It's now six months into her pregnancy, her tummy suddenly bloat up and show there is a baby inside. Her calfs and feet are begining to be swollen and not able to walk for long. Aylin soak Banou's feet in warm flower water and massage them. Consort Wu daily come by with bird nest for Banou. At night she brings warm milk for her to drink and they talk through the night till Banou wants to sleep.
Li Jun buys her favourite pastry wherever he pass by the restaurant. He bought some wooden toys for the baby. He even ask the carpenter to built a custom baby cradle that he saw in the west long ago.
Lady Ban and other concubine comes to visit Banou with bolts of cotton cloth with different colors. They explain to her that Chinese woman who is pregnant with the child should make a set of garment for the unborn child. The first set must be worn by the child as a symbol of good fortune through life and also to ward off evil. Daily the women take turns to come by and teach her to do chinese embroidery on the garments. Banou do with her heart and soul she want her child to be better than her in life and escape what she had suffer back home.
"My princess, it looks so difficult to do..."
"it is not Aylin. Look it's easy." She continue after showing Aylin. Aylin continue to massage the calfs. "Aylin, i am doing this so that my child will have a good fortune in the start of in life. I did not have that fortune. I was pass around even my nanny, her hands are handful of children to take care off. I grow up watching and learning not to get into trouble. My fortune starts now. It's late but it's better than never."
"I will give my good fortune to this child too."
"Don't do that Aylin. When you become a mother, you have to give your good fortune to your child."
Aylin stop massaging the calfs. After a minute or two Banou feels drop of water on her calfs. She stop sewing and look at Aylin. She put down her needle work. She pull Aylin up on her bed and hug her. Aylin cry for along time. Banou pat her back gently. For a long time Aylin cry, even Ah Mu who comes in with fresh fruit is started. He put down the plate of fruits and walk out quietly. For a long time Aylin cry. She never cry for anything but this she can't help herself.
"Long ago after the old lady got me a job inside the palace. I was a happy person. Doing my best in the kitchen. Sometimes i serve the food. That's when i see the most beautiful princess sitting at the end of the table. When i was twelve, i was out with a few maids carrying the bread back into the palace. Some soldiers came along. We have identity stamp with us so we are escort back to the royal kitchen. After that i walk back alone to my quarter... i was stopped. He pull me in a dark lane. He he... " She cry again. "He threaten me not to say anything but every night he will find me even if i am surrounded by people. I am afraid. Alone. Scared. Sometimes he will kick me. One night i bleed and fainted. The physician said that i was pregnant and the baby is gone. Later i found out that wick man just got married with a girl from the market. I was angry. When he come at night, i prepare myself and have a knife with me. In the end, i saw with my eyes, he was stabbed in the market in broad daylight. Because he was mistreating his wife on three marriage night. She was covered in bruises and missing teeth. Her brother was angry beyond and took that wick man's life."
"Aylin..."
"That baby did not have the fortune... i don't know if i can have children in future... "Aylin, you will be a mother. We are now in a place of fortune. Fortune will come to us slowly and steady. Let's live for the future, Aylin." Aylin nod her head and wipe her tears and get back to massage Banou's calfs. After that, they never talk about it.
The baby cradle that Li Jun ordered is carry into the room. The place suppose to be bookshelves. It's far from the strong sunlight but near Banou. Li Jun decorate the cradle by handling lots of lucky accessories.
Aylin whisper, "It looks like a shrine." Banou brush out laughing. Li Jun look at Banou and feel proud that he did well. It make Banou happy. Consort Wu who step in the room with bird nest yell at him "Heavens!! Prince Jun, it looks like a mini shrine! Take some off!" They both bicker back and forth in front of Banou and Aylin. Banou touch her big tummy and say out loud. "Ah pain." They both stop and fuss with Banou. Getting her sit down and checking her health.
Banou look at them and feel happy.