Disappointment shone in Chou Bosi’s eyes as she turned to her daughter. “You’re leaving?”
Mulan nodded. “We have to go to Lingbao School and find the others. I can’t stay until I know what’s happened to them.” Head tilting, she sent a hard stare towards the shaman. “You said the spirits wanted me to marry Wang Luwei. Now they say Kang. What’s going on?”
Yi Ligui crooked a finger in her direction. “I told you the truth, the spirits said to arrange a marriage with the Wang boy. I didn’t say anything about you going through with it, did I?”
Mulan frowned as she struggled to remember their last meeting.
The shaman continued. “If I had said the truth, that you would marry the dragon prince of Pingcheng, neither you nor your parents would believe me. The only way for your paths to cross was to get you walking. To do that, the spirits chose the name of someone you hated with such force it would send you running. And it worked!” Yi Ligui inhaled deeply before letting it out on a loud sigh. “Do you remember how I told you the next time I saw you that you’d thank me for saying his name?”
Emotions swirled in Mulan’s chest as she pondered on her words. She was right. Without the upcoming marriage to Luwei, she’d never had taken her father’s place in the army, would never have met Kang. Her eyes flicked up, locking with his. Her heart quickened.
She turned back to Yi Ligui. “Thank you,” she said, meaning every word.
As Chou Bosi and the shaman began discussing the preparations for the wedding, Mulan and Kang slipped out of the room and stared over the horizon. White dots blanketed the fields, and distant bleating floated on the air.
Somewhere out there, far in the distance, Zong, Daocheng, and Chuo waited for them. Something in her gut told her they were still alive, but she needed to see them for herself. And they still needed to deal with Jizi as well.
Turning her in his arms, Kang brushed a gentle kiss over her lips. “We’ll find them,” he said, as if reading her thoughts.
A smile curved her lips as she nodded. “I know we will.” The smile turned mischievous. “Don’t think just because I’m marrying you, I’ll be sweet and submissive. I’m not that kind of wife.”
Laughter erupted from Kang’s mouth. “No, you’ll be the best kind of wife.”
Mulan’s brows shot high. “Oh? What kind is that?”
“The honourable kind.”
Warmth spread throughout her chest. “Are you not honourable?”
Kang bent his head low, touching his forehead to hers. “You obey honour,” he whispered. “And I’ll obey you.”
The End
Honour, She Obeys Page 43