Banou join the ladies in the garden. They talk and laugh. Till they all hear loud rowdy men talking. Eight men walk in together. Li Xing is drag along by his brothers to this meeting. The ladies are delighted to see the eldest son of Banou but they are reminded that he is not one of the sons looking to get marry, two ladies have a disappointed look on their faces but the rest are not. Banou take note of the ones who aren't because they are the one who genuinely coming here to marry one of her adopted sons.
That evening, everyone is having a good time. Talking and answering questions. There are small games too. Banou can see who matches well with her sons. At the late night, her sons send them back to the inn where they are staying. Banou waited for her sons to return home. She ask them questions but everyone pretend to be tired. They yawn and stretch and look sleepy. Banou gives up and allow them to return to their bedroom.
The next day, the men return to camp and the matchmaking ladies comes to the mansion. Banou ask each of them which son they prefer. The three sons who works for the bureaucrat is naturally the one that most girls want to marry to but only Miss Yang Bai Lu wants to marry Li Nan. Her reason to marry him is simple. He is strong and have a pair of kind looking green eyes.Banou is surprise and delighted. She hurry home to write to Li Cheng about this piece of news. A son that everyone thinks will not get marry may have a chance to have his own family is now here. She ask her husband to give her son a few days off so that he have a chance to meet Miss Yang alone.
A special leave is granted for Li Nan. He comes home with a heavy heart. He is both shy and not knowing what to do. His brothers in camp tease him and give him advise on what he should an should not do. Banou watch everyday her sons go on a meeting with the ladies. Finally on the third day, only three ladies decided that they want to marry the men that they like at first sight. Banou feel delighted on the news. The matchmaker immediately send out the good news to the Sheng, Han and Yang families on the good news. The negation for the wedding for the bridal is soon on the way. The matchmaker goes to the Prince mansion everyday.
"Consort Princess, now you have three sons who is getting married. Isn't this the best news!"
"Yes Wang MoMo, this is really a good news. I now will have less worries."
"Yes indeed. Also, we need to find homes for them."
Oh i forgotten about that! The most important of them all. Quick tomorrow morning, we have to find a real-estate agent to help point out where to find the best place to buy for them."
"How about asking the young master themselves."
"Yes we will ask them tomorrow."
"It's late now. Wang MoMo, please go and rest for the night."
"Yes, I will go now Consort Princess."
Banou look at Wang MoMo walking out slowly into the dark corridor. She look at the paper of what the families of the girls are asking for. It is not much accordingly to royal family standards but to a normal citizen, it is asking a lot in returning for marring their daughters. Banou look at the amount and calculate it. They can afford in any case but because those are adopted sons of the royal family, she still need the empress to approve the titles that the brides are going to have.
The following days she goes frequently to see the empress on this issue. She was told to wait for a few days. Finally the head eunuch ask Banou to submit the names and families detail to the emperor for review. He is not against the marriages of these boys but he wants to know if these families will be any good use in the future for the royal family.
"Since the Han family deals with shipping, it will be good when we are related. While Sheng deals with rice supplies is a very good deal for us. As for the Yang family who is into escorting services for good... i am not to sure but at least we need a reliable services in future for transport of any sort of goods."
"Yes your majestic, these boys will marry girls who is going to benefit the royal family in long run."
Do they know about the boys who are not fully Chinese blood."
"Yes your majestic, they are aware."
"Good. I don't want to hear complaints in future. What are the titles that you want them to have?"
"As long as a titles that can be related to this dynasty, i am sure their families will be delighted."
"I will bestow them the title of Hou along with a curtsey names for the men. While the ladies will be known as the wife of Hou (_) I hope this will satisfy everyone."
Banou bow down deeply to the emperor and thank him for the grace he is showing to the new couples.
"So many boys getting marry is not easy. If you need help, you can ask the empress to provide you some help from the many MoMo we have in the palace."
"Thank you for your grace."
"Now, Consort Princes Ban Nu, your issue is resolve. Let's us go to the garden to have some tea and food. Your majestic, would you like to join us?"
"No i still got more paper works to do. Please go ahead my empress."
He is careful not to step on the toes of his wife. Ever so polite to her after the new concubine came into the palace, he was kick out of her boudoir. He is now doing everything to please her so that he can have a place to sleep in proper. He smile as he watch the women walk off. He immediately frown and look at his head eunuch. he mumble under his breath and walk away.