Page 60 of Air Force One (Miranda Chase #16)

Mei-Li watched for Mui’s reaction. But, as usual when Mui’s mind worked hardest, Mei-Li couldn’t read her at all.

They had often discussed the threat General Liú posed.

Zhang Ru, Mei-Li’s former owner, had been blatant in his actions and therefore predictable.

Grandfather Zuocheng had been far more intelligent and very subtle in his machinations, making his actions impossible to predict.

Though they were American citizens, neither doubted that someday Zuocheng’s claw would reach out and drag them into his plans.

To have him gone? Mei-Li wanted to leap onto the Situation Room table and improvise her greatest-ever gymnastics routine. She wanted to dance, sing, shout, and cavort about like Fu Sang, the Dragon of the Pearl River who brought wisdom and prosperity. It—

But Mui continued to study Daiyu in the long silence until Mei-Li almost wished there was a mechanical clock here so that she could listen to the mechanism ticking. When Mui finally spoke, it wasn’t to Daiyu, but rather to her.

“Your life’s goal is achieved, Mei-Li.”

And it was. How many hundred sleepless nights had images of the CMC’s fall swirled about her thoughts? And yet, like so many before, her hands were clean and she had, against all odds, survived.

“You are a fighter, Mei-Li, but you are not a warrior. Together, we will forge a new goal for you…” she managed a deep breath as Mei-Li could see her accepting her grandfather’s death, “…for us. One of life, not death.”

And Mei-Li could do no more than rise to her feet so that she could offer her most formal bow to Mui’s superior wisdom and patience.

It was Mui, not herself, who embodied the true spirit of the dragon, of all four dragons: wisdom, growth, beauty, and, most importantly, the harmony of Shen Long, the mighty Dragon of the Huai River.

Then Mui turned to the American President.

“I believe that Daiyu mentioned there was a third question she would ask. A question if she was not to be sent back to the People’s Republic of China to be tried for killing so many.

I am certain that it is the same question that Mei-Li and I didn’t dare to even hope for when we first came to America.

So I will dare for her by asking it in her place.

Madame President, for Wang Daiyu, I request asylum for her here in the United States of America. ”