refused into her face.
Shang looked at Mulan, confused. “Ping, is there really no record of you in Yama’s book?”
Mulan’s tongue sat heavy in her mouth. She didn’t know what to say.
“Oh, that’s right,” Mei said, licking her fingers clean of crumbs. “I still don’t remember Fa Zhou having a son.” She frowned. “And I would have remembered.”
“You do have a knack for keeping track of the men in our family,” Liwei said drily. “Or rather, getting them into trouble.”
Ren glared at them before returning his attention to Mulan. “Now that the lighting is better, let me take a look at you, cousin Ping.”
Ren patted Mulan’s face. It was like being brushed by the wind, and when he squeezed her cheeks, she thought she felt a pinch.
“See?” he said to the others. “Cousin Ping has Fa Zhou’s teeth and forehead. Fa Li’s hair and eyes. A bit soft on the jaw and cheeks, but he’s still a growing boy, I suppose.”
“I see the resemblance,” Mei agreed. She peered at Mulan from beneath her long eyelashes. “But he’s far shorter than Fa Zhou is. And smaller, too. Not even a hair on his chin.”
“You know, they’re right.” Shang smothered a laugh. “You’re lucky. You never have to shave.”
“Hmph.” Liwei circled Mulan with his hands behind his back. “I still think you’re hiding something. If we find out you lied to take advantage of us, we’ll throw you into the river ourselves. It isn’t far from here, you know.”
“How dare you call Ping a liar,” Shang said, inserting himself between Mulan and the three ghosts. “Ping risked his life to rescue me. Did any of you have that sort of honor? I think not. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here.”
Liwei whistled, then floated over to inspect Shang. “And who are you to speak of family honor to us?”
“That’s Captain Li Shang,” Mei whispered to her relative.
Liwei’s eyebrows rose. “Of the famous military Li family?”
“An honorable clan indeed.” Mei batted her eyelashes at Shang. “My first husband was a military man, too. He was killed in battle a week after we got married. I accidentally put flour in his cannons instead of gunpowder, and I forgot to sharpen his sword. I was so lonely.” Mei straightened the collar on Shang’s cape, and Mulan couldn’t help feeling a twinge of jealousy. “I’ll bet you wouldn’t let a little accident like that kill you. You’re so strong and tough.”
Shang recoiled, looking flustered.
“Look,” Mulan said, stepping between Mei and Shang, “I am here to bring Captain Li Shang back to the real world. I made a promise to his father.”
“I think it more likely you’re a demon,” Liwei announced, going back to Mulan. “A demon in disguise sent by Meng Po to trap him in Diyu forever.”
“What?” Mulan spluttered. “I’m not a demon.”
“So you say. Demons are liars. Seems you and they have that in common.”
“I’m not a demon,” she repeated. “And why would Meng Po want to trap Shang here anyway? He’s to be reincarnated.”
“Meng Po’s army isn’t what it used to be,” Liwei reasoned. “A decorated captain from the Emperor’s army would make a fine addition to her warriors.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Shang said. “Ping risked his life to come here and save me.”
“I suppose,” Liwei allowed. “But either way, cousin Ping, if what you say about coming into the Underworld is true, it’s against the rules to be here.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t be helping him after all,” Mei said with a gasp. “I only have a century left until I’m invited to Youdu. I can’t afford to have my sentence extended just for helping a poor relation.”
Liwei nodded, a scowl forming on his round face. “I can’t imagine the dishonor Ping is bringing upon our family for trespassing into Diyu.…That is, if we really are his family.”
“I am your family,” Mulan insisted. “I’ve always respected my ancestors.”
“Have you, now?” Mei crossed her arms. “I’ve never heard your prayers to us.”
Mulan gulped, wishing she’d heeded Grandmother Fa’s advice to be more attentive to her ancestors when she prayed at the family shrine. Maybe if she’d paid more attention to them in the past, she could have trusted Ren, Mei, and Liwei with her secret. They would have helped her.
“Fa Zhou doesn’t talk about his son much,” Shang informed Mulan’s ancestors. “So leave Ping alone.”
Mulan’s heart warmed. She didn’t need anyone to stand up for her, but the way Shang defended her—as if he’d personally taken the insult to heart…there was something nice about it.
He’s just defending his friend, Mulan