That night, Banou sleep at the room with Aylin. She is afraid to sleep in a big room alone. In the past, even thought she is a princess, her room is not that spacious. She have everything that a princess needs but all she wants is a family. She doesn't have a father's love. She doesn't know what is it like to have a mother's love. All she can watch and envy others. Her nanny have to take care many of her other siblings. Each of them are scary compare to the next. Everyone is competing for love and attention. None of her brothers and sisters are close to each other even if they see each other everyday. She remember that once she did well in her test, the sultan awarded her a golden silk gown. It was hanging on the wall as a display. One day, she return from her study room. The gown was shredded and the gardern shears are thrown on the ground. Banou did not cry but she stood there staring at the what is left of the beautiful gown. She is disappointed and she sigh. The gown remain on the wall till the day she got marry.
That night, the girls talk. "Tell me about yourself Aylin."
"There is nothing i can say about myself. I am born in the barn. I don't know who my parents are. I was a beggar then later a servant working in the palace gave me a place to stay and work. That is all."
"How did you know who i am."
"I see you in the palace almost every day. Most of the time, you are with your maid. I don't like that Emine, she is a snake. She help your sister to get into your room and take things. I know your gown is shedded too. Your other sister, princess Aysun did that. She was so mean. I am glad that she marry that fat old man. Bedding that fat old man is what she deserve. "
"It is over Aylin. Everything. I don't have a family members like those girls you mentioned. Long ago before i marry, i know that they did not consider me as family. Nor should i be considerate about their feelings. Now, you are my family here. We are the only one who are strangers in this capital. "
"I will not betray you my princess."
"I know Aylin but promise me, if there is anything that is dangerous and you have to run. Just run as fast as you can. Save your life. I will do it too. No matter what the situation is, always run."
On the fifth day, Li Jun takes them out on his carriage. Ah Mu drive it slowly through the capital. Banou and Aylin watch as the scene unfold to them. Both side of the lane there are sellers selling everything from food to accessories to toys. Whatever Aylin have seen and know about she excitedly share with Banou. Li Jun watch the girls getting excited on this trip. He smile and fan himself slow.After awhile the carriage stop in front of a shop. Li Jun gesture that they should get off the carriage. Ah Mu keep call for Aylin to get off and he prepare the foot stool for them to get off.
Inside the shop, there are many different color garments. Banou touch a gown, it feels so silky and luxurious. A fat man who is at the counter stare at the two foreigners and seeing how they dress, he thinks that they can't afford anything. "Go, check if they got money for anything here."
He whisper to his worker. She return soon and shake her head.
"Mister Chen, they can't speak our language."
"Where they come from... but that one is sure pretty."
He stare at Banou and look at her figure. Woman in Great Tang are usually flat chested or they wear the hezi to support the heavy chest. Obviously Banou doesn't have it and it bounces when she walks. Mister Chen watch and drool a bit. He is awaken by a knock on his head. Angry he look to see who is disrupting his erotic dream. His eyes open wide and immediately he bow.
"Greetings to your highness! What an honour to have you in my humble shop. What can i do for you, your highness."
"I need you to make some outfits for the two foreign guest i have over there."
Mister Chen's eyes open wider. "How how how many outfits are you thinking of making? What about the designs?"
"Well designs have to be the latest design for one of them. The other will be the maid outfit will do."
" Of course. Of course. Anything else do you need from your humble servant?"
"Shoes, i need shoes for them. Also hezi . Ah and what else i need to get for them?"
"How about coats?"
"Yes but now is summer, you can take your time to make those. For now, make suitable hanfu for them. Can your worker take the measurements?"
"Yes yes of course this way."
"Ban Nu. Ah Lin." He wave to them and ask them to follow him. Obediently they follow. They all go inside a room. Li Jun sit on the chair with tea pour in a cup for him. Banou and Aylin stand around nervously and wonder what is going on. Mister Chen comes in to the room with a measurement tape. His worker is holding the brush and book. He walk up to Banou and about to take the chest measurement when he is stop by Li Jun tapping on the table. He turn around and look at the prince. "I am about to take the measurement, your highness." He smile.
Li Jun drink his tea and point to his worker. "Let her take the measurements. You record the numbers." Mister Chen hesitate but he smile. He stare up close at Banou's heavy chest with the nipples standing out and think it's a waste. He could have grope them. He take the brush and paper from his worker. She takes the measurement tape and read the numbers to him.