Banou and the Sultan stands there while every court officials are mumbling amount themselves. The Sultan then notice the Chinese men standing behind waiting patiently. He wave and the guards who them that they are allow to move near him. Each of them bow to the Sultan. He looks at them with satisfaction.
"Halil, show our foreign physicians to the crown prince."
A young man who is standing on the side, He bow and smile, he signal them to follow him. Banou tells them to follow the man.
Banou look at them walk away and turn to look at her father looking at her intensively. He then smile and pick up her hands.
"You look like your mother in some ways. I remember her."
Banou is shock to hear that. The sultan straighten his back.
"Go, go and follow them to meet your bother. I need to finish this meeting. I will see you in dinner time."
Banou bow to him and she look at her father's face. His tired eyes have show him how tied he is but he is still doing so much for the country.
They walk along the long corridor which seems to be endless. Airy and bright with beautiful blue tiles on the wall. Every quarter they walk pass, have a huge space with a couch at the back of the room. Every huge wall they come across, they marvel at the beautiful picture construct with tiles. There are even beautiful glassware on tables as they walk pass. Each glassware are in different colors. The floor they walk on are clean and white. At some point, there are small designs of tiles.
After a long walk, they come to a room, The Chinese physicians make way for Banou to walk infront of them. Banou and Halil walk towards a bed at the far end. Banou stop in front of the bed while Halil with almost carefulness walk to a man who is standing beside the bed. They whisper and the other man nod his head. He move near the bed and lift up the curtains. Soon, they hear a man coughing and groaning is heard. Halil walk back to Banou. He is almost whispering
"Princess Banou, Crown Prince is awake, he will now see you."
Together they walk to the bed. Banou brace herself, she remember a high and might looking brother when he was younger. He is the one who control his younger brothers and belittle the sisters.
"Your highness, Banou is here to see you."
She bow and look at the bed cover, there is some small dots of blood. She look up and see a man almost unrecognisable. He is all skin and bone. His hair unkempt and dry. The crown prince did not look at her but he have an angry look.
"Have you seen enough?"
He whisper in an angry tone. Banou look away and Halil inform the crown prince that the Chinese physicians are here to take a look and diagnose his condition. He wave his finger. Halil bow again and walk off. While Banou follow behind and explain whatever Halil have to say. The Chinese physicians seeing Banou's face is preparing themselves. Li Jun is standing in the far room observing what is going on. He understand from Banou's action, the siblings are not close.
They stay in the room for awhile. Banou keep translating to her best. However some medical term is difficult to translate thus she take time to talk. The crown prince keep groaning in pain. He gets frustrated with the long checking and poking. Eventually he yell at them to get out. He make a fuss till the royal doctors come in to calm him down. He wants everyone to leave him alone. Eventually everyone leaves the room and stand at the courtyard outside his bedroom. The sun is setting soon the courtyard is cooling with some potted plants around. The Chinese physicians stand around and talk about the problem the crown prince might be facing. Banou stand there to listen while Li Jun look at Banou. Her face is full of concern and frustration. He sigh and look up tp the blue sky.
That evening, Banou find herself in the same dining room many years ago when she is younger. The room did not change except for the table cloth. The Sultan sits in the center as usual. while the rest sits on the left and right. The dishes are place across the tables. However the Sultan only have three dishes and his usual of breads that he love.
"Father, you are not having the same food as us?"
"I am getting old. I have problem with my teething. I can't chew hard food. Also my stomach is not able to digest too much food. So i am having soft and less food these days. "
Banou feels sorry for him but this is is what every old person have to go through eventually at old age. Someday, she will like that as well. So dinner starts when everyone is seated. Everything is to everyone's liking. Banou haven't have this taste of food from her own country for awhile. She is enjoying it under her father's watchful eye. He look at Li Jun who is eating at the far end of the table. He looks rather like the portrait of his grandson. He wonder if he is the father, if he is, he needs to be punished.
"After dinner, walk with me in the gardens."
"Yes father."
After dinner, Banou tell the Chinese Physicians and Li Jun that Halil is preparing the transport to take them all back to Sir Ayaz's mansion. While she will remain behind to talk to her father. Li Jun is reluctant to leave her behind but she ensure him there won't be anything going wrong. He is her father after all. After they leave with Halil, she goes to the garden to find her father siting on a couch with a small table with a wine jar of Aragh. He is smoking Shisha in his legs up on the couch.