Family

Banou wants to protest but seeing her father's face. She have to swallow back her words. She pick up the soup and drink the soup to wet her throat. Her heart continue to beat wildly. 

"Your majesty, may i ask if this means that Consort Princess Ban Nu is not to return to Tang with us?"

The Sultan reply after the interpreter translate the message.

"She is allow to do what she thinks best. I understand my daughter have a family in Tang. I will not stop her if she wants to go home. However, this empire is still her home where her blood flows. Banou, you can go anywhere in the world. However in the end, you have to return here with those knowledge that you had in you. Unfortunately, your older siblings are not much of a help as they are mostly empty heads. Your eldest son will be consider as one of those grandsons that i have to choose as an heir to the throne. This, cannot be avoid."

Banou goes on her knees and bow to say she understands. In her mind, she is thinking that they have to leave here fast so that they can escape the watchful eyes of her father. She knows that Li Xing is worthy of the throne but that is not what she wants for him. 

That night when they all return to Ayaz's mansion, some of the Princesses are waiting for her. "Banou!"

Banou nearly miss her step when getting off the sedan when she hear her name call out by that familiar voice. She bow to the older princess. 

"Why did you come back?!"

"You should be a slave somewhere! How dare you come back!"

"Yeah! You are causing problems here!"

"You dare to get a position in the royal court! Shameless! Like your mother! 'Swoosh' "

The four princesses continue to yell and spit at Banou in the middle of the night outside Sir Ayaz's mansion. While Her son Li Nan doesn't know what to do when Li Xing come ridding in with his horse. He jump off his horse when he see a group of woman yelling at his mother. He withdraw his sword and yell at them. Their eyes are open wide in terror. In their eyes, his looks and manners are the similar to their father. He is alike the Sultan who have come to discipline them. 

"LEAVE BEFORE I STRIKE YOU ALL DOWN!"

What he say doesn't need any translator. Before they leave they yell for the last time in fear and scramble into the dark night. Banou's head is looking down as she walks in the hall. 

"Mother... why..."

"Nan'er don't ask. Go check if her room is ready."

"Yes eldest brother."

Li Nan walk off. Banou sit at the couch and drink the tea that Li Xing given to her. 

"Why does those ladies ..."

"Xing'er we have to leave soon. They may yell at me now. Later, i am not sure if they will try to kill me."

"Why..."

"Just let's say. I am different from them. They dislike that i am born from a servant in the palace. They dislike that i am a studious person. They dislike that i am praise by my father. I am not a boastful person. I never like to fight for attention. Unfortunately they are blinded by what they hear and say by their mothers. I will not hold against them for that."

"Why don't you tell grandfather?"

"Telling him only makes his feel more pain in his heart. I don't need to bother him with that. When they die, this will all ends."

"Mother, grandfather have appoint you as a co-regent. You have to return here and face them after grandfather..."

"When the time comes, i will deal with it. For now, my main objective now is to leave Persia. To stay out the eye of my father is more important."

"Before we leave, i will stay by your side everyday. Somehow i cannot trust the royal family members that you grow up with! First was that uncle who kidnapped you twice! Now there is these lunatic princesses! Who know what they are thinking! I better tell father too. He needs to stay by your side."

Three days of constant surround by the men of her family Banou is delighted. She wants nothing much in life but a family what she loves. Those days she sit up in the night to think of her husband. She miss him but she knows he cannot leave the army to come with her. His responsible for the lives of his men and the country. While in day time, she avoid her siblings as much as possible. Meanwhile, the Chinese physicians and Li Jun have design a wheelchair for the crown prince. He is now able to leave the bed. They wheel him out to the gardens. It makes him happy. In the garden he meet his nephews. Like the rest, he is shock to see Li Xing a look alike to his father. He suddenly understand why his father wants Banou's son to accession to the throne. These days Li Xing and Li Nan have pick up some lessons on Arabic. Thus today Li Xing is able to say simple words to the crown prince. The Sultan who stroll in see that his son and grandson is having a simple conversation. He is delighted. In this garden with warm sunlight and laughter the royal family that Banou and the Sultan wanted is a dream that becomes reality.