Questionable Identity
Ch. 8
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: Okay, please don't kill me? I'm really sorry for not updating but my life has been crazy since my last update and I was stuck on what to do for this chapter. But, hey, it is finally here.
***
~Last chapter~
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.
***
~ (Royal Palace) ~
Mulan ran to her mother and father's room with her skirt held up by her hands.
'Stupid skirt,' she thought. 'What I would not give to wear pants. What I wouldn't give to have Shang instead of…' Mulan shook her head, trying to clear her mind of him. 'I am the heiress of China. I am so screwed. What if I fail?'
Mulan's thoughts were interrupted when she ran into a wall. Okay, so it wasn't a wall when she looked at it, but the man's chest might have well as been since she had a head ache from running into him.
Two large hands grabbed her arms roughly. "Just who do you think you are?" the man snarled loudly. "Running in the Emperor's Palace." He slapped her, sending her sprawling to the floor.
Foot steps were quickly heard running down the hall way.
"What happened here?" asked the guards that had come running.
"This wench was running through the halls and ran into me!" the man spat at the guard while he pointed to where Mulan lay sprawled on the floor clutching her cheek.
The guard glared at the man while helping Mulan up. "And what are you doing here Kun Ru?"
"I am here to see the heir. I heard news that the Emperor has finally picked an heir. I have every right to be here to know which second cousin of mine will be the next Emperor."
"The Emperor is not dead and won't be for a long time Kun Ru!" spat the guard. The guard turned to Mulan. "I am very sorry Mistress for letting this happen." He bowed.
Mulan waved her hand. "It is okay, I should have reacted faster."
If there was one thing that people knew about Kun Ru it was that he hated to be ignored. He pushed Mulan out of the way and grabbed the guard's shirt. "Listen to me Xun; I want to know where I can find the successor of my uncle. I want to be in good graces with HIM!!!"
Xun spat in Kun Ru's face and laughed.
Kun Ru was very angry. People were supposed to treat him with respect! "You will treat me with respect while in my presence!" He through Xun to the floor and he crashed into a vase.
Mulan rushed to him and was about to ask if Xun was okay when Kun Ru grabbed one of her arms.
"Come with me to my room. I need to relieve myself of some stress wench!"
Mulan did the only thing that would not get her a glare from her grandmothers and parents. She shrieked at the top of her lungs.
Kun Ru slapped her trying to get her to quiet down.
The Emperor, followed by all this family and Mulan's family and the Palace Guards came into the hall.
"What is going on here?" asked Jia Ju.
Kun Ru bowed to the royal family. "I am terribly sorry Aunt Jia Ju to bring you out of your private rooms, but this wench was shrieking. I tried to quiet her down." He dropped Mulan.
If possible smoke would have been coming out of Jia Ju's ears. "The Emperor's granddaughter is no wench Kun Ru!" she yelled. She slapped him across the face.
Kun Ru looked the girl that the Emperor was hugging over again. "I am terribly sorry cousin," he said, his voice dripping with sugar.
Mulan stepped away from her grandfather. She walked up to Kun Ru and slapped him twice causing people to gasp. "Two slaps for two cousin!" She spat the word out. "You will never be in good graces with me so don't ever try."
Kun Ru growled in anger. The nerve of this woman. "Why would I ever want to be in your good graces? You're just a silly little girl!"
Mulan laughed bitterly. "That may be so but I am the heir to the Empire."
Kun Ru paled. "What?"
Mulan smirked at him. "My grandparents decided that I was to be Empress after they pass away. Now if you will excuse me cousin dear, I must leave."
With that, Mulan turned and left the hallway, heading back to her room to think.
~
Mulan sighed as she let the hot water relax her. She had just had lunch with her parents and they had talked about her up coming wedding to the General.
The General. He didn't sound completely bad, but, he was not Shang.
Mulan paused in her thoughts. She hadn't seen Shang in two weeks and she missed him. What would she do when she got married? While a man could have more then one wife, a woman could not have more then one husband. Not that she wanted more then one. She just wanted Shang.
She slowly exited the bath and pulled on a robe before entering her rooms.
She froze when she saw a figure standing against the wall looking out of the window into the courtyard.
She tried to make the person out but wasn't having much lucky. "Excuse, but what are you doing here?" she asked as she reached for her sword.
The person turned around in surprise. "Mulan?"
Mulan dropped her sword. "Shang? What are you doing here?"
"I was told the Emperor wanted to see me and was told to wait in here."
"Oh." Mulan looked down. He hadn't come to see her then. "The Emperor's room is at the end of this hallway." She moved towards the door that led into the hallway.
Before she could get to the door, she found herself in Shang's arms.
"I've missed you Mulan," he said as he breathed in her unique smell.
Mulan silently cried into his chest. "I have missed you too."
Shang leaned down to capture her lips in a kiss but Mulan stepped back.
"I'm sorry Shang, but I can't." She turned away from him. "I am getting married in a month's time. It wouldn't be fair for you or me if…"
Shang wrapped her arms around her again. "I don't care Mulan. I love you and I will fight for you until I can have you." He turned Mulan around and brushed his lips against her own.
He started to pull away when Mulan's hands grabbed his head and pushed it towards her so she could kiss him passionately.
The knock at Mulan's door brought the lovers out of their kiss.
Mulan stepped towards the door. "I love you Shang. Please go and hide somewhere."
Shang fled into her bedroom while Mulan opened the door.
"Mistress," said Mulan's servant. "The Empress has sent for you."
"Umm…" Mulan glanced towards her bedroom. "Will you tell her I will be a little while? I must make myself presentable."
"Of course Mistress. She will be waiting for you in the throne room." The girl bowed and left.
Mulan closed the door and ran into her bedroom. She found Shang sitting on her bed and flew into his arms. "I don't have much time before I mean my grandmother and I need to get dressed…"
Shang kissed her causing her to go quiet. "I'll wait for you here for you."
Mulan nodded and kissed him lightly before entering her closet and get ready.
~
"You wanted to see me grandmamma?" asked Mulan as she entered the throne room forty minutes and a few kisses with Shang later.
"Yes, my dear." Jia Ju motioned her in. Two children stood before her. "These children are from General Tu's first marriage. I requested that they visit with you today so you can all get to know each other." Jia Ju walked out of the room.
Mulan studied the two children before her. One, the older of the two was a girl and she looked to be thirteen. The boy looked to be six. "Umm…"
The girl whispered something to her brother and then walked over to Mulan. "I don't want you as part of my family," she hissed.
"And why not?" asked Mulan, interested.
"Because we don't need a mother and I'm practically as old as you!"
Mulan laughed.
"What do you find so funny?" she asked glaring at the war hero.
"I don't want to marry your father. I want to… Never mind."
"You don't want to marry my father?" the girl asked cautiously.
"No, I, umm… well… you see… he's too old for me and umm… there is someone else."
"Really?" The girl giggled. "My father listens to me so maybe I can talk him out of marrying you."
"What is your name?"
"Aian," she stated.
"Aian? Where have I heard your name before? Are you betrothed?"
Aian blushed. "Yes, I am. For a month now. He was in the war. He was one of the war heroes."
"Is his name Yao?"
Aian giggled. "Yes. And he's so smart and funny."
Mulan stifled a laugh.
"Yes?"
"That's just… I was with Yao in the army."
"You're Fa Mulan?"
Mulan nodded. "I am."
"Wow." She smiled then frowned. "This still doesn't mean that I want you to marry my father."
Mulan smiled. "Don't worry; I'm interested in someone else."
"Okay, so I'll try to talk to my father. Don't worry about it."
"It was nice to meet you Aian. Come see me after you marry if I'm not married to your father."
The girl smiled. "Of course. We must be going now."
They said their goodbyes and Mulan ran back to her rooms excited to see Shang again and to tell him about their friend.
A/N: Wow, it's been so long since I've written for this story. Sorry for the delay people but school and writer's block kinda suck. Anywho… that's it for now. Hope you enjoyed it.
I would like to thank:
BrokenSkye – I have no idea if the things about chosing an heir is right, but for my story it had to be Mulan. It probably went to the next male or to a male cousin or something, I doubt it ever went to a female but this is my story so, technically, I am the creator of rules and things.
Rory4
leeread - The questions will all be answered in time but there are always clues.
Jayv
ally_blue
Aarien Star
Karazy-gurl – Canada too? Cool. All the way in Ontario for me. The capital of the province. Glad you like.
Kaio – Chocolate chip? Yummy. Anyway, maybe the Empress has her own hidden agenda, but no, the Empress is good, just really sneaky. Hehe. Now will she or will she not marry Shang? I guess you'll just have to wait and see… or read.
Alura Palemoon – Thx for the compliment in my writing. And I know about me spelling and grammar… it's such a pain when I make stupid mistakes.
Lynn12
Serilla – and coming and coming even if it's a little slow. We'll see what happens to the matchmaker but I don't wanna give stuff away so you'll have to keep reading to find out. Sorry.
Missa5
Angel452 – Well, Shang's here but I can't say where Mushu is sorry. And yes, I'm still here, just life has been hectic lately along with writer's block.
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