inside the bedroom. he put down Banou who runs to her vanity table. She is feeling sad, angry and shock. While Li Cheng standing at the door. Close it and slowly walk to her. He clear his throat.
"Long ago when i was growing up with Jun. We make a lot of trouble for our eunuch. Jun always bring me and show me things that the palace doesn't have. Sometimes we run away from our punishments. One day, Jun bought me to a place of pleasure. I was fourteen. It shows me that what is the nature of most men. Inside there are semi naked women. Jun order the best women to the room that we are in. No one knows who we are. They just know that we are rich and have lots of gold nuggets to spend. We spend a lot of time there and they ... strip to show us what we want to see."
After that he sit down and our himself a cup of tea and gulp it down. He look at Banou who is not moving nor saying any words to him. He wonder if he should continue. He look at the empty cup.
"There is a lady that particularly i see every time we are there. She ... service us."
"Do i need to hear this..."
"Yes. It's my ... problem?"
"Then don't say it. I don't ..."
"Ban Nu, i cannot ... i cannot... get up..."
Banou turn around and look at him. Li Cheng face down in shame. She continue to sit there and stare at him. She wonder if he is going to continue his story or just end here.
"What do you mean? Your knees hurt now? I ask ..."
"No i mean... i do not have the ability to do what men does in bed."
She gets up and walk to him. She sits beside him and see that he is trembling.
"You, did not tell anyone?"
He shake his head while keeping them low.
"When did it you ..."
"When i was with Jun in that house of pleasure. No matter how much she try, i can't have a reaction. While Jun is ... "
Knowing Li Jun, Banou is not surprise.
"Maybe i can find..."
"I have taken medicine before. Nothing works. Later after that i stop going to that place. Brother Jun, i dont know how he did. He silence them all."
Banou thinks for a long time. She reach out and touch her husband's hand.
"It is nothing to be a shame off. I might find a cure for it."
"I have been living this ... condition for a long time. So i am not bother by it in anyway but if it..."
"I am not. I don't think about it... i'm just... worry that you think that... i am not clean. "
He look up with a red face. He ask quietly
"What do you mean? I did not think that way."
"Because if these days, people are talking... It hurts my heart however now i know the reason why thus my heart is no longer in pain."
"How dare they! Who, who are the ones spreading these lies!"
"My husband, these are not lies. What they said is true. I have... and ..."
He hold her hands. They look at each other quietly.
"Tonite i will try to lay on the same bed as you but i don't have any desire for woman... i hope you understand."
Banou nod her head. That evening, they talk a lot and wonder around the gardens for awhile after dinner. They look at the moon together and retire into their bedroom. Wang MoMo stands outside their bedroom the whole night. She noted that they stay in the same bedroom throughout out the night but she hears nothing too. However still she have to report back to the empress.
The empress received the message in the morning. She look at the messenger and ask him to inform Wang MoMo to come into the palace after she conduct her lessons with Banou. She eat her congee in silence. This step is done. Time for the next step. She order her eunuch to step closer, she order him to make a special incense.
Inside the bedroom, Banou is combing her hair. She turn to see her husband's bed is neatly pack up. Last night, he tried to sleep on the bed with Banou but his eyes remain wide open and he is not able to sleep. Thus Banou ask if he likes to sleep on the couch instead. He immediately move and Banou find the spare the blanket and pillow for him. He finally falls asleep while Banou fan him as he sleeps. She push open the window to allow fresh air into the room. She quietly return to her bed. She sleep on her side and think if his anxiety that is causing this problem.
Aylin comes in the room with a bucket of water for her to brush her teeth and wash her face. Pouring in a golden plate, Banou pick up the brush and scoop a paste from a small jar. After that Aylin pour away the water in the waste bucket and pour the fresh water into the golden plate for Banou to wash her face. After cleaning up, she change into some fresh new garments and walk out. She walk to the main garden to find Li Cheng sparring with his men. All the maids stand still with their mouth open. some are holding the brooms and others with the duster. Their eyes are fill with admiration for the prince. Under the sun, his shirtless top is fill with sweat beads rolling down. His muscular chest is moving as he swings his arm. His arm muscles are well develop and not too big. His long dark hair is tie up on a pony tail. Swinging around with his manly face, his thick eye brows and thick eyelashes he looks like a young man who is at his prime. His beauty is another kind comparing to Li Jun.
Banou can hear the sound of his leg kicking his sparing partner. That shows her how strong his legs are. When he finally throw over his man who is sparing with him. He look up as his men cheer. He offer his hand and pull up his sparing partner. He look across the garden to see his wife standing there. He smile and wave to her. Her heart is beating fast for him. She too have love and admiration for her husband.