Chapter 819
"Worship the god! Which god?! "the young man asked anxiously.
"Isn't it just a commoner …" As soon as the woman spoke, she immediately realized that her husband was also a commoner. She quickly softened her tone and said, "It's the gods that you always worship, Diana, Vesta, Caylez, Libel, and Libera."
The young man was shocked. He lay on the bed and did not speak, but his mind was deep in thought.
Cornia was born into a noble family in Rome. She lived in luxury since she was young and did not encounter any hardships. When her father wanted to marry her to Gaius Licinius Stolo, even though the young man was already somewhat famous in Rome, she was a little reluctant because she would be the first noble woman to marry a commoner. She was worried that she would become a joke among the nobles of Rome. But after the marriage, her husband's appearance, talent, and understanding gradually dispelled the dissatisfaction in her heart. Their married life became more and more harmonious.
At this moment, she saw her husband's face had turned a little ugly. She quickly asked, "Stolo, what's wrong?"
Stolo said with a solemn expression, "The people of Diónia are doing everything they can to win over the commoners. I'm worried that … the commoners will really be deceived by the people of Diónia and give up … Rome."
In fact, when he learned about the speech of the king of Diónia from the person who came to talk to him in secret yesterday, he was greatly surprised. Because the promise made by the king of Devers was what the commoners of Rome had been pursuing tirelessly. He had already realized the intention of the people of Diónia. And now, the king of Diónia had disregarded his noble identity as a Greek and worshipped the god that the commoners of Rome believed in. In order to win over the commoners of Rome, Stolo was really worried that the commoners who were already in conflict with the nobles would all fall to Diónia's side. This would severely weaken the power of Rome and possibly lead to the defeat of Rome in this war …
"I'm thinking that if the elders and nobles on Capitoline Mountain knew what the Dionians are doing now, they would definitely regret being so harsh on the peasants …" he blurted. "I'm thinking that if the elders and nobles on Capitoline Mountain knew what the Dionians are doing, they would definitely regret being so harsh on the peasants …"
Cornia looked puzzled, not understanding what her husband meant. Inexplicably, she was a little angry. That was the only bad thing about Stolo. Sometimes his words were too profound for her to understand, just like her father Ambustus.
She could not help but think of something else. She still remembered one time, when she visited her sister. Her brother-in-law, Servius Sulpius, was a noble. He had just been appointed as a military official and came back late. Seeing that the door of the house was not opened in time, he actually asked his subordinates to use the badge of the legion to knock on the door. She was frightened at this, and her sister laughed at her, saying that she had not seen the world.
Of course, she was very angry and left her sister's house. Later, she told her father about it. Ambustus comforted her and said, "Don't worry, one day you will surprise your sister in your own house."
Until now, she did not understand what could surprise her sister in her house …
When she thought of this, she began to miss her parents and her sister's family who had escaped to Capitoline Mountain. Her heart was instantly filled with worry.
At this time, Stolo looked out the window. He suddenly thought of a problem. The King of Diónia had left the heavily guarded square and went to the crowded Aventine Mountain. This might be a good opportunity. Would those people be able to seize this opportunity?!
Although the people of Diónia ordered the people of Rome to stay at home as much as possible, and anyone who wandered on the streets would be strictly interrogated, Stolo, who had some hope in his heart, decided to send his servant out to gather information.
However, not long after he went out, the servant was chased back because Diónia's army had already placed the main street under martial law.
… …
However, in the southern part of Rome, the Devers did not prohibit the citizens of Rome from going out and watching. They only got the soldiers of the Fourth and Fifth Legions to set up a perimeter along the way.
For safety's sake, the Devers even forbade his son, Crotocatax, from accompanying them, making him stay in the Senate.
The citizens of Rome surged to the side of the road. Behind the legions, they could clearly see that the King of Diónia, who was once dressed in a gorgeous military uniform in the square, was now dressed in a plain robe. It was the attire that the citizens of Rome wore when they prayed at the temple. Beside him were ten men in the same attire (they were the palace guards of Caldias, Amelius, and Martius), and behind them were more than a hundred palace guards … Under the gaze of thousands of citizens of Rome, they ascended Mt. Aventine.
The Temple of Diana was the largest temple on Mt. Aventine. It was built during the reign of King Servius, and it had a long history with many believers. Therefore, the Devers had made it the first temple to pay their respects.
Originally, after the Diónia occupied Rome, they forbade the citizens of Rome from going out, so the temple was deserted. But today, the Devers had lifted the ban. Therefore, many citizens of Rome were allowed into the temple's courtyard. However, the passageway in the middle was sealed off by the legions.
When the Devers walked into the courtyard, they similarly received the attention of the citizens of Rome. As for Diana's priest and attendants, they were already standing at the temple's entrance, waiting respectfully.
After saluting and greeting Dyvers, this old priestess Diana, who had white hair and beard and looked amiable, frowned as she looked at the group of followers behind Dyvers and said with a troubled expression, "According to the oracle, only King Dyvers is allowed to enter the temple to worship."
After hearing Amyrius's translation, the Devers immediately asked loudly, "Doesn't the temple allow everyone to enter to pay their respects!? I'm not the only one who wishes to pay my respects to the Goddess today. There's them too! "
With that said, the Devers pointed at the people around them and said loudly with a hint of mockery, "When did the Temple of Diana, which treats everyone equally, learn from the Greek temples and only open its doors to the nobles?!"
When the Devers's words reached the ears of the citizens of Rome in the courtyard, there was an uproar.
In most regular Greek temples, the main hall was usually not open to the public. Only the priests could serve them, and the citizens could only pray and offer sacrifices at the sacred altar in the courtyard or go to the rear hall to seek divination from the priests. Only when the city was holding a major celebration or encountering danger would the consul or general enter the main hall to face the statue and pray for its blessings. The temples of Rome were different from the temples of Greece. They allowed citizens to enter the main hall to pray to the deity. Even the temples on Mount Capitoline were the same, but there was a limit to the number of people. This might have something to do with the people of Rome's emphasis on utilitarianism and practicality. And in this aspect, Diónia was somewhat similar to Rome. They also allowed believers to enter the main hall.
When the priest heard Amyrius's translation loudly, a look of panic flashed in his eyes. Having been a priest for so many years, he had always enjoyed the respect of the citizens of Rome. He was rarely questioned in person, so he was momentarily at a loss for a retort. All he could do was lower his head and say in a deep voice, "This is Diana's oracle!"
"Priest, when did you receive the oracle?" Caldias suddenly asked loudly.
"… In the morning."
"What time in the morning?"
"Uh … During breakfast."
"Devers, the King only decided to pay his respects after breakfast. By the time you were notified, it was probably after breakfast!"
"… Goddess Diana … is omniscient …"
"How did you obtain the oracle, Priestess?"
"Animal … No, bird divination."
"According to Rome, isn't bird divination used to predict good or bad luck? Since when can it be used to decide how many people can enter the temple to pay respects!?"
"This … This is the power of us Rome priests. You Greeks don't understand."
"According to what I know, the priests of Rome have never used bird divination to decide how many people can enter the temple to pay respects. If you don't believe me, you can ask the people in the courtyard or even the people outside."
"Who are you!?"
"I'm also a clergyman, so I wish to learn from you how to accurately divine that Goddess Diana will only allow one person, and not two or three … to enter the temple to pay respects! If I can do it, I'll definitely become the most powerful divination priest in all of Greece! Therefore, I believe you must be the most powerful priest in the entire Latin region, right!? "
"This … This …"
"Also … I would like to ask, such an important divination requires assistants and witnesses. Who are they? Do they have the right to divine? "
"…"
The repeated questions from Kardia Monastery left Priest Diana's face pale. She began to sweat as she stammered until she was rendered speechless.
As Amyrius had deliberately translated loudly, the people in the courtyard could tell that something was amiss.
"King of Diónia, are you here to sincerely pay respects to the Goddess!? Do you still want to enter!? "An attendant beside the priest suddenly interjected loudly.
The Devers turned their heads and stared straight at him with eyes like lightning.
The attendant hurriedly lowered his head, feeling guilty.
At this moment, Martius, who had been paying close attention to the temple attendants with nervous expressions, whispered a few words into Amyrius's ear.
Amyrius immediately glared at them and suddenly shouted, "You actually have swords on you!?"
This shout was like a clap of thunder. The priest and attendants trembled in fright, and the people in the courtyard were alarmed as well. This was because the temple forbade the carrying of weapons. It was a form of disrespect to the gods, much less the priests and attendants who were closest to the gods.
The temple attendants believed that their plot had been exposed, so one of them shouted, "Oracle of Diana, kill the enemy that invades Rome!"
With that said, he drew a dagger hidden under his white robe and charged at the Devers.
The other attendants also drew their weapons and charged forward.
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