Letters from far (II)

Banou received another letter within a few days. It is a letter from Li Cheng. He is going on an expedition soon. He wouldn't be returning to the capital any time soon. He have make another wood curving, a horse. Also he included a bottle of perfume. Also a wooden hair pin. Banou look at the gifts that she got, she smile. Every thing that he get for her is precious. Every now and then, Banou open up the trunk to look at that things she got over the years. His letters are always sweet and short. The wood carvings improved over the years. Banou happily place them in the trunk slowly and carefully. Even they don't break, she wants to be sure that they will not be scratch so easily. 

Demir, did not leave the capital. When he receive the letter of commands, he perspire with sweat beads rolling down his face. The sultan wants him to arrange the marriage for his daughter. Since she is settled down in Tang, she should be married to the prince who bought her there. He is also asked to find a plot of land to build a small mansion for Princess Banou to live in. After the mansion is ready, the things from Persian should be shipped out to the new mansion. The sultan also informed him that his men will escort the painter from Roman to do a painting for Princess Banou. Demir is sweating for he fail to mentioned that the Princess now have a son. What if the Sultan comes to know and he will punish him for failing to mention this. He swallow his saliva hard and walk up and down in his room. He decided that he should visit Princess Banou and ask her to write back to the Sultan. He hop on his carriage and rush to the Prince mansion. 

Consort Wu see the envoy rushing in from the main door. They bow and greet each other. Consort Wu send a servant to find Banou. While the envoy walks up and down in the main hall. Banou stroll in and bow to everyone who is there. 

"Princess, can i talk to you in private."

Consort Wu and the servants quietly leave the main hall. Leaving them to talk in peace. Demir and Banou begin their conversation in Arabic. 

"Princess Banou, have you receive a letter from our Sultan?"

"Yes i did."

"Have you written him a reply letter?"

"Well not yet. I am not sure what should i write." 

"Princess Banou, i have to tell you something. I fail to inform him that and i am afraid that if i return to the Ottoman Empire, my family and i might have our heads roll on the ground."

"What is it? What is this great offence that will cost your life?" 

"My princess, i am a timid man. I report to him everything under the sun! But then i forgotten to inform him of that important information. I am afraid that he will behead my family members. Thus i hurry here, worried. I am hopping that you will help me in this."

Banou think for awhile, she look at him with a small smile. 

"Well, we just don't have to tell him about that. I will keep my son safe here. My son will not be involved in the inherit of the throne."

"But but ..." 

Banou sits down without worry about anything. 

"Tell me, what did my father command you to do?"

"The great Sultan wants me to look for a plot of land to built a mansion for you, in Persian style. He also will ship the things from Persian once it is ready. The most important thing he wants is ... " He swallow his saliva and drink the tea in front of him. "The great Sultan, he ask me to arrange the marriage of Prince Jun and you to be done. It is a pride of a Sultan that his daughter is unmarried and living together with a man. Thus he wants the marriage to happen as soon as possible."

"However what i know is that, a man only can have one principle wife and less than ten concubines in the same living quarters. How can ..."

Suddenly Banou's eyes light up. She smile as she slip her tea.

"Sir Demir, please bring this up to the Emperor. I am sure that he will have a solution to this."

"What... as you wish Princess Banou. I will go in the palace to meet the emperor tomorrow."

"Yes, please do that. Meanwhile, i will write a letter back to father and praise you for the work you have done for me, in Tang. I am sure a great reward will be waiting for you when you are home." 

Demir who hears this, immediately salute and bow deeply. This is what he wants to hear. This is what he needs to know. The future of his family and wealth will be secure. He will have a voice in court. Others will look at him with respect. 

Demir soon leave with a happy mood. While Banou is thinking how should she start the letter. LI Xing appear walking to her with a smile on his face.

"Mother!" His brothers follow him behind and bow. Strangely enough, even thou Li An and Li Gou is older, they allow Li Xing to lead them where to go and what to do. Is it because of his height or his mature looks or his foreign blood? Whatever it is Li Xing always be the one who leads the others. While Li Ping his older sister who is the youngest girl in the family leads the older sisters. Li Ping and Li Xing never have a power struggle when they are together, Li Xing always listens to the girls in his family. 

"Ah i get the food out. You boys must be very hungry." 

Before Banou steps out of the main hall, Demir returns as he got another thing on his mind. Before he open his mouth to say, he look over Banou to see Li Xing. His mouth did not close up. It remain open as he stare at the young man. 

"Is that him?"

Banou knows who he is referring to. "Yes he is my son."

"He looks sort of like the great Sultan..."

Banou turn around to see her son standing there with his hands on his hips staring at Demir. And his eye brows showing that he is frowning. She never think that her son look anything like her father. 

"No he doesn't look anything like him. " 

"I mean, he have the air of authority."

Banou call over the sons of Li Jun. The three boys walk out to the courtyard and bow to Demir. He nod and bow to them. He look at LI Xing

"Your highness, how old are you?"

Li Xing frown more and look at his mother. Banou shake her head and look at Demir. "Please proceed to what you need to do. I will do what i can on my side."

"Ah yes, Princess Banou. I will take my leave now." 

Demir soon leave in his carriage and Li Xing stare at his mother. The other two sons watch Banou and Li Xing with curiosity. Soon, they excuse themselves. 

"Mother..."

"I know what you are going to ask and say. I will keep the matter of your existence away from your grandfather. He is typical Arab ruler who needs a male to inherit the throne thus i need to shield you. Demir, i think i can trust him not to revel who you are. I just want you to have a normal life."

"Mother, i dont understand why you are in this state to become ... a slave and now you are given back your title as a Princess. I really don't understand."

"When you are slightly older, i will tell you everything."

"Everything?"

"Everything. From my beginning to now. My life story. Maybe, you will understand. Maybe you won't. But i can tell you, i will let you know everything from my heart." 

That night, Banou sit on her study desk. She is think what should she write on the letter to her father. While a letter to her son already half written somehow. Many years from now, she will hand this letter to her son. By then, he is older and he probably can understand her situation and choices she make in life. Fate have push her in a direction with choices. She have chosen and she is now walking on the path with the sunlight shining on her. Banou already chosen the next path to take when she ask Demir to talk to the emperor. She will gamble if the path will direct her to where she wants to go. If it heads that direction, she will continue her letter to her son. For now, it is complete. 

Dear esteem father the great ruler, Sultan of the Ottoman empire, I Banou is living well in the Great Tang. I hope that the all mighty is blessing our great nation and blessing you will good health.

I have everything there. Food, clothes and a personal living quarter in the mansion. Infront of my bedroom is a a small garden with all sorts of flowers and colors to look at. There is a chair and table to sit whenever i want to feel the sunlight. Also at a corner with is a pond. There are living fishes in it.

I am living with a family. They respect me and my differences. Even though i am bought as a slave, they never treated me as one. Ever since i arrived at Great Tang, i have lessons in Mandarin. Daily, i dress like every Chinese woman. Sometimes i will style my hair in the latest trend in the capital. I am not sure if you are interested but i will enclose a book of illustrations of men and women latest trend in Great Tang. It is for your amusement.

I know from the last letter you said that you want to send things from Persian to the Great Tang. My father, i have everything here. I will be fine. I don't need it.

My father, if you can grant me a wish, please reward Demir the Envoy Minister of Affairs. He is the one who located me when i though that no one remember my existence in Persian. He convince me that i am needed to be back. I am honour but i can't leave Great Tang now. Later maybe a few more years, I will return. So for now, please reward Sir Demir. 

Your daughter Banou