The Sultan and Li Xing stroll long the private garden of the Sultan. The translator translate as much as he understands. The Sultan did not want Banou to be present, he feel that she might not translate what he wants his grandson to hear. He knows that Banou is a mother who will shield her children from things that she thinks might do them harm. However the throne is hanging on a thread now. He needs Li Xing's answer and promise.
"I want to go straight to the point. He know that the crown prince may not able to sit on the throne. I have to search for another heir. His other cousins are too young and too self center. I have to watch over them till the end of my life."
"I understand that grandfather, have a lot of worries."
"It is good that Li Xing understand. This all can be ended if he take the throne."
After the translator say to Li Xing, He look at the Sultan with his eyebrows knitted together.
"Please inform my grandfather that he have many grandsons to select from. As he mentioned that the characters are ... unsuitable. They are young, time can change them when adults teach them."
"Is he saying that he is not wiling to sit on the throne?"
"Please tell grandfather that i only can command an army. I am not the man who can lead a nation. Besides that, i am not well verse on the culture of the Persians. Nor can i speak fluent Arabic."
"In this case... what will he do, if his mother is the one siting on the throne?"
The translator got a shock and wipe his sweat beats. He translate as clear as he can. Li Xing listen and try to understand what his grandfather trying to say.
"Please let my grandfather know that, if my mother is the one siting on the throne, i will support and protect her endlessly."
"Ask him if he will give up everything in Tang for his mother who will be the head of the Ottoman empire."
Li Xing continue to stare at his grandfather's face as the translator translate. He swallow his saliva. He think hard and shake his head. All his life he lived with the Chinese and he doesn't know if he can live with the Persians and change everything.
"Tell him that i understand it's difficult. He is born and raised in Tang and suddenly he got an extended family in a far away land. Now i am asking him to come here and take the throne, i know it is too much for him to understand and give me an answer now. We will talk about this when he is older. For now i will give him peace."
Li Xing hear and understand. He bow deeply and kiss the hand of his grandfather. The Sultan watch the boy walk away with long strides with the translator walking fast to chase after him. He look at Halil who is standing on the side.
"Your majestic, at least he did not reject the order totally. There is room to talk about it. "
"Yes at least he did not violently reject the ideal. If this is said with any of my sons, they will immediately rejoice and plan ahead after the death of the crown prince. However this boy did not. Maybe he is young. He doesn't know how much he will influence this empire. I need to find a path to clear for my daughter and her son to successfully sit on the throne."
Halil nod his head. For a long while the Sultan stand in the garden and look at the exotic flowers that are bought from other places to here. In this garden, is a place where Banou's mother and his happiness is at.
That afternoon, he look from outside into the study hall where his grandchildren are studying. Some of them show ignorance during lessons. Some challenge authority and used their titles to belittle the scholars in the room. While others are silence and not wanting to do anything. He sigh and look at Halil. In a short while he step into the room with Halil. The children all immediately come into attention. The scholar greet him and said that class is going smoothly. The Sultan sit down and look at them. He begin to question them. The oldest three who are fifteen couldn't answer a simple mathematics question. However the youngest seven years of age is able to answer. Again he ask the three oldest grandchildren of the current affairs. They know nothing. He feel the hopelessness in his heart. What had happen, did he focus too much on expending the empire and opening up to foreign trade that he left his children to be educated by their mothers and scholars. In turn now, his grandchild each have fail him. He look at the faces of the new generation of Ottomans. How can he choose from any of them when they show they do not want to do anything for this empire. The Sultan gets up and walk away with Halil. They moment they step out, he hear that the scholar might be having a hard time. There is someone shouting. He return and stare at the boy who is belittling the scholar. Immediately, he have his private guards hold his grandson. He inform the rest of them that the boy will be sent for punishment in the cell. There will not be food nor water. He will be in the cell till the sun sets. His grandson did not protest and silently drag away. The Sultan look at all of them again.
"This is my first and last warning. If you still want to address me as your grandfather. You better attend class with respect! My scholar is one of the knowledgeable man in this empire! He is not someone that anyone can shout at. I will ask you to give respect to any scholars in this empire! Do you all understand?"