Part - 2
And the next story is as follows, — Akylzhan continued. — A man had three sons. All of them fell in love with the same girl from their village, and each of them wanted to marry her. To prevent a quarrel from breaking out, the father gave each son a thousand gold coins and said, “Whoever brings the most valuable thing will marry the girl.”
The brothers took the money and set off on their journey. The eldest bought a carpet that could cover the forty-day journey in just one day. The middle brother bought a stone mirror that showed all four corners of the world. And the youngest brother obtained a magical apple that could bring the dying back to life.
As they were returning, the eldest brother said to the middle one, “Let’s see our village in your mirror!” They looked into the mirror and saw: everyone was alive and well, except their beloved girl, who was on her deathbed, surrounded by weeping people. Without delay, the brothers got on the carpet and flew back to their native village. And indeed, the girl was dying.
Then the youngest brother gave her a bite of the healing apple. The girl immediately opened her eyes.
Again, the three brothers argued — each believed that he had saved the girl and that he should marry her. The people said to them, “The girl should marry the one who bought the mirror: he was the first to see what happened to her...”
— Now you tell us your fair word: who should the girl marry? — Akylzhan turned to Zhannat.
Zhannat spoke.
— She should marry the one who gave her the apple!
And once again, the khan's bell rang, announcing that Zhannat had spoken for the second time.
And Akylzhan began her third story.
— Once, three people were walking down the road — a cunning trickster, a strong hero, and a swift runner who could outrun the wind. They reached a village and learned that the parents were forcing their daughter to marry someone she did not love. The girl was crying bitterly and begging for pity.
Then the travelers decided to help the girl.
“I will take her away,” said the trickster.
He climbed into an empty house, dressed in women’s clothing, and then came to the girl and cleverly led her outside. At that moment, the swift runner, who could outrun the wind, scooped up the girl and sped away with her. The groom's relatives chased after them, but the strong hero blocked their path and forced them to turn back.
When the travelers returned to their village, they began to argue among themselves about who the girl should marry. To resolve the dispute, they went to the elders. And they said:
“Let the girl marry the trickster.”
— And what do you think about this? — Akylzhan asked Zhannat.
And she replied:
— No, that is wrong; she should marry the swift runner who can outrun the wind.
And for the third time, the khan's bell rang, announcing that the young man had made Zhannat speak three times in a row. And, according to the well-known promise, Zhannat was to marry this young man.
Akylzhan did not reveal her secret to Zhannat and said to her:
— Before marrying you, I want to see your city!
Zhannat agreed.
Akylzhan mounted her horse and rode through the city — searching for Meentbek. Soon, on the outskirts of the city, she met Meentbek. He was tending calves. Meentbek was completely covered in hair, had scabs all over, his nails were long and dirty, and his clothes were tattered. Akylzhan looked at him and asked:
— Do you still want to marry the khan's daughter Zhannat?
— Yes, — Meentbek replied.
Then Akylzhan told him to bathe and put on her clothes. After changing, Meentbek looked like Akylzhan.
— You now look like me, and therefore Zhannat will marry you, — said Akylzhan. — Go and do not forget my kindness, — added the girl and rode home.
Meentbek married Zhannat and returned to his native city with glory and honors. The old khan rejoiced at his son's return and decided to pass his khanate to him. They arranged a grand celebration — a feast. Akylzhan also attended the feast. But ungrateful Meentbek, as soon as he saw her, shouted:
— Let her leave this place, drive her away!
Then Akylzhan approached the old khan.
— My khan, — she said, — I have a request for you. I want to ask your son two questions. If you allow me, I will speak before all the people, and you listen!
The khan agreed and gathered all the people — both old and young. Zhannat was there too, and Akylzhan asked Meentbek:
— Tell us, what word did you use to make Zhannat speak? Tell us, whom did you meet while tending the calves?
The khan's son Meentbek did not want to tell the truth and answered:
— I made Zhannat speak myself, I never tended calves, I met no one!
At this, Akylzhan became angry and said:
— To the ungrateful, even good is of no use. Then tell me, whose tattered clothing is this?
And with these words, the girl pulled out from her saddlebag the torn, dirty clothes of Meentbek and told the people how she made Zhannat speak.
At this, Zhannat became very angry.
— I do not want to be the wife of Meentbek! — she shouted angrily.
And the khan also became very angry with his son. He marveled at Akylzhan's wisdom and passed his khanate to her. And Zhannat became the vizier of Akylzhan.
And from that time, the saying went: “Wisdom can elevate one even to the moon.”
The Tale of Wise Akylzhan. Part - 1