Tilting her chin up, Gu Xiang meets Esther's blue eyes--but although the fierce challenge in her gaze hasn't dimmed, there's a playfulness now in her expression that was missing before. This is no longer a duel to the death; it's a sparring match between two equally matched opponents.

"Why should I envy
the willow's long arms?
The scholar tree blooms,
and bees flock in swarms
to that fragrant tree."

She pauses, dangling the comparison in that unfinished verse long enough to insult--then relents.

"But my hard heart warms.
Maybe there is room
For the willow's charms."