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Evening had arrived when Maxan reached Yusuf ibn Naghrela's house. Yusuf and his son Suleiman greeted him at the door and led him into the dining room where dinner was ready. After they finished eating, the conversation turned to more serious matters.
Yusuf ibn Naghrela: (with visible anxiety, looking at Maxan) "I need to confess something important, Maxan. I am the one who spread the rumors about you recently."
Maxan: (sipping his pomegranate juice slowly, setting the glass aside, then looking at Yusuf) "If you're admitting to this, it implies there's a larger issue behind these rumors. Why did you do it?"
Yusuf ibn Naghrela: (hesitantly, trying to justify his actions) "The rumors were meant to undermine your reform efforts in the city. I believed these reforms might harm certain interests and destabilize us. I opposed them because I saw them as a threat to my authority and my family's interests."
Maxan: (seriously, taking another sip of pomegranate juice) "So your aim was to protect your personal interests rather than support the public good. This is unacceptable. According to Islamic law, we must handle this issue fairly."
Yusuf ibn Naghrela: (with a troubled look, trying to maintain his composure) "I understand. What will you do now?"
Maxan: "I will allow you to go to the judge for a ruling according to the law. However, you should know that if you attempt to flee before or during the execution of the ruling, the punishment will be severe. I will enforce the penalty in the same way the rumors were spread, and I will be forced to kill anyone who helps you."
Yusuf ibn Naghrela: (with a weary expression but showing some relief) "I understand. When should I go to the judge?"
Maxan: "You may go a week from now. I will give you this time to settle your affairs, but you must remain and not attempt to escape."
Yusuf ibn Naghrela: (with a frustrated expression, yet showing some relief) "I will comply with your instructions. Thank you for giving me a chance to resolve this matter."
Maxan: "Ensure that the time I've given you is used to address this matter legally and fairly. If you manage to acknowledge your mistakes, there may be an opportunity for restitution."
Yusuf ibn Naghrela: (with a faint smile that might conceal other intentions) "I will handle this seriously. Thank you once more."
After dinner, Maxan departed from Yusuf ibn Naghrela's house. As Yusuf and Suleiman exchanged glances, Yusuf's face wore a peculiar smile, making Maxan uneasy, sensing that there might be something hidden behind this confession.
As Maxan made his way home, his thoughts were troubled by doubts about Yusuf's true intentions. He began to question whether Yusuf was planning something else and how it might impact the city's stability and the future of the reforms he sought to implement.
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In the council chamber, where the atmosphere was tense with discussions about political developments affecting Granada and the surrounding region, the conversation focused on recent troubling events. Attendees included Maxan, the son of Prince Badis ibn Habus, Abdullah, Omar the army commander, Minister of the Treasury Abdul Rahman ibn Isa, Minister of Arab al-Nayyi, and Minister Abu al-Rabi.
Maxan: "The situation has shifted significantly. Sancho II defeated his brothers in battle and took control of the kingdom with his brother Alfonso VI's help. However, Sancho then turned against Alfonso and seized the Kingdom of León, becoming the Spanish Emperor. This power shift poses a major threat to us, especially since Seville is now embroiled in a dispute over the prince's position following the illness of Ibad ibn Muhammad. Supporting the prince's son might be a more strategic move."
Minister of Arab al-Nayyi: "But the current situation in Spain doesn't favor us. Supporting Sancho's brother Alfonso, who is in Toledo after taking the kingdom, might be a more advantageous step. We need to be cautious in our support."
Minister Abdul Rahman ibn Isa: "The issue is that our treasury cannot support such a move. We've just come out of a war, and our resources are limited. We must be realistic about our ability to provide additional military or political support."
As the discussion continued, Maxan began to feel dizzy and had trouble seeing. Before he could speak, blood started flowing from his mouth, and he soon collapsed. Abdullah quickly caught Maxan before he fell to the ground.
The attendees were horrified by Maxan's condition and immediately called for a doctor. Everyone gathered around him, their faces marked with concern.
Abdullah: (anxiously and loudly) "We need a doctor immediately! What's happening to Maxan?"
Omar: (seriously) "Hurry! We don't have time to waste. We must stay calm and do everything possible to help Maxan."
Minister of Arab al-Nayyi: (appearing surprised and confused) "This is unexpected. We can't act until we understand his condition."
Maxan was quickly moved to an adjacent medical room, where the doctor began examining him to determine the cause of his critical condition. As the doctors worked, the council members awaited news about his condition, discussing the potential implications of this sudden health crisis for the city's political landscape.
Doctor: (after the examination, calmly) "Maxan's symptoms indicate poisoning. The internal bleeding and imbalances suggest he was exposed to an unknown poison. We need to identify the poison and monitor his condition closely."
The situation grew more dire with every passing minute, and political tensions escalated. The future of Granada and Maxan's role in its governance remained uncertain as everyone anxiously awaited updates on his health and the impact of the poisoning on the city's political stability.
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In the midst of the dire situation concerning Prince Badis ibn Habus, he entered his son Maxan's room, where Maxan lay in a critical state. The prince, known for his sternness and resolve, was unable to hide his emotions at this moment. His face reflected deep sorrow and disbelief, filled with fear over his son's fate and the possibility of losing him.
The prince stood beside Maxan, his face a mix of rage and grief. With a voice heavy with bitterness, he declared:
Prince Badis ibn Habus: (with a broken voice and anger) "Who did this to my son? Who is responsible for this calamity? We must identify the culprit, or none of you will be safe from my wrath!"
Fear gripped the attendees, and no one dared to meet the prince's gaze, aware of the gravity of his anger. The prince was resolute in taking drastic measures, and the details of the investigation began to take shape.
Prince Badis ibn Habus: (with a voice charged with fury) "I want to see the perpetrator who committed this crime. If the perpetrator is not revealed, all of you will be held accountable for this atrocity. Is that understood?"
The attendees responded with fear in their hearts:
Attendees: "Yes, Your Highness."
---
The ministers proceeded to carry out his orders with seriousness.
Minister of Arab al-Nayyi: (seriously) "Omar, you must start the investigation immediately with everyone in the city. Leave no one unexamined, regardless of their status, and if necessary, use all available means to uncover the culprit."
Omar: "I will begin the investigations right away and will not allow anyone to escape."
The prince then left the room and directed Minister of Arab al-Nayyi to Abu al-Rabi:
Minister of Arab al-Nayyi: "Abu al-Rabi, you need to work on keeping this news from the public. We must control the situation and prevent any chaos until we discover who is responsible for this heinous act."
Abu al-Rabi: "I will work on limiting the leak of information and avoiding any potential chaos."
As the ministers carried out the prince's orders, Prince Badis ibn Habus continued to watch over his son Maxan's condition with deep concern, ready to take any action to protect his authority and honor, and to seek just retribution for the attack on his family.
When Prince Badis ibn Habus returned to his son Maxan's room, he found that his son's condition was still critical. Overcome with anger and sorrow, he vowed with determination to avenge his son at any cost.
With a voice charged with rage and resolve, the prince swore in front of those present:
Prince Badis ibn Habus: (with intensity and determination) "I swear by Almighty God that I will not rest until I have destroyed the seventh generation of the killer's family! Whoever did this to my son must pay dearly, and everyone involved in this crime will face merciless retribution."
---
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Under the pressure of the prince's stern tone, the attendees remained frozen in place, determined to carry out his orders. They knew that the prince would not tolerate any shortcomings in delivering justice, and that the retribution would be as severe as he had vowed.
Minister of Arab al-Nayyi: (seriously) "We will start the investigations immediately and ensure that anyone involved in this crime is held accountable with utmost rigor."
Omar: (firmly) "We will work to uncover the culprit and bring them to justice as swiftly as possible. We will not tolerate any attempts to cover up or evade."
Abu al-Rabi: (steadfastly) "I will ensure that no information leaks to the public and will work to minimize any chaos so that we can handle the situation in the best possible way."
As the prince followed through on his threat, there was no doubt that the investigations would be conducted with seriousness and strictness, and that anyone connected to the crime would face severe consequences.
---
Yusuf ibn Naghrela: (with joy and satisfaction, looking at Suleiman) "We succeeded, Suleiman. The plans we made have come to fruition as we wanted. Maxan is on the brink of death, which is exactly what we hoped for."
Suleiman: (smiling and laughing loudly) "Yes, Father, our plan's success is amazing! I never imagined that Maxan would die from pomegranate juice. If there was a simpler way to eliminate the ruler, we've certainly found it."
Yusuf ibn Naghrela: (with a sly smile, examining the impact of their plan) "The methods we used were extremely clever. This poisoning will not raise any real suspicions, especially since it wasn't expected to come from us."
Suleiman: (laughing cheerfully) "Exactly. Everyone thinks things are proceeding normally while we, behind the scenes, achieve our goals. This reminds me of how skilled we are at executing our schemes."
Yusuf ibn Naghrela: (with confidence and sarcasm) "Patience and planning are the keys to success. Now, with Maxan in critical condition, we can see the fruits of our labor. Nothing has escaped us, and everything is going according to plan."
Suleiman: (with a malicious smile) "And also, no one expected our plan to succeed so perfectly. The schemes we executed precisely fit many scenarios, but this particular one was the best."
Yusuf ibn Naghrela: (seriously) "Now, we must prepare for what comes next. We need to be aware of every step we take to ensure our plans remain protected and secure."
Suleiman: (positively) "I'm sure everything will stay under control. We've already achieved so much, and this is just the beginning of what we can accomplish."
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