Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the Long ballad Nor it's characters.
Standing on the balcony, a cold faced man of twenty four years, looks out as an eagle swoops around the cities buildings. Watching it as it gives a call, a man behind him talks.
"Chang'an is such a lively city, it's so much more fun here than our grasslands."
"What you see may not be the truth, the prosperity now may not last" he tells his companion before turning and leaving the room.
Stepping onto the street, the two men look around before splitting up and going different directions.
"Sugar figures for sale" A vendor calls, as one of the men walk to him and asks how much.
Discreetly as money exchanges hands, as a note is passed between the two of them. With a small nod, the young man starts to walk away and enjoy his candy figurine, not paying attention to the sound of soldiers on horses coming up fast behind him or them yelling at him to get out of their way.
"Look out" His friend says, grabbing his elbow pulling him out of the way.
"Are you blind" One of the soldiers yells at them as they come to a stop and turning their horses.
"Do you soldiers only know how to bully people" The young man asks catching his balance.
When the soldiers start to threaten the young men, his friend tell him not to cause trouble, and that they should leave. Not liking to be dismissed, the lead soldier unhooks a rolled whip and lets it unfurl, before casting out the whip to strike the men. He is not prepared however, for one of the men to catch it and pull him off his horse to the ground. Angry for their fellow officer, the two other soldiers start to move forward towards the men. When seemingly out of nowhere, a boy on a horse jumps over the downed soldier making him curl into a ball.
"Is this how soldiers of the Crown prince, treat civilians" The boy asks, looking down on the soldier from his horse.
Standing, the soldier goes to reprimand the boy; however, when he sees the boy's face he goes to a knee with his arms out in front of him fingers touching.
"Prin..." he says, but the boy cut him off before he can finish. Causing him to start groveling to the young boy on the horse.
Looking down his nose, the boy tells the soldiers to leave the people in the city alone, and go back to the palace. Standing of to the side, the two men watch as the three soldiers rush away and then turn to the boy when asked if they are both OK.
"I can't believe you'd confront the crown princes men, I wish more would. Don't worry about any repercussions, they were the ones who started trouble." The boy then turns to face the young man who had lost his sugar figurine, and told him he may want to work on his transferring of messages.
"I was able to see the transfer easily" he warns.
As the boy leaves, the taller of the two men watches his retreating form and listens to his companion say that if it wasn't for the boy, he would've kicked the soldiers asses.
"Don't forget why we came to Chang'an Yalo (Ya-lo)" the cold looking man says.
With a nod the young man follows his taller companion, who hears two vendors off to the side talk.
"Poor child, we probably won't see him for a while now." The vender says to her friend and he thinks nothing of it and keeps walking, with his friend following behind him.
Walking into a room, the boy walks around a screen and sits next to a middle aged women, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.
"A'Niagh"(mother)
"Changge (Chung-ga)" The woman says with a little smile.
"A'Niagh Don't call me that, you'll get in trouble." Changge says worried.
The woman places her hand on the top of her child's head and says it's the name she gave her daughter, and when no one is around and it's safe, it is what she will call her. Resting her head on her mother's shoulder, the girl that is hidden as a boy nods and look to see what her mother was doing.
"A'Niagh why is so much of your hair falling out" Changge asks worriedly.
Smiling her mother just says it's a part of growing old, and asked if she had snuck out again. Sitting away from her mother she nods.
"I wish you wouldn't, but I know you do it to protect the people of the city in the only way you know how." Her mother tells her.
Smiling, Changge Rest her head back on her mothers shoulder and listens while her mother talks about her day. Hearing footsteps come up behind her, Changge sighs when a soldier calls for her.
"Shiqi (shi-chi) The Crown Prince heard about today and wishes to see you." He says emotionlessly.
" I understand" Changge says and stands then bows to her mother before following the soldier.
Behind her, her mother watching her leave with sadness.
