They were allowed to walk in the gardens whenever they wished, but some things hadn’t changed. The pair of imperial guards was never far behind them. Ping tried not to let Kai out of her sight, but it was hard to keep up with him. He was enjoying his freedom. On Tai Shan, Ping had never let him go far. Worried that he might trip over his big feet and fall down a cliff, she had only allowed him to play in the restricted space around the pool. Now he could run around wherever he pleased.
Ping walked slowly up Ming Yang hill. It would take her a while to recover her full strength. She couldn’t keep up with Kai. She had last seen him heading towards the Garden of Secluded Harmony. When she came to the Watching Magnolia Buds Open Pavilion she sat down to rest. She heard footsteps and the high sweet notes of a flute. The Emperor was walking towards the pavilion with a happy dragon at his feet.
“Ping,” Kai’s voice said in her mind. “Not hungry, Ping.”
Ping lowered herself to her knees and bowed down before the Emperor.
“Lu-lu,” said the little dragon excitedly. He had taken to imperial life as if he were born to it.
The Emperor didn’t say anything. Ping remained on her knees wondering what he would think of the name Kai had for him. A pair of worn slippers came into view alongside the Emperor’s embroidered shoes. They had holes cut in them to accommodate the lumps on the feet inside. Ping could hear the panting breath of the Imperial Magician.
“It seems that there is another crime to add to your list of charges,” the Emperor said. “The theft of an imperial dragon egg.”
Ping could tell from his tone that Liu Che was no longer angry with her. She smiled into the path and then sat back on her heels.
“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Kai wander into a flower bed, trampling yellow autumn crocuses before he lifted his back leg and peed on a plant pot.
“Pee,” he said proudly. That was a new word.
“Why did you commit this crime?” the Imperial Magician asked.
The foul smell of dragon urine drifted over the garden.
“Pong,” said Kai. Another new word.
“It was what Danzi wanted me to do,” Ping replied. “He didn’t want his son to live in captivity.”
“Pee pong,” said the dragon. “Pong, Ping.”
Dong Fang Suo’s straggly ribbons of office were fluttering in the breeze. They caught the little dragon’s attention. He ran over and tried to catch them in his mouth.
“So you chose to hide the young dragon from His Imperial Majesty?” the Imperial Magician said.
Ping nodded.
Kai’s teeth snapped around one of the ribbons. He tugged at it, growling as he did.
“Stop that, Kai,” said Ping. “Don’t annoy Dong Fang Suo.”
“Fat-so,” said Kai.
“You didn’t trust me to care for the dragon, Ping?”
It was the Emperor who spoke this time. Ping felt her cheeks burn.
“It was Danzi’s wish.”
“Do you expect Danzi to return?” the Emperor asked, ignoring the tussle between his dragon and his Imperial Magician.
The Imperial Magician pulled the other end of the ribbon. It ripped, leaving a length dangling from the dragon’s mouth. Dong Fang Suo staggered backwards, his belly jiggling.
“Fatso, Fatso, Fatso,” said Kai.
Ping lowered her forehead to the path again, so that the Emperor couldn’t see her smile.
“Did you hear my question, Ping?” the Emperor asked.
“Yes. I’m sorry, Your Imperial Majesty,” Ping stammered, “but Kai keeps distracting me.”
“Do you understand his sounds as you did with the old dragon?”
“Yes,” Ping said.
“What is he saying?”
“Pee pee pong,” said Kai.
“Nothing that makes any sense, Your Imperial Majesty,” said Ping. “It’s just baby talk.”
“Get up, Ping,” the Emperor ordered. “I can’t hear what you’re saying when you’re talking into the path.”
Ping stood up.
“I have been speaking with the Longevity Council,” he said. “They think it is most fortunate that the young dragon has arrived at this time. They see it as a unique opportunity to learn more about dragons.”
“Since dragons live for hundreds, possibly thousands of years,” Dong Fang Suo said, “the council believes that dragons might be important in His Imperial Majesty’s search for longevity. We are looking forward to studying the dragon to discover what gives them such long life.”
Ping was about to ask how they were going to study Kai, when Dong Fang gasped in surprise.
“Look!” he said. “Your Imperial Majesty, a green sparrow! The most auspicious bird.”
He was pointing at a tree. Ping and the Emperor both peered at it, but couldn’t see a bird. The leaves rustled.
“I see it!” exclaimed Liu Che.
Ping stared at the tree, but still couldn’t see a bird.
“There, on the lower branch.”
Ping finally located the bird. It was just like an ordinary sparrow, except that it was green. Not bright green, but a rather drab colour flecked with brown. It blended almost invisibly with the leaves that were starting to turn brown around the edges. The Emperor and the Imperial Magician were very excited by the dull little bird.
“I have never seen such a bird before!” the Emperor said.
“I have lived four times as long as Your Imperial Majesty and this is only the second time I have glimpsed one!” the Imperial Magician said. “This is a true sign that Heaven is smiling on your reign.”
Ping thought the bird was rather dowdy and unremarkable compared to the red phoenix she’d seen on Tai Shan, but she kept this to herself.
The Emperor smiled. Ping was glad to see him happy.
“Good,” he said. “I have been hoping for an auspicious omen.”
The bird fluttered to another tree and disappeared among the leaves. Ping wondered why there weren’t more birds with green feathers. It was the perfect concealment for them.
The Emperor turned to Ping. His smile didn’t fade. “I have decided not to have you beheaded.”
“Your Imperial Majesty is very kind.”
“I didn’t have a choice,” he said bluntly. “The court’s knowledge of dragons has greatly diminished thanks to my family’s neglect. You know more about dragons than anyone.”
He sat on a stone bench. “I am still angry with you for allowing my other dragon to escape, though.”
“I’m sorry, Your Imperial Majesty.”
“But you made my sister laugh. I’m grateful for that.” His voice softened when he spoke of his sister.
“Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty. But it was Kai who made her laugh, not me.”
“Don’t contradict me, Ping, or I might change my mind. You brought him here. I like having a dragon around.”
“He likes you, Your Imperial Majesty,” Ping replied. “He’s wary of others, but he took to you straightaway.”
The Emperor gestured for Ping to sit on the bench next to him. Kai was trying to sit on the hem of his gown. “You can call me Liu Che again, Ping,” the Emperor said.
“Lu-lu,” Kai agreed.
“Thank you,” Ping said. “I shouldn’t have hidden Kai from you. It only put him at more risk.”
“You must trust in me to take good care of Kai.”
“I will.”
They sat in silence while Kai scampered after some autumn leaves. It was the comfortable silence of friends.
“I missed our conversations, Ping,” Liu Che said. “I’m looking forward to renewing our friendship.”
“So am I,” Ping whispered.
“Do you remember when we first met? You called me an annoying boy.”
Ping blushed at the memory. This time when Liu Che looked at her, his eyes were full of warmth and affection. She hadn’t felt so happy for a long time. In fact, she thought she had probably never felt so
happy.
“I am reinstating you to the position of Imperial Dragonkeeper,” the Emperor said.
Ping couldn’t speak for a moment.
“As a member of the imperial staff, you will eat in the Hall of Cool Fragrance with the ministers and myself.”
“Thank you, Liu Che,” she whispered.
“You will need a new gown as well.”
Ping looked down at her grubby gown.
“Tell me about your rat, Ping,” he said. “How has he changed since returning from the Isle of the Blest?”
Ping saw no point in keeping secrets from the Emperor any longer. She told him all about Hua’s new skills. The Emperor was very interested. She didn’t tell him that the rat visited her every night.
“I have sent six men off to Ocean to sail east until they find the Isle of the Blest,” the Emperor told her enthusiastically. “I must have some of the water of life. If it can transform a rat in such a way, imagine how it will transform an Emperor!”
“Liu Che, there is something I must tell you,” she said. “While I was on Tai Shan, I was attacked by a necromancer. He killed my goat. He was looking for Danzi.”
The Emperor looked puzzled. “A necromancer?”
“He was the one who captured Danzi and was going to kill him and sell his body parts in the town of Wucheng. He got hold of the dragon stone, but I stole it back from him. He wants to get his revenge.”
The Emperor frowned. “Do you know anything about this, Dong Fang Suo?”
The Imperial Magician shook his head. “I have heard of people who can conjure up the dead and meddle with dark magic,” he replied.
The Emperor turned to Dong Fang Suo with a frown. “Why have you never told me of such men?”
“Your Imperial Majesty, I—”
“We must commence a search for this necromancer,” Liu Che interrupted. He glared at the Imperial Magician. “Call for the captain of the guard. Immediately!”
Ping was pleased the Emperor was taking her concerns so seriously.
Dong Fang Suo opened his mouth to make some objection, but was interrupted by a sudden shrill cheeping from behind a chrysanthemum bush. Everyone turned to see where the noise was coming from, but it stopped abruptly. Kai appeared out of the bushes looking very pleased with himself. Ping’s heart sank. His cheeks were stuffed full, green feathers were poking out of his mouth.
“Kai!” Ping shouted, jumping up from the bench and rushing over to the dragon.
She thumped him on his back. Kai swallowed. It was too late. His long, red tongue licked his lips. He had eaten the auspicious green sparrow.
“You’re a bad dragon!” Ping scolded.
Kai belched loudly. He didn’t look at all sorry.
Ping glanced back at Liu Che. Surely it was a bad omen if the auspicious green sparrow was eaten. Neither Dong nor the Emperor seemed to think so. They were both laughing.
“He must be hungry,” the Emperor said. “We must give him more to eat.”
Ping watched Kai closely for the rest of the day. She remembered what had happened when he had eaten the water beetles. She was worried he was too young to start eating birds. But there didn’t seem to be any ill effects.
“I suppose it’s all right for you to eat birds,” Ping said, examining the little dragon’s droppings, which he was in the habit of leaving all over Ming Yang Lodge.
“Birdie good,” said Kai.
• chapter thirteen •
READING LESSONS
“How dare you burst unannounced into
the Emperor’s presence!” he said.
Ping knew that Liu Che’s grandfather had disliked dragons so much that he moved them to Huangling Palace so that he could forget they existed. His father had planned to sell the imperial dragons to a dragon hunter. She was pleased that Liu Che’s attitude to dragons was the exact opposite. He wanted to see Kai every day. In fact, he seemed determined to make up for his ancestors’ neglect. He appointed five members of his staff to tend to the baby dragon’s needs and gave them all special titles. The Dragon Attendant’s job was to follow Kai around, wipe up puddles of urine, collect droppings and carry Kai on an embroidered satin cushion if he didn’t feel like walking. The Dragon Cook prepared six dragon meals a day. There was also the Grand Hunter of Birds whose job it was to catch swallows. The Sheep Constable took care of a small herd of sheep that provided milk for the dragon (Kai had decided he didn’t like goats’ milk anymore). The Grand Officer of Ducks looked after a flock of ducks whose eggs were solely for Kai.
The Emperor was so delighted with his new dragon that he decided to name the garden surrounding Ming Yang Lodge after him.
“From now on it will be known as the Garden of the Purple Dragon,” he announced as they ate their meal one evening.
The Imperial Magician and the members of the Longevity Council applauded in approval. The government ministers didn’t look quite so pleased.
Liu Che ordered all iron utensils and weapons to be replaced with bronze and had the iron sent away. When Ping told him of the other things that were harmful to dragons, the Emperor ordered the gardeners to chop down the two chinaberry trees in the garden. He also instructed servants to conduct a search for clothing and tapestries made of five-coloured thread and remove them from the lodge.
Kai now had three separate chambers—one for sleeping, one for eating and another one that didn’t seem to have any particular purpose. They were now called the Dragon Quarters. Ping had a separate room, but it was very small compared to Kai’s.
Kai was allowed to go anywhere he liked in the gardens and he trampled bushes, ate flowers and stirred up mud in the ponds. He followed the young Emperor wherever he went. He tried to climb onto his lap when he was sitting on the imperial throne receiving his ministers and making important decisions. When he wasn’t with the Emperor, Kai was jumping out from behind trees to frighten the servants, leaving muddy footprints all over the halls and causing chaos in the kitchens.
For the first time in her life, Ping could relax. All she was required to do was translate dragon speech. Though she saw little of him during the day, Kai always came to sleep with her at night. Even though he had a large sleeping chamber of his own he always chose to curl up alongside Ping on her straw mattress. His vocabulary increased as he tried to tell Ping about his adventures each evening. His scales turned a lustrous purple, the colour of lilac blossoms.
Ping had stopped trying to think of a plan to escape. Kai was so happy and healthy, she decided that getting arrested was one of the best things that had happened to her. Who knows why disasters turn out to bring good fortune? Danzi had said to her more than once. Surely he would have approved of Kai living in this sort of captivity?
The servants put up with Kai’s bad behaviour without complaint—even when he bit them. But though Hua was clean in his habits and didn’t bite anyone, the few times they caught sight of the rat there was always a fuss and people talked of traps and cages.
“You must stay out of sight, Hua,” Ping said, when they were alone in the evening.
She stroked the rat’s warm fur. It was a mystery to her why people didn’t like him. She brought him leftovers from her meals (she could never eat all the food that was served to her) and the rat got into the habit of sleeping during the day and going out at night.
Ping had been for a long walk right to the western edge of the garden where it ended on the banks of the Yellow River. She had spent most of the afternoon watching boats and water birds on the river. Then she walked back up to Ming Yang Lodge, wondering what would be for dinner that evening. Her thoughts were interrupted outside Late Spring Villa.
“Excuse me, madam.”
The Dragon Attendant was standing in front of Ping, trying to decide if he should bow to her or not. The man’s name was Xiao Zheng, but Kai had taken to calling him Saggypants. This was because his trousers were too big for him and he was always hitching them up. His eyes were shiny with tears.
“I can’t
find the imperial dragon,” he said, wringing his hands.
“Were you trying to clean his ears again?”
The Dragon Attendant nodded miserably. He was a tall man about four-times-ten years old. He had a droopy face that looked sad most of the time. He also looked a little lopsided. This was because one of his feet was bare.
“He took my shoe.”
Ping bit her lip to stop smiling.
“I’ll help you find him,” she said.
The Dragon Attendant had already searched the places where Kai usually hid (in the pools, in the cellar where vegetables were stored, behind the piles of animal manure used to fertilise the gardens) but couldn’t find him anywhere.
“I bet I know where he is,” Ping said.
Ping strode into the Chamber of Spreading Clouds. “I know you’re in here somewhere,” she said.
Instead of a hiding dragon, she found the Emperor and his Imperial Magician in the chamber. They were both poring over bamboo books. A silk hanging at the other end of the room settled back against the wall as if someone had just hurried past it. There was a brief silence. Dong Fang Suo was retying the ends of a book that had come undone. The Emperor looked annoyed by her interruption, but it was Dong Fang Suo who broke the silence.
“How dare you burst unannounced into the Emperor’s presence!” he said.
He rolled up the book he was looking at and tucked something under his gown. Ping had never heard the Imperial Magician speak so angrily. She knelt down and bowed to the Emperor, glad to be able to hide her flushed face.
“Excuse me, Your Imperial Majesty,” she said. “I didn’t know you were here. I was looking for Kai. He sometimes hides in here.”
“His Imperial Majesty does not want to be disturbed,” Dong Fang Suo continued.
His outburst had made him break out into a sweat. He mopped his brow with his sleeve.