Outside the Qin palace, Mulan stepped out of the courtyard. A few guards were helping her with her belongings, bowing as she took her leave. Emperor Hanzu kindly offered her a palanquin carried by his servant to take her wherever she wished, but Mulan refused. She was here representing herself, not the Hun nor the Wei royalties.

"General Tarkhan?" she couldn't believe her eyes. There he was, in his travelling outfit and neatly tied man bun. He was waiting outside the palace gate with a mare in his hand.

"What had happened in there?" he said anxiously when she approached. He let out a quiet sigh of relief, looking that she was okay. "The guard just told me, 'Wait a sec, Venerable Fa is having a moment with the Emperor'. It got me thinking it must be something sinister."

Mulan let a small smile, "No, we were just having breakfast and… a chat."

"Atilla said they captured you." She wasn't wrong about him. Attila may looked intimidating and unfriendly, but he was…. kind .

"Long story. I was trying to speak to Emperor Hanzu, but he accused me of conspiring with his older brother and threw me into jail. Then, one of the Qin's very kind citizens endorsed me and listed all my good work….and tadaaah… I am out of prison!" And she stuck one of her fingers up. "And also…I managed to ask the Qin's princes, nicely ," she said with emphasis, "...whether they knew or had seen Hayabusa, and they both said they thought he was dead. Haven't heard or seen him since."

"And you believe them?"

She shrugged. "I get a feeling that they were telling the truth."

"I see," Shang noticed the mark on her cuff, particularly the flesh around her ankle, still looked red and angry. "Did they… did they torture you?" he lifted her hanfu ever so slightly, and Mulan automatically swatted his hand. He hastily withdrew his hand, chastened.

She gasped at her impulsive reaction. "Shang, I'm sorry. I don't mean…"

"No no no…. I'm the one who should apologise. Sorry, that was… very impolite of me."

Mulan huffed, "The shackles were rusty and sharp. The palace was so badly managed it took four hours to find the key. And I am so ready to leave this place. Anyway, I can easily hide them all under the hanfu. This is exactly why girls are wearing long skirts." Well, it was no wonder the last time they were there, Ping effortlessly disarmed the prison officer and stole his uniform. He didn't seem to be very competent in doing his job.

"It looks terrible," Shang pointed at her abused flesh. "Are you sure you are ok walking? We can always see the healer."

"Believe me, I've dealt with worse," she said gaily. She was just happy her mission ended well. Seeing Shang was a welcomed extra. "We'll deal with it once we return to the encampment."

He assisted her in mounting on Sanale and insisted on cleaning her ankle wound with a small bottle of wine he had left over. "Don't move," he instructed, giving the bottle a quick shake. This might sting a little."

It stung a lot. But she didn't move, quietly captivated by his hands at work. He looked utterly absorbed in what he was doing. A slight crease of concentration on his forehead made him look more handsome than usual, and she thought for one selfish, vertiginous moment that she should kiss him when he was done, even just a light peck on his cheek—a little thank-you note.

But it was only a moment before she came to her senses. This kindness…. this was enough that he cared—even if it was only on principle. There was no point in wanting more. She would take what he offered, and that was all.

"I was ready to break you out of there," he said, as he was fixing the rags from part of his sleeve that he nonchalantly tore and now serving as a bandage on her ankle. She searched his countenance to see a trace of mischief—that what he said was just a joke or a valiant attempt on small talk. But no, his face was dead-serious. And he said like he… meant every word.

"Re…really?"

"Of course," he said without missing a beat.

Why the hell did he have to be that kind and charming? "Thank….Thank you," she said, stilling her words to sound firmer and more sure.

"Don't mention it," he gazed up. You'll do the same if I were you, his eyes implied. "Other than an obvious drama, are you okay?" He jumped and sat behind her, pressing his solid chest to her back.

Mulan prayed that she wouldn't abruptly combust. "Y-yes."

They rode. Mulan gazed above her shoulder, watching the trees zipping away around her as Shang's horse cut through the forest.

"Did Altan send you?"

He didn't answer that, just directing Sanale the route as if he didn't hear her. "Shall we stop to eat? I am sure you are famished. Prison's food is not the finest."

"It feels like I am the dispensable part of the army," she joked as they searched for a good spot for lunch.

"Does it surprise you?" he countered. He lived with the Huns. But that didn't make him automatically part of them. Yes, these Huns were kind and friendly. They fed her, clothed and put a shelter above her head. At this moment, they were her allies, but they weren't her friend. Friends would go to the end of the world for each other.

They rode silently for a while until suddenly, the path was opened by the cliffside. In front of them was a wide horizon decorated with colourful rocky hills and lush green valleys underneath.

Shang gazed in awe. "What is this place? It's beautiful!"

"Danxia….Valley of Angel," Mulan mouthed. Even though she had never seen it, the description was unmistakable.

"You've been here?"

"No. I've heard… a legend about it," she said off-handedly. Suiko told her the supernatural blessing for couples visiting the Valley of Angels, not that Mulan believed in such superstition, but she thought the gesture would be romantic. "We were…"

…supposed to be here, Shao Wei. You and I.

And her mind flew to the moment when everything was good and sweet.

"Shao," she began again. "I think…. I'm going to say yes."

"Yes, to what?"

"To marry you," she said simply.

"Wait… what?" he nearly swallowed his own tongue.

"I'll marry you," she clarified. "Let's save this world….together."

"No…" He bit his lips like he was having second thoughts. "I don't think a sham marriage will suit you. Besides… you don't know how vicious the women in the harem can be. You won't be the only woman there. And I... No. I mean. It's not… it's not like I want to marry anyone else," he fumbled, losing his usual eloquence. "You… you don't know what you signed up for. This may be dangerous…"

"Then we'll endure it together," she retorted firmly. "We'll make it work."

"How? People do not normally arrange their own marriage or choose their spouse. It's normally up to the parents… or situation… or..." he trailed off.

"But we're not like other people. We care for each other in our own way, and we can have the life together that we want. You won't be the perfect husband? I can promise you that I harboured no intention of being the perfect wife. I'll not be fixing my make-up and fussing over my hair all day when you come home from the council meeting, will I? I'll work. You'll work. And we'll have each other's company. We'll have each other's minds. Sounds like a better marriage than most. Because I care for you, and you care for me. And we understand one another more than anyone else ever has. We'll be the best partner in crime. You look after the world; I look after you. Deal?"

"Deal." His eyes were bright and shining, full of hope, and Mulan was reminded of why she could not break his heart.

But look what he'd done! Right at that point, she thought her soul could finally healed. He shattered it. Ripped it apart. He loved her. He loved her so much that he would do anything to be with her. He regretted it; she knew this, but she doubted things could ever return the way they were.

" We were what…?" she snapped to attention, finding Shang's bewildered stare. "You were saying….?"

"It's nothing. It's just a legend!" she snapped. She didn't know where her frustration was coming from, only that it was irrational, powerful and deep. "Sorry, I am just…"

"...hungry?" Shang just smiled understandingly dismissing her sudden outburst of hostility. "Let's sit down and eat. A full tummy will improve your mood."

After finding a good, sheltered spot, they sat to eat.

"You know, when I stayed in one of the inns, the owner, who had a nephew working for Emperor Hanzu, told me a bit about his background," Shang said. He was right. Food improved her mood.

"Oh?"

"He said both princes are stepbrothers. Prince Qinlong had a fine lineage of the Han clan, while Prince Hanzu's did not. During Emperor Xiongnu's rule, he planned to seize the Qin Kingdom. Emperor Zhengde proposed a truce. In this agreement, his kingdom, office, and army are spared with the condition that they would be the Middle Kingdom's subject. Emperor Xiongnu then stated that he would honour the pact if the future crown prince should live under house arrest in the Middle Kingdom's territory. He would be placed under surveillance and would not receive any form of education except writing and poetry. This was to ensure he wouldn't be equipped to perform a military coup or have a means to avenge his people. Their councillor decided they should ordain Hanzu as the crown prince to protect Qinglong's future as their king."

The Kingdom of Qin was given no choice, and all high-ranking officials were stripped of their statuses and possessions. Xiongnu then ordered them to be dispersed amongst China's vast territories to prevent incentives to regroup and retaliate.

"That's horrible," Ping commented. Shang could only imagine. But that's war. There's nothing nice about it.

"Although, many said quite a few officials ended up as landlords, owning fruit farms and raising animals to trade. It's not a terrible lifestyle when the rain is plenty."

Ping tapped her chin. "Wondered what happened to the plan of making Qinglong king."

"I heard from Ba'atar," Shang said."...during Emperor Zhengde's reign, Qinglong was sent to deal with a bunch of Huns hunters who always lurked past the country border into the forest of Xu to hunt. Most Xu village dwellers were farmers and understandably seldom hunted or foraged in the forest." Shang explained. "After consulting Xiongnu, Zhengde mandated Qinglong to speak to the Khan to negotiate a better arrangement, but with a foreknowledge of what kind of relationship Emperor Xiongnu had with the Khan, Qinglong decided to take the matter into his own hands. Without his father's approval, he captured all the Huns hunters, tortured and killed them, and commanded the villager of Xu to hang the corpses in the forest as a warning."

"Thankfully, the Khan was wise enough and didn't retaliate…" Shang cleared his throat, remembering the plot. "Not immediately, anyway. But Emperor Zhengde realised that Qinglong might not be the country's best option as its ruler. He was rash in resorting to violence as a fast solution to his problem. Thus, when the Middle Kingdom declared Qin a free kingdom once more and gave full power back to Emperor Zhengde, he immediately took Hanzu home and crowned him as his successor."

"What happened to Emperor Zhengde?"

"Heard he died of illness not long after Hanzu was coronated."

"And the Empress?"

"Died on xunzhang, together with the rest of the Emperor's concubines who had never bore any children." (xunzhang : tradition of burying alive wife/concubine/servants to accompany the dead king).

They continued to eat their lunch, exchanging stories about what was happening in the Huns' encampment at the Qins' citadel. Their conversation was rudely interrupted by the sound of a branch breaking.

"We'd been watched," Ping remarked, instinctually crouched and hid behind the nearby bush, pulling him with her. She brought no sword, but a small dagger was in her hand. They were silent, ears tuning in. More sounds. Slow, careful step of hoofs. There were people on horses.

Curiosity overtook him, and Shang peeked his head out. Wrong move. They saw him.

"Soldiers," Shang hissed as the figures became clearer, running towards their location. Ping took a glance. Her eyes dilated as soon as she spotted one of the men who gave the soldiers order. She recognised him. "They are Middle Kingdom's soldier!" Fully armed, no less.

"What? In Qin's territory?" What were they doing here? But before he could answer that, Ping crawled out of her hiding. "We should just ask…"

Shang pulled her back down. "Are you insane? Don't you see they are looking for som…"

An arrow landed near his bag, confirming his thought. Another one went straight through the bush and nearly pierced Ping's toe. "Run," he signalled. In frantic movement, they dashed towards the mare, Sanale, and headed into the coppices.

More arrows sang through the air. They had been very lucky to avoid them all. But it would only take one to bring them down.

Shang gasped when something pierced his back. He knew it was inevitable, but he said nothing, staying focused on keeping their balance while steering Sanale through the beaten path.

"They are gaining on us," Ping said, her eyes wide in horror when she saw crimson stain seeping on his clothes. "You… you are injured!"

His shoulder ached. Shang grabbed at it, and a stream of blood ran warmly through his fingers. "I had far worse ones." He tried lifting his sword to deflect the projectile, but his shoulder hated him. The vein on his neck became stiff and burning. "It'll be fine. Just stay focused." One thing one must do in a battle was to keep morality up, even though his instinct told him this was the end.

It wasn't like Ping was oblivious to what he was hiding. She was a soldier too and had partaken enough in the wounds and injuries department to know how serious an assault was. She blanched. "Poisonous arrow."

But the horrified look on her face was swiftly exchanged with a determined frown. "If we are quick, we'll have a good chance to neutralise it." Rebounding with resolve and courage, Ping took the liberty to decide the next course of action.

"You, watch the road," she commanded and handed the reins. She climbed to come to sit face to face with him. This way, she would be able to reach the bow bag on his shoulder and aim her shot with better accuracy.

Shang enjoyed witnessing how Ping performed sophisticated target-hitting art at their pursuer. The first half a dozen fell between two breaths, but more was coming. He heard rumours of how good Ping was but didn't fully appreciate it until he saw it himself. The rush of battle increased rapidly, and the ache in his shoulder spread to consume the rest of him. With the number of arrowheads depleting, there was only one option left, even Ping realised this.

"Take Sanale and run towards the waterfall," Ping instructed. There was no way Sanale could outrun these soldiers while carrying two passengers. "I'll slow them down."

"But what about you?"

"I'll figure it out," she said.

"What? No! They'll kill you!" Shang objected. That was what people usually do to a country's defector. "I'll go with you!"

She blinked a startled stare at his illogical outburst. Then Ping smiled. I can't lose you again, her eyes said. It was one of those familiar smiles. The glaze of gratitude in her eyes was whole and unmistakable. It was the smile that he could feel deep into his soul.

Ping suddenly turned melancholic, "Can you promise me something?"

"Anything," he said without much thinking. How could Ping have no sense of urgency seeing their pursuer closing in?

"Promise me that you'll live."

And the next thing he knew, Ping leapt and rolled in one fluid movement into a nearby bush.

His heart stopped in his chest, but quickly reminded Ping that she wasn't just a regular Chinese woman. The story said she was the force that had killed thousands of Hun soldiers with nothing but a single canon blow, and he had faith in her. So, adhere he must.

It crossed his mind that he should stop and ask these soldiers what they wanted. Had they wanted Ping back? Perhaps. She was the Emperor's favourite after all. But certainly, there are better, more dignified methods than to hunt her down like a wild deer. He heard the soldiers shouting among themselves. "Get him, dead or alive!"

So, was he the real target here? Had Shao sent these men? The 'why' was less important now than saving oneself. Shang fought the desire to run back for her. He had given her his promise.

Thankfully, Sanale gained more ground and speed as her load was now lighter.

Just as he thought to slow down, he heard a voice behind him. "To the right! The sway bridge!" It was Ping atop one of the soldier's horses. Shang mentally slapped himself. He needed to stop underestimating her. Ping wasn't one of those damsels in distress requiring men to save and coddle her.

As his admiration and hope mounted up, the reality came crashing down. One of the soldiers aimed the arrow at her and missed. Instead, it hit the muscular thigh of her horse. The beast cried in pain and reacted, throwing his passenger away. Shang watched as Ping's petite figure flung to the sky, limbs flailing as she fell down the cliff.

"Piiiing!" but the sound of the rapids underneath drowned his voice. Soon, Ping's fate would be no different. His world fell, heart strangled with fear. Memories came rushing in his head.

Tung Shao Pass.

The Huns.

You are my wife, my companion….and most importantly, you understand me more than I care to admit.

He remembered.

His father, his mother. Shao Wei, Ling, Chien-Po, Yao, Wu, Wentai...and Mulan…he remembered.

I always envisioned myself dying on the battlefield….never to grow old, with my hair turning grey, my frame frail and weak… the slow kind of death. I viewed growing old as a sign of submission to uselessness, and retiring from the battlefield was an unwilling choice.

Until I met you.

"Piiing!"

No answer. Horror closed over his head like quicksand.

Mulan, I hope you remember me as I was – not just for the good and the better, but also for the bad and the worse. For that is the man that you know and care.

Something ripped his heart, and thoughts came flooding into his head. If Ping were just a wife he was betrothed to, a bride he never wanted, then why did he have such a visceral reaction now?

And since these will be my last words, I guess it won't hurt to admit...

I love you, Fa Mulan, in this world and from the world beyond.

Yes, Ping lied. She deceived him. But it didn't change the fact that he loved her. He loved her. His head might have forgotten, but his heart would never. That was why, even without realising it, he had gone to such lengths to keep her alive.

He stopped at the edge of the cliff. Rapid footfalls of the soldiers were getting closer. But he didn't care. There were no words; no apology could ever suffice. No declaration would ever be eloquent enough. And he'd always been terrible at those, anyway.

"I am coming for you," he whispered. He dismounted from Sanale and took a leap to join her.

And he never looked back.

Despite some dramatic events that detour them into different parts of the country, four days late, both of them made it back into the Hun's territory. Mulan thought it was the sort of escape worth writing in a fiction novel when the protagonist of the stories narrowly escaped death in the most dramatic way possible.

They arrived in the Huns' encampment late evening. The place was quiet, and only a few men in charge of the patrol were awake.

Shang had kindly helped her with her pack as she dismounted from Sanale. "Are you going to be okay? Do you need another ride back to your tent?" The offer sounded lucrative. Even though her tent was only about ten minutes away, she was tired, hungry, and cold. But then she thought about him putting his arms around her again; her heart couldn't bear it.

No , she told herself. She wasn't a teenager with overridden primal hormones with very little sense of consequences. She shook her head. "I'm sure I'll be fine. Besides it is late, your tent is at the complete opposite side of the encampment."

She thought she saw a fragment of disappointment in his eyes as she took her bag.

"Right, have a good rest," he said. She rubbed the horse mane and whispered her thank you at Sanale, who pounded her hoof in the ground in reply.

"How's your wound?" she asked him.

"It's just a small cut; I'm sure it'll be fine," he said, biting the wince as he demonstrated a motion such as raising his arm. They managed to rub some general antidote on it, but they both knew it was only a temporary solution. "Don't worry. I'll see Arban the first thing in the morning. But you need to promise me to have yours look at as well," his pointed gaze landed on her injured ankle. "Although rags do look good on you."

"Hey," she elbowed him, pretending to be annoyed. He laughed, warm and clear like a sunshine warming her soul. "Watch out, this will become the new fashion trend." It was nice to see him like this. She was grinning so wide that her cheek muscle hurt.

There was a change in their relationship that day. The usual air of camaraderie… of mutual respect between friends, seemed to have magically restored. It was like they had never left Wuzong, like she had never lied to him, and Shang was always here with her. This, whatever it was... its wonderful and…..she would like to keep it forever.

"Shang…" she said without thinking that name didn't belong to him anymore.

"Yes?" Unexpectedly and almost so naturally, he responded.

"Thank you for saving me."

"Anytime," he said, commanding his horse to turn around. Just when she told herself this would be the last time she called that name and that she would have to close that chapter of her past. He made all her resolve drawn to a nought.

"Ping," he said from atop his horse with voice and intonation like how he said it many years ago, back when everything was sweet and good. "I will always have your back."

The next morning, Mulan heard that Shang's wound was more serious than previously thought. So, she made a plan to drop by the infirmary on her way to do her laundry. In front of the infirmary tent, she saw Arban sterilising something that she recognised as surgical equipment. Chu'ulun was there… mainly bothering him.

"I have something important to tell you," Chu'ulun announced.

"Told you, I'm busy," Arban said without looking.

"Remember that mission to Xi'an where you dropped me in the middle of the night at the inn and took my horse?"

"This felt accusatory."

"Remember I told you that I didn't need to do any laundry and just keep recycling my clothes for a week?"

"You mean when you argued aloud with yourself and then declared yourself a winner? I remember."

"Shut up. Also, I've changed my mind."

"You ended up sending your clothes to the laundry…? Is that your important story?"

Mulan parked herself at earshot distance from the two bickering men. She thought of asking Arban, who was normally acting as the doctor in charge, but seemed like he already had enough distraction at hand.

"It's called setting the scene! Keep up!" Chu'ulun swatted Arban's shoulder.

"Hey! Watch it, I am doing something delicate here!"

"Whatever," Chu'ulun muttered. "So, this is about the hot chick who worked as the receptionist. Guess what, I bumped into her this morning when Suying brought me special goodies from her home. .Neighbours! "

"Ah yes," Arban snorted, "Riveting story."

When Mulan arrived at the Hun's encampment, she had heard there was another Chinese girl who lived among the Huns named Suying. Many people said Suying came here from time to time as Shang's helper. Although her main job was just to do house chores Chinese men were very much incapable of doing, she was there mainly because the Khan felt every warrior needed a 'comfort' of home. Mulan tried not to be curious. But a quiet voice whispering in her head urged her to find out more.

She recognised Suying instantly as she passed by Arban and Chu'ulun and into the infirmary but chose to quietly asses the situation before engaging.

Through the tent door, she could see everything: how Suying carefully placed the tray of food on the table beside Shang's bed, half-anxious, half-relieved look on her face. She greeted him with a hug, and he reciprocated. Then she sat on the edge of his bed and reached his hands, and he didn't flinch, only smiled and nodded perhaps reassuring her that he was fine.

There was no twisted feeling in her gut this time, and her chest did not burn knowing that Shang had found someone. There was only sadness and regret.

But why did she need to feel sad? Mulan quickly reflected. Shang was an amazing man. He was kind, loyal and brave. And he deserved to be loved. It was a relief that he could find such love, even if it weren't with her.

And suddenly, Shang waved at her, signalling her to come. She also noticed she'd been staring. Wrong move. Now, she had no option but to do what a normal person with social skills would do.

"General Tarkhan," she greeted as she stepped into the room. It wasn't a bad attempt at sounding jovial. Her acting skills might have improved after Wuzong.

"No, please, no formality," Shang said with a warm smile that nearly broke all her resistance. "Have you been waiting outside all this time?"

Mulan winced, "Ah yes, don't worry. It's nothing important. I was on my way doing my laundry and just want to know how you are doing."

"Oh yes, it has seen better days," he looked down at his bandaged shoulder. "But I'm sure Arban can do something about it. He is quite skilful," and without much warning, he added. "By the way, I want you to meet Suying. She was my neighbour years ago in the military compound. Our late father was serving in the same battalion."

A story about a little girl whose Shang often played hide and seek with jumped to Mulan's mind. No, actually, it was the story about this girl's eighteen-year-old sister who was sleeping with her boyfriend while Shang was hiding in the wardrobe. And Shang was telling her that was where he learnt…

"Hi." Suying had a melodious, feminine voice, like how Mulan remembered her when they first met. If Mulan was expecting the woman to size her up for any smell of competition she would be disappointed. Instead, all she got was a sincere apology. "I'm sorry about last time."

"Wait, you two had met?" Shang bounced his gaze between them warily. Mulan made a mental note that Shang's social ineptitude and ability to smell gossip were still non-existent.

"Ah yes, briefly, " Mulan said without elaborating too much. "But we haven't been properly introduced."

"Oh yes… ok, Suying, this is Ping… I mean, Mulan," and Mulan tried not to react to how heartwarmingly familiar his voice was calling her name. "She was…"

"Shang's comrade in Wuzong," Mulan quickly said. A safe place to start. She politely shook Suying's hand and tried to put on the most approving smile as she glanced briefly at Shang. "Lovely to meet you."

They chatted a bit before Mulan decided she should give the couple a little privacy and excused herself.

She slowly picked up her laundry bag and headed down to the river. Her mind was still foggy as she thought about what this might entail. Her brain knew from the beginning, even without Suying in the picture, that Shang would stay here and start a new—while she would have to return to the Middle Kingdom. It took her heart longer than her head to accept the reality.

"Hey," Suying smiled as she suddenly transpired on her side. An eaglet sat on her shoulder, narrowing its ferocious eyes as Suying took a seat next to Mulan's pile of washing. The girl reprimanded the bird firmly before turning back to Mulan. "I hope you don't mind me joining you."

"O-oh, no…of course not," Mulan hoped she wasn't sending any awkward signal. She could be a master at deception, but when it came to Shang, she was worried her feelings were as obvious as…

"I thought we could talk… a bit more. Getting to know each other…. Since we are two Chinese girls among the multitude of Huns."

Mulan gulped. Whatever Suying wanted to talk about wouldn't be good.

"Ah, sure," she quickly averted her attention back to her washing, her brain swiftly running through all possible scenarios, questions, and answers (read: excuses/lies) she would tell. Just about then, Suying crouched down and hacked. Violently.

"Are you ok?" Mulan automatically rubbed her back while Suying slowly recovered from the ordeal.

"Just a stubborn cough I've been having for a month," she scoffed deprecatingly. "I don't even need to have young children to have one rough, long night." She sucked air between her teeth when she saw Mulan's concerned face. "Sorry, I don't mean to put it on you when I have a crappy day."

"Have you seen a healer?"

"Yes, he found nothing," she said, slightly annoyed. "Besides, I have no time to deal with a petty cough like this. I have a sister to take care of."

When Mulan gave her a look, Suying explained to her. "An accident left her paralyzed. Terrible story. But neighbours are helping me with her when I am here."

"You seriously need to take a break," Mulan was just noticing how pale Suying was—Unhealthy kind of pale.

"You know what? I did way better when I was lazing around all day. It must be just an allergic reaction to work!"

Mulan cocked her head, and Suying laughed. "I'm just joking." And the mountain of ice was slowly thawed. Mulan thought the woman seemed genuine and nice.

"So, Princess said you are now living here," Suying stated.

Hiding would be the better word, but Mulan could not just spill every secret that potentially may put anyone in danger. "Yes," she said without divulging too much history about how she ended up trapped in a convoluted equation involving two princesses, one playboy prince, and an amnesiac ex-husband.

Suying looked around from above her shoulder before dropping her voice to a low whisper. "Do they treat you well?"

"They? The Huns? Ugh… yeah, why?"

Suying looked relieved. "That day, when I saw you tied and unconscious in the inn… and the word 'kidnapped' was mentioned," she said. "I don't know what's happening, but I thought you might be in danger."

Well, if you saw a woman who was bound and drugged. It was hard not to feel suspicious. "What had happened exactly? Why did Princess Altan kidnap you?"

Mulan chewed her bottom lip, "Believe me, you don't want to get involved. Dealing with royalty could throw your life into a tornado. Look at me."

True, she had suffered. But looking at Ba'atar, Chu'ulun, and Arban, who bickered, laughed, and seemed thankful they were alive, put her life back into perspective.

"So, the Huns didn't kidnap you?"

"It's not strictly a kidnapping…" she tried to explain. Mulan pondered a while, weighing what kind of minimum explanation possibly needed for each polar answer.

When she didn't immediately come up with a reasonable explanation, Suying said, "I mean, I know I owe my life to Princess Altan, but honestly… There are just too many unanswered questions in my head. I am not being racist here. But I don't entirely trust these Huns. Something is off."

Oh, this girl was perceptive.

"So, I told Shang to watch you."

She blinked, eye wide. So, Shang came to fetch her, which must be her idea.

"Well, thank you," Mulan said, regarding the woman in front of her with a smile of gratitude. Even if, let's say, Suying was her rival in love, she was her only ally in this. "Yes, initially, I was kidnapped because Altan wanted me here to help her…"

"You agree to help her? You… are not angry ?"

"At first, yes," she paused, pressing her lips. After being at the centre of Middle Kingdom politics for just over a year, rubbing shoulders with dignitaries and Generals, Mulan understood things often not as black and white as they seemed. These Huns, Altan's people, were people whose life touched by tragedy. And as their leader, Altan felt the obligation to stand by them with whatever means possible. And perhaps, according to her convoluted thinking, this was how she sought justice and closure. "...but I get it, sometimes as a leader, you must sacrifice your own conviction… your method… for the betterment of your people… or the future of your kingdom."

When Suying looked nothing but perplexed, she immediately added. "I don't believe Princess Altan or any of her Generals are bad people, so I stay."

Suying nodded slowly. "And when your mission is done, are you willing to extend your stay here?"

"I…," she pondered, "I had to settle something with the Emperor of Middle Kingdom first," Mulan huffed, hoping it all sounded making sense without going too much into detail. "So, I figure… staying here will give me time to… think about…er…. strategy. So yeah, I supposed, I am quite willing to be kidnapped. Sounds absurd, I know."

She expected a pinch of scepticism from a clever girl like Suying. Because who dared to bargain with the Emperor? Or to defy him? But all she got was a squeeze of hand and a gaze of sympathy. "Just let me know if you need anything. I can help you find stuff that makes you less homesick… wait, WHAT?! Is that… blood ?" Suddenly, all attention was on her ankles. They were bruised, and there were about two inches of cuts on her right leg that she poorly tried to secure with half-torn rags. Dry blood seeped through the fabric. That was another story she needed to carefully filter before the sanitized version went out.

Mulan quickly adjusted the rags to hide the bloodied part, "Don't worry, just a little scrape."

"It looked quite brutal to me."

Mulan forgot that for an average, domesticated Chinese woman, any form of cut other than on the poultry would summon the village healer to their house.

"Another crazy story. Some….prince threw me in jail, put shackles on my feet. When it was clear it was just a misunderstanding, they set me free, but the officer misplaced the key. So yeah, walking with this cuff rubbing on my ankle is not efficient nor fashionable."

"No way! Did he find the key in the end?"

"Nope, had to resort to someone to find a metal grinder."

Suying shook her head, half-amused, half disbelief, "Wow, I guess as far as crappy days go, you win!"

Mulan grinned. "So, how do you get to know Princess Altan?"

"Princess Altan and late General Timur saved me when our cart was raided by Mongolian bandits who wanted to take us back as slaves. They killed most of the girls, though."

"The girls ?"

"We were… sex workers," she explained. "A gang forcefully took us all from our brothel, but one of the gang members pitied us and helped us escape. Alas…" she took a long, sad sigh. "It was terrible."

Mulan tried not to have any physical reaction to her revelation. She heard rumours about how many young women, especially orphans, ended up joining the trade as they had no other skills to earn money.

"So the Princess took you here?" she said, ensuring her face or voice sounded neutral. Never again she would throw a blind judgment on any of the women in the brothel.

"Not immediately. But we stayed in touch since. I came over when I heard there was an accident on her wedding day. I was shocked when I recognised the man who put the explosive around the encampment."

"You plead for Shang's life?"

"No, it wasn't my place. All the Huns were unanimously about to let him die, but the Princess changed her mind. Until this day, I have no idea why."

Mulan rubbed her chin thoughtfully, "Sometimes a prisoner could be worth much more alive than dead. Especially if he has insider information."

"But Shang's amnesia still lingers even after months of waiting. At first, he didn't even remember his name or where his house was, let alone sensitive information like battle strategy or some loophole in Chinese military defence. I don't understand what the Princess sees in him."

Naturally, people would think Altan had been captivated by this handsome, rugged, Chinese ex-captain. But if one's looks were what she was after, she was already surrounded by many beautiful men herself. Why have to make an unpopular choice to pick someone from the enemy's side?

Mulan tapped her chin. "Maybe it was his charming character and excellent interpersonal skills?"

Suying burst out laughing. Mulan grinned. It was nice to know someone understood the joke.

"How about you? How did you get married to the Emperor." There was no mockery in her tone, only admiration and curiosity.

"Ah yes…," Mulan muttered. "He was an acquaintance I met in Wuzong… we are friends first and foremost…after Shang had gone missing, he offered me his hand in marriage. We lived a relatively quiet life and…" She trailed off.

Suying sensed that she didn't like talking about her life back in the Middle Kingdom, and she quickly veered the subject elsewhere. "Nothing is impossible to be fixed. Time is a great healer." And Mulan felt her shoulder relaxed. Suying's camaraderie made her feel at ease.

Mulan considered her situation, even if she wasn't ready to return to Forbidden City, but what would she do here? It was not like she had a job or duty to the Princess now that the mission was done. Besides, she doubted her mental capacity to witness Shang hooking up with someone new. So, perhaps she had no choice but…

"You know, now I'm glad Altan brought you here," her smile erased Mulan's worry.

"You… you do?" Perhaps her heart could sincerely wish him love without breaking.

"Yes, there is no other Chinese… I mean, Shang doesn't count. He didn't remember much about his life in the Middle Kingdom. But you…" Suying's warm hand wrapped hers. Her eyes were luminous and hopeful. "I feel like we can understand each other."

No , Mulan thought. She would never understand the pain of someone who had to sleep with countless men just to put rice on the plate. Someone who had everyone she called 'family' killed in front of her. Yes, Mulan might have lost her mother, but this woman had lost everything.

"You can help me take care of Aquila here. He requires a lot of attention and training," Suying ruffled the eaglet at his chest, and it let an approving chirp. "Mind you, Aquila doesn't have a lot of conversation to offer."

For a moment, Mulan just stared, gathering her thoughts. Perhaps Suying was right that time was a great healer. Maybe someday she could accept having Shang just as a friend. Perhaps one day, she could forgive Shao, not just with her mind, but her heart.

"I… I think I might stay."

"Great, then I can help you to feel more at home. I know where to get good flour so we can break from rabbit congee. You liked bean bun, don't you?"

A warm feeling spread in her heart at the thoughtfulness of this stranger she had known no longer than an hour ago.

"Thank you," she whispered, emotion clogging her throat.