I was the Queen of Persia

Page 133

Shahzani set off for Sabzewar under the pretext of an inspection tour. Upon arrival, he made a special trip to the city's library and, with the help of the officials, found the young man who worked there.

At first glance, Iraj was indeed handsome and dashing.

Wearing a neat Fars felt hat and a tidy Kaftan robe, he was sturdy with a waist as slender as a cypress. His face shone like the morning star, and the uprightness and indomitable spirit in his eyes kept the frivolous gay men at a distance.

After all, homosexuality was very prevalent in the pre-modern Persian cultural sphere. Even Sufi teachers and students often engaged in homosexual relationships, practicing and reciting scriptures as "lovers" to express their admiration for God, even though they were Muslims.

In this atmosphere, handsome young men like him are often at risk of being taken advantage of. His resolute gaze conveys his belief that he is "to be admired from afar but not to be trifled with."

Shahzani observed quietly.

She had given prior instructions, so the official in charge did not announce "the Empress has arrived," but simply said it was a routine inspection by the higher authorities and asked the clerks to continue their official duties.

Therefore, apart from a few high-ranking officials who were ordered to keep quiet, most of the lower-level officials, including the boy, did not know Shahzani's identity.

However, this kind of "incognito visit" allows for a more direct and clearer understanding of the other party's character.

It was discovered through observation.

Iraj was quite talented; he organized the picture books and catalogs, categorizing and placing them according to subject matter.

It is important to know that Sabzewar, as an ancient city in Khorasan, has a wealth of books and materials from the Sasanian, Tahir, Safar, and pre-Samanian periods, covering a wide range of subjects including history, epics, geography, astrology, medicine, poetry, and religious texts.

The fact that this young man could organize such complex historical materials so well proves that he does indeed have some real talent and ability.

Overall.

After initial observation, the Empress was quite satisfied with her first impression of her future son-in-law, which explains why her daughter was captivated by his looks and talent.

……

Back in the capital, Shahzani decided to bring the two lovers together.

But how do we bring them together?

Forcing a marriage? That's inappropriate. As the saying goes in matters of the heart: a forced marriage will never be sweet.

After careful consideration.

Shahzani came up with a relatively compromise solution and told her daughter about it.

"Mother Queen, this..." Faluczad showed a slight look of surprise.

“No need to say more. Remember, fate is given by God, but achievements are earned by oneself,” Shahzani said gently.

……

Several days later, Diwan, the central ruler of the Samanid Empire, suddenly issued an order—

In the name of Allah, the most just and righteous! Princess Qadhuda-Falukzad, daughter of the King of Kings of Transoxiana, is seeking a capable and competent clerk to fill the vacancy in her household. Recruitment requirements…

As soon as the notice was issued, a large number of young clerical staff were eager to try their luck.

……

Let's talk about Iraq again.

Ever since he was separated from the princess, he has longed for her beauty and courage day and night, and the flames of love have been burning intensely in his young heart.

He had actually fallen in love with Farukzad, but due to the difference in their current official ranks, the geographical distance, and the uncertainty about the future, he had not dared to express his feelings, and even told her under an alias.

Upon seeing the announcement issued by Central Diwan, a wave of emotion washed over him.

"So, is this an opportunity given to me by God?..."

"No! No! Things are different now. She is a noble princess, the future supreme empress, while I have become a commoner..."

"She is like the beautiful and noble 'Laylie,' and I am the poor and lonely 'Machinon.' The gap in our social standing is ultimately insurmountable. This love will not be blessed!..."

"But my heart has already flown in the direction where she is..."

While I was lost in thought.

“Go on, young man!” His supervisor came over, his tone encouraging.

"You must know that Her Majesty the current Empress has always valued talent and ability, even in selecting future consorts. Go! Be brave and pursue it! You must also firmly believe that you are from a distinguished noble family," the superior said earnestly.

These words rekindled Iraj's courage.

That's right, so what if there's a difference in social status?

Her Majesty Shahzani has always governed the empire with justice and tolerance. In her kingdom, anyone with skills, ambition, and unwavering loyalty can rise to prominence on the path to success, and even becoming a prince consort is not out of the question.

“Yes, Baba (elder, adult, superior), you are right. I shouldn’t be so cowardly and shrink back; I want to realize my lofty ideals!” Iraji said firmly.

Now, a golden opportunity has presented itself, and the ambitious young man will not miss this rare chance. He decides to immediately take the exam, achieve promotion, and go to the princess's side, regardless of where the future may lead!

Chapter 313 Persian-style National Examination

The day of the special selection exam was fast approaching.

Registan Square in the capital was packed with people. Young talents from all provinces and counties lined up in long queues, entering the designated examination hall one after another.

Shahzani sat on the high viewing platform, surrounded by guards and close ministers, his demeanor exuding imperial majesty. Farukzad beside him, however, seemed slightly uneasy.

And in the square.

Iraj entered the examination room full of confidence.

Although it was called an examination venue, it was actually a vacant lecture hall of the local Dabilistan Literacy School. It was spacious, bright, and had a strong academic atmosphere, which was just enough to accommodate a large number of candidates.

The questions for this exam were decided upon by Shahzani and the Diwan officials after discussions:

The first part covers Persian poetry and literature. Candidates are required to recite famous passages from the Book of Kings. The purpose is to assess their knowledge base.

The second part, Islamic texts, requires candidates to recite excerpts from Khorami hadiths. The purpose is to assess the candidates' level of faith.

Part Three, Mathematics. It contains ten geometry and arithmetic problems. The purpose is to assess the candidate's logical reasoning skills.

Part Four, Foreign Languages. List five sentences each in Turkic and Arabic languages. Translate them.

Part Five, Policy Essay. The topic is "On the Political System, Society, and Military System of the Turan Khanate." Its purpose is to assess the candidate's official document writing skills and their understanding of the current situation.

The exam officially began, and the room fell silent instantly, so quiet that you could hear each other's heartbeats.

Iraji carefully examined the questions; they were no challenge for him.

He had a wide range of knowledge and was quite proficient in the Book of Kings, the Rudaki Poems, the Hadith of the Queen, the Quran, and even the Pahlavi chess book and the Kalilai and Dimunai. He quickly memorized the required passage.

Mathematical arithmetic is not a problem. I have read Al-Khwarizmi's "Algebra" and I have a high level of comprehension. I have some ideas on how to solve many difficult math problems.

He has a deep understanding of both Turkic and Arabic languages, especially the Turkic languages, which he is very proficient in.

Official document writing is even more adept at it. After a short period of thought, ideas flow like a spring, and the writing is fluent and coherent. In less than half an hour, a logically rigorous argumentative essay can be completed.

……

Ten days later.

The Diwan government's examination authority also officially released the examination results. Notices of the results were posted in all government offices, communities, and mosques.

The result was obvious: Iraji passed with ease. Next, he and more than twenty other qualifiers would face the second challenge—the courtly questioning.

The palace is magnificent and grand, with its meticulously symmetrical Persian arch patterns, all of which demonstrate the authority of the empire and the empress.

Shahzani sat high on the throne, flanked by high-ranking officials. The candidates entered the hall one by one, taking their seats at a table in the center of the carpet to answer questions from the emperor and his ministers.

It was Iraji's turn to take the stage. His handsome face, upright posture, and elegant demeanor immediately caught the eye of the civil and military officials present.

The examiner began asking questions.

The question is: "What are your thoughts on the rise of the Turan Khanate in the north today?"

Other candidates would have mentioned nothing more than generalities such as "Iran is immortal," "Hu Da is supreme," "We should teach the Turanites a lesson like Rustam did," "We should sweep through Turan like Bahram Ghur and Anushirvan did," "The mighty Shahr Guard of the Empire is enough to flatten Turan," and "The Empress's majesty will spread throughout Turan."

Iraj's answer, however, was different.

After emphasizing Iran's military might and national strength and clarifying that Iran's war against Turan would surely achieve a glorious victory, Iraqi further extended and expanded his argument.

He stated with reason and evidence:

"Personally, I believe that dealing with the Turans requires not only resorting to force, but also leveraging Iran's powerful culture and faith. Because, although the two countries are currently at loggerheads, the war will not last forever, and peace will surely be restored in the future. And what happens after peace is restored? Then we will use the 'weapon' of culture and faith."

He politely looked at the examiners, and after receiving permission, continued:

"The land of Turan is actually deeply influenced by our Iranian culture. I have visited many tribes of the Oghuz Yabghu Kingdom, as well as cities and pastures along the Syr Darya River. I found that many Turan tribes are deeply influenced by our culture. Their architecture, clothing and decorations largely follow our style. Even their New Year is derived from our Nowruz festival."

At this point, he pulled out a scroll from his belt, filled with detailed investigation data, and respectfully presented it to the examiner:

"So, instead of fighting endlessly for thousands of years, why not use war to force peace and assimilate them? Your Majesty the Great Queen, the projection of God on earth, your majesty is enough to subdue these border nomads. If we assimilate and subdue them, firstly, we can recruit hundreds of thousands of fierce warriors; secondly, we can expand our country's territory; and thirdly, we can obtain more lasting peace and prosperity. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

As the logically sound argument concluded, the chief examiners present couldn't help but nod in approval.

Because during the final summary, the investigation report had already been circulated among the ministers. The report was well-reasoned and supported by sufficient evidence, clearly demonstrating the considerable effort put into it.

On the throne.

“Yes, that’s a good summary.” Shahzani nodded slightly, but then suddenly changed the subject, “But!”

"As you know, there are great risks involved in assimilating and integrating these Turan people. The Turan-Turkic-Turkic barbarian nomadic tribes have always been homeless, fierce, and warlike. Historically, they have frequently invaded Iranian cities and villages, plundering money, food, property, livestock, people, and destroying wells, irrigation canals, and crops."

“During the pre-Samanid era, large numbers of Turanese crossed the border into the oases and pastures of Transoxiana, and even reached the outskirts of Bukhara and Samarkand. They were a combination of soldiers and civilians, armed themselves, and were fickle in their loyalty. When the government was too busy to manage its own affairs, they established their own ruling order, issued orders to the surrounding towns and villages, and formed a separatist regime.”

At this point, Shahzani's expression turned serious.

"You know, the downfall of the former Samanid dynasty was closely related to the large influx of these Turanians. What good strategies do you have to deal with this potential threat?"

Farukzad, standing nearby, felt a sudden pang of unease. He secretly blamed his mother for asking such a tricky question. If Iraj couldn't answer it, wouldn't all his previous efforts have been in vain?

At this moment, all eyes were focused on Iraj.

Iraj, after only a brief moment of thought, had a flurry of ideas flowing through his mind. What followed was a string of witty remarks that even the well-informed Queen, who possessed a divine perspective, praised repeatedly.

Chapter 314 The Empress Has a Prince Consort!

The symmetrical and intricate Persian geometric patterns on the walls highlight the orderly rule under Shahzani's rule.

"productive forces."

Iraj said calmly that this concept was brought by Shahzani after she traveled to this world.

“As you said in your sacred decree, ‘Productivity is the foundation of a nation’s strength.’ Today, Iran is stronger than ever before, with vast wealth and treasures far exceeding those of Turan,” Iraj said.

Shahzani nodded in approval. This inexperienced young man's ability to accurately grasp the futuristic concept she presented was quite impressive.

Having gained the Queen's approval, Iraj continued.

"The Turans, or Turks and Tatars, migrated everywhere and were fond of plundering precisely because they were frequently disturbed by famine and upheaval, and had no choice but to do so."

At this point, Iraj's voice was loud and clear, with a distinct intonation.

"If our empire, under the divine guidance of the Supreme Empress, concentrates its strength and marches north in a grand manner, using its powerful steel army and productive forces to develop the Turan steppe into fertile land and integrate the Turan people into our country and people, then it will bring lasting peace to northern Iran!"

At this moment, Iraj had become a great orator, his full enthusiasm and resounding words blending together, full of vigor and spirit.

"Very good! May you accomplish this great task in the future! You have passed the interrogation; you may step down now!"

Shahzani gave a satisfactory evaluation.

Although she is a novice and her theoretical system still has room for improvement, it has already far exceeded Shahzani's expectations.

……

A few days later, the results of the questioning were announced, and as expected, Iraji achieved the best score.

Shahzani bestowed upon him a magnificent crown, brocade robe, official staff, belt, and gold and silver; the central Diwan department issued an official document, formally granting him an official position.

Princess Falukzad was the most overjoyed. Ever since her beloved came to her side, her heart had been filled with sweetness, as if she had drunk rose nectar.

Ah! My eyes—reddened by longing for you, like agate!

Ah! My secret—it makes me smile like a blooming flower.

"Tears are the language I use to speak with people,"

"The secret is hidden deep in my heart."

Farukzad was in high spirits, immersing herself daily in the love stories of romantic Persian poetry, as if she were the heroine herself.

Iraj was also overjoyed, relieved after many days of longing.

Sweet lovers are always immersed in endless happiness.

They govern together, ride together, hunt together, read sweet and gentle Persian love poems together, and practice traditional Iranian heroic sports together.