Guan Li

The following days, they return to the main mansion in the city. Consort Wu then start the preparations for Li Kang on his Guan Li. 

Tailors coming in and out of the mansion. The mansion have beginning to have bright decorations. Cooks are told to prepare food to be tested and approved. While Lady Ban is fussing with her son's diet to trim down his belly. The eunuch from the palace have come in and out with the documents to input to the family book. Li Jun have to input himself and end it with his personal stamp. 

Banou is busy in the kitchen helping the cooks to prepare the dishes. Li Ning come to help too. Banou sense that Li Ning is not very happy and wonder what is wrong. After the dishes are done, the head chef goes off with the new dishes for approval from Consort Wu. Banou look at Li Ning while they are washing their hands.

"Li Ning, is something wrong?"

"Hmm, nothing..."

"You can tell me. I will keep it a secret." 

Li Ning sit down after she wash her hands. Banou follow her. The sun is shining down from the shaded tree they are under. Banou pour a cup of tea for Li Ning. 

"My Ji Li is really good but my own mother did not come to witness. While Kang ger ger have his own mother fussing over him. I find it, upsetting... I know i shouldn't be feeling this way but i ... " She want to cry at that point Banou put her hand on Li Ning's hand. "You are a human to think and feel this way. It's normal."

"I feel bad to think this way. I mean i love him as my older brother. We grow up together. I cannot be so ..."

"It's normal Li Ning. You might not have your mother on that day. However you still have the whole family with you. Your father is exception happy on that day. Li Kang too is beaming with joy while watching you. So on his Guan Li, you must support him too. Lady Ban might be crying too much to do anything." 

Li Ning smile and cry at the same time. She nod her head and wipe her tears. 

The following month, Li Ning and Li Kang celebrate their birthdays together. They celebrate as an adults and it is held in the most prestigious restaurants in the city. This is only a celebration with their peers. While on their actual day, they celebrated on the mansion. The palace have sent the eunuch to give them their birthday gift as well as an announcement that Li Kang's Guan Li will be done on an auspicious day base on the astronomical bureau after they consulted the stars. 

On the day of Guan Li, the main star of the day wakes up before the sun rises. There are ceremonies to be done before they head to the ancestor hall. Before he step in to take his bath, his mother brings in a bucket of flowers and say the lucky couplet for him. After his bath, he step out and Lady Ban gets ready to comb his long hair and towel it dry. His hair is not allow to bun up thus she slowly comb to make sure it doesn't tingle up. Banou who is holding his new garments look at the ceremony and try to remember the steps. She will have to do for Li Xing one day. The maids take the new garments and help the young master to dress up. His mother beam brightly. "See getting you on a diet is a good thing. The garment looks so good on you." 

"Thank you mother for take care of me. Please continue to take care of this foolish son till i have a wife." He bow and Lady Ban cry. She nod her head repeatedly. 

"Young master and Lady Ban, everyone is waiting in the main hall." 

They walk to the main hall where everyone is waiting. The royal carriage is waiting outside the main gate. Li Kang after greeting Li Jun, consort Wu and the other ladies, together they goes off to the palace. 

At the ancestor hall, Li Kang kneel in front of the tablets. Li Jun begin his speech and prayers to the ancestors. Li Jun put on the first hat for Li Kang and begin to make his speech. After a while the second hat is place on Li Kang's head. With another speech, he light up the joss sticks and pass it to Li Kang for him to offer his prayer to the ancestors. The third hat is place on Li Kang. This time is for Li Kang to make his speech. He speak out loud in front of the royal ancestors to heard. He ask for their blessing and protection for now and onwards. After he got up, the eunuch present him the words of the emperor. This time, everyone goes down on their knees. He read the words out. 

" 'As i the emperor, will give my blessings my grandson, Li Kang. May the heavens open the pathway and the correct direction for you to walk on. May our ancestors continue to watch over you. From now, Li Kang son of Li Jun will inherit the title as the Duke of AnPeng.' Duke of AnPeng please come and receive the decree."

Li Kang gets up and walk to receive the yellow scroll with an emotional face. His mother burst off crying loud. She have been waiting for so long. Now her wishes is done. Her son is now a Duke.

That night in the mansion, Li Jun and LI Kang have a drink. While Lady Ban is still crying in happiness looking at the scroll. She now can write back to her family that her son is a duke. For years, they did not contact her. Her siblings have look down on her to marry a prince as a concubine. She now can hold her head up high. As a mother of a duke, there is no one higher than this unless he is a prince or a crown prince. Li Kang will be a powerful figure in this dynasty. 

The next day, there are gifts of congratulations. Also there are matchmakers coming in from everywhere and Lady Ban goes out to deal with them. That afternoon, a number of ladies who wants to catch his sight are appearing near the mansion. Also letters are thrown in over the wall asking for a meet up. His friends who come by to meet Li Kang are amuse by the number of ladies hanging around. While Li Kang is staying in his room and read his books. Servants are collecting the letters whenever they are cleaning and place on his study desk.