Extra Chapter 10

A recent news story has topped the trending searches, sparking widespread attention. A wealthy British businessman tragically died in a car accident, and his family donated his collection to the British Museum. Among the items was a golden snake bracelet, said to be a gift from Ramesses II to his queen, symbolizing an unwavering love.

This bracelet had passed through the hands of five owners, none of whom met a good end. The first owner drowned in their home, the second died of a heart attack, the third was bitten to death by a venomous snake, and the fourth died of food poisoning. The businessman's family claimed it was the Pharaoh's curse: anyone who seized the beloved treasure of his wife would suffer an untimely death.

Such a mysterious and bizarre tale caused Egypt's tourism industry to explode in popularity overnight. Countless people flocked to Egypt, all to pay homage to a love that had transcended millennia. Taking advantage of the holiday, Zhong Li flew to Egypt. While still on the road, the female tour guide, Ding Xiang, recounted the story of Ramesses II and Nefertari. Ramesses II was Egypt’s most famous pharaoh, a man who spent his life in constant warfare and left behind countless historical relics, the most famous of which were the pyramids he built for his queen.

As Zhong Li searched on her phone, she heard a chorus of gasps from those around her. She looked out the bus window and saw a towering pyramid standing amidst the vast landscape. Sunlight shone upon it, making it seem as if it were shimmering. After more than three thousand years, through all the changes of the world, it remained. The shock of that moment was beyond words.

Zhong Li got off the bus and approached the pyramid, discovering blurred hieroglyphics on the stones. Ding Xiang explained, "After the queen passed away, Ramesses missed her deeply and ordered craftsmen to carve the love letters he wrote onto every single brick of the pyramid." Pointing to a relatively clear stone, she said, "This one means: The sun rises because of you, and the sunlight shines for you." She moved to another brick and added, "This one means: My love is unique; no one can replace her." Brick after brick, each one a love letter, built the greatest wonder in the world. Zhong Li felt a sense of envy for such love.

Ding Xiang continued, "The queen's true name was not recorded; Nefertari was merely a title, meaning 'Daughter of the Nile,' which also symbolizes beauty and wisdom." She paused, creating a sense of suspense, and added, "Although Nefertari was the Queen of Egypt, she never spoke the Egyptian language her entire life." Everyone was shocked.

"I’ve lived in Germany for five years and I can speak German now, so how could she never learn it in her whole life?"
"Can someone really be a symbol of wisdom if they are that slow?"
"Then how did she communicate with others?"

Ding Xiang smiled slightly and said, "We all know that when you go to a foreign land, you must learn the local language to communicate. But Nefertari was different. As the noble Daughter of the Nile, she insisted on using her own language, and eventually, the entirety of Egypt began learning her language just to communicate with her."

The group was stunned, filled with both envy and jealousy. "To stay in Germany, I practiced grammar and memorized vocabulary every single day from dawn until dusk, feeling like I was going crazy! Why did she not have to learn it? Why?!"
"Not learning the local language in a foreign country, but instead making others learn yours—that is legendary!"

Next, the group visited the banks of the Nile. Ding Xiang said, "The Nile is the mother river of Egypt. On the day of Ramesses' sacrifice, Nefertari floated down the river from the upper reaches with her dowry, and later became his queen." Zhong Li felt a sense of doubt—not speaking Egyptian and arriving by floating down the river? It sounded like a shipwrecked foreigner.

Ding Xiang continued, "Nefertari's dowry was incredibly lavish. One item was the Eye of Horus, which could see through storms, provide guidance, and protect the dead from harm in the underworld. When Ramesses fought the Hittites, it was the guidance of the Eye that helped him defeat them, cementing Egypt's status as a superpower. The whereabouts of this artifact have been unknown for centuries, and countless people have sought it."

The tourists were abuzz with discussion. "I know this! When I played games, the Holy Grail, Excalibur, and the Eye of Horus were the three great artifacts."
"If you could find this, wouldn't you be rich overnight?"

Ding Xiang then led the tourists to a nearby souvenir shop. She picked up an eye-shaped toy and said, "This is the Eye of Horus. If you like it, you can buy one." Zhong Li picked one up and noticed a needle in the center. She asked, "Why is there a needle inside?" Ding Xiang replied, "The needle represents the gaze of Horus. The white end points south, guiding the dead even in the underworld." Zhong Li thought to herself: *Doesn't that sound a bit like a compass?*

After browsing, Ding Xiang took everyone to see the Sphinx. She said, "After the reputation of the Daughter of the Nile spread, the Hittites, in an attempt to undermine Egypt, challenged Nefertari to solve the riddle of the Sphinx. The clever Nefertari naturally solved it, and from then on, the answer was carved on the back of the Sphinx." Zhong Li went to the back to take a look.

Ding Xiang added, "The envoy sent by the Hittites at the time was Prince Strut. As soon as he saw the Daughter of the Nile, he was captivated. Later, Strut ascended to the throne and frequently launched wars, trying to snatch Nefertari away, but he never succeeded."

They then visited the ruins of an ancient city. It had become completely commercialized, with its original appearance long gone, but judging by its scale, it wasn't hard to imagine its former grandeur. Ding Xiang spread her arms and smiled, "Welcome to the City of Nefertari!"

Zhong Li asked, "Was this city built specifically for Nefertari?"
Ding Xiang nodded, "Because of Nefertari's help, Egypt was able to defeat the Hittites, so Ramesses built this city in her name. At the time, it was a holy city."

Looking at the Egyptian beauties everywhere on the street, Zhong Li exclaimed, "There are so many beautiful women here!"
Ding Xiang laughed, "Perhaps it's because they share in Nefertari's glory. The girls in this city are all very beautiful, and many queens came from here, so it's also called the City of Beauties!" The tourists laughed heartily.

After sightseeing in the city, the group arrived at the next stop: the Abu Simbel temples. The statues of the pharaoh and the queen stood side by side. Ding Xiang said, "The statues of queens throughout history were always shorter than those of the pharaohs; only Nefertari's statue is the same height as Ramesses', which was absolutely unique for that era." Zhong Li was filled with wonder.

Ding Xiang then pointed to a statue of a man holding an oil lamp at the temple entrance, saying, "A man died in his sleep, and just as they were about to turn him into a mummy, he suddenly woke up. He claimed he had met Nefertari, who told him his time had not yet come and that he had accidentally entered the underworld. She gave him a lamp to light his way through the darkness and ward off demons. He returned to the world of the living safely, and after waking up, he came to this temple to light the lamps for the rest of his life." Such a bizarre story sparked another round of discussion.

And so, the pleasant trip to Egypt came to an end, and Zhong Li returned home. Still harboring many doubts about Nefertari's origins, she delved into extensive research. Finally, she decided to publish an article online titled, "On the Possibility that Nefertari Was Chinese."

The internet exploded. Egyptian netizens were particularly agitated, constantly attacking her. A year later, archaeologists discovered a hidden chamber inside the pyramid, which contained porcelain from the East. This sparked another heated debate.

[Could Nefertari really be Chinese?]
[Wouldn't that rewrite Egyptian history?]
[So, Egypt and China are one family, and the Pharaohs have Chinese blood?]
[Impossible! It must be a lie!]