Ji Li Mei was awoken from her rest. She was resting more now. The servant had a message for her.

She opened it at once, and sent the servant away with an aggressive wave. The hand fell to her stomach as she read the missive.

She had to read it thrice, she did not know what to think. What to feel.

She had been betrayed. One of her trusted advisors was an imposter, and had fled to Constantinople, the Sublime Porte halfway around the world. She should be raging, she should be furious.

And yet...

She spoke the truth. Their war council conversations had included duplicity with the Burmese. Perfidious though the Burmese were, that was no reason to forget honor.

Why? Why had the advisor not simply spoken?

She knew the answer. Her temperment had become volatile. Perhaps she feared for her life.

Yet she was the only advisor brave enough to speak truth. They had been surrounded by traitors. They had Burmese at the Gates, and had spies among them. And in the face of this, instead of standing tall, they had stooped to that level. They took part in that shameful wedding. She had lost countless good people for that, and gained what, two cities? A few mountains? Then she had planned to destroy the Burmese while speaking of peace. She had fallen far.

She did not know what to feel, but she did not expect to feel regret.

Enough of this wallowing. She arose from her bed, steadying herself against the frame. She had a speech to make. And she was hungry.

I was Ji Li Mei. I was the Empress of China, the Daughter of Yu. I was the the chosen of the Ascended Fathers, to lead this world to Glory. I was the Queen of the East, and Lady of Ten Thousand Riches. I am still all these things, but I am no longer Ji Li Mei.

The allegations of Constantine Wexley are completely true. We planned to decieve the Burmese, to take them unawares. In part to support our Sumerian Friends. In part to take down the Burmese before they could attack us again. In part to take revenge for their treason. In part to take our fair share of Burmese Land.

The servant had finally arrived to bring her food as she wrote the confession. She thought for a moment as to what she wanted to eat, and it seemed to change with every moment. Then she decided, sent the servant away, and wrote on.

We planned to attack them after feigning peace negotiations. This is shameful, and I personally thank Constantine Vaieil for her lesson.

We will now announce our true intent. We will invade Burma. We will march to Bagan, and take it. We will take all their holdings. We will ensure that the Burmese will never attack or insult us or anyone else. Nothing will stop us, no amount of Burmese Troops, no Typhoon, no Earthquake. We stop when we please.

She stopped herself. Constantine was to be dealt with. The servant brought in the seared peacock, and she ate it thoughtfully. She put down the nearly raw flesg, and wrote on.

I personally thank Constantine Vaieil, for her service. Se may live untouched, but returning to China will mean her head. May her life be long, and may she teach many more men. But she will never return to my Empire.

I apologize to the Burmese People for our treachery in this. I would like to put this incident behind us. Let war mean war and peace mean peace. But we will still go to War with Burma. The Goverment of Peacocks and Mongrels must fall, and I will feed their heads to the flames so that the Gods may speak.

In closing, I have one final decree. I was Ji Li Mei. But I am now Qin Li Mei. Let the Mighty Zhou Dynasty end with this moment and let the Glorious Qin Dynasty begin. I was Ji Li Mei, but I am now Qin Li Mei, the Dragon Empress!