Li Jun brings her back to the mansion after selecting a few jewellers. They alight at the main door. They walk in and he expected to see his little wife waiting for him unexpectedly he sees her having an argument with his harem of woman.
The moment they see him, they all rush up to him. All of them talk at the same time. Banou at that moment feel like she is dizzy. So she sit down at the bottom door frame and watch what they are doing.
"Keep quiet! What is going on?"
"Your consort wants us to leave the mansion!"
"She is so unreasonable! What about our daughter?!"
"Yes what about our son?"
"Even though on we are not listed as your official wife, these children are listed as your sons and daughters! How can she throw the mothers away and want the children only! That is unreasonable!"
"Prince Jun, you have to stand up for us! Say something!"
"Fine! Quiet! Quiet!!!!" All Seven women who are surrounding him quiet down and look at him pitifully. All these women are in his harem. Li Jun have one principal wife and five concubine. Another two is not officially listed as his wife. Each of them are born of high society and each as beautiful as the other. Each of them have bore him at least one child each. The only one that did not give birth is his principal wife, consort Wu. Li Jun walk to consort Wu. "Care to explain what is going on?"
"This mansion cannot tolerate so many women. Having two is difficult now we have eight including that two Persians will be ten. Not mentioning the two hundred staff we need to feed inorder to run the mansion. My prince Jun, do you know how much expense we need to run with this mansion. Also you have ten kids to feed too. Why do you think i have to say them to go back where they come from."
"You should discuss this with me. Not suddenly just ask them to move out. You have to be reasonable!"
"Reasonable? Am i not? How old did i marry you? I was just a child! I haven't grow up yet! I haven't have my fun! All of you are older than i am, why am i doing this?? Why should i brother? Maybe i shouldn't do anything and let this collapse and move back into the palace!"
Consort Wu yell with her eye full of tears. Her makeup is ruin and she have snort running down her nose. Banou who is watching this suddenly feel bad for her.
Li Jun keep quiet. He wave to the seven woman and get them to go back to their quarters. Quietly they move off and some still grumble.
Once they move away and disappear from sight, consort Wu wail like a child.
Banou get up and walk to her. She pass her a handkerchief. Consort Wu take it and blow her nose. Banou reach out and hug her. Consort Wu wail again. Banou pat her gently on her back.
"No matter what is the reason. Just cry it out after that everything will be fine."
"I will talk to you later after dinner Xue Ning."
"Jun ger ger... " she sob as she lay on Banou's chest
"It's fine. Don't cry. You are not pretty when you cry. Ger ger don't like to see you cry. I like to see you eat and play the swing, like everyday. "
Banou and Aylin have their dinner with Ah Mu at the breezy little yard. Two children come running in and hide in the kitchen. One of them a girl look at Banou and Aylin. She smile and walk out of her hiding place.
"Sister, you look so pretty. Is your hair real?" She reach out and touch Banou's hair.
The little boy who is hiding come walking out. "We are supposed to be hiding. What are you doing?"
"Ger ger, she is pretty big sister. Her hair is curly. See."
"We are playing a game. You are not playing is it?"
"Oh oh caught you both!" Another boy come running in "Here they are here!" Ten children all stand in the little yard looking at Banou and Aylin.
"My princess, who are they." She lean over and whisper
"I am not very sure, i think they belong to the other ladies who live in this mansion."
"So many of them... Ah Mu..." Aylin point to the children.
"They are all the children of Prince Jun. ALL ... HIM" immediately they all turn to look at the direction he is pointing. Li Jun walks in while fanning himself. Aylin's eyes open wide and cover her mouth.
"My princess, if i am not wrong. All these children are belonging to master!"
While the children immediately bow and greet together
"Greetings to father!"
"What you all doing here? Have you eaten yet?"
They remain quiet. The little girl who says Banou is pretty say "To respond to father question. Yes most of us have eaten."
"Most? Who are the ones who haven't eat dinner yet?"
The older girls and boy raise their hands. Li Jun sit down on the chair.
"Why, am i ask."
"To respond to father. Mother say girls must not eat too much. If not, i might not get marry." Li Jun snort. "And you? Aren't you a boy? You don't need to fit in your sisters conditions."
"To respond to father. Mother said i'm eating like a pig. I need to have your image and attitude because i am your first son."
Li Jun put down his fan on the table. "Ah Mu go and cook a few dishes. Anything that can fill up their stomach. If there is no rice, just get them noddles."Ah Mu get up and rush into the kitchen. While the older children look at each other and try not to smile.
"Listen up. You are all growing up. You need to eat so that you can all grow up tall like me especially you three boys. When you are hungry, you have to eat. Don't hold back. Look at Consort Wu, she is no allow to eat too much so in the end, she can't grow tall. Now she much too much after she get marry. What happen, she got fat or plump or round. So eat now. I asked Ah Mu to cook for all. So eat whatever is on the table. Ah Lin, can you help Ah Mu?"
Aylin stare at Li Jun. He hand gesture to cook. She stare after awhile she nod her head and go in the kitchen.
"Little Ping, you like this big sister? You have been siting on her lap for a long time."
"To respond to father. She is pretty and her hair is curly. I like it." He lift her off Banou's lap but she is holding onto Banou's hair. "Let her hair go. I will find something to make your hair curly. LET HER HAIR GO." Immediately the little one let it go and try not to cry. He then ask one by one on their studies. Banou slowly finish up her meal while listen to the conversation. While Aylin help to carry out some bowl of rice and noddles onto he table. Li Jun stands up and allow the children to squeeze in together and help themselves. Soon Ah Mu carry out more dishes out and put them on the table. Ah Mu and Aylin stand up to have their meal. Somehow, Banou finds it heartwarming to have so many people around. Everyone is eating together with her. As if like a big family.