The Concubine's Cannon

Chapter 2: Promotional Slip up

"THEY WON'T LISTEN!" The woman huffs, as she paces her hair is torn to shreds by her own to hands, brushing and brushing, and brushing. "What's the point in being there if I have no say. If WE have no say!" Though mad she walks elegantly to the approaching captain's surprise. The meeting had concluded over an hour ago, dinner was even about to be prepared and yet this girl is still going on about military business. "Bizarre," is all the captain seems to think.

"Always so high and mighty on their horses. Just wait till they turn to don.....Ahem." She fixes her hair and ceases her yelling. "Pardon my intrusion." He bows. "You are pardoned." The young captain almost steps back from the comment...almost. He coughs and continues, his face becoming flushed.

"I couldn't help but notice you whispering to that man. The farmer." He clarifies her father from the emperor, though it goes without fail that he said the wrong thing. Her face scrunches and he begins again. "I mean... I meant. Were those your ideas?" He finally just comes out and says what he's thinking. She raises her brow but says nothing. "I...How do you know they're in the south?" She's taken aback at his question. She never said they were in the south, rather that they were simply somewhere else. "I never said anything, especially about the south." She looks left and right and approaches the man. "Where did you get that idea?"

"It would be in their best interest to go in the opposite direction. It would be the farthest from the north and since the city hides the south area it would be easier to hide." She nods in agreement, a smile piercing her features. One person was at least on her side. "It would take them a few days to get there if they planned to go from around." He nods in agreement. "Then they're still on the move." It's the only conclusion. Even if the army hadn't meant for them to put all their troops at the Tung Shao Pass they still could've ambushed them.

"We must tell the emperor." She nods, her idea had little to no faults. If they build up their army and send them to the southern entrance of the city they surely would see them. "This is all just conspiracies." He shakes his head and begins to brush to her. What was he doing with his time? Speaking to a woman about military tactics, his father would laugh. "We must try something. They are planning to leave our defenses weak." She calls after him but he does not listen. By the time she had spoken, he was already down the hall.

"Degenerate males," she mutters though she doesn't need to.

The dinner swiftly commences and Mulan walks in on the right of the emperor, Chi-fu on his left. He waves his hand and the feast begins. She is seated to the emperor's right but on the young captain's left. Her face is tense, a glint in her eye, and a pout on her lip. Entertainment comes out with the first course. Women dance and prance around. Several girls smile at her but she's too distracted to notice, too focused on how to bring up her ideas to her father, let alone his majesty.

"Yangge," the captain whispers. "A dance of great happiness. Odd considering we're at war right now." He ponders the dance not realizing a certain female is gazing intently at him.

"It raises spirits. A happy life is a working life, after all." She quotes one of the sayings she remembers her mother and grandmother always telling her. How she misses them. "I thought it was wife." He points out the one thing in the quote she changed. With a swift glare, he catches his mistake.
"I didn't mean... I've just heard." He stutters as he tries to find a way to apologize. Why and How does he keep insulting her? "I think you should stop speaking now. You do have a promotion on the line." He gulps and though her words are harsh he knows she's right. He's in the presence of the emperor right now, not to mention what nonsense Chi-fu must've put in his head. But how did she know about that? Before he's able to open his mouth the audience cheers and the dancers bow, heading back off where they came from.

"It really is a shame your concubine can't do any of that. Even the male dancers are better than anything she's ever done." The remark is snide and quiet but it didn't go unnoticed. Laughter sounds around the table but the lady does not seem to mind, only taking a bite of her food. "I am humble. I do not wish to take the attention off of what is important." She bows her head at Chi-fu's implied request but denies it none the less. More dancers come out and the sound of laughter ceases as thy watch the beautiful woman dance. "Besides... Who said I couldn't?" This time the remark goes unnoticed. The only ears it seems to catch is the young captain's who blushes from the idea of seeing the concubine dance.

As quickly as the dinner begins it ends and the emperor allows them to return to their chambers. Well almost all of them. Shang walks behind the wise man and he opens the door to a room. "Captain." The woman bows and he blinks. Why is she here? They were to speak about his promotion so it makes no sense for her to be there. Right?

"Let me formally introduce you to Fa Mulan. She will be determining if I should choose you to fill in for your father." His jaw drops. He couldn't believe that he was letting a little girl make this decision. "Sir." He tries to speak but instead is met with his hand. "It's an honor to meet you." She gives him a respectful bow and begins to circle him, noting every detail of him. The way his chest is rising and falling, how his brows are sweating, and how he positions himself so tall even though he's clearly nervous.
A smile dances across her lips as ideas play around. "I believe he will serve you well." A flicker of surprise crosses his face. He was sure she was going to fail him because of his nerves towards her. Thee girl grazes across the room and the emperor nods. She brings back a sword and he notices that it is his father's. The emperor bestows his blessings and well wishes onto him as the now young general bows to the two. "I hope you are right about this." He hears the bitterness in his voice and flinches. It was a quiet remark but loud enough for him to hear. Mulan stifles a giggle with a nod and leaves the room. "I trust her judgment. I just hope a pretty face won't cloud it." The emperor walks out, leaving the sword for the now promoted general.

"I will not fail you." With that, he walks out and is greeted with a smile. "Congratulations General." Though she smiles it's not the pleasant kind. Something is hidden behind those eyes and he knows it. "Thank you for the promotion, but I must ask why?" No stutter, no slip-up, it's just simple talk between those with power. "You were smart enough to look past the fact that I am a woman and so you agreed with me. You seem to know a lot about culture and you look for every possibility. I do think that you will serve him well but we both know that's not what you're asking about. Is it?" She raises a brow and he stiffens from her directness.

"I want something from you, Captain and you are the only one that can give it to me. He blushes from the idea, stammering, and stuttering, his cheeks burning with fire. "I'M NOT VULGAR!" She hits him with her fan at even thinking of the idea. Is this really what was expected of a concubine?

"I was talking about a deal." His brows raise from this and she takes this to keep going. "I want you to train me."

Author: I did mention a couple of dances in here that I looked up so for anyone who knows more about them please correct me if I misused them in any way.
Fun fact: For anyone who likes Danganronpa there's a little Easter egg in here for you. And with that, I leave you till tomorrow.