章 16: Mandukhai crisis
At the break of dawn, Jegei woke up and began to get ready for the day ahead, leaving his wife and four-year-old son sleeping in the bed.
His wife, in her twenties, woke up as he slowly dressed in his leather armor. She reminded him gently to have breakfast before he left.
Jegei then kissed her forehead and glanced at his little boy. He said he needed to manage the daily duties of the prisoners so that his lord, Dorj, would be satisfied with the increased steel production.
After Jegei has become Minister Dorj's bodyguard, he usually conducts miscellaneous work such as notifying a person or delivering items to him. But for others, Jegei is the only person who can deliver their word to Minister Dorj. Therefore, people listen to Jegei's words as if Minister Dorj is present.
The snowstorm that happened last night has left a fresh chilling breeze of air lingering around.
Jegei requested 20 men to bring back hunted deer meat from the warehouse for the prisoners to enjoy for their morning meal. The men had been gradually regaining the weight they had lost while working in the mines, and Minister Dorj had allowed them a 30-minute break every three hours to ward off the cold.
Jegei had concluded his duties for the prisoners and made his way to the ger of his master, Dorj.
"My lord, are you awake?" knocked Jegei the ger.
"Jegei please come in. I am awake," replied Dorj.
When Jegei stepped into the ger, he saw Minister Dorj, wearing his belt and almost ready for his duties.
Bowing, Jegei asked, "My lord, did you have a restful sleep? The prisoners have begun their daily tasks."
"Well done, Jegei. But by the way, are you aware of what happened yesterday in my ger?" questioned Dorj, his eyes fixed on him.
"My lord, I do not comprehend what you mean." Jegei was taken aback and asked.
"After the Khuraldai yesterday, I had a meeting with General Subeedei. When I arrived back home, Zuchi khankhuu was waiting for me. Then he locked me in my ger with his sister in law." he elaborated, his gaze never leaving Jegei's face. Seeing
Musing to himself, Dorj thought, 'If it had not been Zuchi khankhuu, I might not be alive at this point. Ever since I have been a Minister, Minister Khoorchi has warned me to be careful.'
"My apologies, my lord. Shall I appoint two guards from the prisoners to watch your ger while you are away?" Jegei then knelt in front of Dorj.
"Yes please proceed." replied Dorj.
"Is Minister Dorj inside? A khuraldai is scheduled. Lord Temuujin has summoned you" a messenger shouted from outside.
Jegei has bowed to his master and opened the door to the ger.
Dorj has left his ger and greeted the messenger. "Yes, I am present. At what time os the khuraldai scheduled?" asked Minister Dorj from the messenger.
"Your presence is required immeddiately." said the messenger and guided Minister Dorj to the ger of Temuujin.
While he was walking towards Temuujin's ger, dozens of new carts loaded full of materials are to be seen.
People with Western Xia clothes are working to unload the materials and arranging their settlement.
"Jegei, did anything happen this morning?" asked Dorj.
'Did the Western Xia noble Yelu Bukai arrive at Temuujin's settlement to join hands? This should be the case why Temuujin has summoned me to the khuraldai.' thought Dorj inwardly.
The girl he met yesterday Mandukhai would become the bride of the noble Yelu Bukai by the decree of lord Temuujin.The matter is no longer a problem for him. Hence, Dorj is no longer worrying about marrying a stranger.
When Dorj has entered lord Temuujin's ger, he found himself surrounded by four guards who push him down on his knees.
In the ger, lord Temuujin and his two sons Zuchi, Tsagadai, four generals Subeedei, Mukhulai, Boorchi, and Jelme is present.
"What are you doing? Don't you know he is Minister Dorj?" shouted Jegei from behind, outside the ger.
"You traitor, didn't my father Temuujin treat you well and appointed you as a minister, yet you have treasoned and you helped the escape of the girl who is decreed to be bethrothed to Yelu Bukai yesterday!" a roar could be heard.
When Jegei has seen the spoken person, it was Tsagadai khankhuu and he couldn't say a word anymore and he remained silent.
'What? That girl Mandukhai has escaped? And why does it relate to me?' Dorj is surprised.
"Tsagadai, let's hear Minister Dorj's words first. We can conclude what happened after we hear his words." Zuchi Khankhuu protects Dorj and eased the tension.
Upon hearing Zuchi' suggestion, lord Temuujin stroked his black beard and asked.
"Dorj, did you help Mandukhai to escape yesterday? There are witnesses who claim that Mandukhai has stayed overnight with you." Lord Temuujin asked with a stern gaze.
"My lord, I had a conversation with the Mandukhai yesterday, indeed. But she left my ger not long after she was introduced to me" replied Dorj.
"He is lying. He testified that he was with the girl yesterday, yet if he didn't help her to escape, then how far can a young girl go alone amidst the snowstorn?" Tsagadai khankhuu barged the conversation.
"Tsagadai khankhuu, I didn't lie. If you think that it was me who let Mandukhai escape, then where is your proof?" rebuted Dorj and looked at Tsagadai with angry eyes.
'I may be young, but if someone accuses me of something I didn't do, I shall not remain silent?' thought Dorj.
Upon seeing Dorj to be held down by the guards and being accused of a treason, Zuchi khankhuu couldn't help but blame himself for introducing Mandukhai to him.
"Dorj, you are the last person who has seen the girl, therefore you are the biggest suspect. If you want to clarify your name and honor, how about you find and bring her back?" suggested General Subeedei.
"Yes, it is a good idea for Minister Dorj to bring back the girl, my lord. It's an opportunity to clear his name" seconded Mukhulai.
Lord Temuujin pondered for a while and decreed.
"Dorj, for you to be the suspect of helping Mandukhai to escape and treason my decree, I am decreeing you to bring Mandukhai back here and clear your name."
The four guards who were pushing down Minister Dorj loosened their grip and set him free.
'I am innocent, yet I have a task to bring a girl back to clear my name? There must be someone who is plotting against me in my back'thought Dorj and felt the injustice while looking towards Tsagadai khankhuu.
"Dorj, hurry up and accept the decree." reminded General Subeedei.
"I accept the khan's decree." bowed Dorj and left the khuraldai.
To find Mandukhai, he must find where she has gone. But he doesn't know anything about her. So how can he possibly know where she has gone.
When the khuraldai has concluded, Dorj has headed with Zuchi khankhuu to his ger accompanied with Zuchi's four bodyguards and Jegei.
"Dorj it was my fault for dragging you in this issue. I apologize as your friend" said Zuchi khankhuu.
Dorj took a deep breath and sighed.
"Don't worry. This happened already, we can't change the past." replied Dorj and patted on the shoulder of Zuchi khankhuu.
'Cough, Cough...' coughed Zuchi khankhuu loudly.
"Oh sorry. I must have catched a cold during the snowstorm yesterday" said Zuchi khankhuu while swiping his runy nose.
"Take care of your body." patted Dorj again on Zuchi's back.
Soon when Dorj and Zuchi entered the khankhuu's ger, royal consort princess Ukhaa was weeping on a chair next to the fire
"Ukhaa, don't cry. Minister Dorj has come with me." persuaded Zuchi khankhuu to his wife.
"Zuchi... My sis..ter. She has run away. I don't know wheter she is still alive or not. She... must have been much afraid to marry and run away during the sandstorm." weeped royal consort princess Ukhaa.
Zuchi khankhuu hugged his consort Ukhaa and looks at Dorj.
"Dorj, take my ten guards and follow the most recent hoofprints outgoing from our settlement. She must have not gone far. If we lose more time, she can freeze to death. Hurry up." said Zuchi khankhuu.
"I will go now. Take care of your body." said Dorj and took Jegei with Zuchi khankhuu's ten guards to pursue Mandukhai.
At the boundary of Temuujin's settlement, Jegei and Zuchi's ten guards has inspected every hoofprints that are heading outside the settlement and found a clue.
"My lord, we have found a faint hoofprint left on the snow that leads to west. Two person with horses has left our camp during yesterday' snowstorm. The hoofprints matches Mongolian horses hoof. Shall we follow this path?" asked Jegei from Dorj.
"Jegei, you are more experienced than me in this matter if you are confident in your judgement, then let's follow this path." commanded Dorj and hoped on his horse.
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