The following Lunar New Year, approaches and again the royal family are gather in the palace. Most of them are there except for Li Cheng. Banou attend the celebration with her twin sons. The mischievous boys run around the palace and play with the cousins. The eunuchs have a hard time taking care of young children who are playing in the royal gardens that is cover with snow. Outside is fill with laughter and inside is grave and talks about the country politics are in full swing. Banou is not interested thus she never talk much. While Li Jun is drinking away with Consort Wu keep trying to stop him from drinking too much. The emperor is keeping his eyes on Banou while his empress is showing her displeasure at his open attitude.
"Consort Princess Ban Nu, i think you are a very happy woman now."
"Your majestic, may i know why.."
"I recently notice that the children that you had adopted. Most of them are holding positions in the government offices!"
"Yes, i am happy and proud of them to able to serve your majesty."
"Ahh yea, indeed. One is a lawyer, Another works for the Yamen. One a teacher in the Royal Academy of Scholars Studies. A few in the army with Li Cheng. Now the yellow hair foreigners are joining Li Cheng to defend our nation on the border!"
"Your majesty, in this case, Consort Princess family is contributing a lot to our country. Men with talents are found and raise to make our Tang better than before!"
"Indeed. Consort Princess and my brother Li Cheng have all the luck in finding men with talents. I heard that your in-law, that boy from Baekje is a talented young man in his studies as well. Soon, you are producing all the talented men for Tang!"
Banou sense his anger and sarcastic comments about her. She smile and look down. She doesn't want to argue with the man on the dragon throne on a Lunar New Year. The empress notice that Banou is keeping quiet while her husband is poking fire to fight. She quickly make a toast for the luck on the start of the new year to change the flow of the entire topic.
That evening the fireworks are set off in the entire city. Show casing the colourful lights in the sky. The empress request to talk to Banou. They walk along the long corridor of the palace as the fireworks goes off. They walk to an end open space where tables and chairs are available to be seated. Banou did not sit till the empress allow her. The eunuch pour tea for both ladies.
"Consort Princess, please forgive the emperor for his rudeness."
"There is nothing to forgive, your highness."
"I know he is being rude to you of all people. When the late emperor is around, he dare not speak like today. Now he sits on the throne, his true self is shown."
"No matter what he say, the emperor is never..."
"Consort princess, there are things i know and i try to tolerate. I know you don't walk inside these palace walls. Also you are a foreigner. It is not your fault. It is the fault of those men. They cannot control their... never mind what i want to say to you is that... You cannot hide in your mansion forever. Li Cheng may shelter you for now but how long? I am not asking you to leave for Persia now. However it is best you think for yourself. You are kind and nice, i know. However this palace walls don't allow women to be kind and nice. If they are all like you, there won't be a lot of blood will spill on the floor everyday. "
"Your highness, i never will do anything ... to disturb this royal family..."
"I understand but this emperor is not like the late emperor. The current emperor doesn't see relations as a problem to what he wants. He is cruel, even to his own son. I don't know why he have change after he ascended the throne. Maybe the pressure is too much for him to handle."
"Empress, you are the mother of this nation. I am sure you are able to advise you and he will never do anything to disgrace you along this family."
"Prince Li Cheng is holding on the military power now. Please ask him never let it go or spilt up the power. He must stay alive for this nation. He is the only Prince now that the emperor fear. The emperor listens and taken the advise form Prince Li Cheng. Also since your family most of them are working in government office, he will fear the Prince more."
At that moment the fire works gets larger and louder. It signal the fireworks are coming to an end. Banou watch the final fireworks fired into the sky. The last fireworks that show case only for a few minutes and it is gone.
The carriage drives home in a slow steady space. Her two sons are asleep on her lap. She pat them gently. She keep thinking of what the empress had said. She doesn't wish for anything like jewellers or semi precious stones but she wants a happy family. One of her son wake up and rub his eyes, he smile and look at her with his green color eyes. They are the same shade like LI Nan. Piercing and green like fresh grass. He hug her tight. This is what she live for, a family.