Banou waited patiently for the Baekje trade entourage to arrive in the capital. Every since Li Xing inform her of this wonderful news, she gets excited. At last her son find someone that makes him want to get marry. When Li Cheng comes home, she inform him of the good news. Li Cheng is happy but he have a worry. His brother on the throne might not like the ideal. For months, his brother have been talking about getting foregin concubines for the crown prince to establish relations with foreign states. Knowing that the Baekje entourage is arriving soon, the emperor would like to take the advantage of it. Li Bang who is now the trade minister offer to oversea this issue. The emperor who favour this nephew agree and assign him to do this task to get a concubine for the crown prince.
Three months comes along with autumn leaves changing colors. Li Xing who is working on escorting the arrival of the envoy from Baekje and the trade entourage. He stand guide and work diligently for the welfare of two countries. Banou meanwhile have been reading up on the cultures of Baekje. Even though the two countries speak a different language it seems like their scholars are taught to write down everything in Mandarin. So it won't be a hugh problem tie communications. They can always write it down it one doesn't understand. She read up everything she wants to know so that the girl that her son wants to marry won't find her future mother-in-law a troublesome person.
A month later, the envoy entourage reach the capital on a snowy day. Li Xing run around for Kim MinJin for the things that she need. Everyone can see that this man is in love. Her father who is the man leading the envoy is not please with Li Xing because he is not a pure blood Chinese man but when he knows that he is one of the son of a prince, he change his mind. However again knowing that who is the mother of Li Xing, he hesitate. Persians are known to be be clever and cruel even to their flesh and blood. He plan to meet this Persian before he allow Li Xing to go near his daughter.
On a heavy snowy day, Banou comes to the mansion that envoy Kim is living in. She is dress in her finest along with her son, they walk into the mansion. The butler hurry to show them into the hall. Inside everything is the same as the Chinese style nothing is change nor different. However when the envoy walks into the hall, his dressing is different. He wears a long white robe with a black tie on his waist. His hair is neatly bun up with a jade hairpin. His face is worn out with wrinkles but he have try to be neat and tidy even have his long beard and moustache comb neatly.He bow deeply and they return the bow. Before meeting them, he see Banou through the screen, he is shock to see a beautiful woman. He have long hear of the stories of how beautiful Persian women are. How they can seduce any man they want. No wonder, she have that two prince dance under her charm. He is determine to be clear in his mind and judge whether this family is suitable for his daughter. He watch how the mother and son talk, they are indeed speaking in Mandarin. A common language that everyone understand. Nothing is cover up. He hear enough of their conversation thus he walk out.
Once the conversation starts, Banou shows that she is a person who does not interfere with her son's life. Whether he will continue to stay in Tang or go to Baekje, it is his choice. The envoy who hears this is half satisfy with the talk. He even find Banou with an interesting mind. She talk a lot of what the scholars read. Soon it is late into the night, the mother and son is to leave for dinner. Banou suggest that they can have a dinner together with Li Cheng when he is return from camp. The envoy accept the invitation. He watch them leave and ask his daughter to come out.
"What do you think my daughter?"
"I .. i like Li Xing."
"Just because he is a handsome man?"
"No only that. He respect me."
"Yes i can see that. He never once go near you. Always passing things to your maid to hand it to you."
"Yes father, he did that. He knows that it is our culture not to speak to a woman directly unless they are family. "
He nod his head and touch his long beard.
"I am not worry about him but his mother."
"His mother?"
"She is a well spoken person who seems to know everything under the sun. She is not an easy person besides that she is a Persian. They are known for cleverness and cruelty. Hope that it is all just rumours. However she is indeed a beauty. At her age, she is still a beauty, it's so rare."
"Father..."
"It's just talk, don't tell your mother. I am her faithful husband. I am a man who just have eyes to see. That's all. Please understand my daughter."
She bow and he wave. She leaves the hall to leave her father alone.
A few day later when the snow is not heavy, the eunuch comes to ask the envoy from Baekje to come into the palace. The envoy entourage is well received and they presented the tribute to the Great Tang to continue the relationship between two countries.