Chapter 297 - When the Makeup Girl Meets the Priests (2) (1/2)

Marduk is the G.o.d of Babylon. The Babylonians believe the king’s power is granted by Marduk, and the monks are the G.o.d’s servants. People in Babylon must get protected by the G.o.d, so they try to please him as hard as they can, hoping to obtain his grace to protect their city and country.

The Temple, as a place where Marduk comes down to stop temporarily, is a sacred place that only the king and monks are allowed to have access to it. Only on special days can the king go into the temple with his wife—in this case—Amytis, the princess of Medes to get Marduk’s blessings.

The ritual is long. Lin Luoran has nothing to do, but to pretend to be faithful, and wait outside the Temple like others.

Besides the Temple stands a stone tower. It is about fifteen or sixteen meters tall, only a head taller than the towering and solid inner city wall. It is not conspicuous, and even looks a little shabby compared with the majestic Temple.

All the constructions in the inner wall are colorful and magnificent. By a glimpse, Lin Ruoran even finds out the top of the Temple is made of gold, so it’s very strange to have a common stone tower in this particular area. Lin Luoran has to get something to think because the ritual still has a long way to go.

It is impossible to ask the maids beside her. The maids do not have the courage to look up, let alone talking with her

The monks outside the temple look at Lin Ruoran in an unfriendly way. They think it is a blasphemy to Marduk if she looks over the Temple during such an important ritual.

Something strikes Lin Ruoran’s mind when Nebuchadnezzar II walks out with his wife. Babylon’s constructions use bricks made from clays because stones are scarce in the country. However, this ordinary stone tower and the marvelous Temple are exceptions.

Why precious stones are used on the seemingly inconspicuous stone tower?

The monks come up to the priest and whisper something, then an experienced look comes to Lin Luoran. All she can see is the wrinkled eyes and a face that is shaped by the time. The woman surnamed Ji leaves and doesn’t come back. So Lin Luoran is somehow afraid of the priest.

She sneaks into the queue of maids.

“My Princess, is the one who wears the silk clothes also the maid you brought from Medes?” The priest asks Amytis, seeming to decide not to let Lin Luoran go. Lin Luoran is very regretted that she wears silk clothes. It makes her conspicuous and she has nowhere to hide.

With her hand held by her husband, Amytis is sniffing the scent of the spice from him and seems distracted, “Lin is not my maid. In fact, she is a distinguished guest of Medes.” “My lord, it is she who does my beautiful makeup,” She says to her husband, lowering her voice.

Nebuchadnezzar II smiles, and his old look seems younger.

“Your guest can find a place as a court painter, Amytis.” He says. Painting and wearing makeup make no difference to this king who experiences a lot of fights. Lin’s look doesn’t fit Babylonian’s aesthetical standard either, so the king does not look at her for long.

“My priest, I plan to rebuild the Tower of Babel to consecrate G.o.d Marduk. What do you think?” The king stands in front of the temple and talks with the priest.

When “Tower of Babel” is spoken, Lin Luoran starts to pay attention.

There should not be any reason for the priest to reject the plan, because the more importance the king attaches to religious activities and devotes himself to Marduk, the more interests of the monastic group will be guaranteed and enlarged. So, it’s best for the priest that the king decides to build temples all over the country. However, after hearing the king’s proposal, this priest who has already got one foot stepping into his grave has an obvious hesitation before he nods.

The king holds Amytis’s hand and walks to the edge of stone power. “My queen”, he says, “This is the gate to G.o.d in Babylon. I will build it to heaven and Marduk will be in it to be consecrated. We can also go on to the top and overlook the whole nation.”

The king looks ambitious and omnipotent at this time. Amytis looks at him with expectation and enchantment.

However, Lin Luoran is very astonished. The inconspicuous stone tower is in fact tower of Babel! To be more specific, it is the predecessor of the Tower of Babel because it does not have the momentum to skyrocket. Only this reconstructed tower of Babel can bring her back to the 21st century? She seems to fall into chaos.