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AsenseofimpendingdoomhungovertheHuahousehold.Theyhadmanagedtoignoretheeventsoftheafternoonfortherestoftheday,butnow,astheygatheredaroundthedinnertable,thetensionwasthick.

Mulanplayedwithherfood.Shehadnoappetite.Howcouldshewhentherewasarockinthemiddleofherstomachfromthethoughtofherfatherfightingthenortherninvaders?Besideher,Xiutookahalf-heartedbiteandthenputdownherfood.Shewasn’thungry,either.

Acrosstheway,Mulan’smotherhadn’tevenbotheredtotakeaplate.ShesatwithhereyeslockedonZhou.Unaware,orchoosingtoignorethelooksfromhiswifeanddaughters,Zhouatewithgusto.

“You’reawarhero,”Lisaid,herwordssoftasshebrokethesilence.“You’vealreadymademanygreatsacrifices—”

Zhoudidn’tletherfinish.Heknewwhatshewasgoingtosay.“AreyousuggestingourfamilynotspplywiththeImperialedict?”

ThewordswereoutofMulan’smouthbeforeshecouldstopthem.“Buthowcanyoufightwhenyoucanbarely—”

Zhou’sfistslammedontothetable,stoppingMulanmidsentence.Furyfilledhisface.Hiswifeanddaughterslookedathimaghast.Hehadalwaysbeenamanwhopridedhimselfonrestraintandkeepinghiscalm.Thisoutburstwasunlikehim—anditwasfrightening.

“Iamthefather!”hesaid,hisvoiceboomingthroughthesmallroom.“Itismyplacetobringhonortoourfamilyonthebattlefield.Youarethedaughter.”Hepaused,hiseyesboringintoMulan.“Learnyourplace!”Pushinghimselftohisfeet,Zhoulimpedfromtheroom.

Atthetable,Mulansatstill,herheadhunglow.Herfather’swordsstung.Notjustbecauseoftheirtone,butbecauseofthemeaningbehindthem.Herfatherhadalwaysbeenherbiggestsupporter.Hehadalwaysencouragedhertobewhoshewasevenwhenshewastryingtohideherimpetuousnature,shehadstillfehisloveandencouragement.Shehadalwaysbelievedherfatherknewthatshewantedmore,couldbemore.