25. Bitter Reunion

The dark rain clouds had cleared away and the sun was drying the wet earth. Shenmi had just spent the rest of the day indoors, brooding, constantly peeking out of the window. Her sister Xia wondered a little about it.

"Is anything wrong?" she asked.

Shenmi looked up, startled. "Uh, no, I... I'm just waiting."

Xia sighed. "You're waiting for father, aren't you?"

Shenmi bit her lower lip. She was waiting for someone else too, actually, but she nodded, just so as not to upset Xia again. "Yes. Do you think he's coming today?"

The peahen shrugged helplessly. "I have no idea. You never know with father." Her face darkened. "But maybe it's even for the best if he stays away longer."

Shenmi looked at her in surprise. "How so?"

"Well, what do you think why he should do so because of someone?" Xia growled. "What do you mean what's going on here when father meets Xiang again?"

Shenmi said nothing. She hadn't even thought about that until now.

"I wouldn't worry about that," her mother suddenly spoke up, coming into the room but having overheard the two sisters' last sentences.

Xia looked questioningly at her mother. "What gives you that idea?"

Yin-Yu sat down on a chair. "I think, he will return to Mendong City soon anyway."

Shenmi jerked her head up and looked at her mother in disbelief. "He wants to leave?"

Yin Yu nodded. "Once the baby hatched. I took a look at the egg. Of course, when Xiang wasn't in the room. It really can't be much longer."

Xia's mouth twisted skeptically. "Well, I hope so. I can't bear to have him around anymore."

Shenmi, on the other hand, was not at all enthusiastic about this realization. If the baby hatched within the next few days, she would not be able to speak to Xiang. Was that why he put her off for just a week?

While her mother and her sister continued to talk, she looked longingly out of the window again.

Whoever is responsible for miracles out there, please send me a miracle.

The cart continued its journey quietly and steadily. Dao had nodded off on the load floor and was fast asleep. Shen sat unchanged on the carriage box and kept observing the surroundings attentively. Po, meanwhile, had done everything possible to cover up the bald patch on his head. Once with a piece of cloth, then with a tuft of straw, but everything kept falling down. Helpless, he sat down on his bottom and thought so hard that his head was spinning. If only he had a straw hat at least...

Straw hat!

The bull who pulled the cart wore a straw hat!

Quickly, Po leaned over the coach box next to the rabbit. "Hey, mate!" he called to the bull in front. "When we arrive, could I borrow your hat - temporarily? You'll get it back as soon as possible!"

The bull turned to him in surprise, then he grinned at the sight of Po's bald head and nodded in understanding. "Okay, if you like."

Po breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thanks buddy! I own you something."

Po's eyes wandered over to Shen. "And? Are you alright?"

Shen gave him an annoyed sideways glance. "What's supposed to be?"

"Well, I just thought..."

"You think too much, panda."

Po frowned in irritation. "Could you just stop and say my name? You did that so well before."

He waited a moment, but the lord's beak lips remained iron closed. Disappointed, Po dropped back into the cart.

"Po?"

The panda raised his head. "Yes, exactly! You can do it!"

Shen let out a derisive snort. "Not only gluttonous, but also deaf. That was not me."

Po looked at him in disbelief. "What?" Was it just his imagination?

"Po, is that you?" the panda heard the voice again, but it didn't come from Shen, the rabbit, or the bull.

He looked ahead. The cart stopped. In front of them stood a monkey on the road.

Po's eyes widened. "Monkey?"

Monkey whistled. "Hey, I found him!"

Po thought, he wouldn't see right when the remaining members of the Furious Five appeared.

"Hey, guys!" Overjoyed, the panda jumped off the cart, so violently that the wagon swayed, waking Dao up. The peacock sat up, drunk with sleep. "W-what?"

Po, meanwhile, ran to meet his friends, who welcomed him with relief.

"Po! Where have you been for so long?" Viper asked.

But the panda was so overwhelmed by the unexpected reunion that he threw himself forward and effusively hugged Monkey, Crane and Viper. "Hey friends! Panda hugs!"

The panda happily hugged his friends, only Tigress held back discreetly, but she gave Po a smile. "Nice to see you again."

Shen regarded the reunion scenario with disdain. "Tz, how uncivilized."

Finally, the tangle came loose and they faced each other soberly again.

"Guys, I missed you so much!" Po announced, almost with tears in his eyes.

"How was the journey?" Viper asked.

"Yes," Monkey agreed. "At least, you are still..." The monkey was about to say "in one piece", but then he now noticed the bald spot on Po's head.

Mantis vibrated his antennae in irritation. "Po, what have you done with your hair?"

Po was frightened and pressed a paw on the bald head. "Er... just an accident at work, not worth mentioning!"

"Are you sure?" Crane asked, not quite convinced. "Or was there trouble?"

"Uh, well..."

"What about Shen's brother?" Monkey asked curiously. "Or did it not go as expected?"

Po tapped his fingertips together. "Uh, well... it's... oh yeah! Come on, I have someone to introduce you to."

He ran back to the cart. His friends followed him eagerly.

In the meantime, Dao had got down from the wagon and was looking at the many new animals with uncertain eyes.

"Dao," Po announced, "these are my best friends. China's greatest heroes... except for me maybe... but these are the famous Furious Five. – Guys, this is Dao."

Dao looked first at Po, then at the Furious Five, performing a small bow.

Silence fell. Po noticed the confused looks of the others, who stared at the peacock in bewilderment.

Dao looked down at himself. "What is it?"

The panda guessed what was going on and placed himself next to his friends. "Just don't get confused. They may look alike, but they are not twins."

"Am I seeing double?" Mantis wanted to know.

Po giggled. "No, but I'm sure you'll get used to it." He leaned towards Monkey and Viper. "Say something nice to him," he whispered to them. "The journey had been very tiring."

"Welcome," Viper said quickly.

The others also bowed their heads in greeting.

Dao returned the salute with a bow again. "Nice to meet you."

"Isn't he dangerous?" Mantis whispered in Po's ear.

"Don't worry," Po assured. "We can explain everything. You know he was..."

"Before you start telling something," Tigress admonished. "You'd better make sure you get home as soon as possible."

Po looked worriedly at the tigress. "Oh, is it because of Shifu? Is he mad?"

"Let's put it that way," Viper intervened, "he wasn't jumping for joy."

Crane lifted his wing. "It's better if I fly ahead, then the master can react beforehand."

Po swallowed hard. "Okay, do it. Let him know. I'll tell you the story later."

Crane nodded and quickly, he flew away.

Po turned back to the rest of his friends. "Guys, I have so much to tell you! You won't believe what I've experienced! But I can say one thing." He stroked his bald head. "Japan is not exactly a holiday destination. At least not for kung fu warriors."

A little dejected, Shenmi trotted down the street. Although the sun was shining, she didn't feel like playing. Her thoughts constantly revolved around the fact that Xiang would soon be gone. She wanted to thank him after a week. Even if he didn't want to hear it.

Sadly, she sat down on a wooden bench. Why was she so fixated on that blue peacock? Just because he looked like her grandfather? She couldn't explain it to herself. Everyone else hated or ignored him. Why didn't she the same?

She raised her head as a shadow flew overhead. Crane stopped as he saw the girl below.

"Hey, your father is coming back. He's already on his way here," he called to her.

Shenmi jumped up. "Really?!"

Crane nodded. "Yes, but I have to go to the palace." With that, the crane flew on. Shenmi looked after him for a moment, then she ran towards the apartment.

"Mummy! Papa is coming back! Papa is coming back!" she yelled as she ran up the stairs.

Yin-Yu and Xia were sitting at the table when Shenmi stormed in. Excited, the girl pulled her mother's dress. "Come on out! Papa is coming!"

Yin-Yu got up immediately. "For real? Is he coming back?" The peahen was completely taken by surprise at first. She had actually expected a written message first. "Is he alright?" she asked, worried.

Shenmi shrugged. "I don't know. Come on!"

"Oh, good," Mr. Ping praised appreciatively. "I'm sure Po will be delighted with this."

The gander was back at the wall with Fantao after the rain had stopped. Luckily, the paintings had already dried the day before and Fantao dared to paint again after the heavy downpour. This time, he had painted Po with a bowl of noodles right next to the restaurant's entrance.

Fantao was satisfied with his picture and admired his work. But then something flew past them at breakneck speed, but immediately stopped briefly in the air.

"Mr. Ping, Po's back!" Crane announced and then he immediately flew on.

Mr. Ping's beak stayed open for a moment. "Po? He's back again? Oh! My son is coming home!"

"Is my father there, too?" Fantao called after the crane and heard an echoed "Yes".

"Oh, Po, Po's coming back!" Mr. Ping babbled, still giddy by excitement, and ran down the street.

Zedong ducked for another leap and lunged forward. But Liana fended off his attack, as so often today, and easily turned his wing around and pressed it onto his back.

The little peacock pup sank to the ground, growling. "How do you do that?" he complained.

Liana laughed. "You have to take a closer look and be careful."

"I do it all the time!"

"How many times do you want that she turns around your wing?" Sheng asked, leaning against a house wall in the lonely alley. While he didn't mind that Zedong was eager to learn the grip, he would have preferred a walk with Liana.

"I'll manage to outdo her at some point," Zedong continued to assert.

Liana smiled. "But you still have to practice a lot."

"Hey, Zedong! Sheng!" Fantao's voice echoed around the corner. "Dad's coming back!"

"Dad?" Zedong jumped up. "Is his brother with him, too?"

Fantao raised his wings helplessly. "No idea. Let's take a look."

Now the small tour group had arrived near the outskirts of the village. Po walked alongside the cart with his friends and continued to relate his adventures.

"... and he had really had all kinds of corpses in his basement. I tell you the purest cabinet of horrors."

"I've never heard of such a doctor," Monkey said, shaking with discomfort.

Po giggled. "Well, at least he got Dao sober."

Shen, overhearing the complete story, glanced back at Dao. The two brothers' eyes met, then Shen quickly turned his head away. Suddenly, the peacock raised his crests and listened.

"PAPA! PAPA!" he heard a child's voice.

"Shenmi! – Stop!"

The bull stopped immediately with the cart. Shen jumped down and looked around. It wasn't long before a small white figure ran towards them on the street.

Po leaned over to Dao. "I think, you can get out now, too."

Somewhat hesitantly, the second white peacock climbed out of the cart and went to the front. In the distance, he saw a white peacock girl running happily towards them.

"This is my daughter," Shen whispered at Dao admonishingly. "Be nice to her. – Hey!" Shen ran towards his daughter, leaning down and caught her.

"I thought, you wouldn't come anymore!" Shenmi exclaimed happily.

"What are you talking about?" Shen said, looking at her. "I'll keep coming back."

At that moment, Po remembered something else. Quickly, he tapped the bull on the shoulder. "Could you give me your hat, please?"

Without a word, the bull handed the straw hat to the panda. Relieved, Po out it on.

"Dad!"

Now Zedong, Fantao and Jian also appeared and surrounded their father. Shen was extremely happy to see the little ones safe again and stroked Zedong's head. But he avoided his caressing. "Dad, that's embarrassing."

Fantao and Jian were less squeamish in greeting their father and hugged him. A smile crossed Po's mouth as he watched Shen hugged them.

Shenmi's eyes traveled further back and her beak dropped open in astonishment when she saw a peacock that looked almost exactly like her father. Dao caught her eyes and they both looked at each other in silence.

In Dao, the stomach clenched. This strange girl, who was supposed to be his niece, was almost the same age when he had left his home.

Shenmi took a few steps towards him.

"Are you my uncle?" she asked quietly.

Hesitantly, Dao moved his beak lips. "Er... yes. This is me."

For a few seconds, she looked at him with her head tilted slightly. Then she laughed. "Finally, you're here!" She ran towards him. Dao backed away first, but Shenmi was on him so fast that he could hardly react and first romped around him, then she wrapped her little white wings around his black robe. "We've waited a long time for you."

Dao looked at her in surprise. "Waited? For me?"

Now the other children became aware of the duo.

"This is your uncle," Shen introduced the three boys and gave them a slight push.

"Looks like father," Zedong stated. "Cool."

"Hey! I'm Fantao," Fantao introduced himself boldly, stretching out his paint-smeared wing to his uncle.

Dao didn't know if he should return this kind of "colored" greeting and was forced to make a bow. "Ni-nice to meet you," he stuttered.

Jian plucked a cheerful melody on his musical instrument. "I'm Jian. If I'm bugging you with my music, tell me." He smiled. The boy seemed to have come to terms with the fact that not everyone wanted to listen to music all day.

"PO!" suddenly someone shouted from afar.

The panda looked up. "Oh, hi dad!"

"Oh, Po, nothing happened to you!" Exuberantly, the gander hugged the panda.

Po happily hugged him. "It's good to be home, dad."

"Shen!" Shen was relieved to see Yin-Yu running towards him. "I didn't expect you so soon," the peahen cried happily and threw herself against him. Shen rubbed her back soothingly. "Don't worry. Everything is alright."

Dao looked at the two skeptically. So that was his sister-in-law. She wasn't bad looking, he had to admit. Somehow, he even got a little jealous of his brother.

Yin-Yu's next glance fell on Dao. For a moment, she fell into a deep inner hole. The other peacock looked like her husband.

Shen sensed her insecurity and took her by the wing. "Yes, that's my brother."

Dao gave her a little shy wave. "Hello," was all he could think of now.

Yin-Yu continued to look at him with wide eyes. "He really does resemble you."

Dao gave her a strange look. It was the first time that he faced a peahen. But this was repeated again as now Xia dared to advance with Sheng.

"Oh, hello," Xia began a little hesitantly. "You must be my father's brother. Welcome."

She took Dao's wings in hers, which made Dao flinch at first. The goat had prepared him for the fact that he would have relatives almost his own age, but now they seemed even stranger to him than before.

A certain form of uncertainty came over Xia, too. It was unusual for her to have an uncle who was only a few years older than her. He could easily have been her cousin.

Sheng tried a relaxed stance and joined his sister.

"Hi, we've heard a lot about you. I hope, you've patched things up with our father already." He smiled at him encouragingly, which made Dao shyly smile. "Uh, yeah, well… we did."

He cleared his throat and bowed politely to them. Xia and Sheng looked at each other in surprise, but immediately they returned the gesture.

"Well, that's great, isn't it?" Po shouted around, hoping to drive away some of the nervousness. "Now the whole family is together again!"

"Po!" called another dark voice behind him.

The panda spun around. He froze in his movements when he saw his master standing in front of him with a fierce look on his face. "Oh, hello, Master Shifu! You look good…"

"Po, you just disappear and I had to put off the guests all the time!" Shifu cried. "I've never seen such behavior in all of kung fu history!"

Po forced a smile. "Well, there's always a first time, right? – But I successfully completed the mission." He stopped when Shen gave him an evil look. "Okay, so at least half of my credit."

At the next moment, Master Storming Ox and Master Croc joined them.

"I remember you," Dao exclaimed excitedly.

Master Ox crossed his arms scowling. "So, haven't you brought him to a court yet?" the master wanted to know.

"No, no, there's no need for it," Po interjected. "The whole thing is... It's easy to explain. The ninjas had him under their control... No, no joke. Ask the soothsayer, she can only confirm that, and Dr. Wu, too."

"This old bone is still practicing?" Master Croc wondered.

"Dragon Warrior!" King Wang pushed forward.

"Hey, mate!" Po replied and they shook hands vigorously. "I'm sorry, that I'm late. Nice to see you here, too."

"Well, I wouldn't want to miss the festival with the Dragon Warrior as the guest of honor," King Wang said cheerfully.

Yin-Yu, meanwhile, couldn't take it and leaned close to Shen. "I'm a little surprised you came here," she said.

Shen looked at her in surprise. "How so? Why shouldn't I come here?"

Yin-Yu looked at him in shock. "Didn't she tell you anything?"

"What is she supposed to have told me?"

"But…" Yin-Yu stopped. "Didn't she tell you who else is in the village?"

Shen narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Who should that be?"

The peahen let go of him and looked down dejectedly. "Uh, Shen, whatever... um, I just want to ask you not to get mad. We didn't even know that he would be here."

This made Shen even more nervous and he narrowed his eyes inquiringly at her. "Who?"

"Now everyone come into the village and have a little something to eat!" Mr. Ping urged the whole assembly. "It's almost evening. You must all be tired. And Po! I have a surprise for you!"

The panda looked at his dad with big eyes. "A surprise? But you shouldn't have…"

"Oh, you don't even know what it is!" the gander interrupted him and pulled him towards the village. "Come on, come on!"

The others also followed Mr. Ping and the returning Dragon Warrior into the village, where all the villagers had already gathered and greeted their hero.

Shen wanted to turn to Yin-Yu again, but she quickly picked up Shenmi and made off with the others. So he had no choice but to join the crowd, although he had the uncomfortable feeling that what Yin-Yu was trying to tell him wasn't anything positive.

Dao was very uncomfortable with all the looks from the residents, so he stayed more in the background. Everyone seemed extremely amazed at the resemblance between the two brothers. Only when Shenmi unexpectedly took him by the wing, he became a little braver. The girl's smile helped him get over his nervousness and Shenmi even seemed to like it.

When they finally got near the restaurant, Po stopped in wonder.

"Pong?" the panda cried in surprise. "You here? What a surprise!"

The fuller gander spread his wings. "You did well with your figure. Respect. It shows how much you appreciate the kitchen."

Po laughed. "Oh, but a doctor recently told me, I had to put on some weight..."

He stopped when he saw Pong's daughter walking towards him. "Liana? Wow, last time, I saw you, you were… well, a little smaller."

Liana smiled. "And you've grown, right?"

"Oh, well." Embarrassed, Po rubbed his stomach. "In terms of scale, I would say more developed. – Did the rest of the family come, too?"

She nodded. "Of course, they are on the terrace."

"Oh great! I haven't seen them for ages."

"People! Go home!" Mr. Ping ordered, when he noticed how the crowd of animals was about to follow the Dragon Warrior onto the terrace as well. "Let my boy rest for now! You can all shake his paws later."

Dao, who had pushed himself to the very edge of the gathering, was suddenly struck by a flash. He thought, he saw a figure disappearing around a corner of a house, which triggered a flashback in him. He tore himself away from Shenmi and ran into the next side street. There he stood stock-still. He looked ahead with big eyes. A few yards away from him stood a peacock with his back to him.

But it wasn't just any peacock - it was a blue peacock.

"Father?" he breathed hoarsely.

The blue peacock turned to him. There was pure anger on his face. "You've got nerve showing up to me!" Xiang yelled at him.

Dao stood there, completely shocked and almost numb in the body. He couldn't explain it all.

"I expected you to come to me with firearms and projectiles!" Xiang thundered on. "But that's going too far now!"

Suddenly, another white figure jumped around the corner of the house. Xiang was completely confused for a moment when he saw a second white peacock standing in front of him.

"YOU?!" Shen yelled, stunned. He had heard Xiang's loud complaints across the street and immediately ran to where he suspected his one-time rival's voice to be.

But Xiang was unable to counterattack for now. His eyes darted between the two brothers in confusion.

"No! Two of them! This is too much!" he yelled, flapping his wings over his head, shaking because of his lame leg.

"Xiang!" Quickly, Liu ran towards him and just barely caught him. "Please calm down, that's his brother who I was telling you about."

Now the others also appeared around the corner of the house.

Po covered his mouth with his paws in shock. "Oh dear. What is he doing here?"

King Wang stayed politely in the background, but he was always ready to step in if things got out of hand.

"Who's that?" Dao still wanted to know, dumbfounded.

Luckily, Yin-Yu came to his aid and grabbed his trembling wing. "Calm down, that's not Liang. That is…"

Now Po felt it was his duty to speak his mind. "Okay! Stop it" he commanded, clapping his paws several times. "So, this is Dao, Shen's brother," he began. "And Dao, this is Lord Xiang, he is from Mendong City." He crossed his arms and looked back and forth between the two parties in turn. "Is that clear now?"

"WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" Shen rumbled, causing the panda to jump in shock.

Liu stopped Xiang from yelling back, after Po's explanation, he got his grip on himself again.

"It's because of me, I encouraged him to come to the Valley of Peace," Liu said firmly. "We didn't expect you to be back so soon." She looked down. "Least of all with your presence."

Shen trembled with anger. Xiang didn't look any more relaxed either. A front was brewing between the two with a mix of ice-cold ignorance and red-hot aggression.

"And what is your reason for an unauthorized appearance?" Shen asked caustically.

Xiang narrowed his eyes. "Ask yourself. You driving around in the world and you don't even know what's going on in your own ranks?"

Po leapt forward, just stopping Shen from dashing forward. "Shen!" Po grabbed the peacock's wing admonishingly. "Do you really want to fight him now? In front of the children's eyes?"

He looked down at Shenmi, who looked worried. She didn't like it when her father argued with anyone. And maybe she wouldn't have liked to see someone beat up Xiang either.

"Besides, they are expecting a child," Yin-Yu quickly objected.

Po and Shen both looked up in surprise at the same time. "What?"

However, Shen immediately found his dislike for Xiang and broke away from the panda, looking sternly at Yin-Yu. "And why don't I know about any of this?"

Yin Yu swallowed. "But I mentioned it to her in the letter. Also from their offspring."

Shen looked at her in bewilderment. "Then why didn't she...?" Shen's expression darkened. "That damn goat."

His gaze wandered back to Xiang. He bowed his head angrily and gave Liu a sign that he wanted to leave. Liu understood immediately. She picked up his crutch, which he had dropped.

But before he left the place, he gave Shen another warning look. "Just don't come near me anymore!" he hissed. Then he turned and hobbled away, with Liu accompanying him.

"Then I demand the same favor from you!" Shen yelled after him.

Xiang only responded with a throwing wing movement. For him, the white peacock was just empty air.

Shen snorted, then he turned as well, passing Dao, who was still staring at him in amazement.

"For a moment, I really thought he was," he breathed. "Didn't you ever wonder if he looked like father?" Dao had tears in his eyes.

But Shen just lifted his head and let out a derisive snort. "To me, he was an idiot from the start!"

He walked past Dao.

Po rubbed his paws nervously and looked around shyly. "Anyone still hungry?" Then he looked at his friends. "What actually happened here?"

"Po, I'm so glad to have you back in the kitchen," Mr. Ping said when Po joined him in the kitchen after his friends had briefed him at length on what's been going on over the past few days had happened in the village. Only the infatuation between Sheng and Liana they had kept secret. The masters had also gone back to the palace and wanted to consult about Dao there as well. At least, Po had persuaded the masters not to lock Dao away in any way, but allowed him to roam freely in the village.

The panda was all the more relieved to be able to stand in his familiar four walls again. "Yeah, I'm glad to smell familiar smells again too." Po frowned. "But you should try these Japanese dishes, too. For example, these rice balls, which... what's their name again... Hey, maybe Pong knows how to do that. He knows so many new recipes..."

"Po!" Mr. Ping interrupted him. "Not you, too! If you don't like my cooking, then say so directly."

With these words, Mr. Ping tore off his apron and left the room.

Bewildered, Po looked after him. At that moment, Pong walked into the kitchen.

"What's the matter with dad?" Po wanted to know from him. "Did someone tease him?"

Mr. Pong waved it off. "Oh, the everyday family theme."

Po dropped his ears. "Still? I thought you guys would have sorted that out a long time ago."

The broader gander sighed. "Unfortunately, no. And I think, it will stay that way forever."

An embarrassed silence fell. "Well," Mr. Pong said and clapped his wings. "As long as my brother isn't in the kitchen, I'll create the dinner."

"You think that's okay?" Po asked, worried about falling out of favor with his dad again. But Mr. Pong had no mental problems with that.

"Oh, if he gets angry, he'll calm down. So, do you want to help me with that?"

Po's face lit up. "Try some new recipes? Why not?"

"Don't you want to take off your hat?" Pong pointed out to him.

Po was startled and looked down. "Uh, I have one more problem first." He lifted his hat to reveal his new bald head. "Do you think you could do something about that?"

Mr. Pong frowned. "Uh, I think Li-Li can help you."

As grumpy as Mr. Ping was, he couldn't refuse the request to serve food to his and Shen's family. So it was that, despite his distaste for Pong's presence in his kitchen, he also set to work putting together a menu from his menu. At least, Po was there and was able to loosen up the tense mood with a few cheerful jokes. This time without a straw hat on his head. After a few explanations, Li-Li reacted quickly and cut off some hair on the panda's body and coated the damaged hairstyle with a sticky substance, after which she pressed the cut hair onto it. Po's head looked a little shaggy now, but with a few combs with the hair comb, it was barely visible and Po could feel reasonably safe again.

And it didn't take long before not only Shen's family and the Furious Five, but also Pong's family gathered on the terrace. King Wang was allowed to join them as a guest of honor. Mr. Ping had reserved the terrace for at least two hours due to closed society.

It thrilled the children to have an uncle to keep them company. Yin-Yu was just happy that Shen was with her again. And Sheng had rather mixed feelings about Liana being there as well, which unsettled him a bit, thinking about his father noticing their intimacy. But Liana kept as distant from Sheng as possible, which Sheng appreciated.

The guests were spread over two tables pushed together. Po helped Mr. Ping and Mr. Pong hand out the bowls and then he joined them. The children were delighted and immediately they bombarded him with questions.

After a while, Xia couldn't hold back and leaned forward to Po with concern. "And? Have you settled everything with your master?"

Po waved it off. "Oh yes, Master Shifu will connive. The festival will take place as planned once the other participants have arrived. He couldn't wait to finally send out the invitations. – Will you stay until the party?"

"I think we have to stay," Shen said with a reproachful look at his son Sheng, who still hadn't forgotten the argument between him and himself.

"And what do we do then?" Zedong wanted to know.

"And what about Uncle Dao?" Shenmi joined in the question-and-answer session.

Zedong nodded. "Yes, will he live with us in the palace?"

"We still have to talk about that," Yin-Yu said.

"Are we going to stay here after the festival is over?" Zedong asked.

"No," Shen said resolutely, slowly getting fed up with the panda as he watched Po loudly slurp the noodle soup out of the corner of his eye. But also because of Xiang's presence in the village, he wouldn't want to stay here for the world. "We'll leave immediately then."

Zedong lowered his spoon in disappointment. "But Liana can visit us at the palace, right?" he asked hopefully.

Shen looked at him in surprise. "How do you come up with something like that?" He gave Liana a skeptical look. The goose girl smiled wryly, but the white ruler didn't find it sympathetic. "We can't let everyone into the palace."

"But she is related to Po," Zedong continued.

Po laughed. "Well, around a few corners."

But Shen didn't want to hear any more from this panda's family. "That's still not a reason. I will not allow anyone access without good reason."

Zedong raised his head in horror. "But Dad, you have to invite her over once in a while. Sheng wants to marry her."

Xia's chopsticks fell out of her finger feathers in shock. Po, who had just swallowed a bite, got stuck in his throat. The five looked in shock. Mantis would have liked to crumble into the rice bowl. King Wang kept his mouth shut. The only one who wasn't surprised by this announcement was Mr. Pong. "Oh, that's a nice surprise," he said. "Don't you think the same, Ping?"

But Mr. Ping didn't exactly look like he was about to jump for joy. He stood stock still with a bowl of rice in his wings, as if he feared a thunderstorm was about to break out.

Sheng exchanged a desperate look with Liana and immediately he got up from his seat. "I… I didn't say anything like that," he insisted, looking at his father begging him not to take it seriously.

But Shen didn't take it as a joke. Especially since Liana looked a little embarrassed.

There was dead silence at the table. Zedong, realizing that he must have said something inappropriate, stirred his bowl in embarrassment.

For Dao, on the other hand, it was the occasion to make another sarcastic remark. "Well, well. Is this your way of reconciling yourself with your enemy?"

Yin Yu closed his eyes. That sentence had been unnecessary. But this was finally the last straw for Shen. The ruler slapped the table with his flat wings and stood up. "I've lost my appetite."

With that, he quickly left the terrace and silence returned.

All eyes went to Zedong, who ducked his head sheepishly. "Oops."

Xia gave him a bitter side glance.

Why could little brothers never shut up?