The departed

Li Xing is still angry with his father for making his mother cry. He stay by her side daily. While Li Jun try to make his son happy and trust him again, a report from the trade bureau had submitted a list of items that the city needs. Thus he is needed to start preparing to travel to the desert again. The ladies in the mansion are again in an unhappy mood. Banou ever since had made Li Jun angry is wary of his mood. Li Jun also aware that the Banou he knows is not smiling or laughing that much with him around. He regret for blowing his top over a small matter. He even did not have a good talk with Li Cheng about this. 

In a sunny afternoon, Banou is sewing in her room with LI Xing practising his brush strokes. Aylin walks in with nervous looks in her eye. She sit beside Banou and move around in a restless moments. Banou look at her and stop her sewing. 

"What it is?"

"My princess... i ... I am going to follow Ah Mu, is it fine? If i go with him?"

"You are going to follow them to the desert?"

"Yes they said that i know Arabaric, I can help to translate and help to do other things as well but i am worry ..."

"There is nothing to worry about. I am fine here. I have Li Xing and the other ladies. I can take care of myself. I am not a princess anymore. I am a common person who have learn a lot from you. I can cook and sew. I can survival anywhere. While if you follow them to learn a new skill, won't it be good for you."

"Princess, you think so?" Aylin's eye shine with gratefulness and tears. Banou hug her old friend and they plan things to bring for her on her journey. 

Month later, Li Jun and his caravan move out of the city. The ladies of the mansion all weep. The younger children did not understand much but they know that they won't be seeing their father for a few months. Consort Wu and Banou did not cry but she console the rest of the ladies. Banou wave to her friend and pray in her heart that they will all return safely. 

Another month past, soon will be full moon. It will be the celebration of the moon. However there is two of the ladies who is unwell since Li Jun's departure. The younger children are not allow to be near them. The doctor have come and go but still these two ladies are still unwell. The fever comes and goes. The coughing is non stop. In the end, without a choice, they are moved to the outskirt mansion to recoup their health. Their rooms are clean out and air. The celebration of the latter festival for the full moon is not that festive. Still there are fire works, pastry, teas and lanterns. The younger children are running round with the lighted lanterns around the garden. 

Another month past, the servants who are taking care of the ladies rush back to the mansion in the city. He brings bad news of the ladies passing away from each other. The children of the Lady Chen and Lady Song cry out loud. Consort Wu immediately have to start organising a funeral. A physician follow the servant back to the mansion in the outskirt. Upon checking, he suggest that the bodies of the two ladies have to be cremate immediately. He is afraid they might have some diseases that is unknown at that point. Consort Wu is making all the decision. Banou is helping to look after the younger children. Li Ning is going around the ritual bureau with LI Kang to inform and as well as the official documents for the deceased. There is no possible way to inform Li Jun of this sad news. The funeral had proceed with the cremation. Later, the servants collected the ashes and place them in an urn. Two coffins are still made for the ladies, they are after all daughters of the noble clans. They have to be respected and buried in the royal family plot. Banou for the first time see how a burial is done and the feel the emotion of loosing a person she knows and come to respect. She lost her mother at the age of three, at that time she doesn't know and won't understand. When she was in the cage with the noble ladies and children. Each dying on the journey and their bodies disposed by throwing them in the desert. At the age of understanding, she doesn't feel sad for those, she doesn't know them at all also her mind is in chaos. She was fighting for survival. She holds the hands of the children who lost their mothers. LI Xing is at lost and wondering what is going on. He hold on to his mother's skirt. While Consort Wu and Li Ning carries another two each in their arms. Lady Kang walk in front quietly with her son with another two children. While Lady Cui and Lady Lin each holding their children and they all begin to walk the lonely path back to the mansion. The servants walk behind the noble ladies carrying what is needed to bring back. On the way back, they met the family of the Song clan. Words of condolences are said and quietly, each move away to their own destination. 

The Chen clan come to the mansion a dew days later. They express their condolences and asked for the children of Lady Chen. The child is Li Bang who is already thirteen years of age. Li Bang informed them that he will take care of himself and the little brother who is eight years of age. The family agree and encourage them to visit once in awhile. The boys agree and bow to their uncles. While the Song clan who are declining in power of recent years have written a letter to Consort Wu asking her to take care of the Li Gou who is six years of age. They will be moving out of the city to a county. It will be better for Li Gou to remain in the Li mansion.