Identity
By OrangeThunder

Jade Empire belongs to Bioware.

Prologue: Birth of a Fox

"Princess Lian, what is the answer?"

Princess Sun Lian the Heavenly Lily's tutor repeated the question for the umpteenth time this day. Lian wasn't paying attention as usual, always wanting to taste the freedom. Lian always wanted to talk to her people without them realizing that she is actually the Princess. Then, people would not be afraid to speak the truth. No more of "Yes, Your Highness" crap. She was rather weary of it.

"Zeng Si the Tree that Defies the Fire was a Horselord invader. He nearly crumpled our empire as a warlord. The Spirit Monks was forced to come out of hiding to defeat Zeng Si as he was causing too much destruction upon Jade Empire. Burn his tree. How ironic…" She knew this answer since she was eight. Plus, it was too simple. She'd rather fight or learn about something else more complicated.

Her tutor wasn't paying too much attention to what Lian said. It was always the same response. He would always stroke his long beard. "That is very good, Princess! Now, we shall move on to Khor Miah, the Swift Arrow…"

Lian was already daydreaming; fighting in a battlefield along with Seng Si, the Broken Bough. She held high regards for the female commander; she did much more in a single valiant battle than others did in an entire campaign. She wanted to be known for something great. Not as a well-mannered Heavenly Lily. She continued to fidget with her silky green royal garb that covered everything except her lower arms and legs, with silver edges.

"…and so that's the life of Khor Miah, the defender of the First Age. Well, enough lessons for today." The elderly man in his late seventies, clad in an orange philosopher's suit, bowed to Lian and walked out of the room.

All of a sudden, her servants appeared before her. As usual, they held their bowing position. She let out a heavy sigh. She got up and walked to the Royal Tailor Room. She was hoping that Tailor Xu was in. Her father forbid Lian from seeing Xu, since he thought there was a chance of Lian being romantically involved with Xu. Her father would not allow her daughter to marry anyone else except a courtier of a high standing. Such absurdity! I'd rather stab myself in my eyes!

"You all will not breathe a word of this to my father." Lian commanded her newly acquainted servants. She 'sacked' all of her previous servants about five months ago as they all reported Emperor Sun Hai every single movement Lian did. She promised them more rewards if they did not. She acquired younger servants for obvious reasons. Well, except for the head servant, of course.

"Princess Lian! What are you doing here?" Xu nearly fell off his chair in surprise. "Your father's going to hear about this!" The young tailor nervously adjusted his rounded glasses and flattened his short messy hair and wiped the threads off his brown tailor suit.

"Pur-lease! I sent my last group of servants packing. I just want to know when my suit will be ready. It's been well over four months. Surely it's ready?" Lian raised her eyebrow.

"Yes, Princess Lian. It's ready. I apologize it took so long; I had to work in secret. My father would have gone ballistic if he managed to find out." Xu hurried off and came back quicker than Lian could say "Freedom!" Xu left the package on the table so Lian can take it and inspect the content.

"Thank you, Xu. But I'd better get going now; it was luck that I came to find only you." Lian hurried away, too excited to see her new disguise. One of her servants stayed behind to give the young tailor Lian's gift, which he hesitantly accepted. After all, a princess is normally not allowed to show an interest in anything mundane.

"I'm off to my bedroom, do not disturb me!" Lian waved off her servants and interrupted the head servant rather harshly before she could even move her lips, "Yes, yes, yes, I will ring the bell whenever I need you!"

She tore opened her package in agitation that revealed black clothing. She held up one of the attire. It was black with golden trim and protective parts should she decide to fight. And it came with a small piece of clothing that would cover most of Lian's face. She thought it was simply marvelous. She did not expect identical two pieces of attire, however. No wonder why he took a while. She began to think that her gift for Xu wasn't enough. She began to unbutton her collar, when a knock came.

Buttoning her collar yet again, she snapped rather impatiently, "What is it?"

A male voice came. "Your father requests your presence in the Grand Dining Room."

Huh? Holy shit! It's already sunset! She sighed. She swore that she sighs more than everyone in the whole of Jade Empire does. She hid her disguise carelessly. She put on a thin emerald jacket and exited her bedroom. Leading as usual, she walked with long strides to the dining room. As the Lotus Assassin opened the door for her, she saw Death's Hand in the far corner, whom she hold a great a grudge against.

How much she despised Death's Hand and his little order! She did not like the appearance of the Lotus Assassins; they were all bald save for Grand inquisitor Jia. She did not know what Jia looked like but she bet with her life that she looked as bad as the rest of the ghoul-looking Assassins, perhaps even worse. And why bother calling this room Grand Dining Room? Dining room was fine as it is.

"My child, come and sit!" Emperor Sun Hai's voice echoed throughout the dining room. Lian hated being called a child; she never really had a childhood. Her father never gave her much attention nor allows her such fun. She barely remembered her loving mother. For some reasons, there were no pictures of her mother, except perhaps for the small sketch of her mother which one of the retired royal portrayer gave to her. He was afraid that it would get burned. He told her to treasure it for the rest of her life. Oddly, he also told her not to ask her father too many question about Sun Li the Glorious Strategist or Sun Kin the Hand of Heaven.

Still, if she understood the retired artist correctly, then why would her father have the pictures of her mother burnt? To come think of it, he never had pictures of his two brothers either. The princess wasn't too sure what her two uncles looked like. She only knew of their name. Heck, I don't even know how they died. Humph.

"Child?" Emperor Hai spoke yet again. God, how much Lian hated being called a child? Especially when that person is her father. She had a name!

"Yes, Father." She walked to the seat near to the end, next to the Emperor. Lian was staring at the table and fidgeting with her hands, at loss of what to say to her father. He seems so cold and distant these days. Well, he was like this most of the time, however, when Lian was younger Sun Hai would show more affection for his only daughter but it seemed to have ceased now.

"Well, my child, since you are now sixteen years of age, I have ordered Master Bai to end your fighting lessons." The Emperor was stroking his beard calmly as usual.

Lian couldn't believe what she was hearing. Fighting was one of the things that have helped her to overcome boredom. And she was afraid of losing her sanity without some physical exercise. "What? But Fath-"

"Hush, child. My decision is final. I have sent Master Bai away already. Why do you need to fight now? There is no threat now and lessons about the Empire and the heavens are much more important." Lian will not argue with her father; he was so stubborn. And harsh. She still kept her strong composure, as she did not like to appear as weak.

"Yes, Father." She did her best to keep her bitterness to herself, but she doubted that very highly. Luckily for Lian, the rest of the dinner was uneventful and quiet. All she could think about was Death's Hand corrupting her father. He was never this insensitive. Curse him! I swear I will get back to him!

Walking out of the dining room, Lian called after her father. "Father, will I be doing anything tomorrow?"

Please say no… "No… unless you want to do something? Good. I will be with the court in the Throne Room. Have you been seeing Xu lately?"

"What? No, Father! I'm not even one bit interested in him!" She was tempted to add "Are you mad?" but she dare not to. Plus, she'd kill anyone who let this slip away.

"Do not lie to me. I saw you on your way to the tailor. You can't possibly be heading to the kitchen." Darn it. I should be more careful. I'm lucky that he hasn't sent a servant to investigate on me there.

"Yes, Father. I was there to get my yellow garb, but since no-body was there, I left."

Luckily for the Princess, Hai looked convinced. "Yes. Nevertheless, I will get the master tailor to leave it on the table outside your room. Off you go, child!"

She left to walk heavily to her room, her footsteps echoing throughout the Palace. So many thoughts rushed to her bashful head; how her father seem not to care about her, how much Death's Hand corrupted the Emperor and his Empire, how much she wanted to escape this life yet at the same time help people, how she couldn't fight anymore.

That was the final straw.

The servants knew better not to disturb the quick-tempered princess, especially not when she is in an awful mood. They went through this once, and they were too afraid to go through this again. Lian thanked the heaven that nobody would dare to bother her, not at this moment.

She got dressed in her night clothing and decided to have an early night. She was looking forward to tomorrow morning. There, she would know what the Empire and its people really are like. And she could do anything she wished. Talk to the peasants, the homeless, and the thieves. Of course, she will be investigating Death's Hand and his Lotus Assassins. If she hid her true identity, then she may learn about the real Jade Empire.

The Heavenly Lily took her disguise out of the wardrobe and held it up. A mischievous smile crept upon her face.

"Silk Fox."