Author's Note: After the couple death threats and my own anxiety of posting this (I was really going to put this chapter up on Friday, but I decided my anxiety to win me over.) , HERE is the most anticipated chapter of the story. Enjoy..

Disclaimer: I do not own Mulan or any characters from Mulan.

Chapter 9: The Truth

Shang felt confused. After hearing the mother and daughter quarrel. Just what secret was Mei talking about? Why was Zhao getting so upset and nervous?

"Mei, what truth are you talking about?" Shang asked again.

Mei looked into Shang's eye and held his hand. Her heart pounded fast and her hand began to tremble as she began to get butterflies in her stomach.

"You can't love me Shang, its impossible." she said softly as she lowered her head.

Shang had puzzled look on his face. Why was she telling him this?

"Mei, please don't." Zhao pleaded. "Don't get involved again."

Mei disregarded her mother's plead and went on.

"Shang" she began, "I'm your sister."

Zhao bursted into tears and scolded her daughter for saying such thing.

Shang was shocked. Mei-Ying? His SISTER? How could this be? Shang backed away from Mei and looked at her with disbelief.

"My sister?" he said seriously, "What do you mean you're my sister, that's impossible."

Mei gulped hard. She saw Shang's kind eyes turn into icy black cold eyes full of anger and rage. She knew he had to know eventually she had to tell him the truth, he had to know.

"It is." she said nervously, "My mother was - she was - uh -"

"Was WHAT?" Shang said as he raised his voice.

"My mother was your father's mistress." she said shamefully as she sat down.

Shang eyes widen as he looked at Zhao. His father had a mistress? He cheated on his mother? How could he do such a thing! His whole childhood went past his eyes as these thoughts raced throughout his head.

His father's absence during dinner.

The many fights between his parents.

The emotional trauma that his mother went through.

All because of Mei and her mother.

"My mother met our father during a time of war. He was friends with my father, who was also...a soldier." she said as her voice trembled.

Shang breathed hard and turned his back on Mei and her mother.

"And well, they fell in love, and they had an affair, and well...I came nine months later." she continued.

"My father was a married man." he mumbled angrily. "He showed no affection towards my own mother, who bore him two children. Yet he showed love towards YOUR mother." he said as he turned around and got closer to Mei.

"Do you know how that even feels?" he said as he elevated his voice.

Mei stammered nervously, trying to find the right words to calm down Shang.

"DO YOU!" he yelled.

"Shang, please, -"

"No Mei, you don't know what I went through as a child! Seeing my mother being neglected! You don't have any -

"I know what you went through damnit!" Mei yelled back as she cut off Shang.

Shang had a surprised look on his face. Never had he seen Mei so angry or even yell.

"I went through so much WORSE. At least you had a LEGIT father around! Alright? I was the bastard child in this neighborhood! I was looked down by everyone! I was a damn outcast here! I understand your mother went through a lot with our father, but trust me Li Shang, we went through much more. Do you know the mockery I went through?"

Shang stayed silent and lowered his eyes.

"DO YOU?" she yelled as she began to cry.

"Try living in poverty!" she continued. "Of course, you can't. You're General Li Shang, the man who lives in riches, with the best of everything that exists in China! Try being in MY shoes for once."

Shang stayed motion-less and silent. He gulped hard and bit his lip. He knew Mei had a point, but like always, his pride got in the way.

Mei walked to the door as she wiped her tears and opened the door.

"I can't believe how you walk into my house, that I, YOUR SISTER, welcomed you with open arms, and insult my mother and my family this way." she said seriously as she glared at Shang.

Shang felt her glare. He knew he should've control his anger.

"Leave my house at once." she said firmly as she held her head up high.

Shang took his helmet and left at once. Mei slammed the door.

As he walked to release his horse from the tree, he realized why did he began feeling that way towards Mei. It was so obvious! Why didn't he ever notice it? He wasn't really 'in love' with Mei. He just shared a brother-sister bond with her!

"How could I be so stupid" Shang thought to himself.

Shang felt like a total idiot for making a fool out of himself in front of Mei.

Confessing his so-called feelings AND yelling at her in her own house.

But that was the least thing he had to worry about.

There was only one person he had in mind.

Mulan.

He felt like a total pompous ass for the way he had been treating her.

Aside from Mei being his sister, how dare even think of loving another woman! Mulan was the love of his life, the only woman he needed by his side. How could he jeopardize his marriage over another woman?

"I'm such an ass." Shang said to himself. "No wonder Mulan doesn't even want to come near. I've become a jackass to her."

Shang then realized, he had to talk to Mulan. He took off in a greater amount of speed, to come home before Mulan locked herself in the room. He was determined to beg for her forgiveness, after all, he was the fool who started this whole dilemma.

Once he reached home, he saw his Ushi out, accommodating several house stuff.

"Master Li, back so soon?" Ushi questioned surprisingly.

"Is Mulan inside?" he asked as he disregarded her question.

Ushi nodded and Shang ran inside the room.

"Mulan?" he called out as he entered the house.

Mulan turned around and looked at Shang with a surprised look on her face.

"We need to talk." Shang said as he got closer to Mulan.

Mulan frowned and backed away from Shang.

"We have NOTHING to talk about Li Shang." she said as she began to walk away.

Shang grabbed her by the wrist and pleaded to her to listen to him.

"Do you want me to slap you again or knee you in the groin?" she asked furiously. "I'm pretty damn good at both."

"Mulan, please. Just listen to me." he pleaded for once more.

Mulan rolled her eyes and groaned. She gestured him to go on.

"I talked to Mei, and I confessed her my feelings. And -"

"Whoa. Wait. You confessed your feelings to HER." she said angrily "Seriously Li Shang what the hell is wrong with you?"

Shang shook his head rapidly.

"Mulan! It's not what you think -"

"Save it Shang." she said she began to weep. "I see you didn't get your way with Mei, so now you come to me? What am I? Your back-up? Frankly, I thought higher of you Li Shang."

Shang let Mulan's wrist slip away from his hands and watched her walk away in tears. She slammed the door and locked it.

Shang officially felt like an idiot. His marriage was already at stake and it was all his fault. He sighed and pleaded Mulan to open the door, but she refused. He decided to Mulan some time and walked away. As he wandered off to the family room, he looked up at the wall and there stood a great portrait. A portrait of his father. General Li with a very serious smile, holding his helmet proudly. Shang angrily grabbed the portrait and threw it on the floor with rage. The one mistake of the late general could simply cost Li Shang's marriage. Simply because of his male stupidity.

Author's Note: So what do you think? =)

Special thanks to Bao Li Na and Tikisomia who had no intentions of killing me for the previous chapter. xD