I hold my hand out for the pearl again. ‘I can’t claim to truly understand the dragon uncle when he talks, but I’m pretty sure you can’t use the dragon pearl the way you think. It’s about embracing the Cosmos, or something. Now give it back. It isn’t yours.’
She snarls. ‘Never.’
I sigh and decide to try and emulate Lord Black. Gathering my qi, I send it towards the pearl, willing it to swell.
With a gasp, Niang Niang stares at the suddenly melon-sized pearl in her hand. Concentrating, I do it again, only willing it to shrink this time. I want it as small as the tip of my pinkie.
As I hoped, Niang Niang is too surprised by the shrinking pearl to stop me from smacking it out of her hand. The pearl plinks down the dais stairs and rolls across the floor until it comes to a stop against a bare black-skinned foot. The rest of the leg is clad in an emerald green siwar, gathered at the knee. Big Wang kneels to pick up the dragon pearl, inspecting it for damage.
I nearly weep with relief as I rush down the stairs back to Mr Lee.
‘Venerable Matriarch.’ His eyes glow deep red, a sure sign of his fury. His words rumble into the hall and the ground vibrates with the force of his voice. ‘Did I hear right? You attacked a ward of the Queen Mother of the West? You knowingly broke the Jade Emperor’s Treaty? And you tried to steal Little Jing’s dragon pearl? I thought I told you and your ministers the dragon pearl was never mine to give, and never yours to take. I believe you owe my Ministry reparations for your misdeeds.’
Niang Niang stands. ‘How dare you parade into my palace uninvited and unannounced—’
She falls silent as more footsteps sound in the corridor. A deity in cyan blue robes walks into the hall. He wears a Heavenly Peace crown. Gold tassels fringe the front and back of the crown’s board, swaying and tinkling softly as the deity strolls towards Big Wang. I stare unbelieving.
The Jade Emperor?
My eyes widen even further as six hopping jiangshi follow him through the door. They are not known for leaving Hell, or for socialising with anyone but themselves. They hop across the hall to stand behind the Jade Emperor. Something seems off about them. I puzzle over this until it hits me. They don’t stink as bad as they normally do. In fact, they don’t seem to stink at all. I surreptitiously sniff the surrounding air. I wonder if something is wrong with my nose.
‘What is the meaning of this, Brother Yu?’ Niang Niang addresses the Jade Emperor. ‘Why are you here, and why are those demons in my court?’
‘Sister Niang, you stand accused of attempted burglary, kidnapping, and property damage’ – the Jade Emperor glances briefly at Mr Lee – ‘plus you have broken convention by feeding on a prior claimed mortal who also happens to be blessed by Queen Mother of the West herself.’
She jerks at the mention of the Queen Mother of the West, the matriarch of Tian. ‘Y-you have no proof.’
The Jade Emperor stares down his long nose at Niang Niang, his dark eyes flashing disappointment.
‘Is that the position you wish to take, Sister Niang?’
She glances at the handmaids still writhing on the ground, skin now sloughed away to bone.
‘The only way to fix your handmaids is to beg for Queen Mother of the West’s forgiveness. You know how she doesn’t like liars.’ The Jade Emperor gazes dispassionately at the skeletal handmaids on the ground.
Niang Niang shifts in her throne, her gaze darting between Big Wang, the Jade Emperor, and the jiangshi. She licks her lips. ‘How can you accuse me—’
The Jade Emperor cuts her off. ‘Bring her in.’
Ah Lang and Gigi appear at the door and I can’t stop the happy sob that escapes at their arrival. Between them, her normally coiffed hair dishevelled, her yellow silk dress wilted, is Lady Soo.
Niang Niang stills.
‘These jiangshi came forward when we appealed for witnesses,’ Big Wang says. ‘They saw Lady Soo along with five members of the Eight Immortal Crew break into my treasury in an attempt to steal the Longnu dragon pearl, and then watched as she doubled back to frame Little Jing. They made a citizen’s arrest and brought Lady Soo to me.’
Gigi pipes up, ‘That’s why all the hulijing were recalled from mortal Shanghai! They must have realised something happened to her.’
The Jade Emperor frowns at Gigi, who rolls her lips between her teeth and scrunches her face at him in an apologeticContain my outburstexpression.
Lady Soo keeps her gaze on the floor, but her expression is grim.
Niang Niang smooths her hair. ‘Fine. I will pay reparations and punish my handmaid. I’m sure she was acting out of misplaced loyalty. But the fact is, you are too late. Lady Jing has already forfeited her life to me.’
‘Yoohoo, dear Sister Niang.’ Another voice floats into the hall from the corridor.
‘For the love of Tian, who is it now?’ Niang Niang looks like she might explode, her face is red and wisps of hair are stuck to her face. ‘My palace is not a train station for people to wander in as they wish.’
We all turn to see Lord Black strolling into the hall, hands behind his back, wearing his trademark shabby brown robe.
