August 10th: The Emperor
Dear Diary,
I woke up just as the sky was turning to dawn. Fa was hovering over Meili's cradle I had him fashion for me. "Sorry to wake you, Mei Xiang. I just couldn't stay away for too long." I smiled. He can't help but love Meili. He'll make the right girl happy one day. "it's fine, Fa." I walked up behind him, making sure to keep some distance between us. "Was there anything else that would've required you to come in my corner this early?" He looked away and gently brushed one of his huge paws against Meili's face. I swallowed back all the distrust and bad memories and touched his shoulder with my paw. "Is it that bad, that you can't tell your prisoner?" He smirked at the old nickname he gave me. Now it is just used as banter among us. He said that after all this is over, he'll take me back home. "Well, today is the day that the Emperor will see you. I don't know if you remember, but when I hinted that there was going be someone else to see too. " I nodded as he fell silent.
Meili took the moment to wake up crying from hunger. It saved him from answering at that moment. "Xū, bǎobèi. Méiguānxì. Māmā huì zhǔnbèi hǎo zǎocān." I heard Fa say as I quickly found her some milk. He sounded so sweet and soothing. I turned around and saw him lifiting her up. "Here you are." I smiled gratefully as he handed her over. I quickly gave her the milk and watched as he watched her and me. "I-I-i better go before everyone else wakes up and make sure we are presentable for the Emperor." I smiled when he stuttered. He turned on his heel and walked back to the main camp.
I don't like him, diary. Not in that way. But he is becoming a good friend. I hastily finished feeding Meili before I dressed myself in the new quipo that I made for myself. If the Emperor wants to see me, then I'll show him that I don't need him or any thing else he might have to offer.
When the sun was halfway across the sky, my guards came to escort me to the palace. I wrapped Meili up in a small blanket to sheild her from the sun. Ai quickly leaned over when no one was looking and pressed a small kiss to her daughter's head. "Mei, please take her with you if you ever get out of here." I nodded and laid my tail on her shoulder as a sighn of comfort before walking ahead. The walk to the palace wasn't so bad. I had my face and head covered up, so most people won't recognize me. They probably think that I am the Emperor's concubine returning with his child.
When we entered the Emperor's palace, there were three people I wished to never see again. But that doesn't' matter. Fa just brushed right past them and I knew that recognized me but they probably were shocked to see me with a child. We walked into the throne room and a booming voice that once shook me to my knees called out, "Fa! Have you brought the girl?" I looked up to see him. Emperor Wu. "Yes, your excellency. I've found and brought Mei Xiang." Fa bowed low to the ground. Emperor Wu came over and looked me over. "Uncover your head, child." I looked at Fa and he nodded softly.
I took the wrapping off of my head and accommodated Meili. I could hear my parents gasp. I guess they forgot that I had my mother's looks. My mother used to be the jewel of China before she married my father. I looked at them briefly, feigning ignorance and walked up to the Emperor of China. "Greetings, Emperor." I murmured as I curtsied. He smiled as he recognized me. "Mei Xiang, look at you! You've grown into a beautiful lady." I blushed as he hugged me. "I heard about Ming Hua. May the Great Oogway bless her soul. I smiled again. Fa looked at Meili sleeping in my arms and it drew the emperor's attention. "My! Who is this beauty?" I pulled the wrapping down from her face a little more so he could take a better look. "This is Meili. My foster daughter." He smiled and gently touched her cheek. "Mei Xiang, I didn't know you were married or had a family?" I grimaced which caused him to chuckle. "No, your majesty. I am not married. I just take in children who are in need and raise them as my own until they are ready to find a new family or can live on their own. Meili is the youngest besides my daughter, Wolfess." He beamed again and asked if I had any paintings of them. I handed Fa the baby and reached into my pack for the painting I got for my birthday. "This is my whole family. The children surrounding me, are my kids. I took them in while I was traveling and raised them on my own. They now have adopted families except for my daughter, Chun Hua." His face grew grave at the mention of my daughter. "What do you mean?" I sadly smiled at my daughter's face. "She got Blood Cough and died. I buried her close by to where I was living when Fa found me." He nodded and complimented me on my family. I thanked him.
"Well now." He said. "I do believe that you would like to rest before you go home?" My eyes gleamed hopefully at him as Fa bounced a fussy Meili. He turned back to the thrones and smiled broadly. "Xinwen, daughter! Your friend has returned!" A beautiful leopardess came down the stairs to where her father stood. "Mei Xiang? Is it really you?" She opened her arms and I ran into them. "Hello again, Xinwen. I can't thank you enough for being my friend as a child. Hopefully we can make up lost time?" She nodded and smiled. "Father, may I take them to their rooms?" When her father gave consent, we walked arm in arm. She cooed over Meili the whole time, to which I'm sure Ai was happy for. I stayed in Xinwen's room upon her insistence. She had a small cradle brought in and she pushed me into the bath. "Xinwen, I can bathe myself!" She laughed and said that now it is her turn to pamper me for a bit. We spent the whole night talking and watching Meili sleep.
Here is what Fa said:
Xū, bǎobèi. Méiguānxì. Māmā huì zhǔnbèi hǎo zǎocān = Shush, baby. It's alright. Mama will get breakfast ready