Desert Rhapsody - Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Jiang Yuan showed no expression as she urged the donkey forward. She could feel Abal’s footsteps and breathing. He was walking beside her, his body still relaxed. In any case, the magnificent city gate stood right before them. The soldiers had paid homage to Thutmose, their weapons unable to gather any killing intent while their masters knelt upon the ground. To Jiang Yuan, this was not yet a dead end, and so her heart remained perfectly calm.

When they reached the gate, she dismounted and walked over. Her sandals scraped against the ground. This was probably the hardest part-she had to do her utmost to walk as if no one could tell she was injured. In truth, it was not that difficult. Abal steadied her from behind. She came before Thutmose and bowed to him. He was still so short, and his guards had not noticed anything wrong, so they were not on alert. At a distance of five paces, Jiang Yuan could subdue him with a single reach of her hand. The boy’s quiet gaze remained fixed on her as she walked up to him.

“Your Highness Thutmose,” Jiang Yuan began. Behind her, Abal said, “Isis sends you her greetings.” She lowered her head. The cobra ornament hung before her eyes, and the wig brushed against her shoulders, making her skin itch faintly. Thutmose said, “Your steps are slow. You should have arrived when the Solar Barque passed through the city gate.” Jiang Yuan kept her head lowered and did not move. Behind her, Abal paused for a moment.

“My apologies. There were too many people.”

Thutmose said nothing more. “We leave at once. There is little time left. Go inform the Queen Mother that I am heading to the sacred Luxor Temple, where I will bathe, purify myself, and pray with devotion. Preparing offerings and rites for the great Ra will take time. I will return in two months.” He turned his head to address his guards and the soldiers at the gate for the latter half. Jiang Yuan straightened, and someone behind her brought the donkey over for her. But she climbed onto the chariot with Thutmose instead, then sat down heavily and closed her eyes, saying no more. Thutmose glanced sideways at her, then ordered as if nothing were amiss, “Depart.”

The warhorses neighed, and the wheels began to roll. In the night, a small troop of soldiers formed ranks on their own, holding scattered torches as they escorted eight chariots out of the city together. Jiang Yuan sat in the chariot, resting with her eyes closed the entire time. Thebes and its nightlong cheers were left behind them. The chariot soon turned toward the Nile River and drove straight onto the dock, where the boats were already waiting.

Egypt already possessed developed shipping and fishing industries at this time. Graceful palms and date trees grew along the riverbank, and the fertile land produced fruit rich with sweet juice. Even at night, the stars and moon shone bright, while firelight and great candles illuminated the rippling water, making the place seem as bright as day. Jiang Yuan could see slaves busy on the boat ahead, carrying wine, spices, and food aboard. The long, narrow hull sank lower into the river water. Even glossy-furred hounds, lions, leopards, and falcons were being led and transported onto the ship.

Thutmose paid her no mind. He got off the chariot and disappeared, likely to inspect the luggage he had brought with him. Many of the items he commonly used, along with the implements for serving the gods, would still be moved over from his former residence. He had to supervise and inspect them himself to prevent anyone from damaging them. From far away came the sound of hoofbeats through the night. Torches surged forward like dragons and serpents, bearing down with fierce momentum. Jiang Yuan stopped. From a distance, she could see a splendid golden carriage. A party arrived before them as swiftly as wind and lightning, and soldiers and slaves across the ground all knelt to welcome the princess of Egypt.

The young woman rode arrogantly on horseback, dressed from head to toe in magnificent finery, dazzling and gorgeous. Though her carriage was lavish, it chased after her from behind, swaying in a sorry, ungainly manner. Her skin, radiant under the shimmering light, was like a young, burning flame, scorching everyone who saw her. Before kneeling, Jiang Yuan swept a glance over her and recognized her. This was Thutmose’s wife, Hatshepsut’s daughter, Egypt’s eldest princess and future queen, Neferure. During the ceremony, Hatshepsut had announced that she would have her daughter wed Thutmose. Thutmose would ascend the throne as pharaoh, and together they would rule the Egyptian Empire, ensuring that the lands along the Nile River would remain prosperous and flourishing forever.
“Thutmose!” Facing her future husband, her tone held neither deference nor respect. “The celebration Mother so carefully prepared is still underway. As the future pharaoh, instead of staying at her side to receive the worship of the people and envoys and display the majesty of Egypt, you sneak out of Thebes at a time like this. Where do you think you’re going?”

“I did not sneak out of Thebes. I have already reported to the Queen Mother that I am going to Luxor Temple,” Thutmose answered patiently. “Neferure, my royal sister, even though I have accepted the marriage contract with you, I have not yet laid down my duties as a priest. I must carefully prepare the offerings for my final rite, bathe and purify myself, pray to Amun-Ra, and thank him for the blessings he bestowed upon Egypt today.”

As if anyone did not know he had defied Hatshepsut, the most noble divine bloodline of the great Egyptian empire. He was nothing but the son of a lowly concubine, a minor priest in the temple, a minor commander in the army. It was she and her mother who had lifted him to the heavens overnight and given him supreme glory! “Mother has only just decided to make you pharaoh, and you dare disobey and slight her!” Neferure flew into a rage. “Thutmose, you should show more respect to Mother and to me! Do you think no one knows about that Solar Barque-”

Thutmose cut her off, his voice heavy.

“Watch your tongue, Neferure!”

The noble princess flushed scarlet. Even if his future status would stand above hers, being humiliated like this in front of a boy younger than herself was an unbearable disgrace. In fury, she lashed him with her whip. “I will remember your insolence today. I will tell Mother exactly what you have done. Just you wait, Thutmose!” She wheeled her horse around and, still ignoring the luxurious carriage and guards that had caught up behind her, galloped away at full speed.

Thutmose stood there, watching in silence until Neferure’s figure vanished into the wind and sand. Even though Jiang Yuan and Abal had all but forced him to flee Thebes, he still prepared for this long journey with neither servility nor arrogance. He was still a prince of noble birth, the future pharaoh, and a priest of the temple.

No one spoke, as though the Egyptian princess’s aggressive arrival just now had been nothing more than a dream. Jiang Yuan stood and, guided by a maid, boarded the ship. Thutmose was not on the same vessel as her. Only a message was passed over: “We will arrive at the temple at sunrise.” After two busy hours, the ship set off. Under the crack of the overseers’ whips, the slaves strained at the oars. The wind was favorable tonight. Torches blazed brightly across the ship, and the scent of oil and incense drifted far into the night.

Jiang Yuan had already washed her face, wiped herself down, and eaten a little food with a hot drink. Lying beneath a soft blanket, she looked back and felt as though she could still see that towering ancient city. Thebes had been left behind. Their escape could be considered off to a good start. Sleeping on the water, however, was honestly a little cold. The transparent air slipped quietly to her side and whispered, “I found a small boat at the stern. Put some food in it, and it will be enough for us.” She nodded, tucked the blanket tighter around herself, closed her eyes, and fell asleep.

Just writing a bit of transitional content for now. I’ll try my best to update ten thousand words tomorrow and wrap up the desert arc before Thursday.

Ever since I failed to update enough for the desert ranking and got blacklisted, my collection count has suddenly been soaring. It almost feels like being blacklisted was the dream instead.

I firmly believe some big shot recommended my novel [thank you, thank you], but I can’t figure out who it was. I’m so curious it’s driving me crazy. Would some kind soul please tell me where all this traffic came from?

Thank you to the little angels who cast Overlord Tickets or watered me with nutrient solution~

Thanks to the little angel who cast [Land Mine]: & Bai Xiaobai, 1;

Thanks to the little angels who watered [Nutrient Solution]:

Meow Once for Li to Hear, 30 bottles; Anonymous Famous Person, 1 bottle;

Thank you all so much for your support. I will keep working hard!