‘Ahhngg’ he says, the needle on his tongue quivering.
‘Aiya. Contain my forgetfulness, Little Yang.’ Queen Mother of the West plucks the needle from his tongue.
‘Abundant gratitude, most venerable and unrivalled Great Goddess Queen Mother of the West,’ Lord Aengus says before obediently drinking.
Gradually, his head inflates until it is almost normal again. The ribbons carefully unwind themselves, and withdraw as soon as Lord Aengus’s neck is strong enough to hold his head upright.
Queen Mother of the West plucks the needles from Lord Aengus’s facial meridians. ‘It will take some time for the elixir to take full effect, so be gentle with yourself and try not to get jostled. Your neck muscles are still weak.’ She sighs. ‘Please consider my advice from last time. You should speak with your father; he may be more understanding than you expect.’
Big Wang bows, as do I. The hulijing courtiers stare longingly at the gourd and I hiss to remind them to bow. ‘Abundant gratitude Queen Mother of the West,’ we say.
Queen Mother of the West radiates a peaceful glow. ‘Before you go, Little Aengus, we will rearrange breakfast with Lord Lei and Lady Dian. We have been practising our Irish with young Zhu Bajie – Brother Zhu as most of the yaojing know him – and would very much like to hear again your recital of that wonderfulTáin Bó Cúailnge!’
Lord Aengus nods once, testing out his neck muscles. ‘This unworthy one basks in your benevolent glory, and looks forward to meeting again.’
Queen Mother of the West takes her leave and returns to her suite to rest.
‘We also need to resolve the issue of who will accompany Lord Aengus on his journey home,’ Big Wang says. ‘I have informed Niang Niang of this incident and she will be arriving shortly.’The hulijing go still at this news. ‘Lady Xi, you will ensure the hulijing delegation remains in your suites until we hear back from the Hulijing Court.’
My whole body sags with relief. Niang Niang can deal with this mafan herself. I get up to leave.
‘Except you, Little Jing,’ Big Wang continues, dashing my hopes. ‘You will stay here with Lord Aengus and explain to me how he came to be contained in my favourite Ming vase.’
Five
Growth
We have all been summoned again to Big Wang’s study. Lord Aengus sits in a new vase on a huali armchair, a less precious blue-and-white vessel that Big Wang was happier to gift to Lord Aengus’s puddle of a body. The hulijing delegates stand in a row by the door, heads bowed, folded hands held chest high. Despite their hands being hidden beneath the voluminous cuffs of their water sleeves, the delicate fabric trembles and gives away their fear.
When the door opens, it is not a vision of gentleness and joy which greets us. My dear, sweet, infanticidal grandmother Niang Niang, matriarch of the hulijing, stands there in all her casually cruel majesty, eyes ablaze with displeasure. Crimson diaphanous silk cascades from her shoulders, her swollen bosom heaving from their embroidered confines. A triple loop of jet-black hair studded with jewelled hairpins crowns her head.
Niang Niang wrinkles her nose as if noticing something malodorous, and holds her water sleeve to her face. ‘Big Wang, I don’t know how you can live with such stink.’
She means me, of course. My grandmother is nothing if not predictable.
When I was a toddler her courtiers used to scrub me until I bled. Niang Niang claimed my half-vampire heritage made me stink like a corpse.
‘It’s wonderful to see you, dearest grandmother.’ I sniff my armpits delicately. ‘I’ve been told by quite a few deities that I smell delightful – like calamansi limes with a twist of chilli.Personally, I much prefer fruit to fish. Especiallyoldfish.’ I smile with all my teeth.
Big Wang makes a sound in his throat, half grunt, half cough.
A sneer twists my grandmother’s lips and makes her look monstrous. As monstrous as she is inside. I smirk, enjoying this glimpse of her true self.
Big Wang stands, keen to minimise any risk of a brawl. ‘Thank you for making the time to discuss Lord Aengus’s injuries and the logistics of getting him home.’
Niang Niang side-eyes Big Wang. Ever since she discovered he outmanoeuvred her not only to save me but to keep her from getting her hands on my dragon pearl, she has nothing but enmity for him.
She glides across the floor to stand before Lady Xi.
‘You disappoint me,’ Niang Niang says, her voice calm and reasonable. With unexpected speed, she slaps her, hard. Lady Xi doesn’t even have time to whimper before she slams into the ground.
At Lord Aengus’s sharp inhale I catch his eye and shake my head, urging him not to speak. While her taunting doesn’t hurt me much anymore, I wouldn’t wish her brand of toxicity on anyone else. He seems to understand because he presses his lips together, though his blue eyes harden – the first time I’ve seen Lord Aengus show his temper. The hulijing courtiers visibly shake, tears stream down their cheeks, but they make no noise. Not even Lady Xi, on the floor, head bowed, shoulders heaving with silent sobs. The acrid tang of their terror fills the room.
That smell, and the way the courtiers cower, reminds me of how I cowered at her feet as a child, my own stink of fear. Something snaps inside me. She had no right then, and she has no right now.
I step between Niang Niang and the cowering courtiers. Big Wang tilts his head at my movement. A very subtle tell onlythose in his inner circle would catch. Now that my brain has caught up with my body, I’m as surprised as he is.
But the thrill from giving rein to my impulses makes me reckless. ‘This humble one basks in your glory, venerable Matriarch,’ I say, syrupy sweet. ‘I am glad to see you are well and still enjoy inflicting casual violence on those around you.’
