Chapter 4: New Years Celebration
A week passed and New Year's Day Celebration was only a day away.
Tang passed the test and was already matched up with her future husband.
Shang still felt bad about the whole Mulan incident in the village. He never
wanted her to rush away, he just felt awful with the idea that Mulan might
never want to speak with him again.
Shang lay on his bed staring at the ceiling overwhelmed with everything that
was going on lately. Tang opened the door quietly and walked into his room.
"Shang? I was wondering if you want some lunch." She spoke up quietly. She
knew that he was having a hard time with everything and she didn't want to
push it with him and make things worse with her little jokes. But she
noticed that he wasn't talking about Mulan that much any more and wondered
why?
He sighed, "No, I'm fine"
She sat at the end of his bed and looked at him lying there down into the
gap of depression. "So when will we meet this guy?" asked Shang breaking the
silence.
"A couple days after New Years Day," She paused, "What's wrong Shang you
haven't been yourself lately?"
Shang sat up now, "This just seems like it's going so fast, and now Mulan
will never speak with me ever again."
"Wait, what do you mean she wont talk to you ever again, I didn't know that
you saw her?"
"I bumped into her while you with the matchmaker." He said getting up and
began walking back and forth in a nervous pace.
"What happened?" She asked
"I asked her if she been to the matchmaker and she said yes, but when I
tried to ask her something else she said that she had to leave," He
announced with hands covering his face sitting back again, "I don't know, I
`m a jerk and I might have said something to upset her
"Well maybe she'll be going to the party and if she is just talk with her
and tell her that you are sorry." She put her hand on her brother's shoulder
for comfort; he turned to his sister. "Oh and if she is there, you better
introduce me to her"
Shang smiled. "All right"
She got up and headed for the door, "Ok, oh and I got our outfits ready for
tomorrow."
"Thanks!" He said in response. As sister had left his room, Shang got to
thinking then about what if she was there? "What would I say?" He asked
himself. Then his thoughts trailed over to Mulan once again but this time he
pictured her coming down the stone stairway, with some gorgeous gown on,
making her look like a goddess from the heavens. A smile crept on his face,
Even though he first wished not to really go it all changed just by the
thought of her being there would make all his troubles for that night seem
to disappear.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Mulan was in the stables with Khan getting him all clean and ready for the
trip to the palace. Her parents would not assist because her dear old granny
came with a nasty cold, so her parents would stay and keep an eye on her.
She brushed Khan's main with care, slowly getting out any knots and making
it all smooth. Taking a step back to see if she missed a spot, she smiled at
Khan telling him just by her mere smile that he was done.
She then heard the sudden yell from outside, "Mulan we need you here for a
second" Yelled her mother from inside the house.
Mulan placed her brush down and headed inside. "Yeah I'm here."
"Oh good, we just returned from the market and they were having a great
sale, and when we saw this dress we knew it was for you," said her mother,
leading her into her room. Mulan stood by the doorway while her mom picked
up the dress to show Mulan.
"Aw...mom, it's beautiful." The dress was a silky blue with light violet
sash; embroidered with a shimmer gold trim to make it perfect. She took the
dress in her hands and started felt the smooth texture. "You didn't have to"
Heaven's it must have cost them more that they should waste, for it was
fine silk, the kind that only the wealthy girls wore.
"Well you had to have something special for you to wear when you go to the
celebration. Plus this counts as a gift," said her mother, "Come on, you
must try it on."
"Thank you"
Fa Li nodded her head and left her to try it on. When she got the dress on,
she looked at her reflection in the mirror and smiled but then it turned to
a frown. She loved the dress but would Shang? She felt awkward for not
passing the matchmaker's test, Shang probably expected a perfectly refined
girl and she was exactly the opposite, now it was hopeless, he would never
want her.
"Oh....Mulan, you look beautiful." Said her mother as she came into the room
interrupting Mulan's while she was in thought.
"I love it thank you mama"
"Of course," She sighed; "Well you better get out of that so you don't ruin
it"
"Ok, mom" When her mother left one more time, Mulan looked in the mirror
again and frowned. She didn't want her parents to know that she was upset.
As the day went by, she prepared herself for the next morning, so that she
wouldn't have to worry about it too much then.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The night went quick and it was morning she had gotten ready with the help
of her mother and grandmother. Mulan's attitude had changed from being
depressed from happy. She was excited; she would meet up with old friends
and maybe make new ones. Still, Shang was surely going to be there. Fa Li
painted her daughter's face carefully making sure her face was the one of a
porcelain doll.
"Here you go" Said Granny Fa handing her the mirror to look at herself.
As she looked at her reflection, she smiled even though she despised makeup,
at least Shang wouldn't recognize her like that and maybe he could think her
beautiful. Since Mulan's hair was still very short, Mulan's mother and
grandmother had a hard time trying to fix it but in the end they managed to
tie it up in a fancy bun with a couple small strands of hair hanging down.
"So what do you think?" asked her mother.
"Its good thank you" she replied getting on her feet and walked out of her
room to join her dad outside were he was with Khan holding his reins waiting
for his daughter to come. He looked up at her and smiled.
"You look beautiful" Fa Zhou said bowing down to his daughter making her
blush and giggle at the same time.
"Thank you baba"
Fa Zhou stood up and handed her the reins and helped her up onto Khan's
back. Fa Li straightened the skirt on Mulan's dress so it wouldn't get
wrinkled. They stood back and smiled at their daughter and she did in
return. "Have fun" Said her father.
"I will," she answered back.
Fa Zhou looked at his wife then at Mulan, "I think our daughter will be the
bell of the ball."
Mulan's skin flushed. "Dad!"
He chuckled, "Get out of here honey."
Mulan giggled and pressed her heals against the barrel of her horse and
cantered away from her home.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tang walked into her brother's room as he had just finished fixing his hair.
Tang was all dressed up in a green with silver lining dress that Shang got
her as a New Years gift. She also wore her hair up in a fancy bun but not
with the strands of hair coming down like Mulan. She smiled at her brother,
he looked somewhat happier then what he has had been for the last few days.
He was wearing his new navy blue outfit. He turned around to his sister
there watching him. "You look nice sis" He complemented.
"Thank you, so do you" She said returning the complement, and slowly walked
over to him still watching him as he fixed his hair. "So what are you going
to do when you see her?"
"Who?" he asked, even though it was a pretty dumb question, he knew exactly
what she meant by who.
"Mulan, you idiot!" she said slapping him across the head, leaving him to
rub where she hit him.
"Well you don't have to get so physical about it" He said still rubbing his
head. "I don't know what I'll do, Even if she does talk to me"
Tang sighed and threw her arms in the air and walked out of his room shaking
her head as if saying he was hopeless.
Shang smiled at her remark. Once he was done he got his new sword that lay
on his bed, it was embroidered with a golden pattern, and the handle had the
same pattern on it. As he took the sword in his hands he placed his one hand
down the side of it till it reached the end of blade near the handle. Then
he placed it by his side and walked outside where his sister and Yumei, the
servant were awaited near the palanquin that Tang would ride carried by two
strong men. "Finally, and I thought I took long." Tang pronounced. Shang
walked over to them and helped Tang into the palanquin.
"You look very handsome Captain, Li" Commented Yumei.
"Thank you Yumei. Bye" He replied, mounting his white stallion.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jugglers, musicians and dancers marched on the streets of the Imperial City,
while spectators watched in awe the parade.
Mulan was having a hard time through the crowd; there must have been
millions of people there. The celebration had begun and everyone was eating
and drinking and talking. Being a national heroin had its advantages for
some of people began to get out of the way because they knew who she was. As
she passed them by she would get many bows from the people as if she were
some kind of princess.
Once she reached the stairs of the palace, a guard came out and helped her
down and escorted her to the entrance.
Inside, the gang of three was already in there eating away at the finest
food. Ling spotted Shang and his sister walking around. "Hey guys there's
pretty boy with a_" said Yao with a mouthful of food.
"Captain Li Shang, over here" yelled out Ling, waving his arm in the air so
he could spot them. Seeing the gang, Shang and his sister went over to their
table.
"Hey Captain, and...You are Miss?" asked Chien Po.
"Tang, Shang`s sister." She said bowing down at him. Chien Po did the same.
"I'm Chien Po"
"I'm Yao" He said dropping the food on his plate then bowing down to her.
Ling then got up and gave her a smile and introduced himself winking an eye
flirtatiously at her, "Just call me Ling"
Shang shot him a warning glare. "So how long have you guys been here?" he
asked.
"We got here not too long ago." answered Chien Po.
Shang was about to ask them if they seen Mulan but then a soldier came up
from up the stair way where the entrance was and spoke out load, "Ladies and
gentle men, I pronounce to you Fa Mulan" Everyone stopped and turned their
attention to Mulan as she came down the stairs, ever so graceful.
Shang stopped and stared at her as if she were a goddess that came down from
heaven. The gang as well was amazed, but instead, their jaws were almost on
the ground, they smiled too. They had never seen her like that, so feminine,
making it hard to believe she had been in the army. It was almost like a
whole new person to them.
"Aw... she is pretty" Said Tang nudging Shang on his shoulder, but he didn't
make a move he just kept his eyes on Mulan as she walked down.
Mulan was rather embarrassed coming down the stair way with everyone looking
at her but then she noticed that the Emperor was coming up to her. She
stopped and he did the same. He smiled at her and bowed down. Seeing that
the Emperor was bowing everyone else did too.
Once he got his head back up, he smiled at her still, "To our honorable
guest, Fa Mulan" He announced out loud. Everyone clapped. "Come this way I
will show you where you can get something to eat and drink." The Emperor
said, except only in a normal tone did he speak.
As he showed where everything is, she then heard someone call out her name,
"Hey Mulan over here!" yelled out Yao. Mulan turned around to see her
friends, Shang and a girl. A girl, what was Shang doing with such a beauty!?
They all got up from their seats to say hello to their friend, including
Shang and Tang.
"Excuse me your highness, my friends are calling me" said Mulan politely.
"Go right ahead my child" with that Mulan walked over to them; she noticed
that Shang and the girl looked somewhat similar; she was relieved figuring
the girl was only his sister.
"Hey guys." She greeted them.
Ling and Yao began to whistle, "You clean up good Ping" Said Yao.
"Um Thanks," she said shyly blushing under the make-up.
"You look very pretty Mulan" said the kind soul, Chien Po.
"Thank you, Chien Po"
Shang couldn't keep his eyes away from her, then, he felt a hard punch on
his arm. "Shang, introduce me" Tang whispered. His hands were drenched in
sweat fearing he would say something stupid again.
Shang cleared his throat, "Hello, Mulan, this is Tang, my little sister,
Tang this is Mulan" Tang got up and bowed down to Mulan as did she.
"It's an honor to meet you Mulan, I've heard so much about you" Said Tang.
The heat on her cheeks returned, so Shang was talking about her to his
sister, she wondered if it was bad.
Tang laughed a bit of Mulan's awkwardness, covering her face with a fan, "I
assure you that it's not bad."
"Well any ways are you guys hungry?" asked Ling breaking into the middle of
the conversation.
Shang raised his brow, "You just ate?"
"Yeah, but I got hungry again, who's ever hungry come with me," said Ling
looking at them as he got up from his seat.
"Count us in" said Yao as him and Chien Po followed Ling to the table of
food. Since they left, Mulan decided to sit down with Tang and Shang.
Tang kept asking questions the whole time about Mulan's experience in camp
and what it was like. Mulan answered all her questions, Shang would also
help explain and answer some of Tang's questions.
"I heard from Shang that you already have been to the matchmaker, do you
know if you are getting married yet to anyone?" asked Tang
Mulan wished Tang would've never brought that up, plus she was now worried
about what to say. "Um...Well y-yes I did go but I didn't exactly do good."
She replied nervously.
Both Shang and Tang were listening closely. "What do you mean?" asked Tang.
Mulan sighed, `You better just tell them now' she thought, `You must be true
and be yourself.' "Ok, this was all before the war and me joining the army.
See I had to go to the matchmaker's one day, and when I did, I didn't pass."
Mulan lowered her head embarrassed.
It made sense now, `she was afraid to tell him that's why she must of ran
away' thought Shang. But she should have known that he wouldn't make fun of
her.
Tang on the other hand was thinking of something different. `She saved
China, and killed Hun's but she can't pass a little test?' Tang sighed and
looked at Mulan and frowned, `She is nice but if she can't pass the test, I
don't think that she would be good for Shang.' She thought. Tang only wanted
the best for her brother.
"There's always a second chance for everyone" Tang said trying to be nice
although thinking if Mulan could not do it once that she couldn't pass it
the next, "Right Shang?"
"Of course you'll pass it," reassured Shang in a honest matter waking from
his daydream. Mulan giggled nervously and began to smile.
At that moment both Shang and Mulan's eyes met getting lost into each other
with a smile on their faces. Then all of a sudden, a plate of food hit the
table right in front of them.
"Sorry guys" Said Yao. The gang was back with more food. They sat back down
in their seats and began to eat once again.
"What took you guys so long?" asked Mulan.
"Oh we got held back by these girls." said Ling with a mouthful.
"So we stared talking to them, but then they had to go so we got our food."
said Yao taking a slurp of his wine.
Mulan shook her head at the three. Shang was looking outside, and saw the
colorful fireworks going off wishing he could watch them with Mulan alone
under the New Year's full moon. "Hey guys there's a firework display, do any
of you want to go see them?" asked Shang.
"I will," said Mulan turning to the gang, "Are you guy's coming?"
"Na_not right now. Were fine" replied Yao, "We'll join you as soon as we
finish eating."
Mulan shrugged, the less company they had the better it was for her.
Unfortunately, Tang was already standing next to Shang. He turned to his
smiling sister and whispered, "Where do you think you're going?"
Tang frowned and complained, "I thought it was an invitation to us all."
Shang rolled his eyes, "You will pay for this one."
Mulan joined them and the three of them headed outside the banquet room to
the hall outside. When all hope seemed to be lost, a handsome looking man
stepped on their way. "Excuse me," he said addressing Tang, "I couldn't help
but to admire your beauty this night." Shang didn't waste the chance to get
rid of his sister while this man entertained herm and made a signal with his
hand for Mulan to follow him. He lead her to the end of the hall. They fixed
their eyes on the spectacular fireworks.
"Wow, it's beautiful," said Mulan staring up at the sky.
"So are you," said Shang. Mulan spun her head around to face Shang. `Did he
just say that?' she wondered inside. Shang smiled down upon her but the
smile faded when he began, "I want to apologize for making you get irritated
the other day." Mulan raised her brow in confusion. "The day my sister went
to the matchmaker I _"
"Oh," Mulan assented and stuttered, "I wasn't mad at you. The thing is, I
don't know, it's kind of embarrassing, well I didn't want you to avoid
speaking to me for being a failure."
"You're not a failure," Shang assured," You are a heroin who likes to do
things her own way." He made a pause and leaned his head with eyes slightly
closed to her and whispered, "You don't need that test to find a husband."
Mulan shut her eyes and stood on her toes to approach him. Just when their
mouths were about to touch, Tang appeared behind Shang and tapped on his
shoulder.
"Shang it's getting late, I think we should be going now."
Shang sighed, "All right; we'll go" He looked back at Mulan now thinking
that he probably could have had the chance to tell her what he felt and kiss
her. But knowing it was getting late, he knew that he would have to take
home Tang. "Um...Well I'll talk to you later ok"
"Ok, good night Shang"
"Good night Mulan" And that he walked off leaving Mulan with those sweet
reassuring words their meaning of them, and of course the fact that they
were about to kiss. `Heavens, he was going to kiss me' Mulan sighed in both
happiness and frustration at the same time. `We were so close_damn it, why
couldn't Tang wait a few minutes!'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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