[Ancient Rome] How to Divorce the Tyrant Nero

Brittanicus felt that Octavia was always against him.

When he supported the conservatives to deprive Roman women of their right to dispose of property and levy citizenship taxes on them, Octavia said that he could not sign the bill of parliament on behalf of the emperor, and that Roman women did not enjoy full civil rights, so they should not be punished. tax.

When Brittanicus decided to suspend Claudius's canal plan and use the loan money to build a luxurious square in memory of him, Octavia donated the part that Claudius gave her Property, used to pray for Claudius, and also appeared at the Citizens' Assembly with Nero, expressing goodwill and support to some civilians.

It can be said that Octavia, who followed the mass line, gained the greatest influence with the least investment.Whether it's for show or against Brittanicus, Octavia and Nero at this time seem to be like a husband and wife, with one heart and one mind.Although their age does not support them doing too much in the political field, this statement is enough to make some people who are dissatisfied with Brittanicus attack in public opinion, and even elevate this young unmarried couple to the imperial court. Founder's height.

As a result, on the second day after the public opinion attackers started the propaganda, Octavia took Nero to the palace to attend a family gathering, as if shaking hands with Brittanicus.

Of course, before that, Brittanicus, under the coercion of Narcissus, unconditionally released Marcus Barbatus so that someone could appease the angry crowd.

"Thank you everyone here for participating in this not-so-luxurious dinner. As the host, I hope that tonight we can abandon our unhappiness and share the peace and beauty bestowed by the gods." Even though Brittany Kus had been The irony from the outside world was imminent, but at the dinner, he still occupied the most honorable seat.Then someone deliberately moved Octavia a chair instead of a couch so that Octavia could remember her identity.

Nero was very dissatisfied with this, so he let Octavia sit with him, and even gave Octavia the head of the bed with armrests.

"It seems that my sister is getting along well with her future husband." Brittanicus said with a half-smile as he watched Nero's actions.

As a result, it was not Octavia who started to hate him first, but their mother Messalina: "What? Could it be that in just a few days, you squandered the wealth that Claudius gave you, Can't even find the bed?"

As a hedonist, Messalina didn't like Britannicus' shabby banquet at all, so she drank alone with a wine glass from the beginning to the end: "Also, when did you become so simple? ?”

"Dear mother, considering my current responsibilities, I feel that it is necessary for me to get rid of some bad habits and restore the good customs of my ancestors." Brittanicus, who was questioned by his mother, seemed very proud. It was out of tune with his simple attire.

"If you really want to learn the good customs of the predecessors, I suggest you learn from your father and start as an apprentice of a historian." Marcus Barbatus looked down on Brittany Kus Even Roman citizens who feel that they have a little brain will show complete irony at Britannicus's self-movement.

"But historians can't be emperors." Brittanicus was not interested in those boring documents, which offended some of the pedants present, because they had been the students of Claudius and had been Advisor to previous emperors.

Marcus Barbatus felt that he and Brittanicus could no longer talk.Obviously they are born of the same parents, why the behavioral logic of Brittany Kus and Octavia have no similarities.

As a result, after the meal, everyone was unwilling to eat, and they also showed an attitude of boredom, even disgust, towards Brittanicus' self-serving eloquence.

Nero, a political noob, hated Brittanicus's banquet.He showed complete distaste for those boiled vegetables and over-grilled fish, while Octavia watched a pair of greasy hands tearing meat and bread, and was stunned by the dining environment.

"I remember that there were a lot of tableware in the palace." Octavia asked Nero to eat less from the banquet, so as not to go back and have diarrhea.

Although in modern times, tableware is a must-have for every family, but in ancient Rome, where industrial technology was underdeveloped, the cost of a small spoon was no less than a piece of exquisite jewelry, and it could even be called a luxury during the Roman Empire.

"Since your brother wants to put on a show, he can only starve in front of these people." Messalina sarcastically said: "He looks very much like Claudius, and the father and son have two faces before and after they ascended the throne. .”

"You seem to be very dissatisfied with Brittanicus." Octavia noticed that Messalina was not as partial to Brittanicus as before, so she asked tentatively.

"How dare I!" Messalina, who was easily aroused by Octavia, bent her lips, and said in a strange way: "Your brother is now the master of the house, much better than your father. How dare I have it?" What opinion."

Seeing this, Octavia just added some wine to Messalina, and then glanced at Narcissus, who was regarded as a guard by Brittany Kus. Don't share dinner with their family, and many people present even invited Narcissus to the dinner.

But here in Brittanicus, Narcissus was still the slave who remained with the Claudius.He was like the leader of the Praetorian Guard humiliated by Caligula, trying not to pay attention to the mocking eyes of the elders.

"I didn't expect him to have today." Nero noticed Octavia's eyes, thinking that she, like himself, was feeling relieved for Narcissus' current experience.

"People as loyal as him are rare." Octavia said with some regret: "My father left him to Brittanicus in the hope that he could protect Brittanicus, but it's a pity My silly little brother can't understand my father's painstaking efforts at all."

"Octavia, I admire your tolerance." Nero sighed, "He clearly punished you, but you are willing to speak for him."

Regarding this, Octavia just patted the back of Nero's hand, and the warmth between the two caused Mesalina's dissatisfaction and some people's comfort.

"If the marriage of Domitius Jr. and Claudia Jr. can ease the situation in Rome, that would be a great thing." A congressman close to Brittanicus sighed.

"My lord, my sister is not little Claudia. You should call her little Valeria." Brittanicus said dissatisfiedly: "Please keep this in mind."

"Yes, I did make a slip of the tongue." The elder who was named froze, but soon returned to his usual expression.

During this meal, Brittanicus euphemistically mentioned the Roman people who were gradually rioting because of his policies, and hoped that representatives of all parties, especially Octavia, who had a close relationship with the Matronas, could come forward to appease the mood of the people.

It was just that when Marcus Barbatus asked whether he wanted to withdraw the bill, Brittany Kus looked a little unnatural, and then changed the topic with the help of a certain supporter.

"Besides, there is one more thing I want to get rid of my dearest sister." After taking the throne, Brittanicus rarely showed a good face to Octavia, which made the latter feel that the visitor was not kind, and even sneered at her in his heart It was the older sister that Brittanicus hated the most.

"When my father was in power, thanks to the help of Octavia, the Matronas agreed to lend nearly 2000 million sesterti, but today, I have to announce something with regret." Britta Nikus knew that many people present had borrowed money from the Matronas, so he wanted to unite this group of people to put pressure on Octavia so that they could renege on the debt.

"In order to pay the troops on the front line, my father has exhausted all the money in the treasury. Now, several public facilities in the city of Rome are aging, and there is an urgent need to invest a huge sum of money for repair and reconstruction."

"For this reason, I would like to ask my dearest sister to persuade the Matronas to give up this loan." Britannicus said with great emotion: "All Romans should contribute to this great country, Isn't it?"

The author has something to say:

During the Republic period, only male guests could eat on the couch, while women and children could only sit on chairs.But in the later period of the Republic, as some women gained political influence, they also began to eat on the couch.

Nero: House husband ING.