Mulan journeys back alongside the princesses and Mei-Ling. She meets with the emperor and the infamous three: finding out many types of information

~

After much begging to her husband and father-in-law, she was allowed to finally return home for a few weeks. She still had 3 months until she was due, and would stay with her parents for a month and a half before returning back. The journey home was in silence, for the most part. Mei-Ling attempted to make conversation but obviously didn't know how to speak to a princess. At one point, she left to sit with the guards outside, leaving Mulan to catch some shut-eye. After a long two weeks, she finally let herself smile at the familiar outlines of China. "We're about half an hour out, princess," The guard said. She closed the slip between her and the horses and began to undress. She slipped out of her pink travelling gown, which she'd been in for two weeks, and put on the underlay of her formal dress. She was to meet the emperor immediately upon arrival and needed to look as such. "Mei-Ling? Could you help me dress please?" She called. "Of course, my lady,"

A whopping fifteen minutes later, she was dressed in her formal wear. Mei-Ling was brushing through her hair, securing it with pins and her tiara and tying her dark purple belt loosely around. "When we arrive, Mei-Ling, as thanks for the last two weeks especially, you can take the day off. Look around the town, have dinner, do whatever," She smiled. Mei-Ling flushed slightly. "Thank you, my lady,"

~

She waddled as quickly as she could to Emperor Wei's chamber, desperate to know the pieces of news he teased about in his letter. She knocked on the golden doors and waited for an answer. "Come in," He called. She pushed the doors open. She bowed as best as her pregnant belly would allow. "Your Highness," She waited. "Rise, princess Mulan. You needn't bow to me," Wei said. His voice carried so much authority, she felt she would be breaking the law if she did bow to him. "You wished to see me, your Highness?" She bundled up her skirt a little, allowing her to walk up some more stairs. "Yes," He smiled. "Come, sit. I'll have some tea poured,"

Mulan lowered herself into one of the soft chairs on the ground. "It is good to see you again, your highness," She smiled. Wei smiled gently. "And you. How is royal life treating you? I do hope Lord Qin and Prince Chu respect you as you deserve," He asked. Mulan hummed. "For the most part. Chu doesn't mind too much that I bore him a daughter before a son, but Qin thinks otherwise." She took a sip of her tea, relishing the nostalgia. "And neither like that I was a warrior. I am barely allowed to attend the war meetings,"

She was somewhat surprised at Wei's slightly unhappy expression. "I see. Does this bother you?" He asked. Mulan sighed quietly. "Which part? Our daughter or my position?" Wei hummed lowly, an agreement. "Well, I did not ask you here to talk unhappy matters. I have much joyful news." Mulan grinned. "I could do with some good news,"

Wei smiled back. "Well. First of all: My beloved Mei is expecting a baby with Yao, I am unsure if she told you," Mulan grinned brightly. "No! All she said was she was looking forward to having children with him. Oh, that is exciting. I am happy for her," She took another sip of her tea. "I also took it upon myself to, in lew of your chosen sacrifice of sparing my daughter's happiness, give a payment to the Fa family." Mulan gaped. "Oh, what a kind gesture. Thank you so much!" She said, eyes wide. "My daughters and I thought it would be the right thing to do, seeing as you can no longer tend to the estate, and to my knowledge, your mother is too busy with the house, your grandmother, is too old, and General Fa is injured from his serve," Wei took a sip. "It is the least I could do, for what you did,"

Mulan felt her cheeks heat. "I thank you on behalf of my family," The two ate some pastries and finished their first cups of tea. "Have you spoken to Yao, Ling of Chein-Po of recent?" Wei asked nonchalantly. Mulan paused in wiping her mouth. "No, the only correspondence I have received from China was yourself, the princesses and a singular letter from my father," She frowned. "Why?" Wei sighed softly. "Perhaps it is best for them to show you personally,"

~

Mulan sighed heavily as the fabric dress she'd changed into allowed her to breathe deeper. "So... what you're telling me, is Shang isn't dead... and hasn't been... for over a year." She asked slowly. Ling rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah," He said sheepishly as they rounded a corner. Mulan nodded equally as slowly. She swung her fist at his arm, punching rapidly and hard. "Ow! Ow! Stop! Mulan! Stop! Ow!" She wasn't hitting him as hard as she did when they trained a year and a half ago, but still hard enough to hurt. A voice bellowed from across the courtyard, halting her abuse. "Shang?" She asked quietly. "Mulan, he's not the man you think, he-" Ling didn't get to finish, for Mulan had hiked up her dress and ran as quick as she could across the yard.

"Shang!" She cried, tears streaming down her face. "Shang!" She crashed into him, wrapping her arms around him tightly. He was stiff in her arms, physically pulling away. Ling finally caught up to them, gently pulling Mulan's shoulder away. She glanced upon them with a frown. "Are you aware of who you are hitting, woman?" Shang hissed. Mulan recoiled. "Are you ok, Captain? I can have her punished," She met his sour face with an expression of fury. "No, you cannot! Shang, it's me!" She cried. Ling leaned over. "I'd be careful, General. She's royalty. She is married to Bao Chu of Qui Gong,"

Shang's face changed to regret as he took a knee. "I apologise for my rudeness, your highness. It is unforgivable," Mulan turned to Ling, scanning his face. "Ling, what the hell is going on?" Ling rubbed his neck. "Um... we... we think he hit his head at some point when he fell. He's not been able to remember anything from the last two years,"

Mulan gaped. "Anything? Not even the war? His dad?" She swallowed. "Us?" Ling looked away. "For a while, he thought he was still twenty," She spun to Shang, who still was on his knee. "Shang, what do you remember? Do you know who I am?" He rose and met her gaze with caution. "I- uh, I remember training for an attack from the huns, which we won, I've been told." She watched his eyes as he spoke next, "And you are Bao Mulan... I've heard. I'm sorry, I don't remember you otherwise,"

Mulan let a sob loose and took off across the courtyard, ignoring Ling's shouts for her to stop.