Identities

It's now winter, and Lan continues with her diligent life in the training camp.

Her schedule switches every day from physical training of swordsmanship, martial art, horse riding, and archery, to a day full of learning to improve reading and writing.

Every morning, Lan wakes up before everyone--at dawn--to do her share of chores by getting water from the nearby lake, and prepping the foods for the chefs to do their magic later during the day.

Lan can't cook. She insisted once, but almost burned the entire kitchen section down..maybe one day she'll try again.

One morning, Lan woke up extra early to go to the village to restock on foods. The village wakes up early along with Lan, so she had no problem of having to wait for stalls to open.

As she walks down the icy path though, everyone is talking about something. One thing. The big news: The new emperor of the Qui Kingdom, Emperor Zhuang (Zhu Dong's posthumous name), had declared his empress, Empress Ronglan (Lan Hua's posthumous name), who was the former crown prince's consort.

The news that Qiu went through a change in power was already known seven months ago. The official statement from the royal family was that Emperor Han and Crown Prince Zhi Dai got poisoned and died from the wounds in a rebel attack. The rebellion was allegedly stopped by Prince Zhu Dong and being the only legitimate male heir left, it was natural he became the next emperor to bring tranquility back to the royal family and the kingdom. When he came to rule, citizens praised him endlessly for bringing prosperity back to Qiu that was fading since Emperor Han's rule. One thing that troubled them though, was the unknown whereabouts of the lost princess, Zhi Lan.

Citizens spit at Empress Ronglan's reign. The once virtuous consort gains her position by seducing the current emperor was what everyone thought.

Only Lan's reaction differed. Shocked. Angry. Sad. She already wondered how the people could easily give up and belittle her grandfather's and father's efforts for Qiu. Their sleepless nights to help citizens of every social class...But now, their words against her mother is even more absurd! Their words are ones without evidence. They don't know what happened, yet they speak as if they were there.

'They weren't there. I was.'

Lan returns to camp in the state she was in months ago--distant and empty. She drops the groceries off and headed towards her tent. "Lan, the field's this way", one soldier pointed out. "Please notify the Commander and General that I don't feel well. I'll be in my tent resting."

Lan dragged herself to her tent, her bed, then silently cries.

While she lives her life well here, how bad has her mother been suffering alone? No matter how skilled she is now, how can she take down an emperor with power and armies with her mere sword? Lan doesn't know what to do. What can she do? She cradles herself and continues to let the tears pour out, cursing at her uselessness.

For a whole week, Lan moped without any disturbance. Commander Wei didn't know what happened, but he and General Wei are starting to be concerned for her. She doesn't practice or take care of herself well. She barely leaves her tent. And when she does, she goes because she was forced out to eat. But she barely did with a few rice grains and a sip of water.

Back in her tent, Lan laid on her favorite soft, fur-covered bed. She stares straight up without observing anything in particular. Just there. Empty, as she feels her soul slowly disappears from within.

Then enters Commander Wei. "Lan. What has gotten into you? We let you have a week to yourself, so you can overcome whatever you're going through, but not only are you not getting better, you're getting worse. Child, you've gotten so skinny. Must you do this to yourself? Can't you open up to me? Tell me what's going on? What happened?" He softly looks at the little girl.

Lan hugged onto him tightly and broke down, sobbing.

Lan's heartaches as she feels useless when her mother is suffering under the wrath of her uncle. Commander Wei's heartaches to see Lan in despair again. He misses the cheerful girl that always smiled, laughed, and whined [to General Wei]. He hugs and patted her until she could regain her composure.

Lan stares at the old man with her puffy, red face. 'Should I tell him?'

The past months proved to her that everyone here is kind to her and cares for her. Especially Commander Wei. He gave her a reason to believe in trusting others again. He comforted her when she was sad. He played and laughed with her when they embarked on their pranks. Commander Wei was the person that made her realize what warmth from someone other than her parents and grandfather felt like. He's not like an uncle--rather, not like Emperor Zhuang. She can trust him with her secret. Her identity.

"Commander Wei," she sniffles. She stares straight as he, "I am princess Zhi Lan of the Qiu Kingdom."