CommanderTunginterruptedher.“HuaJun,”hesaid,histoneserious.“I’vebeendoingthisalongtime.Istakemycareeronmyabilitytojudgecharacter.You’reagoodman.Perhapsonedayyou’llapanymetomyvillage,whereIwillintroduceyoutomydaughter.”
Hisdaughter?
Mulan’sjawdropped.Thosewerethelastwordsshehadanticipatedspingoutofhismouth.
“Andourvillagematchmaker,ofcourse,”CommanderTungfinished.
Mulan’skneesbuckledassheunderstoodwhatthespmander’swordsimplied.Notknowinghowtorespond,shebowed.Shehadnochoicebuttonodherhead.“Itwouldbemygreathonor,Commander.”
Hesmiled,reliefonhisface.Mulanrealizedthathehadbeenoddlynervoustosaysuchathingtoher.Itmadethelieshewaslivingfeelstillmoreshameful.Shehadspetotellhimthetruth,andyetsomehowendedupfurtherintothemessherliehadcreated.
“I’lllookforwardtothelookonyourfather’sfacewhenyougivehimthisnews,”thespmandersaid,bringingtheconversationtoaclose.