her emotions again, but it was more bittersweet this time. She swallowed so her voice wouldn’t crack when she spoke. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”
Lying to you, almost killing you. She blustered, “I don’t know what I would have done if you’d died. Thank you for saving me from Shan-Yu.”
He smiled at her, tenderly enough to make her cheeks warm again. “You would have done the same for me.”
Her heart skipped. Mulan took a moment to find her breath. “I’m glad you’re better, Shang. The rest of the troops will be, too.” She stood, deciding she should leave before she sounded too awkward. “I’m going to tell everyone the good news.”
Shang’s stomach growled.
“And I’ll see if Chien-Po has breakfast ready.”
Before he could say anything else, she fled the tent, shouting the news. “Captain Li Shang is awake, everyone! Shang is awake!”
The snow had melted overnight. Patches of grass sprinkled the ground, and Mulan even saw flowers sprouting from the earth. Around her, the soldiers sprang to their feet and hastily dressed so they could see Captain Li Shang’s recovery for themselves. Yao and Ling clamored around Chien-Po, arguing over who would get to bring Shang his breakfast.
“Ping should bring it,” Chien-Po said, wiping excess soup off the sides of the bowl with his sleeve. “We should all let the captain rest.”
“When can we see him?” Ling asked.
“I’ll ask,” Mulan said, taking the bowl. She paused in front of the tent, where all the soldiers had eagerly gathered. “He just woke up, so give him a moment.”
Yao shooed the soldiers away. “Yeah. Give him a moment.”
Chi Fu, however, was insistent on seeing Shang. Carrying his head high, he strode to the front of the tent and rapped Mulan’s shoulder with his scroll before she could go inside. “I demand to speak to the captain.”
“He’s resting,” said Mulan cheerfully. Not even Chi Fu’s demands could annoy her this morning.
“Resting?” Chi Fu scoffed. “A likely story. You must be delusional, Ping. Given how severely Captain Li Shang was wounded, I’ll hardly bet he’s—”
“Recovered?” Shang finished for the Emperor’s adviser, crouching to exit the tent. “Yes, I’m recovered. And I highly suggest everyone eats a full breakfast this morning. We have a long day’s march ahead to the Imperial City.”
The soldiers fell silent. Even Chi Fu stopped talking. His jaw fell, hanging agape.
“It’s a miracle,” the soldiers whispered to one another. “He’s alive.”
Knowing she was grinning like an idiot, Mulan passed Shang his breakfast. “Welcome back, Captain Li.”
“Well, this is a surprise,” Chi Fu said, pulling on one of his whiskers. “How did this happen?”
Shang rested his hand on Mulan’s shoulder. “Ping took care of me. He didn’t leave me behind, like you told him to.”
Chi Fu crossed his arms. “That boy nearly got you killed!”
“He saved us from Shan-Yu,” Shang reminded him. “I expect the Emperor will want to know which soldier we owe our lives to.”
“Fine.” Chi Fu glared at Mulan. “But don’t expect me to write you a glowing report.”
“I won’t,” Mulan said, stifling a laugh.
As Chi Fu walked away, Ling slurped the rest of his soup and muttered to Mulan, “Even his compliments sound like insults.”
“Yeah,” said Yao, “but for once, I don’t want to punch his face. I’m too happy the captain’s alive.”
Mulan laughed, and pressed her own bowl to her lips. “Me too. Me too.”
How good it was to be back among her friends.
Mulan fitted her saddle onto Khan’s back. On the horizon, she could almost make out the Imperial City’s red walls and blue roofs.
“Hurry up with breakfast,” she heard Shang call to the men. He’d emerged from the tent, fully dressed as if nothing had ever happened to him. How strong he looked as he strode across the camp, carrying a box of supplies they’d take with them to the Imperial City.
“We leave in five minutes. The Emperor is waiting.”
Mulan tightened the cord strapping her saddle to Khan’s back. At her feet, a familiar shadow approached, growing smaller and smaller as he drew near.
“You sneaky, sneaky girl,” Mushu said, grinning. “Are you going to tell me what miracle you worked on the captain last night?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know a man about to croak when I see one,” retorted the dragon. “And Captain Li Shang was as good as dead.”
Mulan mustered a nervous laugh. “I don’t know. I fell asleep.”
Her guardian peered at her suspiciously. “You know, in spite of dressing up as a man and all that, you’re not a very good liar.”
“I