Turning,hemovedbacktothethrone.Dismissed,Mulanmadeherwaytowardthesoldiers—herfriends.Thenightwasyoung,andthecelebrationwasjustbeginning.Forthenextfewhours,Mulanreasoned,shewouldforgetherjourneyhomeandjustenjoylife.Shewouldhavetimetothinkaboutwhattosaywhenshesawherfamily—andherfather—later.
DawnwasbeginningtobrightentheedgeoftheImperialCityasMulanledBlackWindacrossabridgetowardthemaingates.Intheskyaboveafewlanternsdriftedaimlessly,whileaboatfloatedemptyinthewaterbelow.Thecitywasquietinthepost-celebrationhour,aswasMulan.
“Youcan’tleave.”
HearingHonghui’svoice,Mulanturned,surprisedbytheemotionshefeasshelookedoveratthehandsomeyoungman.Throughoutthenightshehadtriedtofindhim,buttonoavail.Therewassomuchshewantedtosay.Shewantedtosayhowsorryshewasandhowshehadwantedtotellhimthetruthallalong.Shewantedtosayhello—andgoodbye.Butnowthathewasthere,infrontofher,shewasatalossforwords.
Honghuiwalkedcloser,therisingsunmakinghishairlightupandhiseyestwinkle.Hesmiledasheapproached,andMulancouldn’thelpsmilingback.“TheEmperorgiveshispermissionformetoleave,”shesaid.“Butyoudonot?”
“We’venotsaidgoodbye,”Honghuianswered.
“Goodbye,Honghui,”shereplied.
“Goodbye,Mulan.”