Engagements (II)

Banou still did not tell Li Jun the truth who she is. Instead she lie that she is born in a desert and deserted in an inn. Later sold as slave in the slavery market. Therefore there is no record of her. Li Jun did not believe her story. However he did not say a word. He just lay next to her and stare at the ceiling. He is wondering if she tell anything to Li Cheng. He have seen the things in her room. He also have read the letters that his brother have written. Even though it is full of politeness and there is nothing hinting of love, Li Jun is still unhappy. He wants Banou to slowly fall in love with him but it seems like what he is planning is not working. Li Jun thinks he have to speed up on how to court the woman's heart. All his life, he never court a woman as they all fall for him on his looks, talents and title. He never have to work on getting a woman in bed or heart. However Banou seems to be different. She respects him and never want to get into his bad side. Just because he is her master. The status as a slave is hindering his way to make her fall in love with him. He sigh and turn to see Banou fast asleep. He hug her and try to sleep. 

The next few days, Li Kang is busy going in and out of the mansion. While Lady Ban is grumpy because he is determined to marry a common citizen. Consort Wu try to talk sense into her. However Lady Ban is concern about his future and his children. 

"Consort Wu, you should know this! If the first wife is not from nobility lineage, the children they have are going to be suffer. This is a society that see the rankings! That's why there are a huge difference between the poor to the rich! Even the rich are rank in nobility! Consort Wu, you should be clear of this! I don't want my grandchildren to suffer later in life! I want them to have this fortune and continue to be even better! Not worst!"

Banou listen to what Lady Ban had said. Yes she is right, we are living in a society that the rich always wants to be rich. 

"I believe that Li Kang will do good. He will protect his family. He also have Master to come back to when he needs help."

The ladies turn to look at Banou. Lady Ban snort and look at consort Wu. 

"That sounds rich coming from a slave. Ban Nu, you never lived your live as a member of the royal family. You will never know what it feels like to fall from the mountain top to the ground below. Do you know how painful it will be? From having all the riches then over night you have nothing. It's a disaster! Look at Lady Chu and her family! They have to start all over again!" 

Banou look down on the floor. She wish she can tell the truth however holding back is the better solution. 

"Ban Nu, Ban Nu, you just begin to live a life of luxury. You just begin to enjoy the fine life of royalty life. Don't you fall off the mountain top. You will never climb back up!"

That evening, during dinner, Li Jun announce that Li Ning will be marrying a Prince from a nearby country. She will be the bride for one of the any prince. Lin Ning is not the only bride for Heqin which is a marriage alliance between country to country. Li Ning did not cry when she hear that but her brother, Li Bo tear as he eat his rice in a hurry. Li Kang who is close with Li Ning is upset too. 

"In respecting father, may i ask why suddenly, Ning'er Mei Mei for Heqin?"

"Princess Wen Cheng and two more members of the royal family is selected to go for Heqin. Li Ning is selected as she is in an eligible age to be married. Plus she is my daughter so she have noble blood in her. I tried to ask my father to reconsider but he said that there is not many princess who is old enough for marriage. Li Ning who had her Ji Li not too long ago and her character is suitable as a princess. "

"Then will Ning Jie Jie come back home?" 

The adults all remain silence. Li Bo who is very upset put down his rice bowl

"No my sister will be marring off to a far place that we won't see her again! Can the emperor grandfather reconsider?!" He bawl while saying the last sentences. 

"When the eunuch from the palace with the decree, it is the final from the emperor. We cannot change anything but to watch Li Ning marry off from here." 

Three days later, Li Kang comes home and talk to his father and the rest of the ladies. "In respecting father, i have talk to the lady i love. She have agree that i can have another wife. No more woman after that. She say that she will agree only with that term as she knows that she is just a commoner. However i agree with her that the other woman and her will be official wives. "

Lady Ban swallow her anger and look at Li Jun. 

"In this case, my Prince. You can arrange for the meeting with the Marquis Huang Ren Fu's daughter. We must hurry up before someone takes her."

"She just have her Ju Li so no hurry. We have to meet the other girl family too."

"Yes father, i will arrange for the meeting. I am sure you will find her a delight. She is a smart woman. She..."

Lady Ban snort and interrupted 

"Smart is useless my son."

"Mother. She is smart so that she can handle money well enough. She is good even able to write poems. She can read well too."

"I agree. A woman who is able to handle money is good for the family."

"What is her family's name?"

"The family name is Gu. Her name is Mei Hua."

"Mei Hua... sounds like a gentle woman."

"She is! She is gentle and sweet. She have a loveable face. She helps out her father in money related issues."

"Does her father knows about you?"

Li Kang shakes his head. 

"Well, my consort. Help Li Kang to pick up some gifts and do a house visit before the families meet up." 

Li Kang is happy and beaming when he hears that. However Lady Ban still frowns and she can't voice out loudly after getting scolding from Li Jun for being dramatic the other day. 

The day the house visit to the Gu family, the mansion remain quiet. Only Banou is in the mansion. She sits in the courtyard sewing the tear on Li Xing's pants. The other Ladies are playing card games in the main hall. The servants are excited when the consort returns home. It looks like the house visit did go well and his engagement with Gu Mei Hua is going to happen too.