Imperial Mice of China

## Stats

**Imperial Mice of China** is the 13th episode of the series *The Country Mouse and the City Mouse Adventures* that aired on April 12, 1998. The setting in this episode is China.

## Summary

Emily and Alexander arrive in China. Emily states that there are one billion people in China, and two billion mice, which makes Alexander wonder how they'll find their cousin Wu-Sang. She reads that every year is named after an animal, and this year, it is The Year of the Rat. Wu-Sang meets Alexander and Emily and tell them they should go back to the palace as it's too dangerous to be out during this New Year's celebration. Alexander isn't worried, when a firecracker drops to the ground and explodes, making the mice fly. Emily lands on a strange dog mask that somebody is wearing, it is then revealed that it is Puyi, the emperor. Knowing that he can't go past the palace walls, he wore a dog disguise to not be noticed and came out just to see what a new year celebration is like. Wu-Sang says that the Lord Chamberlain would be worried, and sure enough Puyi sees him looking around the town. He puts his mask back on and they go back to the palace. To sneak past the guards, Emily, Alexander, and Wu-Sang move the mask on the ground which scares the guards and they run away, allowing Puyi to run in the entrance.

Wu-Sang lets his cousins in the mouse village, forewarning them of Ling, the Lord Chamberlain's cat. They arrive at the right time Fu-Mouse-Chu, the imperial emperor of Chinese mice, also arrives, who never goes out in public. Fu-Mouse-Chu gets an assistant to read a scroll about paying their tax, and they pay with things such as food and possessions. A mother gives him a little bag of rice and her child brings him two mittens, but Fu-Mouse-Chu demands her to bring more. Emily asks the mother if she's alright, and she says that the rice was all they had considering that the whole village is poor, and the mittens were the only thing to keep warm in the winter. In fact, they never had to pay tax until recently, as the Emperor is now a monster. Though actually, Fu-Mouse-Chu is really No-Tail No-Goodnik in disguise. Emily and Alexander ask Wu-Sang if they can see the Emperor, but he says the only way to get in is if they can solve the riddle in the Ancient Scrolls, asking "How do you hold the wind in your hand?"

Alexander figures that Puyi can help. The Lord Chamblerlain says to Puyi that he can't be seen out in public. Puyi says he hates the traditions, which makes Emily think that Puyi doesn't really enjoy being Emperor, in fact, Wu-Sang is his only friend. When the Lord Chamberlain exits his room, Wu-Sang gives Emily and Alexander gifts, royal yellow outfits, and for Emily, a silk fan. Ling then attacks, but Emily and Alexander get away and Wu-Sang distracts him, then leading him into a big vase that he closes with a plate. Emily and Alexander climb up a dragon statue, and it's tongue slides them down to a bag of rice into the food store room. Wu-Sang and Puyi search for Emily and Alexander, and the Lord Chamberlain frees the cat when he questions why is favorite plate right there. Ling sees the two mice again but they get away in a mouse hole.

They stay undercover and see the Emperor No-Tail telling his assistants that the boat containing their loot will float right out of the secret passage, and they'll get their share of the loot when they leave China. Emily is disgusted of this "kind and gentle" emperor and runs to No-Tail, and so does Alexander. Alexander questions how does he know her name. No-Tail says tha he known them both for years and hates them, and when his fake tail comes off, both now realize this emperor is No-Tail No-Goodnik. No-Tail yells to his assistants to seize Alexander and Emily, which they do and they take them both into a cell. In the cell, they find the actual Emperor Fu-Mouse-Chu. He explains that No-Tail had broken into the palace and kidnapped him.

Wu-Sang finds Emily's fan in the rice bag, and enters the mouse hole palace. He gets the key from a sleeping mouse by the cage and frees Emily, Alexander, and Fu-Mouse-Chu. They hide in an abandoned drawer when they are briefly chased, but knowing they will come back, Alexander has an idea. Emily knocks on the previous mother's home and asks her to come to the moat and bring some villagers. Wu-Sang signals Puyi to come along with him when he is at the dinner table, as well. Fu-Mouse-Chu confronts No-Tail who still admits that he's the real Fu-Mouse-Chu, so to settle it, Alexander asks the riddle to No-Tail. Claiming he isn't so well with riddles, Fu-Mouse-Chu mentions that you hold the wind in you hand with a fan. Alexander rips No-Tail's mustache off, exposing that he is an imposter. No-Tail makes a getaway in his boat, and the mice with boats follow him. He attempts to pull a horn on a statue head and the mother says that it'll make the water rush in and they'll drown. He pulls it anyway, and what is said begins happening. Fortunately, Puyi saves the three heroes, and No-Tail and his foes wash away. Because the flood had ruined Fu-Mouse-Chu's palace, Puyi says that he can reside on his throne. Back at home, Puyi had given Emily and Alexander a coin after their trip. Alexander says that he likes to travel, but there is no place like home.