Identity
OrangeThunder
There will be femslash. I didn't plan on it, but what the hey?
Thanks a bunch for the reviews, guys!
By the way, bizznot – in the previous chapter Lian is sixteen because it's set four years before the main events in the game, which is why it's a prologue. I apologize if I didn't make it that clear to you.
And please, no bashing on my grammar. I am aware that I'm not very good with it (and I did my best) but I wrote this mainly for my entertainment, so I won't bother to correct them.
Enjoy!
Chapter One: The Smiling Lotus
The Heavenly Lily escaped from the mind-numbing duties in the Palace for the millionth time. It was too easy; she trusted her servants. Even they know of Lian's alter ego.
Four years have passed since she first 'discovered' Silk Fox and she was enjoying every minute of it. Oh, how much she loved the taste of freedom? But being Silk Fox has its own disadvantages; she discovered some terrible truths that she'd never thought possible.
Gao the Greater said that his son overheard his Master Li of Two Rivers claiming that he is… is…Sun Li! Ha! My uncle is long dead! Nevertheless, Lian still wanted to go to the remote village somewhere in the Golden Delta. No doubt that wretched Inquisitor Lim would have heard about it by now. And he will send some of his slaves to Two Rivers. They all will see the truth! The Glorious Strategist couldn't possibly be alive! He was killed in Dirge!
She had a bad feeling for this one. Luckily, the masked princess knew people that enabled herself to reach the idyllic village in no time.
She just hoped that she'd reach Two Rivers just before the Lotus Assassin does. It was possible that the wretched bitch, Grand Inquisitor Jia, would be there. Or even Death's Hand.
Bastard!
Words cannot begin to describe Lian's absolute hatred towards Death's Hand. If that was ever possible, it managed to get worse after Lian heard some truths about Death's Hand. How he twisted Lian's own father? How dare he? Lian's blood was boiling.
Lian was so deep in her enraged thoughts that she did not realise that she was closer to Two Rivers than she thought she was. She coughed violently; there was something afoul in the normally refreshing air. Smoke enraged from a certain place. No, it can't be-
And she saw fires.
Shit.
Yes, a princess does not normally know cursing, whatever, but… she couldn't believe that they would set afire to Two Rivers? What for? No doubt that this is the work of that… that asshole! Damn it! Why did he have to burn an entire village? But… but… no! Death's Hand burned down an entire village just because of some… some rumour that Prince Sun Li the Glorious Strategist is alive? Preposterous! Unforgivable!
Lian shook her head. She ran quickly as possible to the cliff so she could get a view of what is happening to Two Rivers. She may not wish to see the horror unleashed, but she had to be valiant enough in case she could found out something useful.
Moments later, Lian found out that she stood corrected. It was indeed the work of Death's Hand, and heck, even the wonderful Grand Inquisitor Jia was present too! Surely they could not fall to such trickery of some arrogant spoiled boy? And she saw a flyer leaving the blazing town.
She saw that it wasn't flying too well. She didn't think that they had a wind map and it looked partially damaged. She was sure that it'd end up in Tien's Landing. Well. Guess that's my next stop. Humph. If I remember correctly, Minister Sheng governs it. Useless toad! Huh.
Lian remembered that there was a governor – she couldn't recall his name- in the Imperial Area that did not like him and sent him away far as possible from the Imperial City. "Politicians!" she murmured under her breath.
But what she hated even more that corrupted politicians was the Lotus Assassins, especially the very being that lead them all. Gao the Lesser was not a honourable man, yet they believed him without caution. She would not believe anything that sprouts out of Gao the Lesser's vile mouth, but he was no worse that his despicable father. She cursed under her breath once again.
Sighing seems to be in the Princess' nature as she did it again goodness knows how many times this day. She hastily set of to Tien's Landing, with only one agenda in her mind.
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Chang Wu the Smiling Lotus.
It was all the Princess could think of all day. She couldn't understand why she couldn't take her eyes off her or why her face pops into her head every time she tried to sleep.
Her three encounters with Wu the Smiling Lotus was... unusual, to say at the least. Lian found the woman striking and unique. Wu's companion, clad in red with golden patterns, reminded her of someone she couldn't point her finger at.
The Smiling Lotus was wearing an outfit she has not seen before. She had a silky red corset-like top like that bared her belly. She had a loose black trouser than had red dragon-like patterns and the bottom of the trouser were tucked in her crimson boots.
Her hair was simple and was tied back in a plait. It reminded her of the painting of a famous female warrior across the western sea. She remembered that a foreigner told her father that female warriors were not a common sight and tended to domestic business. Lian shrugged. It was her idea of hell; being stuck in the house all day and night, even if that certain house is as big and as grand as the Imperial Palace.
She hated being confined like an animal in a cage. She'd get bitter and ill-tempered if she did not get the chance to descend on the world below.
She slipped into her Palace effortlessly. She couldn't believe how easy it was to get away from the Palace at times, but then her father can be extremely busy at times. He wasn't exactly the best father figure. It was understandable to Lian, since he carries heavy responsibilities. Sometimes, Emperor Hai encouraged Lian to "escape" the mind-numbing duties of the Palace from time to time.
How much she loved to be on the ground! Here, she could roam around like a wild tigress. Free to do almost everything, as long she was hidden behind a mask.
The Heavenly Lily thought back to the time where she first met the Smiling Lotus face to face a short while ago. Without second thoughts, she rashly accused Wu of being Death's Hand pawn; one of his mindless, weak marauding thieves. How very wrong was she! Wu fought ever so elegantly, which was unexpected from her simple and rough appearance. It was all the proof Lian needed that Wu was not a thief or a pirate or any of that sort. Death's Hand would not allow any of his pawn to be this strong, perhaps except Jia and his Lotus Assassins. Wu certainly did not dress like one.
The princess in disguise had a right to be suspicious of the other woman. She did not know who she is or where she was from or, most importantly, what her intention is. Lian let her set on her merry way after their chat.
News of the opening of the damn spread like locusts. Lian did not expect Wu to work this fast and she was greatly impressed, and intervened with Wu's business a further two times to drop hints about the location of a wind map and a flyer.
The slightly muscular woman was enthusiastic and eager to reach the Imperial City, yet Wu was patient; something Lian never had. She always brought a companion or two along with them. Lian could see that one of the new followers is only a young girl. She thought that Wu was mad as a hatter, but she had a feeling that there is more to the little girl that her eyes were letting in.
As usual, her attention always diverted back to the charming Smiling Lotus. Lian shrugged the feeling off; Wu was highly admirable as a warrior and a person which was a rare trait indeed. She was looking forward to meeting Wu as the Heavenly Lily, not Silk Fox. She wondered what her reaction would be.
Last she heard, her flyer was already on her way to the Imperial City with the magnificent Marvellous Dragonfly once they acquired a wind map from a Lord in a forest that needed healing. She caught sight of it once and fell in love with it. It was quite shiny indeed; as if it reflected the mighty glory of Heaven itself. Kang the Mad may be mad, but he is a rather entertaining genius.
Wu and her 'friends' would arrive shortly, Lian calculated, perhaps just before dusk. She would have to greet her before soldiers of the Imperial Army whisked her away for investigation conducted by the Lotus Assassins.
Those pompous Assassins told the public that if they saw a woman with a white top stained with blood, flowing black trouser with fires on it and a tough bloody red shoes with long, smooth tied back hair, they must report back to the Assassins, because she was a dangerous monotonous slayer on the loose. They even speculated that she was beautiful with many scars on her face and the most ridiculous theory Lian heard so far was that Wu was a demon. Lian stifled a giggle. They couldn't even get the appearance right which worked to the advantage of Wu. Well, I didn't see any survivors back in Tien's Landing.Still, the guesswork is off the radar.
Of course, the Imperial Army was working alongside with the Assassins. No, it was more likely that the Army served under the Assassins. The lot in the Imperial Army lacked intelligent the Assassins greatly favoured. No doubt that the soldiers were ordered monitor all incoming flights.
She took out a paper and a handwriting brush. She wrote down the time and the place that the Smiling Lotus should meet after their 'formal' introductions so that Lian could be herself once again, free from the ears of the public. She put it in a letter and tucked it away to give it to one of her servants.
Lian slapped her hands against her head. She realised that she had not yet fully changed into her Princess' form and the Marvellous Dragonfly would approach the Imperial City rather soon.
She wondered what 'Fate' had in store for herself the moment the Smiling Lotus landed in the heart of the Jade Empire.
Chang Wu the Smiling Lotus.
What have you done to my mind?