Chapter 10-Mai Lin and Loong Fai?
A/N: This maybe the last chapter until the first week of Oct. is over. I've got exams, ya see. So, adios for now!
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Loong Fai waited impatiently on horseback outside the Forbidden City. "Listen! If you don't let me in, General Li could be on the brink of death at this very moment!" The guards looked uneasily at each other. Fai clenched his fists trying to suppress his frustration and anxiety. "First, prove you are a friend of the General." Fai rummaged through the bag he'd brought along and pulled out Shang's jade circle*. "Why would the general trust me with his circlet if I wasn't to be trusted? Now let me in!"
Still, the guards hesitated. Loong Fai growled in his throat. Wasn't it enough that he had to worry about Shang? He'd had enough. On Chun, he barged through the partially closed gates and into the Forbidden City, riding to the North Wing where the throne room was. Dismounting quickly, he burst into the room fully aware he could be killed for this. The emperor looked up from his scrolls and frowned.
Two guards grabbed him by the arms and had started dragging him out when he managed to shout two words. "MULAN! KIDNAPPED!" The emperor immediately yelled at them to stop and drop Loong Fai. Trying to talk, Fai only managed to wheeze. The emperor waited for him to catch his breath. Finally, the whole story came out. The emperor listened with a grave face. "This is terrible news. I have a feeling that I know who has kidnapped Fa Mulan." The emperor sighed. Fai looked at the emperor curiously.
"Ming Kei has run away. He hasn't only stolen China's heroine. He has been slowly stealing from the Imperial Treasury for personal use. What he stole was going to improve some of China's poorer provinces." He shook his head. "Loong Fai." "Yes, your majesty?" "You are appointed Captain. Hin Bei," the emperor gestured to a guard. "Will get you armor. Come back here and I will have a band of soldiers ready." Although stunned at the emperor's command, he followed Hin Bei.
As they ran to the armor room, a regal lady in her mid forties was stepping out from her room. She caught sight of Loong Fai and stiffened. He was the most handsome man she'd ever seen. Lady Mai Lin's husband had passed away mysteriously several years ago. No other man had caught her eye until now. Lady Mai Lin hitched up her skirts and rushed into her brother's throne room. She bowed hastily and started speaking. "Brother, I saw a man with Hin Bei running past my room. Who was that?"
"That was the newly appointed Captain Loong Fai. Sister, I'm afraid your youngest son has kidnapped Fa Mulan. Captain Loong will lead some soldiers to capture him." Lady Mai Lin was shocked. "Ming Kei? Why? How?" The emperor didn't answer. "I will go with them." "My dear Mai Lin..." "He is my son. I will go along." She said firmly. The emperor nodded tiredly. Lady Mai Lin bowed again then went to her room to prepare. I will find my son, thought Mai Lin, and perhaps love in Loong Fai.
15 minutes later, Loong Fai returned in full armor. Feeling strange, he headed towards the 20 soldiers he would lead with three other captains: Yao, Ling and Chien Po. He'd heard about these three from Shang's stories. Although playful, they knew when to be serious. Especially if it came to Mulan. He bowed to them. Chien Po smiled and bowed back; Yao and Ling grinned.
The emperor then told them that Lady Mai Lin would be accompanying them. The Gang of Three grimaced. "You know we're going to have a hard time with her around," whispered Yao in his gravelly voice. Fai nodded silently.
He felt uneasy the minute she walked in. Lady Mai Lin had changed into more extravagant clothes with a finely embroidered sash and shoes. Her hair was piled up on top of her head making her look taller than she was. Mai Lin's face was paler than a ghost. It didn't help the garish eye shadow and over- red lips.
She seemed to be winking at Fai. It scared him a bit. The emperor raised an eyebrow. "You do know, sister, that these men will be riding horses?" "I do. I promise, I won't hinder the operation." The emperor stood up and walked towards the soldiers. "Go and bring back Ming Kei and Fa Mulan. I will pass justice when you return!"
The 20 soldiers strode out where 21 Imperial steeds awaited. Chun had been taken to the stables. As they mounted, Lady Mai Lin circled the horse looking puzzled. "How on earth does one ride this beast?" Loong Fai slapped his forehead. Shang, I hope you have the patience of a rock, thought Fai as he watched Chien Po walk over to help Lady Mai Lin.
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* (In those days, high-ranking officers and noblemen carried jade circles around to identify themselves. Correct me if I'm wrong though)
A/N: This maybe the last chapter until the first week of Oct. is over. I've got exams, ya see. So, adios for now!
************************************************************************
Loong Fai waited impatiently on horseback outside the Forbidden City. "Listen! If you don't let me in, General Li could be on the brink of death at this very moment!" The guards looked uneasily at each other. Fai clenched his fists trying to suppress his frustration and anxiety. "First, prove you are a friend of the General." Fai rummaged through the bag he'd brought along and pulled out Shang's jade circle*. "Why would the general trust me with his circlet if I wasn't to be trusted? Now let me in!"
Still, the guards hesitated. Loong Fai growled in his throat. Wasn't it enough that he had to worry about Shang? He'd had enough. On Chun, he barged through the partially closed gates and into the Forbidden City, riding to the North Wing where the throne room was. Dismounting quickly, he burst into the room fully aware he could be killed for this. The emperor looked up from his scrolls and frowned.
Two guards grabbed him by the arms and had started dragging him out when he managed to shout two words. "MULAN! KIDNAPPED!" The emperor immediately yelled at them to stop and drop Loong Fai. Trying to talk, Fai only managed to wheeze. The emperor waited for him to catch his breath. Finally, the whole story came out. The emperor listened with a grave face. "This is terrible news. I have a feeling that I know who has kidnapped Fa Mulan." The emperor sighed. Fai looked at the emperor curiously.
"Ming Kei has run away. He hasn't only stolen China's heroine. He has been slowly stealing from the Imperial Treasury for personal use. What he stole was going to improve some of China's poorer provinces." He shook his head. "Loong Fai." "Yes, your majesty?" "You are appointed Captain. Hin Bei," the emperor gestured to a guard. "Will get you armor. Come back here and I will have a band of soldiers ready." Although stunned at the emperor's command, he followed Hin Bei.
As they ran to the armor room, a regal lady in her mid forties was stepping out from her room. She caught sight of Loong Fai and stiffened. He was the most handsome man she'd ever seen. Lady Mai Lin's husband had passed away mysteriously several years ago. No other man had caught her eye until now. Lady Mai Lin hitched up her skirts and rushed into her brother's throne room. She bowed hastily and started speaking. "Brother, I saw a man with Hin Bei running past my room. Who was that?"
"That was the newly appointed Captain Loong Fai. Sister, I'm afraid your youngest son has kidnapped Fa Mulan. Captain Loong will lead some soldiers to capture him." Lady Mai Lin was shocked. "Ming Kei? Why? How?" The emperor didn't answer. "I will go with them." "My dear Mai Lin..." "He is my son. I will go along." She said firmly. The emperor nodded tiredly. Lady Mai Lin bowed again then went to her room to prepare. I will find my son, thought Mai Lin, and perhaps love in Loong Fai.
15 minutes later, Loong Fai returned in full armor. Feeling strange, he headed towards the 20 soldiers he would lead with three other captains: Yao, Ling and Chien Po. He'd heard about these three from Shang's stories. Although playful, they knew when to be serious. Especially if it came to Mulan. He bowed to them. Chien Po smiled and bowed back; Yao and Ling grinned.
The emperor then told them that Lady Mai Lin would be accompanying them. The Gang of Three grimaced. "You know we're going to have a hard time with her around," whispered Yao in his gravelly voice. Fai nodded silently.
He felt uneasy the minute she walked in. Lady Mai Lin had changed into more extravagant clothes with a finely embroidered sash and shoes. Her hair was piled up on top of her head making her look taller than she was. Mai Lin's face was paler than a ghost. It didn't help the garish eye shadow and over- red lips.
She seemed to be winking at Fai. It scared him a bit. The emperor raised an eyebrow. "You do know, sister, that these men will be riding horses?" "I do. I promise, I won't hinder the operation." The emperor stood up and walked towards the soldiers. "Go and bring back Ming Kei and Fa Mulan. I will pass justice when you return!"
The 20 soldiers strode out where 21 Imperial steeds awaited. Chun had been taken to the stables. As they mounted, Lady Mai Lin circled the horse looking puzzled. "How on earth does one ride this beast?" Loong Fai slapped his forehead. Shang, I hope you have the patience of a rock, thought Fai as he watched Chien Po walk over to help Lady Mai Lin.
**********
* (In those days, high-ranking officers and noblemen carried jade circles around to identify themselves. Correct me if I'm wrong though)