Desert Rhapsody - Chapter 42

Chapter 42

This looked like the worst possible situation. They were trapped here, in an unfamiliar era and an unfamiliar city, surrounded by hostile, fully armed foreign soldiers. An Egyptian prince stared down at them from above, his expression dark and forbidding. There seemed to be nowhere left to run.

She straightened but did not speak or move. The other side raised bows, arrows, and spears in warning, once again barking at them to kneel. Jiang Yuan looked coldly at the young prince. No one else was worth so much as a glance from her. “Insolence,” she said. “How dare you point weapons at me? I am a Divine Envoy. Why are you not on your knees, praising the majesty of the gods?”

She felt Abal’s body relax behind her all at once. He must have understood what she was trying to do. Prince Thutmose’s hand, just about to give an order, froze in midair, uncertainty flashing across his face. She continued, “I am the Divine Envoy of Meretseger, sent by the Goddess to inspect her believers along the Nile River.”

She could only hope her appearance would pass muster for the moment. She pulled the fabric down, letting it slide along her body and exposing her skin to the scorching sunset of Thebes. Asians were naturally fine-skinned and smooth, markedly different from the people here. Abal straightened as well, stepping past her to stand slightly in front of her, one hand resting on the curved blade at his waist, displaying the imposing bearing of a guard. Though he was filthy and covered in wounds, his broad shoulders, long legs, tall frame, and martial air made it clear he was far more than a mere slave.

“The priests have never received such an oracle. Besides, you both look like foreigners,” the young prince said, unconvinced. “Why would Egypt use foreigners as Divine Envoys?”

Jiang Yuan said nothing. The next words should not come from her. Abal said, “Aside from you and that officer, who else can understand what we are saying, Prince Thutmose?”

Other than the officer under the prince’s command, not a single soldier could understand them. They were staring at them in astonishment, frightened by the way the prince was conversing so naturally with people whose language he should not share. No matter how one looked at it, this was strange enough. Thutmose paused, then lifted his chin. “Tius and I both have royal blood.”

Abal said no more, leaving the Egyptian prince to fill in the blanks himself. The way Thutmose looked at them shifted somewhat. Though his eyes still held many doubts-the fact that they did not look Egyptian was indeed a glaring flaw-the language barrier had been crossed. Was that not an astonishing miracle? The many soldiers’ gazes immediately turned deeply reverent. At a command, they hurriedly lowered their weapons, then dropped to both knees, prostrating themselves and kissing the mud beneath their feet. The prince summoned a splendid chariot drawn by the Sacred Bull, and slaves knelt on the ground, offering their backs for them to step on as they boarded.

Before Jiang Yuan could speak, Abal said coldly, “Get away. How dare such lowly creatures touch my master.” But the slaves could not understand him, so Thutmose had to shout the order, making them retreat far away. Abal let out a soft sneer. He had truly thrown himself into the role. Holding his body straight, he walked to the side of the chariot, knelt on one knee, and held out both hands, stacked together, inviting Jiang Yuan to board.

Jiang Yuan nodded with a cool expression, then turned her head slightly and swept the corner of her eye over Thutmose. Like everyone else, he stood on the ground, watching their every move and waiting for them to depart. Shock still outweighed everything else in his gaze. She steadied herself on Abal’s shoulder, stepped lightly onto the back of his hand, and climbed into the chariot. He followed at once, standing beside her to guard the vehicle. The general named Tius volunteered to drive for them, and Abal gave an arrogant nod of permission.

The procession rumbled into motion, heading toward the temple. Jiang Yuan sat in the chariot, facing the sinking sun and the evening breeze, as Thebes from two thousand years ago unfolded before her in an entirely new light. Countless torches rose in the night, mingling the scents of incense and date palms. The higher they went, the brighter and more dazzling it became. It turned out that what she had seen by day was not the whole of Thebes. Green grass began to appear on the ground, shaded fields blending with yellow sand and spreading along the stones. Reeds and lotuses grew in the azure pools, swaying beneath the clear night sky, quiet and enchanting.

When they entered the temple district, a broad stone road stretched ahead, unobstructed all the way. Jiang Yuan looked at the place they had fled from during the day. It seemed they had only taken a turn, only to return here again. Enormous candles burned on both sides of the road, fragrant wax flowing over gold, glittering alongside rubies, sapphires, and painted pigments. The towering temple stood beneath the stars, while statues as tall as the shrine itself lined both sides in silence, lowering their heads to look down upon them with solemn, majestic faces.
The priests had received word and were waiting at the entrance to greet them. The looks they cast over were truly a mixture of shock and fear. Jiang Yuan walked in first, eyes fixed straight ahead. Clearly, they had communicated in advance. Several female priests and attendants, chosen for being the cleanest and most beautiful and for possessing royal blood, were responsible for guiding them to the baths. They knelt in terror and reverence, begging them to enter the water.

Jiang Yuan wanted to chase them out, but Abal did not tell them to leave, so she let things proceed. Soon, she understood why. When the priests undressed her and wiped her body, they discovered the transparent, blood-red patch on her abdomen, where her pulsing organs and intestines could be seen. They immediately dropped to their knees, voices choked with sobs, trembling as they begged her for forgiveness.

“…It’s all right,” Jiang Yuan said. “I grant you the right to look directly upon it.”

The beautiful priest kissed her feet, then rose to her knees with even greater devotion and gentleness to wash and bathe her. Jiang Yuan enjoyed the full treatment. First, the mud, sand, and sweat on her body were washed away in flowing warm water. Then she lay on her stomach by the edge of the pool, her whole body coated in fragrant oil as she let them massage her. Several others combed her hair, filed her nails, applied polish, and made her beautiful. It was truly an earthly delight. Soft white pelts had been spread over the cold marble, with no fear that they might be dirtied by water or mud. Curtains strung with gold and gemstones swayed slightly in the breeze, chiming as they touched. After incense was lit, even breathing seemed to blur into the water vapor filling the room.

A priest asked carefully, “May I ask you a question? What is your honored name? We do not know how we should address you.”

With her eyes closed, she said, “Meret□□.” Names connected to gods usually took the god’s name as their base, while the syllables that followed were little more than embellishment. She casually tacked a few letters onto Meretseger and left them to imagine the rest. While she was at it, she also gave Abal a name. “My servant is called Shepre.”

Afterward, Jiang Yuan was led to a room. Supposedly, this was the chamber where she would sleep. The entire bedroom glittered with gold and splendor, and who knew where they had managed to prepare it in such haste. Above it was the Observatory, the highest point in the entire temple. Clearly, tonight, no one would be stepping over their heads to stare at those endlessly identical stars. Jiang Yuan stood barefoot, her half-dry black hair hanging beside her ears. Bright red polish and lip rouge had been carefully applied where they belonged, while gold powder and blue ink traced patterns over both her arms. She stood in the middle of the carpet, her gold-ringed ankles sinking into the long pile. Gauze was loosely fastened by a belt, freely revealing the graceful curves of her breasts, and her skin gave off the rich, slick scent of perfumed oil.

She felt she might resemble an exquisitely carved doll. All she lacked was eyeliner and a magnificent crown, and then she would truly be a Divine Envoy even she herself could believe in. She asked, “What are you doing here?”

Thutmose rose from the depths of the room. His gaze swept over her abdomen, where the painted patterns made the vivid flesh look even stranger and more mysterious. He was clearly a little tense, but he still gave her a clean, simple salute.

“I am the son of Amun, King of Upper and Lower Egypt, son of Pharaoh Thutmose II. My father has passed away, and I am the ruler of the Nile River, descendant of great Amun, future Pharaoh, Thutmose III,” he said. “There are many doubts in my heart, so I have come before you in my capacity as Pharaoh to request your answers.”

Abal was not at her side. She still did not know where he was, and Jiang Yuan suspected they had done it on purpose. The future Pharaoh walked over. Though he wore only a white robe tied at the waist and carried no weapon, he seemed as if he were dressed in finery and holding a scepter. He was neither terrified nor trembling with fear. He was simply tense, though he looked as if he was doing his utmost to relax. Jiang Yuan watched him walk up to her.

He did not seem to believe they were Divine Envoys. He had merely chosen to skip over that question. He was far clearer-headed than those High Priest figures. If they were not subjects of Egypt, how could they possibly be envoys of the Egyptian Gods?

Jiang Yuan could hardly conjure an animal head for him. The boy stood before her. He only reached her chest, and to look at her, he had to tilt his head up. Thutmose raised his face and asked, “Honored Meret□□, why have you descended?”

Jiang Yuan said, “…To pursue a traitor.”

“What offerings must you receive before you will be satisfied and depart?”

“The traitor’s life, his personal possessions, calves and lambs pleasing to the Goddess, and the finest wine, bread, and fruit.”

His questions grew smoother and smoother, and Jiang Yuan’s answers came faster and faster. They both remained standing. It seemed no one intended to sit. “Egypt will do everything in its power to satisfy the Goddess. May I ask who this traitor is? What wrong has he committed, that the Goddess Meretseger would send you to take his life?”
“For that sort of thing, you should ask my attendant, Shepre.”

Thutmose pressed his lips together and nodded to show he understood. He truly did not look like a child of fourteen or fifteen. His expression was far too mature, his heart carrying both arrogance and worry. Jiang Yuan felt she had run into rather too many uncanny little schemers lately. It gave her a distinct sense of déjà vu from when she had first met Abal. “Then,” Thutmose said, “why, when I saw you in the square, did you and your attendant kneel to me?”

Jiang Yuan looked at him. Clearly, this was the question Thutmose had truly wanted to ask. The future Pharaoh had a shaved head and wore a white linen robe. He was still a priest. His father was dead, so why was he still here serving as a priest? He must have encountered some obstacle, one that had even affected his coronation as king. Even so, her answer would still decide the fate of both her and Abal’s lives. The entire temple was full of enemies now. There was no way they could simply run out as they had during the day. “Because…” she said.

“You are the Pharaoh.”

The future Pharaoh, the fallen prince, the young priest-his eyes brightened faintly as he looked at her. Softly, he said, “So…” But he could not continue. Footsteps sounded from the doorway, and he immediately fell silent. Egypt’s vast halls and chambers were all built of stone, making footsteps echo especially hollow and loud. Jiang Yuan and Thutmose turned toward the sound. Abal, still wreathed in steam, and the beautiful priestess appeared in the doorway. When the priestess saw Thutmose, she froze for a moment. “Lord Thutmose, why are you here?”

Thutmose covered it smoothly. “I came to ask whether the Divine Envoy has found anything unsatisfactory.”

“Very well,” Jiang Yuan said. “Thank you for your concern. All I need is a jar of boiled water.”

“In welcoming you and your attendant to the temple, have we disturbed you in carrying out the Goddess’s command and inspecting her believers?”

“The Goddess’s command is not for you to question.”

Thutmose nodded and said, “What you want will be delivered shortly. I hope you rest well.” He continued, “As for my wife’s mother-daughter of Thutmose I, wife of Thutmose II, the supreme regent of Egypt and Queen Mother, the noble Hatshepsut-she has already heard of your arrival and is greatly pleased. She extends her heartfelt welcome to you. Tomorrow, she will receive you and listen to the teachings of the Goddess Meretseger.”

I was supposed to write ten thousand words today!

But I only wrote three thousand… waaaah…

I’ll have to frantically make up the remaining seven thousand tomorrow.

Tomorrow, we meet the legendary Hatshepsut I.

Egypt’s first female Pharaoh, and the first female monarch in recorded world history.

Let me introduce her family background this way: granddaughter of Amenhotep I, the founding king of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty; only daughter of Thutmose I-Thutmose I married a princess, aka her mother, in order to inherit the throne; wife and half-sister of Thutmose II-Thutmose II married her in order to inherit the throne; mother-not biological-and mother-in-law of Thutmose III-Amenhotep III married her daughter in order to inherit the throne.

The Pharaoh’s only daughter, the Pharaoh’s wife, the Pharaoh’s mother-stepmother. Anyone who wanted to become Pharaoh had to claim kinship with her. In terms of bloodline, even Wu Zetian could only gaze up at her from behind.

Egypt always had a tradition of royal intermarriage, and women’s status was extremely important. Hatshepsut began governing during her husband’s reign, and even then she was deeply unconvinced. My husband can be Pharaoh, so why should I obediently remain queen?

After her husband Thutmose II died, Thutmose III inherited the throne. He was only ten at the time. She became regent, sent Amenhotep III off to the temple to serve as a priest, and put on a false beard-I suspect she may also have worn a certain male thing-and became Pharaoh herself. Although Amenhotep III was still nominally Pharaoh, in reality his position existed in name only.

This is Hatshepsut I, who ushered in a golden age for Egypt’s New Kingdom. She appears tomorrow-everyone, please welcome her!