The entire group stared wide-eyed at the scene unfolding before them.
A flying Magic Carpet!
It was just as Emperor Ali had said. But they still couldn't believe what their eyes had just seen.
"Is this real? Can I touch it?"
The first to break the silence was the Emperor. Being bombarded with revelation after revelation was enough to numb his mind.
"Go ahead. You can take a ride on the Carpet as well." Aladdin nodded with a smile.
The Emperor of China nodded. He walked to the flying Carpet and gently stretched his hand forward.
As though sensing his hesitation, Carpet drew in his grasp, folding his tassels around his hand.
"Oh my!" the Emperor of China exclaimed with an incredulous look in his eyes as he shook Carpet's tassels.
The officials and other soldiers also leaned in to touch Carpet. To which Carpet quickly grabbed four more hands with his other tassels and shook them. They all exclaimed simultaneously.
"Amazing! So this is a Magic Carpet!"
"Incredible! This is so incredible!"
"Your Majesty, we need to secure one for... the Imperial Palace."
An official cleared his throat and leaned in to the Emperor to say.
"We sure do." The Emperor of China nodded with a solemn expression. He turned to Aladdin and asked, "I hope that our alliance can lead us to purchasing magical items like this... flying Magic Carpet, Emperor Ali."
"I apologise, Emperor, but this Magic Carpet is something not even common Empires in my land have the privilege of possessing. The person responsible for creating them has long been dead. So it will be difficult for us to sell you items like this," Aladdin replied with a sigh.
"But we can sell you other items, such as winged beasts and magical carriages. Although their functions differ and are more fragile, I think that might suit your taste more."
He could already create stone gargoyles that can guard his Palace and nation against foreign invaders. With his magical skills in enchanting, it shouldn't be that difficult to create a mount or a magical carriage, or perhaps both, that could provide the same function.
The Emperor of China nodded in understanding. "Fine. If something like this is unique to the magical land you come from, that shows just how special it is. I will be looking forward to our trade."
"From now on, call me Emperor Chen. That is my name." He flashed Aladdin a smile.
"Emperor Chen." Aladdin nodded with a smile.
"Let me help you get on the flying Carpet."
He stepped forward and gestured for Carpet to fly lower.
Carpet flew lower, and the other side of his body turned into a staircase towards their direction.
Aladdin helped the Emperor by the hand and led him up the stairs. He then gestured for him to sit on the Carpet.
Emperor Chen did as he was told.
"Hold on tight," Aladdin said before clapping twice.
At the sound of his clap, Carpet shot into the skies.
"HOLD ON TO WHHAATTT??" Emperor Chen's screams resonated behind them.
Carpet spun around the courtyard, taking off into the heavens.
"EMPEROR!!"
The officials and Imperial Guards screamed in fear and worry.
"I'M OKAY!!!" Emperor Chen's voice thundered from the skies.
"He said he's okay. So he will be okay." Aladdin waved his hand dismissively at the officials who tried to approach him.
They sighed in relief, but their expressions held a tinge of worry. They followed the trail of the Emperor in the sky, keeping an eye out in case he encountered any danger. They would immediately force Aladdin to bring him down.
As everyone kept their eyes on the Emperor, Li Shang stealthily approached Aladdin.
"Your Majesty." He bowed respectfully towards Aladdin.
Aladdin nodded and gestured for him to rise.
As he rose, Li Shang looked behind and saw that his father and the other Imperial Captains had followed him from behind.
General Li replied with a nod before refocusing on Aladdin. "Forgive me for not realising your true identity, Emperor Aladdin. I should have known that someone of your calibre was far beyond being an ordinary traveller."
He had already suspected that Aladdin wasn't who he claimed to be during their first meeting. But among all of the assumptions that he had made, none of them included him being the Emperor of a foreign Empire.
And not only that, but in a foreign land, the reason he had ventured into their land was that he was hunting down a witch.
This was something that General Li would have found very hard to believe previously, but after his battle with the Metal Men and the flying Carpet, he believed it without the slightest bit of hesitation.
What made him worry was the fact that he had tried to trade a special elixir from Aladdin. If he had pushed any harder, he was certain that he might have ruined Aladdin's initial plan.
"It was a disguise you weren't meant to find out about." Aladdin shook his head.
General Li replied with a curt nod. "Although we have already offered our deepest gratitude, I wanted to thank you once more for your help against the Metal Men. Without your support, I am sure that none of us would still be standing here today. Perhaps even China wouldn't either." He bowed towards Aladdin once more.
The Captains beside him bowed as well.
Li Shang followed suit. Regardless of how many times they thanked Aladdin, they believed it still wouldn't be enough for the help he had rendered.
Fortunately, Aladdin was benevolent enough to do all of this without asking for anything in return. Even the trading alliance with Ababwa would favour them more than it favoured Ababwa, showcasing his magnanimity.
"You don't need to continue thanking me. Just focus on how to handle the change that's about to take place in China." Aladdin waved his hand dismissively at them, looking tired.
General Li nodded. He gently tapped Li Shang on his shoulder and left with the other Captains.
Soon, only Li Shang stood before Aladdin and Mulan.
"Your Majesty, I just wanted to say that it was an honour having you as a teacher," Li Shang said. "But I don't deserve to be called your student."
"Why?" Aladdin asked, surprised.
"Because..." Li Shang glanced at Mulan before withdrawing his gaze to Aladdin and continuing in a firm tone. "Because I have failed in protecting my comrade. When Mulan revealed her identity to the Emperor, I didn't stand to defend her. Despite also being her Captain, I kept silent and watched as she was taken away."
"So this is what it is about," Aladdin thought.
He wasn't surprised by Li Shang's words because, after spending time with him, he had learned that despite his strict personality, he was an emotional young man. So something like this wasn't something he would easily brush away despite the kind of situation they had been in.
"If that's the case, then I'm not the one that you should be apologising to," Aladdin replied, gesturing towards Mulan. "It's her."
He added with a smile, "You will forever remain a student of mine regardless of what you do. I will just have to discipline you if you do a little too much."
Despite being in the same age group, none of them found Aladdin's words out of place.
Li Shang nodded solemnly. Then, he shifted his attention towards Mulan. Before he could bow once more, Mulan interrupted, "Stop! I don't need it."
She shook her head in response. "You did the right thing by not interfering, Captain. If you had, I'm afraid that the Emperor wouldn't have let the matter go easily."
The worst thing that could have happened was Li Shang feeling betrayed that she had lied to him. So she was very relieved that her relationship with Li Shang hadn't deteriorated. She felt guilty that he was the one apologising, not her.
Li Shang's face scrunched up in reluctance. But after seeing that Mulan had truly forgiven him, his shoulders relaxed in defeat. "You will always be welcomed within the Second Cavalry Division."
Mulan nodded with a smile.
"But that will be hard now that you have joined the Emperor's council as a member. At most, he will arrange for you to have your own troop," Li Shang said before sighing in resignation.
"This means that we are no longer in the same rank. Yours now exceeds mine, so it's best that you stop addressing me as Captain, or else others might get the idea once the details of what had happened here are released to the public."
Mulan hesitated, but after thinking it through, her expression quickly became firm, and she nodded in response. "I understand, Captain Li Shang." She cupped her fist and bowed towards him.
"Thank you for listening to my request, Council Member Mulan." Li Shang cupped his fist and bowed towards her as well.
A brief silence settled over them as they straightened their backs.
"HAAHAHA!!"
Suddenly, a peal of laughter tore through the silent atmosphere.
"Hahhaha!!"
"Haahaaa!!"
Li Shang and Mulan looked away in embarrassment before joining in on the laughter as well.
All three of them were merry for several moments before their laughter died down.
Li Shang saluted both of them before returning to stand with General Li and the others.
Only Aladdin and Mulan were left alone.
Seeing the opportunity to speak with Aladdin alone, Mulan couldn't stop herself from asking, "So this is the secret you have been hiding from me?" She tilted her head to the side.
"What secret?" Aladdin replied confidently.
Mulan stared at him in disbelief.
"Okay, you caught me red-handed." Aladdin waved his hands in the air.
Mulan shook her head and turned her head away with a light chuckle.
"I still find it hard to believe that you are an Emperor," she remarked.
"You will get used to it," Aladdin replied. "So, did you like your wish?"
"I loved it," Mulan said, nodding.
She remained silent, unsure of what to say.
"Ppssssshttt!"
Suddenly, a voice resonated from the side, causing Mulan to snap her head in its direction.
To her surprise, she saw Mushu hiding behind a wooden pillar within the courtyard.
Mulan was stunned. She quickly mouthed her words without uttering a sound. 'How did you get here?'
'Why are you so surprised? I'm a dragon. I can fly.' Mushu mouthed back his words without uttering a sound and made gestures with his hands in the shape of a mouth at the same time. 'I just came to see what all the fuss was about after Emperor Aladdin's entrance.'
Mulan wanted to respond, but she halted, stunned. Her face twisted into a mixture of shock and astonishment. 'You know he is Emperor Aladdin.'
'Of course, who doesn't? I also watched the parade.' Mushu shook his head tiredly.
'MUUUSHHHU!' Mulan widened her mouth.
"Okay, you got me. I knew he was Emperor Aladdin before all of this charade." He placed both arms on his waist and sighed.
Cri-Kee waved his tiny legs at her from a distance.
Mulan returned with a quick wave before refocusing on Mushu. 'I'm disappointed you hid such a huge secret from me.'
'Oh, come on! What did you expect me to do after learning that your teacher Aladdin was Emperor Aladdin? Our lives could have been in danger.' Mushu spread his arms out and replied with a begrudging expression.
Mulan sighed in defeat, pondering the matter for a little while before she decided to let it slide. Just as she was about to respond, Mushu interjected, 'No time. I will apologise properly later. Go get your prince... I mean, Emperor. I'm counting on you.'
'Muusshuu, he is married.'
'Annndd? Haven't you heard about the Imperial family?' Mushu responded with questioning brows. 'You better get him before he chooses to leave, or else I promise that you will regret it.'
'It's not every day you get to have Emperor Charming riding to your rescue. Your mates will have to settle for Prince Charming… You know how much generational luck the ancestors gave you for this particular opportunity."
He chopped his hand above the other.