Banou begins to sit for her portrait after three days of search by the master for the perfect place. He wants to capture the Chinese background with the Persian princess. His apprentice help to set up the background in the mansion. Adding, removing, adjusting and recording the time when the sun's direction. What will be the best for the portrait is consider in it.
Banou picks up her favourite Chinese dress, Qi Xiong Ru Qun. It's a high-waisted light green color skirt that is tied at the chest and with a red color loose fitting sleeved outer garment. When everything is in solid color, her tie is embroidered with small designs of flowers across her chest. After slipping in her socks, she put on YunTou shoes with the design of clouds embroidery all over it.
While Aylin help to style the latest hairdo in the capital. Lucky for Banou her is is rather thick and long, thus she doesn't need a wigs to add on to her hairdo. However she have a lot of hair accessories like hairpins made of Jade and gold are place at various part to secure the hair. As a result, her head feels extremely heavy. When it comes to the makeup, she refused to do anything. She wants her face to be shown as a Persian. Banou put on a few pieces of gold bangle and a green jade ring for the sitting. She doesn't want her father to think she is living in a poor state and maybe rush to have her return home instead of getting marry.
After a long preparation, she and Aylin leaves the room and walk slowly. In her hands, she holds a fan that she had embroidered in her spare time. Now she can show it on the portrait. Maybe she will gift it to her father as well.
She arrived at a room in the mansion. It have an open balcony that looks over the river in the city. There are stalls selling things along it. People are walking around plus a Chinese bridge is at the corner. It is consider a perfect sight. Banou is sitting down at the balcony. The master begin to work his art while his apprentice is watching the master at work. His mouth never close. Demir and the rest of the Persian man standing in the room is marvellous at the sight the master is working on. Aylin is happy and proud that her princess is getting the recognition that she deserves. Even the people walking at the streets, look up to see Banou sitting at the balcony and wonder what she is doing without moving. Even the sun is warm, Banou hold on the same position. After a while, the master request Aylin to fan the princess. Aylin did the best she can fanning at a comfortable speed for Banou.
"I am sorry Aylin."
"No it's fine. Just a bit more, i think. The master is working his magic!"
Banou giggle so did Aylin. Banou knows that the master will do a good art work. Even though he is not that famous but he is one of few men that can actually paint an object to the closest how they look like. Banou understand there is a theory on light casting that's why they are so fussy on the direction of the light. The first sitting of the day is done in three hours time, the rest of the day, the sunlight is too strong. Thus they will continue on the following day. The rest of the day, Banou bring the old master and his apprentice around the city. Ahmet follow behind and watch her in a distance. Banou knows that he is watching her however she choose to ignore him. It's better that way to walk away from him. Remembering how she scream for him to help her makes her heartache. In the end, the love between them is not enough for him to save her. In the end, she is branded under his command. In the end, she is push into the cage and wheel out of the city, never to return.
That night, she sits at her room to do an embroidery on a tie for Li Xing. She is sewing various design with a cranes around the center of the tie. She feels satisfy when she finally got one crane sewing up. She raise it up and look. Her eye caught at the side there is someone at the walkway standing. She look and see Ahmet. Her smile drop as he bow to her. His long curly hair fails over his shoulders. He bow for a long time then straighten up. Banou understand from his guester that he is apologise for the past. However she feels that the past is the past. They should left it go. She stands up and bow with a nod on her head. After that she close the window.
The next day, Aylin try to tidy up Banou's hair. She try to remember where did she insert those hair accessories. As today the old master only will paint the head part, thus Banou wears her usual daily outfit. As she sits there, Demir is talking.
"Princess Banou, the great Sultan also request to have a portrait done with your husband-to-be. He wants to know how he looks like."
"Have you talk to Prince Cheng?"
"Well no. It seems like he have return to camp. I am not able to write in mandarin characters so..."
"Then i will visit him to inform him about this. Does old master knows about this?"
"Visit him? The camp is far away my princess."
"Doesn't matter. I have to see him anyway."
"You can't go till the painting is complete."
"I will send my servant to go to camp to meet Prince Cheung. However i would need your servant Aylin to help translate the message. Since she is the only one next to your grace is able to speak and understand Mandarin. "
Banou look at Aylin who is fanning her. She is feel scared if Aylin is away from her side now.
"How long does she needs to go?"
"I would think just a day or two."
Banou look at Aylin gravely and nod her head.