The Crescent of the Sultan

The preparations for the wedding were very trivial.

In fact, preparations for the wedding by the royal family members and the imperial government had already begun before Selim issued the engagement letter.

According to Muslim tradition, Anna will bring a dowry, although her job change has not yet been completed.

But the dowry is also being prepared in advance. Such a dowry will include valuable carpets and beautiful embroidery, gorgeous clothes and exquisite jewelry.

These will be transported to a palace together with the sultan's bride price, but except for Topkapi Palace in Constantiniya, there is almost no palace worthy of a sultan's wedding.

But Selim must not allow the wedding to be held here. As a symbol of the Sultan's authority, Topkapi Palace should be mysterious and elusive.

And this is inconsistent with the festive atmosphere of the wedding.

In fact, there were many other palaces in the Ottoman Empire, such as the Tupesu Palace located in the countryside, but its decoration was a bit thin and could not support the majesty of the royal family.

Or Belem Palace, a palace on the Asian side of Constantiniya that was the summer residence of the Ottoman sultans and members of the royal family. It’s just that the overall style is almost all Persian elements, which is definitely not good.

The Holy Mountain Palace in Bursa is actually quite good. This palace is located in today's Bursa, Turkey. It was also the summer palace of the Ottoman Empire. It is nestled on the mountainside of Uludag Mountain and features spacious gardens, ponds and ornate buildings.

The only drawback is that Selim must leave Constantiniya if he wants to hold a wedding here, which is undoubtedly difficult for Selim to accept.

Therefore, for this palace that will be used for weddings, there are only two options to choose from, build a new one or renovate the original palace.

Facts have proved that a truly authoritative king is always worthy of being sought after. After hearing some anecdotes, many Greeks, Jews and Muslims have expressed their intention to sponsor the white eunuchs of Topkapi Palace. .

After some discussions, Selim finally decided to renovate the Belem Palace in order to save money.

While Selim is preparing for the wedding, Anna is also preparing to convert. She has been studying the Quran recently to cooperate with the Grand Mufti.

"Ludovica, come here, where is your sister Isabella? Why hasn't she come back yet?"

Anna shouted to the girl who was playing on the bed in the room. These two were Polish princesses, but now they were given to her as maids by Selim.

"Your Highness, I...I don't know either."

"Your Highness? I am not your Highness?"

Anna couldn't help but said amusedly.

"How could it not be? Your Highness Anna, you will marry His Majesty soon."

Ludovica tilted her head and asked, looking so naive that Anna couldn't help but rub her face.

"By the way, where did Isabella go? She's fourteen years old, why are she still so playful?"

Ana couldn't help but support her forehead with her hands and said helplessly.

"Does Your Highness want to ask us about our conversion?"

The girl asked with her eyes blinking, giving off an innocent feeling.

"So what do you think? In fact, it's okay for you not to change your beliefs.

Your Majesty is a very gentle man and will not force you.

Besides, as Catholics, it doesn't really matter whether you convert or not. After all, there are mostly Orthodox Christians in the empire. Even if you convert, it probably won't have any propaganda effect. "

Anna asked the other party gently, she liked these two girls very much.

Maybe they were Polish princesses in the past and were loved by everyone, but now they are just two little girls who have lost their country and their father.

Anna remembered that on the first night, she had clearly agreed that the two girls would take care of her, but the two fell asleep first and were so frightened by the nightmare that they were covered in cold sweat. In turn, they asked her to take care of her for a while.

"Of course I have to change my faith. His Highness has been so kind to Isabella and I. Whatever His Highness believes, we will believe. I believe Isabella has the same idea as me."

The girl clenched her little fists and said firmly.

"Besides, what's the benefit of being Catholic? The Austrians are Catholics just like us, and we helped them, but the result? It's simply ungrateful."

The girl said angrily. As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly thought that the help she said was to fight against her current country, and then she stuck out her tongue and expressed her apology.

Anna couldn't help but smile.

"Okay, okay, be careful in the future and don't talk nonsense.

Especially when you follow me into the palace in the future, Your Majesty is indeed very gentle, but other people may not be like that, especially those who look smiling, these people are poisonous snakes.

You are even more unpopular because you are Polish. Also, do not conflict with the white eunuchs in Topkapi Palace.

Especially the white eunuch named Paul next to His Majesty. Although he is not the palace manager, Your Majesty trusts him quite a lot. "

The girl nodded heavily.

"I understand, Your Highness."

"Well, then go to bed quickly. We have to go to the Aya Sophia Mosque tomorrow. Conversion is a big deal.

As for your sister, I will send a servant to look for her, and if I find her, I will ask her to come back quickly. "

"Uh-huh."

The girl responded obediently and walked outside.

She opened the drawer and took out a piece of letter paper, which was given to her by Uncle August, her father's last letter.

Dear Ludovica:

By the time you read this letter, I should have left this world. I'm sorry, I'm not qualified to do anything, whether it's a king or a father.

As king, I failed to lead Poland to strength again, but instead led her to destruction.

As a father, I have ignored your feelings all year round in pursuit of a male heir.

I'm sorry, but even at this moment, the news I have for you is still not good.

Don't hold hatred in your heart, follow Poniatowski, as your brother, he will take care of you.

Don't worry about the treaty signed by the ambassador and the Ottoman Sultan. You and Isabella are girls, and the restoration of the country should not rely on you.

Live well, live this life well, that's enough.

love you

Stanislaw Antoni Poniatowski

The moment she saw the word "Antony", Ludovica shed tears again. This was her father's real name. He originally ascended the throne with the desire to revive Poland, but ultimately failed.

Perhaps at the last moment of his life, he was thinking about what Poland would be like now if he had not chosen to participate in the election, and whether he would have a harmonious family.

So how could she not be serious about this.

His country fell, and his father spent his life planting bombs in order to take revenge.

According to the news from Uncle August, the King of Prussia was so angry about this that he was not even willing to comply with his father's last wish to bury him in the Krakow church. Instead, he buried his father under an unknown lone pine.

This is exactly why she chose to bring her sister here. The Poles do not have a political force they can rely on, so she will be this force.

She was confident in her beauty, even though the Sultan made her a maid without even seeing her.

But she still has a chance to enter the palace, which is enough. She will let the Sultan notice her. If she succeeds, this will be the most powerful help for her on the road to recovery.

Thank you to Zhuge Ruosu, the monthly ticket sponsor, for your monthly tickets, and thank you to panzer5 and the birch tree under the sunset for your monthly tickets.