Perfect Bride

By- An Unknown Foreign Beauty

Chapter 7- Punishment for disobedience

In the next three days, Mulan was not able to talk with her husband again. Even so, every time she saw him, the hint of irritation in his eyes destroyed her attempts to speak with him.

Mulan knew she had done wrong. It was not acceptable for women to talk in men's presence, but it was the only way she could think of to stop them from forcing her disable father to join the war. Far from considering her actual reasons, her husband regarded her breach of conduct as a disgrace to his family honor. Instead of being sympathetic to her situation, he simply stopped listening to her anymore.

But the consequence of her actions was much more than she had actually imagined.

Her father-in-law, General Li, on the other hand, obviously had a clearer grasp of the real situation, which was that his daughter-in-law had disgraced his family in front of his colleagues, and his son had worsened the situation with his pride and anger. He understood Mulan's point, but he has also understood his son's reasons. He had dealt with that by calling Mulan to his chamber and talking with her in private.

"I understand how you feel, Mulan." He took a long sip from his teacup, "But the impression you have created to the guests is very disgraceful for our family. Royal advisor Chi-Fu has taken this as a personal insult."

Personal insult…Whatever she did, she did for a valid reason. She hoped at least her father-in-law would be a reasonable man, but it seemed like he too was not different from others.

Mulan raised her head and looked at her father-in-law with much surprise. Did she really disgrace her family that much? But she soon learned the consequences of her actions from the old general. "It is not acceptable for a captain's wife to speak in the presence of her husband's superiors, let alone speaking against them. You have exactly done that, and ruined my son's, as well as my honor in the society. No wonder Shang is very unhappy with you. Besides, Chi-Fu has not taken it so easily. He threatened my son to throw him out of his position if he tried to insult him again."

Mulan gasped to hear the long term effect of her actions, but the old general continued, "I am going to join the army in the south while Shang is appointed to train a new troop in my absence. I do not want you to ruin my son's life with your foolishness anymore. I think it will be best for you to stay at your father's home until you learn to be a proper wife. Shang will drop you there on his way to the camp."

"But father…" Mulan opened her mouth to protest, but it only added more to her father-in-law's annoyance. "You need to learn some manners, child." He said, getting up from his seat, "And I am sorry to say that your father had not taught you any."

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In the coach, on their way to her childhood home, Mulan tried to talk to her husband, to explain, to apologize. After listening to her pleading in glacial silence, he had finally spoken to her. "If I hear just one more word from you, you will find yourself standing on the side of the road before your sentence is finished!"

He was punishing her, Mulan knew. Humiliating her in retaliation for what he believed—and would always believe—she had ruined his honor by her stupidity. And the worst part of it was that when Mulan put herself in his place and looked at things from his point of view, she could understand exactly how he felt and why.

But it made her feel more and more mutinous. What was wrong with her? Why did she always end messing up things whenever she tried hard to make them right?

Their conversation ended abruptly as the carriage stopped in front of the Fa family home. She opened the door of the carriage and was greeted by her father. He looked a bit surprised by their sudden visit but was absolutely delighted to see his daughter again. Mulan hugged her father, and Shang bowed in a traditional way. Mulan was relieved to see that he did not start complaining about her misbehavior to her parents. Fa Li was very much delighted to see her daughter and son-in-law together. Mulan tried not to blush hard when Grandmother Fa asked if she was pregnant. Fa Zhou glared at his mother playfully and ushered them inside.

At night they had dinner with the Fa family. Grandmother Fa tried to suggest some names for her future great-grandchildren. Mulan blushed immediately and tried to give her husband a side glance, but Shang simply informed the old Fa and replied that they had not thought about something like that yet. Fa Zhou asked a few questions about his friend's well-being to cover up the embarrassment. Shang answered his questions too with much curtsy. Mulan wondered how could he keep up this kind of act for so long. She was feeling distressed inside already. They had not exchanged a single word since they had arrived at her parent's house this evening. So, she was surprised when she found him waiting for her at the door of her old bedroom which was given to them for the night.

He turned at the sound of the door opening, and Mulan's heart sank to see the previous grim expression in his face. She remained standing at the door waiting for his permission.

"Come inside, Mulan." Shang said, waving his hand toward the bed in the room, a silent command to sit down. The brief flare of hope that had ignited in Mulan a minute ago when he told her to come inside had already died the instant he met her gaze in that hard, appraising fashion. He hadn't softened a bit, she realized with a sinking heart.

"I'll come directly to the point," he said without preamble as he sat down beside her, keeping a careful distance between them. Mulan looked eagerly at his face, but Shang broke the eye contact immediately. Keeping his voice devoid of emotion he said, "I am going to leave for the camp tomorrow morning to train a new troop, and Chi-Fu will be there to monitor my works. If he finds any fault in my performance, I will be demoted to an ordinary soldier."

Mulan knew what kind of intolerable being the royal advisor was, and having him around all day would be a pain in the neck. "I understand." She said softly.

Instead of replying he stared at her as if he thought she was the most offensive form of human life he'd ever beheld. Unable to resist the need to try to convince him she was at least capable of compassion, Mulan said, "I know he is angry because of me, but believe me, I know he will not be able to find any fault in your performance…."

He interrupted her as if she hadn't spoken, "He also demands your father's presence in the camp within two days. I am going to talk to him about it now. I hope you will not interfere."

Mulan swallowed and nodded. It was getting worse than before. "But is not there any other way?" She whispered a bit helplessly.

A wry smile laced Shang's lips as he looked at his wife's worried face, "Yes, there is one."

"What is that?"

"If your father had a son, or if you could magically transform into a man to take your father's place in the army." He drawled sarcastically, "I believe Chi-Fu would spare him."

Driven by the same desperate anger she'd felt the night she defied his decision in the council, she cried, "It is insane. It is not really fair."

"I will not stop you if you want to think like that." Instead of being amused by her completely childish comment, he looked completely revolted. "But whatever you do, do not try to turn yourself into a laughingstock again." He finished icily, as Mulan stared at his unforgiving face, "You have already done it once. If you step out of the line again, I will have no other way but abandon you."

Then he got up and walked out, his strides long and swift as if he could not tolerate her stupidity anymore.

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I wanted to post something because it is my birthday today as well as the international women's day.

Errors are all mine. Please, consider them nicely.