Chapter Text
"Mama? How would one know they're with child?" Mulan asked. Her mother, Fa Li, stumbled slightly. "Why do you ask, Mulan? Do you think you are?" She asked, hanging up some wet clothes. "No... I finished my cycle a few days ago. I'm just wondering when I get married. We are, after all, engaged," She continued. That was a slight lie: her cycle was due a few days ago, and Mulan had never strayed from it. Not even in the army, she was bang on, every single month. "Well... there are a few, but the one that proved right for the women in our family was the wheat and barley test." Fa Li smiled. "What's that?" Mulan asked, frowning. "Well, the wheat and barley test is where women... relieve themselves... on wheat and barley seeds over several days. If the wheat sprouts, she is going to have a girl. If the barley, a boy. If neither sprout, then she isn't pregnant," Fa Li explained, a little awkwardly. Mulan chuckled slightly, "Who knew seeds can determine the course of your life?"
~
Mulan sighed deeply as she gazed upon the barley. It had sprouted. Quite a lot. She'd done the test about 2 weeks ago, and only the barley had sprouted. How on Earth would Shang react? They weren't even married for god's sake! "Mulan? I'm home!" The man of the hour shouted. She cringed and rubbed her eyes. "In here!" She called, addressing their washroom. His footsteps grew a little louder as he approached the door. "Hey, you ok?" He asked, walking in. Mulan sighed. "Shang... sit... I have something to tell you," She grabbed his hands and guided him to the ground, where she sat. "Mulan, you're scaring me." He said with a worried look. "I'm not gonna sugar-coat this," She began. Shang nodded, "Whatever is the matter? I'm getting worried now," Mulan took a deep breath. "I'm pregnant," She said and immediately closed her eyes. She waited for Shang to speak. "What?" He whispered. "I'm pregnant... and I think it's gonna be a boy," She repeated. She felt Shang's callous, but warm and gentle, hands grab her face. She opened her eyes and was surprised to meet his slightly glossy brown ones. "We're gonna have a baby?" He asked. Mulan nodded and let a small smile grace her face. "We're gonna have a baby," She laughed. Shang grabbed her in a tight hug. "We're gonna have a baby!" He cheered.