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Mulanwasmiserable.Sittingonanufortablestool,shetriednottomoveashermothergatheredherlongblackhairandtuggedandpulledthestrandsintosubmission.Mulanwincedasafewmoretangledstrandsgaveuptheirfightandwereyankedpainfullyfromherhead.

ShehadanticipatedtheprocessofmeetingtheMatchmakerwouldbeemotionallyexhausting,butshehadfailedtoconsiderthephysicaollitwouldtakeonherbody.Ofcourseshecouldn’tjustarrivetobeinterviewedbytheesteemedMatchmakerinjustanyoldthing.No,no,no,hermotherhadsaid,disgustedbythemereideaofitwhenMulanhadmentionedit.“OnemustpresentherselftotheMatchmakerasshewouldtohersuitor—perfectly.Weallmustbeperfect.”Andthen,asifMulandidn’tknowitalready,hermotheradded,“Ourfamily’sfortunerestsonyou,Mulan.”

WhichwaswhyMulannowfoundherselfbeingmadeuptolooklikeaporcelaindoll.SatisfiedbythebunspiledhighonMulan’shead,Liturnedherattentiontoherdaughter’sface.Bowlshadbeenlaidoutonanearbytable,eachfilledwithdifferentpowdersandliquids.Dippingathickerbrushintothenearestbowl,Listirredthewhitepaste.Thenshebrusheditinsmooth,evenstrokesoverMulan’sface.Whenthegirl’sfacewassppletelycovered,Limovedontothenextbowl.YellowpowderwasblowngentlyontoMulan’sforehead,returningsomecolortoherfaceandmakingMulanwonderwhytheybotheredpaintingitbrightwhiteinthefirstplace.Butbeforeshecouldevenopenhermouthtoask,Liputdowntheyellowpowderandpickeduptheblueink.ThatwasaddedaboveMulan’seyes,binglong,thin“eyebrows”thattiedupattheendssothegirlseemedtobesmilingeventhoughhermouthwasstraight.RougewasaddedtoMulan’scheeks,redwaspaintedonherlips,andfinallyLipastedagoldenornamentbetweenherdaughter’seyes.

Herfaceaddressed,Mulanwaspulledoffthechairandforcedtostandwhilehermotherdressedher.Mulanremainedsilent,thoughshefemoreandmorelikescreaming.Hermotherhadn’tdressedhersinceshewasagirl.Shehadneverbeenforcedtowearfacepaintandherheadalreadyhurtfromthedozensofpinsshovedintoherhairtokeepthebunsinplace.Shefelikeadollhersisterwouldhaveplayedwithwhenshewasagirl.

Mulan’sgazeshiftedtothewindowonthefarwall.ThroughitshecouldseeBlackWindgrazing.Shewantedtoburstfreefromhermother’sgraspandrunoutside,leaponherhorse’sback,andraceoff.Butsheknewshecouldnot.Shehadmadeherpromiseandshewouldnotletherfamilydown—again.

“Look.”

Hermother’svoicestartledMulanandshebroughthergazebackintotheroom.Shegaspedasshesawherreflectioninthemirrorhermotherheldout.Thefacethatstaredbackwasthatofastranger.Herbody,wrappedinalilac-coloreddress,lookedstrange:curveswerevisiblethatwereusuallyhiddenunderlooseclothing.Gingerly,Mulanliftedherheadandtouchedthelotusflowerspbhermotherhadplacedinherhair.Thespbwasoneofhermother’smostcherishedpossessions.Withoutsayinganything,LiwasremindingMulanjusthowimportanttodaywas.

Takingadeepbreath,Mulanheadedoutofthehouseandintothecourtyard.Herfatherstoodwaiting,alsoinhisownformalattire.Seeinghiseldestdaughter,hesmiled,butnotbeforeMulancaughtaflashofsadnessinhiseyes.Atleastshewasn’ttheonlyonewhofeshewashidingherrealselfunderapileofmakeup.

AssoonasLiandXiujoinedthem,bothalsodressedupthoughneitherlookedquiteasexquisiteasMulan,thefamilybegantowalkthroughthevillage.Passingbypeopleshehadknownherentirelife,Mulanfetheireyesonherandheardthesurprisedwhispersastheywalkedby.AhoughMulanfeunrecognizable,thevillagersseemedtorecognizehernheless.