A/N: Another chapter up! Thank you again to all who read and reviewed. I especially want to once again thank Angel452 who has reviewed me every step of the way on this story and other stories.

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Chapter 10: Mei-Lin

Mulan and Chen snuck into Shen-Li's room. Ting summoned Bin-Ling to keep him occupied while they were there. She was still very concerned that the Emperor himself was searching the dungeon for Shen-Li. But then, the Emperor had been wandering around the palace in the open and had been discovered by no one other than Chen. Still, she was too concerned to let it go, so she had Mushu follow him, keeping himself hidden.

Once in Shen-Li's room, Mulan handed objects to Chen one by one. Chen just shook his head as he held each object, running his fingers along some of them and closing his eyes, clasping others tightly. After numerous tries, Mulan gave up on things that were visible in the room and began to check for objects in the closets and in the drawers of the bureau. A letter caught her eye and she picked it up, reading it. It was a love letter from Bin-Ling to someone named Mei-Lin. She stared at it, wondering if Mei-Lin was someone in the palace; maybe that cook that she'd found him talking to in the kitchen. After all, she knew who he really was.

An idea came to her and she moved toward Chen, holding out the letter to him. He took it and gasped, dropping it on the floor.

"What, Chen?"

He just shook his head and backed away from the place where the paper had fallen. She stooped down and picked it up.

"Chen," she said, gently, putting an arm around his shoulder. "Try it again. Don't worry. I'm right here if you get scared."

He hesitated for a moment, then took the letter from her reluctantly. A pained expression crossed his features as he grasped the letter tightly, beginning to crumple it slightly.

"She's here."

"Is she the same woman I saw?"

He shrugged. "She doesn't love him," he said simply.

Mulan watched him as he continued to clasp the letter, appearing to be in less pain now as he did so.

"Do you get any sense about Shen-Li?"

"No."

He handed the letter back to her and she put it back where she found it.

"Come on, Chen. Let's get back to the room so we can talk to Shang."

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When Shang returned to his room Chen was still not back yet and there was no sign of Mulan. He paced, worried about both of them and angry with Mulan for bringing his little brother back into the mess. She had explained why she had him with her. She thought he could help them find Shen-Li.

Shang shook his head. He was almost on the verge of chuckling and would have if he weren't so worried. Leave it to Mulan to come up with that idea. Life with Chen had always been interesting given his unique talents. Life with Chen and Mulan was a little overwhelming at times.

He turned as he heard a sound inside the wall, by the bed. A moment later, the wall slid open sideways and Mulan stepped out into the room, pulling Chen in behind her and shutting the panel.

"Hi, Shang," Chen said, hopping over to his big brother.

"Good evening, General," she greeted him, grinning.

At once Shang felt like shaking her and hugging her; he opted for the latter as she approached him and slipped her arms around his waist, leaning up to kiss him.

"Mulan, you had me so worried." He reached down and ruffled Chen's hair. "About both of you."

"That's why I sent you the letter. So you would know what is going on."

"Why did you bring Chen into this?"

"I can help, Shang," he insisted.

Shang glanced at the little monkey guardian who was perched on his little brother's shoulder. Ming just peered back at him, remaining silent. He turned back to Mulan.

"What happened to Mushu?"

"I sent him to look after the Emperor when he went to look for Shen-Li in the dungeon. He said no one has noticed him while he's dressed as a servant, but I was still worried."

"He's dressed as a servant?"

"Have a seat, Shang. I have a lot to explain to you."

Shang listened to everything she told him, blinking in disbelief at some of it.

"I can't stay here long," she told him after she finished giving him all the details of everything that had been going on. "Even though I'm not accountable to Ting anymore about Prince Ying's death, Bin-Ling doesn't know that. I have to remain hidden."

He nodded as she stood to go and stood up with her.

"Is there any plan yet?"

"We need to find Shen-Li first. Then we will figure out how all will be revealed and how the enemies of the Emperor will be drawn out."

Shang slipped his arms around his wife's waist again. "I love you, Mulan. I've missed you being here with me so much."

"I love you too, Shang. I hope this will all be over soon."

They kissed and embraced one more time, then Mulan slid the panel to the hidden chamber open.

"Please be careful."

"Shang, I wouldn't let anything happen to Chen. And Ming will not leave his side for a second. He already promised me."

She disappeared into the hidden chamber and slid the panel shut.

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Mulan had been sleeping for just a couple of hours every night in a hidden chamber near Su-Tan's room, figuring that no one would be looking for her there and that she could hear any screams that might come from Su-Tan's room. As tired as she was, she lay awake now, unable and unwilling to fall asleep until Mushu returned and told her that the Emperor was safe.

He finally showed up, excited and breathless. "Mulan, come with me."

She leaped up. "What is it?"

"The Emperor is safe. But I think he may have been recognized."

Mulan cursed. "What about Shen-Li? Did you find him in the dungeon?"

"No."

Mulan raced after him through the hidden chamber. She followed as he continued out of the palace and into the forest, aiming for the temple where she had met with Prince Ying and the Emperor previously.

The temple was empty when they got there. Mushu pointed to a monastery that stood behind the temple at somewhat of a distance. "There."

She hurried to the monastery, grateful that it was night and that she would be less visible. She passed through the gate and hurried inside. The place was deserted.

"Who's there?" a harsh, demanding voice suddenly rang out.

"It's Captain Li."

The Emperor and Prince Ying both stepped out of the shadows. Mulan knelt down and bowed.

"I am glad to see you," said the Emperor. "How did you know?"

"It's a long story."

"General Li's little brother again, I suppose."

"Your Majesty, you may have been recognized in the dungeon."

"No. Not in the dungeon. I was recognized by Mei-Lin. She is one of the cooks."

Mulan recognized the name from Bin-Ling's letter.

"She saw you in the kitchen?"

"No. She was supposed to be working, but she must have slipped away. Maybe to see Shen-Li's twin brother, if she is the one involved, which I strongly suspect. She passed me in the hallway and recognized me."

"Who is she?"

"She is one of the cooks."

"Oh." Mulan suddenly sensed that she had stumbled upon something personal with him. After all, he knew her name. She remained silent for a long time, then finally found her voice, coming up with a more neutral question.

"Would she have any reason to want to harm you?"

"Possibly. I don't know what that reason is yet, though."

Mulan nodded. "Shen-Li was not found in the dungeon?"

"Unfortunately not. I don't know where to begin looking for him. Did you have any luck with General Li's brother?"

"No."

"I only hope that he is still alive. Bin-Ling has not left the palace; he has been too busy dealing with General Li, and with giving the appearance that he is protecting Ting. Either Shen-Li is gone, or he is hidden somewhere in the palace. Since we don't know Bin-Ling's motives we do not know if he even had a continued need for Shen-Li. But I will continue to look."

"Father, you cannot be there now if she recognized you," Prince Ying spoke up.

"It is alright, my son. I will stay in the hidden passageways and no longer walk in the outer hallways."

"With all due respect, your Majesty, I am concerned for your safety as well. If Mei-Lin recognized you, and she is the one involved, she will get word to Bin-Ling. They will be looking for you. And Bin-Ling seems to have Shen-Li's knowledge of the hidden passageways. You will not be safe."

"It is alright. My only concern is that Ying is safe. My eldest son will make a just and wise ruler and it is important to me that he be alive and well, to inherit the throne when I am truly gone."

"Yes, your Majesty. I will continue to look for Shen-Li in the palace as well. Is there any section that I may be overlooking?" she asked. "Any hidden cellar? A room that may not be marked under the lanterns?"

"No. Everything is marked. And the dungeon is the cellar. I will stay in the palace and continue to look there while you search the surrounding area. Maybe the forest areas surrounding the Imperial City. Or in the city itself. We must be overlooking something."

"Yes, those areas have not been searched at all yet. I will start searching immediately. What about Mei-Lin?"

"I will keep an eye on her. She would be the one most likely to lead me to Shen-Li if he is in the palace."

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A/N: Another chapter to follow shortly.