Banou after dinner is personally show around by the consort Wu. Even though she doesn't understand a single word, she smile and be as polite as she can. She try everything that consort Wu push into her hands. She is afraid to offend god in anyway but now she is more afraid to offend consort Wu. So she takes small bite of everything and drink more tea. Banou find consort Wu is a talkative person, she may yell at Li Jun or the other ladies a lot but she is kind to those children. She secretly will stuff food for the older children. Or buy toys for the younger children.
The other ladies don't talk or they just pretend not to see Banou in the mansion. They only stare at her and make a distasteful sound. Also they warn their children not to go near Banou. She understand that what the ladies are thinking after all she used to live with her father's harem and siblings. They will fight for attention, this is normal in an everyday household.
Everyday, Banou is bored. She already have read all the books that Li Jun had bought along from the Silk Road. While Aylin is following Ah Mu for nearly the whole day. Banou is most of the time alone. She watch the sky and walk around the garden. Olfaction the flowers. Stare at the fishes. She wonder if she can find some other things to do in this living quarters and small yard.
One day, Li Jun brings over some Chinese ink and rice papers. Together with Ah Mu, Li Jun set up the brushes, ink and paper. He demonstrate how to use them. Banou is excited. She can now pen down her words and ideals. Li Jun seeing that she is excited, he further demonstrate his style of drawings. With a Chinese brush he draws the flower that is in front of them. She marvel and clap when he is done. He even draws the birds that are flying the sky. She realised that with the chinese brush and paper, she can do endless things. Ah Mu shows her how to grind the ink pad and how much water to pour down. She nod her head and show her serious face in learning. Her hand and finger to hold the brush is difficult. Li Jun hold her hand to show her the correct pose. She id delighted and so learn to hold and use it properly. However she finds it hard to control the ink platter on the paper a lot and she wasted a few sheets of paper. She got disappointed and sit down wonder how to control it. Li Jun laugh and pat her head.
"Take your time to learn. Your teacher will come some days later. He will show you more."
That night Banou is getting ready to go to bed. She change into her sleep outfit and put her pillow under her arm. As usual she is going to aylin's bedroom to sleep. However Li Jun is standing at the door when she open it.
"Where are you going?"
She think for awhile for a normal conversation he must be asking where she is going. "I am going to Aylin's room."
Li Jun hear Aylin's name mentioned, he know that she is going there. He push her in and closed the door. Banou watch him walking to the huge semi circle door, he close them. He walk to the bed and pat the blanket beside him, gesture to her to sit beside him. Banou at that point got nervous again. She remember that he had sex with her the first time in bed. Even thought the second time he did nothing, she grow afraid. Li Jun got mad and he stands up and pull her to the bed. He stands there continue to look at her frighten look. He remove his outer and inner garment. Hang them on the screen. Banou continue to hold on to the pillow tightly. "Why are you suddenly like this?" She yell and cry. Li Jun walk up and remove all the hairpins on her hair. He walk back to the vanity table and pick up the comb after putting down the hair pins. He sit down next to Banou and start to comb her hair. Slowly after a long time Banou learn to relax. Li Jun remove her shoes and push her gently down on the bed to sleep. He lay down next to her with his hair undo. He pat her gently and sing a song. Slowly she drift off to sleep.
"I am sorry i cause you a terror in your heart. I hope the next few days you when be better. I want to have children with you. "
The next day, a man appear. He is a chinese man who is able to speak Arabic. Banou and Aylin are delighted. They ask him questions non stop.
"Wait. Let's restart. My name is Hong Zheng Ting. Hong is like the color red. Zheng means upright. Ting means stable. That is my name Hong Zhen Ting. Now please introduce yourselves to me. "
"My name is Banou."
"I am Aylin. How did you know to speak Arabic?"
"I lived in the desert for awhile. Maybe five years. I learn from the people there."
"Do you know how to write Arabic?"
"I know a little. I can read too. "
"where do you work?"
"I am a member of the royal trade merchant bureau. Prince Jun ask me for a favour to teach you our culture and other things."
"Who is Prince Jun?? Do we know him and to do us this favour."
"Oh so you don't know. Well Prince Jun is the man who bring you to Great Tang. That tall skinny scholar looking man."
"He is ... oh my heavens... Princess what trouble are we getting?"
"Princess? Banou is a princess?"
Banou quickly look at Aylin for that slip of mouth. Aylin look down on the ground.
"My name Banou means princess. That's all."
"Oh i see. I did not know that. What about Aylin?"
"My name means light of the moon"
"Wait so our master is a prince?"
"Yes Aylin. He is the Sixth Prince of this state. He is involved in the trade administration. So he travels all around for the goods that this nation needs."
"What about the man who looks like him but he wears the military uniform?" Banou quickly ask.
"Ahhh, that is the ninth prince, Li Cheng. He is in charge of royal guards in the palace. " Banou is happy to hear his name she smile later frown. She remember that Ahmet, her former love is a military solider as well. She sigh. it's the same circle all over again.
"Teacher, what about the land lord of this place. What is her name?"
"Land lord?" He think with the fan rubbing his forehead. "Yes that short plump lady who talks loud."
"Aylin that is not nice to say she is short and plump."
"Princess she is not here, it's ok to describe her like that. Besides that she doesn't understand our language."
"Ahh she is not a land lord. She is the princess consort Wu. The wife of Prince Jun. The rest of the women you see in this mansion, are his concubines. The children are all his children. In great Tang, we are allow to have many wives and children, if we can afford. Just like your culture. "
"What about Li Cheng, is her married with children?"
"From what i know, no he is not married nor have children. He is a shy military man. But i think his father the emperor will get him to marry soon. Usually these princes will marry woman of power."
Banou cast her eyes down. She knows there is no hope now. She shouldn't be wasting his and her energy.
"Do you both know why Prince Jun bring you here from the desert?"
"We are bought as slaves, that what we know."
He tap the table and wonder if he should say it.
"For Aylin, yes you are a slave. For Banou, he wants you as his sex slave. He sees the beauty of yours and wants to have off spring with you. Do you know now why..." He see Banou's big eyes are tearing. He feels sad for her but since the past from their ancestors till now, woman are treated this way. He clear his throat and walk further away. He doesn't like to see woman crying. Aylin who hears this look at her princess sadly. A princess who lost her title and become a slave is bad enough but to become a sex slave is an end of everything. She hold Banou's hand and wipe her tears.
"No matter what happen my princess, we have each other. We will live to see the sun raises everyday. You said that, remember."
Banou nod her head. She now understands her destiny. Not a bleak future, maybe a better one. She isn't treat badly at all. He just wants more children and she is selected for this. She don't know if she should be happy or sad about this. She started to cry. Hong Zheng Ting walk out of the room to allow they some space. He regret telling her that. He sigh and fan himself gently.