think that his pony is just another ordinary horse;

I waited six generations for the pony, and they would let the best hunting horse plow the fields. ”

Filin was speechless for fear that what he said was true. "Let's have something to eat!" suggested Film. "How's your leg now?"

He lifted the blanket and looked at it casually. "It's still there anyway. I think I should be grateful, and it's a lot better than this morning. The prickly ginseng root does have an anti-inflammatory effect, and the woman with the chicken head knows her own herbs quite well. ”

Filmin didn't have to ask to know who he was talking about. "Would you like something to eat?" he asked again.

He put down the cup and picked up the spoon, took a sip of the soup Ariana had prepared, and nodded reluctantly in agreement. "So," he said, as he ate, "the girl is Ariana." ”

Filmin nodded.

"It seems like a little cold to you today. ”

"It's a little bit. Filin replied coldly.

Borges grinned. "You're as irritable as she is. Fei Lin guessed that Xingcai must not have said good things about Fei Lin in front of her. “

"She doesn't like drunks. Filin told him frankly. "Her father died of alcoholism, but she had lived hard for years before that. He punched and kicked her when she was younger, and when she grew up, he was almost picky and scolding. ”

"Oh," Borges carefully poured the wine into his glass, "and it's a shame to hear that." ”

"She's also sorry to have to live this life. ”

He looked at Filin. "I didn't lose my temper, Kaz. I wasn't rude to her when she was here, and I wasn't drunk, at least not yet. So, you might as well pick up your reproach and talk about what happened to Fort Buck while he was away. ”

Fihrin then got up and reported to Borges, as if he had the right to make such a request, and Fihrin wanted to be in some ways true.

He listened to me as he ate, and when he had finished, he poured more brandy, then leaned back in his chair and held his glass, shook the wine in the glass, looked down at it, and then looked up at Filin, "Also, Floya is pregnant, but neither the King nor His Majesty know yet." ”

"Filin thought you were asleep. ”

Yes, he felt as if he had dreamed about this conversation. Oops!" He drank the brandy, sat up and quickly removed the blanket from his lap, and he watched as he carefully bent his knees until the muscles had propped the wound open, causing Filin to flinch in fright, while Borges only looked thoughtful, and poured more wine to drink, and drank half the bottle like that.

"So if he didn't want the wound to open, he had to use a splint to immobilize the leg. He glanced up at Film, "Do you know what Filmin needs, can you get it for him?"

"Filmin thinks you need to rest for a day or two, so you might as well take this opportunity to recuperate, and you don't need a splint to lie in bed. ”

He gave Filin a deep look. "Who guards Floya's door?"

"I don't think...... I think she had some maids sleeping in the outer bedroom of her house. ”

"You know he'll try to kill her and her unborn child as soon as he finds out about it. ”

"It's still a secret. If you start guarding her door, everyone will know. ”

"I've done the math, and there are already five people including Filin who know about it, so it's not a secret, Kaz. ”

"Six," Filin confessed remorsefully, "the servant had guessed a few days ago. ”

Film's tone seemed frustrated, as if he was not satisfied with the status quo.