AN: I'm still trying to focus on updating fics by the amount of hits they had on them but was feeling writers block so reset my list a little bit earlier. Hope you enjoy

Chapter Ten

10.1

Mulan grinned to Shang as she held his hand and led him up the steps to the entrance of the palace. He was looking at her trying to figure things out at first but as soon as he realized where they were and maybe even who she wanted him to talk to, he became more stiff and formal, seeming to question every footstep he took as either something favorable or unfavorable towards him. Despite her own bold nature, Mulan liked how cute Shang was when he worried like this.

He was like a little puppy wanting to do his best so he could get his treats. Okay. She wasn't going to tell him of that thought either, it wouldn't appear manly in the way that he wanted to be seen. She did find him cute though.

"Ah," the emperor said as he came out and immediately Shang was on his knees in a bow whilst Mulan gave a deep bow as well. Shang looked between her and the emperor before the two of them. In looking at him, he appeared like a bug or a beetle.

"You are a funny young man," the emperor laughed softly, "Now, if you could rise. I'm sure that my floors get clean enough with all the respect which I am given and yet you give none to yourself."

"Of course, your Imperial Majesty," he nodded and looked to Mulan. "I am truly grateful at your invitation to meet you," he said and the emperor chuckled.

"I thought you would be more grateful that my advice to you returned a sweetheart to your side," he said and Shang blushed a little having not expected such a powerful man to tease him like that.

"I am, I am most…most grateful," Shang nodded very flustered and Mulan looked at him trying hard to hold back a laugh at how cute he was. Shang most likely wouldn't have wanted his actions right now to be described like that.

"Well, no matter how glad you are," the emperor nodded, "I will have Mulan here be one of my concubines."

This time both Mulan and Shang took a step backwards and look at the old man. Could they refuse this? It didn't seem to be anything even close to what they had discussed? Even as a joke they hadn't thought that it would actually be said. Mulan took a step forward and heard the emperor laughing to himself.

"Oh, I do amuse myself," he said as the two others flinched and just stared at him. "Of course I don't expect for you to become a concubine, it is your mind that I value highly, he can value your body and he should do so with great care."

Shang nodded, "I will…I…I will," he said still flustered and the emperor straightened himself up and gestured to Mulan again. Shang had no idea how to react now. If he had ever thought about meeting the emperor he had not thought so much about this situation.

"So, I think that this young lady would make an excellent addition to my cabinet, don't you think?" the emperor asked and gestured to Mulan but Shang was only just realizing that they weren't the only three who were witness to this. Shang had to worry about how many things the emperor did say but that the people weren't aware of that would seem strange. No. It wasn't his position to think about that and it most definitely wasn't his position to judge.

"We want the same thing, or would like, with your permission," he said as he grew flustered once again. The emperor laughed happily and Shang was really taken aback that he wasn't more level headed and calm as he was when he had a huge audience to address.

"Then it's settled, Fa Mulan will be reporting to my council starting in two weeks and you, Li Shang," he said as Shang bowed again, he wasn't prepared for this rollercoaster of emotions. He had been nervous at first but maybe nervous for the wrong reasons. No. This was still THE EMPEROR so he should have at least expected for something.

"How do you feel about being my head of guards? Of course I will want you to display some of those techniques that made you a general in our army," he said and Shang cleared his throat.

"Not to speak out of turn but I want to tell you that my father was the general for a great deal of the war, I only took over from him and it was never formally documented to my knowledge. I think that my position is -"

"You are being too humble, I was here when you saved me that day, when you and your group were able to save all of China led by this young beauty," he told him and Shang nodded and respectfully bowed again. He hadn't wanted to give false hope that he and his father were the same person but then he should never have questioned the emperor. It was foolish to do so.

"And your title now?" the emperor asked, "I hope Head Captain of the Imperial Palace Defense would be suitable."

"Ye-Yes," Shang nodded, "Very…a privilege and an honor." He said and Mulan smiled to him, glad that he was being recognized as well. SO they could live near the palace and help rule the country. It was a lot different than what either of them had experienced in the past but it was very exciting.

"Then that's what we'll do," the emperor smiled and Mulan grinned and bowed as well. "I will see you in two days, when the sun rises," the emperor told Shang.

"Two days," he nodded as he steadied his breathing. Hopefully he would have what he needed to make it. He had led an army into battle and he had already seen what he was capable of, the emperor wouldn't just wash his hands of him, right?

10.2

Shang looked to Mulan who was getting excited over the idea that they would be each getting a new job, they'd also be able to get a home, and new lives in the city. She didn't know what Shang's job meant yet and whether they would have to live in a certain place but she was more nervous about all of the things which she would be doing.

She followed Shang into a small plaza where there was the smell of a lot of food. "Good, my stomach is just growling," Mulan laughed to herself but she saw Shang chuckle at that. "Again that's not really ladylike."

"I prefer a girl who knows how to eat," Shang said before stopping them in a corner. He let a couple of people enter before him but then turned so that he was standing in a corner with Mulan. "I love you. You don't need to impress me any longer. I'm just happy that we're both here and we're together and that with all hope, you are not the emperor's concubine."

Mulan slapped him playfully before kissing his cheek where she'd just hit him. "That was…that was something we shouldn't tell anyone," she told him and Shang nodded. "My parents would both be confused anyway if I ever said anything and then…I think that my grandmother would be the only one to find that funny."

"I love your grandmother," Shang said and Mulan coughed and raised an eyebrow. "Of course not in the same way that I love you. I find her very amusing. Very charismatic. Very lively. I just think she marches to the beat of her own drum and that's very similar to you."

"I would feel honored if when I'm at her age I have even half of her personality," Mulan agreed. "I may have to give you lucky crickets though." Mulan laughed softly as she looked away and Shang turned to her quite confused. "It's scary, you know, I've never been the perfect daughter but I've never really been into men either. I've never felt a desire to carry a life inside of me but when it comes to you, that is a very real dream, being a grandmother is a very real dream. I'm scared but I'm excited as well."

"We should get married soon," Shang told her and Mulan laughed and lifted her chin.

"Before I get away from you, you mean?" she teased him but Shang bowed his head and then looked away. He nodded and Mulan touched his shoulder. "Shang, we're both here, just because I'm not that traditional kind of girl doesn't mean that I'm going to be leaving you. I mean, we're in it together, aren't we?"

"Definitely," Shang said before kissing her in a manner that was uncommon to see in public. There was the sound of silence and then Shang felt a hand on his back whilst Mulan felt one on hers.

"Not to interrupt but that might not be the best way of enjoying the welcome party," Chien-Po said. Mulan grinned as she threw a couple of play punches at her training comrade but then it ended with him hugging her.

"Good to see you again," she said and Chien-Po's face softened.

"I'm really happy to see you as well. I would like to apologize if anything that I ever said came out as insensitive or rude, I -"

"It's between us guys, right?" Mulan winked to him with a grin and they both started laughing. Mulan smiled again as she saw her old friend. She was dressed in a beautiful women's dress instead of the army uniform. It was much different seeing him under these circumstances but that didn't matter, they were there as friends.

"So, am I to hear of some very good news from the two of you?" he asked and Mulan coughed.

"I don't know what Shang might have said," she told him, "but I'm not going to be having his baby right away. Other than that, things are -"

"I wouldn't say you were having my baby," Shang said as he sounded confused over that. Chien-Po nodded along to the two of them with a smile. "We haven't had enough time or….we…we want to get married."

"Yes, marriage," Chien-Po nodded, "That's what I was mentioning. I was very glad to see the two of you finding each other. Now, if only I could find my princess," he sighed.

"You will though, I know it," Mulan smiled supportively and Shang wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Who knows?" he asked with a shrug, "She might even be a princess."

"I hope it's one with quite a hearty appetite," chien-Po said with a hum. Shang turned to Mulan. He definitely wanted to have children with her. Maybe a little Po with a lot of energy and even more heart, maybe they could call him Ping.

End of Chapter Ten

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Thank you to the reviewers of Chapter Nine

HistoryISculture, ice-rain499, KathyMesser, Savannah246810