Chapter 51 Chapter Forty-Nine

Esther lived in the palace of Thebes, and she gave birth to a beautiful boy, whom she named Kai.After Ramesses has visited the child, the young mother will entrust the baby to the care of the babysitter and go to receive special care herself, so that her charming figure will not lose any shape after childbirth.Satisfied with his first child, Ramesses was intoxicated with happiness; Esther vowed to bear him several more children if he agreed to continue loving her. ① The full name is Keang Wuyase, which means "people born in Thebes". However, after Ramses left, she felt very lonely, and Jing once again recalled Xiena's vicious words--Ramesses left her and returned to Nefertari's side, her mediocrity and hospitality were very annoying, but to It is difficult to abandon her, and inadvertently, Nefertari has begun to win hearts with her unique beauty and temperament.Esther was so attracted to Nefertari that she agreed with Ramses' approach.

But solitude gnawed at her heart, and she missed the pomp and pomp of the Memphis palace, the happy conversations with her childhood companions, the walks along the Nile and the poolside splashes of luxurious villas.Although the city of Thebes was rich and developed, Iser was not born here. Maybe Xie Na is right, maybe she shouldn't forgive Ramses for abandoning her in the ranks of second concubines. Homer crushed the dried sage, ground it into powder, poured the powder into the shell of a large snail, inserted a reed on it, lit the mixture, and inhaled it contentedly. "What an odd habit," Ramses thought.

"It helps me with my writing. How is your beautiful wife?" "Nifertari continues to manage the queen's household affairs." "In Egypt, women are too public; in Greece, they are more reserved." "Are you complaining for them?" Homer gasped. "Really...no. Of course you have a point in this matter, but I have a lot of criticism to make." "I'm all ears." Ramses' humility startled him. "Do you want to be criticized?" "If your opinion can add to my daily joy, I am willing to accept it." "It's a strange country... In Greece, we spend a lot of time debating, the orators are all emotional, and people are arguing. Who dares to criticize the words of the pharaoh here?"

"His job is to implement 'mayat' and if he fails, chaos and misfortune will ensue." "You have no confidence in others?" "As far as I am concerned, no. Leaving it alone is a treacherous and cowardly way of ruling, and straightening a crooked stick is the eternal requirement of a wise man." Homer took another breath. "I found in Riga a seer I know very well, who knows the present, the past, and the future. At the moment, I feel very peaceful, because your father matches the wise man you mentioned. But the future..." "Are you a prophet too?"

"Which poet is not? Listen to these lines from my first poem: 'From Olympus, Apollo descended sullenly, bow on shoulder, quiver tight; Bows and arrows clashed as he walked. He stepped forward as silently as the night, shooting men . . . dead bodies burned in countless pyres.'” "In Egypt, only certain criminals were burned at the stake, and only those who committed unpardonable crimes were subjected to such torture." Homer didn't look too happy. "Egypt is peaceful...but how long can it last? I had a dream, Prince Ramesses. I saw countless bows and arrows shooting through the clouds into the flesh of young men. The footsteps of war are approaching, it is a war A war you can't avoid."

Dorant and Shali decided to obey Xie Na and became his loyal servants.Not only did they want revenge on Ramses, but they also wanted to gain an official position under Xie Na's rule.Ally with the victors, and they wait to reap the rewards. Dorante easily gained access to some of the best families in Thebes, who were delighted to receive such a royal dignitary.Seti's daughter said that her stay in the south is to learn more about this beautiful province, visit the charming scenery of the countryside and pay homage to the Great Temple of Amun in Karnak, where she plans to spend a few days with her husband quietly.

But in some private banquets and whispers, Dorante slowly revealed some private things about Ramses. Who else can expose his secrets better than her?Seti was a great king, an impeccable monarch, Ramesses was a tyrant; the good society of Thebes would no longer play any role in the national blueprint, and the temple of Amun's grants would be reduced, as in A. Meni-like Kusano commoners will occupy the status of nobles.She gradually drew closer to those who opposed Ramses. On the other hand, Shali accepted a mid-level teaching position at a clerk's school in Karnak and applied to join a religious group responsible for decorating altars.His humility was greatly admired, and some important people of the religious class liked to talk to him and invited him to their homes.Like his wife Dorante, Shali vented his dissatisfaction everywhere.

Shali was allowed to visit the great site where Moses worked, and he wanted to congratulate his students on the completion of the project: every columned hall there was exactly like the one in Karnak, and its scale mirrored the greatness of the god. Moses grew stronger.Bearded and wrinkled from long exposure to the sun, he sits brooding in the shadow of a giant column. "It's great to see you again! Another student of mine who has achieved so much..." "Don't talk too early, I can't feel at ease until the last pillar is installed." "People are complimenting you on your abilities."

"I'm just responsible for reviewing other people's work." "Your virtues are greater than others, Moses. I am honored for you." "Have you passed Thebes?" "No, Dorante and I live in a villa nearby, and I teach at a school in Carnac." "It's all very much like being dethroned." "This is all the fault of Ramses, who has made terrible indictments against his sister and me." "No evidence?" "There is no evidence. Otherwise, wouldn't he have dragged us to court long ago?" These words shocked Moses.

"Rameses is obsessed with power," Shali continued, "his sister should not have repeatedly reminded him to be self-controlled. In fact, he has not changed. His uncompromising and extreme personality is not suitable for the important task that will be entrusted to him. .Believe me, I'm the first to feel sorry for this. I tried to talk him out of it, but it didn't work." "Won't this life in exile make you feel wronged?" "'Exile' is too serious a word! This area is fascinating, we can get a spiritual feast from the temple, and I am very satisfied to pass the knowledge on to young children. For me, it is time to show your talents It's all gone."

"Do you think you are a falsely accused victim?" "Ramesses has power, he is the regent." "But abuse of power will be flogged." "It's better to be like this. Trust me, don't trust Ramses." "On what grounds?" "I'm sure he's going to get rid of all his old school friends one by one, their presence will only disturb him for whatever reason. Nefertari is just as ruthless, since their marriage, only the two of them have become the most important , this woman has polluted his heart. Be careful, Moses! It is too late for me, and this bad luck will come your turn." Moses meditated longer than usual.He respected his teacher, who spoke with no malice.Did Ramses really go the wrong way? Nefertari was adopted by both the lion and the yellow dog, except Ramesses, the only one who could pet the two beasts without being scratched or bitten.Every ten days, the young couple and their pets go out to the country for a day of relaxation, with the executioner at gallop beside the carriage and the night police at their master's feet.They dined by the fields, watched egrets and pelicans soar through the air, and said hello to the villagers who were captivated by Nefertari's beauty.Nefertari knows how to listen to each person's different tone of speech and respond to appropriate words. She also silently helps some elderly or sick villagers improve their living conditions. Whether facing Duya or a servant, Nefertari will always remain the same, dedicated, calm and calm. She has everything that Ramses lacks: patience, self-control and gentleness.Her every move has the demeanor of a queen.From the very first meeting, Ramses was sure no one could replace her. Between them grew a love different from the regent's love for Yser.Like Esther, Nefertari knew how to make love and share her lover's passion, but even in their physical union, her slumber shone with a different light.Nefertari, unlike Esther, knew how to share some of Ramses' most intimate thoughts. In the winter of his father's twelfth year, Ramesses asked Seti to take Nefertari to Abydos so that she could undergo the mystical rituals of Osiris and Isis.So the king and his wife, the regent and his wife set off together for the holy city, where Nefertari was initiated. The day after the ceremony, Empress Duya gave Nefertari a gold bracelet, which she will wear in all religious ceremonies henceforth and serve as the Grand Empress' assistant.Nefertari was moved to tears, and contrary to her previous fears, her union with Ramesses did not isolate her from the temple. "I don't like this," Amene complained. Knowing the nagging personality of his confidential secretary, Ramses sometimes pretended not to hear. "I don't like this at all," he repeated. "Have you been given bad papyrus?" "Don't worry, I won't accept that. Haven't you noticed a change?" "Pharaoh's health has not deteriorated, my mother and my wife have become the closest friends, the country is at peace, and Homer writes poetry... What else do I expect? Oh, yes! You are not married yet." "I don't have time for such little things. Haven't you noticed anything else?" "Honestly, no." "You're drowning yourself in Nefertari's eyes. How can you be blamed? Luckily I'm watching and listening." "What did you hear?" "Worrying rumors. There are attempts to destroy your reputation." "Shayna?" "In recent months, your brother has been keeping secrets well. On the contrary, the criticisms coming to the White House have been endless." "I'll get rid of these chatterers!" "They know it well," said Amenes, "and that's why they attack you." "They have not the courage to leave the corridors of the palace, or the drawing-rooms of those splendid houses!" "In theory, you have a point, but what worries me is an organized opposition." "Seti has already chosen his heir, everything else is guesswork." "Do you think Shane will give up?" "Didn't you witness his submissive attitude with your own eyes?" "That's what makes me uneasy, it doesn't look like him at all!" "You have too much heart, friend. Seti will protect us." "As long as he lives," thought Yamenes, insisting that Ramses be mindful of the increasingly unfavorable circumstances.