Autumn soon comes with the leafs fallen. The younger children are gather to catch the leaves and throw at each other. While the servants are trying to gather them in the basket and the children thinks other ways to have fun with it. Banou can see that Consort Wu is fawning over the accounts in her desk as she walks in with fresh fruits on the plate for her.
"We have to cut down on some expensive this few months. We have spend quite a lot on the funerals. We need to cut down on some things."
"What do we need to do mistress?"
"First our spending on none food related items. Like new clothes, new shoes, hair accessories. We have to buy less of those."
"Let's talk to the other ladies so that we have more people to help to think."
"Good ideal! More heads are better than one! Quick, we need to gather the rest of the ladies."
The ladies all sit around and listen to her what she had to say. They agree on not spending too lavishly but they can't give up on buying their makeup.
"Prince Jun is not here so there is no need to makeup daily."
"But there will be guest in and out of the place."
"Yes we need to look good for the face of the royal family."
"Just makeup when there is an event. No buying new makeup every month. I will allow three months once. Also you have to show me the empty bottle if you need to buy new one. This is to control our spending."
"Our children are growing up everyday. They need new clothes."
"I can help to make new clothes. I can sew." They all turn their heads to look at Banou. Consort Wu's eye is shining with happiness and she clap her hands together. "That is wonderful!"
"If we have those blot of cloth, i can cut and sew them for the little ones."
"But as the face of Prince Jun, we need to look proper. We still need new clothes ... from the shop."
The ladies continue to try to reason with Consort Wu. Banou sits there and watch the ladies argue. After awhile, the ladies had concluded what they can spend and what they can't spend on. Banou is excited to be included in a family discussion. When she is growing up in Persian, she is not allow to have any input and she needs to follow the instructions of the Sultan. She is not allow to go against the wishes of any men including her brothers. Now she is given the chance to say and do something. She is delighted and excited at what she can do. Banou spend her days measuring for the smaller children. She carefully cut and sew them. Making sure that the colors are matching and comfortable to wear. Li Xing is delighted that his mother make him new clothes even thou it is slightly bigger, it's become the favourite garment of his. She quietly goes to the market to ask an elder lady how to make shoes. She goes to the shop and help to clean inside and outside. After that the elder lady patiently teach her. Banou learn with her heart and soul on how shoes are made. It takes her four months to sew up with embroidery a little shoe for Li Xing. The other children who sees it, they too ask her for a new shoes too. Banou is so busy with her new task that she have forgotten the seasons have change.
Another year goes by and Summer comes quickly. Banou takes the younger children with LI Ning to take walks in the busy market. Banou have save a bit of silver and she spend it on buying treats for the children. Li Ning and her enjoy walking and talking. While walking one day, they hear people are excited and talking non stop.. Li Ning run to Banou excitedly. "They are back! Lady Ban Nu! They are back!"
"Who who... ahhh!" She hold Li Ning's hand tightly.
"Children! Come here! Don't run there!" Banou shout for the rest of the children to not to run off her sight.
"Li Xing! Li Ping!" Li Ning run after her bother and sister who is excited to see people lining up at the main street. A lot of people are cheering and from a distance, they can see carriages, caravans and camels come strolling into the city. There are confetti thrown in the air. There are people even light up the firecracker to welcome the trade bureau back. The younger children see their father is siting in the carriage moving in slowly. Excited and delight to see him, they all wave and call him however the sound of the firecracker have drown all their calling. Fortunately because of Banou, he can see her standing in the distance, He wave with a smile broadly. She smile and bow to him. Li Ning bow too and delighted that her father had accomplished an important mission and now he return back safety.
It takes he three days to return back to the mansion. The children all surround him and asked everything that comes in their mind. He is delighted that the younger children are speaking more fluently. After dinner, Li Jun tells his children the adventure that he had come across. Everyone is entreat about the adventures he had. It is joyous till he asked for Lady Song and Lady Chen. The children of the two concubines tear and Consort Wu reluctantly inform Li Jun of their passing. The cup that he is holding, it drop with the silent of the night. His head lower and quietly he asked to bring him in the morning to pay his respect to the two women who spend most of their lives with him.
"I met them in my younger years. They are older and they show me the world. They teach me everything i need to know. They are my teachers and my love ones. They are also the mother of my children. I didn't do my part as a husband. I at least have to give them the respect as a concubine. I will ask from father a plaque for their clans. Come here Bang'er, Gou'er and Tang'er." He hug his children with his heart and tear with them.