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this to think. “Get all people from city and take to garden. We wait for barbarian there,” she ordered.
    â€˜Two day pass, barbarian arrive at palace wall, smash down gate. But everywhere, empty. Not even crunchy cockroach left crawling on kitchen floor.
    â€˜â€œBurn to ground!” Big Barbarian Chief cry. They burn down palace.’
    â€˜Then what happened?’ asked Mimi, holding her breath.
    â€˜Barbarian enter garden. Big Barbarian Chief raise sword over Empress Cassia.’
    â€˜No!’ cried Mimi, her hand over her mouth.
    â€˜But wait . . . very strange thing happen. No strength in arm. Sword heavy like five elephants. Big Barbarian Chief get sleepier and sleepier. Whole army fall to ground snoring like bear in winter cave.’
    â€˜Coo-el,’ Mimi laughed. ‘What happened then?’
    â€˜When they wake, they forget where they come from. They think they army for Empress Cassia. Big Barbarian Chief become most loyal general. Peace again all over China. Empress Cassia live very long life. Old as ninety-three. Day she die . . . garden vanish from earth.’
    â€˜Wow. But how could it? Where did it go?’
    â€˜There is space between Heaven and Earth where garden lie like sleeping dragon. Mimi use pastels, garden come back.’
    â€˜But why me, Mr Ma?’
    â€˜Because you have pure heart.’
    â€˜But sometimes I’m really bad. Ask my dad.’
    â€˜You just naughty girl sometime, not listen to Daddy, you not bad. Pastels are like mirror of heart. They not lie. If person is bad, pastels very dangerous so you must always keep them safe and hidden. In every time, pastels wait for just right person to bring Garden of Empress Cassia back. One person like you, Mimi.’
    â€˜Is this true?’
    â€˜Yes, it has been like this for thousand of years.’
    â€˜Mr Ma.’ Mimi stood up, her eyes bright. ‘Come with me, I’ll take you into the garden right now’
    â€˜No, Mimi . . . I cannot,’ Old Ma sighed. ‘Garden of Empress Cassia only for those who hurting inside. It is garden for healing.’
    Mimi sat back, disappointed.
    â€˜No matter. In my lifetime I seen many beautiful gardens, Mimi.’ Old Ma raised his cup slowly and took a long noisy sip of cassia tea.
    The light suddenly dimmed as the sun sank behind the tall buildings of the city.
    â€˜It’s late. Mum will worry. Thank you, Mr Ma. I’ll come and visit you again.’
    â€˜Goodbye, Mimi. And remember – guard pastels well.’
    â€˜I will. . . oh I almost forgot. I made you a present.’ She handed Old Ma a small scroll.
    As Mimi left the shop, a soft drizzle began to fall. Old Ma slipped off the red ribbon and unrolled the painting. Mimi had drawn the Garden of Empress Cassia for him. A miniature version - but with every tiny perfect detail.
    The buzz of wings came to Old Ma’s ears. A peacock blue dragonfly dipped its nose into the Lake of Secret Dreams, then flew out of the painting and into the dusty room.
    â€˜Ah . . . Empress Cassia . . .’ he whispered.

Dr Lu walked home from the train station, a suitcase in one hand, a lidded cane basket in the other. Inside the basket sat Uncle Ting’s most loved possession – his gift to Mimi.
    The sight that met Dr Lu’s eyes as he walked down Rumba Street was so strange, he thought he might have taken the wrong turn from the station. Never had he seen so many people milling outside his shop before. Was there an accident? He started running, the basket bouncing against his leg. As he reached the crowd, the people stepped back to let him through as though he were a great emperor. Some smiled and congratulated him, others just shook their heads in admiration.
    â€˜You’re back,’ said Mrs Lu. ‘You must be tired. Have some cassia tea.’
    Dr Lu looked around his clinic in surprise. People sat at mahjong