Banou wakes up with a headache. She did not recall that she drink any wine. She look at herself and she feel her own naked body. She look over the couch, as usual the blanket and pillow is folded nicely. She hurry to put on her sleepwear and close the window. She yell for Aylin and ask the time when she enters the room.
"My princess it's already almost ten in the morning."
"Ah... Wang MoMo..."
"She is not in the mansion. She left for the palace... with Prince Cheng."
"Why?"
"I don't know. Prince Cheng's face is so scary this morning. No one dare to take to him. Wang MoMo quietly follow him into the carriage that is heading to the palace. Her face is so ash color."
"Last night, the dinner. Is there any additional ingredient added in?"
"No. I supervise it. Making sure no pork is included. Is it, anything..."
"Any alchol used in the dishes?"
"No. Nothing. We can't drink unless it's a festival."
"Strange..."
Banou look around the room and think of why Wang MoMo follow Li Cheng. Around this time should be the lessons on wife duties. Why are they suddenly going into the palace.
Just then a maid come in to inform the envoy of Persian is standing outside the hall waiting for her. Banou understand and ask Aylin to help her. They take another twenty minutes to walk to the hall. At the hall, Envoy Demir stands there and bow upon seeing the princess. Beside him is Ahmet and some soldiers. Demir orders everyone to stand back as he talks to Banou.
"My princess Banou, i trust everything is well in your hands now."
"Yes, everything is going well and you Sir Demir?"
"Yes, in your grace and praise god. My work is complete here. I am to inform you that i will leave here in a few days. A new replacement will be here within days to replace me."
"So you are going home."
"Yes, princess Banou. I am. The home that i miss, i am returning."
Banou, when she hears that, a tingling sense of sadness hit her heart. She remember that warm sand that burnt her feet whenever she walks out of the palace. That palace that she fear as she grows up in. The noisy market that is close to her living quarters. Now, in great Tang, Chang An is her new home.
"So you are here to inform me of your good news."
"Yes, my princess. Also This maybe the last meeting. I am getting old. Traveling might not be in my work for the future. I must give way for the young and energetic men of our future. "
"In this case, may god bless you and keep you safe to get home. I wish you all the best."
Envoy Demir bow with a big smile.
"I bid my leave now. May the grace of god be upon you."
Banou bow and when she look up, she see Ahmet. They look at each other but when he is about to walk away with the envoy, he is asked to stay back. Banou walk up to him.
"Ahmet, everything is now in the past for both of us. Live your life for the future."
Ahmet who hears this goes down on his knees. He lower his head and put his hand on his chest softy he say
"I am sorry for being a coward when you needed me. I heard your screaming and cry for the sultan, for me. Yet i walk away. I was afraid. It is my fault you have the branding. It is my fault that you are sold as a slave. It's my fault that you are now so far away from home. It is my fault that..."
"Ahmet, all these are my trials that i have to take. A test from god. It is not entirely your fault. However you have apologised for the part when i was in jail. I accept that. Therefore, you should not blame yourself any longer."
"If i have the courage at that time, everything will be different."
"There is not if. You are who you are. I am who i am. Now everything is settle. You should move forward and live your life. Go back to Persia and live like a warrior i know. May the grace of god bestow on you."
Ahmet look up and Banou. His eyes is fill with regret. This is something he have to live with.
"I will go back to the great Ottoman empire and continue to live as a warrior that you knew before. However i will never forget you. Princess, you are my first and my last. I never can look and find another woman as wonderful as you. I have miss my chance and i will live with it. May the grace of god bestow upon you"
He bow for the last time and get up. He turn around and walk away. Banou watch him walk away. Just like the past in the jail, he walk away again. She hear her scream for his name again but now in reality she doesn't want to say his name anymore.
That night Li Cheng and Wang MoMo return to the mansion. Banou is eating her dinner alone. Li Cheng smile and join her. Banou tell him of the visitors today and talk about how to settle the other children. It's time to bring Li Nan and Li Xin to live with them in this mansion. Banou see the tired eyes of Li Cheng and wonder if going into the palace had tired him out. However she did not ask anything and they eat in quietness. They take walks in the garden while holding hands. The sound of the cricket is echoing in the background.
"I went to the palace this morning with Wang MoMo. Do you want to know why?"
"Are you going to tell me now."
"Yes. I will tell you. The reason started with what happen last night."
"Last night?"
"Don't you feel strange last night?"
"Yes, it is strange. I woke up this morning with a headache."
"Last night, the incense burner is not the usual one we had in the room. It was lace with something else."