While the three in the room lived out their flowery world, Qin Shao was having trouble dealing with the empress.
- It is polite that she come to me first - The empress argued - It is my duty as mother of the nation, moreover, where the emperor has already seen the summons of a woman personally to the palace if not to make her a teacher or concubine . Even more so being her "betrothed" to one of his direct reports. As empress I have the right to look after the good of the nation, the general's marriage is not a trivial matter...
And the speech continued. The poor prime minister could only stand there smiling and standing like a statue until his turn came to speak. He didn't know how to deal with women other than his wife, so he was impatient and also wanted to participate in Mulan's interrogation.
Well, she made him get out of bed at dawn and because of that he got scolded by his wife, with her throwing him out of the master bedroom. He wanted to take out his anger on someone and, to her misfortune, the empress had to hold the bullet.
- Your majesty – Qin Shao smiled even more – At the last banquet the princess of the country Nara was very enchanted with your majesty the emperor and a political marriage was suggested to establish peace between the two countries. I understand that she is a little offended at not having been consulted about the entrance of the general's bride into the palace, but I think the empress should focus more on the national wedding.
That is, she shuts up and leaves.
Hearing the threat, the empress was more than offended. She wanted to have Qin Shao executed on the spot, but in addition to being close to the emperor, the prime minister had too much power at court to be sent for execution for a few words. What's more, she didn't enter the room and was instead arguing with Qin Shao that it was a clear "Don't Mess In This Story" on the Emperor's part, and there was still country Princess Nara who wanted to marry the Emperor.
If she could throw this ball to the general she would be happy. Well since he didn't want to marry his sister, he didn't blame her for being cruel. Fiancee? No way!
Understanding the messages, the empress left. Before long, the entire harem learned. If not even the empress could go in and get information, the concubines could only rely on their families. But to their misfortune, the three men hid information like no one else, and not even the advisers managed to catch anything.
Returning to the emperor's office;
Qin Shao entered the room, ending the atmosphere of triple admiration, leaving the three people embarrassed. Mulan was in a worse state, having thought of nothing that would justify his coming to this world, or rather, to the emperor's bed.
- Well – The emperor cleared his throat – Let's go from the beginning, how about introducing yourself?
He was being kind, but Mulan had his suspicions. He had read enough stories to always be suspicious of too-nice emperors.
-Mulan – She replied dryly, despite that the fear in her voice could not be hidden. She was a woman alone in a room with three tall, strong men, with no sense of self-defense, she was scared. If something happened there, she very much doubted anyone would help her.
Zhang Xian heard the fear in her voice, as did the other two. They didn't quite understand why, but they thought that perhaps she was nervous about being in front of the emperor.
- Calm down and tell us the truth – Qin Shao said – Who are you?
Mulan was still scared. What would happen if she told the truth? It was too late for her to say she was just a normal girl. Those men knew she came from another world. What to do?
- Calm down! – Hong's voice sounded in her head – They won't hurt you and if they try I can get you out of here.
- Can you get me out of here? – Mulan mentally yelled – Then what?!
- I have to keep you safe since I was the one who brought you here - Hong replied - But you can't leave until you save the world.
- Save from what? – Mulan asked.
- I have no idea - Hong said twisting his body around Mulan's neck like a snake.
Mulan mentally snorted as she decided what to do. A minute later she decided to kick the ball away. Since Hong had the job of keeping her alive, she wouldn't die easy for trusting them although he remembered that the headmistress of the orphanage she'd grown up in always said "don't trust strangers." But in this situation she didn't have much to do.
- My name is Mulan – She began – And I came from another world.