Banou spend her time busy within the prince mansion. Her days are spend without taking naps. Now her two sons are learning to walk. She spend time playing with them. While sometimes, she join the older children in doing their homework. She also teach the girls how to do simple embroidery. Banou also make sure she spend time with Li Nan, spending time with him, she notice that she can help manage his emotions.
Envoy Ayaz comes to the mansion. He waited in the garden for Banou. She most daily see him, as if he have things to report on daily base.
"Princess Banou."
"Sir Ayaz, how are you today?"
"In god's grace, i am well."
"Well, what brings you here?"
"I have received a letter yesterday from our great Sultan."
Banou's heart drop when she hear that. She look at the flower nearest to her.
"I believe you have some information that you might want to share with me?"
"Yes Princess Banou."
"Then please say it. I need to do something else after this."
"Yes, i will tell you now. Our great Sultan have inform me to arrange a lesson for Prince Li Xing on his education on learning Arabic. From writing to speaking as well as the court manners in Ottoman."
"Why is my father..."
"Our great Sultan wishes that his eldest grandson, to be the next crown prince of our great nation."
Banou pause and she close her eyes. All the while she tried to shield her son away from her father's eye. Knowing that life over there is different and being force to sit on the throne is not what every child wants.
"Is it because the current crown prince is unwell? What about the other princes? My father have plenty of sons. Why can't he choose from them?"
"Princess Banou, the current crown prince is unwell for a long time. He is getting sick as each passing year. The other Princes, are unworthy of the position to take over as they each have fail in many ways. Thus, our great Sultan wanted to appoint you as the crown princess however learning that you have two sons. The great Sultan thinks that they will inherit your grace and intelligence to protect the country that had been build on so long."
"Let me talk to my son. He is now a young man of his own thinking. He never know what is like to be in Ottoman.... Sir Ayaz, if my sons are not ready... let my father know... i will stand in as a crown princess. I know in tradition, the male are always the one who will sit and rule the country but if this is not a choice, i am wiling to sit till a male successor is elected."
Banou look at Envoy Ayaz's face which display nervousness.
"I understand Princess Banou. I will write back most urgently to our great Sultan on your reply. Also the great Sultan will despatch another painter from court to come to Tang. He demand for a more detail painting of the two Princes. The painters are expected to arrive within three months."
Banou nod her head. She sigh loudly as she watch the envoy walk off in a hurry. She cannot believe that non of the sons of her father are good enough to be the next ruler. What did they do to fail her father?
On the free day that Li Xing have, he turns out at the mansion. Banou takes a chance to talk to him about what her father wants to do. Li Xing hear his mother patiently.
"Mother, i prefer to be in what i am doing now."
"I understand. I have talk to the envoy Ayaz. I had told him that, you are not custom with the rules and law in Ottoman. Learning the language is one thing but the relationship inside the court is complicated. It is better that you stay and do what you like best. I also told him that if there isn't anyone he can appoint as a crown prince, in that case, i will step in as the crown princess till my father can find a suitable heir in the empire."
"Mother, if you are the crown princess, you might have to leave uncle Cheng and return to Ottoman Empire!"
"I hope, that day, will not come."
Banou reach out and take the hands of her son. His hands are rough with callouse with over the years of holding the sword. His nails are lined with dirt in them. She sigh and look at the face of her eldest son. He have grown so much and spend most of his time without her.
"Li Xing, it's time for you to find a lady that you like to spend your life with."
He look shock and shake his head.
"Those girls are too scary. I join the army to run away from them."
"Please don't learn this from Li Cheng. He had been avoiding woman and marriage all his life. In the end he marry late."
"Well he marry late but he found a beautiful woman like my mother. That is more important than anything else. "
"Son!"
"Mother, unless you want to be a young grandma then i will try to help but honestly i am happy what i am doing now."
While talking he spot Li Xin hiding behind the pillar looking at him. He smile and wave to her. Li Xin who is shy hesitate to walk to them. Banou enough her to come join them. She walk over and Li Xing pick her up. He place her sitting in the center of both of them. Her blue eyes sparkles when she see her eldest brother.