Chapter 20 Chapter 19 The Mysterious Messenger

For Ivy, dressing herself up as a boy is already a common trick.Her make-up skills became more and more proficient, and when she got serious, even her demeanor—in Nasar's words—became more and more indistinguishable.Except that Ramses can recognize her at a glance every time for no reason, in the eyes of others, she wearing a wig and short clothes is nothing compared to a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy who has not developed. The day before, he had successfully returned to his bedroom from outside the palace. When he entered the door, the little apprentice who was tied to his bed was so stressed that he was almost crying.As soon as Ivy put her down, she immediately knelt on the ground, expressing tremblingly that no matter what punishment she accepted, she would ask Ivy not to do such a thing again.

But Ivy has promised Nasar to go to the front garden the next afternoon. She had to make unremitting efforts to beg Dow to help.The old maid who had been granted the title of nobleman had a headache for a long time, and had no choice but to help her find a maid of her own to fill the bill. Before Ivy excitedly headed towards the front garden, she asked again tremblingly, "Your Highness, please come back early. There are too many people in the palace trying to catch you. If you make His Majesty angry, I'm afraid... " Before Duo's advice was finished, Ivy understood what she meant.How could she not know that Ramses put her under house arrest, and from another perspective, she actually protected her layer by layer—even so, she still felt that she was exposed to various crises that seemed far and near .Time is precious, she must find Dong as soon as possible.Until then, she couldn't ignore any clues.

The palace where I temporarily lived was very close to Ramses' bedroom, about a hundred meters away.The front garden is outside the meeting hall, and it takes at least 20 minutes to walk from the harem.Nasar only said that he was going there in the afternoon, but he didn't say what time it was.She waited on pins and needles in her room for the lunch time to pass, and after making sure that Ramses would not come suddenly to find her, she quickly headed towards the garden. She was wearing thin-soled sandals, carrying fresh fruit, like a young waiter, hurried through the mottled shadow cast by the lush trees of the Thebes harem, and headed towards the chamber.When passing by the pharaoh's palace, she suddenly heard noisy footsteps, and before she had time to think about it, she quickly hid in the bushes next to the palace.

Sure enough, a group of courtiers and waiters came out surrounded by Ramses. Thinking about it, she hadn't seen him for several days.After enduring it, she still couldn't help it, she carefully poked her head out from the bushes and looked at him. Around him stood the most noble people in Egypt, all dressed in fine gowns, and adorned with all kinds of expensive jewelry.Rubies, lapis lazuli, turquoise, gold, brass... They strutted after the pharaoh as if to shine.In the days of Deir Medina, their luxurious clothes were unimaginable to the common people working on the construction site.

But even so, he can still catch her attention immediately.He only wore the white linen dress that pharaohs used to wear on non-ceremonial occasions, a pectoral of gold, turquoise and sapphire, and a simple Uarras crown on his forehead.He seemed a little tired, his eyes were faintly black and blue, he held a scepter in his left hand, and an official document in his right hand, reading silently as he walked. Those who walk by his side seem to shine, but he is the one who gives them light. Quiet and simple, but with a royal temperament that cannot be submerged. He finally finished reading the papyrus official document in his hand, and casually threw it to the trembling old minister Ximan beside him, ordering something lightly.His voice was very soft, and she only heard a few words like "horoscope", "place", "statue".Considering that his enthronement anniversary is just a few days away, he should be talking about the celebration.The pharaohs in Egypt really worked hard. They had to personally take care of everything from border defense and state affairs to the logistics of important celebrations.If it's not very energetic, it really can't be done.

She retracted her body and sighed softly.Squatting down in the shade of a tree, patiently waiting for the mighty team to pass by. After a few minutes, she couldn't hear the sound anymore, so she stood up and planned to rush to the front garden as soon as possible.But the moment he raised his head, he suddenly found a strange man standing less than a foot away from him. At that time, Ivy's mood was extremely complicated.At that second, at least a dozen thoughts flashed through my mind.The first reaction was to scream, but then it suddenly occurred to me that I was pretending to be a waiter. At this time, the restlessness would be more problematic, but my hands were shaking instinctively, and the plate of fruit I was holding was about to fall to the ground. Say hello, and like this, she couldn't help but want to make a sound.

In such a short second, the mysterious man had already supported the fruit plate for her, and then reached out to support her. He was wearing a dark brown long coat, with a huge hat extending from the neckline, covering his head, covering his face as a dark shadow.Ivy stood there stiffly, and he remained silent as if looking at her.The two stalemate for about 30 seconds, and he finally spoke. The irregular sound tore through the suspicion and uneasiness in the silence. "Young man, I got separated from my waiter, and I'm looking for the front garden." His voice was low and rough, but with a rough metallic tone.If one had to describe it, it would be as hoarse and dull as if a knife had been cut into thick cast iron.He let go of Ivy's hand, and handed the fruit plate back to her, "If you can, please take me there."

His fingers were long and slender, with at least eight or nine rings full of exotic styles on them, but the back of his hand was covered with veins that seemed to only be possessed by old people.Although his voice was ugly, his words were very polite.Coupled with the feeling he said before, it seems that he is at least nearly forty years old.Judging from the content of his words, he should be an envoy from another country, but the Egyptian language was very standard. Ivy was thinking, but he didn't rush, just stood quietly in front of her like a ghost. After a long while, Ivy finally reacted.She saluted and replied, "Yes."

So she started to walk towards the front garden, followed by the strange masked figure.The sun shone from behind them, and his shadow cast on her body, making her feel a chill for no reason. That journey of silence for only a quarter of an hour seemed to take an infinite amount of time to complete.Finally, I could see the meeting hall, Ivy breathed a sigh of relief, bent down and said, "My lord, after passing the meeting hall is the front garden." "Well...thank you." He said hoarsely, and casually took off a turquoise ring on his finger, and put it on Ivy's fruit plate as a reward.His hands were long and his nails were neatly manicured.This is rare for a man who belongs to this era.And faintly, on the edge of his palm, she saw a faint pink scar.

Just when Ivy was stunned, he had already taken graceful steps towards the garden.His strange attire and rough voice really made people feel uncontrollably terrified.Ivy frowned, and then tried not to think about it.It seemed so unfair to judge him on the basis of such brief contact.There must be a reason for him to dress like this, and she and him should never have any intersections again. So she put the ring in her pocket, shook her head, concentrated, and turned left, intending to go around the back of the front garden in the other direction. When Ivy arrived at the front garden, Ramses had not officially appeared on the stage, and there was no one on the throne belonging to the pharaoh, but the garden was already full of envoys from various countries.

The front garden is centered on a square lotus pond full of tender white lotuses. The surrounding flat ground is covered with sunshade canopies arranged according to the country, and there are comfortable soft chairs and benches underneath. Outside the flat ground are dense trees that are rarely seen in Egypt.In such an arid country, the trees were valued as costly jewels, and the shade they provided seemed a symbol of royal or aristocratic luxury. Ramses succeeded to the throne for three years, and Egypt's status in West Asia was at the height of its power.Envoys have come from almost all the countries that Ivy can name, and there are many countries that she doesn't know.Perhaps some ephemeral nation, or an inexplicable tribe, or an autonomous region.Holding the fruit, Ivy quickly searched for Nasar's figure in the orderly messenger group.Finally, under a canopy painted with the pattern of a male lion, she saw Nasar reclining on a chair, drowsy.She wanted to go there, but suddenly found that he seemed to be completely protected by the waiters and guards standing around him. When he was in trouble, it happened that this handsome young man raised his eyelids and saw her. He straightened up, waved to her, "come here." Today's Nasar seems to have changed into the traditional costume of his own nation.She wore a sky-blue robe, from the left shoulder to her waist was tied with a scarlet-red roll gold scarf, a golden hair ornament on the top of her head, and a tea-colored feather fan in her hand.What makes Ivy feel the funniest is that he also wears an exaggerated fake beard.The beard was thick and long, curving and falling down from Nasar's mouth, like a trapezoid, covering him from his chin to his collarbone. Ivy held back a smile, brought up the fruit plate, and said, "Hey, I almost didn't recognize you." He picked up a piece of fruit and put it in his mouth, "Why?" "With such a funny beard." "Presumptuous, how can you and..." Before Nasar could speak, a huge attendant behind him spoke first.Ivy was very impressed with him, because his appearance was so distinctive, with a long hooked nose and a full beard on his chin.With dark skin, his body is quite strong, and his tall figure looks like a huge dark cloud from Ivy's point of view.Even more memorable is his deafening voice. Sure enough, even Nasar looked unbearable, and before he finished speaking, he interrupted: "Sinna, please be quiet for a while." Seeing the big dark cloud take a step back unhappily, Ivy thought again laugh. At this time, Nasar looked at her, and then exaggeratedly sighed, "Miss, you should read some books, okay, you have no common sense. I am wearing the most popular clothes among the Assyrian nobles. This beard It should be the most popular style in Nineveh." He said while stroking his fake beard in a serious manner, "It's much better than the banana-like beard you like to wear in Egypt." Ivy was silent for a moment, decided to ignore his boast, and said, "Are you Assyrian?" Nasar gave her a white look, but used his eyes to stop the big dark cloud Xinna who was about to explode again. Assyria, a warlike and brutal West Asian nation.In the past hundreds of years, it has experienced several ups and downs, but it will suddenly rise in the next three hundred years, gradually become stronger, and conquer the eastern part of Asia Minor, Syria, Phoenicia... and even Egypt-this is a country that advocates force. With the help of a fierce sword in his hand, he wiped out the entire West Asia. No wonder Nasar was so indifferent and accustomed to killing people when they first met. However, today's Assyria is just emerging on this stage, and it will be many years later when they play the leading role. Now, it is Egypt and Hittite who are singing the big plays on the stage.Even if she stayed in this era, she couldn't see the moment when Assyria stood in the center.For her who is now in danger of protecting herself, she has no time to take care of other things. "You know the purpose of my coming, please show me that person." "Got it." Nasar spread his hands, then stood up and looked at the bustling group of envoys ahead.Ivy stood behind his side and looked at him.Nasar's facial features are exquisite, but he has the heroic spirit unique to boys, with clear lines, a high nose bridge, and slightly protruding eyes. No matter how you look at it, he must be regarded as the best handsome man in Assyria, but it makes the beard wear on him even more. His face looked out of place.However, maybe three thousand years ago, people's aesthetic vision of appearance was different from that of the present. Maybe this kind of dress is really popular in Assyria as he said. Thinking of this, she turned her gaze to the crowd in the garden again.As expected, the envoys from various countries put on the most luxurious costumes of their own countries, colorful fabrics, and radiant gemstone jewelry.Just when she was dazzled, in an open space relatively close to the Pharaoh's throne, under the shadow of the trees, a group of small guards dressed in Hittite costumes attracted Ivy's attention.But he didn't see the crimson purple deep black flag, so it must not be Yali who came.She stood on tiptoe and looked at the messenger who was sitting sideways on the chair. Suddenly, the dark brown robe came into view. That person sat there quietly, tens of meters away, the biting chill seemed to be able to soak into her body. She subconsciously pulled the hem of La Nasar's clothes, pointed there, "That..." Nasar looked at her fingers, and then suddenly whispered, "It's him! Hey, let me find it easier." "It turned out to be the envoy of Yali Agonor..." Nasar was taken aback, then tilted his head, smiled indifferently, and sat back on his chair, "That's right, you should know that guy more or less." "Why does the Hittite envoy have a portrait of me? Is the owner of that portrait Yari? You and Yali are friends? Also, isn't the situation between Hittite and Egypt tense recently? Why..." "Nefel Tari, we said about this—" He paused, raised his eyes, and there was a bit of coldness that Ivy was not familiar with in his black eyes, "Don't ask the bottom line." The originally relaxed atmosphere seemed to sink.Nasar and Ivy looked at each other, the air was as heavy as a thousand catties. And in the next second, he returned to his usual hippie smile, and patted her shoulder lightly, "Ramesses is coming, you stand behind, or it will be bad if Pharaoh finds out." While Ivy was still hesitating, Nasar had already half pushed her into the group of waiters behind him.Ivy's first reaction was to get out as soon as possible, but at this moment, the ritual officer had already sang Pharaoh's name with a deep voice.All those who were standing in the mission knelt down, and those who were sitting also stood up, facing the direction of the pharaoh's chair, and bowed respectfully in salute. Ivy had no choice but to kneel on the ground, but her eyes kept on looking at the messenger who couldn't see her face. His age and voice didn't match anyone she'd ever known.But she was instinctively afraid of him, and felt an indescribable sense of fear from him.Want to stay away from him, want to escape from him. But now, she is trapped in the deep palace.He may be the only clue connecting her and Dong - the portrait. "Welcome everyone, come to Egypt." The young pharaoh spoke slowly, and various emotions secretly surged in the huge garden.Worship, observation, hostility, submission, and finally all turned into the same neat movements.All saluted with the highest diplomatic decorum, all looking utterly awed, before greeting the pharaoh neatly. He seemed to be used to this, but slowly raised his hand, indicating that people could stand up. But still no one dared to sit down, everyone just stood respectfully, waiting for him to speak. As usual, he simply welcomed the arrival of the envoys from various countries, and ordered the clerks to count and accept the congratulatory gifts they sent, and then read back the rewards returned by Egypt.In addition, he also roughly explained to the envoys of various countries that Cush had surrendered to Egypt, and then politely invited everyone to stay in the royal city of Thebes. It was not a lengthy meeting, the whole process only lasted about half an hour.When he was about to leave, Nasar suddenly took a few steps forward and bent down deeply. "Your Majesty, I am Salma from Assyria. I have known Your Majesty for a long time. It is a great honor to meet you for the first time today." Ramses was about to leave, but when he heard the name, his body that was about to stand up sat back down.Amber eyes swept across Nasar's face, and then he propped his cheeks from the side with two fingers, and responded lightly: "Salma Nasar Sair, the son of King Adadni Larry I Fourth Prince, welcome to Egypt." "It's an honor." Nasar was still half bent, but his black eyes suddenly raised, and he looked straight at the handsome ruler, "Your Majesty, Salma has a problem." "speak." "I heard that Princess Ivy, who died in the Battle of Cush, was reborn under the blessing of the Egyptian gods." There was silence in the garden, except for Pharaoh's indifferent "hmm", which seemed to confirm his statement. There were murmurs of unexplained and trivial discussions around, but the young prince of Assyria did not stop talking, he continued: "Your Majesty, when I was in Assyria, I heard many stories about this princess. I can’t help but feel admiration.” He continued, with a faint smile on the corner of his mouth, “I came this time, and my father also specially asked me to have a closer relationship with Egypt. Princess Ivy has not yet Can Assyria be considered in the marriage plan?" And before he could wait for Ramses' reply, he suddenly turned around, walked to the middle of the line, pulled out Ivy who was stunned there with one hand, and stretched out his hand to pick it off. Looking at her golden hair pouring out like sunshine, he immediately said with a smile: "I haven't married a wife yet, if Princess Ivy marries me, it must be the most noble concubine. Please think about it, Your Majesty."