Tsar Kuchum lives in the world, and he owns the entire Siberian land, works: he writes royal orders, collects tribute, he himself does not pay anyone. Very rich king Kuchum, he has plenty of everything: there are precious necklaces, and monists, and furs. He has two beautiful wives, one blue-eyed, the other black-eyed, Kuchum loves wives, cherishes, cherishes, does not refuse them anything.

Once, when the tsar was resting, the black-eyed Suzge came to him and, praising the tsar and tsarist possessions, asked to build chambers (the city of Suzgun) on the banks of the Irtysh river, to build a ship for walking along the Irtysh river and to visit these chambers twice a week. Kuchum promised to fulfill everything. So did. Now the queen lives in the wards on the Irtysh River, swims along the river and receives Kuchum on her bed twice a week. The virgins serve the queen, the soldiers guard. But one day she learns from the governor that the foreigners attacked their country, and her husband went to defend his possessions. Each time she receives more and more bleak news from the battlefield.

One evening a beautiful, but very gloomy young man came to her - her brother Mahmet-Kul and said that Kuchum hastily escaped, and the newcomers are now feasting on their land. Mahmet said that his enemies were more afraid of him than Kuchum, and that he was immediately sent to defend the remaining lands.

But the queen comes up with a plan. She offers her brother to declare himself king and tell everyone that he is now sitting in Suzgun, and when the enemy overtakes Suzgun, come to the defense with the army. So they did.

Tsar Kuchum in the steppes grieves over the lost land, and in his tsarist chambers Cossacks feast headed by Yermak Timofeevich and recall the Russian tsar. Ermak tells his soldiers that it is too early for them to rest, since they took only Isker, and now they need to take all of Siberia. He sends his governor Thunderstorm to Suzgun to take Mahmet-Kul. A Cossack named Ring Yermak left in Isker, he himself went with soldiers to the king Seydyak (this is the name of the king).

The next day, all the Cossacks in the early morning each set off in their own direction. Ermak blesses everyone to the battle.

Suzge sees from the fortress wall that warriors are approaching her city, and orders him to strengthen the defense. They are under siege for seven days. Finally, Storm writes a letter to Yermak, in which he talks about the failure and that they did not see Makhmet, but they think that he is in the fortress.

Three days later, a letter arrives from Suzge’s battlefield stating that the Cossacks defeated his brother’s troops and captured Mahmet-Kul himself.

The queen is worried and begins to think what to do next, because the last hope for salvation - brother - is now a prisoner. Suzge asks his governor how much longer they can hold out in a siege, he replies that he will protect Suzgun to the last drop of blood.

Ermak, meanwhile, replies to Groza that Makhmet is not in the city, and the queen rules the city, and asks Groza to return to Isker, leaving Suzge with her city.Thunderstorm felt ashamed that he had been fighting a woman for three weeks, but had not yet overcome her.

Then the elder Suzge comes to Groza with a message from the tsarina that they are ready to surrender, provided that all the Tatars are released, they will be given a ship and they will not repair insults. Thunderstorm promises to fulfill everything, but only if the queen surrenders. The foreman became angry and replied that they would never give up their queen. Thunderstorm said that if the Tatars suddenly change their minds, let them lower the crescent on the tower. The foreman left, and in the evening the Thunderstorm saw that the sign was lowered.

The queen gives her wealth to the servants, letting them go, and gives the entire treasury to the soldiers.

Having released everyone, the queen does not sleep all night in heavy expectation, cries, asks for forgiveness from God.

In the morning, the Cossacks happily enter the conquered city. Only Thunderstorm seeks the queen and does not see her. Suddenly she sees her, sitting by a large tree, sheltered by a veil fluttering in the wind. Thunderstorm bows to the queen and promises not to repair her harm, but does not hear the answer. Then he looks into the queen's face, throws back the coverlet and backs away in horror:

Mother of God! Not a dream
Does he see? There is no life in the face;
The cheeks are pale,
Blood is pouring from under the clothes
And in the eyes half closed
God's light fades.
“What have you done, queen?” -
The governor cried out loudly
Hand clamping blood.
Suddenly the queen trembled
She looked at Thunderstorm ...
It was not a look of revenge,
It was - the last look!

Having buried the queen “under the slope of fragrant firs,” the Cossacks went to Isker.