Beeboop. I finally finished this! This was a very hard chapter to write. Cause it gets a bit complex, hopefully right now this chapter will confuse the heck outta you guys! Cause that's the point. Enjoy!

Recap Chapter 18: To save Zhang Fei's obnoxious daughter, Zhang Xing Cai's life. Zi Qi disobeys orders and rushes out of her post to save her commander, meeting up with a bandit she recognized in the past. Zi Qi manages to kill a bodyguard from Wu before the two main armies come to their rescue. Bruised and battered, she confides herself to Zi Long and pours out her pain.

Chapter 21: Ma Zi Qi: Broken Hearts and Shattered Lives

Shu's victory gained them the rest of the boundary rights in the city that was split between both kingdoms. With all the generals rested up, many of them returned to their cities and posts to wait for their next orders in this war. Zi Qi sat beside Zhao Yun quietly in their carriage heading back to the capital, her arm heavily bandaged and a slight scar above her lip. She let out a heavy sigh before resting her head on the side.

"Are you alright?" Zi Long asked, "We only have a few more hours until we reach the capital, do you need to rest?"

"No."

"Don't worry," he patted her hand, "everything will be alright."

She gave him a faint smile and stared through the boxed shaped window, her mind seemed to flow along with the trees and cities that they had past. The only things that occupied her mind were simply everything. Everything that happened in her life, from joining Shu as a mere servant, to becoming an Imperial Guard and eventually being adopted by Guan Yu. It seemed like such a fairytale, yet she knew if it wasn't for her becoming a servant. She would of not gotten all of these assets she called happiness. 'Zi Qi, you have no right to take Bo Yue away from Huang Ning.' She'd whisper to herself before collapsing into a quick nap filled with tears.

"It's time to get up." She woke up from Zhao Yun's gentle touch, "We're back home." He smiled to her but lost it when he saw her lifeless reply. "Don't worry, everything will be alright." He patted her shoulder, "everyone is waiting outside."

"I guess so." She replied meekly. Zhao Yun stepped out first and opened the flap for her. "I must be happy for them." She repeated and exited out of the carriage with a big smile plastered on her face.

Everyone who did not attend the campaign were outside waiting for their arrival, they all cheered for their new heroes that approached Liu Bei and gave their offerings. "I am glad you are all alright." Liu Bei smiled, "Good job against Wu, I am proud of you all."

"It's good to see you back Ping, Zi Qi." Guan Yu stood tall among the siblings, his spear still grasped in his hands like usual.

"Oh father, with me around nothing would have happened to Zi Qi!" Ping laughed, grabbing his sister by her shoulder and giving her a tight hug.

"Then why is her arm bandaged?" Guan Xing joked, but quieted down when he felt his fathers eyes stare down at him. "Glad to see you're okay Zi Qi!"

"Thank you." Was all she could think of saying.

Right away a giant banquet was held for all the returning officers, it was a way to steer away from the topic of war. Even though most of them just returned from one. Generals took turns going up to the podium, shouting and acting out their parts in the campaign. But…since half of them were drunk they had to be helped off the stage by everyone else.

"Woohoo!" Guan Ping burped, while being helped back to his seat. He had just told his great story of rescuing his little sister and Xing Cai, he didn't receive much applause but instead a lot of laughter since most of the time he mixed up his name with his sisters.

"You're so stupid Ping." Xing Cai folded her arms across her chest, "Eek!" She screamed when the general suddenly hurled on top of her. "You are SOOOOOOO DEAD!" she screamed while her ladies in waiting tended to her now ruined dress.

"You should go change." Zhao Yun plugged his nose with Ma Chao.

"Yeah, you REALLY smell."

"Shut up both of you!" she shouted before running out, the contents of Ping's surprise dripping onto the floor.

"I think I'm going to be sick." Everyone moaned but watched on in confusion as Zi Qi ate some boiled fish. Jiang Wei looked on in concern, he had notice ever since her return she hadn't been the same.

"Are you alright Zi Qi?"

"Huh? Oh I'm fine Bo Yue." She nodded her head once and smiled before taking another bite.

"Well no offence Zi Qi," Huan Ming who had been frowning all day at the site of her sister and Jiang Wei. "I think you should be more formal and call him Lord Jiang. Even my SISTER, who is about to MARRY him doesn't call him by his 'zi'."

"I think it's none of your business what she calls Bo Yue." Zhao Yun snapped, a little irritated that Jiang Wei didn't stand up to this matter.

"It's just one word," Zi Qi placed her hand on Zhao Yun's arm, "Don't strain yourself for me Zi Long. Sorry about that." She smiled again, "You all continue eating, and I'm going to take a walk outside. Enjoy."

"Zi Qi!" Zhao Yun called out but it was already too late. They could see the trims of her skirt leaving the room.

Zi Qi sat under the tall bo tree that had been in the Liu generation for years, but lately the weather had wrecked the roots. The branches were now drooping and the leaves slowly withered and fell down into a giant pile beside her. She allowed her head to rest on the trunk of the tree and closed her eyes, until her ears twitched from the leaves crunching.

"Hey." Jiang Wei crouched down, "Glad I could find you out here. I've been waiting to talk to you all day."

"Why now though? I was in the banquet for the whole night." She laughed sarcastically, "Is this how we are going to be talking now Bo Yue?" she placed her hand over her mouth, "I'm sorry, it just came out."

"You know." he started ignoring her comment. "We haven't had a talk since you went for the campaign." He took a seat beside her, "I was hoping we could talk about…the whole marriage situation."

"What's to talk about? You, Zi Long and Meng Qi are all getting married. It's a happy situation." She stood up, feeling uncomfortable talking about this situation. "I should be getting back, Father will be worried." Jiang Wei watched her smile at him before she turned her heel ready to leave.

"Wait!" he grabbed onto her hand and pulled her back into a tight hug. "Zi Qi, you know how I feel about you." He whispered into her ear. He could feel tear drops on his shoulder, "I promise I'll find a way to cancel the marriage-"

"No!" She screamed backing up from him, her high pony tail getting caught into a branch. Zi Qi used both her hands and managed to tug her hair from the evil twig, ripping a petal from the peony. Both of them looked up to the branch where the twig went through the petal. "Bo Yue," she started, "our relationship can't go any farther." She removed the elastic from her hair and placed it in his hands. "I wish you eternal happiness with Lady Yin."

"Zi Qi!" Jiang Wei cried, holding the ripped up peony in his hand and holding the shattered pierces of his life in his heart.

Zi Qi rushed through the garden, hoping to get back to the banquet as soon as possible. She wiped her runny nose and teary eyes with her sleeve but halted to a stop when she bumped into no one other than Yin Huan Ming. "Zi Qi!" she started, hiding the fact that she saw Jiang Wei and her embracing. Huan Ming controlled her anger and smiled, "I want to apologize for my behaviour earlier and if it wasn't for Lord Zhao stepping in to yell at me." She placed her bony fingers that were covered with rings on top of Zi Qi's shoulder. "I wouldn't of notice how rude I was. Please accept my apology."

"Why would I blame you?" Zi Qi managed a forced smile, she was thankful that it was dark and Huan Ming didn't notice her make up running down her cheek. "You and your sister have given me such life; I dare not take it for granted." She added a bow.

"Oh Zi Qi! You do not have to be so formal!" she gave her infamous Yin sister giggle, "I know!" she squealed, "Huang Ning and I have always felt so horrible for treating you the way we did. We really hope we could be friends. So why not you drop by my quarters tonight, we bring some wine…and have a total girls night out!"

"I-"

"You don't have to go if you don't want, it's just we would love to bond with you."

"I'd love to go. I hope to become best of friends with the Lady Yin's."

"Oh that's so wonderful! How about you drop by my quarters…quarter after midnight! Bring the wine!" Without saying much more, Huan Ming had disappeared into the banquet crowd. Zi Qi stood there stoned. It was an odd offer for Huan Ming to even mention, just what were they up to?

The Yin sisters lived on opposite sites of the castle, it was a weird placement since the two were inseparable since birth. But it was an idea the Yin sisters approached their future mother in laws with…and that's something they can't say no to. Huan Ming's quarters were directly East from Ma Chao's, as Huang Ning's were West from Jiang Wei's…and Zi Qi's own. She wondered why Huan Ming would want two people to walk farther, but then again…it was Yin Huan Ming.

The wine jar in her hand belonged to Ping, she had stolen it from his not-so secret stash earlier that night. "Hey! What are you doing with Ping's wine?" someone shouted at her unexpectedly, Zi Qi held up the jar high in surrender and turned around. Sighing in relief to see Ma Chao grinning.

"What are you doing out so late Meng Qi?"

"What do you think I'd be doing? Dancing?" He grabbed his spear and twirled with it high in the air. Zi Qi crossed her arms and frowned, "I'm kidding! So what ARE you doing?"

"I'm going to Lady Yin's for some late night drinking."

"You? Drinking?"

"What's wrong with that?" Surely Zi Qi knew why the Tiger General's reaction was so sour. One reason why Zi Qi rarely drank was not only because of her low alcohol tolerance, it was because the first time she got drunk…she almost ran over Liu Chan's kitten with a wheelbarrow. "I thought it was a TIGER." She stressed out but shrugged.

"Oh I can't blame you for THAT incident." He scoffed, remembering that he encourage her to run the poor thing over. "Well it's getting late now, and don't run over anything okay honey?"

"Whatever!" She picked up the hems of her skirt and hurried to Huan Ming's quarters.

"Lady Ma is here." The two guards spotted her rushing over and reported to their mistress.

"Very well," Huan Ming let out a sly smile. She opened the doors of her room and stepped out to receive her visitor. "Zi I'm glad you made it! What took you so long?"

"Oh I'm sorry, I met Meng Qi on the way and we had a bit of a chat."

"Oh yes, Lord Ma always practices before he heads off to bed! It's his late night exercise." She put her handkerchief above her lips and giggled. Sending chills down Zi Qi's spine. "Oh Huang Ning is going to be late…she's busy with someone."

"Someone?" Zi Qi thought of Jiang Wei right away, "Oh really."

"Well, we can start having fun without her!" She grabbed Zi Qi by the arm and pulled her in the room. Zi Qi placed her jar of wine on the table, but noticed a similar looking one on the table. Huan Ming turned her head and picked up both.

"I had this brought in just in case you forgot." She took a whiff out of both jars, "Oh I think yours is much tastier."

"Oh it's from Ping's stash."

"Lord Guan's stash? Oh then we must drink yours of course! Excuse me for a second!" she put down one of the wine bottles and didn't pick one of them up again until Zi Qi's attention was diverted away. Huan Ming walked back to her two guards, "Girls, I don't want you two eavesdropping." She whispered, "So here's a gift from Lady Ma." She placed the bottle in one of their hands, "Go drink it over in the gardens, take a break."

When Huan Ming returned to her room, she noticed Zi Qi playing with the frills of the table cloth. "Oh I'm such a horrible host!" she walked over, her butt giving a quick wiggle. She plumped herself beside her and poured out the wine for the both of them. "Mm, wonderful taste. You should tell your brother to give up his stash a little more."

"Of course." She prepared to take a sip of Ping's 'godly' wine but was stopped by Huan Ming's hand.

"Like how you should give up Bo Yue a little more." It suddenly dawned to Zi Qi, this was her plan all along.

"Excuse me?" she dropped the cup onto the table, "My relationship with Bo Yue has nothing to do with you or your sister, and when did you start calling him Bo Yue? You just-"

"Oh shut up." Huan Ming slammed her cup on the table with a loud thump, "I am so SICK of you. I've been sick of you since the day you left the mansion. The DAY you followed Bo Yue to become…his disciple." She spat out the words with fury.

"It…isn't true is it? The rumours." Zi Qi looked in to her raged eyes, "That you like Bo Yue? But you're engaged to Meng Qi and your sister seems"

"My sister already has a lover," her eyes darted to the window, "she does not deserve Bo Yue…and neither do you!"

"What about Meng Qi…?"

"Don't even MENTION that obnoxious and loud mans name." she covered her ears, "Whatever, Ma Zi Qi I am telling you to leave Jiang Wei once and for ALL."

"And how am I supposed to do that?" she argued, "I am Bo Yue's disciple, his best friend and his lov…" she stopped, "I am not going to argue with you. I think I'll be leaving now. Good Night Lady Yin."

"If you don't leave him, I'll make sure you do!" she screamed after Zi Qi slammed the door of her room. Huan Ming sat back on her chair and smiled. Her plan was going just the way she wanted to. Huan Ming twirled her long finger around the wine cup, until she heard a knock from the window behind her. Running over, she pushed open the windows and smiled. "Hey sis!"

Zi Qi woke up to a loud banging on her room door the next morning, "I'm sleeping!" She yelled pulling the covers over her head. The two doors were forced open as Zhao Yun and Guan Ping poked her frantically. "What?" she got up, totally moody.

"Zi Qi, Huan Ming is dead!"

"What?" her eyes grew wide, she had just seen her not long ago.

"And Huang Ning is blaming the death on you! Lord Liu Bei is angry and has sent his men to arrest you!" Zhao Yun shouted after, "The evidence she pointed against you will kill you Zi Qi!"

I'm sorry for the drastic scene changes, but I had to get the point across somehow. This was…really long. Longer than I expected actually. Sorry if it bore you, but I had to connect the small points xD. Thank you for taking your time to read this, and…good day:)