Chapter 2-An Unexpected Turn
Disclaimer: Once again, I do not own any and all of the Mulan characters and the movie. I missed Mulan's dog, Little Brother! However, if you want to use Lady Mai Lin and Ming Kei in your stories, feel free to do so. You know, the guy who you need to beat up? Ming Kei is the prefect candidate.
************************************************************************
In her attempt to get up gracefully, Mulan managed to trip and fall face flat on the floor. Fa Li shook her head and helped her up.
"I know you're excited about Shang being here but, try to be more careful." Mulan nodded.
They made their way to the living room where Shang, Fa Zhou and Granny Fa were already seated. Shang gave Mulan a slight smile. The conversation started off casually. Shang answered their questions politely but inside, he was in turmoil. To bring news such as he carried to the Fas' was a heavy thing to bear. He knew it would crush them. Shang's own heart had started breaking when the Emperor had given him the news.
(Flashback! Here we go again.)
Shang stepped into the receiving room and kowtowed. The Emperor told him to rise. As he did, Shang saw two figures seated by the side of the Emperor. One of them was Chi Fu. Shang grimaced mentally. Chi Fu was grinning at something, displaying what was left of his teeth. Him grinning was like a hungry tiger looking at a trapped rabbit. The other figure was Lady's Mai Lin's son and the Emperor's sixth nephew, Ming Kei. He too was smiling horribly. Ming Kei was considered a good-looking man within the palace but constantly seen with a different maiden each night.
The first thing the Emperor did was announce that Captain Li Shang would now be known as General Li Shang for his brave efforts in the war. Shang smiled sadly. Although he had achieved his dream, his father, the original General Li was not there to see him. But, Shang believed he was smiling from Heaven.
"Thank you, your Excellency. This is a great honour you have given me. I am eternally grateful and promise I will do my duty to the utmost of my capabilities." Shang bowed again. Chi Fu rolled his eyes.
The Emperor smiled. "I am certain you will, General. Now, there is a private matter with which I must discuss with you about. Chi Fu, Ming Kei, leave us. Tell the guards as well." They rose, kowtowed then quietly told the guards to go. The Emperor waited until they were gone. He turned to Shang who wore a serious look on his handsome features.
"As you know, my sister, Lady Mai Lin is an honourable lady and very proud of her family. But, she is worried about her youngest son, Ming Kei. He is unmarried whilst his brothers are."
Shang didn't think it was surprising. The Emperor's nephew was not one for committing to a single lady. But Shang held his tongue, remembering he was with the Emperor. Nothing prepared the young General though for what came next.
"Yesterday, Ming Kei expressed a desire to marry. Lady Mai Lin was delighted. However, he will not marry any ordinary girl, but to the most extraordinary girl in the land. That incidentally is China's heroine, Fa Mulan."
Shang remained calm and kept silent. His knuckles however betrayed him. They had turned white at the way Shang was clenching his fists. The Emperor looked at Shang sympathetically.
"I know you admire Fa Mulan. I did try to dissuade Ming Kei but he is adamant that he marries none other than Fa Mulan. You must understand that although I have the power, I cannot refuse my nephew. There is enough bad blood within the Imperial family as it is. And you know that the peace of the Imperial family influences the country's peace as well. So, although it's painful, I ask you to escort Mulan back to the Imperial City. The wedding will commence two days after her arrival."
The Emperor looked pointedly at him. Shang's expression had gone sourer and sourer with each passing minute. "But you may take as long as you wish. There is no hurry for you to bring her here. You are dismissed." The emperor rose and disappeared into the inner rooms.
Shang rode out of the Palace, his mind like a whirlwind. He rode farther and farther to the edge of the Imperial City, not caring where his horse took him. It stopped at an empty field just beyond the city borders. Shang dismounted and started screaming like a mad man, yelling his angry feelings out of him. What had he done to deserve this? His whole family had been taken one by one and now the woman that he loved had to be taken away as well. Why?
(Here we are, the present! Hope you didn't get jetlag.)
Shang took the Emperor's hint and stalled as long as he could. In fact, Shang was considering staying in the Imperial City for another month but Chi Fu had paid a call at the inn where he was staying. Ming Kei was getting impatient. He demanded that the General escort his bride to the city that very day or would he rather be executed with treason.
So, here he was. Torn between between the peace that guaranteed China's peace and his burning love for Mulan that had been growing steadily ever since. He hoped the Fas' would understand.
Shang knew that to keep something as painful as this longer than necessary was to make telling it more and more impossible. Especially to Mulan. She had not only brought love into his life but her family as well. He owed her so much and this was how he repaid her? Taking her to a marriage with an arrogant nobleman who would probably have a dozen mistresses? Shang shook his head. There was nothing he could do...or was there? The Emperor did know Shang loved Mulan...Shang shook his head. That, he would decide later. Right now, he had a decision to make.
A soldier's priority was his country. A lover's was the one he loved. He had to choose: soldier or lover.
Disclaimer: Once again, I do not own any and all of the Mulan characters and the movie. I missed Mulan's dog, Little Brother! However, if you want to use Lady Mai Lin and Ming Kei in your stories, feel free to do so. You know, the guy who you need to beat up? Ming Kei is the prefect candidate.
************************************************************************
In her attempt to get up gracefully, Mulan managed to trip and fall face flat on the floor. Fa Li shook her head and helped her up.
"I know you're excited about Shang being here but, try to be more careful." Mulan nodded.
They made their way to the living room where Shang, Fa Zhou and Granny Fa were already seated. Shang gave Mulan a slight smile. The conversation started off casually. Shang answered their questions politely but inside, he was in turmoil. To bring news such as he carried to the Fas' was a heavy thing to bear. He knew it would crush them. Shang's own heart had started breaking when the Emperor had given him the news.
(Flashback! Here we go again.)
Shang stepped into the receiving room and kowtowed. The Emperor told him to rise. As he did, Shang saw two figures seated by the side of the Emperor. One of them was Chi Fu. Shang grimaced mentally. Chi Fu was grinning at something, displaying what was left of his teeth. Him grinning was like a hungry tiger looking at a trapped rabbit. The other figure was Lady's Mai Lin's son and the Emperor's sixth nephew, Ming Kei. He too was smiling horribly. Ming Kei was considered a good-looking man within the palace but constantly seen with a different maiden each night.
The first thing the Emperor did was announce that Captain Li Shang would now be known as General Li Shang for his brave efforts in the war. Shang smiled sadly. Although he had achieved his dream, his father, the original General Li was not there to see him. But, Shang believed he was smiling from Heaven.
"Thank you, your Excellency. This is a great honour you have given me. I am eternally grateful and promise I will do my duty to the utmost of my capabilities." Shang bowed again. Chi Fu rolled his eyes.
The Emperor smiled. "I am certain you will, General. Now, there is a private matter with which I must discuss with you about. Chi Fu, Ming Kei, leave us. Tell the guards as well." They rose, kowtowed then quietly told the guards to go. The Emperor waited until they were gone. He turned to Shang who wore a serious look on his handsome features.
"As you know, my sister, Lady Mai Lin is an honourable lady and very proud of her family. But, she is worried about her youngest son, Ming Kei. He is unmarried whilst his brothers are."
Shang didn't think it was surprising. The Emperor's nephew was not one for committing to a single lady. But Shang held his tongue, remembering he was with the Emperor. Nothing prepared the young General though for what came next.
"Yesterday, Ming Kei expressed a desire to marry. Lady Mai Lin was delighted. However, he will not marry any ordinary girl, but to the most extraordinary girl in the land. That incidentally is China's heroine, Fa Mulan."
Shang remained calm and kept silent. His knuckles however betrayed him. They had turned white at the way Shang was clenching his fists. The Emperor looked at Shang sympathetically.
"I know you admire Fa Mulan. I did try to dissuade Ming Kei but he is adamant that he marries none other than Fa Mulan. You must understand that although I have the power, I cannot refuse my nephew. There is enough bad blood within the Imperial family as it is. And you know that the peace of the Imperial family influences the country's peace as well. So, although it's painful, I ask you to escort Mulan back to the Imperial City. The wedding will commence two days after her arrival."
The Emperor looked pointedly at him. Shang's expression had gone sourer and sourer with each passing minute. "But you may take as long as you wish. There is no hurry for you to bring her here. You are dismissed." The emperor rose and disappeared into the inner rooms.
Shang rode out of the Palace, his mind like a whirlwind. He rode farther and farther to the edge of the Imperial City, not caring where his horse took him. It stopped at an empty field just beyond the city borders. Shang dismounted and started screaming like a mad man, yelling his angry feelings out of him. What had he done to deserve this? His whole family had been taken one by one and now the woman that he loved had to be taken away as well. Why?
(Here we are, the present! Hope you didn't get jetlag.)
Shang took the Emperor's hint and stalled as long as he could. In fact, Shang was considering staying in the Imperial City for another month but Chi Fu had paid a call at the inn where he was staying. Ming Kei was getting impatient. He demanded that the General escort his bride to the city that very day or would he rather be executed with treason.
So, here he was. Torn between between the peace that guaranteed China's peace and his burning love for Mulan that had been growing steadily ever since. He hoped the Fas' would understand.
Shang knew that to keep something as painful as this longer than necessary was to make telling it more and more impossible. Especially to Mulan. She had not only brought love into his life but her family as well. He owed her so much and this was how he repaid her? Taking her to a marriage with an arrogant nobleman who would probably have a dozen mistresses? Shang shook his head. There was nothing he could do...or was there? The Emperor did know Shang loved Mulan...Shang shook his head. That, he would decide later. Right now, he had a decision to make.
A soldier's priority was his country. A lover's was the one he loved. He had to choose: soldier or lover.