White Tiger

to her, John.’ Jade smiled.
    ‘Very well, then, let’s see what we have,’ he said, and opened the box.
    He pulled out a few very nice pieces. All of them had an interesting history or story behind them. Most had been gifts from friends or rewards for service from the Jade Emperor. John obviously didn’t place much value on them in monetary terms.
    ‘This is a piece of gold jade in the shape of Mercy,’ he said.
    I held it. It was Ms Kwan in her Celestial form, sitting cross-legged and holding the urn that contained the bottomless font of Mercy. It was about ten centimetres long and the jade was a striking shade of amber.
    ‘I thought jade was green.’
    ‘I am,’ Jade quipped, ‘but the stone can be any colour. Some of the finest jade isn’t green at all.’
    ‘Here’s a chain for it,’ John said. He threaded the pendant onto the elaborately carved chain. ‘Is this too heavy?’
    ‘No, I can handle it,’ I said. I popped it over my head. It sat on the black silk and glowed against the chrysanthemums. ‘Perfect.’
    He pulled out six gold bracelets and held them out to me. ‘Pick a few.’
    I took one with triangular links, without touching him. ‘I like this.’
    ‘Dragon scales design,’ Jade said. She opened the soft gold hook and put the bracelet around my wrist for me. ‘Fitting.’
    John opened a smaller box and held it out. ‘Earrings.’
    ‘It’s good your ears are pierced,’ Jade said. ‘You can choose something nice.’
    I pulled a pair of black jade earrings out of the box. ‘I like these.’ They were flat jade disks with a square hole in the centre, like traditional coins. A large diamond filled each hole. But the jade itself was unusual: it was jet black. I passed them to Jade. ‘They’ll go well with the general colour scheme.’
    ‘These diamonds are very fine,’ Jade said, turning the earrings over in her fingers. ‘But the jade is spectacular. Black jade is extremely rare, and these are exceptional pieces. But I am not sure that Lady Emma should wear black jade, my Lord. It has many unpleasant connotations. I hate to think that she might share the same fate as its namesake.’
    ‘I have sworn. It will be,’ John said, and Jade nodded, satisfied.
    ‘What?’ I said. ‘What unpleasant connotations?’
    ‘I think it is better that you do not know for now,’ Jade said, ‘but we must arrange a tutor for you. You will require a Classical education, my Lady.’
    ‘I forbid it,’ John said.
    Jade glanced sharply at him. ‘My Lord?’
    He didn’t say anything else, so she returned to the earrings. ‘The shape is not entirely suitable, but if it is your wish then there will be no dispute. Where did these come from, my Lord?’
    ‘Hell.’
    Jade gasped and dropped the earrings.
    I picked them up and opened my mouth to ask.
    ‘It is a long story. I might tell you about it later.’ He pulled a small black silk purse out of the bottom of the box. ‘I forgot I had this. Gold would be very upset if he knew.’
    ‘Gold?’ Jade said.
    Mr Chen nodded. He opened the purse and tipped a ring into his hand: a small square piece of green jade set onto a simple gold band. Three gold studs on either side of the stone were the only decoration. The jade was so old that most of the polish had worn away and the stone didn’t shine at all.
    ‘This is very plain,’ Jade said. ‘Quite unsuitable really. The stone is very good, but it is badly in need of a polish.’
    He passed it to her and she turned it over in her hands. ‘Very, very old.’
    ‘Study the stone,’ Mr Chen said.
    Jade touched the stone with her finger and concentrated. She snapped back and her eyes widened. ‘My Lord!’
    ‘Don’t drop it,’ he said. ‘I don’t think the stone would like it.’
    She returned the ring to him, her face full of awe.
    He took a deep breath, then let it out. He shook out his shoulders. ‘Give me your hand, Emma.’
    I held my hand out.
    ‘No, left hand.’
    ‘Oh.’ I held my left hand out for him. His own hand hovered over it, holding the ring, without touching me.
    He gazed into my eyes. ‘Will you marry me when I return, Emma Donahoe?’
    I returned his gaze. ‘Yes I will, Xuan Wu.’
    He quickly took my hand and slipped the jade ring onto my ring finger. ‘Thank you.’ He pulled his hands away and grinned. ‘It would be ironic if I killed you by asking you to marry me.’
    ‘You’re a complete moron sometimes, John,’ I said. ‘You should have just given