‘SILENCE! I will not be disrespected in my own court.’ She stalks down the bridge towards me.
My stomach clenches but I stand my ground, twirling my staff and the chain, forcing her to keep a respectful distance.
‘Where is it?’
‘Where is what?’ I ask, chain whistling by my ears.
‘I have had enough of your impudence, child. Answer me!’
‘I am answering. And my answer is: I have no idea what you are talking about.’
‘The Longnu dragon pearl!’ She stamps her foot again, and I cough to cover up the laugh that bubbles up my throat. Every time she does that, I get an infusion of courage. ‘Your useless mother stole it from me and gave it to Wang. It’s rightfully mine. I want it back. Soo saw you in the Treasury. What did you do with it?’
Rightfully hers? The claim makes me pause. Niang Niang moves into my distraction with a fast, hard slap.
‘I am your matriarch, and you will do as I say.’ Her voice is low with warning.
The whole left side of my face throbs, cold and then hot, and tears threaten. But I will not let her dominate me. Instead, I smile, as if I thoroughly enjoyed her slap. Even give her a lazy bow.
‘Venerable Matriarch, I have missed your casual violence. You can slap me all you like. But it won’t slap knowledge into me that I don’t have.’ I think about quoting another ordinance, but that might push her over the edge.
‘The dragon pearl is not anywhere in yin Shanghai. It is not in Wang’s dratted treasury vaults. When he sent you to yang Shanghai I knew he must have sent the pearl with you for safe keeping. Why else have Lady Gi and Ah Lang as your bodyguards?’
I blink at her in confusion. Her accusation is not at all what I was expecting. ‘I don’t have it. I don’t even know what it looks like.’
‘I don’t believe you. That dragon pearl was taken frommytreasury. It is mine!’ Her voice shakes and her eyes are wide and wild. I’ve never seen her so unhinged.
‘It’s been nearly a hundred years since Big Wang got that pearl,’ I say, curiosity getting the better of me. ‘Why now? And why in Tian do you think I of all people, have it? I barely own three hair pins. How would I get my hands on a dragon pearl?’
I don’t like the way she narrows her gaze, assessing. ‘You don’t know anything about anything, do you?’
I swing the staff, not hard, but enough to make the whip chain whistle. To remind her that I have not retaliated for her slapping me. And to keep her from getting that close again. ‘I can recite sixty excellent poems about cats – Lord Ma was very insistent on my education.’
I work the staff faster, the whip chain snaps outwards like an angry snake. Niang Niang is forced to back up, hands clenched so tight they tremble.
Her eyes glint. ‘Tell me where the damned pearl is!’
‘Is that why you brought me here?’ I ask. ‘To interrogate me about a pearl I’ve never even seen? You are wasting your time.’
‘You are here because you are obsessed with blaming the hulijing for your own fuck-ups. I caught you sneaking into my Court, attacking my guards and courtiers.’ She gestures to the crowd behind her. ‘We have many witnesses to corroborate my account. Everyone has heard of your infamous inability to control your temper, your arsonist tendencies. Sadly, to protect my own, I had to subdue you, which unfortunately led to injuries that damaged your primordial qi.’
I laugh, though it sounds more like an ugly bark. ‘You’ll have to catch me first. Besides, no one will ever believe your lies. Everyone knows I’d never willingly set foot here.’
Uncertainty crosses her beautiful face, but it’s gone in an instant. ‘It matters not, because in the end, your corpse here in Turquoise Hills will be enough proof. I will have claim to the pearl and the Jade Emperor will compel whoever has it to hand it over.’
I hold on to my mahjong face. My kidnapping is an extreme attempt to hoodwink someone – me, Big Wang, or the Jade Emperor – into handing the pearl over. I know Big Wang must have it, and must have hidden it somewhere safe, but she doesn’t know this. Best not to clue her in.
‘Ok, Grandmother. You got me. I do have it,’ I lie. ‘I took it from the Treasury just before Soo tried to steal it.’ I suck my teeth. ‘But if I give it to you, I want something in exchange. Let me stay here. Your palace is gorgeous. And I’ve always wanted to prance around and show off my ta-tas. They’re really quite perky, you know. They would do the hulijing proud.’
Niang Niang frowns, thrown off guard.
I continue feinting. ‘You know what, let’s invoke Ordinance 6.2 of the Treaty. Parley. We can invite the Ministry of Hell to the Hulijing Court to negotiate new terms. You can officially claim ownership of the pearl and formalise my status in your court.’
Her gaze snaps to me, eyes fiery. Oops. I overplayed my hand.
‘You are a mongrel. You deserve to be stripped of your title. If I’d had my way, you would have been erased from Tian the day you were born. I am going to fix that right now.’ From her sleeve, she pulls a shiny silver net and advances down the bridge.
My eyes burn and water.Crap.It’s yin silver. I back away. ‘Now, now, Grandmother, you’re likely tired and grumpy. Old age will do that to you. Maybe a nap will help.’
