Perfect bride

By- An Unknown Foreign Beauty

Chapter 1- An Unwanted Marriage

"Mulan."

Her father's normal speaking voice sounded gentler than usual. After the accident at the matchmaker's, Mulan did not expect him to be so kind to her. Her life turned miserable since the day she set fire to the matchmaker's skirt. In the whole world, the only thing that was not awful this morning was her father. Her father, the old war veteran Fa Zhou, who should have been furious, who Mulan had thought would disown her for what she'd done at the matchmaker's, was the only person to her solace, comfort.

"I know how you feel, darling." He whispered miserably. "I wish I could stop this from happening."

"You should not, baba." Curled up in a tight ball of misery against her father, Mulan watched her childhood house slowly disapearing from the view. She shifted her gaze to her father, "Why are you looking so sad?" She tried to smile forcefully, "It is my wedding day."

"You barely know him." Fa Zhou sighed, "I feel like I am marrying you off just to get rid of our burden."

Mulan knew how he felt. Even after the accident at the matchmaker's, when everyone started to blame her, her father never used any harsh word about her. She heard the neighbors talking about her with disgust, girls looking at her with pity, and her mother lowering her head in shame. She tore away her bridal make-up and ran into the deepest part of the forest to relive her family from this disgrace. She did not expect anyone to find her, but her father did. He always did. The wise, old war veteran Fa Zhou always knew his daughter well. Sometimes Mulan thought he knew her more than she knew herself. He led her home, laid in her bed, and stayed with her while she sobbed in his lap. Mulan knew her father was suffering too. She understood how much her family was suffering because of her. Why would not they? It was a disgrace to have a daughter declared as an improper bride in public.

Their suffering came to an end when an old friend of Fa Zhou came to visit. General Li, the captain of the emperor's army, came to collect soldiers for the impending war with the Huns. He stopped to visit the Fa family, and when he heard about his friend's trouble with his only daughter, he offered a solution.

"I think my son Li Shang can marry your daughter." He said to his friend, waiting for his reaction, "Since the war is drawing closer, I want to see some grandkids as soon as possible."

Grandmother Fa looked absolutely delighted. "Yes, it will be a great arrangement." She said.

"But mother…" Fa Zhou tried to protest, but the oldest member of the Fa family silenced her son immediately. Her mother, Fa Li gasped, and Fa Zhou sighed. An uncomfortable silence fell across the room. Mulan could only stare at her grandmother wordlessly.

"Look, son," Grandmother Fa said, finally breaking the silence, "It is the only way to bring back our lost honor." She watched Mulan from the corner of her eyes, and continued, "Besides who wants to marry a girl rejected by the matchmaker?"

It was true. Mulan looked at her father's thoughtful face and her mother's sad one. It was the only way to undo the damage she had done to her family.

Besides who would want to marry a girl who disgraced her family in public?

"It will be alright, baba." So, she took her father's hand, and patted it gently. " I will be happy with my new husband. I will bring back your lost honor."

"Are you sure, darling?" Mulan could feel her father's keen eyes watching her anxiously. She was feeling as guilty as her father.

"Yes, I am, baba." She swallowed again and again.

The carriage stopped in front of the Fa family temple. Mulan made an effort to see the faces of the guests, but she could not see anyone except her mother and her grandmother. They had arrived in another carriage a few minutes before them. Her mother hurried to her side as Mulan stepped down from the carriage, and her father led her inside the temple.

A moment later another carriage arrived carrying the groom and his father.

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Despite her determination to ignore it, her wedding ritual went on uneventfully. It actually took less than ten minutes, attended only by her parents, her grandmother and her future in-laws. She was led to the groom by her father. They had not exchanged a word except in answer to their vows. Soon after the ceremony, she was shoved into her new husband's carriage. Mulan was so much occupied with her own misery all the time, that she did not bother to look at her new husband. But now, sitting opposite to him, on a couch, she could not but escape one or two glimpses of the man she had married. His name was Li Shang or so she had heard from her mother. He was the captain of one of the finest troops in the emperor's army. He had a distinct aura of supremacy around him. He was tall and muscular, well fitted for his position. His long dark hair was tied in a neat bun. There was something unnerving about his eyes; Mulan could not tell what it was. His expression was unreadable. So, Mulan could not tell whether he was happy or angry with this marriage.

It was odd that she felt so miserable; Mulan mused, for she had just saved her family from further disgrace by this marriage. But now, being married to a complete stranger, she was feeling completely clueless, like she was at her wits and had no idea what to do next. Even she had no idea what kind of man her husband was, and the thought of going to bed with a complete stranger tonight was choking her.

So, Mulan looked out of the window, trying to enjoy the changing landscapes. But she could hardly concentrate because she felt her husband was watching her curiously like he was assessing her, and measuring her from all the angles. Maybe she had mistaken, but she was sure she had seen a hint of a faint smile on his lips.

Finally, the carriage stopped in front of a pleasant looking house, painted with ancient Chinese arts. The whole cottage was decorated with ribbons and candles of different colors. It was so beautiful, that Mulan could not hold back her curiosity.

Uncertain of what to do next, she asked, "What is this place?" She bit her tongue immediately. She forgot that brides were not supposed to speak without the permission of their husbands.

After all first impressions always mattered. And she had just made a bad first impression on her husband.

She expected him to be furious. When she looked at his face, she found him watching her closely. His expression was still unreadable, but, as his gaze drifted from the top of her shining hair to the hem of her gleaming silk ruqun, she sensed that he was finally going to say something, and she held her breath expectantly.

"It is your new home," He smiled, offering his hand.

Reviews? Faves? Follows?

Should I continue? I like to know your thoughts. So reviews will be greatest inspirations.

Probably not my best idea. It is an AU set during the first movie. If Mulan is married off to Shang to save her family from disgrace after the accident at the matchmaker's. A lot of drama, darkness and sexual frustrations are coming. (Maybe will be rated to M later).

This is my first Mulan fic. English is not my first language. So some errors maybe left. Consider them nicely.