A visitor

Until Banou reaches her mansion, then she can breath properly. Wang MoMo who is waiting at the front is relieve when she see Banou. Together they walk in. First thing Banou did is to check on her children. making sure that everything is fine later after her dinner, she tell Wang MoMo what had happen. 

"Lucky the Dowager came to visit just in time. If not i doubt i can get away easily." 

"Consort Princess, the future will be not easy for you." 

The next following day, instead of getting other people to steal her letters, the emperor openly send his eunuch to take all the letters from her father to Banou. Even with Envoy Afshin at presence, the eunuch, take the wooden box and promise to return when the letters are translate and read. Banou close her eyes with anger as the eunuch walk off with her letters.

"The emperor is not showing you any manners! How can he..."

"It's fine Afshin. Along as he doesn't harm any of my family members, it's fine. Just some letters from a father to a daughter. There is nothing in it. Maybe some complaints of my siblings that's all. He cannot find anything that says i am giving information of Tang to Ottoman. There is nothing of this."

"Princess Banou, should i write back to ..."

"No, Not require. There is nothing serious happening. Besides that it will make my father anxious for nothing. He have enough to deal with back home. For this, i will deal with the Emperor. He is after all my brother-in-law. He won't do anything bad unless there is prove that i am giving information to enemies of states." 

Afshin sigh and bow. 

A month pass, there is nothing happening within inside and outside of the mansion. Li Cheng also did not know if there is something going on within his home but however he is worry about something that is stirring outside the border lands. XiongNu tribes are gathering again, His scouts are reporting daily on the borders. Li Cheng discuss this almost everyday with the generals of the Tang. Finally he reported to the emperor thus Banou's issue is push back. She is able to breath with her own mansion. However now she have another worry on hand. Her husband and sons are working to guard the border. Everyday she pray for their safety and the XiongNu will not think of to attack the Chinese regions. 

One afternoon, the snow begins to fall and there is a visitor arriving in the mansion. Wang MoMo hurry to inform Banou, it's the emperor who is visiting as a citizen. She hurry outside with Li Xin and Lady Peng. They all bow to him. 

"That is your daughter? She looks like you, a Persian face." 

"She does have a Persian face but the heart of a Chinese girl."

"Seeing you raising the children with Chinese cultures is ... good."

"Thank you your majesty. "

"Lady Peng has is life in my brother's mansion? Is he treating you well?"

"All is well, your majesty."

"Good. If there is a pregnancy, you must inform us."

She bow and talk about other things. Banou notice the eunuch standing beside the emperor is holding her box of letters. The emperor notice that she see the box. He smile and signal the box tp hand to him. He take the box and smile to Banou. 

"I have read the letter through some translation. I am returning these to you."

Aylin who is standing on the side wants to take the box but he refuse to hand it to her. Banou have no choice but to go near the emperor and take it. He look at her face as she takes the box. 

"After so many years have pass, you still look the same. What kind of magic did you use?"

"I did not use any magic. It is forbidden in my religion." 

"Oh is it? So why ... do you look at the same?"

"I am not sure what you mean by the same. I am sure that i am growing old year by year."

"A flower that can withstand the elements attack. A flower that sits alone and blossom well without anyone's care. What kind of flower is this?"

"Are you asking me to guess the riddle? I am not that smart..."

"No you are that smart to calculate the moves of others. Smart enough to find shelter from others. Smart enough to avoid fights and get someone else to hold the sword for you."

"Thank you for complimenting me on being smart. I will accept that but i don't accept that you are saying that i am someone who make use of others. It's not my nature."

"Now i understand why my brothers like you so much. A beauty with brains an not mention, a ... to look at..." 

He openly stare at her breast as they talk. Banou feel the anger raising in her but she have to hold her anger. He reach out and want to touch her breast but Lady Peng come up to distract the emperor.She bring him and walk away from Banou. At that moment, Banou feels sick. She is never close with the man when he was at the crown prince. Never even talk but bow for the Lunar New Year greetings. Banou thought that all the brothers are same kind temperament but it is proven that the crown prince is different. No wonder, the crown prince is never close to his brothers. 

The emperor stay for quite sometime. Till his eunuch remind him of the time. He is having a good time in Li Cheng's mansion. He see that the younger children are having a fun time chasing the snow that is dropping from the sky. In his mind, he wish he can go back when he was a child. Free and running around. Now he is buried with many troubles of the state. Banou may not cause trouble now but he thinks that in future she will be the one he needs to be aware of.