It take another month for Li Cheng to patch up his relationship with Banou. It is only when a noble lady's carriage nearly run over Li Cheng. He saved the noble lady in public. She throw herself into his arms. This makes Banou angry and march there in public. She did not cause a scene by she hold that noble lady tightly in her grip not to allow her to go sear her husband. Li Cheng is happy that his wife is doing something and not ignoring him. He watch his wife talking to the noble lady. He can't hear anything but watching his wife. When finally the noble lady goes off, she look at him, he smile broadly. The public see that the prince is still in love with his wife. Most woman envy as they watch them.
"When are you off duty?"
"I think... two more days."
"Good. Go home first thing to do is shave your beard and moustache. You look such a mess."
"Whatever my wife say is correct. I will do as you say."
"And so i will see you two days time."
He nod his head and watch her walk off. He look behind him his soldiers are still standing around waiting for him patiently. He gives a command and they all start to walk together and stroll towards the main gate.
Another year pass with Banou and Li Cheng's issue resolve. Their twin sons are now five years old. They grow up with the other two sisters and a little baby girl. Banou usually will push the baby girl into Li Cheng's arms when he return home. This is to allow them to have a bond. The child is now able to sit up and she suck her thumb whenever she sees Li Cheng. Li Xin is now fifteen and appearance she looks like Banou. However she have long legs and as tall as Li Nan when they stand together. Banou thinks that those children born of XiongNu's parentage might have inherit their tallness and bulky appearances.
The follow year, everyone come home from school. All of those adopted return home. Even those who are adopted by Li Cheng's soldiers come to meet the friends who they left behind. Each of them are tall and bulky. The round tables are not enough for all of them. Li Cheng enjoy his family together again. Even thou now he and his wife is older but they never seems to age with happiness that surrounds them.
At the age of forty seven, Banou finds herself pregnant. In her heart, she knows that this might be the last pregnancy for her because of her age, she takes extra care and have tonics to help boost her body's conditions. The little ones in the mansion are already grown older and the youngest is starting to learn to read and write. Soon at nine months, she gives birth to her first daughter. The child is born with green eyes just like Li Nan. Around the same time Min Min ask permission to get marry. She have fallen in love with one of the servants in the mansion. Banou and Li Cheng gives their blessing to the couple and arrange a wedding for them. Even though Min Min is from an unknown parentage, her new husband said that he like her because of her character and sweet looks. Min Min now takes up his family name of Jin. One day while carrying her child, Banou ask Aylin out of the blue.
Aylin... many years ago. I thought that you are having a relationship with Ah Man in Li Jun's mansion. What happen? You said you will tell me after my wedding to Li Cheng. It's now so over due."
"My princess... it's ... shameful to tell you."
"Just tell me. Nothing seems socking these days."
"My Princess... I was in love... but not him."
Aylin put down her needlework and look at Banou. She is fill with sadness in her eyes.
"I thought that we are in love, a couple but it is always just me. He treated me as a sister only. That trip we went off to purchase ... i never have second thoughts that he just treat me like a sister. I pickup my courage to tell him i like him and will spend my life with him. He did not smile the whole trip. Finally when we return home, he told me straight in the face that he loves another. He cannot marry him but they stare to stay with each other."
"He? Him?"
"Yes he loves another man. That man belongs to the mansion too. They sleep with each other. I am just a sister as he said. From then on, i never go near him and quietly disappear in his life. When we go back to Persia, i was so relived. I hope to find someone else but there is no one for me. My princess, don't throw me away."
Banou sit down and put her daughter properly on her arm and use the other hand to gently pat Aylin.
"You are my sister in this life. No matter what happens, i am your family."
Aylin blow her nose.
"Who knows maybe the one you are destine to be with comes late with happiness. You just have to be patient a bit."
Another month pass and Li Xing turn up in the mansion. Banou sense that her son is nervous. She did not ask as she knows that he will eventually say what is on his mind. She wait till near dinner time.
"Mother... i have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I... i have fallen in love and would like to marry her."
"What is a really good news!"
"Yes but mother... i think father might not like it."
"Why?"
"She is not a Chinese girl."
"Well that shouldn't be a problem. You are not the crown prince nor a high ranking officer ... but who is the person you are referring to?"
"She is one of the people we met in Baekje. She is unlike those Chinese girls that i have seen. She move with grace just like you. She bow with curtsey. Her long hair is pull back. Her eyes although they are small, they shine with cleverness in it. She speaks mandarin with a hint of strangeness but we understand each other! She can write Chinese characters very well!"
"Do you know her identity in Baekje?"
"Yes, she is the daughter of trade minister Kim MinJin. She is only nineteen. I wish to propose marriage before another ..."
"My son, do you know if she is betrothed to another man?"
He stare at his hand and shake his head.
"Then i would suggest that you try to find out more before..."
"She will be coming to our capital in two or three months time! I will ask her!"