Lunar New Year ends with a bang of fire works in the sky. Another year have safety pass without problems. At the border, with Ajax and his men, XiongNu have been pushed back repeatedly and now it's all quiet. The emperor is satisfied and he did not disturbed Banou for now. He take in another concubine from the Wo country much to the empress dismay as the new concubine is barely fifteen. She is the same age as her younger daughter. There is unhappiness in the palace because of this but there is nothing they can do. The new concubine who is absolute a manner of an adult bow and sit with elegance. Her long hair is like silk. She never smile. She hardly laugh. Her eyes is fill with sadness but she is never rude. The empress who plan to control her did not have the heart to do so when she see a sad child in front of her. She, the empress can only vent her anger on her husband.
Arya and Darius is studying hard. While the twins on the other hand is opposite of the heirs. The twins are smart and thus they don't work twice as much but they use their brains on inventions of all kinds. One of them is a smart person on calculations on angle and designs while the other learn from the carpenter to use the available tools to make things. The heirs watch the twins work on amazing projects and when they are free, the four will be working in the courtyard with the tools and wood available for them to knock and cut.
Banou's adopted children return from camp. All of them tall and strong. With XiongNu's blood in them but the heart is made with Banou's love and attention. Even though they are fierce in looks, they are gentle like a sheep. They know they have loud voices that might make ordinary people scared of them thus they lower their tone but when in the mansion, it sound like there is a fight inside. The boys love to drink along with Li Nan, they go crazy over alcohol. Banou walk in to see seven big men drunk but still sober.
"It's only in the afternoon, you are all drunk?"
"No mother. Still fine. We are not drunk."
"Yes mother. Just bit of this alcohol will not send us to sleep!"
"Mother, don't worry. We are big now."
"I can stop worring when can i see the wives of all my grown up sons! Only Li Xing is marry. What about the rest of you?"
"Mother, girls .... too much trouble."
"Trouble? What trouble?"
"They all want a handsome man like Xing ger!"
"Yeah so i cannot get marry... yet. I am not handsome ... yet. Hahaha!"
"Better stop drinking! You as well!"
Banou hits them each on their arm. All of them laugh.
"Don't be upset mother."
He continue to laugh along with his brothers.
"At least these three who works in the bureaucrat can maybe get a wife! But us, mother don't think too much!"
"Yeah at least these three brothers are the better looking one!"
"Ker'er! Stop talking nonsense! The oldest one have to marry first then the rest!"
"No whoever can find a wife can go first!"
Banou watch her drunkard sons bubbling nonstop and laughing loudly. She walk outside and instruct a maid to get some soup and clear the bottles in the room. She walk back inside and yell at them.
"I am going to find a matchmaker for each and one of you! I need to find a wife for each of you!"
"Good luck mother!"
They all burst off laughing and two of them fall on the ground. Rolling around and laughing. Banou leave the room and walk out to find Wang MoMo. She needs her help on this.
News spread in the city that the adoptive sons of the Prince Cheng is looking for a good match spread wide and far. Some portraits from the neighbouring countries are send over to the official matchmaker. Banou told her the requirements. Only need to be able to handle a six foot tall man. A kind heart. Looks doesn't matter. Also they prospective families have to know that these sons of her's have XiongNu's blood. If they do not like the ideal, they do not need to submit their daughter's portrait for consideration. However to them, this is a chance to become the in-law with the royal family. Whether the daughter wants to marry or not is not up to them to say so. The parents and clan always have the last word. Thus within two weeks Banou received many portraits. She stare at the many portraits of young girls. She cannot tell them apart. She look at Wang MoMo and the matchmaker.
"I got seven sons and i got a mountain of portraits to look at..."
"Well everyone fits in the prescription of what you are looking for a daughter-in-law. Thus most rich families submit the portrait of their daughters."
"Fine... first. Reputation. We need to filter our those girls with bad reputation."
The match maker begin to work on removing those portraits which she knows. After awhile, those are place outside the door to prevent a mix up in the good pile.
"Next temper. Those with bad temper remove please."
The matchmaker work again to remove the ones known with bad temper. Again that pile is place outside the door.
"Next no patience.... next age below fourteen..."
After along time filtering, the matchmaker is perspiring with sweat beads. The portraits left on the table is only five. Wang MoMo ask one of the maid to hang up the portraits to have a closer look. Finally, there are just five and the girls on the picture looks sweet and nice.
"Consort Princess, the first portrait on your left is Miss Han Jiang. She is seventeen. Her family is dealing with shipping. They are rich family. She have an elder brother and a younger sister. The second is Miss Wang Weng Ming. She is eighteen the only child in the family. Her family have many textile shops around the whole country and i heard they are expending. The third is Miss Sheng Yao Ching. She is seventeen. She have many brothers and sisters. Their family deals with the supply of rice. The fourth is Miss Yang Bai Lu. She is twenty and the only daughter of the family. Their family deals with escorts services. The last is Wu An Ting. She is twenty and the youngest child. Her family have a restaurant in the capital and two more in other provinces."
"They sound not too bad. Wang MoMo what do you think?"
"Consort Princess, i agree with you."
"Matchmaker Yuan, I only have one serious condition that you know. Did you inform those families?"
"Consort Princess... is it about their ... blood... yes of course! I told them about it. They say don't care about XiongNu blood... I am sure..."
"In the end when we agree the marriage and they found out about it will be difficult for both families. You do know that, matchmaker Yuan. "
"Of course!"
"My sons may have XiongNu's blood but each of them are Tang citizen and have grown up with a Chinese heart."
Banou stare at the portraits of the girls. Out of these five she hopes that at least one or two can be a successful match with her son.