Han Li thinks he is the smartest and most talented painter in China. His master, Lin Cho tries to warn him about his arrogance but Han Li does not listen. When Lin Cho becomes ill before he can finish his painting for the emperor, what will Han Li do?
After Yung-lu's father dies of mercury poisoning, the young girl leaves for Chang'an. She is determined to take her father's place as a warrior. When she arrives she finds two big surprises. The emperor is taking mercury and the army is not what she imagined.
Zhou never seems to beat his brother, Cheng, at anything. But when Zhou finds a jade dragon, his luck changes. Soon, Zhou is beating Cheng at everything. Will Zhou and his jade dragon be able to keep up the winning streak, or will he lose his luck?
Song Sun likes to talk but never listens. After talking too much to a stranger, Song Sun accidentally gives away the Chinese secret of silk making. Will Song Sun be able to save the secret?
Lali's first mother was an elephant. When she was found and taken in by a hunter as a baby, her elephant mother joined the family, too. Years later, the beautiful animal catches the eye of the queen. Lali fears that she will lose her elephant.
Ambu is Princess Lakshmi's servant, but the two are more like sisters. After Ambu secretly teaches Lakshmi how to swim, the princess hopes to win a swimming contest against a boy. Will anything get in her way of being the water princess?
When Prince Rishi sees a horse on the hill, he knows that King Porus' army is coming to take over his father's kingdom. The fearful boy is uncertain what the future will hold for himself, his family, and the tall, proud horse.
Tungar is a smart, but proud and vain boy. He dreams of being a general for the warrior king Asoka. Will the king want Tungar by his side? Or is he looking for a different sort of warrior?