The King and the Priest[Comprehensive]

When that figure appeared at the bow of the ship, needless to say, earth-shattering sounds erupted from both sides of the Nile River at the same time.

wow——

"The High Priest——!!!"

"Master Ta-Hil-Tahir!"

Excited, joyful, and a bit of straightforward joy, most of the people who shouted on both sides of the strait were women.

Now, not only the men who have been jealous for a long time, but even the bards who think they are full of experience can't help but say sourly, look, look, the annual repertoire has begun again.

The repertoire of the annual Opate Festival is that all the men and women of the city squeeze together on both sides of the road to appreciate the peerless demeanor of the high priest of the Karnak Temple.

When the noble pharaoh and the great god appeared on the stage, roaring cheers had already been heard twice.

It was the third time it sounded here, but its momentum was not weaker than the previous two times.

People in Thebes, the capital of Egypt, knew a long time ago that the young high priest of the Karnak Temple was not only a god, but also had an unforgettable good looks.

When he first left the impression on everyone, the High Priest was only a ten-year-old boy who was not particularly presentable.

The years seemed to pass by in a flash, and people almost watched in a daze as the short and thin boy grew up suddenly, as if he had changed his appearance.

The high priest's blond hair grew a little bit longer, and today it has fallen to his waist.

The High Priest's actions are becoming more and more vigorous, and the transformation from being low-key and not caring about world affairs to being strong and not to be underestimated has occurred in just a few years.

When people worship the omnipotent god Ra and talk about their worship to the pharaoh who is the lord of the earth, they can't help but think of the high priest of the temple of Karnak.

Every year, that young man presides over the pharaoh's ceremonies on important public occasions, sorting out everything in an orderly manner, being humble and dignified, and his devotion to the gods seems to be unmatched by anyone.

Many people don't like him because he is too radiant, and his attitude towards the so-called top people in society will only become stronger along the way. He is not at all as smooth as the previous high priest, and he has offended quite a few dignitaries.

But more people like him, because his sharpness will only be shown to those who are more arrogant than him. Although he keeps a distance from ordinary people who are truly powerless and living on the edge of poverty, he has always been Caring is added.

"The new clothes I'm wearing are what I got from the temple on New Year's Day this year. The high priest ordered people to send God's gifts to every person who came to worship but was dressed in rags. This is a lot. It's something everyone knows."

In the crowd, some people showed off the linen robes they didn't want to wear until the holidays.

"A few years ago, I was still in the army, and just before I was about to go to the battlefield, I received an amulet made by the high priest. Thanks to the blessing of the amulet, I was able to leave a life and come back alive."

The soldiers who left the army and returned to their hometown not long ago talked about the past and touched the amulet still hanging on their chest.

"The high priest... under the guidance of the gods, brought us justice."

A man and a woman with a young child remembered something, and their faces were a little dazed, but then they came back to their senses, and they couldn't help showing a joyful and grateful smile.

There are many similar voices, and the emotions contained in the voices are also different, but when gathered together, they almost all have the same meaning.

—— People have never had close contact with the young high priest, but they have all seen him from afar.

It can be said that the most ordinary people living the most ordinary lives do not care about the thoughts of the "adults" in power in Egypt, after all, that world is too far away from them.

Since the High Priest of the Temple of Amun was nearer to them, they had no reason not to like him.

Most of the people who gathered in the long line and cheered for the appearance of the figure on the holy ship were grateful to that lord.

Well, though.

Not entirely so.

A wise man (without ruling out the possibility of selfishness) said that the "superficiality" of human existence is reflected in being especially good at being confused by appearances.

In addition to gratitude and celebration, everyone shouted crazily, and part of the reason was that the high priest who had matured had a good reputation.

Since the year before last, countless people who accidentally saw the side face of the high priest at the festival lost their minds on the spot, and their steps were still erratic after returning home.

The unmarried girls began to think day and night, and the bolder could not bear their temper, and ran to the temple when they had the opportunity.

——However, unless it is an important festival or ceremony, the high priest will basically not show up, and it is useless to run away.

The boys who had never seen the high priest before were young and vigorous, and felt that this priest, who was not a few years older/younger than them, was a thick and strong man no matter how high his status and reputation was.

What's so "beautiful" about a man, it's impossible to even look good enough to overwhelm everyone.Therefore, with subtle jealousy, they also tried their best to run to find out what happened.

——However, the young people who secretly watched and were lucky enough to see all came back in silence. After a long time of calm, they still didn't want to say a word.

In this way, due to various unspeakable and complicated reasons, there was an undercurrent surging in the huge spectator team on the Opate Festival.

All over the city, the poets with the keenest sense of smell captured this change, and they spared no effort to weave it into gorgeous poems and sing them all over the place.

This is like fueling the flames, which directly led to the fact that more and more outsiders came to Thebes on a good day after traveling thousands of miles, and they did not hesitate to compete with the locals for road positions.

It is not easy for foreigners to come from thousands of miles.

They only heard that in the Temple of the Sun in Thebes, there was an astonishingly talented high priest who was young but had a beauty comparable to that of the moonlight.

——Why can it be compared to Yuehua?

You'll have to see it for yourself to find out.

——Why are so many people rushing to look at him?

You'll have to see it for yourself to find out.

Therefore, the outsiders managed to take the risk of quarreling with the locals and getting into a fight, and finally grabbed a slightly front row seat.

Everyone who has gone through the risk naturally stretches their necks eagerly, wanting to see the true face of the rumored high priest who is not like a mortal.

After an anxious, tense, and rather long wait.

They finally saw it.

"It's the high priest! Huh—"

This is the reason for the noise that many people who despise too much noise commented as "babbling and screaming".

It has to be said that I don't know what the high priest on the ship felt when he heard this voice. In the parade composed of dignitaries and dignitaries, some people were quite dissatisfied.

"You can't even see your face clearly here, why are those people calling it so exaggerated?"

You can tell from the tone of voice that this is definitely a word that leaked out after he couldn't bear it.

The person who spoke also stopped and turned his head, looking at the holy boat in the river.

For some reason, the background noises that became louder every year in the past years made him feel extremely irritable, as if an unknown fire had been lit in his heart, and it was difficult to extinguish it for a while.

"Rameses."

Next to him, his mother also called his name softly against the background sound that wanted to drown everyone out.

"Aren't you happy that your friend is loved by the people and has received so much recognition?"

"Ah, happy to be happy."

"Ok?"

The beautiful and tolerant Princess Tuya stopped talking when she saw her proud son, and silently restrained the expression on her face.

"If people look at him with the eyes of appreciating novelty, what is the status and dignity of the high priest in the hearts of others?"

The prince spoke his heart, and sure enough, he could still find the shadow of displeasure on his face.

——To this day, it is really rare for Ramses to show such an expression.

The princess who knew this son best didn't show it on the surface, but she thought about it quietly in her heart.

Yes.

As if in an imperceptible silence, the former boy turned around like a seedling and stretched his body, growing into a young man who would be seriously praised by anyone who saw it.

Prince Ramses turned 19 this year.

The immaturity of childhood has completely faded away, and the young man seems to have been reborn.

His face was engraved by time with a youthful yet resolute outline, and he was also very handsome.The golden eyes with the same color as the sun are piercing, and they look majestic so that people dare not look directly at them.

After years of fighting, the prince, both as a general and as a warrior, has proved his bravery, agility and strength to everyone.

He fought with the army early and personally commanded the army to fight against the enemy many times. He also personally beheaded the leader of the enemy army on the battlefield and presented it to his father Pharaoh Seti as a gift.

Among the younger generation, Prince Ramses is naturally the leader among the well-deserved leaders.

The bards also sang affectionately in praise of the prince in the crowd just now.

They proudly boasted that Prince Ramses was a rising star from the east bank of the Nile.

"A prince's arms are as hard as steel, and his steps are as steady as a rock."

"It's the morning light, it's the early sun. Inheriting the glory of my father, following the glory of God Ra, this round of scorching sun will slowly rise—"

It was sung very well and praised very well, but unfortunately, the prince himself probably didn't listen to it at all.

Prince Ramses, who had also received countless attention and praises, went very focused and unhappy at this time.

Telling the truth to the concubine is only half of the truth.

Ramses has long been displeased with the crowds that are getting more crowded every year—although no matter how crowded the people are, it has nothing to do with him.

The high priest, as the incarnation of God in the world - the representative of Pharaoh, is also the person closest to God. He should receive the most basic respect and keep a sufficient distance from the people on the earth.

From a long time ago until now, Ramses has insisted on this point of view.

Keeping a distance does not mean that the high priest should maintain an unattainable attitude and cut off contact with other people.

How should I put it...

After years of repeated thinking and deliberation, Ramses finally figured out what he really wanted to express.

In his heart, his best friend Tahir is the high priest of the gods (he also brought a real god with him), which is of great significance in itself, and everyone should take him seriously and maintain his pride.

The proud high priest should not be seen through by others, but should always be in a high position that can only be looked up to, with an inviolable mystery—just like the feeling of the high priest.

The same is true of Ramses' requirements for himself. He did not allow the high priest to leave any flaws that might be caught in front of others.

At this point, it can be said that no one can make an exception.

--so!

The earth-shattering noise on both sides of the strait became the most despicable existence for the prince.

He felt that this group of people did not have the slightest respect for the High Priest.

What's the name, what's the noise, what's the look!Is it beautiful?

...Well, although it is indeed beautiful.

Immersed in his own world, Ramses' thoughts were suddenly interrupted by his concubine's voice.

"Oh, don't think so, Ramses."

Princess Tuya heard the subtle awkwardness hidden in the prince's words, she held back her laughter, and said calmly: "People's curiosity and love for the high priest is also included in their respect for the high priest. You can't Labeling people as disrespectful because they get too excited in the festive spirit."

The prince who now looks like an adult hasn't shown such a brooding - it should be like this - emotion for a long, long time.

Not only the princess found it novel, but even the pharaoh who was next to them was attracted to their conversation when they heard their conversation.

Time has made the prince grow up, and also made the pharaoh's temples gray when he was in his prime.

Even though Pharaoh Seti was the son of God, he was still a mortal in the world, unable to resist the law of birth, aging, sickness and death.

However, today's Pharaoh Xu was affected by the festive atmosphere, and he looked more energetic than usual. He joked about his impetuous son without mercy: "What's the matter, Ramses, it's because Tahir didn't Is it awkward to walk with you?"

Ramses: "..."

It's been a long, long time since the prince has experienced the aggrieved feeling of being ridiculed openly.

Okay, one is the father and the other is the mother and concubine, they are both people who can't put on a cold face and ignore them.

Now he was already taller than his father and mother, and he looked mature, but he was caught for showing a little childishness unexpectedly, which made the young and vigorous prince feel a little embarrassed.

"How is it possible, I'm not a child..."

He tried his best to ignore the playful gazes of his father, queen, mother and concubine, and he was even more lazy to pay attention to the gazes of other people—mainly the courtiers following behind.

Although the pharaoh's joke was a joke, it still revealed a fact.

Because Ramses stayed in the army, he couldn't catch up with the Opate Festival for almost ten years. Only this year, by coincidence, he finally rushed back to Thebes in time and was able to join.

He probably made an agreement with so and so in advance that they would walk together during the parade. In terms of status, they are completely able to walk side by side.

However, just as Pharaoh said, the so-and-so who had made an appointment with him broke the appointment temporarily and did not appear in the mighty queue.

The man left him and went to the holy ship by himself.

Why did he change his mind temporarily, I haven't elaborated yet, I just let him watch it when the time comes.

That's right, it's really too much to let him stare blankly with all the people on the shore who are looking forward to it.

At this moment, no matter whether they were princes, nobles or ordinary people, even the powerful officials who disliked the high priest most on weekdays, everyone was paying attention to the holy ship that was gradually approaching.

Prince Ramses was right.

This distance is said to be able to see the high priest standing at the bow, but in fact, only the clothes he is wearing can be seen clearly, and the face is not very detailed.

The long hair fluttering in the wind is like golden sand shining in the sun, always eye-catching.

When Ramses saw him, even if he only saw a little bit of it, his heart couldn't help but feel a ripple, and his eyes couldn't help but pursue that brilliant color.

All the previous embarrassment can be dissipated at this time. Looking at the best friend whom he hasn't seen for a long time, the prince on the shore raised his hand majestically and shouted over there:

"High-priest-priest!"

His shout was lost in the loud shouts that followed, and became inconspicuous at all.

The already hot scene suddenly ignited and boiled.

But, just when everyone was enthusiastic.

Rumble!

I don't know if the sound of the drum coincided with the deafening cheers at this moment, or the noise rising from the ground involved the clouds in the sky, causing the thunder to fall.

The Nile River, which had just experienced a flood and widened its channel, was still flowing gently. At this time, it seemed to be frightened and began to undulate, causing the holy ship in the middle to suddenly ups and downs.

Some of the priests carrying the altar accidentally slipped on their feet and shook violently along with the hull of the boat, barely able to stand still.

This seemed to be an accident, because no one would have thought that the water of the holy river, which had always been smooth during this period, would suddenly turbulent.

Under such an accident, the details of the priest who has full experience in escorting the statue will not be able to stand still at this moment, and it will not be so eye-catching——

The shrine slid forward abruptly, and there was a dangerous inclination.

Before the river stabilized, it began to shake surprisingly again. This time, the ups and downs were so obvious that everyone on the shore could notice it.

"……what!"

"Look! Idols—going to fall into the Holy River!"

The sudden change stunned everyone in the city, and it was only when the boatman tried his best to keep the boat swaying, and the shrine on the holy boat tilted more and more clearly, that he came back as if he had just woken up from a dream. Come on.

After regaining consciousness, of course all the staff panicked and fell into an unbearable panic.

Today is not an ordinary day, it is a sacred day to offer gifts to God.

This river is no ordinary river either, it is the river of life worshiped by all Egyptians.

If the holy river set off shocking waves on a holy day with no wind, and the statue of the sun god fell from the holy boat and fell into the river, it must be—a bad omen!

The river is raging, and the god king is furious. What kind of god will punish Egypt?

In an instant, the boundless celebration seemed to turn into a great tragedy. Many devout believers hurriedly knelt down and prayed for the restoration of the holy river.

But Holy River apparently didn't hear the prayer.

The waves are still raging, and the surface of the holy ship carrying the statue is inlaid with gold leaf. It seems that a few pieces of the gold leaf on the surface have been swept away by the huge waves, and the long boat will be dragged into the vortex in the next moment!

"Do not--"

"God!"

There were screams everywhere, and there was a certain degree of commotion in the long queue where the pharaoh was.

The officials, panicked, tried to rush forward to persuade the pharaoh to leave, because the river seemed to be about to overflow to the shore.At the same time, the pharaoh's concubines, princesses and other female relatives all showed panic.

"……His Majesty."

Princess Tuya tightly grasped Pharaoh's arm, but unexpectedly, Pharaoh Seti himself was not too panicked.

and.

There are two more calm people than the already calm Pharaoh.

"Calm down! Don't mess around!"

In the queue, the first highest official who appeared to appease everyone——Sir Senedi, who was still in charge of Vihir, didn't even change his expression.

In other words, Master Senedi, who is still working diligently in his position, has aged a lot, but he has already seen through and seen through a certain high priest who is like his nemesis in the latter half of his life.

Lifting his eyelids slightly, he didn't bother to put on a superfluous expression: "Everyone, don't worry, our high priest is on the holy ship."

Among other things, whether something will happen or not, you can tell by the reaction of the most calm prince (who is not as annoying as a high priest).

"I now know why he went up there."

This sentence was said to the father, queen, mother and concubine. The next moment, the prince became full of energy, his sharp eyes pierced through the cloud that suddenly descended above the holy river, and those golden pupils seemed to be able to break through all malicious condensation.

Sure enough, when he looked at him with eyes that seemed to have a tacit understanding with the people over there, the tense situation suddenly turned for the better.

The crumbling shrine made a rattling sound, and it was about to fall into the surging river.

Right now.

A faint light appeared in the darkness, which was inconspicuous at first.

It took only a moment for the shrine to pause suddenly in the process of falling into space, and then it was like time was reversed and returned to its original position.

In the next moment, the violently shaking holy ship was fixed in the middle of the turbulent river as if being held firmly by an invisible hand, completely motionless.

A hand—compared with the most exquisite and transparent marble pillars in front of the temple, it is not inferior to its white and crystal clear arm, stretching straight out from under the sleeve wetted by the splashed river water.

The owner of this arm, in front of the violent waves, only made a movement that was not clearly visible to everyone on the shore.

The water of the holy river returned to obedience.

The cloud receded, the thunder stopped, and the sky became clear and blue again. It seemed that everything heard his voice and was moved by it in an instant.

……

In this way, the sudden accident on the holy river receded, and the holy ship carrying the shrine raised its sails again.

Everyone on the shore was silent for a few seconds.

Then, there was an instant change:

"Oh oh oh oh oh!!!"

Enthusiasm skyrocketed.

This is a more positive and enthusiastic cheer than seeing the beauty of the high priest himself.

There seemed to be some undissipated water vapor floating in the air, and the blond high priest standing at the bow told the oarsman to slightly deflect the direction, so that the holy boat moved closer to the shore, and entered a distance where people on the shore could really see his face clearly.

What the High Priest did was to plead guilty to the terrified Pharaoh.

He reported to the master on the ground that he had dispelled the spell that tried to interfere with the ceremony, and finally, he bowed slightly to the shore to salute.

The moment when the High Priest raised his head again with his wet blond hair sliding over his shoulders.

The entire country, which had just been excited, seemed to suddenly fall into dead silence again.

Even the most eloquent and descriptive poet has witnessed everything, and it is difficult to completely write this scene into poetry.

Just because the young man standing on the prow of the boat is noble, his skin is like fat jade, his eyes are like water lotus dotted on the blue lake, and the long hair above his waist is like the golden quicksand sprinkled in the lake.

The beautiful and extraordinary high priest didn't show a smile on his face, like a layer of transparent but icy frost and snow covering the surface of the lotus flower.

He was obviously saluting the most honorable pharaoh in the world, but it felt like he was in the nine heavens.

And it makes people feel stunned, unable to produce thousands of miscellaneous thoughts, just want to worship.