Chapter - 502 Secret Order In an Embroidered Pouch (9) (1/2)
Li Ping sighed, ”Perhaps the Princess can accept that, but what worries me most is the Great Khan.”
”What about the Great Khan?” Guo Jing asked.
”These past few days the Great Khan all of a sudden treats us, mother and child, with an unusual kindness,” Li Ping answered, ”He showered us with money, precious jewels, everything. He said it was your reward from the expedition to the west, but I have lived in this northern Mongolian desert for twenty years, I know the Great Khan's personality. I feel like there is more to it than what meets the eye.”
”Ma,” Guo Jing said, ”What do you think it is?”
”I am just a simple woman, how could I have a respected opinion?” Li Ping said, ”But if my intuition is right, the Great Khan wants to compel us to do something for him.”
”Hmm, perhaps he wants me to marry the Princess,” Guo Jing guessed.
”Getting married is a good thing,” Li Ping answered, ”Even if the Great Khan does not know your feeling, he does not need to compel you. The way I see it, you are commanding a big army to the south; maybe the Great Khan is afraid you will have a change of heart and rebel against him.”
Guo Jing shook his head, ”I have no intention to gain riches and honor, and the Great Khan knew it. Why would I rebel against him?”
”I have an idea,” Li Ping said, ”We will find out quietly what the Great Khan's real intention is. Tell him that I miss my hometown very much, and want to go along to the south with you. Tell him that, see what he would say.”
Guo Jing was delighted, ”Ma, why didn't you say so earlier? We go home together, that will be wonderful! I am sure the Great Khan will give his permission.” He went out the tent and did not see Huazheng outside. He thought perhaps she had waited for a while and could not wait much longer.
Guo Jing was gone for half a day, and he came back dejected. ”The Great Khan did not give us his permission, did he?” Li Ping asked.
”I don't understand,” Guo Jing replied, ”Why would the Great Khan want to keep you here?” Li Ping was silent. ”The Great Khan said,” Guo Jing continued, ”That as soon as the Jin country is defeated, he will let me take you home; we will return with all the glory and honor. Why would I want that? I said mother misses her home very much and wants to go home sooner. The Great Khan suddenly looked angry, he kept shaking his head, did not give us his permission.”
Li Ping hesitated. ”What else did the Great Khan say to you today?” she asked.
Guo Jing told her everything that happened inside the Golden Tent earlier, how he received his assignment, including the secret order he received inside the embroidered pouch.
”Ay!” Li Ping sighed, ”If only your Second Master and Rong'er were here, they should be able to shed some lights on this matter. It's a pity I am only a simple country girl. The more I think about it, the more restless I became; I don't know why.”