Questionable Identity

Ch. 3

            Summary:  Mulan isn't who she thinks she is.  The Emperor is missing a daughter.  Fa Li's family comes for her.  Shang can't decide his future.

Disclaimer: I only own what you do not recognize.

A/N: EnjoyJ

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            ~Last chapter~

"My daughter lives in a farming town?"

"I believe so."

"My daughter lives in a farming town!"  With that Jia Ju fainted.

"I guess we will say at an inn for a few days."

The Emperor told his guards to look for an inn on the outskirts of town so that when they were ready to go into the town, they could be presented by the drum.

***

            "But mama, she's a wonderful girl."

            "No."

            "She's perfect."

            "What did I just say?"

            "But she would be the perfect wife."

            "NO!"

            "She's unique and can cook and clean.  She respects people."

            "Li Shang!  I'm ashamed of you.  I said no.  I don't want you to marry Jia Niu.  She's a porcelain doll Shang!" said Li Jia (A/N: I know I use the name a lot, but…).

            "But she would be the perfect wife."

            "Son, there is no such thing as a 'perfect wife' as you put it."

            "Yes there is," muttered Shang quietly.

            "Shang… did you ever know Fa Mulan when you were in the army?"

            Shang looked up.  "Fa… Mulan?  Umm… yes.  I was his… I mean her… commanding officer."

            "What about marrying her Shang?"

            "You would be ok with me marrying Mulan?!"  'This is good,' thought Shang.

            "That's what I just said."

            "What if she doesn't want to marry me?"

            "Do you want to marry her?"

            "Of course.  She's brilliant."

            "So?  Why wouldn't she want you?  You are a General."

            "Because… I almost killed her."

            "When?"

            "In the mountains when I found out that she was a girl."

            "So ask for her forgiveness."

            "It's not that easy."

            "Go talk to the Matchmaker Shang."

            "Alright mama."  Shang stood up from the table, opened the door, and walked outside.  He walked to the stables where he saddled up his white stallion.  He rode through the gate as he shouted a good-bye to his mother.

            ~

            "Where am I?" asked Jia Ju as she sat up on a bed.

            "We are in an inn."

            "A WHAT?"

            "An inn, my love," said the Emperor as he sat at the edge of her bed.

             "Why?" she asked hoarsely.

            "Because we are looking for Li Lan."

            ~

            "Shang UP!"

            "I'm sorry Li Mu, but I have to speak to mother."

            "But Shang I want to play," whined the little girl that was walking behind Shang.

            "How about I carry you into the house then you go and play with your dolls while I talk to mother.  After that I will play with you."

            "I want to play war not dolls.  I want to be like Fa Mulan when I grow up."

            Shang looked at his sister.  "Shang?"

            "Yes?"

            "Did you know her?"

            "Yes I did."

            "Can I meet her?"

            Shang bent down and picked up his six year old sister.  "Maybe next time I visit."

            "Are you going to marry her?"

            "You sure are curious today Mu."

            "Well?"

            "Maybe."

"Do you want to marry her?"

"Yes Mu, I do."

            "Will she live here with us if you do?"

            "I don't know."

            "Will she…"

            "Shang you're back so soon.  Li Mu please go play while I talk to Shang.  He will be out soon, I promise."

            Li Mu nodded to her mother, gave Shang a kiss on the cheek, jumped from his arms and ran outside.

            "What did that wretched woman say Shang?"

            "She said Mulan was going to take her test tomorrow and she would see then.  She also asked why I wanted to marry such a disgrace.  I wanted to strangle her when she called Mulan a disgrace.  Can you imagine that?  Mulan is a hero not a disgrace.  She is brilliant and beauty and smart."

            Jia chuckled.  "Shang I'm sure that the matchmaker will pair you two together."

            "Are you sure?"

            "Shang, go out and play with your sister."  As she turned back to the pile of clothes in front of her she sighed.  "I hope," she whispered.

            ~

            "Child, aren't you supposed to be in the village already?" Fa Zhou asked his daughter after she had handed him his tea. (Like last time.)

            "No, you have it wrong.  I need to be in town in half an hour.  I am just leaving."  With that Mulan ran down the steps and got her horse.

            ~

            "Am I late?" asked Mulan as she gracefully got off her horse.

            Her mother looked her over.  No straw in the hair this time.  "No you are early."

            Fa Li ushered her daughter into the house where she would be getting ready.

            "She's early!" cried one of the women in shock.

            "Well, them we will start early," said another woman who pulled Mulan towards a screen for her to get undressed behind.

            Mulan got out of her clothes and carefully folded them up.  She quickly got into the tub.  And someone began to wash her hair.

            Fa Li checked Mulan's arms for any ink notes but found none.

            "Child, where did you learn to fold your clothes like this?" asked a woman who was holding up Mulan's clothes that she had worn there.

            "Is it bad?" Mulan asked.

            "Heavens no.  It's perfect."

            "I learnt that in the army."

            All the women looked shock so Mulan decided to explain.  "We had to take up as little room as possible.  We also had to be quick."

            ~

            Mulan looked into the mirror and saw a beautiful woman staring back at her.

            Her face was white, her lips were ruby red, her eye lids were covered in a light blue, and her cheeks held a light red colour.  Her mother had placed the flower comb in her hair, her grandmother had placed a necklace of jade around her neck, and someone had swept her short hair up into an elegant bun.

            "Mulan, come."  Mulan slowly walked over to her mother.  She made sure not to step on her blue, purple, red, and silver, silk dress.

            "You look lovely."  Her mother kissed her head and handed her a blue umbrella.  "Go.  But don't hurry," yelled her mother and Mulan walked out the door and down the steps.

            'I hope I bring honour.  I hope I become a bride.  I hope I do not disgrace.  Ancestors hear my prays.'

            ~

            "Fa Mulan!" screeched the Matchmaker.

            'I can do this.'  Mulan gracefully stood up, closed her umbrella, and waited for the matchmaker to beckon her forward.

            "You may come," said the matchmaker as she turned to enter her house.

            Mulan gracefully walked inside and waited for the matchmaker to look her over.

"Impressive.  You have become a lady so far.  Maybe the army was good for you.  We will see," said the matchmaker as she circled around Mulan.

            Mulan had to bite her tongue so that she wouldn't say anything disgraceful.

            "Fa Mulan, I most check to see if you are a virgin.  I can't be to sure since you were in the army after all with a lot of men.  Also men don't want a wife that is not a virgin.  Please lift up you skirt."

            Mulan was disgusted.  No one had known that she was a girl but she couldn't tell the matchmaker because she wouldn't believe her and she would be talking out of turn.

            Mulan closed her eyes, lifted up her skirt, and bit the inside of her mouth through the test.

            After the matchmaker washed her hands she had Mulan pour the tea which she did successfully.

            "Now Fa Mulan.  Two Generals have approached me to have me marry you to them.  Why, I don't know, but they did.  I will let you chose.  One is 37 and the other is 20 years of age.  That is all I will tell you.  Who do you chose?"

            "The…"

            ~

            "How did it go Mulan?" asked Fa Zhou as Mulan walked through the front gate.

            "It was ok.  I will be meeting my husband-to-be tomorrow."  Mulan put her horse away and returned to the house.

            "TOMORROW?" cried her mother.  "We most get ready.  Will his family be coming with him?  How many people?"

            "Yes tomorrow.  Yes his family will be coming, and I think it's only him, his mother, and his sister," said Mulan with a smile a she watched her mother and grandma move around the kitchen trying to find things.

            ~

            "General Tu?"

            "Yes?" asked a middle aged man.

            The matchmaker stepped forward.  "I am here about your proposal to marry Fa Mulan."

            "Yes?  What is the out come of this?"

            "I have decided…"

            ~

            "When will we see my daughter?" Jia Ju asked the Emperor.

            "Tomorrow, after lunch.  Now go back to sleep."  The Emperor gently pushed Jia Ju back onto the bed for she was still a little weak.

            "Baba?" asked a voice from behind him.

            The Emperor turned around.  "Yes Qing Lan?"

            "Do you really think that Li Lan is here?" she asked nervously as she walked towards her father.

            "Yes I do."

            ~

            "We will be leaving for her house so that we can arrive for tea."

            "Very well son.  Should we bring anything?"

            "Are we supposed to?"

            "No."

***

            A/N:  Traum, Angel452, Lynn, Sirius, Wen, and No Life Queen, thank you all for reviewing.

            Becky:  Thanks for the review.  When are you going to update 'Porcelain Warrior'?

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