Chapter 1036
As he massaged, Publius began to gradually get used to it. His voice became softer and softer, and it produced a pleasant tiredness similar to that after exercise. He could not help but want to fall asleep.
At this moment, the servant began to pat his back with both hands, immediately waking him up. After a while, he turned to the head massage. Publius closed his eyes slightly, reveling in it once again.
When the man stopped massaging, he actually felt like he had not had enough.
"My Lord, I'll scrub your back next." After saying that, the servant spread a clean towel on his back and began to rub it forcefully.
This was a completely different feeling from the previous massage and patting. As Publius felt it carefully, the dirt on his body was also rubbed away from his skin.
The servant turned to take down the copper pot from the wall, opened the lid, and poured the liquid inside onto Publius's body bit by bit.
Publius smelled the familiar smell and asked, "Is this olive oil?"
"Yes, my Lord." The servant explained to him, "Because you just soaked in hot water and went through a fumigation, although it helps blood flow and removes dirt, it also causes a large amount of water in your body to be lost. Applying olive oil will protect your skin …"
After hearing this, Publius sighed. "I didn't expect every step in this bathroom to be so knowledgeable!"
"It's been almost 20 years since His Majesty established the hot spring. Bathing has become a part of the Turís's life, and it's still constantly being developed and perfected …" Tibulus said proudly. "Take their previous massages for example. They didn't just do it randomly. They were all trained by the Turís hospital and passed the examination before being stationed here."
"Oh?" Publius's original judgment was shaken by Tibulus's words. "Aren't they slaves?"
"They're slaves, but not ordinary slaves." Tibulus's deliberately mysterious answer made Publius even more curious.
Before he could ask, the servant who was massaging him took the initiative to answer, "My Lord, we're from Egypt. We're descendants of Egyptians and Greeks …"
As the servant spoke, he used another clean towel to massage Publius so that the olive oil could spread throughout his body as soon as possible and seep into his skin. Because his movements were much gentler than before, it did not affect their conversation.
Although he had never been to Egypt, Publius knew of this distant country. He had heard that the people there had dark skin, but these two had normal skin tones. Obviously, they were of mixed blood. At this time, Rome had not yet stepped out of the Western Mediterranean. Even the patriarch of a large clan like Publius had never owned Egyptian slaves, so he did not understand: Why were Egyptian slaves not ordinary?
However, if he were to stroll around the daily bustling slave market in the east of the outskirts of Turía, he would know that the price of ordinary Egyptian slaves was much higher than that of slaves of other races. This was due to demand. First, Egyptian male slaves were excellent farmers and herdsmen, while female slaves were smart and obedient, knowing how to teach people how to dress up. Second, Egyptian slaves worshiped the gods very much. They were gentle and obedient, so they were relatively safe. Third, Egypt and Diónia were far apart, and there had never been any conflict between the two, so naturally, there could not be any hatred. Egyptian slaves had no involvement with the races and forces around Diónia, so they were more assured to use Egyptian slaves. The Senate considered that the King's Guesthouse would receive foreign dignitaries, and safety was the most important. Secondly, they had to know Greek, and their skin could not be too dark, so as not to frighten some emissaries of the mountain races who had never seen the world. That was why they had painstakingly chosen Egyptian and Greek slaves.
"How long have you been in Turía?" Tibulus asked casually.
"It's been more than four years!" The younger-looking slave said with a little resentment, "Based on our past performance, we should have been freed after the Hatis Festival last year, but the officials of the Slave Management Office told us that due to the lack of labor due to the war, the release of the kingdom's slaves was suspended for once. They will double the number of freed slaves during this year's festival, and we will also be given some compensation. But if the war is still going on in October — "
"Wennufor, don't talk too much, just give him a good massage!" The slave who was massaging Publius interrupted him and pleaded softly, "My lords, his daughter caught a fever yesterday and is receiving treatment in the hospital. His mood has been affected a little. I hope you won't take it to heart."
Tibulus lifted his head to look at the slave standing beside him until he started to panic. "Since you've stayed in Tuliyi for more than four years and stayed in this Kingdom Guesthouse, you should know what our Kingdom of Dionyia's envoys praise the most, right?" Tibulus slowly said, "Since you've stayed in Tuliyi for more than four years and stayed in this Kingdom Guesthouse, you should know what our Kingdom of Dionyia's envoys praise the most.
The slave was a little nervous and did not know what to say for a moment. The older slave quickly replied, "It's keeping promises."
"That's right, keeping promises!" Tibulus said in a deep voice, "What the Slave Management Office says is the decision made by the Senate. Don't worry, by this year's festival, you will definitely regain your freedom and receive compensation. In addition, your massage skills are very good, and we are not dissatisfied with it. "
When the two slaves heard this, they were moved to tears and thanked him repeatedly.
The young slave said excitedly, "My lord, let me give you another massage!"
Tibulus waved his hand and said, "No need, it's time to shave me."
The young slave had to turn around, take the curved blunt blade from the wall, and aim it at Tibulus's back.
Publius was shocked and shouted urgently, "Stop, what do you want to do?!"
Tibulus laughed and said, "Don't be nervous, Lord Publius. This thing is used to scrape off the grease and dirt on the body. This is the last step of the bathroom massage."
"Is that so?" Publius was skeptical, but soon he experienced that using this blunt blade to scrape his body not only did it not hurt, but it also felt comfortable.
After the massage, the slave helped the two of them to stand up and opened the wooden door at the side.
Before leaving the room, Tibulus specially said to the young slave, "May Hades bless your daughter and restore her health as soon as possible!"
The slave immediately became extremely excited, and once again expressed his gratitude to Tibulus.
After leaving the slaves' sight, Publius could not help but sigh in a low voice, "Tibulus, you are too good to these slaves!"
However, Tibulus said seriously, "Lord Publius, I know that you people in Rome are more strict with slaves, but I advise you to change your attitude towards slaves in the future. In Diónia, the lives of slaves are protected by the law, and the kingdom has also set up a special department to manage them —"
"Slave Management Office?" Publius blurted out the new term he had just heard.
"That's right. Whether it's the kingdom's slaves or private slaves, they have to be registered with the Slave Management Office and be supervised. Not only that, if you mistreat slaves, you will also be condemned by the people, and it will also affect your political career because God Hades, who stresses fairness and justice, protects them.
In addition, the kingdom is not like Rome. Slaves will not be slaves forever. As long as slaves have aspirations and are willing to work hard, they will gain freedom, and then become citizens of Diónia, pass the examination, take up public office, and finally become a minister of the kingdom … All of these are possible. Several of the officials who came to Rome this time used to be slaves. Marigi, the minister of commerce who is deeply trusted by His Majesty in the Senate, also used to be a slave, so don't casually humiliate slaves! … "
Publius was quite touched.
"By the way, Lord, how do you feel after the massage?" Tibulus asked.
"My whole body is very sore …" Publius moved his hands and feet and said, "But … it's really comfortable. I almost fell asleep just now. Now I feel much lighter! … "
"From what you said, according to the doctors, your body is stiff and lacks exercise. You have to have frequent massages in the future to ensure your health …" Tibulus said half-jokingly and half-seriously.
Publius listened, but asked seriously, "Is it expensive to go to the baths in Turií?"
"The public baths are not expensive. The entrance ticket is about one or two Obors, but if you want to have a special massage, the cost is much higher, about ten to fifteen Obors … However, some of the kingdom's senators, ministers, and wealthy merchants specially spend money to let their slaves go to the hospitals and baths to learn, and then come back to give them a massage. This has become a trend."
Publius listened and was greatly moved. Then, he asked with some reluctance, "Our baths are over, right?"
"There's one last item …" Tibulus pushed open the wooden door, and there was another pool in the room. "Cold bath." Cold water!
If it was before entering the bathroom, Publius would definitely avoid it. But now that he had been fumigated and massaged, not only was his body hot, but his skin was also bright red, like a steamed shrimp. Thus, when he heard the word 'cold water', he strode into the pool without hesitation. The cold water immediately drove away the heat in his body, and all the pores on his body rapidly tightened, giving him an indescribable sense of comfort.
He could not help but say, "How nice it would be to have a glass of wine to drink at this time!"
Tibulus also walked into the pool and said, "Today was too rushed. Tomorrow night, I'll bring you a jar of the best wine in Turií. Let's drink in the bathroom."
"That's great!" Publius praised loudly as he scrubbed the remaining oil stains on his body with water. "The baths in Turií are better than you said, and Turií is much more prosperous than Rome. I can't help but want to move here quickly!"
Tibulus smiled. It seemed that his efforts had not been in vain.
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