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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.”