‘She has an alibi. Apparently, she was with the other hulijing handmaids and even one of the Eight Immortal Crew. Lord Han, I believe. We cannot risk another diplomatic incident between the Hulijing Court and the Ministry of Hell.’
‘How convenient for the lying sack of steaming shite.’
‘Little Jing, we do not refer to ministerial deities in such vulgar terms.’
I stand, not willing to listen to his claptrap. ‘Whatever. Did you know the pixiu are injured? Do you even care? Soo stabbed Puffy in the paw and threw chilli powder at Cutie! What if she blinded her?’
‘Sit down and hear me out for once.’ Big Wang’s command voice is harsher than usual. My knees bend in response and I sink to the floor in shock.
My lips curl, and I’m about to spew a whole litany of profanities when he puts a hand up and says, ‘I know you did not start the fire.’
I’m stunned into silence. But then I remember he just forced me to sit and anger loosens my tongue. ‘Then why in the flying Hearths of Hell am I here being scolded, again?’
‘Please, Little Jing, calm down. I am trying to explain.’ There is an edge to his voice I haven’t heard before. I take heed and bow my head in obeisance.
I stare at the familiar whorls in the table’s woodgrain, seeking out the old faces. I had imaginary conversations with them while Horsey paced behind me and droned on about the five principles of calligraphy – correct, concise, legible, scholarly, and elegant.Aiya! Where is your brush control? The character mirrors the writer. Effort makes the mind, Lady Jing!I shake off the old memories, the constant feeling of failure.
‘The plenary session went badly today. The hulijing used last night’s fracas with Lady Soo as evidence that my banking project is a personal vendetta to ruin the Hulijing Court.’ I hunch forward, as if I could disappear in the face of his disappointment. ‘You were right about the pearl, though,’ Big Wang continues. ‘Lady Soo asked me for the Longnu dragon pearl late last night when I joined the Council for a round of mahjong.’
I stiffen at his mention of the pearl.
‘What did—’ I start to say.
Big Wang holds his hand up, silencing me. ‘I told her no. It is not something I can give away.’
‘So Lady Soo did try to steal it.’ My laugh is harsh. ‘Itoldyou. Where is it anyways? The note in the Treasury said it was moved.’
Big Wang waves away my words. ‘And I toldyou, it is not your concern. Old Hu has been sent to tend to the pixiu.’ He glances at me, at the frustration I can feel clinging to my face, then sighs. ‘Your grandmother wants the dragon pearl back. I imagine it has something to do with the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother of the West refusing her petition to strip you of your title.’
‘They can have my title. I don’t want it.’
‘Mmmgh.’ It’s that noise Big Wang makes at the back of his throat that’s half grunt half exasperated sigh. ‘And yet,’ he continues, ‘it is your title. It is who you are whether you like it or not, and that is not something anyone can take away from you.’
‘Mmmgh,’ I grunt in return, dismissing the spiel I’ve heard too many times before. ‘What does the dragon pearl have anything to do with it, anyways? Why don’t you just sell it back to her and be done with it?’
‘When will you get it through that stubborn head of yours, the dragon pearl is not for sale. It is worth more than you know. I can never, will never, sell it. I made some enquiries and it seems your grandmother is worried my banking project will make yin silver redundant. She overheard Lord Black discussing the powers of the dragon pearl and believes it will give her the power to protect her court.’
‘Can the dragon pearl do that?’ I ask.
Big Wang huffs, amused. ‘Who knows what the dragon pearl can or can’t do. Lord Black is always so cryptic, you know what he’s like. Though, with the dragon pearl in our possession, any further challenge to your birthright would be considered a grave insult, not only to the Ministry of Hell but also to the dragons themselves.’
I drop my head to the table and speak with my face pressed into the wood. ‘Why don’t you listen to me? I don’t want that title. I will not be a minister, not for you, not for her.’
The room is quiet though I can almost hear the burning sizzle of Big Wang’s gaze.
Mr Lee breaks the silence. ‘Who is Lady Jing’s grandmother?’
Big Wang picks up a piece of dried cuttlefish. ‘Niang Niang, the matriarch of the Hulijing Court. I don’t think she’s ever forgiven me for taking such a treasure from her.’ He chews the cuttlefish and eyes me, waiting for my reaction.
I pluck a few peanuts from the bowl. With practiced nonchalance I toss them into my mouth one by one as I eye him right back, refusing to let him see how much his words sting. I give good mahjong face too.
Mr Lee breaks the mahjong face face-off with a panic-riddled, ‘Lady Jing ishulijing?’
‘Only half. The other half is vampire,’ I say.
‘Vam-pire?’From the look on his face, he doesn’t know the term. The dough-knot he’s holding dusts his black changpao with powdered sugar.
‘Surely you’ve readDracula? OrVarney the Vampire?’
