Questionable Identity
Ch. 7
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~
Mme. Wong looked up. "General Tu, my lady."
"Very well. Fee Hi, could you bring General Tu to the palace?"
"The squire nodded and left the room.
"I want to know everything. From Fa Mulan's first visit to you up until now. And only things that concern the girl counting suitors."
Mme. Wong explained Mulan's first visit, General Tu's first proposal, General Li's proposal, Mulan's second visit, her last meeting with General Tu, the last one with Mulan, and the last one with Shang.
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~ (Royal Palace) ~
The Empress smiled as she walked down the hall. 'That meeting went well,' she thought. She turned down a hall lined with gold and jewels from other countries.
She knocked on a red door with a sword carved into it. A young girl of thirteen opened the door.
She bowed and placed her hands together inside her sleeves. "How may I help the Empress?" she asked.
"I would like to speak with my granddaughter."
"Whatever you wish Lady." She moved aside to let the Empress pass before closing the door.
"Mistress," the girl called. "The Empress is here to see you."
Jia Ju heard a sigh and something fall over.
"Mulan, are you ok?" she called, worried.
Mulan appeared through a door. "Of course grandmother. I was just practicing."
"Practicing?" repeated Jia Ju as she raised an eyebrow.
Mulan nodded. "You may leave now little one."
The girl nodded and left.
"Little one?"
Mulan shrugged. "She wouldn't tell me her name so I call her 'Little One'."
"Interesting. So," Jia Ju sat down on one of the cushions with Mulan following her. "What were you practicing?"
"My martial arts of course. It wouldn't do to have me rusty."
Jia Ju sighed. "I think you should stop practicing Mulan."
Mulan straightened up. "And why shouldn't I grandmother?"
"Because I don't think you husband to be will approve of it. The General is a very strict man when if comes to his house hold. He has respect and he doesn't what it to be ruined."
"Then why marry me?" cried Mulan outraged. If only she could marry Shang…
The Empress chuckled. "You're famous and beautiful my dear. What more reasons does a man need?"
Mulan blushed at the beautiful comment but glared at her grandmother. "What about love… and friendship… and, and… all the things you and grandfather have and my parents have?"
"I'm sure you will learn to love him. And friendship comes with love."
"What about trust?"
"Trust will come as well. I promise."
"And if it doesn't?"
Jia Ju laughed. "Order to have him killed. My dear, you have the power to do that, but… wait a bit after the wedding before you decide. You will see." She stood up. "Come. You must meet your half-aunts, half-grandmothers, and your cousins."
Mulan looked at her questionably. "Just how many… what did you say again? Oh yes, half-grandmothers, half-aunt, and cousins do I have?"
"5 half-grandmothers, 11 half-aunts, and 15 cousins," her grandmother replied calmly as she led her out the door and down the hall to a different hall lined with silver. "You see, the first wife, me, and her children and grandchildren and so on, live in the Gold Hall, while all the other wives, children, grandchildren and so on, live in the Silver Hall." She knocked on a wooden door which was opened by a servant.
"Yes, your highness?" she asked as she bowed and put her hands together in her sleeves.
"Is everyone here?"
"Yes. All of them always gather in the Eating Room at the hour of noon your majesty."
"Very well. Please tell them I am here."
The servant bowed again and hurried into the room only to return a moment later to let Jia Ju and Mulan enter.
"This Mulan, is where the Emperor's, um…, family… eat their meals unless there is a feast, celebration, or the Emperor requests them to eat with him."
The turned a corner and entered a room filled with women and children.
"Where are the men?" asked Mulan.
Jia Ju smiled. "Most of the husbands of the Emperor's children have to be army men, meaning they are away often. Sometimes you will see them here however."
"Oh."
One of the elder women spotted them. "So Jia Ju, finally left your rooms?" she said as she smirked.
A woman around Mulan's mother's age laughed.
Jia Ju smiled coldly. "Ai, sixth wife still?"
Ai glared and muttered something to the woman who had laughed.
The Empress turned away from Ai and the woman. "Everyone," she said. "I would like you to meet my granddaughter Mulan. Li Lan's daughter."
One of the children walked forward. "How old are you?" she asked.
"Sixteen."
The girl giggled. "My sister's as old as you."
Mulan smiled.
Jia Ju cleared her throat. "Mulan is the heir to the Empire of China," she said with pride.
The woman with Ai yelled out a 'No!!'
She hurried forward. "I should be the next in line. I was the first daughter to the Emperor."
"That may be so Huo, but since the Emperor had no male children, he got to pick his successor. If he had died, then I as first wife would have picked his successor. But the Emperor chose Li Lan and now he chooses Mulan." She smirked. "Deal with it."
Huo turned away in fury.
Mulan turned to her grandmother. "Grandmamma, who was that?"
"Ai is your grandfather's sixth wife, and Huo is her only child."
The little girl tugged Mulan's skirt. "Come and meet everyone else." She pulled Mulan to the larger group.
"This is Huan, the second wife. Her daughters Jia, Jing and Chin. Jia's daughters are Jiang and Ju (little girl that tugged on your skirt.). Jing's daughter is Lin. Chin's daughters are Lim and Mei. This is Ling, the third wife. Her daughters are Ming and Niu. Ming's sons are Hai and Heng. Nui's daughter is Nuo and her son is Ping."
Mulan stifled a laugh.
Jia Ju raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"
"It's just the name I used when I was in the army."
Ju turned to stare at her. "You are Fa Mulan?"
When Mulan nodded Ju smiled.
"I think it was very brave what you did. If I could I would do the some."
The woman chuckled and Jia Ju continued with the introductions.
"This is Ah An, the fourth wife. Her daughters Bao, Yun, and Zhen. Boa's daughters are Zan and Tai. Yun's son is Xiang. Zhen's daughter is Yin. This is Rong, the fifth wife. Her daughters San and Shun. San's son Da. Shun's daughter Chun."
Mulan nodded. "How come Da, Xiang, Hai, Heng, or Ping are not the heir to the Empire?"
Jia Ju smiled. "You are smart Mulan. Because they are not the Emperor's children. They are grandchildren. If there is no male heir in the Emperor's children, he can pick anyone he wants."
Mulan again nodded. "If you would be so kind as to excuse me grandmother," she bowed to her and the other woman, "Ladies, I promised to meet my mother for lunch."
The women inclined their heads. "Good day Mulan."
Mulan left, leaving Jia Ju with the women and children. "Well?"
They women smiled and nodded. She would do well. She would do very well.
A/N: What is going on? What are the women agreeing on, and what meeting went well? I guess you will just have to wait. Anywho, sorry I didn't update for like ever but I was in France for five weeks, then I had to host someone here for a month, in the mean time going to Newfoundland, a Canadian Province. Then I had to get ready for school and do last minute things. Again sorry. HOPE YOU ENJOYED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would like to thank:
Jezz Redfern2
Stargazer70
Wen
Rory4
Ai Tennshi – This is defiantly a Shang/Mulan fic. In a sorta twisted ways. Don't worry, they'll meet up again.
leeread
Becs Coplano
Lynn12
Angel452
REVIEW PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!