Chapter 472: The Great Army Heads West (7)
If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again
Two people walked hand in hand toward Li Ping's tent. Mother and son met and there were more tears of happiness.
Several days later Genghis Khan summoned Guo Jing, "I have heard your conducts and deeds from Tuolei. You keep your words and have an upright heart, I like that very much. Just wait several more days, I am going to give you my daughter's hand in marriage."
Guo Jing was startled, he thought, "Right now I don't even know if Rong'er is dead or alive. How can I marry someone else?" Seeing Genghis Khan's imposing appearance, although he wanted to disobey, he stammered and nothing intelligible came out of his mouth. Genghis Khan misunderstood his behavior; he thought Guo Jing was ecstatic that he turned silly. Immediately Genghis Khan prepared a dowry for Guo Jing: one thousand maidservants, one hundred catties of gold, five hundred cows, two thousand sheep, plus he was told to prepare his own wedding and take anything he needed from Khan's treasury.
Huazheng was Genghis Khan's only daughter from his first wife; she was her father's beloved since she was very little. By that time Genghis Khan's power had already spread throughout the Mongolian desert, he had subdued many other Khans; who, upon hearing their Great Khan was going to give his daughter's hand in marriage, immediately sent precious gifts in abundance. Not too long afterwards, more than a dozen big tents were needed to store all the gifts.
Princess Huazheng was so happy that she could not erase the smile from her face; Guo Jing, on the other hand, looked so haggard, his mind was filled with anxiety. He was often caught looking blankly to a far away place with a dejected look on his face.
Li Ping noticed her son's countenance was unusual, one evening she asked Guo Jing point blankly inside their tent. Guo Jing recounted everything about Huang Rong, from the day they met until they parted a few months ago. Li Ping listened attentively; she was silent for half a day.
"Ma [Mother]," Guo Jing asked, "Your son is in a difficult situation, I don't know how to manage this."
"Great Khan has shown profound kindness to us, how can we forget it?" Li Ping answered, "But that Rong'er, that Rong'er, ay! Even though I have never met her, I believe she is an adorable girl."
"Ma," Guo Jing suddenly said, "If Father were in this situation, how would he act?"
This question was unexpected to Li Ping; she was silent for half a day; remembering her late husband's personality; and then with conviction in her voice said, "Your father would rather suffer a hardship than offending other people."
Guo Jing stood up, with a quivering voice he said, "Even though this son of yours has never seen his father, I should follow my father's footsteps. If Rong'er is safe, your son will honor my promise to marry Princess Huazheng; but if Rong'er faced calamity, your son will not marry for as long as I live."
Li Ping thought, "That is a proper thing to do, but how can I let you be the last descendant of the Guo family? Nevertheless, this child is the same as his father, both were stubborn. Once they made a decision what other people say would be useless." Thereupon she asked, "How are you going to report to the Great Khan?"
"I will tell the Great Khan the truth," Guo Jing answered.
Li Ping was willing to support her son's intention. "Good," she said, "We can't put this off much longer. Go ahead and say thank you to the Great Khan, we, mother and son, will leave for the south even today." Guo Jing nodded his approval.
That very same evening mother and son prepared their bags. Other than a few changes of clothes and some silvers, they left the Great Khan's gifts in the tent.
As soon as they were finished Guo Jing said, "I am going to take my leave from the Princess."
Li Ping hesitated, "How can you tell her? We'd better leave quietly, spare her the heartache," she said.
"No," Guo Jing said, "I will personally tell her." Leaving his tent, he walked towards Huazheng's tent.
Huazheng and her mother lived in a big tent; they were busy discussing the wedding preparation. Suddenly Huazheng heard Guo Jing's voice calling her from outside the tent. She was blushing, "Ma!" she said.
Her mother smiled, "You are going to get married in a few days, yet you cannot bear not to see each other for just a day. All right, you may go."
Huazheng smiled and walked out the tent. "Guo Jing Gege [big brother]," she called.
"Meizi [younger sister], I have something I need to tell you," Guo Jing said. He led her walking to the west. Two people walked several li's into the prairie, far from the big camp, and sat side by side on the grass.
Huazheng leaned against Guo Jing's body. Lowering her head she said, "Jing Gege, I also have something I want to tell you."
Guo Jing was slightly startled, "Ah! So you know already?" he said. He thought it would be better for her to find out, since he did not know where to start.
"Know what?" Huazheng was confused, "I wanted to tell you that I am not the Great Khan's daughter."
"What?" Guo Jing was surprised.
Huazheng lifted up her eyes toward the crescent moon on the horizon, she slowly said, "After I am married to you, I will forget that I am the Great Khan's daughter, I am only Guo Jing's wife. If you want to beat me or scold me, go ahead and do it. Don't think that because my father is the Great Khan you have to submit to me."
Guo Jing felt a mixture of bitter-sweet and warm and fuzzy feeling in his heart, he said, "Meizi, you treated me very well. It's a pity I don't deserve to have you."
"What do you mean you don't deserve me?" Huazheng countered, "You are the kindest man in the world, except for my father, nobody is better than you. Even my four elder brothers don't hold a candle compared to you."
Guo Jing was silent for a long time; he was going to leave Mongolia for the south early in the morning the next day, yet he did not know how to tell her.
Huazheng continued, "These past several days I have been so happy. I remember that time when I heard you had died I was going to die with you. Lucky for me Brother Tuolei snatched the dagger from my hand; otherwise how can I marry you now? Guo Jing Gege, I'd rather die than not being your wife."
Guo Jing silently thought, "Rong'er won't talk to me like this; but both of them are very kind to me." Thinking about Huang Rong he could not help letting out a long sigh.
"Uh, why did you sigh?" Huazheng wondered.
"It was nothing," Guo Jing reluctantly said.
Huazheng said, "Hmm, my first brother and second brother didn't like you, but my third brother and fourth brother are very fond of you. I have told my father frankly that the first brother and second brother are not good, third brother and fourth brother are good, so you don't have to worry."
"Why would I worry?" Guo Jing wondered.
Huazheng was very proud of herself, "I heard mother said that since Father is getting older, he wants to appoint the Khan's Crown Prince. Can you guess who will be chosen?"
"Naturally your first brother, Jochi. Not only he is the oldest, but has rendered most service as well," Guo Jing said.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Two people walked hand in hand toward Li Ping's tent. Mother and son met and there were more tears of happiness.
Several days later Genghis Khan summoned Guo Jing, "I have heard your conducts and deeds from Tuolei. You keep your words and have an upright heart, I like that very much. Just wait several more days, I am going to give you my daughter's hand in marriage."
Guo Jing was startled, he thought, "Right now I don't even know if Rong'er is dead or alive. How can I marry someone else?" Seeing Genghis Khan's imposing appearance, although he wanted to disobey, he stammered and nothing intelligible came out of his mouth. Genghis Khan misunderstood his behavior; he thought Guo Jing was ecstatic that he turned silly. Immediately Genghis Khan prepared a dowry for Guo Jing: one thousand maidservants, one hundred catties of gold, five hundred cows, two thousand sheep, plus he was told to prepare his own wedding and take anything he needed from Khan's treasury.
Huazheng was Genghis Khan's only daughter from his first wife; she was her father's beloved since she was very little. By that time Genghis Khan's power had already spread throughout the Mongolian desert, he had subdued many other Khans; who, upon hearing their Great Khan was going to give his daughter's hand in marriage, immediately sent precious gifts in abundance. Not too long afterwards, more than a dozen big tents were needed to store all the gifts.
Princess Huazheng was so happy that she could not erase the smile from her face; Guo Jing, on the other hand, looked so haggard, his mind was filled with anxiety. He was often caught looking blankly to a far away place with a dejected look on his face.
Li Ping noticed her son's countenance was unusual, one evening she asked Guo Jing point blankly inside their tent. Guo Jing recounted everything about Huang Rong, from the day they met until they parted a few months ago. Li Ping listened attentively; she was silent for half a day.
"Ma [Mother]," Guo Jing asked, "Your son is in a difficult situation, I don't know how to manage this."
"Great Khan has shown profound kindness to us, how can we forget it?" Li Ping answered, "But that Rong'er, that Rong'er, ay! Even though I have never met her, I believe she is an adorable girl."
"Ma," Guo Jing suddenly said, "If Father were in this situation, how would he act?"
This question was unexpected to Li Ping; she was silent for half a day; remembering her late husband's personality; and then with conviction in her voice said, "Your father would rather suffer a hardship than offending other people."
Guo Jing stood up, with a quivering voice he said, "Even though this son of yours has never seen his father, I should follow my father's footsteps. If Rong'er is safe, your son will honor my promise to marry Princess Huazheng; but if Rong'er faced calamity, your son will not marry for as long as I live."
Li Ping thought, "That is a proper thing to do, but how can I let you be the last descendant of the Guo family? Nevertheless, this child is the same as his father, both were stubborn. Once they made a decision what other people say would be useless." Thereupon she asked, "How are you going to report to the Great Khan?"
"I will tell the Great Khan the truth," Guo Jing answered.
Li Ping was willing to support her son's intention. "Good," she said, "We can't put this off much longer. Go ahead and say thank you to the Great Khan, we, mother and son, will leave for the south even today." Guo Jing nodded his approval.
That very same evening mother and son prepared their bags. Other than a few changes of clothes and some silvers, they left the Great Khan's gifts in the tent.
As soon as they were finished Guo Jing said, "I am going to take my leave from the Princess."
Li Ping hesitated, "How can you tell her? We'd better leave quietly, spare her the heartache," she said.
"No," Guo Jing said, "I will personally tell her." Leaving his tent, he walked towards Huazheng's tent.
Huazheng and her mother lived in a big tent; they were busy discussing the wedding preparation. Suddenly Huazheng heard Guo Jing's voice calling her from outside the tent. She was blushing, "Ma!" she said.
Her mother smiled, "You are going to get married in a few days, yet you cannot bear not to see each other for just a day. All right, you may go."
Huazheng smiled and walked out the tent. "Guo Jing Gege [big brother]," she called.
"Meizi [younger sister], I have something I need to tell you," Guo Jing said. He led her walking to the west. Two people walked several li's into the prairie, far from the big camp, and sat side by side on the grass.
Huazheng leaned against Guo Jing's body. Lowering her head she said, "Jing Gege, I also have something I want to tell you."
Guo Jing was slightly startled, "Ah! So you know already?" he said. He thought it would be better for her to find out, since he did not know where to start.
"Know what?" Huazheng was confused, "I wanted to tell you that I am not the Great Khan's daughter."
"What?" Guo Jing was surprised.
Huazheng lifted up her eyes toward the crescent moon on the horizon, she slowly said, "After I am married to you, I will forget that I am the Great Khan's daughter, I am only Guo Jing's wife. If you want to beat me or scold me, go ahead and do it. Don't think that because my father is the Great Khan you have to submit to me."
Guo Jing felt a mixture of bitter-sweet and warm and fuzzy feeling in his heart, he said, "Meizi, you treated me very well. It's a pity I don't deserve to have you."
"What do you mean you don't deserve me?" Huazheng countered, "You are the kindest man in the world, except for my father, nobody is better than you. Even my four elder brothers don't hold a candle compared to you."
Guo Jing was silent for a long time; he was going to leave Mongolia for the south early in the morning the next day, yet he did not know how to tell her.
Huazheng continued, "These past several days I have been so happy. I remember that time when I heard you had died I was going to die with you. Lucky for me Brother Tuolei snatched the dagger from my hand; otherwise how can I marry you now? Guo Jing Gege, I'd rather die than not being your wife."
Guo Jing silently thought, "Rong'er won't talk to me like this; but both of them are very kind to me." Thinking about Huang Rong he could not help letting out a long sigh.
"Uh, why did you sigh?" Huazheng wondered.
"It was nothing," Guo Jing reluctantly said.
Huazheng said, "Hmm, my first brother and second brother didn't like you, but my third brother and fourth brother are very fond of you. I have told my father frankly that the first brother and second brother are not good, third brother and fourth brother are good, so you don't have to worry."
"Why would I worry?" Guo Jing wondered.
Huazheng was very proud of herself, "I heard mother said that since Father is getting older, he wants to appoint the Khan's Crown Prince. Can you guess who will be chosen?"
"Naturally your first brother, Jochi. Not only he is the oldest, but has rendered most service as well," Guo Jing said.
Two people walked hand in hand toward Li Ping's tent. Mother and son met and there were more tears of happiness.Several days later Genghis Khan summoned Guo Jing, "I have heard your conducts and deeds from Tuolei. You keep your words and have an upright heart, I like that very much. Just wait several more days, I am going to give you my daughter's hand in marriage."Guo Jing was startled, he thought, "Right now I don't even know if Rong'er is dead or alive. How can I marry someone else?" Seeing Genghis Khan's imposing appearance, although he wanted to disobey, he stammered and nothing intelligible came out of his mouth. Genghis Khan misunderstood his behavior; he thought Guo Jing was ecstatic that he turned silly. Immediately Genghis Khan prepared a dowry for Guo Jing: one thousand maidservants, one hundred catties of gold, five hundred cows, two thousand sheep, plus he was told to prepare his own wedding and take anything he needed from Khan's treasury.Huazheng was Genghis Khan's only daughter from his first wife; she was her father's beloved since she was very little. By that time Genghis Khan's power had already spread throughout the Mongolian desert, he had subdued many other Khans; who, upon hearing their Great Khan was going to give his daughter's hand in marriage, immediately sent precious gifts in abundance. Not too long afterwards, more than a dozen big tents were needed to store all the gifts.Princess Huazheng was so happy that she could not erase the smile from her face; Guo Jing, on the other hand, looked so haggard, his mind was filled with anxiety. He was often caught looking blankly to a far away place with a dejected look on his face.Li Ping noticed her son's countenance was unusual, one evening she asked Guo Jing point blankly inside their tent. Guo Jing recounted everything about Huang Rong, from the day they met until they parted a few months ago. Li Ping listened attentively; she was silent for half a day."Ma Mother," Guo Jing asked, "Your son is in a difficult situation, I don't know how to manage this.""Great Khan has shown profound kindness to us, how can we forget it?" Li Ping answered, "But that Rong'er, that Rong'er, ay! Even though I have never met her, I believe she is an adorable girl.""Ma," Guo Jing suddenly said, "If Father were in this situation, how would he act?"This question was unexpected to Li Ping; she was silent for half a day; remembering her late husband's personality; and then with conviction in her voice said, "Your father would rather suffer a hardship than offending other people."Guo Jing stood up, with a quivering voice he said, "Even though this son of yours has never seen his father, I should follow my father's footsteps. If Rong'er is safe, your son will honor my promise to marry Princess Huazheng; but if Rong'er faced calamity, your son will not marry for as long as I live."Li Ping thought, "That is a proper thing to do, but how can I let you be the last descendant of the Guo family? Nevertheless, this child is the same as his father, both were stubborn. Once they made a decision what other people say would be useless." Thereupon she asked, "How are you going to report to the Great Khan?""I will tell the Great Khan the truth," Guo Jing answered.Li Ping was willing to support her son's intention. "Good," she said, "We can't put this off much longer. Go ahead and say thank you to the Great Khan, we, mother and son, will leave for the south even today." Guo Jing nodded his approval.That very same evening mother and son prepared their bags. Other than a few changes of clothes and some silvers, they left the Great Khan's gifts in the tent.As soon as they were finished Guo Jing said, "I am going to take my leave from the Princess."Li Ping hesitated, "How can you tell her? We'd better leave quietly, spare her the heartache," she said."No," Guo Jing said, "I will personally tell her." Leaving his tent, he walked towards Huazheng's tent.Huazheng and her mother lived in a big tent; they were busy discussing the wedding preparation. Suddenly Huazheng heard Guo Jing's voice calling her from outside the tent. She was blushing, "Ma!" she said.Her mother smiled, "You are going to get married in a few days, yet you cannot bear not to see each other for just a day. All right, you may go."Huazheng smiled and walked out the tent. "Guo Jing Gege big brother," she called."Meizi younger sister, I have something I need to tell you," Guo Jing said. He led her walking to the west. Two people walked several li's into the prairie, far from the big camp, and sat side by side on the grass.Huazheng leaned against Guo Jing's body. Lowering her head she said, "Jing Gege, I also have something I want to tell you."Guo Jing was slightly startled, "Ah! So you know already?" he said. He thought it would be better for her to find out, since he did not know where to start."Know what?" Huazheng was confused, "I wanted to tell you that I am not the Great Khan's daughter.""What?" Guo Jing was surprised.Huazheng lifted up her eyes toward the crescent moon on the horizon, she slowly said, "After I am married to you, I will forget that I am the Great Khan's daughter, I am only Guo Jing's wife. If you want to beat me or scold me, go ahead and do it. Don't think that because my father is the Great Khan you have to submit to me."Guo Jing felt a mixture of bitter-sweet and warm and fuzzy feeling in his heart, he said, "Meizi, you treated me very well. It's a pity I don't deserve to have you.""What do you mean you don't deserve me?" Huazheng countered, "You are the kindest man in the world, except for my father, nobody is better than you. Even my four elder brothers don't hold a candle compared to you."Guo Jing was silent for a long time; he was going to leave Mongolia for the south early in the morning the next day, yet he did not know how to tell her.Huazheng continued, "These past several days I have been so happy. I remember that time when I heard you had died I was going to die with you. Lucky for me Brother Tuolei snatched the dagger from my hand; otherwise how can I marry you now? Guo Jing Gege, I'd rather die than not being your wife."Guo Jing silently thought, "Rong'er won't talk to me like this; but both of them are very kind to me." Thinking about Huang Rong he could not help letting out a long sigh."Uh, why did you sigh?" Huazheng wondered."It was nothing," Guo Jing reluctantly said.Huazheng said, "Hmm, my first brother and second brother didn't like you, but my third brother and fourth brother are very fond of you. I have told my father frankly that the first brother and second brother are not good, third brother and fourth brother are good, so you don't have to worry.""Why would I worry?" Guo Jing wondered.Huazheng was very proud of herself, "I heard mother said that since Father is getting older, he wants to appoint the Khan's Crown Prince. Can you guess who will be chosen?""Naturally your first brother, Jochi. Not only he is the oldest, but has rendered most service as well," Guo Jing said.
