Chapter 29 #2
‘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 apologetic Contain my outburst expression.
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.
‘You,’ my grandmother hisses. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Visiting, as I often do. In fact, I saw Lady Jing being dragged to that pavilion at the back of your palace. Saw those thugs trying to beat her. Saw you, with the silver net.’
Niang Niang’s neck goes red, and her breathing fast.
‘But that’s all by the by,’ Lord Black says, turning to me. ‘I’m here to congratulate Lady Jing on manifesting Celestial command. Very powerful. I felt it ripple all the way through the lake to my cavern. Well done, Lady Jing. I knew you had it in you.’
‘Because you see far?’ I ask.
‘I see many things.’ I hear the smile in his words.
Niang Niang snarls. ‘What does this have to do with anything.’
The Jade Emperor steps forward. ‘Not only did you allow your handmaids to feed on this mortal in breach of the conventions of Tian, you attacked a mortal under official protection of the Ministry of Thunder and Storm, and blessed by Queen Mother of the West. You also attacked a member claiming protection of both the Ministry of Hell and your own court, breaching my Treaty and your own conventions.’ He shakes his head, tsking.
Niang Niang pierces Mr Lee with a look I do not like one bit. She tosses her hair. ‘He is still alive. I’ll pay reparations, which will be minimal for a mere mortal.’
Big Wang regards my grandmother, expression placid. ‘You also infringed on the liberty of a ward of Hell. Reparations for breaching the Treaty will not be so minimal.’
‘She is of my line. I have the right to rid myself of rotten fruit.’
‘She is not of your line,’ Big Wang says. ‘Lady Rey and I made an arrangement. I formally adopted Little Jing since Lady Rey was concerned for her daughter’s well-being in your court. Apparently, your handmaids tried to drown her.’
I stare at Big Wang. Adopt me?
‘That is not true. You bought her so you could get your hands on the Longnu dragon pearl.’
Big Wang shakes his head. ‘I told you then, as I’m telling you now, the dragon pearl cannot be bought or bartered.’
‘I don’t understand,’ I interrupt. ‘Why did you never tell me?’
‘I’ve always said you were my ward, but you never wanted to listen. Besides, Lord Black wanted to wait until you were ready to place the pearl. Too many would be tempted to steal from a powerless orphan. But very few would dare to steal from the King of Hell.’
Niang Niang stamps her silk-clad foot. ‘I want that dragon pearl!’
‘It was never yours, Sister Niang,’ a new voice says.
The pitch is high, the rhythm serene with a distinct musical lilt.
A mist swirls into the hall and coalesces into the shape of a dragon, pearlescent with shades of pinks and blues and white.
The dragon rises until its massive head is level with Niang Niang, the rest of her serpentine body coiling and uncoiling on the ground.
An invisible breeze tousles the snow-white fur that runs from her mane all along her spine to a thick tuft at the end of her tail.
Niang Niang swallows, her back pressed hard into her throne. ‘L-l-lady Longnu,’ she stammers.
‘It has been a long time, Sister Niang.’ The dragon’s voice fills the hall.
‘As you recall, I gifted my dragon pearl to Lady Jing.’ Her great head twists my way, lowering until it is level with me.
I peer into a huge orb of an eye, as large as a gong.
Her irises shimmer the palest blush pink, nearly the same colour as the dragon pearl.
‘Cousin Black told me you’d grown up well. I’m so glad to see you for myself.’
I can hear her voice clear as anything but the dragon’s jaws are still. Is that really Longnu speaking?
‘Yes, little one. It is really me speaking. I’m in meditation so cannot leave my cave. However, I can make spiritual exceptions in an emergency.’
‘The mongrel was part of my court, which makes anything given to her my property.’
Lord Black sucks his teeth and Longnu shakes her head.
‘Not so Sister Niang,’ Longu says. ‘The dragon pearl was gifted to Lady Jing’s vampire side.’
‘Explain yourself, dragon.’ Niang Niang’s tone is low and dangerous.
Longnu giggles and the sound is like a cascade of bells echoing across a valley.
‘Lady Jing’s father did me a great service a long time ago.
My gift was repayment for that Cosmic debt, and thus outside the reach of the Hulijing Court.
’ The dragon’s gaze sharpens on the matriarch, and I shudder at the rage and violence in them.
‘I have been very patient with you, little fox. Do not try to claim ownership for what will never be yours.’
Niang Niang’s face crumples.
Big Wang puts a hand on my shoulder, squeezes gently before turning back to Niang Niang. ‘Since we are here,’ he says, ‘we might as well renegotiate the terms of our truce. You must make reparations for your insult to my ministry.’
‘And for your breaches of the Treaty of Mount Kunlun,’ the Jade Emperor adds.
‘However,’ Big Wang continues, ‘if you are willing to stop with your nonsense and interference in Lady Jing’s life, I will be willing to drop my reparation demands and consider compromise. Is there anything else you wish, Little Jing?’
I grin in a way that bares my teeth, letting my gaze land on Lady Soo and Lady Wen.
‘Given my past history with the Hulijing Court, I wish to approve all future members of the hulijing delegation to the Mahjong Council. In particular, Lady Soo and Lady Wen are banned for eternity,’ I say.
I search out two other faces. ‘And those ones. Sharp chin and moon face. Banned.’
Niang Niang glares at Big Wang. The Jade Emperor sucks his teeth and Niang Niang closes her eyes. I can see her struggle, but then she bows her head.
‘I concede,’ she says, rising to stand.
Big Wang bows. ‘It is so, Venerable Matriarch.’
Longnu nods once, and the mist dissipates. The dragon is gone.
Niang Niang sweeps down the dais, her robes fluttering around her feet. She floats out of the hall, her still-standing retinue of handmaids following behind.
Just as she reaches the door, Big Wang says, ‘Good luck with Queen Mother of the West.’ He glances at the shrivelled handmaids who are wheezing softly on the ground. ‘Best be quick about an audience with her. Their state will continue to deteriorate until she rights them herself.’
With an angry slash of her water sleeves, Niang Niang disappears down the hall.