~ I've revised and corrected this and added the bits I'd
originally cut out. The old version is on a CDR somewhere, so if anyone
wants it for any reason feel free to e-mail and ask. Mulan, Li Shang, General
Li, Chi fu, the Go3 and Shan-yu belong to Disney. Meng Tai-shan, Li Tie-lin
and others belong to me. Touch them and you die. This is rated PG for violence,
hormones and I think some off-screen sex (not with mu/sh though). Otherwise,
it's pretty clean. ~
CHAPTER ONE
"Shang! Shang!" Mulan almost had to run to keep up with him, he was
stalking across the grass with a scroll in one hand, clutching it angrily.
"Will you at least tell me what's going on?"
They had been carrying on this way for five minutes, for five minutes
she had been left muttering to only his red cloak and topknot. It would
have been just a small courtesy to inform her of why she had been dragged
from her home and ushered to Ch'ang-an at all speed. During the journey
he had been friendly in his reserved way, but proved even better at deflecting
questions than he was blows. She would find out soon enough, he said, unhappily.
It was only an hour ago that he was called by the Emperor only to return
with the scroll in question. Unhappy had become a whopping understatement.
Finally he whirled around in a swirl of bright crimson, relaxing his
hand just enough to unfurl the parchment and read it again, his eyes narrowing
and darkening anew before pushing it closed once more. For a moment she
thought he had only meant to read it for himself, he seemed to have forgotten
she was there entirely. Finally he sighed and looked up.
"He's alive, he has an army, and he's marching on the border."
It was so curt and cold, at least anyone else might have thought so,
but at the same time it was so angry. She did not have to ask who "he"
was, she did not have to think long to understand why he looked both completely
detached yet on the verge of an outburst at the same time, she could only
briefly wonder how he managed it. The man who had killed his father was
still alive, what filial son would not think first and only of revenge?
He was a filial son, she knew that, his respect for his father was so deep
it was in his bones. He loved his father as much as she loved hers, that
allowed them to share an understanding, an understanding which had saved
her life once.
When she spoke, she hoped to sound soothing. Men needed soothing, especially
him, a strange yet fond thought for the circumstances. "How did he escape?
It seems impossible."
"If you want something badly enough, Mulan, nothing is impossible,"
He spoke with his old ease, captain to recruit, or was it general to whatever
she was now? "I'm not supposed to tell you this, I could be executed for
it but," he rubbed one side of his head, wincing, she could see he was
tired. "There seems to be a little bit of treason, there's no other way
he could have gotten across the border. A general doesn't meddle with politics,
not if he values his life and career. Well, I've already got a headache
for today. It's the Emperor's job to find the traitor, mine is just to
kill Shan Yu."
Mulan blinked, not sure of what to say. "And me?" She asked with a
bit of hesitation.
"Ah, yes, you." He looked so stern, as when she had first met him,
no trace of friendship or affection. It did sting just a little. "I forgot
that part. The Emperor wishes you on the battlefield again, he will make
you General Fa at a banquet tonight, held in your honor."
Mulan seized his arm. "I can't attend a formal banquet, I mean," sighing,
she let go. "I mean I can't be a general. Whatever I managed was simple
good luck and common sense. I have no talent, learning or experience for
such a responsibility, I.."
She cut off when she realized he was laughing at her, she folded her
arms and glared until he stopped. "I'm sorry, Mulan, but I could stand
here and recite Sun Tzu's every word. I could tell you so many stories
from the history books, but it amounts to nothing when you're out there.
Good judgment, Mulan, and a little bit of courage. For these things, you
are worth your weight in jade." Clearing his throat, he was all sternness
again. "Now stop acting like a village girl. You are the great lady now,
don't dishonor yourself." With that he turned back in the direction of
the Palace, motioning for her to follow.
"But Shang," she trotted after him through the courtyard, beautiful
but hardly glanced at in her frenzy. She hoped he at least considered her
enough of a friend to let her pester him a bit. Between them, things were
very uncertain. "I don't feel right about this. Couldn't I tell the Emperor
that I just don't think I can handle the responsibility?"
Again, that rich laughter, he turned over his shoulder to cast her
a puzzled yet annoyed glance, shrugging his shoulders as if to say a woman's
thoughts were beyond him. "If it were that easy, Mulan, I wouldn't have
a headache right now." She frowned, wounded at the prospect of him not
wanting her around, of him not wanting her to wear a rank equal to his.
It was a relief when he shook his head, facing her and walking backwards
as he spoke. "You know that's not what I mean." It was a clear scolding,
she blinked, surprised at how well he read her thoughts. "Do you think
anyone ever gave me a choice? I was born for this, to be a general, and
although I love my country I wish it weren't that way. Well, we were both
chosen and that's the way it is, we're fated to worry every minute hoping
we make the right choice for our men and our country. Complaining doesn't
change it, so you may as well save the energy." She was about to tell him
to be careful of the tiger statue behind him, but a mere foot away from
colliding into it he swirled around again and stepped easily aside. Mulan
bit her lip, showoff.
"I guess you're right," she sighed reluctantly, there was no way around
this.
"I wish I weren't," he answered quietly, then laid a brief hand on
her shoulder, that was considered affection among soldiers. "You'll do
fine, and you won't be alone. I have all the knowledge and training, and
you," the corner of his mouth turned up in a smirk. "Well you have your
crazy ideas. Should be interesting."
"Think so?" She wished she wasn't blushing.
He nodded. "You know I don't like repeating myself. Now hurry up, there's
a banquet tonight, remember? I at least don't want to look like I've been
traveling for days."
~ * ~
In all her life, Mulan had never seen anything like an Imperial banquet.
Not only was the hall decorated so brightly that her eyes could find no
relief from the color of vivid flowers and garlands, but the cheerful music
was impossible to escape as well. She was seated beside Shang at the Emperor's
right, he was closest to Emperor Zhongzong since he was the highest ranking
general, and she the next, while the other important captains sat in their
respective order beside her. Chi fu sat to the Emperor's left, flanked
by noblemen and ministers of varying rank. Aside from the Empress, no other
women were seated at the main table. Mulan felt a bit strange in the midst
of all these honored soldiers, adorned in a gown of tapestried blues and
reds, with real gold thread at the borders. A little jeweled crown rested
on her head, dangling with bells and topping a hairstyle so elaborate she
thought it must be impossible to duplicate. She tried not to even think
about the amount of make up she wore. It seemed the more the servants heard
of her exploits, the more determined they were to show off her beauty.
Had she heard of Hu the Tiger, they asked her? He had a bodyguard of warrior
women dressed like dolls. Of course she had, people hung themselves on
trees rather than face him, the point being?
If the decor wasn't splendid enough, the entertainment showed it up
well. Lithe dancers swirled white streamers of flowing ramie cloth, while
another troupe of men came out with weapons and bright flags. "The Sword
Dance of the King of Qin," Shang narrated, noticing her rapture. "They
tell the story of Li Shiman, the Prince of Qin, and how he triumphed over
the Turks for the glory of our country, how he became the great Emperor
Taizong."
She noted the pride in his voice. "You admire him," it was not a question.
Emperor Taizong was a hero, and after his father, had saved China from
the disunity of the Sui.
"More than that," his gaze strayed from the dancers into his wine cup.
"He was my great grandfather. As you can see, we have quite a military
tradition in our family. A lot to live up to." Putting his cup down, he
sighed and turned back to watching the performance. "For almost a thousand
years my family has served the Empire, from assisting Liu Bang in ending
the tyranny of the Zhao family, to the great Li Kuang who gave his life
in service to Wu-ti, and saving his people from the barbarians. We come
from proud bloodlines."
Mulan was intrigued, she had not heard he was of Imperial blood before.
"Did your family serve Empress Wu with as much loyalty? The first Empress
of China, and she ruled for twenty one years." Or so her father had told
her, she had reigned in his lifetime.
"Of course my family served her, she was my uncle's wife. But she was
not the first. Empress Lu was the first, about nine hundred years ago now."
Her eyes brightened with curiosity. "Who was Empress Lu?" She wished
she could have been a boy to be sent away to school.
"Empress Lu?" he laughed a little. "Now she was a tigress. Liu Bang
- the Han Emperor Gaozu - had a favorite concubine, the Lady Qi, not only
did she poison this woman's son, but after Liu Bang died, the empress cut
off Lady Qi's hands and feet, gouged out her eyes, made her mute and locked
her in an outhouse, screaming that she was a pig. I hope my family assisted
in her death."
Her father had never told her that story before. Shang's knowledge
of history impressed her. Still, she did not like the idea of it. "Well
what do you expect? She was jealous of this other wife." Mulan could not
imagine what she would do if her father took another wife.
"Then she should have cut off Liu Bang's hands and feet," Shang answered
simply, Mulan swallowed, not expecting this. "The Emperor loved Lady Qi,
Mulan, I'm sure Empress Lu could have cared less. She wanted power, and
was angry when Lady Qi's son was suggested as Crown Prince."
"Well emperors are guilty of worse things. What about Yang Guang of
the Sui Dynasty who killed his older brother for the throne?"
Shang gave a puzzled look as if she had said something foolish, she
supposed she must have, but had no idea what. She was not educated as he
was. "It's not the same thing. You expect cruelty and ruthlessness from
men, not from a woman." Mulan stiffened and glared at him as he took another
sip of wine. "I meant it as a compliment to your kind," he said after a
bit. "Cruelty and ruthlessness aren't things to be prized."
She had to smile at that, the error in it. Women were cruel, they had
been cruel to her all her life, saying no man would want her and she was
worth nothing. Her father was compassionate, Shang was compassionate even
in his own way.
"The Rainbow and Feather Garments Dance," he continued his narration
as another troupe took the stage, all beautiful women in colorful silk.
She watched him eye them with appreciation, groaning inside.
This was her chance to impress him. "I can dance, and sing too," she
announced proudly.
All of a sudden Shang looked nervously from her to the Emperor, surreptitiously
leaning closer. "Be quiet, Mulan." He threw a covert glance back at the
Emperor, who was too engrossed to notice. Mulan did not know whether to
smile or kick Shang under the table, surely he did not think the emperor
would snatch her up as a concubine!
The Emperor finally did look their way, although he was oblivious and
unaware of their conversation, all of his conversation had been with Chi
fu, who seemed to demand attention. The hall grew silent when he stood
and held up his goblet. "I raise a toast, to the our lady general Fa Mulan,
may she bring us many victories and good fortune."
Everyone at the great table took up the toast, though she could see
a few sneers from the men around her, particularly Chi fu. Mulan did her
best to ignore them.
Food was brought, dishes of fried sea scallions in oyster sauce, dumplings
with a kind of clear soup and black mushrooms. "The Royal Marriage," Shang
named the dish. It was certainly rich to the taste. There were fried tenderloins
of beef served with vegetables, along with prawns and walnuts. A fried
rice dish was brought which Shang called "Lotus Fairy," as the balls of
rice were wrapped in lotus leaves. Mulan sampled all of these careful to
mind her manners, she did not want to remind everyone of her simple upbringing,
especially the man beside her, who shared the blood of a great king.
After the meal, the guests were treated to seasoned fruits and jasmine
tea, Mulan was thankful no one expected her to pour. She envied the grace
of the serving women, wagering they had never spilled their tea or sabotaged
their meetings with the Matchmaker. At least Shang was not eyeballing them
the way the other men were.
"Our lady general enjoys the splendor of my court," the Emperor declared
with amusement. Only the Empress smiled, a willowy woman with a pale, pretty
face, not even old enough to be her mother. The others either snickered
behind their cups or looked bored whenever attention was direction towards
her.
Mulan felt her cheeks warm, she hoped she managed to look at least
somewhat dignified, not just a country girl who gaped at every colorful
thing before her. "I am in awe of Your Majesty's exquisite taste." She
hoped that was the right answer. It seemed to be, he smiled at her and
then over at the foreign dancers who performed some hip swaying style with
bells and coins around their waists and ankles, posing in elaborate arm
movements that made them lithe as serpents.
"These women come from Arab lands," the Emperor took up Shang's self-imposed
duty. "And Byzantium. In the west they think Constantinople the grandest
city in the world, until they come here. Still, each is exquisite, these
dancers, chosen for their beauty and grace, a gift of good will from their
homelands.
Shang smiled all of a sudden. "With all due respect, Your Majesty,
I don't think Fa Mulan is very impressed by rare and beautiful women."
The entire table burst into laughter, even Chi fu. If Mulan was blushing
before, her cheeks were as red as the plum wine by now.
"To be sure, General Li," The Emperor laughed richly. "What would our
lady general like? She must have some gift for her services to this empire."
Mulan started to speak, to assure him that she wanted nothing. But
Shang spoke for her. "I think General Fa would be more impressed with books
to read. An Imperial General cannot be without an education."
"A woman? Educated? Can she even read?" Chi fu spoke up, the other
men nodded.
She glared at him. "My father taught me, but we had few books
in the house."
"Li Shang brings up an excellent idea," the Emperor smiled. "On your
journey, Fa Mulan, you will be supplied with all the important military
books and scrolls which every officer should be familiar with. When you
return, I will grant you a place in the National Academy. Li Shang was
an excellent student, I will make it his duty to see that you succeed at
your lessons."
Shang nodded, and Mulan smiled nervously. She wondered why he did this,
she hoped it was not because he could not stand a peasant's ignorance.
Whatever his reason, it would give her a chance to stay close to him.