Autumn becomes winter. Li Xing and his older brothers along with the sisters goes off to the ice lake just outside of the city. Most of the servants follow along. They are going there to ice skate. Banou and Aylin follow on the second day to learn how to ice skate. It is the first time she see a large ice on the ground. Aylin is guided by Ah Mu while Banou is holding on to LI Xing's hand to move on the ice. She is afraid yet she wants to know how so many people are dancing on the ice ground. Under the ice, Banou see the fishes are still swimming in it. This is the amazing nature of life. Coming to Great Tang, she have learn a lot of things. There is always something she can learn and something that mother nature always surprise her. Banou watch her son skate while she sits on the blanket laid on the icy grass. She pray in her heart to thank god for the blessing.
Winter also brings them to the palace for celebration of Lunar New Year. The younger children are on their best behaviour. They watch the fireworks with the royal family. Before the night ends, the emperor announce that He would like Li Bo to enter as a companion and adviser to the crown prince's son, Prince Kun. For Li Bo have a good reputation in school as one of the scholar who have good knowledge and clear mind. Li Bo accepted the recommend by the emperor. After all. Prince Kun is around his age and they can click well enough. While Li Tang and Li Mei is request to enter the palace as study companions for Princess Luo Wen. Li Ping raise her hands up and ask if she can join her sisters. The emperor is amused and he agree. Li Ping smile broadly and look at her father.
"Li Bang, Li Tang, Li An, Li Gou and Li Xing. What are you boys planning to do when you are all older?"
"In responding to your majesty, I have no talent in literature but i have an interest to work in the trade bureau just like my father."
"Good. Why about you Li Tang."
"In responding to your majesty, I would like to deal with numbers. Therefore i am wishing to work for the financial bureau. So that i can help to keep the treasure afloat in the royal treasure bureau. "
The emperor laugh and nod his head.
"And you Li An?"
"In responding to your majesty, I would like to deal with security of our city. So that i can keep my love ones safe."
"HA that is good. Li Gou?"
"In responding to your majesty, i am thinking i am good with my hands. I would like to be working in the Yamen or the army. "
"Hmm and finally Li Xing."
"Responding to your majesty, I am the same as my brother Li Gou. Either the Yamen or the army."
The emperor laugh and look at the two boys.
"I heard stories of you both getting into trouble. Fighting with your fist. Now, being boys i can understand but we are civilise people. We don't use our fight unless it is nessary. I know both of you have lots of energy. Use those energy on practising arrow shooting, horse riding or wrestling. Li Jun, you have to spend some time with them."
The emperor look at Li Xing with interest.
"You are half a Persian. You don't look Chinese nor Persian. You have a look like those golden hair men from the far west. your nose is long, high and sharp. Don't let anyone knock your nose. It will be a pity of it is ruin. Your father is known as the handsome man of Great Tang. I think you can be the second, if you keep your looks."
"Father emperor, Li Xing is too young to understand. He just likes to play now."
The emperor laugh and everyone join in. The emperor is satisfy with his second son having the most children. The only one that bother him is Li Cheng. Even the crown prince have married with a son and a daughter. Only Li Cheng runs and hide every time he mentioned the word marriage. The emperor then look at Banou who is sitting quietly at the back. She have the air of a princess. She have the looks and the wide knowledge that surpass some of the ladies. He look at his son and wonder if Li Jun feels that too.
The days pass with joy as everyone greets everybody on the street. Celebration of the Lunar New Year is still going on. Banou watch the gate if Li Cheng is retuning to the capital. However after a month, there is no sight of him. Only a letter from him to Banou and a wooden figuring. In a short letter he wish her a bless Lunar New Year. He made a wooden figuring of a horse. Banou look at it with happiness. She never write back as she fear Li Jun will be unhappy again. Thus she always keep them properly aside. Beside Li Cheng's letter, another two more letters come Li Bo is excited that he trip a few times on the snow while running to the old bulter. A letter from his sister and a letter from Li Kang, the new Duke of AnPeng. Both letters are well wishes for the family. Both of them are settling down nicely in their new homes. Li Ning has written in the letter that she is four months pregnant. Li Jun is upset to hear that however Banou cheer him up again. That night after dinner, Li Bo read his sister's letter over and over again. He decided to write to his birth mother and inform her the good news. While The letter of Li Kang is place on Li Jun's desk. He looks at the cold sky while Banou walks in with hot tea.
"Master come drink this. So that your body can get warm up."
He look at Banou. The only woman who can make him happy is standing next to him with a hot tea in her hands. Her big eyes are looking at him. He take it and drink it while keeping his eyes on her. Once he put down the cup, he pull her near and hug her. "When will you stop calling me master... you should call me something else."
"What do you want to hear..."
"Call me husband. "
Banou push him away. She look at the ground.
"I am a slave. I cannot call you..."
"You are the mother of my child. You have the rights to call me husband."
"I..."
"Tomorrow i will go to the law bureau to find out how to change your status without those pesky paperworks. I want you as my wife. I want Li Xing to be register into the family tree as a legitimate son of mine."
"I want the family tree to have your name on it."
Banou did not know what to say. In her heart she is grateful to this man but how can he bypass the law just because he is the son of the emperor.