Banou walks in her garden to look at the flowers who are blooming. A maid hurry to her.
"Consort princess!"
"What is it. Why are you perspiring... see your hair is stick to your fore head."
The maid use her sleeves to wipe her forehead.
"The .. the empress is here! She is in the main hall with Wang MoMo."
Banou's hands turn cold suddenly it is unusual for the empress to come out of the palace. It must be something that made her unhappy that she have left the palace but why is she here? Banou hurry to tidy herself and walk to the main hall. Inside Wang MoMo is talking to the empress. Banou bow and greet her majesty. She acknowledge Banou and ask her to sit beside each other.
"Do you have Persian tea here?"
"Yes we do have your majesty. Would you like to try?"
"Yes please."
Banou have the maids serve tea and pastry in Persia style. The empress is delighted and have a good afternoon. She even play with Li Han. The twin boys who comes back from school is delighted to see the empress in the mansion. They talk nonstop to her while having their lunch. After lunch Banou ask them to go to do their homework.
"I am delighted to see your mansion running in order."
"I am delighted that you are comfortable here."
"If only... well never mind. You make a right choice to marry Li Cheng. If you marry another, i doubt you will be this happy."
"Is something bothering you?"
"Yes something. I am wondering how did you managed to stop Li Cheng from marry or taking in another wife?"
"I did not. He already taken in two women in this life all by the decree of the emperor and i am not blaming anyone or it."
"Yes it is all because of my husband, the emperor. The useless man!"
The empress flash her furry looking and try to calm herself down.
"What had happen? Maybe i can help?"
"Consort Princess, he wants to take in another concubine! A young girl from the Silla! A princess barely thirteen! You do know that my crown prince have taken a concubine from the Wa country. Now he wants ... heavens! From the lesson of Lady Peng he haven't learn anything!"
"Was it a political reason for him to marry a ..."
"What ever the reason was, it is not a good news for me! He said he wants to have more children. I don't think that is the reason!"
"Perhaps you should discuss this further with him."
"There is nothing to talk about. Consort Princess do you know how many women are now in the harem? Twenty! It is one different woman every night! Is this not enough for him??? How many is enough?"
"The Dowager approve?"
"Well she of course approval. Saying that it is for the best."
The empress cry bitterly and Banou have to offer her sympathy. The empress stay till the eunuch from the palace comes to fetch the empress back. The empress is in a bad mood as she board the carriage. Banou and the servants in the mansion bow to her a the carriage leaves.
The next few days, the empress frequently comes by to hide from the emperor. Eventually Banou invite Consort Wu to come to the mansion. The three ladies have a good time talking about their own lives and own problem. Again, the eunuch come to fetch the empress back into the palace by the order of the emperor. Finally a day comes when she refuse to go back into the palace. She stay in the prince mansion till the Dowager ask for her return. Soon after that, she did not come out of the palace.
A month pass and the empress is still not happy. It was said that she was confined in her residence for hurting one of the Ladies-in-waiting for seducing the emperor. Banou can understand how the empress feel. The sadness and wanting her husband to herself only. Sharing with many other woman is a horrible feeling. One of those days without much things to do, Banou goes into the place to visit the empress. The empress is dress in her plainest outfit to see Banou. Her hair is not combed up and less makeup on her face. The empress is not in a good mood but she still grateful for Banou to come visit her in the palace. They walk in the garden and talk about what had happen outside the palace. Finally, the empress asked if what she did is correct.
"I was fuming mad. When i found the maid in his bed. He said that i was disturbing him. I then yell at him and said that he is worst than Li Jun. Isn't that the truth?!" Banou nod her head and the empress looks better after the rounds of complaints.
"I am very glad to have you as a sister-in-law. Someone to listen to me when i complain. Someone who understand me. half of my life i have spend on this royal family. I though that i should be marrying someone from a noble lineage. Instead my father make me a crown princess and now an empress. I never ask for more or the impossible. I just want someone for myself. That's why i envy everyone out there who is just marry to one man and have two children in a family. That is more than enough for one woman. Now i live in a palace. Two children of my own but five other hand children that bore by other women. I don't want this life if i have a choice."
Banou cannot agree more but they are living in a society where it is common for men to have more than one wives. Even in Persia, this is allow. Maybe this is something that accept all around other countries.
That night Li Cheng return home. Tired they sleep together as usual Banou talk about things that she had talk to the empress but LI Cheng is already asleep. He hardly hear anything. The night ended with her alone in thoughts. Is many years from now, the society is still going on this this? Or a change will happen that makes some women happy in their marriage life.