Mulan couldn't believe they sent a carriage over. It was so beautifully furnished. She felt bad since Ling, Yao, and Chien Po had to follow behind on their horses, but it all turned out for the best. She didn't want to talk to anyone anyway, and they didn't seem to miss her presence.

"I can't wait until we get there!" Ling exclaimed. "I can't wait to see all the consorts. Maybe the Emperor will award me for my valor by giving me one of them."
"The consorts are for the Emperor's son," Chien Po said.
"Hmmm… I wonder how many of them there are," Yao pondered.
"Remember, the Matchmaker at Mulan's village said there would be one from each village," Chien po said.
" I wish I could be the Emperor's son," Ling replied. "He gets the best of everything."
"I wonder which one will become his wife," Chien Po said.
"He's the son of the Emperor. He can chose all of them if he wanted," Yao said.
Mulan, who had been listening in on their conversation from her sedan, became disheartened on hearing Yao. Ling, sensing Mulan's eavesdropping, nudged Yao and laughed. "What are you talking about?!" he said loudly. "Mulan will get it!" Ling then looked into the window of the sedan, smiling. Mulan reciprocated with a weak smile.
"Are you feeling well?" Ling asked.
"I'm fine," she answered. "Just tired."
"You can sleep," Yao said. "We'll protect you."
Mulan set the curtain on her sedan to isolate herself from her companions, but she kept listening to their conversation, unbeknownst to them.
"I don't think she'd attract the Emperor's son," Yao said.
"Not so loud," Ling said.
"Why not," Chien Po whispered.
"She's so different from other girls, and he's always surrounded by those other ones, so he probably won't like her," Yao replied.
"Well, Captain Li was surrounded by the same kind, and he likes Mulan," Chien Po said.
"Hey," Ling said, whispering and motioning to the sedan. "Not so loud."

They were separated once they got to the Imperial City. They went off to a tavern while Mulan went straight to the palace. Looking at the palace, She couldn't believe that the Huns had laid siege on it not too long ago. Everything looked perfect. A maid welcomed her and told her there were further challenges she had to do. She first asked Mulan's name and which village she had come from.
"Fa Mulan?" the maid asked, astonished. "You are the Fa Mulan?"
"Yes," Mulan replied.
"I need to go for a second, please excuse me," the maid said hastily. Moments later she came back with the Emperor. "There she is," the maid said, pointing at her. She then left the room.
"Are you really Fa Mulan?" Tiao asked.
"Yes, I am," Mulan responded impatiently, oblivious to the identity of her companion. "Why?"
"It's just unbelievable. You're so small!" He laughed.
"My size does not make me any less capable," Mulan stated.
"I imagined you to be some atrociously large and ugly woman," Tiao said, smiling. "You can't be Fa Mulan."
"That's it!" Mulan replied indignantly. "I will fight you right now, if you still don't believe I am me." She took her stance.
"Well," he said, amused. "All right, but I won't show you any mercy, little girl."
Mulan immediately landed a swift kick to his side. Tiao responded by sending his fist out towards her, but he hesitated on hitting her. Mulan took full advantage by grabbing his arm and twisting it behind him, making Tiao cry out in pain.
"So, you believe me now?" Mulan said self-satisfied, pinning his arm behind his back.
Just then the imperial guards ran into the room, weapons at hand, and running towards Mulan to attack her.
"Stop!" Tiao ordered. "It's okay, she's just teaching me a move." Mulan let him go, confused as to what was going on. "See? You may go."
"Yes, your Highness," the imperial guards replied in unison. They then ran out of the room.
"Your Highness?" Mulan echoed.
"Yes," Tiao replied.
"You could have told me who you were," Mulan said.
"And spoil all the fun?" Tiao said, smiling. "You know, Fa Mulan, I should keep you around. You are certainly different from any other girl I've ever met."
Mulan eyed him suspiciously. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"I guess we'll have to wait and see," Tiao replied. "Have you been shown to your room?"
"No," Mulan said. "I still have retake some of the testing to make sure I'm a suitable consort." Tiao did not pay attention and instead summoned a eunuch to show Mulan to her room.

Upon their arrival, the eunuch escused himself, leaving Mulan and Tiao alone.
"So, where is the Emperor?" Mulan asked casually. "I was hoping on seeing him again once I arrived."
"Oh, I guess the news hasn't reached you yet then," Tiao said. "He died, two days ago."
Mulan, so stunned with the news, could hardly hold back her tears. "I am sorry, your Highness. Please forgive me, I didn't know."
Tiao was so moved by Mulan's open expression of emotion, and he addressed her softly, "No, I'm sorry to have been the one to break the news to you." He put his arm around her.
She quickly composed herself. "How have you been handling it?"
Tiao, caught completely off guard, answered plainly, "It's very hard to lose someone you love. I mean, I've tried reasoning and taking my mind off it. It all just came about so quickly, I wish it had taken me instead." He looked at Mulan and saw in her doleful countenance that she understood. He quickly changed the subject. "I have to go to a meeting, but I'll see you at the banquet tonight," Tiao said.

Mulan was pardoned of the further testing, so she started unpacking her belongings. She was told to bring little with her, since she would be provided with clothes and the other necessities. Mulan spent time to get acquainted with the room, looking over her new possessions with awe. Eventually she walked out of her room, looking for consorts to befriend. She was immediately approached by two girls, one in a purple robe, and the other in a red one.

"Are you a consort too?" the consort in a purple robe asked. Once she saw Mulan nod, she continued. "My name is Chan Lin."
"It's a pleasure meeting you," Mulan replied. "My name is Fa Mulan."
"Who?" The consort in the red robe impatiently said.
"She's the one who dressed up like a boy," Chan Lin said to her companion.
"The girl that killed that Hun?" The consort in a red robe said. "Funny… you look like a girl to me."
Mulan got offended, but she immediately brushed it off. "Make up does wonders," she laughed awkwardly.
"Yes, well, anyway… I'm Chan Hua," the consort in the red dress said. "We're cousins."
"That's nice," Mulan replied.

The three of them continued walking together through the palace, getting to know one another. Xiaoming stood in the main hall of the palace admiring the architecture when Mulan and the two consorts walked in.
"Oh, I enjoyed the travel in the sedans," Mulan said. "It was very nice for the emperor to provide them."
"I absolutely hated the travel. It was too hot," the Cheng Hua replied superciliously. Upon seeing Xiaoming, she immediately recognized her from the rumors spreading around the palace. "You know," she said, pointing at Xiaoming. "that Hun girl there is one of the consorts. Isn't it disgustingly low? I hear that she used to be a prostitute."
Mulan, fed up with the arrogance of the other two consorts, joined Xiaoming. "I'm very sorry for what everyone else is saying," Mulan said, apologetically.
"It's okay, I'm getting used to it," Xiaoming replied. "You should go back to them, before they start making fun of you too."
"I don't care of their opinion of me," Mulan quickly said.
"Oh," Xiaoming said, shocked with Mulan's statement. "Well, do you want to see the gardens here? They are so beautiful."
Mulan followed her to the Emperor's garden, and she showed her a part that was completely covered by cherry blossom petals. Cherry blossom trees as far as the eye could see. Xiaoming eagerly listened to Mulan as she told Xiaoming of her family and home. Mulan's whole life was like one Xiaoming only heard in stories.

"Are you sure you want to be seen with me?" Xiaoming asked. "I'm sure everything they're saying about me is true."
"It's fine, really," Mulan answered. She then pondered what Xiaoming said. "Uhh, what do you mean by all of it?"
"I used to live in a brothel," Xiaoming explained.
"Really?" Mulan replied, unsuccessful at veiling the shock.
"Yes," Xiaoming explained. "My father sold me to Mother Kong a long time ago. I had become really successful, and that's how the Emperor came upon me."
Mulan listened in astonishment as Xiaoming narrated her life story. She couldn't believe that a father would sell his child. Mulan did not pity her, but rather admired Xiaoming's strength.

They walked to another part of the garden, and found Ling, Yao, and Chien Po there. Mulan began to introduce them.
"Xiaoming, this is Ling, Yao, and Chien Po," Mulan said.
"Hi, Xiaoming," Ling coyly said.
"Hello," Chien Po said.
Yao only grunted.
"So, you're one of the consorts?" Ling asked.
"Yes, I am" Xiaoming replied
"It's good you're making friends, Mulan," Chien Po said.
"All the girls here are too absorbed with themselves," Yao remarked.
"You're only saying that because they turned you down," Ling teased.
"Now, Yao," Chien Po said. "You know that the consorts are only reserved for the Emperor's son."
Yao gritted his teeth, trying to keep his temper. "I did not approach them. I'm just saying that they seem very conceited."
"Yao, you're temper is starting up again. Maybe you should start your chants with Chien Po," Ling taunted.
"Oh yes, Yao, let's chant," Chien Po said, smiling down on Yao.
"I don't need to chant!" Yao yelled. "I am calm!"
Xiaoming burst out laughing. Everyone stopped and stared at her. "You three are so funny!"
"Uhh… thanks," Ling said, eyeing her curiously.
"Sorry everyone," Mulan interrupted. "The banquet is soon, and Xiaoming and I still have to get ready. We have to go." Mulan quickly hugged her friends, grabbed Xiaoming's hand and raced down the hall. She kept looking around to find her room, and she stopped once she realized she was lost. "Umm… I don't know where we are."
"It's okay, I know my room from here," Xiaoming said. She led Mulan back to her room, still talking to her. "You should ask one of the eunuchs here to lead you back. See, there's one over there." Xiaoming pointed at the eunuch that showed her to her room the other day. "By the way, I'm not feeling well, so I'm going to miss the banquet. Tell me all about it later. Bye!" Before Mulan could reply, Xiaoming stepped inside her room and closed the door behind her.

There stood in the middle of the room a gilded cage with a nightingale in it. It had caught Xiaoming's eye, and she came closer to watch the nightingale peck at its food. The maid entered the room and began to address her. "Umm, the Emperor wants you to be ready for the banquet tonight. In a little while, actually."
"Tell the Emperor I'm not going," Xiaoming replied without averting her eyes to the maid. "I don't feel well."
"Oh, I don't know if I can do that," the maid said uneasily.
"Okay, well just leave me alone in my room. And, if he happens to ask you later why I wasn't there, tell him that I kicked you out of my room in a violent fit. I'm sure he won't blame you for that," Xiaoming said, smiling at the maid. The maid reluctantly agreed and left the room.
"Well, little bird, it's just you and me," Xiaoming said to the nightingale. She then opened its cage to feed it.

Mulan reentered her room to find a very beautiful red, pink and white robe on her bed. Three maids also stood by to tend to her makeup.
All the while she couldn't help but think of whom she was going to meet there. There was the Emperor, who said he would expect her there. Ling, Yao, and Chien Po would also be there. Chi Fu was going to be there, no doubt. She began to wonder whether Shang would be attending.
Once everyone was ready, Mulan and the rest of the consorts, excluding Xiaoming, walked into the Dining Hall. Everyone looked at the girls, giving sighs of approval. Soon they broke off into their own groups and tried to mingle with the crowd—mainly the Emperor. Tiao only addressed one girl.
"Mulan, come with me!" Tiao said. "I want to introduce you to someone." Tiao grabbed her hand and led her to the table where Xie Kuang was sitting. "Xie Kuang is one of the advisors. Xie Kuang," Tiao addressed him, "this is Fa Mulan. The Fa Mulan!"
Xie Kuang exclaimed. "Such a beautiful young lady. Obviously Li Shang is going blind, if he had mistaken you for a man."
Chi Fu, who was sitting next to Xie Kuang but talking to someone else, turned around when he heard Xie Kuang. On recognizing Mulan's face, he expressed his loathing openly. "Your Highness was sent her as one of your consorts? Doesn't China have any better-refined women? Women, shall we say, that are content in wearing dresses?"
"Well," Xie Kuang said. "With her beauty, she may wear whatever she wants and still look pretty. Your daughter, however, should probably stick to dresses."

In another part of the room, Shang sat with two of the consorts.
"General Li, do you want more wine?" one of the consorts asked giddily. She didn't bother waiting for his answer, but instead started pouring more wine into his cup.
Shang took up his cup and drank all its contents. While watching the consort pour more wine in, he asked, "So what do you think of the Emperor?"
"He's very handsome," the consort to his left said. "Right, Lin?"
The one pouring the tea echoed her words in agreement.
"But, he's always spending time with that other girl. She's not that pretty. We are much prettier. Look at her! At his side like a puppy."
"She's so lucky," Lin said. On sensing her friend's anger, she ended her sentence there.
Shang glanced at Tiao and the consort beside him, but could hardly see straight from the alcohol. He then nodded in agreement. "Yes, you two are much prettier." He then drank more of his wine.
"Captain!" Ling shouted. "Look guys, it's the Captain!" Ling, Yao, and Chien Po ran up to Shang to greet him.
"Captain?" the consort repeated. "I thought you were General."
"I was their captain before I became General," Shang said.
Ling, Yao, and Chien Po looked at their captain, and they were disgusted with the drastic change they had seen. Shang, whom they had always seen as a noble man, was presenting himself as a playboy, a drink in his hand and a girl at each side.
"It's nice to see you again, sir," Chien Po said.
"I thought you three said you were going to travel around China. Why are you back here?" Shang asked.
Yao responded, "What's it to you, Pretty boy? We're gonna leave in a few days; towards the South."
"Yeah, well," Ling began, "we're gonna look around some more. See ya later." The three of them left Shang and the consorts.
"Are they brothers?" the consort nearest the flask asked.
"They are a bit... queer, if you ask me," the other consort said.
Shang gave no response, and instead downed more of his wine.

Two dance performances were given, both performed by the more talented consorts. Tiao however only focused on Mulan. Mulan enjoyed the night completely, but was a bit disheartened that she was unable to meet up with her former captain.
Tiao and Mulan were walking down the hall. "So, Mulan, how did you like it?"
"It was nice," Mulan said nonchalantly.
"You sound like you've been to better," Tiao laughed. The suddenly came to a stop at one of the doors.
"I don't think this is my room," Mulan said.
"It's mine," Tiao said. He opened the door and invited her in. She followed him inside, and was completely taken by the grandeur of the room.
"All of this is yours?" Mulan asked.
"Yes," Tiao answered, falling back on his bed. "Do you like it?"
"I can't believe you have all this," Mulan said, looking at the furnishings. "And in other parts of China, people don't have enough money for a shoe."
"Mulan," Tiao said, "there will always be the poor, now matter how hard your try to give and give and give. That is why you should enjoy what you have." He then patted with his right hand on the bed, motioning for Mulan to sit down next to him. She complied. "Stay here tonight," he said.
Mulan, unknowing as to how to refuse the Emperor, reluctantly accepted the invitation. As she sat on the edge of the bed, Tiao got up to remove his robes.