Author's Note: sorry it took so long. I've been so busy! But I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Thanks a ton to my faithful old readers, who read from the very beginning (you guys know who you are!) :) You guys are the best! R&R please!

And check out my new one-shot story, called When I'm 64

:) Thanks for reading!

Xiaohua stepped into the house and watched as everyone stared at her. All greeted her warmly while Mulan glared viciously. She forcefully made her way through her mother and father. Shang's father and her mother tried to hold her back, but Mulan strongly made her way past them. Shang's father whistled in awe, "Strong one, she is."

Mulan grabbed Xiaohua by the dress collar and lifted her up. "Tell me where Shang is now," she demanded. Xiaohua was scared and looked at Mulan, while trying to swallow. "I'm warning you Xiaohua. If you don't tell me where my betrothed is, I will certainly kill you." Xiaohua was breathing heavily, probably unable to breathe from all the anxiety and the fact that Mulan was holding her up by the dress collar. "You almost stopped me before, but there is nothing stopping me now."

"Mulan," her mother placed a calming hand on her shoulder, "Let the girl down so she can actually tell you." Mulan nodded and dropped Xiaohua to the ground.

"You're right mama," she then looked at her and whispered to where only Xiaohua could hear, "But if she doesn't answer I can always go back and kill her."

Xiaohua scampered towards the seat and slowly sat down. She breathed quickly and tried to catch her breath. Mulan calmly sat on the couch in front of her studying every one of her movements or facial expressions for any lies. Her mother and father stood behind her, while the former General stood on her left side, also studying Xiaohua. Granny Fa, on the other hand, was looking at Mulan wondering why she had so much disgust towards the girl. In fact she was nowhere near as beautiful as Mulan, and sure she was the perfect little housewife, but even she knew that Shang wasn't looking for only that in a wife.

Li Chen cleared his throat and Xiaohua looked up at him, "So tell us your story, uh miss…"

"Lin Xiaohua," she told him.

"Why don't you tell us your story Xiaohua, and exactly why you are visiting? Hmm?" He gave her a look that urged her to tell it soon, or else he would hurt her. Because this was his son that he was talking about, and their relationship was more important than a betrothal, meaning the anger he was feeling was probably as much as Mulan's, if not more.

Xiaohua cleared her throat and started, "Well I came here first to congratulate Fa Mulan and Li Shang on their engagement."

"And where did you hear this news?" Mulan asked curiously. Not many people knew about her engagement, because she and Shang had managed to keep it to only their families and their friends. But then again this village was small and known for their talk. She looked to her parents and Granny Fa, who avoided eye contact with her. Her parents probably spread it around. And Mulan secretly hoped that news reached the evil Matchmaker.

"Mulan," her father chided, "Let the girl finish."

Xiaohua nodded and continued, "I had heard the news from the Emperor and at the meeting for the military intelligence."

"So much for not letting her know much," Mulan muttered and looked over to the former General who smiled weakly and just shrugged.

"They told me about a mission I have to accomplish," Xiaohua said.

"Why wasn't I invited to this meeting?" Mulan asked and looked to Xiaohua, who shrugged and then to Shang's father.

He looked down for a moment, wondering how he was going to say this to Mulan. "Well, you are engaged to be married very soon and we didn't want to disturb you or Shang while you were getting ready for this. I knew you were at home and I figured Shang would be here also, which would explain why he never signed back in to the Emperor's palace. Plus he was late for the meeting, and he promised he would be back before then. He told me that he was going to tell you as soon as he came back and take you with him. So when you two never showed up, we figured you two were too busy preparing for the marriage that you couldn't make it. I know that you did not want everyone to hear about this marriage, but I had to make up an excuse for both of your absences. You don't want people, like Chi Fu to jump to conclusions." Mulan nodded, but was still wondering how Xiaohua knew where Shang was.

Xiaohua continued her story, "I thought Shang was here, but when I came to your house and heard you arguing about going to get Shang, I knew I had to help. I don't know where Shang is at this very moment, but I may have been the last person to see him," she paused for a breather, knowing Mulan probably wouldn't take this lightly, and looked up at Mulan, who urged her to continue. "I saw him in the mountains. I saw him in the Wu Tai Shan Mountains, stumbling along."

"And you didn't do anything?" She asked. Mulan shook her head, trying to hide her tears and immediately grabbed her stuff. She ran out the kitchen door to the back to get her horse and Mushu and Mei.

"Thank you for your help," they told her. Mulan's mother answered her, "I apologize for the way Mulan is acting. She is a little crestfallen. She hasn't seen Shang or heard from in a while and is probably thinking the worst. After all, the Wu Tai Shan Mountains are very high."

The former General waved goodbye and followed after Mulan. "Counsel of Defense? Sir?" Xiaohua called for him, "I didn't get to finish. But I did make sure he ended up okay. When he fell down on the road, I stayed there trying to wake him up. Shang is too heavy for me, so I couldn't take him anywhere. Luckily however, there was an old couple walking by. I put him in the carriage and went with him to the village, which is nearby the mountains. I believe he is in good care. I hope you find your son, for your sake, China's, and for Mulan's." He smiled and quickly thanked her and ran outside to find Mulan.

…

Mulan wiped away her tears as she made her way up the stairs to the temple. She quickly prayed to the ancestors for their guidance and walked down. From her behind her she heard small footsteps and turned around to find a sympathetic Mushu and Mei. "Shang isn't around, is he?"

Mulan shook her head, "They can't find him," her voice trembled. "Do you know where he is Mei?"

Mei shook her head. "I haven't heard from him at all. I've tried finding him by using telepath, but I was unable to."

"Come with me and help me find him," Mulan told them and she walked to the stables with them. They jumped in her bag, much to Khan's dismay. Just as she was about to board on the horse, Shang's father came into the stables.

"Wait for me," he told her as he prepared the horse, "I'm coming with you. And let's visit the Emperor. I have to tell him the news that his General is missing."

"I don't understand why Shang would take those mountains. Is that the only way home?" she asked.

"No," he turned to her, "but it is one of the fastest ways. Lucky for you I know a quick route to the mountains, that doesn't involve danger."

"Oh darn," Mulan said sarcastically.

"I know I am not your mother or your father to be reprimanding you, but you should have stayed and heard Xiaohua's whole story. She made sure Shang was in care of a village couple, so he should be fine. But I fear that he is badly injured due to the fact that he has been in their care for two weeks and has not returned home."

"How did you know that?" Mulan asked.

"I stayed and listened to her story, instead of jumping out and running after only hearing part of the story," He told her, "You're a very bright woman. I can see why my son wants to marry you. But in order to be a better soldier or leader, you must wait and plan your strategy instead of jumping at every chance you get."

Mulan nodded. "I understand. I am sorry for my behavior earlier."

"Don't apologize for that," he replied, "I would have acted the same way if my family was in danger."

"But you didn't."

He answered, "Because I was in control. It's all about self-control," Mulan nodded in agreement, "Besides, you were doing a fine job." Chen smiled. "If we leave now, we can reach the village by sunset. Is your horse ready for some running? What I should be asking actually is if you're ready for this journey?"

Mulan smiled. "If there's anyone who knows land, it's me. I know the land the best. And my horse happens to be the best there is." Khan whined.

"So I've heard," Chen smiled, "Let's see then!"

They then started their horses and ran as fast as they could to the Emperor's palace.

…

"What do you mean he's gone missing?" Chi Fu asked, "He could not have been very far! After all the love of his life is at home! I bet he skipped the meeting on purpose!"

The Emperor quieted down his ignorant assistant and spoke. "Please excuse my assistant. He is trying to get use to following my orders." He threw a stern look at Chi Fu who then quieted down. Mulan tried her best to hide her laugh.

"If I may speak in my son's defense," he looked at the Emperor and then at Chi Fu, "My son has not been home in the past two months and two weeks. He has gone to visit his sister. Fa Mulan and her family have not seen Shang in so long. Counsel Fa is coming with me to see his whereabouts, which Xiaohua luckily told us…"

Mulan's concentration on the conversation slowly drifted when she saw Xiaohua in the corner of her eyes. To her left, she saw her arguing with some man, hidden by the curtains. She could faintly hear Xiaohua yelling that she "didn't want to do it". Suddenly the man struck her hard on the face. Mulan leaned in as far as she could to hear the conversation

"Why do you have to go on this mission Xiaohua? Aren't you going to miss me?" he asked.

"Mao," she said quieter, "Listen. I am trying to regain the trust of Fa Mulan and the whole dang China. Most of China does not trust me because their heroine doesn't. And with the stories going around that I kissed General Li Shang, while he was with Fa Mulan is ruining my reputation. And even though I betrayed this country, I am very lucky to be alive in it. I want to live in this country. I love the people here and I love the Emperor. I need to go on this mission. If I don't, there won't be an Emperor or a country left for me to go back to."

"Just don't get too attached to anyone out there," Mao replied.

"Mao," she answered him, "I've been thinking. We need to end this relationship here. We need to end "us". I felt I only loved you because I needed a shoulder to cry on. This time, I don't think this love is real."

"You still love those Hun guys?" Mao angrily asked.

"One, I loved Chen with all my heart. And I will always have a space in my heart for him. He was my first real love. Second, I do not care for Ming. He was just there for me. That is all."

"So I'm like Ming to you?" he yelled. "I'm only there when you need me? But once I'm dead or of no use to you, you could care less about me?" He then walked away.

From far away, Mulan saw Xiaohua wiping away her tears. She could see her mouth moving but Xiaohua was not saying anything. From what Mulan could make out, it was if she was saying, "You're doing this for his own good. He doesn't deserve you."

"Fa Mulan," the Emperor called out to her, bringing her away from Xiaohua, "Once you return, I will probably send for you or send you a message about the mission success or failure. Are we clear on the whole plan?" Mulan nodded, completely unaware about what they had said in the past few minutes. She then turned and saw Xiaohua standing there at the door wiping her tears, trying to hide.

"Ah Lin Xiaohua," the Emperor gestured for her to come over, "Fa Mulan, she will be going on her first mission today. She is to make sure we have peace with the Middle Kingdom."

She bowed, "Yes sir. That is the mission, no matter what. I will make sure there is peace." Xiaohua then walked out of the room. Once she was out of sight, Mulan noticed that she ran away, sobbing softly.

The former General then turned to Mulan, "Are you ready?"

Mulan turned and faced him, "Let's go find Shang."