Three Philosophical Questions for Travelers

"Understood?" She called out in panic.

"Don't be afraid, this matter is over." Hai Wen said, "From now on, you can show people without makeup, it doesn't matter."

She pondered for a while, then nodded silently. "This is the best, it saves me a lot of trouble." She said as she washed off her makeup.

It's been a long time since Haiwen saw the plain-looking Estherite, "Come on." He couldn't help saying.

"Yes, my lord." She began to undress.The wide maid dress looked bloated and cumbersome on her body, but after taking off the clothes, Esrit's body looked very thin.Haiwen felt distressed when he saw it, and couldn't help saying: "You should eat more, Isrit."

"Huh?" She took off her shoes and socks, then stepped on the stool and stepped gently into the bathtub.The water filled up with a "wow". "My lord, I have eaten enough." She complained softly, "Women eat so much, it will make people laugh." As she spoke, she moved her body until she leaned against Haven in a comfortable posture. body.Her back was against Haven's chest.So warm and soft.

"Who would make a joke? Eating, drinking, and messing around are just right and proper, what's wrong with that? You should supplement your nutrition, Islet, don't you still want to give birth to me in the future? Being a mother requires adequate nutrition." Haiwen said He hugged her body and began to caress her waist and legs.It didn't take long for Estelle to gently hold his hand, leading him to go deeper.

"My lord...I, you are right. I should think about...the child." Her breathing became a little messed up, and she snuggled her whole body into Haiwen's arms, rubbing her face against his neck and chin , "Little Mill also needs a brother or sister. But I'm worried... um!" She groaned slightly in pain, and her body tensed up.

Haiwen realized that he might have pushed too hard, "Sorry, did it hurt you?"

"No, my lord, just continue like this." She sucked Hewen's neck hard, "I really want to give it to you now..." She bit her lower lip, but still couldn't say it, "But I don't think it's possible now, I don't want to Let the child suffer. I don't want... I don't feel relieved..." She gradually couldn't continue, and there was only a soft-panting and whispering in her mouth.

So they got down to business first.

The barrel was big enough for two people to toss and turn, and the sound of splashing water and panting lasted for an hour. After that, they resumed their previous posture again.Isrit was lying in his arms, and Hewen hugged her and asked in a low voice:

"Isrit, what are you worried about?"

"I'm worrying about everything, my lord." She turned her head to meet Haven's eyes.

"Everything? Are we that bad?"

"Everything we do is a tightrope walk, my lord, if you are not careful, you will fall into the abyss." Isrit's eyes are full of wisdom that does not match her identity and age, "You are touching the roots of the nobility, Dig their ancestral graves. Now we can hide it, but sooner or later we will go to war with all the nobles, are you right?"

Haven didn't expect her to say these words, and was stunned for a while, but Estherite continued: "But I also believe that you are ready, right? My lord."

"Yes, Isrit." He murmured, "I've realized this a long time ago, but I still need time."

"We have about two years, my lord."

"I will do everything well... try my best." Haiwen is not [-]% sure about this kind of thing, "So don't worry, just live a good life, everything depends on me."

"I will do my duty and do...what I can do." When Estherite said the words "to the best of my ability", her face became very serious, and Hewen didn't know what she was thinking .But he knew that Isrit's blood was half of a scholar's daughter and half of a wild witch, no matter which one was destined, she would not be an ordinary girl.

"I believe in you." Haven said.

"Me too, my lord—let's talk about raising children in a few years. I don't want to see children...becoming orphans." She said a word that surprised Haven.Before Haiwen had time to say anything, she pressed a light kiss on his face.

"Okay, let's not talk about this - the water is a little cold, it's time to go." She said and stepped out of the bathtub.

Chapter 88: The Steward's Speculation

Chapter 88: The Steward's Speculation

Estherite came out to dry her body first, then quickly put on her clothes, and then she let Haven come out.

Isrit wiped his body, and then let him sit by the warm fire to change his clothes.Haven told her that he could take care of himself, but Estherite was still as stubborn as ever.

"Next time I ask Hyacinth to come with you?" She said while buttoning Haiwen.

Haiwen was stunned for a moment, "The Hyacinth is still too young."

"But she knows everything, she should have learned it before..." Estherite adjusted the collar for him, "Of course, if you think you should wait a little longer, then forget it."

"Wait a little longer, it was illegal to have sex with such a young girl in my previous life."

"Then you had a lot of rules in your previous life." She put on a coat for Hai Wen, "Tell me about it someday, oh, Teacher Zhe Lite should also want to hear it. Call her if you want to talk when you come back."

"If I find a chance, I can chat with all of you—Master Cat was also interested in it before."

"That's a good thing, Master Cat has become more energetic these days. Our daughter has contributed a lot." She said as she finished the last button for Heiwen, and then knelt down to put his shoes and socks on.Haven said: "I don't need to bother you." But Estherite shook her head and said: "I'll be happy to serve you—lift your feet, my lord."

So he raised his foot, "If there's a chance, I'll invite my relatives and friends to come and get some sugar water and snacks. While chatting with me, I'll tell you about my interesting experiences in my previous life."

"Friends and relatives? Then your brother has to be called too?"

"No." Haven's voice sank, "That's all for him—Isrit, let's go."

Estelle didn't ask any further questions, and turned to open the door.After taking a bath, they went to rest in the room. After that, Violet made him something to eat. Hewen drank too much wine and had no appetite so he drank some porridge; story, and then the three of them sleep together.

Having nothing to say all night, Hai Wen woke up the next day to train soldiers, then arranged work with the people in the Yizheng Hall, and then returned home.The housekeeper was already waiting for him in the study, and the two of them didn't talk much, and got straight to the point.

"My lord, what kind of person do you think your brother is?"

Haiwen recalled the bits and pieces in the memory bank, and said: "An honest man, greedy for petty gain, timid and afraid of trouble, our brother is harmonious, and he is very loyal to me."

Dreyer nodded and said, "That's right. If that's the case, why do you believe in Charles' nonsense and doubt your brother?"

Haven choked on Dreyer, he didn't drink alcohol at the moment, and his mind was very calm.After thinking for a while, he said: "But no one knows about Islet except for my brother... It's not that no one, there are you, me, and Gerrit. Maybe..." He realized that this matter knew There may be more people than he expected, "and others in the house."

"Then you can't put this shit pot directly on your brother, my lord. Blood relatives are always more loyal than outsiders. Even brothers like Charles have a delicate relationship with each other."

This is true.Haven thought to himself, Big Charles really cared about his brother.

The butler's small eyes under the lens narrowed, "So I think this matter is very complicated. Now let's sort out the relationship first, and all we can know now is—" He took a pen and began to write, "Big Charles knows that Iraq Srette's matter, and accuse your brother of being an informer; my lord, you are now very angry and want to settle accounts with your brother."

"Correct."

The butler poked Charles's name with a pen and said, "We have to analyze the motive. First of all, why did Charles tell you that he knew about this?"

Hai Wen immediately replied: "Because he didn't want to turn against me because of this matter, and even said that he wanted to have a good relationship with me."

"You understand quite well." The butler continued, pointing to the name "Galumon Ambside" with a pen, "Then why did your brother inform you?"

"This..." Haiwen couldn't think of a reason for his brother to inform.

"Then we have found the first doubt." Dreyer pushed his glasses and circled Galumeng's name, "Your brother's motivation is insufficient. Let's continue thinking from here. Since he has no motivation, then We can assume that he didn't do it. Since he didn't do it, why would Charles say it was Ge Lumeng who informed him?"

"You mean someone used my brother's name to inform and sow discord?"

"By the way, my lord, this is a brilliant technique." The butler showed a meaningful smile, "This guy must have wanted to provoke the relationship between you and Charles at the beginning, and if Charles remains unmoved, he can also provoke you Brotherhood; it's a trick, my lord."

"However, only Ge Lumeng and a few people know about Isrit, so who is telling the story?"

Dreyer fell into deep thought, and said: "The female family members of our family should all be loyal, because they also have no motive. Then... my lord, I reckon that there are thieves in your brother's family."

"Aren't there any in our house?"

The butler snorted coldly at him, and said, "My lord, you are looking down on me. The servants of our family, I know exactly where their ancestral graves are. If there is another traitor here, I, the butler, will not Done!"

This guy! "Then as you said, butler, we have to catch this mouse. I think we have to..."

"That's easy!" Dreyer put down his pen, "I'll go to your brother's house tomorrow, arrest all his servants and yard workers, and then we'll fix the nails together with a board, and within half a day we'll have that spy Get it out."

Hai Wen quickly said: "Housekeeper, this is not possible. I can't hurt innocent people because of this, and this is a lynching, I don't want to do it."

Dreyer gritted his teeth and said, "It will cost money, and the effect will be slow, my lord, do you think our family has a lot of money? You are a woman's benevolence, and you can't accomplish great things."

"No, Delaire. This time I have to say you." Haven said, staring at him.

The butler frowned, "Tell me and listen."

Haiwen knew that talking about benevolence, righteousness and morality would not work, so he had to talk about the actual interests, "Housekeeper, let's talk about it between the two of us——I managed to build up the image of a just judge." .Then if I use lynching like this, my image will collapse? When I say to do some voluntary labor now, the people below will squeeze their scalps to do it. What is the reason for this? Isn't it just because of my face? Delaire, this is a worthless business, without this face, how can I call for labor in the future?"

When Dreyer heard this, his expression became subtle, "My lord, you have no less crooked ideas than me!"

Under the guesswork of the housekeeper

Under the guesswork of the housekeeper

"I am an upright conspiracy." Haiwen said solemnly, "I established my prestige, and then took the lead in labor, so that everyone can work hard to produce together - what's wrong with that? What's wrong with that? Compared with that Wouldn’t it be a million times better for landlords to oppress serfs?”

"Yes, yes, slave, I am willing to bow down." Dreyer pretended to give a salute, "Then according to what you said, we can only come here. Don't worry about this matter, I will spend money to manage it and find a way Get that mouse out."

"It's not enough to find out, I need to know who is behind this scene."

Dreyer grinned and said with a sneer: "Based on my experience in doing wicked things over the years, only Charles Jr. has such thoughts." He said and threw all the things he wrote before into the brazier, "I see Can you follow the clues and find little Charles."

"Then I'll ask you to do this. I don't have time to intrigue with this bastard. I still have a lot of things to do before winter."

"Don't worry! You go to deal with things, I'll take care of people!" After saying this, the two walked out of the house, and when they reached the door, Dreyer suddenly said: "There is one more thing, my lord."

"You said."

He turned around at the door, stared into Haven's eyes, and said, "Are you really going to forgive Brother Charles?"

"As I said before, it is not forgiveness but redemption. There is a big difference." Haiwen further explained to him, "The function of executing a sinner is nothing more than to warn the world and comfort the victim; , that means more. I will make him pay for as many sins as he has committed—Dreyer, this matter is the same for everyone, it is the same for you and me."

Dreyer nodded and said, "It's a good idea, but you can't make decisions for everyone, my lord."

"I only represent myself." Haven said.

Hearing this, Dreyer laughed and said, "That's all right. I'm just representing myself, and I'm here to ask you. Well, that's all for now, forgive me and leave first."

"Ah."

So the two separated, and Haiwen went back to the Yizheng Hall to handle affairs.Today he began to work hard to form a peasant association.

The peasant associations are open to all proletarians, and the petty bourgeoisie can also pay in.And if the landlord wants to come in, he needs to pay a large sum of money.The farmer's association is Haiwen's administrative foundation in Mustang. It is an organization that has no legal power, but for Haiwen, it is his first step to get rid of feudal rule.

The Peasant Association was originally composed of poor peasants and serfs.These people are poor people with no roof tiles, and they don't even have houses.They used to live in the huts built by the farmers, or in the stables and pigpens.Now Haiwen wants to arrange these people to live in the collective dormitory.

This collective dormitory was the former landlord's mansion.Most of these houses have an enclosed area of ​​several hundred square meters, with two floors of small buildings above and below, which can accommodate hundreds of people.He wants to renovate and renovate this place, expand it further, and turn it into a collective dormitory.The farmers who live in the collective dormitory do not need to spend a penny, but they must submit to the management of the "peasant association".Haven believes that these homeless people will be happy to live in dormitories.

After lunch, he made some arrangements for labor. He told Jon to pick a few smart and capable men from the guards to lead the prisoners.He asked these people to set off as soon as possible and go up the mountain to cut firewood to prepare for the winter.Usually many people would freeze to death in winter, and Haiwen didn't want to see their dead bodies lying on the street.He wants to get these poor people without houses into the collective dormitory of the peasant association and manage them together.

For him, this is cheap labor.

In his plan, living in these public dormitories does not cost money and provides basic food, but after living in these dormitories, labor is required.The first year is voluntary labor, which is regarded as exchanging labor for rent. From the second year, wages are paid every month.

Those who do not have the labor force (such as the elderly, weak, women and children) have to do light handicraft labor, such as engaged in textile industry, or do the internal sanitation of the dormitory, cooking, washing clothes, etc... It is also possible to let their relatives bear the burden Some labor obligations.

There are also a very small number of people, these people can't even do light physical work, and they don't have relatives who can help them. For these people, Haiwen plans to put them in a special orphanage.He would ask the remaining small farmers in Mustang Town to donate money to do this. With the current trend, the remaining small farmers and rich peasants in Mustang Town are all in danger. When it comes to donating money, most of them will obediently take the money.If there are people who are reluctant to take money, just get a few people to wear high hats, parade in the streets, and criticize. There is no need for corporal punishment or fighting.This kind of demonstration is a great blow to the landlord class, and it can increase the self-confidence of the proletariat.If it still fails, Haiwen will follow the method of the Taizu when he started the revolution, find two hundred villagers to beat gongs and drums, and run to the door of the landlord's house, and ask the landlord to invite them to dinner.Tell the brothers to eat rice from the landlord's house, and to eat the flowing water mat, preferably for three days and three nights.If they don't beat you or scold you, they just eat your food.

With the peasant association, Haiwen has his own team, and only when he gives orders can someone carry them out.Then with the labor force of the peasant association, his subsequent ideas can be put into practice.Manufacture of fertilizers, construction of waterwheels and canals, construction of sewers, construction of hospitals and schools... If all these are done well, the Mustang Land will not be rich.

He gave out all the orders, arranged a lot of things, and when he was done, it was already dusk.He suddenly remembered about Fasnat, so he called the boy over.He first called Fasnat to the office in the corner of the Council Hall and gave him the armor. "Faznut, you are our only knight. So I give you this."

Fassnut looked at the armor, his face showed no fluctuation. "Thank you, my lord." His tone was as if Haiwen poured him a cup of hot water.

The atmosphere was so frozen.The two of them just stared at each other in the room, neither of them could speak.After holding back for a long time, Haiwen asked:

"Like it?"

This time Fassnut didn't even say a word, just nodded.

Time froze in silence, and Haiwen felt that he was sweating on his face. "Like it." He said with a smile on his face.He realized that he was no match for this cold and beautiful boy in terms of aura.The boy's blue eyes were full of evil spirits, he thought it was pretty cool during the day, but if he looked at it at night, he looked like a ghost and could scare people.

In the end, it was Fassnut who spoke first, "My lord, do you have anything to ask me?"

"Yes." Haiwen said solemnly, "I have something to ask you—about you."

The young man seemed to have expected it a long time ago, he sighed, and said, "If I say that I don't know, will you believe me, my lord?"

Haiwen said: "If you just say 'I don't know', then I will become suspicious; but you fought side by side with me and saved my life. Based on this, even if I have doubts, I will suppress them."

"I don't want you to be suspicious. I am your bodyguard. We must trust each other." Fassnat sighed, "In this case, we must be honest with each other."

After saying this, the blue-eyed boy began to undress.

Chapter 89: Alchemy and Catastrophe

Chapter 89: Alchemy and Catastrophe

After seeing this scene, Haiwen's thinking suddenly twisted to a strange direction.He forced himself to be serious, and then looked ahead.

At this time, Fassnut had already taken off the upper coat and uniform, leaving only the inner shirt.This child's body is stronger than it looks on the outside, with stretched muscles, but his skin is as fair as a girl's; if he were placed in Hai Wen's previous life, this guy would definitely become an internet celebrity.After that, live broadcast, acting in movies, releasing albums, and becoming a national idol.

When Fassnett took off the last coat, he paused and said, "Your Excellency, take care." After saying this, he unbuttoned his shirt.

At this moment, Haven figured out why Fasnat took off his clothes.

On the boy's chest, there is a blue eye-shaped rune.The thing was about the size of a hand, located in the center of his chest muscles, and glowed faintly like a light stick. "What is this?" Haven asked.

"This is what I said before, I don't know." Fassnat put on his clothes, "This thing appeared after my father's death, and it has been three years. During these three years, my mind, body , and even thinking are changing accordingly.”

"Does this have anything to do with your father, Fasnat."

Fassnet nodded, "It's more than related, he may have died for it."