The chilly autumn rain pounded the earth that evening, just as Shang and Meihui concluded their journey. Arriving in Xi'an, they stayed in a motel closest to the market square, posing as a pair of siblings from overseas looking for a little fortune and an opportunity to trade.
The room was small, the decoration was spartan and lacking furnishing with just a single tatami bed and small pillow―a very unfavourable sleeping arrangement considering Shang couldn't (well, he could… but his pride wouldn't) let a woman sleep on the floor. While they could well afford to rent two rooms, Shang worried it might raise some suspicion. It didn't make sense for him to sleep in a different room alienating his sister. So, he was left with no choice.
"Captain Li, you can take the bed. I have enough good night's sleep last night," Meihui offered when she saw Shang struggling to get comfortable, curling in an awkward position in the dinky corner of the room.
"No, I am fine Miss Meihui. You go ahead and sleep."
"You are fine?" she chuckled. "You are sandwiched between the wall and the bed with not even an inch of space to turn. I think your definition of 'fine' needs some review."
"Yes. But believe me, I've been in worse," Shang said stubbornly.
Meihui rolled her eyes. "You know…You don't have to act tough all the time. Even the mightiest warrior has to accept help from weaklings sometimes," she said and burst out laughing when Shang gaped at her. "Oh, I was only joking. Of course you…―Mr. Tough Guy―You go ahead and sleep and enjoy the cold floor while I suffer the luxury of this warm, comfy bed."
"Thank you," Shang deadpanned, although couldn't help to hide his smirk at Meihui's banter.
The floor was cold and slightly damp and the corner of the room barely could contain his large frame. But Shang's aching body really couldn't care any less. He sighed contentedly as he lay on its hard surface. The coldness of the floor felt like a force that seeped into his muscle, undoing its knots and helping it to relax.
The next day they rose early and combed the entire market from north to south. And for once Chi-Fu was right. Meihui helped him navigate through the crowd and assisted him to stay natural and anonymous in the crowd. He could pretend he was talking to her when clearly his attention was elsewhere.
By late afternoon, Shang began to see the enormity of the task at hand. Xi'an market was filled with hundreds, if not, thousands of stalls. There was an exceeding number of people coming in and out. Without any clues or specifics, looking for a man in a place this busy was like trying to find a needle in haystacks.
And he was right.
Three days passed without any progress. The longer it took to track the Prince, the more frustrated Shang became. Why were there so many people, stalls and alleyways? There were at least five main arteries that branched into countless smaller back alleys should the Prince wish to conceal himself.
Shang began to fear the search would be fruitless until days later and all the hassle of taking Meihui and abandoning the training would be nothing but a waste of time!
Oh, you fool. You shouldn't have listened to Chi-Fu and allowed your curiosity to get the better of you, rebuked the voice in his mind.
He should've stayed and stayed focused on training his recruits….or perhaps allowed himself to speak to Ping about his strange behaviour during their spar instead of leaving things unresolved between them.
He should've….―
There is no use in regrets. The voice inside his head admonished. Shang exhaled loudly. Frustration and regret sliced through him.
Just as he was about to give up all hope, something caught his attention.
"Ms. Chua―The Healer", the sign said.
He was ill. Ling's voice echoed in his head. Well, I suspected he was. Ling pressed a paper into his palm. Shang had limited knowledge of herbal remedies, but he was certain the dosage prescribed on the paper was meant to last for months, if not a year. Healer Chua, the scribbled on the bottom was signed. I saw Ping sneaking there as we went to the market. I got curious. And then I saw this inside his sack. Ling explained. I trusted you are a man of good heart and integrity, Captain, he said as he folded back the paper. Shang nodded. He understood that Ling had trusted him with a great secret that possibly would ruin his friendship with Ping forever. This will remain between us, he had promised.
"Hey, are you alright?" Meihui's voice snapped Shang out of his stupor.
"I..―" Shang quickly tore his eyes from the sign he had been staring at for a minute or so. The question was running through his mind like a wild horse. "I…I'm fine."
"Fine?" Meihui narrowed her eyes.
"Yes, I was just thinking about…" Shang frantically looked for an idea for a convincing cover story. A book stall appeared in the corner of his eyes giving him just the idea. "I am looking for a gift for my wife," he said. Which wasn't strictly a lie, he was thinking a lot about what Meihui said a few days earlier about him and his stubborn wife. About why he failed to understand and appreciate her quality and zealousness. Perhaps, he should make an amendment and initiate the first move to fix their strained relationship. He figured a gift would be perfect.
"Oh?" It was clear Meihui didn't expect such thoughtfulness came out of him, which stung a little, but he let it slip. There was a bigger elephant in the room to address.
"My wife loves to read. Books will be…"
"That's an excellent idea!" Meihui cut him and elbowed him on his side. "Then what are you waiting for? Go and find the most romantic tale that will melt her iron heart! Be careful though, some of those romance flicks can be outrightly graphics! Although not a bad idea for you and your wife to reenact." Meihui muffled her laughed when Shang turned red.
"I… I better get going."
"Shoo…Tough Man!" Meihui let a dainty chuckle.
Shang zipped through the crowds while his eyes trained on the sign above the healer's door.
Is it serious? incurable? Shang thought. Is it….terminal?
Shang came to the door and knocked. A young lady brown robe who appeared to be the receptionist welcomed him.
"How can I help you, Sir?"
"Hello, I'm sorry. I just want to inquire. Is there a patient here by the name of Fa Ping?"
The ladies went inside to check her records, leaving Shang to peruse the almost full waiting room. There were a few men but mostly women of all sizes and ways of life. Upon closer inspection, it was clear that Ms. Chua wasn't an ordinary healer.
She was a midwife.
Has Ping... Has he impregnated a woman?! The fourteen-year-old boy who had claimed coming here to defend the honour of his family….and had ended up between the sheets?
Shang could suddenly feel the sting of anger, and disappointment piling up around him.
I know your son is a very capable man, General Li. But Li Shang is too young for such responsibility. Chi-Fu's belittlement resonated in his ears. The old counsellor was always trying to find fault and discredit him at every opportunity that he possessed. If that old man knew not only he had let Ping slip from under his surveillance but also given that boy a chance to commit a sacrilege act, that would be the end of his career.
How dare he! HOW DARE HE! Shang thought furiously. He was barely performing in the regiment and was spending….wait. No. Wasting was a better word! Wasting his time messing around with women!
When the receptionist came out to inform him there was no patient with such a name, Shang was already gone.
Mulan woke up back inside the communal tent.
Her head hurt like hell.
She rose a hand to her head and the movement makes her dizzy. Her raging hangover told her she was either drunk or drugged last night.
Part of her instinct said she should at least tell Ling or Chien-Po. But what should she tell them? That she was out there wasting herself with a bunch of strange men hoping would taste a little thrill of life? That she was trying to lessen the ache of her broken heart? What broken heart? Was she ready to admit to her friends that she was irretrievably in love with a man who would never, could never reciprocate her feeling?
Mulan sighed.
There was no memory other than she had joined a few men at that extremely wild party in Wudan. Another part of her was relieved because whatever had happened last night couldn't be good.
Thankfully none of Mulan's comrades who had taken her breathed the truth. As they said, what happened in Wudan, stayed in Wudan.
Instead, one of the recruits, Wu told Chi-Fu they had spent the night doing harmless fun at the nearby village―whatever that implied. Chi-Fu seemed to care nothing about it and didn't question them further, instead, passed them a long list of food to buy for General Li's visit. Ling was too busy telling Chien-Po about his latest romantic encounter with Ting Ting, an astoundingly beautiful and well-mannered girl. They, too, didn't question her absence last night when Wu said she was with him and other men, and they all stayed up late playing mahjong at the bar.
Mulan groaned as she struggled to sit up. She considered going back to bed. There was no Shang, no training. No one would scold her for lateness or for lack of discipline. But her bladder clearly had a different priority.
Forcing herself to stand up, Mulan headed towards the river. On the way, she passed through Shang's tent which was located at the far end of the encampment.
She heard a ruckus, and a shadow stormed out of the tent.
Another woman?
Mulan knew she wouldn't like whoever she saw coming out of Shang's tent―whether he was there or not―but she couldn't help but look.
No. It's not a woman.
It was Yao, cursing and swearing profanities as he stomped out of Shang's tent. "You bastard!" she heard him screaming. "How dare you take what is mine! MINE! One of these days, I will make you pay! I swear!"
Ling trotted slowly behind Ping, Chien-Po and a few other recruits, feeding his sight on the dust under his feet.
"Ling, pick up your pace!" Wu scolded from the front.
"If you walked at this rate even all the women would've left the bar!"
"As if women would be interested in him," said a guy to Wu's left to which Wu shushed him with a laugh.
"Don't mind them," Mulan whispered gently.
"I second that," Chien-Po added.
Ling sighed and looked up at the sky which already turned dark by the time they arrived in Xi'an. Due to the sizeable purchase, Chi-Fu sent a larger entourage to carry out the mission.
In a couple of days, General Li would visit the encampment to monitor their progress and select those who would join Captain Li on the front line. While Ling took pride if he were to be chosen, it also could mean his life would be at stake.
As the time neared, Ling grew more melancholy. What if tomorrow were the last time he could see her? What if he found her with another man after he returned from war?
Unable to bear the secret any longer, Ling turned to Chien-Po, someone in a similar situation to him for counsel.
"The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone," his friend told him. "You should tell her before it's too late."
Ling thought it was wise. Should this war end him, he didn't want to hold any regret of things left unsaid.
When Chi-Fu sent a group of them to Xi'an, Ling saw his chance. He immediately arranged a small gathering in their favourite tea house. The owner of the teahouse, Mr. Wang, graciously agreed and refused Ling's payment when he expressed his intention to book the entire room to themselves.
"That day happens to be my birthday, why don't Ms. Ting Ting play her erhu for me and we consider it done deal," Mr. Wang said. It was an offer that no one could refuse.
When they arrived, the first pile of snow was ensconced outside the establishment. But the back room of the tea house was delightfully intimate, a small room with a fireplace, just as Ling wanted.
"Are you sure sitting on the floor will be a good idea?" asked Mr. Wang. "It's a little colder than usual, and the temperature plummeted once the sun is gone. You have been on your feet the whole day; I feel bad to let you sit uncomfortably."
Ling looked around the establishment which was already packed with people. There was no place for them to sit on the mat, taking note that Chien-Po would likely take two or three spaces at once.
"I'm sure after a long journey everyone would appreciate just about anything. Thank you, Mr. Wang," he assured.
"I'll prepare the tea then," Mr. Wang smiled.
"That would be appreciated," Chien-Po bowed before he took a seat. A few other recruits huddled in front of the fireplace while Ping huddled to Chien-Po for warmth. Ling understood they had no time to waste and gestured to Ting Ting to start.
Ting Ting took his cue, took a tiny sip from her ceramic cup and started tuning her erhu. All conversation stopped, everyone watched her do this. After a moment she became aware of the sea of attention fixed on her and looked up sheepishly.
"Shall I…. start?" she said, confidence draining from her feet.
"Well, we didn't come here to watch you tune… we want a song," Chien-Po said, chuckling and exchanging meaningful glances with Ping.
Ting Ting's cheek reddened, looking undeniably bashful. They all gushed with "D'awww" and laughed.
"We're going to stare at you without mercy then," another recruit teased.
"Ok… fine. I am not the best, but I hope this will do."
She drew her bow across the string. Within a few notes, she had all of them enchanted, eyes mesmerised while a beautiful melody was twisting around them. The fire from the lantern flickered from all around them as the Milky Way burst into view above, whirling across the sky like a diamond in the sea.
Ling glanced at Chien-Po, who had his chubby chin propped on his hand, smiling with a dopey look in his eyes. "I see what you mean, Ling," he said softly.
"About what?"
Chien-Po sighed and gestured towards Ting Ting with his eyes. "This… she is…―This can't be helped."
"I know," Ling shook his head. "Some days I can hardly believe it."
"Believe what?"
"She is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen and I will make her mine," he said, pulling a jade pendant out of his pocket. "I managed to sneak and bought this just now."
Chien-Po gasped. "You are going to propose to her? This soon?"
"Idle fantasy does not make a relationship," Ling said. "Besides, a pretty girl like her won't hang around that long. I have to act swiftly and seize the opportunity."
"You are right," Chien-Po agreed. "If she said yes, I take it you will be asking her parents for her hand."
"I know it's only been a short while, but I…―" Ling closed his eyes, thinking deeply. "I have never been so sure in my life."
"You are one lucky man," Chien-Po grinned goofily.
"I am."
A beautiful serenade filled the air. Ling sighed with delight. Perfect would be an understatement―to be here, with his friends, and his beautiful enchantress was weaving her spell all over them. What could be better? Even if he never made it out of the war alive, this would be a final bouquet of the memory of her, something that he could pin closed to his heart as he faced the enemy's spear.
When the song finished, everyone clapped. Ling took the chance as a perfect moment to dedicate the jade pendant and offered the words he had rehearsed thousand times over last night. The crowds burst into another cheer.
To his dismay, there were no tears of joy. There was no hug. No acceptance. And no misty eyes as Ting Ting accepted his gift. She looked shell-shocked. Petrified even.
"Oh, you two look so cute together!" Tian gushed, suddenly materialising out of nowhere. "...but I'm afraid the cuteness had to come to an end. We have to go now," she said, tugging Ting Ting's hand with force, giving the girl barely a chance to respond.
"Sorry, urgent family matter," Tian said to no one in particular.
Ling, assuming the explanation was directed to him, nodded and smiled understandingly although the sting of disappointment sliced through him.
"See you soon," he said with his eyes fixated on Ting Ting until her figure disappeared from view.
Most of the recruits went out of the establishment still rather mystified by Ting Ting's enchanting play. All, except for Mulan and Chien-Po, who obviously knew how much Ting Ting's unexpected response had crushed their best friend.
"She didn't say 'no'," placated Chien-Po.
"And she actually accepted your gift," Mulan pointed out. "That's a good sign."
Chien-Po hummed his agreement. "Give her some time until the reality sinks in."
Ling sighed, defeat still evident."But what if she said no?"
Mulan frowned at him. Like it matters what she said? You can marry any girl as long as her parents agreed. You can deal with her as you pleased and treated her as your property! As your possession! Just like Shang did to me. She wanted to say, but she bit her words. No. Ling was a far more dignified man than someone who will force his will on a helpless woman just because he can.
So Mulan swallowed her own emotion and smiled at her friend. "If she is the woman worthy of your love, she won't say no."
A dose of warm tea and a beautiful song did do wonders. Feeling rejuvenated, Wu, acting as the team leader, divided the group and delegated each team a portion of Chi-Fu's long shopping list before the day concluded.
"Let's go," Mulan said, dragging Ling with her. "We have a couple of hours before the market completely shut." She hoped keeping Ling busy would take his mind off Ting Ting.
Thankfully, it didn't take much cajoling to lift up Ling's spirit. After minutes into the task, he began to tell embarrassing stories, crack lame jokes and laugh at them.
It was until…
"Is that… Prince of Wei?" Mulan whispered, urgently tugging Ling to lower down. The Prince of Wei was seen wearing a plain two-piece robe, but his exceptionally muscular, taller-than-average stature distinguished him from the assemblage of peasants, making him an easy target to spot. The Prince was seen skirting around the marketplace watchfully towards the edge of the square.
"That can't be. He was supposed to be in Chang'an for some important meeting; I saw it on the schedule sheet as we signed out our name from Chi-Fu's attendance list," Ling confided.
"Then, why is he….here?"
They were briefly staring at each other, trapped in their own bewilderment.
"Watch out. He is heading here!" Mulan warned, shrinking underneath the shadow while Ling whistled some cheesy romantic song as though it made him totally inconspicuous.
Thankfully, Shao Wei seemed to be totally oblivious to the invasion of his personal agenda, proceeding to head towards his destination.
Both recruits cunningly camouflaged themselves and blended into the crowds. After inspecting their surrounding, they prowled and approached the nearby wall furtively, making sure the Prince didn't notice their presence.
Mulan strategically hid behind an umbrella seller, standing an earshot away from the Prince to eavesdrop, while Ling stood further away.
"You are late!" A girl with a thin pink veil obstructing her face admonished warmly. Her finger flicked her lustrous, long hair in unconscious grace. Mulan thought she recognised that voice but the cacophony around her made it impossible to make a conclusive judgement.
The Prince grinned. "I had to look presentable for my princess, no?"
Laughing, the girl shook her head. "You always look handsome," she flattered, her finger brushing the Prince's arm fondly.
My Princess? Mulan questioned the intimate way the Prince addressed the girl. The faint shadow of her crimson lips curled upwards, flaunting her disarming smile. At the moment, everything about her was screaming 'love interest' right atop her head.
Wait, if this girl is the Prince's potential romantic interest...then, who is the mysterious woman in the woods?
Then, Mulan remembered the story Chi-Fu shared. As a young man, Shao Wei's life had been defined by the latest party, the latest drunken binge, the latest string of nameless women… Although he was studious, witty and never took his responsibility lightly, he'd run fast and far from any hint of commitment, especially when it dealt with the subject of choosing a wife.
There were more people festering the place, so Mulan moved away to avoid unwanted attention. Constantly focusing on her target, she prowled behind the clothing stalls and stood next to one of the customers, pretending to be passionately interested in one of the garments. It was then she noticed Ling was no longer with her.
Mulan crept closer so she could have a better view of the Prince. He took out the content of his sack: a box of delicacies, a woven cashmere throws with gold thread, and a few other stuff Mulan couldn't exactly identify but looked like they may have cost the world.
"Spying again I see," said the voice that nearly made Mulan yelp.
"Mushu!" she hissed.
The dragon grinned, "Miss me I see! So, have we lost interest in Captain Handsome and spying on someone else? Mm…?"
Mulan rolled her eyes and returned to the object of her interest. The Prince was still regaling the mysterious woman with his gift. But someone seemed to capture the Prince's attention. A beggar, sitting about a stone's throw away. He was poorly clothed ― his garment was minimal, dirty, and ragged. He sat cross-legged, slightly further from the entire commotion, shivering mildly from the incessant early wintry breeze. Next to him was a tattered, large linen bag that probably held his entire belonging, and a small tin was placed on the ground not far from where he sat.
"Wait here," he said to the girl. He zipped quickly and returned without that expensive blanket in his hand.
"I hope you don't mind I've given that…―"
"Shao!" the girl admonished. "You know I have countless cashmere throws."
"Do you?" he said, blinking his eyes innocently.
She rolled her eyes. "You gave me a dozen of them on my birthday and I haven't even had a chance to use them yet!"
He shrugged, brow raised. "And your point is…?"
"I have enough blanket," she said, pointing to her shoulder that was wrapped neatly in a modest-looking material. "This works just fine."
"Seem like you acclimated well to the life of a peasant," he said in jest.
The girl gave him a faux-annoyed glare.
"Relax, I am only joking," Shao smirked, flaunting his flirty smile as he encased her with his arms.
The girl sighed, melting in his touch. "Not terrible to be honest. There is a hard aspect of it, but mostly… I enjoyed the friendship and freedom it offered."
Mulan couldn't exactly hear most of the conversation, but at least she could watch the interaction between the Prince and the girl with relative ease. However, after minutes of watching the exchange, Mulan decided it was time to come closer and decipher what they were truly discussing. When she saw her chance, he slipped and crouched down behind a stack of crates full of pumpkins, listening.
"And oh," the girl interrupted herself. "I meant to tell you about something," she said, somewhat reluctantly. "Uuuh, someone actually…―"
"Someone?"
"Yes."
Mulan crept closer but accidentally pushed one of the crates, and one pumpkin fell with a heavy thud. She cringed.
"Shhh…." the Prince swiftly covered the girl's mouth with his hand.
"What….what happened?" the girl whispered, sounding half-terrified, half-perplexed.
"Someone is watching," he replied, clearly looking agitated. Mulan froze where she stood.
"But I suppose you are aware you can't hide me here forever, aren't you?" the girl said again. Mulan dared herself to peek through the gap between the crates.
"I know," Shao sighed, wiping a hand across his face, suddenly the tiredness looked so profound in his eyes. "But, you have to understand, this is the only way… I won't let him did this to you, treating you like a mere property and giving you up to that man!"
"But Father might be right; this may be the only way to…―"
"No!" Shao said adamantly, grabbing her by her arms. "You have to understand the only man that can protect you is me! Understand?"
"I… ―" she choked. "Ouch…"
He suddenly snapped from his tirade and loosened his grip. "I'm...I'm sorry."
"Apology accepted," she said understandingly.
They just stood there, staring in silence for a minute or two. Until the Prince began, "You trust me, don't you?" he said after clearing his throat. "I am the only person who can protect you from all this. As long as I live, I won't let him touch you. Do you hear me, Ting Ting?"
Wait, Ting Ting?! Mulan gasped. It took her a minute to peruse the girl's semi-concealed appearance to conclusively deduced that indeed the girl was the same Ting Ting that she knew.
Is she, his secret lover or something?
A terrible thought struck her.
What if she was with him for money? Shao Wei had unlimited resources in that aspect. Or probably he was blackmailing her? Forcing her to be his sex slave or some sort? But no. Those exchanges didn't look….transactional. In fact, it looked far too genuine...and mutual.
"Holy cow," Mushu's voice piped in her ear.
"Ling wouldn't like this," Mulan whispered back.
"But you risked everything! Shao, please… just send me―send me away. To Japan or somewhere remote," Ting Ting implored.
"No. I have devised another plan. Altan has agreed to help me."
"The daughter of the Huns' leader? Didn't you hear yourself? You are going to form allies with the Huns just for…―No. I object," she tore herself from his arms. "I know you meant well, but if anyone discovered what you've planned... you'd be accused of an act of treason. And the Emperor will have you executed as a traitor!"
"He wouldn't dare!" he snorted. "Besides, Zetian has accused me from planning one for years! She won't find any proof."
Ting Ting just pursed her lips, seeming to be entirely unsurprised by Shao's pretentious declaration. "When the sword is on your neck, it'll be too late for regret."
"We'll see about that," Shao replied with a smug smirk. "I'd say if there is one with fine sword skill as I to one duel with Uncle Xiongnu, he would be the one who ends up six feet under."
"This is a serious drama." Mulan felt Mushu's breath tickling her ear. "I need some crackers and dumpling to watch this." Mulan struggled to hear anything. Mouth reading was not really her forte either, so she could only read their body language.
"Shush Mushu!"
Her voice triggered Shao's instinctive reaction of scanning his surrounding. She forgot that only she could see and hear this annoying deity.
Mulan felt her presence was definitely unwelcome, carefully inched away from the behind the crates and into the crowd, while Mushu, pantomiming a slicing motion on his own neck and grinning mischievously.
Mulan sighed but choosing to selectively disregard him.
Does Shao Wei have a secret plan with the Huns and with this women? Or is he just playing them? That's serious food for thought. Which was probably why she didn't notice the sudden movement to her left until she collided with a strange man, falling to the ground on her hands and knees.
"Ouch," she moaned, feeling the scrapes on her palms. She got up and caught her balance and looked up. A man. Well, a gigantic man stared back.
"I…―" she stuttered, taking in his huge, imposing structure and his mean tattoos that covered his entire arms and neck.
"Oh dear Guan Kim, not again!" Mushu moaned. "Do you ever use those eyes of yours, Girl? There are there not just for accessories you know?"
Mulan ignored Mushu's mocking and concentrated on the impending doom that currently staring indignantly at her.
It wasn't clear to Mulan whether the man was Chinese or Huns, a bandit or a soldier. What she knew was: he was the biggest man she ever saw. And If she thought giants only existed in a land of fantasy and fabled legends, today, she believed they were real.
"Hey!" he roared like a hungry predator, swinging his sausage hands in her direction. His smile was sinister and Mulan could sense his agitation leashed inside his athletic body. While she knew the civilised way was to admit her clumsiness and apologise but her survival instinct told her to run.
"Come here you, Buckethead!" The man screamed.
"Run! No… left left… no! Look out!" Mushu commanded, holding desperately to the tip of her collar. "For the love of Fa ancestor, please use your eyes this time."
"I am trying!" Mulan said between her heave. "Can't you shut up so I can concentrate?"
Unfortunately, in her haste of keeping her eye to her back and making sure she kept a distance from the infuriated hooligan, Mulan forgot to keep her eyes in front until she hit another concrete chested man who she imagined would be just as scary. So, when the man grabbed one of her hand, her defence reflexes automatically fired her other free hand to hit the man square on his face.
"Ouch!"
Wait, she recognised that voice. Slowly looking up, she saw the profile of Shang, rubbing his nose. Her first instinct was to touch the assaulted spot on Shang's face, but that would look...wrong in so many angles. So instead, rubbed the back of her neck and grinned sheepishly.
"Cap… Captain Li, Sir, I… ―I'm sorry, I didn't see you there," she stuttered, wanting to sound as sharp but ended sounded like a student giving a lame excuse of forgetting his homework to his teacher.
"So much of using those damn eyes," Mushu grumbled into her ears.
"He should've deflected my hand," she muffled her own voice behind her hand.
"I guess he didn't know that you want to ruin his handsome face deliberately," Mushu commented, which perhaps contributed to Shang's current dazed look and his failure to respond to her direct attack on his nose. "He will have a crooked nose for the rest of his life―no longer able to participate in any form of duplicity, is that your jealousy sated now?"
Jealousy.
And that was it. That twinge of twisting feeling rising its ugly head. But before it spread, she saw Shang swiftly picking up the scroll that must've been accidentally knocked off during their struggle. Her eyes may be useless at spotting obstacle on the road, but they didn't fail to capture important details. The scroll had an intricate gold seal and purple ribbon wrapped around it. On the tip of the silky material, it's spelt out. To my wife, Fa-Li Mulan.
Had he…. Had he bought her a…. gift?
That twisting pain was zapped instantly as though it was killed with a double-edged sword. The remnant was only a feeling of remorse and guilt. Surely, a man convicted of extramarital affair won't bring his wife a thoughtful gift, won't he? Had he been thinking about her? Had he...missed her?
"Ping! What are you doing here?" Shang's voice snapped her from her mental monologue. There was a deep scowl etched on his face that immediately shattered her romantic fantasy.
"I… shopping, er...Ling, and….―a man. Run and….―I hit….―" Those were the only explanation she could verbalise. Shang raised one of his brows, crossing his muscular arms looking perfectly unimpressed with her fragmented excuse. Hell, he was still handsome. How could that even possible? It should be a crime to look hot even when he was angry, no?
Thankfully, despite the randomness of her sentence, when Shang saw a large man stomped and yelled questions to a passerby, he immediately acknowledged what must've happened and understood the grim trouble she was in.
He pulled her roughly aside, blending into the crowd and into a quiet back alleyway behind the shops. She felt his arms tighten around her fractionally before he let her go, allowing her the much-needed distance between them.
"You better have a good explanation about this!"
She looked up at him and watched in fascination as the surprised and shock slowly melted away, transitioning into bone-deep anger that could have scared anyone else. No. Not her.
"I told you! I was just helping Ling to shop!" Mulan just tilted her chin up in defiance and watched the anger spike higher.
Shang only returned her look with his signature "perpetual stare of death" and raised his brows in challenge to what she said. "And?"
"And I…―" she realised she shouldn't spy on the Prince and despite her discovery, she wasn't planning to tell Shang just yet. It was a dangerous allegation to accuse Prince of Wei without conclusive evidence. Amending her reply in her head, she swallowed back her words and decided to take a sudden passionate interest in her boots.
"This will have consequences," he growled through gritted teeth, answering her silence.
Mulan kept her eyes trained on her feet, and only answered a weak "Yes…. yes sir."
"It seems like I won't be able to accompany you to the market anymore," Mulan grounded out as she shifted a pile of horse dung, courtesy of Shang after being caught in the market earlier that day.
"You gave up on me already?" Ling whined, brows knotted in faux annoyance. "What kind of friend are you, Ping?"
"But you are looking oddly cheerful for a person that scoops horse dung," Chien-Po said, drumming the table with his chubby finger. It was the comment Mulan chose to pretend didn't hear. The recent discovery about her husband and how wrong she was of accusing him of infidelity had made her felt indescribably relieved and elated to cloud nine. Even shifting horse dung felt like shifting gold at the moment.
"I know her curve and looks are to die for, Ling. But I ain't gonna scoop any more crap for you. Doesn't matter how gorgeous, respectable and of excellent-descent Ting Ting is," Mulan feigned an exasperated sigh. A really fake exasperated sigh.
Ling snickered, passing a bottle of rice wine, purposely skipped Mulan and let Chien-Po had a double go at it.
"Hey!" Mulan whined when Ling simply swatted her waiting hand.
"No wine for the P-lady. And until we have the confirmation of those barley seeds, I ain't gonna let you drink. Not even a sip!"
"And you just stood there watching the P-lady doing this?" Mulan gestured towards a pile of fresh manure with her shovel. Ling chuckled and shook his head. "Unbelievable! You are worse than Captain Li."
Ling ignored that, unceremoniously taking the bottle back from Chien-Po and took another big gulp.
"I am glad I had a chance to meet Ting Ting," Chien-Po said between gulp. "She is smart, good-looking, respectable, polite. An exact opposite of the brainless twits your mother asked you to marry previously."
When Ling gave him a blank look, he went on with his statement. "Have you forgotten? The one who has uneven teeth and blatantly demanded your family heirloom as her dowry," Chien-Po reminded him. "She is a gold digger alright. Thank god your father still have a brain and refused her parent's offer straight away."
Ling coughed and gasped. "You mean Zhen Mei? You… you still remember?"
Chien-Po laughed. "How can I forget? Especially when her name literally means beautiful and innocent!" He guffawed harder causing his belly to jiggle. "Now, that's my friend what I called tragic!" he paused, easing his laugh. "Although, thinking about it… it was my mother who introduced her to your parents."
"So much of a friend you are!" Ling waved his accusing finger at him.
"Hey, you should thank me!" Chien-Po chastised him. "I broke my arm and you ended delaying your wedding for ten weeks to help me around the house. Otherwise, you may end up marrying a pregnant woman!"
"You were nearly betrothing a pregnant woman?" Mulan turned to Ling who sat horrified at the memory.
"Long story," Ling cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Apparently, a few months before, she was on the way to Chang'an hauling some exquisite handmade jewellery for sale. Her father was an excellent stone craftsman. Why had he sent his daughter on this unescorted journey far north will be a story for another day," Ling coughed.
"And?"
"Seeing the sign of a snowy blizzard, she made this unanimous decision to alter the route and crossed the wilderness to save time," Ling continued. "A group of bandits sensing the smell of money in the air decided to follow her. Thankfully, a warrior who happened to travel in the opposite direction came to her aid, however, ended up losing all his belongings and his horse in the process. So, they ended up stuck in a cave for weeks due to the snow, with only each other for warmth... and entertainment."
"Woah," Mulan said, completely awed.
"Saved the Princess, claimed his prize," Chien-Po chimed in as Ling closed his story.
"But any man will do the same. So I have no beef with that dude," Ling stated levelly.
"Wait, you mean? You'll bang her too given the situation?" Chien-Po said, both shocked and amazed… and perhaps a tiny bit envious.
Ling's face turned red. "Yeah. I'm gonna have to say yeah. I am going to say no. But yeah…" he said, rambling a bit due to wine.
Mulan turned to Chien-Po. "Chien-Po, how about you?"
The man considered the situation. "Does she… wants to―, uhm, reward me?"
"Let's assume for a second that she wants to," Ling butted in, tipping the rest of the bottle to his mouth.
"Does she still have this crooked teeth?"
"Ack. No. Let's pretend she is a beautiful princess with perfectly pristine, well-aligned teeth. Shiny. Like a mother of pearl!" Ling lured.
"Like a princess will give me the time of the day," Chien-Po muttered.
"Chien-Po!" Ling groaned, getting impatient. "You are killing me here. Just answer the damn question like a normal man!"
"Like hell you will know what is normal."
"Answer. The. Question!"
"I told you, I would if she wanted to. But if she's a princess, she probably doesn't. A peasant like me doesn't even exist to those girls."
"I am sensing issues here," Mulan said, watching both semi-inebriated men having a fierce argument about a fictional situation involving banging a fictional princess with fictional pearly teeth. Which was a wrong move, because suddenly both men turned their attention to her. "Ping, would you?"
Mulan fell into thoughts and finally said. "Is she….cute?"
Both men suddenly fell silent, eyes bulging like a bug.
"Seriously?" Ling said a little too loudly that Chien-Po covered his mouth. "Now, I didn't expect that coming."
"Geez, I guess we've learned something new about Ping today," Chien-Po said, still sounding incredulous.
"We... ugh, gag!" Ling pinched the bridge of his nose. "Ping, we've been friends for decades, and you never told me that you…―? Man! What else did I miss?"
"Oh no no no. It was a joke!" Mulan said, laughing.
"Hell no. I am sure spending weeks with naked men have done funny things to you, Pretty Ping," Ling said, making a circular movement with his fingers on the side of his head. "Watch out cute men….and women. Here comes Ping…"
Chien-Po laughed tipsily. "I am glad I am not single."
"You are single," Ling jabbed his skinny finger until his large friend flinched.
"Am I?"
"Yeah," Ling said. "Until you are officially married to Su, you'll say you are single."
"Oh!" Chien-Po retorted thoughtfully. "But I am not cute right?" he whispered to Ling before carefully stealing a glance at Mulan with the corner of his eyes.
"Oh dear ancestor, either you two are demented or there is something inside that rice wine," Mulan said, pointing at the empty bottle which was labelled "eL-eL" on it.
"Who is eL-eL?" she asked.
"Lanky Ling," Chien-Po chuckled and waved his stubby finger drowsily towards Ling.
"It was the name Ting Ting gave me," Ling said proudly. "Creative right? He called me Lanky Ling," he added, slapping his own chest in a masculine manner. "This is a gift from her weeks ago."
"And you think calling you that is a... compliment?" Mulan raised her brow.
"Her admiration is undeniable," he said dreamily.
Mulan felt her heart sank. After spending the entire day building Ling's hope back up, how could she break the unpleasant discovery about Prince Shao Wei and Ting Ting?
"Maaaan!" Chien-Po slurred. "No wonder you seemed to be a magnet for… an…. unique kind of chick!" It was clear unique wasn't the first word that popped into his mind.
"She said she isn't good with names. So she has to make interconnected points to help her brain to cope," Ling tried to explain.
Mulan cleared her throat, easing into the bad news. "What if. Just an 'if'. What if someone wants to betroth your beloved Ting Ting?"
"Someone?!" Ling turned his head so suddenly Mulan thought she heard his bone cracked.
"Whoa, calm down. Remember just an "if"," she tried to assuage his shock.
"Why would she want this someone?" Ling nearly yelled.
"Maybe...maaaaay be he is rich or handsome!" Chien-Po slurred and laughed tipsily when Ling glared dagger at him.
"Are you saying I am not handsome?" Ling sounded insulted.
"Oh, gods..." Mulan immediately regretted the notion of trying to reason with two inebriated men.
"Well, if he is rich, good looking and powerful, she won't be able to decline even if she wanted to, right?" Chien-Po insisted.
"Soulmate won't discriminate against looks and wealth," Ling sneered. "And I am quite sure such man with those qualities doesn't even exist," Ling shook his head sceptically.
"Of course. Like a…a... a prince, for example. Powerful. Handsome. Rich. A fictional prince," Mulan emphasised, seeing her chance to clarify the truth inconspicuously.
Ling considered for a moment. "I am sure if it is love, she'll choose to elope with me. And we'll live happily ever after. The end!"
"Yes, and having a prince wanting to stick his sword through your guts for the rest of your life," Chien-Po chuckled.
Mulan nodded approvingly. "You won't live an easy life abhorred by a powerful man with eyes and ears everywhere."
"Clearly a prince will use his power and charisma to suppress the helpless victim," Ling commented. "But I won't let her go. With love everything is possible," Ling said stubbornly.
Mulan wanted to disagree. In this scenario, Ting Ting, despite her delicate frame, didn't look like helpless victims at all. She was the first to throw her arms around him. And the way she smiled and fondled his arms, the affection seemed to be mutual.
"Love can't feed your hunger, can't pay the bill. I hope you are aware of that," Mulan reminded him.
"Hey thanks, that's so supportive of you," Ling said dryly. "I am quite certain that Ting Ting is my soulmate. She is the woman who is meant for me. I can feel it right here…," he gestured at his heart. "...straight away when we met," and sighed dreamily.
"I am with you," Chien-Po said between hiccup. "Su and I are soulmates too."
Mulan fell into thought. Yes, she used to believe in those dreams―a dream someone who had her name engraved in his heart. It's the one person who knew her, and accepted her, and believed in her before anyone else did or when no one else would. But now…?
"That's a myth," Mulan shook her head signing her disagreement. "There is no such things as soulmate. You two haven't married yet….that's why."
Soulmate was something whispered about at sleepovers, that little girls dream about with childish romanticism. Those dreams die with age and dawning reality, just like what she experienced with Shang. Despite the positive shift of their relationship today, Mulan believed fairytale ending was only a fictional tale―a figment of author's imagination. There was no love, only two pragmatic people who tried to be realistic and practical about building and sharing a household together.
"Ok, why don't we bet," Ling challenged. "If we still madly in love even way beyond our wedding day, you will have to clean my shoes!"
"Ugh, I may need surgical masks to deal with that," Mulan joked.
"But if you lose," Ling grinned evilly. "You have to compliment Captain Shirtless in front of us."
Mulan gasped."What?!"
"I saw you by the hill with him. You were all moon-eyed by Captain Tall, Dark and Handsome." He ended the sentence with mischievous brows waggle. "But don't worry, I promised never to tell your husband. What's in the camp stays in the camp."
Mulan pressed her lips together to repress any indication of emotion from showing. Thankfully none of her friends witnessed the visceral response she had at the sighting of Shang and Meihui. There would be questions to no end. "Ling, Captain Li and I are just...friends."
As the words just left her lips, a glimpse of Shang followed by Chi-Fu paraded in front of them. It was the usual sight: the old councillor babbled mindlessly while barely interested Shang was putting his best behaviour by not yanking the man's tongue from his mouth.
Thankfully for Shang, one of the recruits had asked for a quick spar practice with him and Shang, despite his bad-mood, couldn't afford to say no.
So Shang shed his shirt and took the training sticks.
The other guy didn't quite have Shang's height or leanness; instead, he's squarely built, all solid bulk and flat panes of muscle. And scars. Mustn't forget the scars. Mulan had learned a lot about scars since she met Li Shang. They're important.
They watched as Shang shifted his stance and brought the sticks around, managing somehow to flip the other guy up and over, so he landed hard on his back.
It had to hurt, but the man just lets out an "Oof" of lost air, then smiled good-naturedly at Shang―who again, still his broody self.
"I do wonder what Captain Li was thinking right now?" Ling said suddenly, making Mulan jumped on her seat.
"He is incredibly broody for incredibly handsome man," Chien-Po piped in. "If he smiled just a tiny bit more, I am sure many women would swoon on his feet."
Suddenly Ling turned to her and prodded, "Tell me―if suppose you were single―is Captain Li your type?" he said a little too loud.
"Shush, Ling!" Mulan hissed in alarm, glancing toward where Shang was sitting, wiping his sweaty brows. He was bare-chested, stony expression as usual. Well, no. In fact, he looked annoyed. The line of creases between his brows looked vicious and deep, making his serious expression far more terrifying than usual.
"I swear. I bet he is taking his robe on just to take it off again―in front of everyone," Ling scoffed.
"I will be stripping off naked if my body was half as good as his," Chien-Po remarked while Ling nearly spat his drink for the second time.
"Thank god you are not," Ling made a gesture of worship to the heaven.
"But he has the appropriate physique that will turn your inner like jelly," Chien-Po supplied, eyes still admiring Captain's Li undoubtedly sculpted body.
"Oh dear, you too?" Mulan said with a fake surprise, while Ling was laughing out loud.
"If you want. But you may be more interested with my fiance, Su," Chien-Po bantered back. "She is rather cute."
"Oh. My giddy aunt," Ling shook his head, wiping the tears of mirth on his eyes.
"For crying out loud, you guys. I am going to bed," Mulan announced. She admitted it was refreshing to have these two idiots with her.
"Yeahhh...?" Chien-Po drawled. "But with who?" Both inebriated men clinked their empty bottles together and burst into laughter only to stop when they saw a glimpse of Yao, stomping indignantly into the communal tent.
"What is his problem?" Ling lowered his voice.
Chie-Po grinned smugly. For once he had defeated Ling in the gossip-hearing department. He signalled both of them to come closer.
"I heard that he found his fiance's necklace at Captain Li's tent," he shared.
"He….What?"
Chien-Po lowered his voice even more. "Meihui, his fiance. Chi-Fu told Yao earlier to clean up Captain Li's tent, and he found her necklace on his bed. And someone else saw them leaving together. How on earth he managed to sneak a woman into this den of men is another mystery, but imagine that: On...His...Bed! "
"Oh," Ling leaned back, absorbing the story with his alcohol-addled brain. "I wouldn't be surprised if Captain Li will lose his balls one of these days."
Both men fought a grin while Mulan tried not to say anything.
It was past midnight when Mulan heard a ruckus on their communal sleeping quarter, only to find Chi-Fu gloating at the tent entrance and shouting with a loud voice.
"Fa Ping," beckoned the familiar nasally voice. Mulan looked up and saw Chi-Fu sending her a dirty look. "Captain Li wished to see you in his tent. Now!" he said gruffly.
It was obvious he hadn't forgiven her for her undeliberate incineration attempt even when Shang pointed out that she was generally a threat to anyone around him.
"His arrow went straight to my tent!" Chi-Fu exclaimed, retelling the misfortune that had befallen to his tent. "How can you say it was unintentional Captain Li?"
She remembered Shao Wei who was happened to be there, was laughing profusely.
"I'm sure it's nothing personal, Fa Ping just has an indescribable talent of surprising us all," Shang said again, this time didn't bother to hide his satisfied smirk. It was one of those rare days she saw him smiling. Is that it? She thought. Shang would only smile at her stupidity and carelessness? Did he enjoy watching her humiliating herself?
Her internal battle was drawn to a sudden halt when she saw Shang approaching. She wondered what brought him this late at night, only to find the Captain wearing his grim mask on with Khan on his hand.
Her blood ran cold. She knew that this meeting wouldn't be without repercussion.
"Fa Ping." Shang's voice was decidedly neutral and devoid of emotion. "I'm afraid there won't be further training for you," he explained, in the kind of absolute tone that Mulan had come to detest.
"Excuse me?" she said. Part of her was sure it was just a joke, until Shang unceremoniously handed over Khan's reins.
That was when reality struck her like lightning.
Shang sighed heavily as he saw Chi-Fu ushering the young boy from the communal tent towards his.
Shang had made peace with himself about Ping's scandalous behaviour―whether it was indiscretions, a one night stand or it was soberly planned. Ping's future as a man and his sexual adventure wasn't his business to meddle.
The boy is old enough to join the army hence was old enough to make a conscious decision about his personal life. Shang told himself. Yes, his job here was to shape Ping into a soldier worthy of battle, not policing the boy's moral conduct. His principle may not be Ping's principle, and he was in no place to judge. The area beyond the training camp was the territory he should never cross.
But it didn't make his job any easier. For the last hour or so Shang had been battling with himself what he should do with Ping.
Just assess his ability objectively, said the inner monologue in his head. Do you think he is a man worthy to bear arms?
With the last year or two of his life having been consumed with this relentless war, Shang knew with horrifyingly explicit detail exactly how brutal battlefield really was. It may be a place of victory and freedom, but it was also a place of death and defeat. And after weeks of training, it was clear that Ping bore no future in the war.
You should send him home.
The rational part of him recognised that made sense and was completely valid, the irrational part of him, on the other hand, wanting Ping to…―
Are you having a second thought now? Part of him rebuked. Why do you want that boy badly to...stay?
It was the question Shang himself was trying hard to answer. But as a creature of logic, he went with his rationale. Therefore, he took Khan's rein and called Ping to meet him behind his tent.
"Please understand that I did this for your own good," Shang said, after delivering the bad news. "I appreciate all your dedication and hard work…In my own term, I wish to keep you―I really do," he added, schooling the best steely facade on his face. "However that would be a selfish thing to do. Because…" He swallowed his own emotion, which was weird. He had dismissed countless recruits before and he had never felt any dismay other than disappointment that they had failed. Thankfully, his stone-cold expression that he had honed throughout the decades seemed to cover his brief emotional lapse.
"The last thing I want is for your father to bury you than you to bury him. You are still very young, Fa Ping, there are plenty of things ahead of you. Now… pack your things and go home," he said, with artificially cold, unsympathetic voice.
"But…―"
"There is no but, Ping," he said firmly. A little bit of annoyance seeping into his voice.
"Is this because of what happened in the marketplace? Or...or to Chi-Fu's tent. I swear, Captain it was an accident… because I…―"
"I said it's over!" He had managed to keep his voice from elevating past Ping's loud voice into yelling territory.
"Brother Li, please!" The boy was trying to remind him of their blood connection. "I can't go home, you know what my father will do. I can't let it happen," he pleaded. Shang could see Ping's chest shook in an attempt to curb the emotional sob that threatening to unleash itself.
And I couldn't let you stay here to mess around with women, Shang thought angrily. He took some time to regulate his breath before continuing, "Neither can I let bad things happen to you! You are my brother-in-law, Ping. I don't want your life became a worthless sacrifice that had no value. It'll be foolish if I let you into the battle when I know you are going to die," he argued. It was a sensible statement.
"It's nothing personal," he said again, forcing his voice to be cold and unfeeling. "Some men are not designed for battle. I much rather sending you home now, than sending words of bereavement to your father. Now please, just go home."
That moment he could see angry tears hanging on the young soldier eyes as Ping snatched Khan's rein from his hand.