Chapter 14-Afterwards (Part One)
A/N: This last chapter will be in two parts. Just to let you know. And I apologize if this chapter's not very nice. My muse seems to be on early vacation lately. Thank you all so much for your reviews!
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Three months later...
"Your hands are shaking." "Mama, it's my wedding day! Aren't I entitled to shaky hands?" Fa Li smiled as she put the finishing touches on her daughter's face. She remembered how nervous she was on her own wedding day. Granny Fa came up and slipped a red veil over her grand daughter's head. As she adjusted the headdress, she gave Mulan a reminder. "Just remember, the man you love will be just as scared."
Shang was more than nervous. He was terrified. Until Mulan was led in by her grandmother. He smiled, the terrified feeling gone like the wind. The ceremony went on smoothly with a hiccup or two. The groom managed to trip over his own feet, his face barely missing Fa Li's feet And someone had accidentally switched tea with soy sauce. Fa Zhou's face turned funny (somewhere between disbelief and disgust. Mulan couldn't tell which) when he drank it all in one gulp.
But when they were seated at the open-air banquet table, now husband and wife, Mulan smiled. All the nervousness just now seemed pointless. She looked at Shang by her side and heard him sigh. "What's wrong, Shang?" she asked softly. Smiling, Shang discreetly put his hand on hers. "Nothing. Not when I'm Fa Mulan's husband. I'm just relieved we got through it all without any major mishap." Mulan giggled. "I saw your face turn as red as my veil when you tripped." Shang turned red again. "I wonder what Fai has in store for us."
Loong Fai was to arrange the entertainment as the guests ate their dinner. And since the Emperor was present, it had better be the best. Shang, knowing his friend's sense of humour wondered about it then cringed as he saw Fai push a very drunken Yao and an equally drunk Ling onto a make shift stage. They were wearing dresses, clumsily carrying fans and wearing thick makeup that was cracking.
Music from a qin* started to play and the two men actually swayed and danced to the melody! Mulan clapped a hand to her mouth to stifle a shriek of laughter. Shang snorted trying not to laugh hysterically. However, as the guests started to roar with laughter, they couldn't keep it in. Even the emperor was leaning back in his yellow silk covered chair and laughing.
But, it got even funnier when Yao got down from the stage, convinced that Shang was his ladylove. The new groom wasn't as amused as before. Especially when Yao tried to press his lips onto Shang's. The crowd wasn't much help, cheering Yao on. A punch from Shang in Yao's good eye also didn't deter the short soldier. Mulan, taking pity on her husband, tried to push Yao off but failed since she was too busy laughing herself.
Finally, Granny Fa pulled Yao off Shang. The crowd applauded as she bowed. Then, taking Yao by the ear, she dragged him off to the side. Shang looked at his wife who was still giggling. "I hope you weren't jealous." Teased Shang. "There wasn't much to be jealous of." They laughed heartily.
The emperor was enjoying himself, it was clear. That was a good sign, thought Fai as he looked at the crowd. He spotted Shang and grinned. All he got from his best friend was a glare that clearly said he would give due revenge. Fai quickly made himself scarce from Shang's sight. Several young women fluttered their fans and batted their eyelashes as he went past. Fai smiled politely but just continued walking from the crowd.
The full moon shone brightly as if sharing the joyous feeling of the occasion. The scent of water lilies filled his nose. As he looked around, he spotted a lone figure standing by the pond. Curious, Fai got closer. It was a young woman. A beautiful young woman whose face was unpainted and her hair untied. She was slender and graceful. Fai had never seen a more beautiful girl in his life.
He approached her quietly. "A beautiful night, isn't it?" The young woman spun around, her eyes wide in surprise. "I'm sorry if I startled you but it isn't safe for a young lady to be out all alone." She smiled. "I am capable of taking care of myself. And I doubt if anyone would trouble a friend of Mulan on her wedding day, Captain Loong."
Fai's eyebrows rose in surprise. "You know who I am?" The young woman nodded. "General Li spoke greatly of how you and the other captains saved him and Mulan." Fai grinned. "I must thank him. May I know your name?" "Chuan Xi, sir. My father served with the honourable Fa Zhou in the army." "Chuan Xi. A fitting name for one as lovely as yourself." She blushed. "You are too kind...I'd have thought you would be joining in the feast." "I was but it was too stuffy. The smoke from the cooking, the perfume..."
"The perfume we women wear often overpowers the senses." Fai sniffed the air. "You aren't wearing any." "I don't like to. Neither do I like getting made up to look like a China doll. I want to look like a person. You must think it's strange. Most people do." "Not hiding your face behind a mask of powder isn't strange to me." Chuan Xi smiled.
As they talked, Mulan watched them from afar. Shang came to her and took her hand. "Something interesting?" "Very interesting." She nodded towards the two figures by the pond. Shang looked for a minute then his eyes widened. "Fai and Chuan Xi?" "A fitting pair in my opinion." Shang kissed her on the cheek. "Like us." Mulan smiled.
She was about to return the kiss when a shout behind them interrupted the romantic moment. They whirled around and to their horror; a still drunk Ling was trying to plunk kisses on the emperor who looked extremely petrified. Some of the guests were trying unsuccessfully to stop Ling. Shang immediately rushed to help the other men pull Ling away while Mulan helped the emperor. Ling proved to be more determined than Yao. Kicks and punches didn't even stop him. Finally, Fa Zhou took a cane and hit Ling on the head. He fell to the floor, unconscious.
Everyone looked at the emperor, anxious looks all around. Who knew what he would to them because of this. The emperor who had grown rather white sat back in his chair. Soon, the humour of the situation began to set in. He actually laughed! And everyone laughed with him-in relief. As things calmed down, Mulan saw Fai and Chuan Xi slip back to the crowd. Mulan noted with amusement, that they were grinning endlessly.
Mulan waved her friend over. "Chuan Xi, what's up?" She giggled. Most unlike her, thought Mulan. "Nothing, Mulan." She arched an eyebrow. "Nothing? Then why are you grinning like a fool the whole time? Are you drunk?" Chuan Xi glanced in Fai's direction. "I guess you could say that...drunk in love."
Meanwhile on the other side...
"Fai, are you all right?" He nodded, still grinning. Shang raised an eyebrow. "Goofy grin, dreamy expression, constantly looking in the direction of..." He looked behind him and saw Chuan Xi and Mulan. "Chuan Xi. Fai, my friend, you're in love." Fai just kept on grinning.
*The qin is an ancient Chinese instrument. I'm not sure what it looks like though...
A/N: This last chapter will be in two parts. Just to let you know. And I apologize if this chapter's not very nice. My muse seems to be on early vacation lately. Thank you all so much for your reviews!
************************************************************************
Three months later...
"Your hands are shaking." "Mama, it's my wedding day! Aren't I entitled to shaky hands?" Fa Li smiled as she put the finishing touches on her daughter's face. She remembered how nervous she was on her own wedding day. Granny Fa came up and slipped a red veil over her grand daughter's head. As she adjusted the headdress, she gave Mulan a reminder. "Just remember, the man you love will be just as scared."
Shang was more than nervous. He was terrified. Until Mulan was led in by her grandmother. He smiled, the terrified feeling gone like the wind. The ceremony went on smoothly with a hiccup or two. The groom managed to trip over his own feet, his face barely missing Fa Li's feet And someone had accidentally switched tea with soy sauce. Fa Zhou's face turned funny (somewhere between disbelief and disgust. Mulan couldn't tell which) when he drank it all in one gulp.
But when they were seated at the open-air banquet table, now husband and wife, Mulan smiled. All the nervousness just now seemed pointless. She looked at Shang by her side and heard him sigh. "What's wrong, Shang?" she asked softly. Smiling, Shang discreetly put his hand on hers. "Nothing. Not when I'm Fa Mulan's husband. I'm just relieved we got through it all without any major mishap." Mulan giggled. "I saw your face turn as red as my veil when you tripped." Shang turned red again. "I wonder what Fai has in store for us."
Loong Fai was to arrange the entertainment as the guests ate their dinner. And since the Emperor was present, it had better be the best. Shang, knowing his friend's sense of humour wondered about it then cringed as he saw Fai push a very drunken Yao and an equally drunk Ling onto a make shift stage. They were wearing dresses, clumsily carrying fans and wearing thick makeup that was cracking.
Music from a qin* started to play and the two men actually swayed and danced to the melody! Mulan clapped a hand to her mouth to stifle a shriek of laughter. Shang snorted trying not to laugh hysterically. However, as the guests started to roar with laughter, they couldn't keep it in. Even the emperor was leaning back in his yellow silk covered chair and laughing.
But, it got even funnier when Yao got down from the stage, convinced that Shang was his ladylove. The new groom wasn't as amused as before. Especially when Yao tried to press his lips onto Shang's. The crowd wasn't much help, cheering Yao on. A punch from Shang in Yao's good eye also didn't deter the short soldier. Mulan, taking pity on her husband, tried to push Yao off but failed since she was too busy laughing herself.
Finally, Granny Fa pulled Yao off Shang. The crowd applauded as she bowed. Then, taking Yao by the ear, she dragged him off to the side. Shang looked at his wife who was still giggling. "I hope you weren't jealous." Teased Shang. "There wasn't much to be jealous of." They laughed heartily.
The emperor was enjoying himself, it was clear. That was a good sign, thought Fai as he looked at the crowd. He spotted Shang and grinned. All he got from his best friend was a glare that clearly said he would give due revenge. Fai quickly made himself scarce from Shang's sight. Several young women fluttered their fans and batted their eyelashes as he went past. Fai smiled politely but just continued walking from the crowd.
The full moon shone brightly as if sharing the joyous feeling of the occasion. The scent of water lilies filled his nose. As he looked around, he spotted a lone figure standing by the pond. Curious, Fai got closer. It was a young woman. A beautiful young woman whose face was unpainted and her hair untied. She was slender and graceful. Fai had never seen a more beautiful girl in his life.
He approached her quietly. "A beautiful night, isn't it?" The young woman spun around, her eyes wide in surprise. "I'm sorry if I startled you but it isn't safe for a young lady to be out all alone." She smiled. "I am capable of taking care of myself. And I doubt if anyone would trouble a friend of Mulan on her wedding day, Captain Loong."
Fai's eyebrows rose in surprise. "You know who I am?" The young woman nodded. "General Li spoke greatly of how you and the other captains saved him and Mulan." Fai grinned. "I must thank him. May I know your name?" "Chuan Xi, sir. My father served with the honourable Fa Zhou in the army." "Chuan Xi. A fitting name for one as lovely as yourself." She blushed. "You are too kind...I'd have thought you would be joining in the feast." "I was but it was too stuffy. The smoke from the cooking, the perfume..."
"The perfume we women wear often overpowers the senses." Fai sniffed the air. "You aren't wearing any." "I don't like to. Neither do I like getting made up to look like a China doll. I want to look like a person. You must think it's strange. Most people do." "Not hiding your face behind a mask of powder isn't strange to me." Chuan Xi smiled.
As they talked, Mulan watched them from afar. Shang came to her and took her hand. "Something interesting?" "Very interesting." She nodded towards the two figures by the pond. Shang looked for a minute then his eyes widened. "Fai and Chuan Xi?" "A fitting pair in my opinion." Shang kissed her on the cheek. "Like us." Mulan smiled.
She was about to return the kiss when a shout behind them interrupted the romantic moment. They whirled around and to their horror; a still drunk Ling was trying to plunk kisses on the emperor who looked extremely petrified. Some of the guests were trying unsuccessfully to stop Ling. Shang immediately rushed to help the other men pull Ling away while Mulan helped the emperor. Ling proved to be more determined than Yao. Kicks and punches didn't even stop him. Finally, Fa Zhou took a cane and hit Ling on the head. He fell to the floor, unconscious.
Everyone looked at the emperor, anxious looks all around. Who knew what he would to them because of this. The emperor who had grown rather white sat back in his chair. Soon, the humour of the situation began to set in. He actually laughed! And everyone laughed with him-in relief. As things calmed down, Mulan saw Fai and Chuan Xi slip back to the crowd. Mulan noted with amusement, that they were grinning endlessly.
Mulan waved her friend over. "Chuan Xi, what's up?" She giggled. Most unlike her, thought Mulan. "Nothing, Mulan." She arched an eyebrow. "Nothing? Then why are you grinning like a fool the whole time? Are you drunk?" Chuan Xi glanced in Fai's direction. "I guess you could say that...drunk in love."
Meanwhile on the other side...
"Fai, are you all right?" He nodded, still grinning. Shang raised an eyebrow. "Goofy grin, dreamy expression, constantly looking in the direction of..." He looked behind him and saw Chuan Xi and Mulan. "Chuan Xi. Fai, my friend, you're in love." Fai just kept on grinning.
*The qin is an ancient Chinese instrument. I'm not sure what it looks like though...