After loading several trays with pots of hot tea, bowls of sunflower seeds and boiled peanuts, Miss LeeLee led the way out of the kitchen courtyard, Autumn following behind YangEr and LuEr.

  Autumn’s arms were starting to get tired when Miss LeeLee opened the fifth set of wooden black doors along the corridor and Autumn heard yelling and laughter. Peering over LuEr’s shoulders, Autumn saw a semicircle of onlookers around two figures - a teenage boy sprawled out on the ground and a short, slim man with white hair and a white tunic twirling a stalk of bamboo. Autumn couldn’t decide on the age of the man in white. His face was free of wrinkles, but his hair was as white as a fresh layer of snow.

  A woman in a flowing green gown, embroidered with pink peonies, sat on a stone bench. She was giggling so hard her shoulders shook. Beside her, a handsome gentleman in simple blue cotton robes, drank from a gourd, a sword dangling from his belt. An old man with a long beard and a white top-knot stood to their right, looking amused.

  "Get up CaiHe!” said the man in the white tunic. “We still have fourteen more forms to demonstrate!"

  This elicited a round of laughter from the three observers.

  "Don't hurt him!" called out the woman. "Lord CaiHe is half of our act for the party!"

  The white tunic man scoffed. "No need to worry Lady He, CaiHe can handle this. You should be more worried about me! I’m an ancient rabbit and could strain a muscle at any time."

  Before anyone disputed or supported this, YangEr called out. "Uncle YuTu!"

  Autumn's eyes widened in surprise. She had imagined a tall, elderly man when the girls had told her about Uncle YuTu. Not this strange boyish figure. It also made her wonder about his relationship with Grandma HongMi.

  "Kids!" Uncle YuTu called out cheerfully. “Stand back and watch me and CaiHe finish demonstrating the Eleventh Form of my new martial art - Crescent Moon Slicing the Field.”

  The teenage boy, who must be Lord CaiHe, stood up and dusted his pants. He squinted at Uncle YuTu in annoyance.

  “You about ready, CaiHe?” Uncle YuTu asked gleefully, the twirling bamboo stick in his hand almost a blur.

  CaiHe gave a curt nod. He clapped his palms together in front of his chest. Autumn felt a change in the air pressure around her; a heaviness descended; it felt like the oncoming of a thunderstorm.

  Uncle YuTu grinned and leaped forward, swiping the bamboo rod in a wide circle. In response, CaiHe leaned back so far he almost bent in half. As the tip of the bamboo stick sliced across where CaiHe’s chest had been, his legs swung up, almost kicking Uncle YuTu in the ass.

  Autumn saw that CaiHe’s hands did not touch the brick grounds of the courtyard. Instead, a floating lotus blossomed beneath them which gave him a boost, springboarding him high up into the air. CaiHe flipped midair and then dived down with his right palm directly pressing toward the top of Uncle YuTu’s head. Uncle YuTu must have been caught off guard by this move because he waited till the last minute to shift aside, missing CaiHe’s palm by a heartbeat. CaiHe crashed down, but before his hand hit the ground, a small patch of flowers sprang up which helped him bounce back and regain his feet.

  Uncle YuTu laughed.

  “Oh! So you want to fight for real? Fine, but don’t get angry when you receive no mercy under your uncle’s hands! Prepare for Form Twelve: Moonlight Dazzling Like Arrows!”

  CaiHe smirked. “Let’s see who calls who uncle after this.”

  Uncle YuTu took three quick steps forward, his bamboo rod now extended forward like a spear. This time, CaiHe responded by extending his arms out with the base of both hands together, palms facing forward. He twisted his wrists, and a whirlwind of white flower petals flew out.

  The petals looked delicate, like those from a plum tree, but as a few flew close to Autumn, she heard them hit the ground, pinging like hard, icy hail. Miss LeeLee and Miss Yanzi raised their sleeves to shield themselves and the children. The scholar stood up and whirled his sword to repel the petals from himself and the woman. The old man stood his ground and threw his head back laughing, unperturbed by the storm of the petal hail.

  Peering behind Miss LeeLee, Autumn saw Uncle YuTu doing backflips to retreat, his back and legs taking the bulk of the pelting petals.

  Autumn heard LuEr calling out in pain and the teapot in YangEr’s hands rattling. The petals must be getting through the defenses put up by Miss YanZi and Miss LeeLee.

  “Enough!” called Lady He from the bench. “Uncle YuTu! Lord CaiHe! We have visitors! Both of you are old enough to know better. Save your playtime for after we leave Lady LanLan's court!”

  Lord CaiHe pulled his arms back to his chest and rotated his palms to face each other. The flying petals began to drift aimlessly in the air, landing softly on the ground. Uncle YuTu stood up and dusted them off his tunic. He inclined his head toward CaiHe then turned toward the small cluster of girls and Autumn.

  "Kids, come and greet your elders!"

  The girls curtseyed deeply while Autumn bowed to Uncle YuTu, Lord CaiHe and Lady He. The other two men introduced themselves as Old Man GuoLao and Scholar DongBin.

  After the greetings were done, Scholar DongBin came over and took the tea tray from Miss LeeLee.

  "Please let me help," he said unctuously. Miss LeeLee curtseyed but Autumn noticed that Miss YanZi gave him the side eye.

  There was a rush of movements as tables and stools were pulled together and everyone sat down. Miss LeeLee poured the tea and Miss YanZi passed around bowls of snacks.

  YangEr and LuEr brought cups of tea to Uncle YuTu and Lady He. They fussed over how much taller the kids had gotten since they last saw them. Uncle YuTu took out a package from inside his robes and handed it to the kids.

  "These are candies from the far west, a place called Bosi or Persia. I have resisted eating them for three months to save them for you kids!"

  "Thank you, Uncle YuTu!" YangEr and LuEr chirped, smiling.

  Autumn was peering at the package when Uncle YuTu turned to look at her. "But it appears I didn't bring enough. Who are you child?"

  "He’s Autumn," said YangEr. "Don’t worry. We will share the candies with him."

  "That is very kind of you, Miss YangEr. But who is Autumn?" asked Uncle YuTu, amused.

  Autumn, startled, looked into Uncle YuTu’s dark eyes and felt an ancient power. Caught off guard, she didn’t know how to answer.

  Miss YanZi injected. "Autumn is Lady LanLan’s newest charge. She is an orphan, raised by her grandma who recently passed away. She doesn’t remember much about her parents. Don’t know much about our world either."

  Autumn felt her face flush with embarrassment. How like Miss YanZi to put her down like this in front of everyone. Well, she does know something!

  "I came from the Fragrant Mountains by the hunting grounds,” Autumn said.

  "Oh?" Old Man GuoLao, the elder with the long white beard, spoke up. "Prince Jin and his entourage visit there every fall. Did you steal Prince Lei’s wine to gain powers? I had made it especially for him."

  Stolen story; please report.

  Autumn felt her heart pound at the mention of Prince Jin and the hunting party. Does Uncle YuTu’s friends know who they were? Maybe they could tell her where she could find her enemies.

  "Don't tease the child, Old Man GuoLao!” Uncle YuTu said. “Did you obtain your immortality through the cultivation of moral purity? Or did you bribe the gods with your wine? No one turns down the chance to obtain immortality. If a god can't protect his own wine, then he deserves to have it stolen.”

  Turning to face Autumn, Uncle YuTu thought the flush of anger on her cheeks was a blush of embarrassment. He teased, “I wonder if someone didn’t choose to share their wine with such a sweet child. Was it Prince Lei? There must be something hidden beneath that stern exterior! Or Prince FengXing? Such good posture and the sword.”

  Old Man GuoLao chortled. "Stop it, you old lecher. You are starting to sound more and more like Scholar DongBin."

  Scholar DongBin choked on his tea. "I would never! How dare you sully my name!"

  Uncle YuTu bent over with laughter. "Ladies, I would watch out for that one! He might look studious, but he has the heart of a rogue."

  Autumn looked at the simply dressed scholar, surprised by Uncle YuTu's assessment. Scholar DongBin bowed good naturedly, indicating his earlier anger was in jest.

  Thinking quickly, Autumn decided to press for what she needed to know.

  "Does Prince Jin and Prince Lei go to the hunting grounds at the same time every year?" she asked. If they did, well, maybe she could hunt them down next year.

  "Not always! There are so many ways to amuse yourself when you are the only son of the Heavenly Emperor who isn't paying much attention to you. Hunting is just one such amusement, and not a very exciting one."

  Autumn nodded, disappointed.

  "But if you are interested in seeing them again," Uncle YuTu said slyly. "They never miss the New Year Eve party here."

  Autumn asked eagerly. "When will they come? Will Princess Ling be here as well?"

  "Princess Ling!" exclaimed Lady He. "Oh child, you want to stay far away from her."

  “Why?” YangEr asked, her eyes wide. Autumn realized gossip was probably one of the best ways young spirits at the Blossom and Willow Park learned about the outside world.

  Lady He glanced at Uncle YuTu before answering. “Princess Ling is the niece of the Heavenly Emperor. She is the only child of his younger brother, Prince Feng. She is a beautiful and gifted child, beloved by her father. Very few people have ever told her no.”

  “She is a cruel bitch,” Lord CaiHe spat.

  Uncle YuTu chortled. “Both are true. Princess Ling has been spoiled for a long time. She is used to getting her way. She cares little for the lives of those she considers to be below her and that includes everyone except maybe her own father and the heavenly emperor. Her engagement to Prince CangHai, the dragon king’s heir, has only inflated her own self-worth.”

  The name CangHai was familiar to her. Autumn realized it was the name of the herbalist who had brought her here as well.

  “Last summer, that bitch Ling said I wasn’t convincing in my reenactment of Hou Yi Shooting Down the Nine Suns and had her servants tie me up so she could shoot arrows at me to demonstrate,” Lord CaiHe said darkly.

  Lady He shook her head. “We told you not to take that job. It’s always best to avoid her.”

  Autumn swallowed. At least he was still alive, unlike her family. She had a score to settle, and she intended to do it.

  “Lady LanLan expects us to stay in the background while the visitors are here,” Miss YanZi said prudishly. Looking toward Autumn, she admonished “we should remain away from the guests.”

  “We are talking to guests now,” Autumn pointed out.

  Miss YanZi’s face glowed bright red.

  Uncle YuTu laughed. “We are hardly guests. Just humble entertainers here to serve the gods.”

  Autumn wanted to ask who decided the hierarchy in their world such that Uncle YuTu and his companions are servants while the princes and princesses of the hunting party can amuse themselves with impunity. But Miss YanZi’s glare deterred her.

  The conversation turned toward other topics as the adults enjoyed their tea and snacks. Uncle YuTu began entertaining the children and Miss YanZi about his travels in the human realm with Lord CaiHe, Scholar DongBin and Lady He. Apparently, they had performed puppetry and musical theater to great effect throughout the Mongolian steppes to travelers from the west reaching the Middle Kingdom on animals with a long face and two humps on their backs.

  Before long all the tea pots were empty and plates clean. Miss YanZi turned to YangEr, LuEr and Autumn. “Children, we have taken up enough of Uncle YuTu’s time. Let’s take the trays back to Grandma Shuang and Grandma HongMi.”

  “Nonsense!” Uncle YuTu said, “seeing Lady LanLan’s charges is always a highlight of our trip here!”

  Scholar DongBin spoke up as well. “Agreed! But we have been monopolizing the conversation, we haven’t even heard about what you and Miss LeeLee learned the past year!”

  YangEr and LuEr looked at Miss LeeLee hopefully. Autumn also wanted to stay longer, maybe someone would let more slip about Princess Ling. However, Miss YanZi looked sternly at them. “The Grandmas will need help with preparing dinner. Miss LeeLee and I will stay a bit longer but the three of you should take the trays back now.”

  LuEr looked disappointed and YangEr began to argue. Miss LeeLee stepped in. “Just take one tray and we will bring the rest. Grandma HongMi said she was making honey congee for dinner. YangEr, isn’t that your favorite?”

  This news placated YangEr a little. As they collected empty teapots and cups, Lord CaiHe said, “children, go find Master Yuen and ask him to bring his Zither here to accompany Miss YanZi and Miss LeeLee. I would like to see the dances they learned.”

  At this, LuEr nodded enthusiastically and left quickly. Autumn heard laughter as they closed the door of the courtyard behind them.

  “Miss YanZi isn’t in charge of us,” muttered YangEr, glancing back longingly at the way they came. “Why did we have to leave so early?”

  “Well, we should go help Grandma HongMi,” said LuEr.

  YangEr rolled her eyes. “You just want to go see Musician Yuen.”

  LuEr didn’t reply, but Autumn could see the tip of her ears reddened.

  “He is very handsome,” YangEr teased.

  “Oh look, these are the decorations Miss YanZi and Miss LeeLee put up today,” LuEr said, changing the subject.

  “It’s lovely,” Autumn said, but she wasn’t paying attention to the decorations. She peered down the corridors they passed by, wondering where Princess Ling might be staying.

  “It’s even more beautiful at night when everything is lit up,” YangEr said cheerfully. “If we behave, Grandma Shuang sometimes lets us sit on the rooftop to watch the performances.”

  “Yeah, except for that one year when you didn’t finish pitting the jujubes and we had to stay up late to finish,” LuEr laughed as she turned right and led them down another branch of the corridor.

  “Well, now that Autumn is here! We wouldn’t have any problem finishing the chores!” YangEr countered.

  Autumn didn’t answer. She was busy looking down the corridor they passed.

  “What are you doing?” YangEr asked.

  “Nothing. I’m just wondering what’s back there,” Autumn gestured, trying to sound casual.

  “That would have taken us to the stables where Master NiuLang lives,” YangEr said, frowning. “Why… Wait! Are you trying to figure out where Princess Ling stays when she visits?”

  “No, Autumn, you must not go looking for her!” said LuEr, turning to face Autumn instead of opening the next set of doors.

  Autumn turned aside. She hated that her intention was so transparent to LuEr and YangEr. “Why not.” she countered.

  LuEr’s voice rose in volume. “You heard Uncle YuTu. Princess Ling is well known for her cruelty. She doesn’t consider any animals or plants to be of any importance. We don’t have any powers that can compete with those of the heavenly royalties who can control the weather, alter elements and use weapons. You wouldn’t stand a chance against her.”

  Autumn’s voice rose in anger. “Why is such a terrible person allowed to visit here? Lady LanLan should never host her here!”

  “Well, Princess Ling is engaged to Master CangHai so Lady LanLan can’t very well ban her.”

  “I thought she was engaged to Prince CangHai.”

  “Master CangHai is a prince. He just doesn’t-”

  Suddenly the door behind LuEr opened, causing her to stumble backward and land against Musician Yuen who stood in the doorway, frowning down at the three of them.

  “Please don’t make so much noise.”

  He turned and walked away. LuEr scrambled after him. YangEr and Autumn looked at each other and then followed.

  Musician Yuen sat down on a bench in the middle of his small courtyard and picked up a bamboo flute, bringing it to his lips. When he saw that the three of them had followed him, he paused.

  “Do you need something?”

  LuEr, blushing a bright red, twisted her fingers in her robe and didn’t answer.

  YangEr looked at her and then sighed. She curtseyed and said, “greetings Musician Yuen. Uncle YuTu and his companions are here. They have requested the honor of your accompaniment on the zither for Miss YanZi and Miss LeeLee.”

  “Very well. Thank you YangEr,” he replied. But instead of getting up, Musician Yuen picked up the flute again.

  “Aren’t you going to go?” YangEr asked.

  Musician Yuen looked back at her. “I’m in the middle of flute practice. I will go once I finish. You may stay and listen if you would like.”

  LuEr, still blushing, sat down cross legged in the courtyard. YangEr and Autumn glanced at each other before sitting down beside LuEr.

  Musician Yuen closed his eyes and began to play a light and sweet tune. Autumn had heard him play a few times when he had accompanied Miss LeeLee and Miss YanZi’s practice. But on those occasions, the music had to frequently start and stop for instructions, corrections, and repetition. This time Musician Yuen’s song played on. It started gently and reminded her of cozy days inside her den watching snowflakes land on fallen maple leaves, then gradually the music from the flute changed, the season fading from winter to spring, soft misty rain drops began to collect on fern leaves unfurling from the ground, dripping down to the soft moss below.

  Autumn felt the red-hot anger inside of her dampen as she grew drowsy. She leaned against YangEr who likewise was swaying sleepily to the music. The warmth of the girl in the sunlight reminded her of her denmates and Autumn felt happy together with her friends.

  The flute gradually fell silent. Autumn stretched as if waking from a pleasant dream.

  Musician Yuen walked over carrying a zither. He bowed to the children.

  “Thank you for being my audience. I will head over to Master YuTu now.” With that, he turned and left.