There was a shouting match going on in the dress shop. Shang and Mulan.
"I'm going, too."
"No, stay here."
"I'm fine."
"You're wounded."
"You need every soldier you can get, to help pull this off."
"You know the doctor's orders. No lifting, no running, and no sparring or fighting with Hun soldiers."
"I'll be fine."
"No!"
"But, Shang..."
"No, Fa Mulan, that sword tore through muscle layers, anything strenuous will damage them more. You are staying here by order of your commanding officer."
The other soldiers looked at each other and at the two arguing, unsure what to do. Yao finally interrupted. "So are we gonna do this or did you just wanna wait for the next Hun invasion?"
"Move out. For the last time, Soldier Fa, you're staying here. Let's go!"
Mulan's eyes burned a hole in Shang's back as he walked away. But, he had called her "Soldier Fa". She still had a place in the army. He had told her himself she was his bravest soldier.
Walking through the Imperial City dressed as women, the Chinese army had sharp eyes pealed. Everything and everybody around them was rapidly scrutinized. The 6 Huns had to be here somewhere. They probably had about an hour on them. That's how rapidly the army had taken down camp, arrived in the city and put on disguises.
"They probably will head to the palace first, so they can get in undetected. To attack anywhere else would mean drawing attention to themselves and who they are."
At the palace gate, they paused. "So, what's the plan, captain?"
"Stick together until we find the emperor. Hopefully we get to him before they do."
The huge doors of the palace were closed, but they found a side door used by servants and crept in. After silently walking down a couple of corridors, they spotted two Hun soldiers. After a few silent gestures between them, Ling and Chien Po approached them, giggling.
"Ooh, they're so handsome. Look at those muscles. Are you two men lonely?"
The Hun soldiers initially pointed their swords at them, but seeing they were simply ladies of pleasure looking for company, they put their swords at their side. Surely, Shan Yu would understand if they took a few minutes off. As soon as Ling and Chien Po knew they had their targets, they slit their throats and hid their bodies in a closed off room nearby.
The army continued on their way. Three more soldiers were standing outside a set of large, ornate doors. After exchanging a glance, they repeated the scenario. It took a little longer for these Hun soldiers to let their guard down, but with a lot of giggling, flirting and talking about their handsomeness and muscular bodies, they met the same fate.
Now for the emperor.
Giggling like concubines would not win over Shan Yu. He would know immediately that his guards are dead or injured and fight like mad. The soldiers-turned-concubines walked up a long staircase that led to another set of heavy, ornate doors. They all looked at each other and nodded. In order for this to work, they would have to move quickly. Shang pointed at Chien Po and whispered "emperor". At the rest, "surround", then counted on his fingers 1, 2, 3.
They burst into the balcony room. Shan Yu had the emperor by the railing with his jagged sword to his neck.
Using the element of surprise, Shang kicked it out of his hand and Ling threw it over the railing. Chien Po grabbed the emperor and ran outside to where palace guards stood, unaware Hun assassins had entered the palace.
Shan Yu attempted to throw a punch, but Shang blocked it and delivered a swift kick to the gut. Ling delivered a kick to the ribs.
It was ten against one, but the one was no ordinary human. He stood 6 foot 8 inches, with very broad shoulders and muscular arms as wide as tree trunks.
Yao delivered a kick to the groin, and Shang ran his sword in between Shan Yu's upper ribs into his chest. Ling ran his sword into his back and another soldier hit him in the head with the side of his sword.
The menacing giant finally fell. Shang ran his sword into his chest once more.
"That's for my father."
Then he cut off his head.
"And that's for the Imperial Army."
The remaining Huns were dead. Their leader beheaded. The emperor safe.
It took all 10 of them to lift the deceased enemy and carry him out of the palace.
After showing the emperor, they threw the body into a ditch. It would be burned later.
"I'll get Mulan. The rest of you retrieve the bodies of the other Huns and bring them out."
The Hun war was now over. Shang remembered what he had promised himself on the mountain only a couple days before. That if they both survived the war, he would make his feelings toward Mulan known to her.