Zheng Jiang retreated further in the palace and found herself on one of the palaces balconies, overlooking the mountain range and large plots of land. She looked at this sight and sighed. She knows she should get in the mood for celebrations, considering she's the one who organised this banquet in the first place. But still, she can't stop thinking about Gai Li's death even though it has been a while. She wished she could just go back and enjoy herself even a little bit, though her guilt would overwhelm her. As she was thinking to herself, she didn't hear the door open and didn't hear Mitsuko coming behind her.

'So this is where you were.' Zheng Jiang was surprised to see Mitsuko next to her as she leans on the railing of the balcony with one of her snakes as the other slithers in the air next to her and hisses softly. Zheng Jiang before witnessed Mitsuko drinking the alcohol while chatting to her companion.

'You know the celebration you made is in the main hall right? Not out here?' Mitsuko asked as her words were a little slurred.

'Hehe. I do, though I thought I'd give myself a bit of a break. You seemed to be enjoying yourself though. I'm surprised you wanted a break away from that.' Zheng Jiang remarked.

'Well, it'd be a bit awkward to celebrate our newfound alliance if I was the only one that's there.'

'My apologies for that, its just that sometimes those types of gatherings are not really for me so sometimes I do need some time for myself.' Zheng Jiang apologised.

'Heh, I can understand that. Especially when you don't know who those people are but your supposed to talk to them and socialise. Yet you feel so awkward around them because you don't know what to say or anything.' Mitsuko chuckled, soon Zheng Jiang did the same.

'Then you must know about how some of them can talk such drivel that it just bores you and makes you wish you were doing anything else.'

'Oh yes! Especially when they're so pretentiously arrogant to the point you'd rather just punch them in the face, especially when they boast about themselves and nothing but themselves.'

'But alas if you do it will look bad on you so you just take it and hope they shut up.'

'But they never goddamn do!' Mitsuko laughed and Zheng Jiang joined in. For a moment, the worries that Zheng Jiang had just melted away. It was just like before. After their laughter, silence surrounded the two of them for a while, unsure of what one should say to the other after that. Mitsuko took a deep breath before speaking.

'Well I also know sometimes I don't want to deal with people if something is on my mind. Whether its something important or not. But still want to talk to someone about it.' Zheng Jiang glanced at her for a moment.

'Heh, I see the serpent has been helping herself to drink a little more than she should.' Zheng Jiang responded, trying to play it cool. Mitsuko's serpents look to Mitsuko as if wondering what to do.

'Well if that's the case, why don't we just have a chat about whatever is on your mind…if there is anything of course. I mean after all if you think I have had too much, one of the common side effects is memory loss…so I hear at least anyway right? So its not like I'll be able to remember anything come tomorrow and you would've shared a little bit of it. What have you got to lose?' Mitsuko responded. Zheng Jiang stared at her, wondering what she should do. Mitsuko does have a point, its not like she'll remember anything anyway. But still…would it be so easy to just…open up? Should she take advantage of her ally while she's in this state? Using her to make herself feel good? She didn't know.

'Do you think its that easy? Just…opening up and letting someone listen to what you have to say?' She questioned.

'Oh fuck no.' Mitsuko answered immediately. Her answer surprised Zheng Jiang, she would've thought she would've said most definitely yes. Mitsuko looked to Zheng Jiang, then to the night sky filled with so many stars.

'Talking to someone about your problems is like forcing yourself to be vulnerable. Who would ever want that? Especially for people like us. Other people may say its easy but we both know otherwise. Nevertheless, sometimes it ain't so bad but that's something we both may need to recognise.'

'Ha, where did that come from? You're the last person I would've expected that from.'

'Well you did say I've been helping myself more than I should…which I disagree with but hey, whatever makes you feel better.' Mitsuko responded. Zheng Jiang thought about her words for a moment. Well if she's drunk its not like she'll remember this anyway. She wore a lopsided smirk on her face.

'All right you convinced me. Maybe it won't be as bad as I think. I'm sorry if you felt…weird or awkward after our last conversation, it was just…you reminded me a bit about myself a good while back. And I didn't know if that path was what you wanted should you know what may or may not happen. I didn't mean anything by it…I just wanted to let you know what you were in for is all.'

'And what might that be?'

'A lot. It…it wasn't always like this you know. We didn't need any help from outsiders, no offense. Before it got like this there were actually three of us. Me, Lu Zheng and someone called Gai Li. We grew up in a village far away from here. We were kids at the time when the yellow turbans attacked us. We beseeched help from the Han but they didn't help. They left us to die! And when we got back to our village it was all but destroyed. It was only me, Gai Li, Lu Zheng…and unfortunately Gai Shu.' She sighed.

'It sounds like you hate him quite a bit despite you marrying him' Mitsuko interjected.

'Tch, believe me it wasn't entirely out of my own will that I married him. This city wasn't always in my control, formerly it was some former Han official that thought the world of himself but didn't care about anyone else. We manage to smuggle ourselves here and become essentially street rats as they called us. Gai Shu as the oldest tried to look afterwards though he abandoned us when he left us to serve in the Han military. He told us he'll be back soon and that he'll be able to help us with our predicament. As naive children we believed him, though he never did. He forgot about us, he forgot about his sister! So I had to look after us. We didn't have him around. I spent more time with Gai Li seeing as her shameful excuse of a brother left us and…we grew more closer than I thought was possible.' Zheng Jiang paused for a moment and looked up at the night sky littered with stars as she smiled softly. Remembering the simpler times. Like sneaking with Gai Li to some place away from everyone else to have time to themselves. Training together to make sure they were better warriors and tacticians and looking at the night sky together.

'Though eventually we did have to flee the city due to some guard trying to take her away, like I was going to let that happen. Though eventually after some…persuasion with some local bandits along with a few borrowed trade caravans I was finally able to make this city mine. I never felt such satisfaction as I imbedded my axe deep in his skull. Later on though when I took his throne that's when Gai Shu came back and begged for forgiveness. He said that he did send us things and he thought we received it…but I knew he was lying. After dealing with pretentious, arrogant nobles and guardsmen there's a particular look in the eye that betrays their words. Lu Zheng and I hated the idea of him returning to us though Gai Li wanted him back for whatever reason. I get he was her brother…but he doesn't deserve that title after what he did to us. However she was right, we needed all the help we can get and he was a decent fighter, after all those years in the Han Military must've given him some useful skills we thought. So we begrudgingly accepted him back, were it not for Gai Li though I would've planted my axe deep in his face. That aside though, after I took this city my ambitions started to grow. I made this pathetic official and his guardsmen pay with their lives for how they treated their people. Yet it didn't do anything in the long run. My hatred for Han runs deep, I want to destroy the very foundations of their so called empire. So I decided that I would start conquest of the land. I'm not a warlord or a politician but the Han needs to be destroyed but I knew it wouldn't be as easy as this city. Though I wish it were.'

As Mitsuko listened to her she felt a strange sensation suddenly wash over here once a light breeze crashed against their face. Her snake heads started to feel tingly, a sensation that started to make its way throughout the rest of her body. It was a very weird experience for her, she wondered if this was the alcohol or something else. She stared at her serpent head and tried to open their jaws. She did, though she swore it should be faster.

'Hey you ok there?' Zheng Jiang called out, snapping Mitsuko back to reality.

'Of course absolutely. I didn't zone out at all.' Mitsuko stated proudly before she realised what she just said.

'What the hell was that Mitsuko!?'

'Hehe, I figured as much, Watching you check how far the alcohol went reminded me of when I drank wine for the first time. We just successfully ambushed a trade caravan carrying a whole stock of wine. All of us were celebrating with said wine. None of us could hold our liquor much though we did try it. Gai Li didn't like the taste at all but while I wasn't exactly fond of it, I couldn't appear weak in front of my men. So I drank as much as I could…while trying not to spit it back out. Especially the aftertaste. Gai Li wasn't a fan of that either. Though in my haste I didn't know the affects alcohol could have so I drank a whole gourd. While that earned me some high praise from my newly acquired men…it didn't help me the next day. I had the worst headache imagineable and Gai Li gave me such an earful, saying I shouldn't have gotten overboard. Apparently I also blacked out, but I don't remember much about that night.' Zheng Jiang laughed slightly, looking back fondly of that memory. Mitsuko noticed then that she never seen Zheng Jiang actually smile warmly like this. It was…interesting. Though that smile turned into a frown soon enough.

'Though that didn't matter to Zhang Yan did it? Though…even it wasn't for me she wouldn't have gone out there.'

'You lost me.' Mitsuko stated.

'Sorry. Shortly after I started to expand our territory more my bandits started to run in with Zhang Yans vanguard. At first it started as small skirmishes. We were being victorious so we pressed on. However though, it did seem they had official Han soldiers working for them. Or so the reports were from the survivors. The skirmishes that we were winning turned out to be losses. Their newfound numbers meant that they were able to capture more of our territory. That when a messenger was left at one of our more loyal villages and the message was delivered to us. Zhang Yan wanted us to negotiate and wanted me to join him as a subordinate. He said he would've liked for us bandits to join together against the Han. Some of my advisors said we should join them, but they don't know the way of the bandit. We only respect the strong, to bow down to him at the first chance would be a sign of weakness and he probably would've killed me there and then. I gave him my reply in the best way I could…by severing the head of the messenger and putting it in a bag.'

'Heh, bet he wasn't that pleased.'

'Considering the response of him conquering more territory from me and razing any villages that didn't join him to the ground I would say he took it better than expected.' Zheng Jiang chuckled, however the frown quickly emerged again.

'With his Han connections and supplies he quickly took control of most of the mountains. There were other bandit tribes that were around, but they were all eventually conquered by Zhang Yan. We couldn't possibly match his connections and people he could muster. The only thing we could do is slow them down with our guerrilla tactics even then it was futile. We didn't have his network so we had to work hard to get as much info as possible, which would've been that trade caravan. Heh, give the nobles a scare and they'll quickly change their tone I guess. Though planning everything for the last year was…stressful for me. I never knew being a leader would be this taxing on the mind. During this I began fighting with Gai Li, particularly about her brother. I just couldn't understand why she kept clinging on to him so much considering his actions. She suggested we keep up the pressure and strike him in the city where he resides just like we did here. I argued against it, saying it wouldn't be as simple as taking this city would. It wasn't the first fight we had and our relationship had started to strain…though it was the breaking point.

We shared a private heated exchange where…words were said on both sides…words we both regretted. We shouted at each other and eventually I just yelled that if she thinks she can do it, then she should just go and do it. Take some soldiers and capture it for herself. She said fine and stormed out. And that was the second to last time I ever laid my eyes on her…I should've stopped her. I should've said I was sorry. I should've been honest. I should've told her to stay but no words would've come out of my mouth. I regretted it only moments after she left the city after I knew she was serious. Part of me wanted that to be a joke by her, to prove a point and get back at me. I would have preferred that. But no she left and I was left worrying for weeks on end. Eventually she returned through those very doors, I was angry at her for worrying though when she collapsed my anger turned to fear for the worst. I rushed to her side immediately but her wound were too severe. She failed in her endeavour. All her soldiers were killed. It was the first time I wept in a long while as I held her close.' Zheng Jiang paused…Mitsuko glanced at her and it looked like tears were threatening to escape from her eyes. Zheng Jiang took a deep breath but still didn't say anything for another minute to calm herself before she continued.

'I didn't want her to leave, I called for aid immediately. Though she knew and I also knew deep down this was the end. I hugged her tightly. She whispered in my ear about how sorry she was, but she was glad to have met me. She…wanted me to open my mind about her brother. She said she knew how he wasn't the best he should've been but she still loved him and believed he should be given a second chance…but that she loved me more and always will do. She said I should move on from her and find someone else. Maybe someone to help give me an heir when I liberate this land from Han oppression. And just like that…I watched as the last gasp of her air escaped her body, just like the life in her eyes. I…' Zheng Jiang clutched onto the rails tightly as her arms tensed up and started up to shake.

'I only was able to become the bandit queen thanks to her being with me and with Lu Zheng. And with my condition for a good while I can't enter the child…it would be selfish of me.'

'Wait…what do you mean condition? You look fine to me.' Mitsuko stated as she glanced over. She saw Zheng Jiang place her hand over her stomach which Mitsuko could've sworn had gotten larger or something. Then she heard the term selfish and pondered why it would be selfish to go into battle…then slowly it started to piece together in her mind before she exclaimed in a loud voice.

'YOU'RE PREGNANT!?' Mitsuko didn't know how loud she was.

'Shhh keep it down. No one should know.' Zheng Jiang pleaded with her.

'Oh sorry, sorry.' Mitsuko apologised profusely, she noticed her vision started to get a bit blurrier and her movement was starting to slow down a little more as another gust of wind crashes against her face. Her words started to slur more.

'Do not worry, but yes, it is true. I am expecting. While it was something that was planned, I didn't expect it to work so quickly. My only regret is that its with that man.'

'You keep saying you hate him and yet you married him though. Why? You should've stuck his head on a pike.' Mitsuko interrupted.

'Hehe. That would be tempting but…Li wanted me to move on but she wanted me to forgive her brother so…when he proposed to me…I didn't say no. How could I? To do so would dishonour her memory. As much it pains me for marrying him…I had to try to forgive him…so far though I haven't been able to and I take out my frustrations out on him…though I'm surprised he hasn't retaliated. Though I don't know if that's out of guilt or "love" though I suppose it doesn't matter. I know I should do something but while I'm like this I can't do anything personally. I…I don't want what happened to gai Li to happen to anyone else like Lu Zheng. Besides we don't have the numbers. Though I suppose with your help numbers isn't that much of an issue…you have my thanks for that. However that won't stop me on my path, I don't want to be recorded in history books as just a footnote. I lost too much, all of us suffered too much for that.' Zheng Jiang sighed. Mitsuko stayed silent, unsure of what to say in this situation but also because she swore the alcohol is taking even more of an effect as she felt the tingling sensation flow all the way through her body. She tried opening the jaws of her serpents, to her it felt like it took a long time to open.

'I know this is a little bit of the topic. But you know…the sensation of just being fine after drinking a bit. And you stay fine but when you step outside for whatever reason the wave of alcohol just suddenly hits you like a truck?' Mitsuko asked, her words even more slurred as her movements were slower. Her serpent heads were facing the ground as they hissed rather joyously. Zheng Jiang couldn't help but chuckle a bit at Mitsuko's antics. It was…different to see her ally like this. It was…nice to not be so formal all the time.

'Well I don't know what a truck is but I do know that feeling, this is why you normally stay inside when drinking.'

'Yeah but who listens to the rules?' Mitsuko replied confidently as she tries to have one of her serpent arms lean on the railing, but she staggered and fell on it instead.

'Did it get lower or is it me?' She asked. Seeing enough of this LingQi appeared as if on cue appeared behind the two in the doorway, acting completely surprised.

'Ahh there you are lady Mitsuko. I've been looking for you everywhere. My apologies your majesty. She wondered off when I was pre-occupied, my apologies if she has disturbed you. Please do not view her negatively, she will contain her…enjoyment in the future I will make sure of it.' LingQi bowed respectfully as she draped one of Mitsuko's serpents around her neck. Mitsuko looked at her with a puzzling expression.

'What are you talking about? This is part of the plan rem-urgh!' LingQi Jabbed Mitsuko in her ribcage with her elbow to get her to stop talking.

'Yes your elaborate escape plan to keep on enjoying yourself. Again my apologies about lady Mitsuko's behaviour.'

'Oh no do not apologise, Mitsuko did not bother me at all so please don't be too harsh with her. We did have a good chat about things after all.' Zheng Jiang responded.

'I'll keep that in mind. Anyway I should make sure lady Mitsuko return to her quarters and sleep. If you excuse us my lady.' LingQi bowed her head once more as she started to exit alongside Mitsuko. Though she extended her free serpent arm towards Zheng Jiang.

'Oh before I forget, you should say goodbye to her. I think it'll help a lot!' She shouts as LingQi almost dragged her away leaving the bandit queen accompanied only with her thoughts. She looked up at the night sky littered with stars.

'Saying goodbye…'