Once upon a time there lived two khans. One of them had a son, the other a daughter. One began to marry the daughter of another to his son. But the other khan said: “No man has ever touched my daughter.” If your son can do this within a year, then I will marry her. If he fails, then I will take half of your possessions. Khan agreed, but was greatly saddened. His son saw this and asked: “O beloved father!” What happened to you? Won't you tell me about your grief? And the khan told him what a stupid argument he had started and what all this meant. “Sadness can’t help grief,” said the son. “Since this has happened, we need to do something.” Meanwhile, the girl’s father placed his daughter in a dungeon, and nukers guarded her day and night. The Khan’s son thought for a long time about how to get to the girl, but he couldn’t figure it out. One day he met a traveling musician. - Why are you so sad, good fellow? - asked the musician. And the khan’s son told him about his worries. “Don’t worry,” said the musician, “your grief can be helped.” Listen to me carefully. I'll make a big music box. It will play very well, and Khan will definitely buy it for his daughter. All you have to do is climb into the box. - How will I get back? “You spoil something in the box, and then they’ll bring it to me to fix.” Soon the box was ready, and the musician with difficulty dragged it to the Khan's palace. The khan liked the music and wanted to buy a strange box. — What is the price of this thing? - the khan asked carelessly. “You can’t afford it,” answered the musician, pretending that he did not recognize the khan. “Don’t worry about the price, it’s my business.” I'll pay whatever you want. “Then give me a thousand tomans,” said the musician. The Khan ordered the treasurer to bring out a thousand tomans and immediately paid. And so the box was brought to the khan’s daughter in the dungeon. The girl was very happy and listened to music for a long time. And at night, when everyone in the palace was sleeping, the lid of the box opened and a handsome young man came out. - Who are you? — the khan’s daughter whispered in fear. “I am the one who, by the will of heaven, is determined to be your husband,” answered the young man. “Do not be afraid of me.” His modesty and beauty struck the girl, and she fell in love at first sight. They spent some time together, and then the young man ruined the mechanism and again hid in the box. The Khan's daughter demanded that her favorite toy be repaired immediately, and the servants took the box to the musician. There the young man got out of the palace. Meanwhile, exactly a year had passed since the conclusion of the dispute, and the two khans met on the divan. - Well, khan, did you manage to protect your daughter from the touch of a man? - asked the judge. “Undoubtedly,” answered the khan. “After all, I kept her in the dungeon, and no one entered there.” “Is it possible to ask your daughter to bring her ring, which she never takes off,” asked the young man’s father. “Call your daughter,” the khan ordered. She came, but could not show the ring, but only blushed. - Give me the ring! - the father shouted impatiently. “Here it is, the ring,” said the khan’s son, showed the girl’s gift and told everything that happened. The girl’s father realized that he had lost the argument and ordered her to prepare for the wedding.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru