Chapter 29 Chapter Twenty Seven

The veteran old diplomat was proud of his long service to the country, and was able to make the three pharaohs make fewer mistakes in foreign policy with his assistance.He admired Seti's prudent approach, caring more about peace than a battle without a future. Soon he was about to begin his happy retirement in Thebes, not far from the temple of Karnak, to a family he had neglected for too long through countless travels.Recently, he has found a new joy: cultivating young Xia Xia with outstanding talents.The young man was a quick learner and knew how to get the hang of it.After returning from the Great South - where he had brilliantly performed a tricky intelligence assignment - he had offered to ask the diplomat for some lessons.The old diplomat immediately regarded him as his own, not only passing on the theory, but also teaching him a series of diplomatic procedures, and telling him those diplomatic skills that can only be learned from experience.Sometimes, Ya Xia's thinking is more advanced, his understanding of the international situation is mixed with a keen insight into reality and some reveries about the future.

The diplomat's secretary informed him of the visit of Scheiner, who had come humbly to ask for advice.He did not refuse to see the pharaoh's eldest son and heir-appointed, and though weary, the senior official entertained the round-faced, condescending man.Yet there was a genuine sensitivity of the heart in the diplomat's small chestnut eyes: it would be a grave mistake to dismiss the visitor as an insignificant adversary. "It is an honor to have you here." "I have the highest respect for you," Scherner said. "Everyone knows you inspired my father's Asia policy."

"You are over-rewarded. It was the pharaoh's own decision." "Thanks for your extremely valuable information." "Diplomacy is a difficult art and I do my best." "Brilliant results." "It's all God helping me. Would you like a light beer?" "Very happy to!" Two men are sitting under the grape trellis, the north wind brings coolness.A gray cat jumped on the old diplomat's lap, curled up and fell asleep. After filling two glasses with light and digestive beer, the servant stepped back. "My visit did not surprise you, did it?"

"A little bit, I have to admit." "I hope that our conversation will not be leaked to the outside world." "Do not worry." Sienna was absorbed, and the old diplomat was wry, the latter he had faced countless beggars who asked him for help, and he would help or refuse them, depending on the situation, but a king's son was so servile to him He was flattered. "It is said that you are ready to retire." "I have no intention of being mysterious. In another year, or two, when I have the king's sanction, I will retire." "Don't you feel sorry?"

"I'm tired, age has become a hindrance." "The accumulation of experience is an invaluable asset." "That's why I'm going to teach it to younger generations, like Axia. From now on, they will be in charge of our diplomacy." "Do you unreservedly support Seti's decision?" The old diplomat looked embarrassed. "I do not understand your question." "Do we still have reason to be hostile to the Hittites?" "You don't know them yet?" "They don't want to do business with us?" "The Hittites only wanted to invade Egypt, and never gave up on this plan. Their defense policy must be attacked. There is no other way."

"What if I propose another policy?" "Please explain it to your father, not to me." "It's you, no one else. I want to talk to you." "You confuse me." "Tell me bit by bit the situation of all the countries in Asia, and I will be very grateful to you." "I don't have that power, and the exchange of views in the meeting should be kept confidential." "It's these conversations that interest me." "Don't insist." "Tomorrow, it's my turn to be in power, please think twice." The old diplomat blushed. "Is this a threat?"

"You have not retired, I need your experience, tomorrow's politics, it is up to me to decide. Please cooperate with me, you will not regret it." The old diplomat wasn't often angry, but this time, he was filled with righteous indignation. "Whoever you are, it's hard to ask for forgiveness! How could Pharaoh's eldest son think of betraying his father?" "Please calm down, please." "No, I can't appease my anger! Your behavior is not worthy of being a future king, and your father should understand this." "Don't digress."

"Get out!" "Did you forget who you were talking to?" "With a shameless person!" "I want you to keep silent." "Don't think about it." "Then I will block your speech." "I really want to..." The old diplomat suddenly stopped breathing, put his hands on his heart, and lay there upright.Siena immediately summoned his servants, put the nobleman on a bed, and sent for a doctor to witness the old diplomat's death from a heart attack. As luck would have it for Shane, his dastardly tactics ended in a satisfactory way.

Esther was angry, and she shut herself in her parents' villa, refusing to see Ramses on the pretext of looking tired and dull.This time, she made him pay for his hasty departure and long absence.She hid behind the curtain on the second floor and heard the conversation between the maid and the prince. "Express for me to your mistress my best wishes for her speedy recovery," said Ramses, "and tell her that I will not come again." "No!" the young woman screamed. She threw back the curtain, rushed down the stairs, and threw herself into the arms of her lover.

"You look better." "Don't leave, or I'll really get sick." "Do you want me to disobey the king's orders?" "Those expeditions are a nuisance... I'm bored without you." "You should have accepted invitations to those parties." "No. I've got to keep pushing the young nobles out of the way, and they wouldn't bother me if you were there." "Sometimes people don't travel for nothing." Ramses turned sideways and took out a small box to the young woman.She looked surprised. "Open it."

"Is this an order?" "up to you." Esther opened the lid of the box.What she saw made her scream in admiration. "For me?" She hugged him warmly. "Put it around my neck for me." Ramses complied.A turquoise necklace makes the young woman's green eyes sparkle with joy.Now, she has defeated all rivals in love. With an unyielding tenacity, Yameni continued his search for the dump.The night before, he thought he had found a few pieces of the puzzle and could connect them with the address of the factory and the name of the owner, but he was disappointed.The writing on it is illegible, with missing letters. This hopeless search did not prevent the young clerk from doing his job as a confidential secretary, and Ramses received more and more letters, each of which required an answer with the appropriate civility.He was very concerned about the prince's reputation, and he also completed a report on the trip to the turquoise mines. "There are more and more rumors about you," Ramses pointed out. "I'm not interested in gossip outside." "People say you deserve a better job." "I serve you wholeheartedly." "For your work, Amene." "It's already been arranged." This eternal friendship filled Ramses' heart with joy, but did he know how to deserve it?According to Amene's attitude, he forbade the prince to lead a mediocre life. "Has your investigation progressed?" "No, but I'm not disappointed. What about you?" "Although the queen participated in the matter, no important clues were found." "That's a name no one dares to say," Yameni thought. "Good reason, don't you think? A baseless charge is a grave wrong." "I'm glad to hear you say that, do you know that you are becoming more and more like Seti?" "I am his son." "Scheiner too...however, people feel that he belongs to another family." Ramses was very nervous.Why was Moses summoned to the palace at the very beginning of his departure for the apse of the Plum House?During the expedition, nothing was wrong with his friends, on the contrary, the miners and soldiers praised the young captain as a good boy, and hoped that their colleagues would follow his example, but the slander and malice abounded.Moses' popularity may have aroused the envy of a high-ranking official. Yameni is writing, as steady as Mount Tai. "Aren't you worried?" "Don't worry about Moses. He's just like you. Trials don't break him, they make him stronger." This rhetoric did not convince Ramses that Moses, with such a candid personality, would attract more envy than respect. "Instead of waiting," suggested Yamenyi, "we should take a look at the latest royal regulations." Ramses began to read, but had difficulty concentrating.He got up twice and paced to the balcony. Near noon, he saw Moses coming out of the palace where he had been summoned, so he couldn't hold back anymore, rushed downstairs, and ran to Moses. Moses looked embarrassed. "tell me!" "They recommended me for a position as foreman of the royal site. I would be involved in the construction of palaces and temples, and would visit city after city to oversee the work under the direction of master craftsmen." "Did you accept it?" "Isn't this better than a peaceful life in the apse?" "Then, it's a promotion! Yaxia is in the city, and so is Sai Dawu. Tonight, we have to celebrate."