A Pharaoh and Her Beloved Queen - Chapter 19

It was a very clear intuition: this youth was dangerous, even though he currently appeared entirely gentle and harmless.

When their eyes met just now, Ye Zhiqing could clearly feel as if she were standing naked before him; whether it was her body or her soul, there was nowhere to hide.

His gaze was cleaner than a newborn babe’s—so crystalline it didn’t seem mortal, as if he were a true deity. Ye Zhiqing felt a momentary dizzyness; aside from Edith, he was the only person who had ever given her such a feeling, though the sensation was diametrically opposed to the one Edith evoked.

Her figure swayed slightly, and Ye Zhiqing quickly averted her gaze.

Among the many prying eyes peering from below, the vast majority held a faint contempt or wariness, but two were especially unique. One was the young priest who had just looked at her, and the other was the elder standing at the young priest’s side.

Both the elder and the youth stood at the center of the very front of the religious officials’ ranks. The elder’s gaze held no contempt or enmity; it even conveyed a vague sense of goodwill.

Based on their positions, Ye Zhiqing guessed the elder’s identity was likely High Priest Karnak, Heshi’s father. As for the mysterious youth at his side, she had no way to guess; she suppressed her curiosity, planning to ask Edith later.

The formalities didn’t last long. Soon, the crowd below parted to either side, and a massive Sphinx made of pure gold was revealed. Its dazzling golden luster became even more brilliant under the sun’s rays, its majestic aura pressing down like a desert storm, proclaiming the Egyptian Queen’s supreme and sacred royal power.

Edith turned her head. Ye Zhiqing’s calm and composed expression hadn’t changed a fraction from beginning to end. The corners of Edith’s lips curved into an extremely faint arc, and she reached out her hand, intending to lead Ye Zhiqing off the ship.

Taking a small step back, Ye Zhiqing avoided Edith’s extended hand. Their eyes met, and in the depths of her steady gaze surged an unfathomable, complex mixture of emotions.

Testing, suspicion, measurement…

Edith smiled unbothered, turned, and began to walk down. In the instant she brushed past Ye Zhiqing, she whispered in a volume only they could hear, “Follow behind me.”

With steady, powerful strides, Edith dismounted the ship in an orderly fashion and stepped onto a long ladder also crafted of pure gold. She ascended step by step to the center of the Sphinx’s chest, where an Eye of Horus was carved into the center of a golden throne. Edith turned and sat.

The eyes of the Theban officials and citizens followed the two of them closely. The bustling port fell silent the moment Edith stepped off the ship; everyone unconsciously slowed their breathing, staring unblinkingly at the Edith who radiated a terrifying aura, and at the Ye Zhiqing who followed behind her with an equally undiminished presence.

Edith had grown up on the frontier; her intimidating aura, forged through countless slaughters, made everyone tremble.

Ye Zhiqing, however, displayed more of a kingly composure—calm even if Mount Tai were to collapse before her, rational and cool to a degree that drew sideways glances.

If Edith was the bright moon hanging high in the night sky, then Ye Zhiqing was the Morning Star rising alongside her. Though she couldn’t match the moon’s clear brilliance, her shimmering starlight was equally difficult to ignore.

Seeing Ye Zhiqing follow Edith up the long ladder, the shock in the crowd’s hearts could no longer be concealed. Breaths caught in throats as they watched the two who had already ascended to the high point.

Ye Zhiqing stopped her pace. Her deep, quiet black eyes gazed calmly at the seated Edith, and she moved no further.

Edith’s various actions today were nothing more than a warning to certain ill-intentioned people in Thebes and a public declaration of the relationship between Edith and herself. However, Ye Zhiqing alone could not fathom Edith’s purpose in deliberately holding her up so high in front of everyone.

She could understand the intimate gestures displayed at the bow of the ship, but ascending the golden throne belonging solely to the Queen of Egypt was something Ye Zhiqing hadn’t anticipated. The act was far too intimate; it was not something a Queen of Egypt and a foreign prisoner of war should share.

“Zhiqing, come and sit by my side,” came the indifferent voice, yet it was laced with an imperceptible softness.

Ye Zhiqing frowned slightly. She understood perfectly what sitting on that golden throne would mean. After hesitating for a moment, she changed direction and walked to the side, intending to stand behind Edith.

Without warning, her wrist was gripped tightly, and a massive pull came from Edith’s hand.

“I said, come here and sit,” the slightly hoarse voice carried a trace of coldness, a faint threat, and impatience.

The hand gripping her did not loosen. Ye Zhiqing was pulled down to sit at her side. A shimmering light flickered in her black eyes as she deliberately ignored the strange emotions rising in her heart, turning her gaze back to the crowd below.

The moment Ye Zhiqing sat on the golden throne, a visible commotion broke out below. After Edith gave the order to proceed, the massive Sphinx slowly turned and moved its enormous body toward the inner city of Thebes.

What followed was a wave of cheers that shook the sky, lasting without end.

Regardless of the reaction below, Edith’s indifferent expression never changed. The sharp sunlight carved her features into something even deeper and more three-dimensional. She looked down at the crowd from her height, an arrogant posture of one looking down upon all living beings.

Ye Zhiqing dazed for a moment; this was what Edith’s true face should be. Proclaiming to Thebes in an absolutely high-profile manner: the King of Egypt has returned.

Passing through the ancient and heavy city walls, what met the eye were orderly, paved streets, a bustling and massive capital, and an endless stream of people. Everywhere revealed Thebes’ vigorous and unceasing vitality, continuing and nurturing an ancient and brilliant civilization.

The giant Sphinx advanced extremely slowly. Unknowingly, Ye Zhiqing’s back had gone stiff, and fine beads of sweat appeared on the tip of her nose. Yet, Edith’s hand gripping Ye Zhiqing’s wrist never loosened in the slightest.

Not until the silhouette of the palace gradually appeared before them did Ye Zhiqing breathe a silent sigh of relief. She had no heart left to carefully observe the vast palace that occupied a quarter of Thebes. Having been in the sun too long, a flush like drunkenness climbed into her cheeks, and waves of dizziness hit her head.

The Ancient Egyptians worshipped the sun. The sky here was clear and cloudless year-round, with scorching sunlight nourishing the banks of the Nile, giving life to all plants and animals—the incarnation of the Sun God that ensured Egypt’s survival.

On an occasion like today, anyone should devoutly accept the gods’ grace.

Edith rose, and Ye Zhiqing instinctively followed, but she didn’t expect the sudden movement to send her head spinning. Darkness rushed before her eyes, and she collapsed softly backward.

The expected pain didn’t come; instead, she was pulled into a familiar embrace. A refined, cold fragrance drifted around her. As Ye Zhiqing recovered and the darkness faded, the first thing she saw were Edith’s deep, quiet eyes, which couldn’t hide their concern.

Helping Ye Zhiqing stand steady, Edith kept her hand loosely on Ye Zhiqing’s waist, not letting go. She slowed her pace as they walked down. “Zhiqing, your constitution is too weak.”

Ye Zhiqing was essentially leaning against Edith. Hearing this, a flash of embarrassment crossed her calm face. Although she had received some basic self-defense training in Punt, she had generally lived a life of pampered comfort. She was naturally different from Edith, who had been charging onto battlefields since childhood and possessed a robust constitution.

Recalling her time with Edith, she realized she had been restricted by her many times due to her physical weakness.

An inexplicable sense of frustration…

Stepping back onto firm ground, the guard led over a tall, sturdy horse. Before Ye Zhiqing could react, she was lifted into the air and landed steadily on the horse.

Ye Zhiqing instinctively leaned back, and a joyful laugh came from behind her. “Zhiqing, don’t be afraid.”

Edith took a silk cloak prepared by a female official and draped it over Ye Zhiqing, shielding her from the merciless sun. The light, breathable silk fabric wouldn’t make her feel stifled.

Ye Zhiqing didn’t reply, submissively leaning into Edith’s embrace and closing her eyes to rest.

An Edith who combined dominance and tenderness was often impossible for her to withstand. Edith was always overbearing and arrogant, which made the tenderness she showed her seem so precious. It easily made her lower her guard and develop unusual emotions for this high-and-mighty Queen—was it pity, was it a palpitation, or was it neither, but some sentiment she was unfamiliar with?

Every time this feeling grew stronger, it brought her—already drifting on the edge of the abyss—one step closer to surrendering her armor. Thus, she chose to ignore it, chose to escape, and chose a feigned submission, forcing herself to remain clear-headed and cold.

The sense of urgency from danger always lurking nearby allowed her to maintain more rational thinking.

The sound of hooves rang out, and they reached their destination before long.

An elegant floral fragrance drifted over, identical to the cold scent on Edith’s body. A vast expanse of dark blue water lilies met her eyes. A cool breeze brushed across the wide water, carrying a refreshing air.

This was a very elegant and unique palace, surrounded by a broad expanse of water. At a rough estimate, the water’s area was larger than the palace itself. The surface was covered with blooming blue water lilies. One side of the water was surrounded by a dense avocado wood forest, while another side was blocked by a clearly more luxurious and majestic palace that obstructed Ye Zhiqing’s view.

Edith naturally took Ye Zhiqing’s hand and walked into the hall. It was very different from other palaces in the royal grounds; there were no luxurious decorations of gold or jewels. The pillars outside the corridor were merely carved with lotuses in various poses—lines simple yet elegant and vivid.

Beneath her feet was an alabaster floor with very clear veins, untainted by any impurity, pure and transparent.

A maid soon presented the noon meal. Both Edith and she had slept through the morning and hadn’t touched a drop of water until now.

The two ate opposite each other naturally. Ye Zhiqing was still a bit dizzy from the sun; she stopped after eating a bit of fruit, leaning against her chair and observing the decorations of the outer hall.

It had to be said, the palace Edith chose suited her tastes perfectly: simple, bright, yet exquisite. Being inside, she felt only refreshed and comfortable, and her mood grew a bit lighter unconsciously.

Seeing Ye Zhiqing stop, Edith’s brow knit, but she said nothing. She habitually picked up the wine on the table to drink.

Before she could touch the cup, Ye Zhiqing grasped her hand. Their palms met. “Your Majesty Edith, you cannot drink alcohol.”

Since Ye Zhiqing had proposed that trade with Edith that night, Edith had not left that courtyard during her remaining days in Tanis, focusing on nursing her wounds. The injury hadn’t worsened, but it hadn’t improved much either; Edith’s healing ability was noticeably slower than an average person’s.

Ye Zhiqing had mentioned it as if in passing, but Edith had deliberately ignored it. After that, Ye Zhiqing stopped bringing it up, keeping it silently in mind.

The thin calluses on Edith’s fingertips inadvertently rubbed against Ye Zhiqing’s soft palm, wordlessly stirring Ye Zhiqing’s nerves in the quiet space. She hurriedly withdrew her hand.

Her relaxed features signaled Edith’s pleasant mood. “Wait for me to return tonight.”

A sentence full of suggestive meaning. Ye Zhiqing frowned and ignored it directly. She knew Edith would likely spend the afternoon discussing months of accumulated political affairs with those officials. Under Egypt’s strict hierarchy, many things could only be implemented after Edith personally approved them.

Ye Zhiqing hesitated for a long while before asking, “Majesty, who is that young priest standing beside High Priest Karnak?”

Her hand paused. Edith’s gaze toward Ye Zhiqing held undisguised surprise. She asked in return, “Zhiqing, why do you ask about him?”

“Majesty, his gaze and posture are too unique, different from all the priests and officials present. It is a kind of transcendence that goes beyond divine and royal power,” Ye Zhiqing said directly, describing the feeling the young priest gave her, while omitting the part about her intuition regarding danger.

The smile on her face faded. Edith’s fingers lightly tapped the smooth tabletop. A sharp flash of steel suddenly crossed her arched brows, and a deep killing intent was hidden within her flat narrative.

“He is the Chief High Priest of the Luxor Temple, Saul. His status is second only to High Priest Karnak.” As if thinking of something, Edith stopped abruptly, a slight sense of gravity spreading silently as she refused to say more.

Edith’s reaction was strange. Seeing this, Ye Zhiqing did not press further.

A cool breeze brushed through the lush vegetation outside the hall, and a rustling sound drifted in. The shifting shadows of the trees created a patch of cool shade on the corridor.

Edith did not stay long, leaving after finishing her meal. she instructed Ye Zhiqing that if she felt bored, she could wander around the palace, but to remember to take the guard.

Inside the hall was the most comfortable temperature. Ye Zhiqing dozed for a bit, feeling very drowsy. She summoned a maid to lead her to the sleeping quarters; the moment she touched the bed, she fell into a deep sleep.

Inside the council chamber, Grand Vizier Gid and High Priest Karnak had been waiting for a long time. They had sorted through the accumulated important political affairs clearly and presented them to Edith.

Lowering her eyes, she was lost in thought.

Edith suddenly asked, “When were the letters received regarding the Hittite King and Princess coming to Egypt to discuss specific treaty terms?”

Gid took a step forward and reported, “King, ten days ago.”

Her sharp gaze landed on the letters on the table. A heavy, oppressive aura spread through the hall, only to vanish into nothingness in the next instant.

Edith waved her hand, signaling them to continue.

“…”

From beginning to end, Edith sat on her throne, listening quietly. When she heard a key point, she would signal them to stop and directly decide on the final plan of action, leaving no room for negotiation.

Such scenes occurred frequently in the council chamber; the two below had long since grown accustomed to it.

Edith’s reputation for being tyrannical and arbitrary had spread this way, yet the officials knew very well in their hearts that every decision Edith made brought long-term benefits to Egypt. This was the reason no one had been able to shake the throne beneath her to this day.

It continued until the sun set in the west. Bright candles were lit in the hall. Edith moved her already stiff neck; the faint pain in her shoulder and neck seemed to have grown more intense.

She raised her hand to signal them to stop. “It is late. You are dismissed. General Situ will escort you back.”

Her tone was indifferent as always, yet to Gid and Karnak, it seemed colder than usual. Not daring to look deeper, they respectfully withdrew.

Edith stared blankly at the backs of the two as they left, murmuring in a low voice, “Ten days ago, ten days ago…”

She turned her gaze back to the letters from the Hittites. According to the letters, the Hittite envoy would arrive in five days. It was impossible to travel from the Hittite capital to Thebes in such a short time. The only explanation was that the Hittite King and Princess, like her, had not been in their capital at all.

Thinking back to the sudden, several-fold increase in troops on the Mediterranean front, Edith’s eyes darkened. If one calculated the distance from the Mediterranean to Thebes, the timing was just right.

Everything seemed to have received the most reasonable explanation, leaving only one final question: why would the Hittite King and Princess suddenly arrive at the Mediterranean border? The move was highly unusual.

The word “traitor” flashed through Edith’s mind, her eyes condensing a bone-chilling frost.

Only a few people knew she would head to the Mediterranean border after the expedition to Punt, and those people had always been the ones Edith trusted most.

If not for Ye Zhiqing, she truly might have been buried in the Mediterranean.