Servants rushed around the kitchen, just barely passing by each other without spilling their wares. There was a banquet tonight being held with all the members of the various royal families. A banquet with numerous different talents, and even an acting troupe from the Feng Kingdom. All of the servants wanted to be in the main tent to take part in the revelry. Some had even snuck into the kitchen, trying to get assigned to serve some wine or opulent dish to the Royals.

  “Did you hear?” A servant leaned over conspiratorially to the cook who was stirring a large pot of soup with vegetable poking out of the broth.

  “That the General from Wu beat our Crown Prince in the archery contest?” The cook looked at the servant with raised eyebrows. He knew immediately what the servant was going to say. After all, it was all anyone wanted to talk about. The news had traveled like lightning from tent to tent by word of mouth. There was hardly anyone in the hunting party who didn’t know about it. If it wasn’t the servants who were gossiping about it, then it was the members of the Court.

  The servant whipped her head around to look at the other kitchen staff. She glared at all of the people, trying to guess who ruined her piece of gossip. She wanted to at least surprise one person with the news, after all, she was there at the archery competition. She had seen it first hand! “How did you know?”

  “You’re not the only servant who was there today!” The Cook picked up a ladle and used it to point out the door. “Zhiyu was there to!”

  Zhiyu was currently in the main tent, which had turned into a banquet hall. He whispered to the other servants about what had happened today, making the win far more exaggerated than it was. Not only did he speak about archery, but also about Xinyue, and her fearsome gold eyes that made someone feel like she would devour them alive. It didn’t take much for Xinyue, or the other guests, for that matter, to hear him as he spread the word.

  Xinyue made sure her face was relaxed as she lifted her black veil slightly to eat the food presented on the table in front of her. She took everything in around her without changing her expression. The Long Court member beside her, a Minister of some sort, was discussing taxes with another noble. Across from her, the Princesses of Wu were chatting with different guests, their silver robes shining brightly in the lantern light of the tent. They had made every effort not to look at Xinyue as they entered the tent, and they still had yet to greet her. Most of the people in the banquet were loitering about, waiting for the Crown Prince to make a speech and to set off the more exciting festivities of the night.

  The Crown Prince didn’t seem at all bothered by what was happening around the room as the nobles talked amongst themselves. He sat in the position of honor, on a small platform at the head of the room, his hands relaxed on his knees, and his back straight. He had a small, satisfied smile on his lips. He drank a sip or two of wine as he watched the nobles fall over themselves to flatter each other. His sister, Princess Meiling, sat just a bit to his left. The blue silk of her robe was slightly lighter than that of her brother’s, and the embroidery of seahorses, rather than dragons. Since this afternoon, she had had a perpetual pout on her full lips. She couldn’t believe that her brother had lost to, what she was told, an illegitimate child.

  Hongyi sat nearby and told anyone who passed by about his good fortune. He wore another green robe, the design different than anything Xinyue had ever seen, which, he insisted, would be popular within the next three months’ time. He constantly toasted others and bragged outrageously about his wonderful gamble. On more than one occasion, he would look up at the Crown Prince and remind him of the unlucky incident, that he lost at archery for the first time in front of his would-be-suitors. To which, the Crown Prince would only grin back, his icy blue eyes twinkling, unfazed.

  Across from Hongyi was the Royal family of Feng, their faces screwed up in dissatisfaction. Ministers and nobles had tried to engage with them in conversation, but were fruitless in their endeavors. Prince Jianhong had tried every way he could think of to discount the bet, but, much to his displeasure, the Crown Prince had insisted the bet needed to be honored. There was no disagreeing with such a man, plus he had made the bet in front of too many renowned people, and so Prince Jianhong coughed up 200 gold ingots from his own coffers. Something that had soured his mood exponentially. He kept swallowing gulps of wine so his face matched the red of his and his sisters’ robes. The Princesses of Feng were feeling much the same as their brother. The success of the General of Wu left a certain unpleasant taste in their mouths that none of the sweet wine at the banquet could wash away.

  Xinyue watched all of them from where she sat. She pretended she couldn’t hear the gossiping servants or the bragging Hongyi. She had sat the furthest away that she could get while still being respectful. Hongyi had tried to rope her to sit closer to the Crown Prince, but, luckily, Princess Meiling had distracted him. She had needed to speak to him about the dessert or something of that nature. So, Xinyue had snuck away. Xinyue had chosen this seat so she could sit next to the purple-clad Princess of Mu and as far away from the Feng Royal family as she could, specifically away from Princess Mengyao.

  When Xiaobo had asked her in a whisper why she preferred the Princess of Mu over the Feng Royal family, her response was simple- “I don’t think Princess Lingyi would poison me in front of everyone.”

  Xiaobo had nodded in understanding. Knowing Princess Mengyao’s reputation, he also wouldn’t put it past her. The Feng Princess had glared daggers at Xinyue when she had finished the contest earlier.

  The Crown Prince clapped his hands, the jade bracelets on his wrists clanked, and the eunuch to the right of him gave a bow and stepped forward.

  “Please, take your seats!” The festivities and the lighthearted moment between the people who had come to enjoy the hunt dissipated. All took their seats.

  The Crown Prince nodded at Hongyi, and the man rose from his seat. He stepped forward into the middle of the room. The lines of tables on either side of the Crown Prince’s platform were full of well-prepared dishes and glasses full of wine. The banquet hall was decorated with swaths of blue fabric that swept along the walls and posts that were the foundation of the tent. Everything from the food to the elegant decorations was chosen by Princess Meiling, as expected by the Princess of the Long Kingdom.

  “The time that we have had at this hunt has been most joyous.” Hongyi waved his hands, animated. “As the final day has arrived, we are to enjoy an actor troupe courtesy of the State of Feng.” Hongyi nodded to the Feng Royal family, whose look of displeasure faded away. They preened and glowed in the admiration of the others in the tent.

  Princess Mengyao rose from where she was seated. “We hope, as representatives of the State of Wu, to please the Crown Prince and the Court of Long with this performance.” Xinyue noticed she purposefully didn’t address the other kingdoms’ Royals. Xinyue seemed not to be the only one who had noticed. Princess Lingyi had downed her wine in one fell swoop after she heard Princess Mengyao’s speech. The Princesses of Wu were not looking too pleased either. Princess Lihua’s face was a most unappealing shade of tomato red, and Princess Yuyan was gnashing at her lower lip.

  “I am sure His Highness will feel most pleased by your choice.” Princess Meiling beamed at the Feng Princesses and nodded to her, her jade earrings dangling. She had decided early on that it wouldn’t be so unpleasant if her brother married one of them. After the ordeal with the Princesses of Wu fighting with Princess Lingyi, the only women who were fitting for her brother were from the Kingdom of Feng.

  The Crown Prince shrugged and motioned for the servants to fetch the actors. As the actors set the stage, more wine was poured. The Princesses of Feng preened as they talked with Princess Meiling, but the Crown Prince didn’t pay them any mind. Instead, he rubbed at his forehead, his eyes drifting back to Xinyue’s table every couple of minutes. Xinyue pretended she didn’t notice and stared straight ahead, a pillar of peace amongst the chaotic surroundings.

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  One of the actors of the troupe stood at center stage and bowed low to the Crown Prince. Just like that, the noise in the tent quited from a loud buzz to a hushed quiet.

  “Thank you for his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We look forward to demonstrating our talents to our renowned audience.” The actor made a show of bowing to the Crown Prince as well as the members of the Feng Royal family before clapping his hands twice.

  The lanterns dimmed, and the performance began.

  Actors dressed as animals walked to the center of the tent. Their makeup was remarkable and heavily painted to demonstrate to the audience their animal counterpart. Robes with scales, feathers, shells, and fur sewn onto their draping fabric shimmered in the light. A lone zither welcomed them onto the stage.

  “As we are the chosen four spirit animals, we shall embark on our journey from heaven to the earthly plane.” The Dragon said, its blue scales glimmered. He waved his blue robe-clad arm out at the audience as if he were surveying a large expanse of land. “We must obey the gods and what they have asked of us.”

  “Ah, but it is difficult for us to do so in our animal forms.” The Phoenix rustled its feathers, beautiful vermilion in color.

  “We should change to our human forms.” The tiger suggested, shaking its white, wiry fur. He puffed his chest out and wore an annoying smirk on his painted face.

  “Very well.” The tortoise nodded its head; the slick mahogany on its shell looked almost black as it glistened. The purple of his robe blended with the deep brown as he walked from one side of the stage to another as if in deep thought; he paced. “It’ll be easier to blend in and understand the people of the earthly plane.”

  As one, the actors shed their animal skins. They removed their outer robes and, with a spin, changed into robes that would be befitting of any human.

  Xinyue heard Haoran shift nervously behind her, as he realized the story that was being told. Xinyue couldn’t look away from the play.

  Drums, loud and engaging, beat as the actors danced. Twisting and spinning, the spirit animals fell to the Earth; now, in their human forms, at the center of the room. Other actors moved to join them. They wore clothes of coarse linen, coated in dirt.

  “Ah, look at all humanity has to offer!” The Phoenix exclaimed as he grasped at a farmer’s hand.

  “They are so loved by the gods.” The Dragon beamed, seeming to dance with a woman in peasant clothing. “We should build temples to the gods in thanks.”

  “Of course!” The Phoenix smiled. “We will build temples on land with magic deep within the soil, blessed by the gods to enable the people who live there to prosper.”

  The actors ran about the room, their footsteps light, matching the flute in the background. From the sleeves of the Spirits came long scarves that they began to dance with around the tent. The spirits danced with the peasants, moving from one side of the room to the next. They pretended to travel from place to place, occasionally stopping to dance and twirl.

  They met again in the center.

  “We should give them something!” The Tiger said, almost seeming childlike in his excitement.

  Xinyue felt a sharp pang in her chest.

  “But what can we give them?” The tortoise shook his head.

  “They are ailed by much: hunger, sickness, death.” The Phoenix turned his sad eyes on the farmer and put a hand over his chest.

  “We could give them the blessing of the gods?” The Dragon suggested.

  The room seemed to be running out of air, but Xinyue couldn’t turn away from the performance.

  All the Spirits cried in agreement, their voices light and airy. They went from peasant to peasant, taking their hands, and pulling them over to where they stood.

  As one of the Spirits put the foreheads to the peasants’ foreheads and said, “We give you the blessing of the spirits, the magic of the gods.”

  The peasants turned from the spirits and from their sleeves flowed bright white and yellow scarves. They had become cultivators.

  “There is still such suffering in this world.” The Phoenix spoke, and the cultivators nodded in agreement.

  “Please, help us!” The cultivator who used to be a farmer cried. He got onto his knees and hugged the Phoenix’s red robes.

  “I cannot stand by and do nothing.” The Phoenix looked to the Dragon.

  “Of course we can’t.” The Dragon nodded assuredly and placed a loving hand on the cultivator’s head.

  “But what can we do?” The tiger whined, looking disgusted at the man on his knees.

  The tortoise shrugged his purple-clad shoulders as if he were helpless.

  “We must find another gift from heaven.” The Dragon said and looked to the Phoenix.

  “The Dragon is wise.” The Phoenix smiled at the Dragon. “I have heard of such a gift. A gift that came from the heavens themselves.”

  Xinyue’s hand unconsciously went to the knife at her hip. The ball of the hilt rested comfortably in her hand and she steadied her breathing.

  “How did you know of such a thing?” The tiger asked, shocked and angry. His hands were on his hips and he puffed out his chest comically.

  “The gods told me before we were sent from the heavens.” The Phoenix smiled apologetically. “It was a secret they entrusted to me.”

  “To you?” The Tortoise squinted his eyes.

  “It makes sense.” The Dragon interjected smiling at the Phoenix. “The Phoenix was favored by the gods. They are trustworthy.”

  “I heard that the piece of heaven is not far from here. Let us go to retrieve it.” The Phoenix led them away in a swirl of scarves. The drums beat again as they moved.

  Together the Spirits hopped and leaped around the room until once again coming back to the center.

  “Now, Tiger, let’s use the piece of heaven for the people.” Dragon smiled at Tiger, but Tiger didn’t return his smile.

  “I don’t want to.”

  “What do you mean?” Phoenix furrowed their eyebrows. He crossed his arms over his chest. “The people are suffering.”

  “Tiger is right,” Tortoise said. “We need to think of ourselves. With this piece of heaven, we’ll have more power.”

  “I cannot agree to that.” The Phoenix lashed out with one of his scarves at Tiger who jumped out of the way.

  The four Spirits began fighting. The sound of war drums echoed in Xinyue’s ears as the Spirits danced.

  It was almost over. Xinyue knew the story, the gods-forsaken play was almost over.

  The Spirits ended up in four different locations. The Tiger to the West, the Dragon to the East, the Phoenix to the South, and the Tortoise to the North.

  “Where did you put the piece of heaven?” The Phoenix cried, but the Tiger shrugged.

  “I never had it. I thought Tortoise had it.”

  Tortoise shrugged. “I thought Dragon had it.”

  The Dragon shook his head. “I thought Phoenix had it.”

  “Everything we did. It was all for nothing.” The Phoenix wrapped his arms around himself and went to his knees. The Phoenix sobbed. “I cannot forgive you, any of you.”

  The lone zither played again. The tune hauntingly empty and forlorn.

  “Then we will separate. Become our own people.” The Dragon nodded. “I will be the Long Kingdom of the East.”

  “I will be the Mu Kingdom of the North.” The Tortoise declared.

  “I will be the Wu Kingdom of the West.” The Tiger said, the actor smirked and looked particularly smug.

  “Then I guess I have no other choice.” The Phoenix sobbed, still on his knees. “I will be the Feng Kingdom of the South.”

  Slowly, the Phoenix got to his feet, his pitiful cries echoing that of the zither’s song. The Dragon moved to help the Phoenix to his feet, and patted him on his back, before moving back to the East.

  The Phoenix’s tears streamed down his face. The Dragon frowned and furrowed his brows. The Tiger smirked and put his hands on his hips. The Tortoise sighed and shook his head. All stared at one another, until the drums started beating once more.

  The scarves whipped out of their sleeves once more as the actors danced separately from each other. Never touching or interacting as they did in the previous dances. No longer did the colors mingle together to create a rainbow.

  They swirled and spun until the drums stopped and the zither played once more as the lantern lights went completely out.

  When the lanterns were lit again, the actors were at the center of the tent. They bowed low, facing the Crown Prince.

  The play had ended.

  “How disrespectful and inaccurate.” Princess Yuyan’s hand slammed in the table. “What kind of historically twisted play is this, Princess Mengyao?