One khan had three horses. Khan loved them very much and trusted no one except one of his most devoted slaves. Only from the hands of this slave did he receive one of the horses before the walk and, returning, again gave it into his hands.
Once, in a conversation with the viziers, the khan praised the slave.
“The groom who works for me,” said the khan, “and most importantly, he’s honest, he never lies, no matter what happens.” The viziers did not like the khan’s words.
- Eh, don’t rush with praise, takhsyr! There is no such poor person who does not know how to lie. Apparently, your slave never had such an opportunity that he was forced to lie.
“Why slander a good man in vain,” the hai vizier shamed. “I’m sure that even if my groom dies, he won’t lie.” I believe in him as in myself.
Then the senior vizier says to the khan:
- My takhsyr! What will you give me as a reward if I make your slave lie?
“If my slave lies,” the khan answered him, “I will give you the throne of the khan.” But if you mess up, don’t blow your head off.
The vizier was delighted and set himself a deadline - four days.
The senior vizier had three beautiful daughters. Their beauty could not be compared with either the sun or the month.
The vizier came home and called his daughters to him. “My children,” he told them. “I argued with the khan himself.” I assured him that I would force the groom to lie to his master. If I could do this, then, with the help of Allah, I would become khan. Or death awaits me.
The daughters began to think: how to help their father, how to force the groom to lie to the khan?
The vizier again addresses his daughters:
“I see, my children, you are ready to help your parent.” And this is not difficult to do. I've already figured out what to do.
“We are listening to you, father,” the girls said and moved closer to the vizier.
- If so, then here is my advice to you. From today, each of you will take turns going to the groom when he grazes the horses at night, and will stay with him until dawn. Before leaving, he will ask how to thank you for your visit? You will ask for the head of one of the horses as a reward. The slave will not dare to refuse your request, and thus, when all three horses are killed, the groom will not dare to tell the khan such a truth and will be forced to lie.
The girls agreed with their father's decision.
On the first day, the eldest daughter went to the slave. She put on her best clothes and became as beautiful as a peri. The groom saw her and was confused, unable to utter a word from delight. Never before had such a beauty approached him. Finally the groom came to his senses:
- Oh khanum! Have a nice trip!
The vizier's daughter smiled and said affectionately:
“I came here to share this night with you.” I am the daughter of the chief vizier. I have no end to the sons of beks, khans and viziers. But I don't like any of them. I prefer your love forever for one night.
- Oh khanum! — the slave completely lost his head with joy. “You did the right thing by coming to me.”
The girl remained with the groom until the morning. When she was getting ready to go home, the slave asked her:
— Khanim, what will be your farewell request?
— I would like to get the head of one of the horses.
Without thinking for a long time, the groom knocked down the horse with one blow, cut off his head and presented it to the girl. The girl took the horse's head and slowly went home.
In the evening the vizier's middle daughter appeared at the pasture. She was as gentle as an angel, and the groom was very glad to see her. She stayed with the slave all night, and in the morning, like her sister, she received the head of a horse as a token of gratitude.
On the third day, the vizier’s youngest daughter went to the groom and returned in the morning with the head of a horse.
For three days the poor slave could not muster the courage to tell the khan about what had happened. Finally he made up his mind and came to the palace. The Khan was not in his usual place, and the groom put his hat on the throne. For a moment he imagined the hat as a khan, walked away to the door and returned to the throne.
-Where have you been for three whole days? Why didn’t you report to me how my favorite horses were feeling?..” the imaginary khan asked the groom.
- Oh my takhsir! “Your horses are healthy, fed and washed,” the slave answered mentally and was ashamed of his words.
He walked out the door and returned to the throne again.
- Why were you gone for three days? How are my horses doing? - the imaginary khan asked again.
Then the slave:
- Oh takhsir! The horses are very sick and have not taken food for three days.
And again the slave was ashamed of his words, shook his head and left the hall.
Again and again the groom approached the imaginary khan and again condemned himself for lying. Finally - come what may! — he decided to tell the khan the whole truth. He came to the khan's horde, where the khan usually conferred with his viziers and beks.
- Hey, where have you been these three days? - the khan shouted, seeing the groom. “Did something happen to my favorite horses?”
And the slave answered:
- Oh my takhsir! Here's my head. If you want to take it off, I'm ready. You don't have any more horses.
And the slave told the khan everything, without hiding anything.
Khan was very upset when he learned about the death of his beloved horses. For a long time he could not utter a word, then he turned to the chief vizier who was sitting next to him. The vizier began to cry and fell at the khan’s feet, begging him for mercy. But the khan was inexorable. He called the executioners and ordered the vizier's head to be cut off. And in his place he appointed a groom slave.
Thus the slave achieved happiness through his honesty.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru