Li Ning the princess

A month pass and Banou travels to visit Li Ning every few days. Some times with Li Bo. Sometimes with Li Jun and Consort Wu. 

In early spring, the princes of Uyghur come to Tang Dynasty. They are the bride grooms and it's their traditional to pick up the brides to their palace. The prince who is going to marry Li Ning is tall and handsome looking. He looks nothing Asian but more of a man from the Romans. He is well versus in mandarin language and other cultures as well. They spend some time to get to know each other. The other princes too spend time knowing their future brides. Each prince is different appearances from another yet they belong to the Uyghur. 

Because of their culture, they know how to speak Arabic thus they can communicate with Banou rather well. Li Ning's bride groom Abd al-Karim have ensure that he will treat her well and respect her. Li Jun come into the palace after he hear that the foregin princes are in the palace. He meet Abd al-Karim and have a serious talk with him. Li Ning is his eldest daughter and about to marry off to a far place. He wants to know how and when he can see her again. Abd al-Karim ensure his future father in law everything that he fear will not come true. Li Jun and Banou return home with a light heart and hope that he will keep his word that he will keep LI Ning safe from danger. 

Two weeks later, the emperor had decided to bestow the title Princess to Li Ning. This is to keep the pride as a member of the royal family as well as for the foreigner prince to know that she is not to be taken for granted. It also serve to remind Li Ning her duty as a Tang dynasty princess.

Two months later, the wedding takes place with three Princess marring off to Uyghur. The palace is fill with red banners and the three couples take turn to pay their respect to the emperor and empress outside the main hall. The eunuch read out the words of the decree from the emperor. Li Ning is trying to be brave but Banou can see she is trembling behind that veil that is hiding her face. Officials are line up on left and right side. They cheer after the decree is done. The grooms are dress in their traditional costumes. They guide their brides to walk to the carriages. After that they hop on their horses and lead the way starting with the Uyghur crown prince and his bride. Following behind are his brothers and their brides. Banou and Consort Wu watch from a distance, they can't help but to cry as they watch the carriage that carry Li Ning. The night before they request Li Ning to write back to them at least two months once. She agree and try to send one letter less than three months. The morning, Banou comb her hair for her and do her bridal hairstyle. While consort Wu says the lucky couplet before putting on the red wedding veil over her head. After that, she put on a jade bracelet for LI Ning. 

"This is from Prince Jun. He had it done when your Li Ji is over. He wanted to give you on your wedding day. But he did not expect you to marry so far. He wanted you to marry someone that you love and he love you too. He wants you to remember this home is always open for you. You can come home anytime. He say he will come look for you when he is out traveling for business." 

Li Ning cry when she hear that. They hug each other till the royal match maker comes in to scold them for crying on a lucky day. 

Outside the streets, red confetti and money are thrown in the air. Everyone is cheering and waiting for the royal carriages to pass them by. Li Bo and his brothers and sisters stand with the crowd to wait and watch the wedding carriage to pass them by and go out of the city. Even at the age of fifteen, Li Bo cry like a child when he see his sister" carriage pass him by. He cry and wave and call her name. The shouting have drown his voice but He can see Li Ning's finger pushing the curtain apart. The three sister wave to Li Ning. They hope she will be happy.

As Banou and Consort Wu watch on the palace walls over the carriages that have move outside the city gates. She feel someone is staring so she turn to see who is it. "Princess Banou is it you?!" The man speaks in Arabic 

Banou quickly look down and walk away. Consort Wu notice that man and she quickly follow Banou behind. From a distance, Banou can still hear her name call repeatedly. He is the same person that she saw months ago in the Tang palace. He is the Minister of Affairs, Demir. The man who present her the wedding gifts from the Sultan. She walk as quick as her feet can bring her. She totally forget Consort Wu who is trying her best to catch up.