Xie stopped pounding and scowled at ShaoShu. “What could you possibly do for me?”
“I think I can squeeze through that hole and open the door from the other side.”
Xie's eyes narrowed. “Why would you do that?”
“Because I don't trust Tonglong, and your boss looks scared.”
“The Emperor isn't the only one I'm concerned about,” Xie said. “The Western Warlord is my father. Something is very wrong. What do you want?”
“I want you to help me and Golden Dragon. We're not criminals, you know.”
Xie nodded. “I'm beginning to believe that. Tong long and his two-faced mother are the problem. We have a deal, little one. Help me get the Emperor and my father out of there, and I'll ask the Emperor to give you and Golden Dragon a pardon.”
“I'll try my best,” ShaoShu said. “Wish me luck.” He bent down and stared at the hole again. Visions of Tonglong's father's final resting place began to run through his mind. He took a deep breath, exhaled, and pushed his head through the hole. It fit. As he began to wriggle his shoulders through, Tonglong raised his voice.
“Eastern Warlord,” Tonglong said, picking up one of the jade swords, “I hereby request that our armies unite.”
The Eastern Warlord put his hands out hesitantly, then pulled them back. “I need to think about this.”
The Western Warlord sneered. “I don't need to think anymore. I am leaving.” He turned away from the group, and Tonglong grabbed him by the collar, spinning him back around.
“Take your filthy hands off me!” the Western War lord shouted, and he reached for the sword tucked into his sash.
ShaoShu popped his upper body through the hole and watched in disbelief as Tonglong dropped the jade sword, slipped his own sword from its sheath with deadly speed, and ran the blade through the Western Warlord's heart.
“NO!” cried Xie from the other side of the door.
ShaoShu pushed himself the rest of the way through and jumped to his feet. He turned the door handle, and to his relief, the lock disengaged. He gave the door a shove, and it swung open.
Xie roared, taking a step into the room, and Shao -Shu dove behind a large vase resting on the floor.
Tonglong pivoted toward the doorway, and ShaoShu saw him pull a pistol from the folds of his robe.
BANG!
The pistol fired, and Xie crashed to the floor. He lay still.
ShaoShu shuddered. He peered around the vase and saw Tonglong drop the pistol and pull a second one from his robe. He aimed it at the Eastern Warlord and asked, “Have you finished thinking yet?”
The Eastern Warlord dropped to his knees and kowtowed at Tonglong's feet. “I am your vassal.”
“I thought you might be,” Tonglong said. “You may rise and take one of the jade swords.”
The Eastern Warlord stood and picked one up, and Tonglong pointed the pistol at the Emperor.
AnGangseh, who had been holding on to the Emperor's arm, released it and took a step backward. She smiled at Tonglong.
“Well, Mother,” Tonglong said, “as the Round Eyes say, I believe it is time to pay the piper. I promised long ago to seek revenge against those who have betrayed my family, did I not?”
“You most certainly did,” AnGangseh said.
Tonglong glared at the Emperor. “Say goodbye, traitor.”
Tonglong pulled the trigger, and at the very last instant, ShaoShu saw him jerk his arm sideways.
BANG!
The pistol fired, its lead ball tearing through AnGangseh's throat. ShaoShu nearly cried out as she clawed at her neck and dropped to her knees, blood pouring between her fingers and over her long nails. She gurgled and hissed and somehow managed to form a solitary word.
“Why?”
Tonglong pointed to a single white cat hair clinging to the side of her black hood. “That's why.”
AnGangseh hissed again and swiped at Tonglong, but he casually stepped out of the way. She swiped a second time, hitting nothing, then toppled over in a sea of her own blood. A moment later, she was gone.
ShaoShu watched Tonglong walk over to AnGangseh and tear a silk cord from around her neck. Dangling from the cord was a key entwined with dragons.
Tonglong turned to the Emperor. “Do you know what this is? You should recognize its unique shape.”
“I do,” the Emperor replied. “It is a key to the For bidden City.”
“Correct,” Tonglong said. “I always knew that my mother had gone to great lengths to obtain it, but it wasn't until I connected her with that traitor Lei that I realized what she was up to. Lei killed HaiZhe, not me. I planned to keep him alive and set the final stages of my plan in motion months or even years from now. Thanks to my mother, things have been accelerated. You are now a puppet, and I am your master. The Forbidden City will soon be mine!”