Succubus' Manor

Amos's mind is confused, he is the son of the old housekeeper, the old housekeeper served the earl's father, after the death of the old earl, he became the new housekeeper under his father's recommendation, and he grew up with the original earl Big, he knew too well what kind of person the other party was.

He doesn't care about big or small things, as long as his enjoyment is not lacking, no matter what Amos tells him about the city, he will only let Amos figure it out.

Amos had been a housekeeper honestly for five or six years. He got to know the earl more and more thoroughly, and knew that he was a person who was afraid of trouble and liked to enjoy himself. The first time Amos deceived the other party was a businessman who came into contact with him in private. He promised him gold and asked him to arrange the best market seat for him.

Amos did not tell the count about this, but he did it quietly.

He was nervous, scared, and had nightmares for a month.

But the earl didn't realize that his fear of the past few days was finally let go. The first businessman who asked him to benefit him introduced more businessmen, and the wealth that should have belonged to the lord flowed into his pocket.

Sometimes he felt that the Earl knew it, and just turned a blind eye to him. After all, he was the butler, and changing a butler would be tantamount to breaking one of his own arms, although this arm would grow again one day When it grows out, but before it grows out, life will not be easy.

Amos gradually got used to it, no longer fearful, and his methods became more and more rough, and most of the time he didn't even hide it.

Especially the earl has not yet married a wife. When there is no mistress, he is the third in command here, ranking only under the dean of the Holy Court and the lord, but in fact, he only has to worry about the dean.

After all, the lord is always within his sight. He knows what the lord knows and what the lord is thinking.

It may be that he has been fooling the Earl for a long time. When he was fooling Chi Yan, he didn't think of an excuse in advance. The impromptu excuse is always full of loopholes and cannot withstand exploration.

Chi Yan lowered his head and looked at the top of Amos' head. Amos's blond hair was darker, closer to yellow.

"Tell me, why is there not enough food when there is no food distribution and there are only these few people in the castle?" Chi Yan didn't let Amos get up, just let him kneel.

Amos was still stubborn: "After the Earl disappeared, almost all the merchants left, especially the grain merchants. We don't produce much grain here. The grain in the castle is old grain, and it hasn't been replaced for several years. I Let people distribute the old grain to the poor."

Chi Yan nodded slightly: "Chen Liang."

"Then take my people to the granary to have a look. The granary will never be clean without a grain of grain. Then my people will know whether it was old grain or new grain."

Amos was heartbroken.

Chi Yan suddenly softened his voice, and said softly, "I just came here, and I need you a lot. If you tell the truth, I will forgive all your sins."

"But if you insist on lying to me..."

Before Chi Yan could say everything, Amos said in a hoarse voice, "I have sold those grains to merchants, and there are also plagues in other places. The price of grain is very high, five times the previous grain price."

Chi Yan: "Haven't you ever thought about what will happen if the city lacks food?"

Amos: "...Winter is coming. After those who have the plague freeze to death, only those who do not have the plague will survive next spring."

Chi Yan was a little dumbfounded.

Whether it was Amos or the store owner, they all felt that the best solution was to kill all the people who got the plague.

Chi Yan: "There's no food left?"

Amos: "There is still enough grain in the granary to feed the people in the castle for two years."

That sounds like a lot, but there are fewer than 300 servants in the castle at full count.

This does not exclude the servants who were cast out by Amoz.

Chi Yan rubbed his temples and exhaled, "You really will find me something to do."

This time, he is not planning to transport grain from Saket and the manor. This city is an important transshipment hub. As long as he can bring the merchants back here, there will naturally be a steady stream of grain transported here.

Amos didn't dare to speak, Chi Yan seemed to kick him, but Chi Yan held back.

Chi Yan took a deep breath, told himself that being angry is prone to baldness and premature aging, and then said with a straight face: "There is something you haven't told me, let's take this opportunity to say it together."

Amos knelt there tremblingly, not daring to raise his head. His legs were already numb, his forehead and neck were covered with cold sweat, and he looked as if he had just been picked up from a pool.

"My lord...no more..." Amos swallowed.

After the count's disappearance, he was full of worries, and it was too late to do anything.

So Amos thought about it, and realized that he had only done this one wrong thing, and he was instantly relieved.

Chi Yan: "Rest early today. When I leave the room tomorrow, I will see you at my door. Are you clear?"

Amos quickly said, "Follow your order, my lord."

There was still some time before sunset, and Chi Yan asked the servants here to clean out the Earl's house, and take away all the golden ornaments that should be collected, but there is no need to collect the paintings, the carpets are no different, and the mattresses have to be replaced , These Kadi brought all over, and he directed the servants to clean up.

Chi Yan and Kleist were chatting at the end of the corridor.

"Do you think Kadi can do it?" Chi Yan needs Kadi to get familiar with the things here as soon as possible, and completely replace Amos in the shortest possible time, but this is not an easy task. The merchants living here only recognize Ammos, not to mention the servants in the castle.

These cannot be changed instantly by brute force.

Must rely on Kadi's own ability.

Kleist: "If he can't, what are you going to do?"

Chi Yan touched his chin: "Ask the butler to send a few more people over."

The old butler is a good person. He did train Kadi, but he will never train Kadi alone. After all, he trained Kadi for Chi Yan, and he will not think about Kadi.

There is always one of the people he trains who can take on important responsibilities. If Caddy can't, just change it. It's okay to let Caddy be a valet.

"But that would be a pity." Chi Yan looked at the distant sky, the red clouds had dyed the clouds red, just like a painting, the colors were complex and beautiful, with distinct layers, "Kadi is very smart, if he keeps being The personal servant is indeed a bit wasteful."

But the specifics still depend on Kadi's own ability.

Kadi didn't know that the burden on his shoulders was so heavy. After he ordered the servants here to rearrange the lord's room, he asked the servants to lead him to the place where the servants slept. Generally speaking, adults don't need it at night. He is there.

After all, Kleist is there, and Kleist will take care of Chi Yan's secret affairs.

But Cady didn't like it—he played a different role from Kleist, and he didn't have to envy or envy Kleist.

If Kleist wanted to be Chi Yan's personal servant, then he would be hostile to Kleist.

Kadi has a clear plan for his future. A personal servant is his lifelong occupation. He will serve the lord all his life. When he is a few years older, maybe he will marry a wife and have a few children. If it is a boy, then he will take the child with him after the child is sensible.

In this way, his child will also become an excellent manservant when he grows up.

If the child is a daughter, then he will give her a good living environment, and then prepare a dowry for her to find a husband locally so that he can continue to protect her.

Her husband dared not bully his daughter.

When he is old, he can return to his small home and live a peaceful life with his wife.

That's all about Cardi's vision for the future.

The two servants who led the way did not communicate with each other, but they glanced at each other from time to time, which Cady ignored.

He knew the methods of the servants too well, and these people wanted to suppress him while he didn't understand this place, so that he wouldn't tell them what to do in the future.

The distinction of status among servants was not as sharp as that between nobles.

Generally speaking, the butler next to the lord has the highest status, followed by the personal servants, then the ordinary servants, and the lowest are those servants who cannot enter and leave the castle at any time.

However, there are more peculiar divisions among servants. For example, the cook in charge of the kitchen has a status similar to that of a housekeeper to a certain extent.

She is in charge of the things that the lord enters, and the spices and food that pass through her hands are of great value.

There are also servants who are loved by the lord. These people are not necessarily personal servants or maids, but they are either very good at pleasing the lord, or have climbed into the lord's bed.

There has never been a lot of open and secret fighting between servants.

Before Chi Yan took over the manor, Kadi gained a firm foothold in such a battle.

"This is my room?" Cardi opened the door and saw a small room with no windows and no bed. There were a few worn-out blankets on the floor. This was the place to sleep. I bought a wooden box, which is used to store clothes.

Even in the manor, Cady had never slept in a room like this.

Before becoming a valet, Cady slept in the corridor with the other servants, but after becoming a valet, he had his own room.

The manservant who brought him lowered his head, his voice was very low: "There are not enough rooms in the castle."

Cardi pursed her lips: "Take me to your room."

The male servant is afraid of those ugly people, but he is not afraid of this young man who looks thin. Even the new lord has not yet gained a foothold, let alone this new personal servant. Cardi is a bit of a showdown, isn't Cardi going to ride on their heads after that?

"I'm afraid it won't work." The servant's tone was very respectful.

Cardi is not angry either: "Why?"

Servant: "The place we live in is dirty and messy."

Kadi smiled: "It's okay, I also came from a small place, and I am not afraid of dirt or chaos."

The two servants looked at each other.

Qiqi bent down: "Go to rest early."

Then he turned around, not giving Kadi a chance to stay.

Kadi didn't hold back either, he just followed behind the two male servants.

The two male servants wanted to get rid of Kadi, but Kadi clung to them tightly, always keeping a distance of two steps from them.

Kadi knew very well that he couldn't ask Chi Yan for help - he was bullied by the servants, could Chi Yan help him once, twice?If there are too many times, Chi Yan will definitely doubt Kadi's ability.

A personal servant who can't even control ordinary servants?

What's the use of coming?

The next morning, as soon as Chi Yan went out, he saw Amos and Kadi guarding the door. The two stood on the left and the right, like two door gods, but both of them were equally listless, staring at the door. With dark circles and bags under the eyes, you can tell that you don't have enough sleep.

Chi Yan glanced at Amos, then at Kadi, and said to Kadi, "I was tired from the journey yesterday, you should sleep a little longer."

Cardi stared at a pair of big eyes: "My lord, I'm not tired."

He had been busy last night fighting wits with the boys, and although he hadn't quite tamed them yet, Cady felt that it would be a matter of time.

It's not that he's boasting, he thinks that he, who is said to be a fool by the old housekeeper, can be regarded as a tiger in front of these house cats.

Kleist also came out from behind Chi Yan. He had no expression on his face, but it just made people feel that he was very satisfied at this time. There was a red mark on his neck, which could be seen at a glance that he was caught by someone when he was lingering. suck it out.

Chi Yan wasn't embarrassed at all, after all, it's normal for him to find a man in this era.

After the butler learned about him and Kleist, he would considerately deliver the boiled oil.

To be honest, that grease is pretty good--

It's just that it's not used for the person the housekeeper envisioned.

"Go to the Holy Court." Chi Yan said to Amos, "Go and call the merchants in the city."

Chi Yan instructed: "Call the richest one."

Amos: "Yes, my lord."

After Amos left, Chi Yan said to Kadi again, "Go arrange the carriage."

Bertram returned to the Holy Court, and he was like a fish in water. Under his long-term iron-fisted leadership, all the people in the Holy Court obeyed him. Those who disobeyed had been kicked out a long time ago. Dare to use the documents issued by the Holy Court.

But he didn't feel relaxed, because he knew that a knife was hanging around his neck.

Chi Yan kept him not because he was important, but because he was still useful.

Once he realizes that Chi Yan is useless, Chi Yan will choose someone who can replace him.

He is not irreplaceable, so he must be a man with his tail between his legs.

"Your Excellency, you are here." Bertram personally went to the gate of the Holy Court to welcome Chi Yan in.

Chi Yan smiled and said, "I haven't seen you for a day, and the dean looks more energetic."

Bertram said with a smile: "With adults around, I feel safe, so I am energetic."

Chi Yan was too lazy to continue the bureaucratic conversation with him. He sat on the chair that originally belonged to Bertram and leaned on the back of the chair: "There are many people infected with the plague in the city."

Bertram said solemnly: "The situation is more serious than before I left."

Seriously ill people die every day, and no one collects the corpses. The guards and knights don’t know where to hide. There is no one to maintain order in the whole city. If you can't survive, if you don't follow the rules and still have a chance, then you have no rules.

Although Bertram was selfish, he also knew that if this situation persisted, those mobs would break down the gate of the Holy Court one day.

Chi Yan took a sip of water: "I have medicine to treat the plague here."

Bertram's eyes widened.

Chi Yan said again: "A plague broke out two years ago, do you still remember?"

Bertram thought about it for a while, and then said, "I remember, but it's not as serious as this time."

Chi Yan rested his chin with one hand: "At that time, someone under my command produced the medicine, and I also sent people to send the prescription to the desks of some deans of the Holy Academy. I don't know if you have received it, dean."

Bertram swallowed.

Chi Yan: "Since I received it, why not use it?"

Bertram said softly: "My lord, the Holy Court also has medicine to treat the plague."

"Although the prescription is not in my hands."

Chi Yan changed his sitting position: "Why not?"

Bertram: "My lord, you also came out of the Holy Court. You should know what the Holy Scriptures say. All suffering and disasters originate from people's own sins. These sins can only be redeemed by themselves, and they cannot rely on External force, otherwise the Holy Spirit will bring even greater disasters."

Chi Yan understood.

Use fear and despair to unite people at the feet of the Holy Spirit.

Make people more loyal to the Holy House.

Bertram: "A prescription did appear on my desk."

He said calmly: "But if I have someone make those medicines, I will be sent to the gallows for practicing witch doctor."

Chi Yan closed his eyes.

Two years ago, how many people who shouldn't have died died?

He didn't want to know that number.

The Holy Spirit did not save them, neither did the Holy Court.

And the only way for them to be saved was cut off by the Holy Court they trusted and believed in.

Their lives are placed on the chessboard.

What determines their life and death is only a thin holy book.

It's just a so-called oracle fabricated by people.

Chi Yan is now able to look at these things calmly and objectively. If it were him two years ago, at this moment, he would have jumped up and smashed Bertlem's dog's head hard, but now he knows that all this is not caused by someone.

Not the selfish Bertram, or the indifferent Lords of the Land.

It's a huge organization without any human touch.

Chi Yan: "The medicines I brought must be distributed."

"I don't care what you think of, I will let those who can survive live."

Chi Yan looked into Bertram's eyes: "Did you understand what I said?"

Bertram's heart was bleeding, but he still nodded and said, "I understand, my lord, you have a kind heart."

Chi Yan said noncommittally: "It's not because I have a kind person, but because I have a human heart."

Bertram heard Chi Yan's irony.

At this moment, there was a knock on the door, and the voice of the prayer teacher came from outside: "Dean, Your Excellency Brian is here."

Bertram looked at Chi Yan, Chi Yan: "I asked Amos to call the richest and most prestigious businessman in the city."

Bertram had already guessed what Chi Yan was going to do, and he reminded in a low voice: "My lord, businessmen are all mercenary villains, and he will not be loyal to your lord."

Kleist smiled and said, "Aren't you too? Since you can, of course he can too."

Bertline didn't know the details of Kleist, and only thought that Kleist was Chi Yan's lover, and a very favored lover, so he kept his mouth shut and didn't want to quarrel with Chi Yan.

Berthrian: "Let him in."

The priest opened the door.

An older man walked in—he was very well dressed, with a hat on, and a cane. His legs were not disabled, but they were no longer as strong as they were when they were young. .

He looked somewhat similar to the old butler, about the same height, and also had a serious and mean-looking aquiline nose.

After entering the room, Brian looked at the three people sitting in the room without a trace, then he took off his hat and put it on his chest, and saluted Chi Yan. He has been in business for many years, and Brian is a very winking person.

"Brian." Bertram held out his hand to him, "my old friend."

Brian also laughed, but his smile was not as human as Bertram: "Dean."

Bertram introduced him: "This is Chi Yan, the new Lord Lord."

Chi Yan nodded to him.

Brian sat on the chair. He bowed his head too lowly, like a poor businessman who lived at the bottom: "I don't know what the adults want me to do. As long as I can do it, I will definitely not refuse."

Chi Yan: "There is no food in the city, do you know? Winter is coming soon, without food and enough firewood and clothes, many people will starve to death and freeze to death."

Brian hesitated and said, "Sir, I don't have much food in my house. I'm willing to donate all of it to you, but it's only enough to feed the whole city for two days."

This weight is already quite a lot, and his sincerity can be seen.

Chi Yan waved his hand: "I'm not going to let you pay for food."

Brian was very grateful: "Thank you, sir, I also have a family and many old friends to support."

Chi Yan: "I'm going to build a new market before winter."

Both Brian and Bertram looked at Chi Yan, as if he was talking about some magical story.

Chi Yan smiled: "At that time, I need you to tell other businessmen that the shops on this street will not collect taxes or rent for three years, and there will be guards patrolling day and night to ensure that there will be no thieves or Someone is going to grab it."

"However, this street can only buy and sell food, and if there is no food sold within five days after I choose a shop, I will ask people to take back the shop."

Chi Yan raised his eyebrows and looked at Brian: "You can choose the biggest and best shop."

Brian swallowed.

This temptation is not small, there are still many rich people in this city, and the price of food will never be low.

No taxes or rents are collected. This is simply picking up money.

Even though he knew there must be a trap inside, he was still moved.

Chi Yan's voice was very soft, like the whisper of a devil in the abyss: "The opportunity is only this time, three years is not a short time, next year the plague will pass, and this place will become as prosperous as before."

Even if this winter brings them little temptation, what about the next three years?

That was a temptation no businessman could refuse.

Even if you just come to occupy a shop in advance, as long as you transfer the shop and rent it out, you can easily earn money without any effort.

Brian couldn't say no.