Previously: I really hope you haven't forgotten, but it's been so long you probably did :) So I'll explain: Chan and Sun got engaged. That's pretty much the most important thing. But it's still exciting, right? …. Maybe you all should reread the last chapter. Then you'll be excited.

A General's Son

Chapter 26

The next morning dawned bright and found everyone still in their homes because of the early hour. Yao, Mei, and Xiao were seated around their table eating breakfast. Yao, sitting cross-legged on a low cushion, waited anxiously for the appearance of his only daughter.

"Father, you're hardly touching your food. Is something the matter?" Xiao asked mischievously between mouthfuls of his breakfast. Yao ignored him, but began drumming his fingers on the table with a noticeably tense rhythm. Xiao was trying to act as if he hadn't the slightest idea what Chan and Sun had been up to the night before, but he was also enjoying the fact that he knew Sun's answer when Yao was having a harder time keeping Chan's secret. Mei, who had been kept completely in the dark, was the only one who didn't have reservations about thinking out loud.

"Sun had quite a late night yesterday," she commented, "I wonder what kept her out?" She looked down the hall as if expecting Sun to be there. When she wasn't, Mei turned her attention back to Yao and Xiao. "We'll just have to ask her when she wakes up."

All three of their attentions shifted from Sun's after-hours activities when a knock sounded from the front door. Mei's face was puzzled as she rose to answer it, and even more puzzled when she opened the door to find no one there. She peeked her head further out, and turned it in both directions, but not a soul was there. The only thing Mei did find was a red envelope, looking quite out of place lying on the porch. She picked it up and flipped it over, but there where no markings to be found on it. Perplexed, she brought it inside.

Ignoring the questions her husband and son asked, Mei carefully opened the envelope. As she read the brief note that was written inside, she understood why it was red—the color of happiness. With no sign as to its contents except her elated smile, Mei rushed off down the hall.

Sun was sleeping soundly when her mother's rather loud entrance intruded into her dreams.

"Sun! Is it true? Is it true?" Mei asked, standing in the doorway of the door she had just flung open. Sun raised herself up on one elbow and blinked groggily at her mother.

"What?" she asked, sleep still claiming most of her senses.

"Is it true?" Mei repeated for the third time, and then added deliberately, as if it should have been clear enough the first time, "Are you engaged?"

Sun's memory of the previous night came flooding back to her in vivid detail. She smiled and blushed, pulling the blankets higher up around her. Then, in the smallest, happiest voice she said the word "Yes."

From their place at the table, Xiao and Yao knew what the letter had said as soon as they heard Mei's cry of joy from within Sun's bedroom.

An hour later, after Sun had been fed and properly fussed over, she and her mother returned to her room. While Mei braided Sun's hair in preparation for their visit with the Li family, Sun finished explaining how Chan had proposed.

"…And then he brought out the necklace and asked me to marry him," she finished, holding Chan's gift out so Mei could see it. She admired the small flower, smiling. "He had it made especially for me," Sun commented proudly, as Mei continued arranging Sun's hair, intertwining fragrant liwa—jasmine—blossoms between the silky strands.

"He must love you very much," she said, "he will make a fine husband." Sun blushed, but her mother was not finished pointing out her daughter's good fortune.

"He's handsome, charming," she continued rather wistfully, "Not to mention a virtual shoe-in for a high-ranking position in the imperial army and he—"

"Mother!" Sun interrupted jokingly, "You sound as if you want to marry him!"

"Well, if I was younger, and if I didn't have your father, of course," Mei replied, giving her daughter a teasing wink. Sun shook her head despairingly and stood up, carefully arranging her light purple dress so it fell properly around her. Mei stood up as well, placing her hand on Sun's shoulder and admiring her from an arm's length away. "You were always a beautiful child," she said proudly, tears welling in her eyes, "But now you have become a beautiful young woman, ready to be married." Sun smiled at her mother, although there were tears in her eyes as well.

"Thank you, mama," was all she managed to say. Yao broke the relative silence that followed by poking his head through the door.

"Are you ready Sun?" he asked, his gaze showing a rare softness as he took in the tender scene between mother and daughter, "We don't want to keep your future in-laws waiting." He reached out an arm to her, and Sun walked towards him as Mei followed, dabbing at her eyes.

Minutes later their entire family, now that Xiao had joined them, stood in front of the Li's front door. It had always seemed to be a rather friendly sight to Sun, but now the prospect of it filled her with an unaccustomed sense of nervousness, but excitement as well. Her parents had apparently caught this feeling as well, and when they turned to give her one last inspection their smiles were wobbly at best. Sun gave them a wobbly one of hers in return. Everyone stood with baited breath as Yao lifted his hand and knocked firmly on the door. After only a moment it opened with surprising force, as if the person on the other side had been waiting in anticipation. It was Mulan who had opened said door, and she was now standing in front of it, her husband by her side. Everyone simply stared at one another for several seconds, until Yao, Mei and Xiao parted to reveal Sun standing behind them. Her nervousness had flushed her cheeks, giving her a healthy, robust bloom, like the flowers in her hair. Mulan and Shang smiled happily at her and then beckoned her and her family to follow them inside. They came upon Chan pacing nervously, who stopped suddenly when they entered the room.

"Sun," he said quietly as he caught sight of his betrothed, who had suddenly turned bashful in front of their families, and couldn't find the words to speak. He didn't take his eyes off of her as they all seated themselves around the Li's table, even as the conversation concerning the bride price and wedding began. It was a tricky subject, as it was most definitely not an arranged marriage, and neither of the families wanted to treat it as such. But of course, the couple's parents had to be involved in order to have a proper marriage.

"No dowry is needed," Mulan concluded, resting her hand on Sun's warmly, "We are simply happy that you are to be a part of our family." Sun smiled up at her, a bit of her shyness melting away.

"Well, that's settled," Shang continued, "Now, when should the wedding be?"

"Soon," Chan chimed in for the first time. Everyone looked at him and each other with their oddly knowing gazes, causing him to flush and sink down lower in his seat. "I only meant, uh…" he mumbled, trailing off in embarrassment. He looked to Sun for help, but she was as red as he was, since she had quickly caught onto to his meaning as well.

"I suppose we could handle that," Mei said, laughing lightly, "Couldn't we Mulan?" Mulan did some quick figuring in her head.

"Yes we could. It would take about…four weeks, I think, to make all of the preparations," she said, winking at Chan as if asking 'Is that soon enough for you?'

"Sounds good," Shang replied for his son, "Except make it three weeks." Mulan looked puzzled for a moment but then her husband flashed her a secret look and she smiled.

"Oh, right. Three weeks it is then."

"What was that?" Chan asked, sitting up and looking from his father to his mother suspiciously.

"What was what?" Mulan asked innocently.

"The—what you just did—the look. What was that?"

"Chan, your mother and I are afraid we don't know what on earth you're talking about," Shang answered, exchanging candid smiles with his wife. Chan let out a frustrated groan.

"I'm surprised I haven't gone crazy yet, with parents like you." Mulan stood up and walked over to him, placing her hands on his shoulders from behind.

"Why don't you take Sun outside and admire her for awhile, hmm?" she prodded, still smiling. Chan rose out of his seat.

"But Mama—" he complained, even though Sun was already sidling up next to him and had taken his hand in her own.

"And take Xiao with you," Mulan added. She gave him a kiss on the cheek, and then opened the door for him, effectively ending the conversation. Chan walked out the door, grumbling, and Sun followed behind him. She gave everyone in the room a cheeky wave before exiting. Xiao tagged along too, a sort of unofficial chaperone. Sure, Chan and Sun had been alone many times before but, now that the engagement was going to be announced, things had to be a bit more "proper" between them.

Xiao realized all this as soon as Mulan suggested he go with, but the thought made him laugh nonetheless. 'Like they would listen to me,' he thought to himself.

Chan, in the meantime, was still ranting on about what had just passed, and the loop that had been formed without him.

"I hate when they do that!" he complained, to no one in particular, "They're always treating me like, well—a kid!"

"It's like they're your parents or something," Sun added sarcastically, catching Xiao with a covert grin.

"Exactly," Chan said, missing the point as usual. Sun rolled her eyes good-naturedly.

"Enough!" she said, catching Chan off guard and planting a kiss on his lips. He stopped mid-rant, his face filled with surprise. Sun released him and stepped back, and Chan just blinked.

"What was I talking about?" he said after a moment. Sun smiled and nodded, pleased at how well that had worked.

"Exactly," she said, patting Chan on the head approvingly. He watched as Sun flipped her hair dramatically and walked off, looking at Chan over her shoulder as she went. Flustered, Chan turned Xiao.

"No really. What was I talking about?" Laughing, Xiao hooked his friend around the neck as they both followed Sun once more.

"Honestly, you two are made for each other."

Author's Note: The prodigal daughter returns with a long chapter!!! (Wild cheering, hysterical crying, etc.) And in case you're wondering, I'm not dead. You may have thought I was (took me long enough! grumble grumble) but I couldn't let myself die while I still have AGS coursing through my veins! Ooo graphic. Anyways, I hope you're all glad to see me back and (hopefully) in my former glory. The writing gods just weren't with me for awhile, allowing me to have the time and inspiration to continue where I was at. This and the next few chapters were really, really hard to write. I actually have about 18 pages (11,926 words to be exact) written that take place after all this, and probably 10 pages for the sequel. So I wasn't just sitting on my butt doing nothing! I was writing and working hard, just on stuff that doesn't happen for a couple years :) I can't think of anything else right now…just thanks to everyone again, and I hope I receive a mass onslaught of reviews! TTFNThe no longer on hiatus Handmaiden of Artemis

Now it's time for everyone's favorite piece of randomness….

The Little-Known Fact of the Day!

Hooray! We missed you Little-Known Fact of the Day!

Did you know that Egypt is the most populous Arab country?? JK. Well, actually it is but that's not what we're here for! Moving on, I just have a couple things to mention. If the word liwa is incorrect I apologize. I found it randomly on some website, so I hope it's actually Chinese and that it actually means jasmine. If it doesn't, blame the internet. Oh, and if my friends are reading this (which they should be!!) I hope they noticed the inside joke. (Hint hint: the game). Hehe allright that's it for now. I hope the little-known fact of the day will be better for the next update. This one's kind of stinky, but I'm doing the best that I can! (Crying in corner)