A/N: Another chapter up finally! Thanks to all who have been reading and reviewing. I know there are so many different things going on in this story. Let me know if it is getting too convoluted.

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Chapter 9: Chen's Gift

"A twin brother? And it didn't occur to you to tell me sooner?"

"I wasn't sure until now."

Mulan gave him a look of doubt.

"And you?" she asked, turning to Mushu.

"I wasn't sure until now either."

"And how come no one besides Chen and I could see you before, and now all of a sudden you can make yourself be seen by anyone, Mushu?"

"I wasn't a guardian after I was demoted, so I lost my powers. Once I became a guardian again, my powers began to come back, little by little. Now I can make myself seen and heard by other people, if I choose to. Or I can just be seen and heard by you. Well, and Chen, too, since he is an exception to the rule."

"You're both sneaky guardians," Mulan muttered, shaking her head.

"So, what's the plan, Mulan?" Mushu asked.

"I'm going to have Su-Tan give Shang this note about Shen-Li's twin, Jiang Bin-Ling. And about the Emperor and Ying."

"If you're telling him about the Emperor, make sure he knows to burn the letter after he reads it," Mushu cautioned.

"Way ahead of you, Mushu," she answered, continuing to write the letter.

"Do either one of you know where the real Jiang Shen-Li is? Or are you not sure about that now either?"

They both shrugged again.

"How about the Emperor? Do you know where he is?"

She got the same reaction from the two little guardians.

She rolled her eyes.

"Mulan, I can help you find them," Chen said.

"Do you know where they are?"

He shook his head. "Not yet. But I know I can help."

Mulan studied him, pondering something.

"Mulan, maybe he can touch something that belongs to Shen-Li," Mushu suggested. "He might get something. The way he did with Su-Tan's toy dragon when it was being used by the rebels to transport messages. He's got this unusual gift. Being as he's here anyway, use it to help you."

Mulan looked at Chen. "I was thinking that, too, Mushu. What do you think, Chen? Do you think you can help us find Shen-Li that way?"

He shrugged. "Maybe. But I never know when it's going to happen. A lot of times it just comes to me."

"Okay. We should at least try it. We need to find Shen-Li. Once we find him, he may be able to shed light on what Bin-Ling is up to and why."

She bent over the letter that she was writing to Shang, adding that Chen was with her.

"He's going to kill me," she muttered.

She finished the letter and began to blow on some of the splotches that were still wet to they would dry faster.

"Ming, promise me that you will stay with Chen every second."

"I promise."

The ink was dry finally and Mulan folded the letter and put it inside Shio, then handed the toy back to Su-Tan.

"Thank you, Su-Tan. Mi-Ying, would you go with her to our room, so that she's not alone?"

"Of course."

"Wait there for Shang. He'll make sure you guys are safe then. Okay?"

The two girls nodded.

"I'll see you guys later. Come on, Chen."

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Shang was glad to find Su-Tan in the room when he returned that evening. He was surprised that Mi-Ying was there, too, but she explained that Mulan had asked her to go with Su-Tan.

Shang nodded and accepted the toy dragon that Su-Tan held out to him. He opened the bottom and pulled the letter out, handing the dragon back to Su-Tan. He unfolded the paper and went over to the desk in the room to read it.

He cursed under his breath after reading and re-reading her letter. She had Chen with her.

He sighed. He had to burn the letter. The girls had already lit the lantern on the desk and he lowered the paper into the flame.

The Emperor was alive. Prince Ying was alive. And Shen-Li had a twin brother who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Mulan was going to try to meet him in their room that night so she could explain all the details to him. He was praying that she would bring Chen back then.

Once the letter had burned and disintegrated into ashes he turned to the two girls, who were staring at him nervously.

"It's alright. Have you both eaten?"

They shook their heads.

"Come on. We'll get dinner and then I'll make sure you get back to Su-Tan's room safely."

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Mulan hurried off through the passageway, Chen's hand in hers. Ming remained perched on his shoulder, Mushu perched on hers.

"Where are we going?"

"To Ting's chamber. I'm hoping that maybe we'll find Bin-Ling there, impersonating Shen-Li."

After wandering through the hidden passageways for a long time, Chen pointed as they came to a door.

"He's in there. The Emperor."

"I think this is Ting's room."

She knocked on the door. It was opened slowly and Ting peered out at her.

"Captain Li. Come in."

Mulan stepped into the hidden chamber between the passageway and Ting's room, leading Chen in with her.

"Ah, you found me, Captain Li Mulan," the Emperor greeted her, warmly.

"Actually, Chen found you."

"Hello, young man."

"Hello."

"I have informed Ting of everything."

"With your permission, your Majesty, I have discovered something new. I know you were watching the members of your council. But it occurred to me that the servants, and others, could be involved. I started by watching the kitchen, figuring that the poison in your tea or your food came from there. Shen-Li was in there, talking to one of the cooks. But she didn't call him Jiang Shen-Li. She called him Jiang Bin-Lin. I think he is a twin brother who is impersonating Shen-Li. I am hoping that maybe Chen can help us find Shen-Li."

The Emperor looked surprised. "A twin brother?"

She nodded.

"He never spoke of a twin brother. I have known Shen-Li for many, many years."

The Emperor pondered for several minutes, then looked at Chen.

"I remember how gifted and unique General Li's little brother is," the Emperor stated, smiling kindly at Chen. "I am sure he can help."

"Yes. I was thinking that we could start by getting an object that belongs to Shen-Li. Chen may be able to figure it out when he touches it. He can do that. And we should check the palace dungeon as well."

The Emperor smiled. "I will take you to Shen-Li's room. Then I will check the dungeon."

Mulan stared at him, worriedly.

"Food and drink needs to be brought down there, both to the guards and the prisoners. Do not worry. I appear as a servant. No one has ever noticed me this way. Only General Li's clever little brother."

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A/N: I will try to update again as quickly as possible. I've been kind of stuck on this story, but I am working on it again. Please review and let me know what you think so far.