I realized I made two errors in my last chapter, and both are in the scene where Mulan weighs the pros and cons of her becoming a consul member. First, I failed to mention Shang as one of the pros, which of course is a very grave error as Shang is a major element in any and all Mulan sequels. Second, I mentioned working with Chi Fu as a con, which would not be possible since the Emperor offered Mulan Chi Fu's position. To all you hardcore Mulan fans, please forgive this lapse in judgement! Anyway, on with the story~

Mulan had mailed her letter to the Emperor, explaining that if the offer were still open, she wished to be a part of his consul. In the palace, the Emperor does not directly receive his mail. His advisers read the mail, and unless the mail presented a problem too important that the Emperor himself should view it, the advisor responds to the message. Lesser advisors would even throw away the letters without ever reading it. It just so happens that the day that Mulan's letter arrived in the palace, Chi Fu had the duty of responding to the letters.

Chi Fu had a very simple system in discerning the important letters from the unimportant ones. He would look at the paper on which it was written and determine which parchment was expensive enough that he should review. Mulan's note was written on a very plain-looking, thin paper, and Chi Fu was ready to throw it out, but he recognized the name of the village from which it came. He could not help but read the letter's contents, and upon reading it he felt nothing but absolute fear and frustration. The job that took him years to earn was threatened. He could not allow this to get into other hands. His first thought was to throw it away and be done with it, but what if she were to write another note? That would be too much worry on his part. No, he had to respond to the note and give her no reason to pursue the route she has chosen. Something along the lines of— "As I see it now, I hardly see the need for your advice in my council. My consuls are giving me very sound advice, and I should want nothing more than to continue under their guidance in how I should lead this nation, etc, etc. Sincerely yours, etc." That sort of a response should well enough discourage her from ever inquiring over his position again.

As well as the plan would have worked out, Chi Fu slighted the fact that all outgoing mail by powerful people were first looked over before being sent out. One of Mulan's former comrade-in-arms, Wu Lei, read this note and was baffled, to say the least. Mulan, on whose judgement China owed its freedom, was to be rejected on account of the 'sound judgement' of those sycophantic aristocrats who make up the Emperor's consul? Wu Lei was never one to rely on the rationality of a woman's intelligence himself, but he was able to recognize her intellect in spite of her gender, and the Emperor could have no one more fit than her giving him advice. He went to the Emperor straight away in hopes of persuading him.

The Emperor received the note with equal surprise and called for a meeting amongst his consuls immediately. He wondered which of his consuls could have sent the letter. "It has come to my attention," He began, looking each consul in the eye, "that Fa Mulan has agreed to take up the council position that I offered her." The committee as a whole let out their opinions of astonishment at the thought of a woman having such a position. "I will only appoint her if everyone will agree that she deserves a spot here, and I for one have complete faith in her judgement."

A short man with a black beard stood up from his chair. Once the Emperor acknowledged him with a nod, he voiced the opinion. "I think it is a good idea. However, a woman as a part of our council is unprecedented."

As the short bearded man sat down, his comment was received with voices of approval and disapproval by the other advisors, excluding Chi Fu who sat with his arms crossed and didn't say a word. The man sitting to the right of Chi Fu stood up. He was a distinguished-looking elder gentlemen, and he had a deep voice that could be clearly made out amongst the rest of the advisors' chattering. "It's not as if an Emperor has not asked a woman's advice on politics before. Think of how many empresses have influenced China's policy-making."

Another man stood up. He had a dour expression on his face, which was further exaggerated by his large cheeks and naturally rosy cheeks. "I do find Xu Quyen's statement of empresses to have validity, and I do trust your judgement, Your Highness, that she would make a wonderful consul, but we currently don't have any positions open. That means, one of us will have to give up our position." This comment at once induced the concern of those advisers who believed their job were in jeopardy.

The Emperor spoke up to allay the fears of unemployment among his advisers. "I do not believe that I should limit myself to a set number of great minds in my consul. I chose all of you based on your merit and your competence. If I appoint her, it is because she is just as worthy, and not because I would like to replace her with someone else."

Sighs of relief came from all around, followed by further discussions of the possibility of a woman in the consul. Xu Quyen stood up again to address his fellow consul members. "Chi Fu, because you were in the same training camp with Fa Mulan, your opinion should mean the most out of all of us. What do you have to say?"

Chi Fu, who would have normally loved to be singled for his opinion, turned paler when Xu Quyen addressed him. What made the matter worse was that everyone stopped talking, and all eyes were on him. Chi Fu gave his best smile in the situation and replied, "I… I think it's an excellent idea. She's cunning and resourceful. She can be a bit impetuous at times…" his voice faltered a bit, and he began to take on a tone that verged on whining, "but, I can't help but think it will be unfair to all of us. We spent years studying for the government exam just so that we could be considered for high-position jobs." He realized that he had struck on a nerve of everyone else in the room by mentioning the exam. Other advisers nodded to the injustice, recalling the mind-numbing amount of studying and preparation they underwent. He gained more confidence in speaking as he continued: "I don't think that it would be fair to the rest of us if she is appointed a spot and not required to take the exam."

At once other advisers began to voice opinions siding with Chi Fu's. The Emperor took in the opinion of each advisor. It seemed to him that everyone would approve of Mulan being appointed, as long as she would take the government exam first. The Emperor also agreed that she should take the exam and pass it to prove her ability to be a member of the consul. The Emperor decisively nodded his head. "Good then. We'll have her here by the end of the week."

-----

In the small southern village Mulan lived in, the children who were idly playing took notice when they saw a very ornate sedan, accompanied by two men dressed in uniform, pass by. Assuming the Emperor to be in it, they followed the sedan as it made its way to the Fa residence. It stopped at the front entrance, and the children were disappointed in seeing only a lanky man with a funny beard exit the sedan. Fa Zhou was the one to greet him.

Chi Fu did not take the time to receive his warm welcome, but instead went straight to what he was sent for. "Fa Zhou, I have orders from the Emperor to accompany your daughter to the Imperial City tomorrow, where she will undergo training to be a consul to the Emperor."

Fa Zhou nodded his head and turned around to find his daughter had already heard the message. She stood there, hesitant to believe that she had to leave home again. He turned back around again and addressed Chi Fu. "Would you join us for dinner? My wife is already preparing—"

"No thank you," Chi Fu sneered. "We already have our accommodations. Just have your daughter out here by dawn." And with a "good day" he went back into the sedan and the two soldiers led it out.

The dinner that night was very solemn. Fa Li had done her best in the kitchen, but no one had the appetite. Everyone's mind was set on Mulan's leaving, and everyone could not help but feel regret. "We should be celebrating," Fa Zhou said with a deliberate smile. "My daughter is being made a consul."

Fa Li turned to her daughter and did the best she could to hold back her tears. "Mulan, you must invite us over when you are settled, and you must introduce all of us to the Emperor."

"And find yourself a nice husband, while you're there," Grandma Fa said whimsically.

Mulan kept her eyes fixed on the plate of food before her. She was conscious of everything going on around her. Her parents kept saying things to improve the atmosphere at the table, but she remained unresponsive. She was fixated on her emotions. She could see in her parents' eyes that they felt regret for encouraging her, and that they would miss her. Hers was a regret for feeling anxious— anxious to get on that sedan and set out for the Imperial City— and for not crying, as she should be doing. She thought herself to be a horrible person because of it. She wished in vain that she had her own tears to suppress so that she would not be left out at the table.

Dinner had ended, and they all headed back for their own rooms. No one could sleep comfortably that night, and when the sun started to come up, Mulan began to take her things outside. There was Chi Fu, just as he said he would be, standing impatiently at the entrance. Mulan went to the stable to lead Khan out, and when Chi Fu saw that she intended to take Khan along, he made a sour face but said nothing more.

Meanwhile, her parents and grandmother came out and watched Mulan as she set up all her things. She then went back and gave them each a hug, first her grandmother, then her mother, then her father. Chi Fu cleared his throat in an annoyed manner at the display of family affection and then said, "I don't have all day."

Mulan took that as her cue to finally let go of her father. She walked away from them while they watched her. They watched as their only daughter entered the sedan, with Chi Fu following her, and they watched with tear-filled eyes while the sedan, led by two officers, slowly disappeared behind the trees.