Both of them stands at where they are. She is wondering if she should open her mouth to say something. However this man in front of her looks like he is going to blow fire at her face. For a while no one say anything thus she decided to just bow and walk to her tent. Before she does anything, he undo his cross arm.
"Your hair is wet. Come let me dry your hair..."
She stare at him and wonder what got into his mind. She thinks that she have hear wrongly thus she try to walk away. The other soldiers who are standing nearby watch them. They all wonder what is going on with that strange tension in the sir.
"My hair will dry in time. I need to go for dinner. Before the serving is over."
She walk off and he follow behind her. It is uncomfortable for Er Yin as for a long time she is the one walking behind him now that he is walking behind her, it is making her feeling awkward. She walk into her tent and keep everything aside. Er Yin comb her hair and remember she used the same comb to comb the Duke's hair too. She close her eyes tightly and reminds herself to use his comb the next round.
That night, she starts her night duty. As per usual, she have his tub fill with warm water. The Duke have his bath without any word. After his bath, Er Yin serve him his pastry and strawberries. However they did not have a chance to talk as Hong Ying Ying appear in the camp again. Er Yin excuse herself and walk out. As she walks out she greets the Duchess to be. The classic beauty bow back in return. With her small voice she ask for Er Yin's name.
"Er Yin? What a strange name. I presume all common people have strange names. Unlike nobles who ..."
"I don't think it is strange. It is a perfect name to remember."
They turn around to look at the Duke standing with his arms cross and a knitted eye brows.
"I don't mean that way, husband."
"I am not your husband, yet. Lady Hong, Please refrain talking to my soldiers . They have their work to do. What do you want today?"
Er Yin hurry to bow and walk away. From a distance she can hear him talking loud and refuse to allow her to enter his tent like the last time. The soldiers who are standing guard is having their heart and their eyes watching what is going on.
That night, the soldiers on guard is having a hard time when she is being kick out of the tent. She did not leave till she kick whatever is on the way to her carriage. Her maids who are waiting are getting scolding. Miss Hong her low refine voice becomes high and piercing. The soldiers behind her pick up whatever she have kick over. Er Yin who is in the store room checking the amount of food available hears the carriage move away, she sigh and shake her head. The following afternoon, Lady Hong brings a cart load of food for the soldiers. She order the cook to prepare a feast. The Duke who is fast asleep is unaware and Luo Ming dare not wake him up. When the time for him to wake up, he smile barbecue meat and is quiet happy but he frown when he see colourful dresses moving inside and out of his camp. He scream for Luo Ming.
The female soldiers are treated as if the servants of Lady Hong. She order them to dress like what she likes as a maid. The Duke in furry demanded that they change back to what they should be wearing. He immediately order that Lady Sheng will be bar from entering his camp.
"I am your ..."
"This is a place for security! From now on, you are not allow to be inside unless you are a solider! Now go home! Luo Ming send her out!"
He watch his assistant send off his wife-to-be and look around.
"Where is Er Yin?"
"Your highness, she might be still sleeping in her tent."
He walk towards her tent and push open the flap. He see a girl sound asleep on her bed. He quietly leave and he look at himself. Only in his white undergarments and a black robe, he looks unsightly but he did not bother. He start to order his men to eat up whatever food that is prepared. He continue to hear his-wife-to-be still screaming outside the camp. In anger he walk to the entrance.
"If you don't leave now, i will report this accident to the emperor tomorrow and have the wedding cancelled!"
"You dare!"
"I dare! Now leave!"
Her eyes fill with tears and she wipe them on her sleeves. She order her maid to help her up the carriage and left while she is staring through the window.
Three days later, Er Yin finds herself washing the hair of the Duke. She sigh and wonder if her duty as a solider including to wash the hair of the Duke.
"I am going to rinse off the dirt in your hair, your highness."
"There is only two of us here, call me Han."
Er Yin keep quiet and pour the water over his hair and scrub it gently.
"Come on call me Han. Let me hear that."
"Your highness, i am just your ...solider..."
"This is an order."
"Yes... Han ge...."
As she address him in his name, a strangely feeling comes in her. Er Yin smile and and the Duke seems to feel it. He smile too as he feels the finger running through his head.
"You are the only one that is going to wash my hair now."
She pour the honey locust on his hair to start conditioning his long hair. she rub his hair with care and finally rise it. She walk away the bath area to allow him to continue to take his bath. While she starts to clean his armour and boots.
"Er Yin... what type of person is your brother... is he like you?"
"I think... my brother and i are alike in appearance. However both of us have different personality. I talk a lot while he is the quiet type. He works hard for the family as he grows up and he doesn't want me to go out into the field. He said he wish that i am fair like those maid in the city. Unfortunately i get burnt easily. So he make those small umbrella for me. How can i work in the farm with an umbrella but i kept it. After the twins are born, my brother and father have to work double hard. I was staying at home helping to take care of the things in the house and the twins too. After the twins turn three, the soldiers came to our house asking for all males to go to war. Those who refused was killed. My father and brother wants to live thus they left within three days."
"What did you do... to ..."
"To live? I did everything. I am the eldest. Even though we can live without much worry. We still have to find ways to get meat. My silblings are growing up. They have to eat fish, pork or chicken. At least the most basic food. After i gone to my first war, as my dead brother, i received my first taels. It is good for the family. We can buy meat and fix the house."
"Why did you, join the army after the war ended?"
"Well, it is simple. For taels. Besides that there is no war to go to. The recruiter told me that the job is to train new soldiers. Training is not like i have to go on a battlefield again. So i decided to join."
"Didn't your family ..."
"Yes your highness, they disagree. They wanted me to stay at home. However i can't. Knowing that i will get into trouble one day."
"Aren't you afraid that day? At the imperial courtyard?"
"Yes i am afraid. Very afraid but i know i did not do anything wrong for my nation and family. So I pray and ask god for help."
She hear the sound of water splashing and later foot steps. She turn to see a pair of legs stop by her side.
"Next time, let me know the problems that you have. I will do my best to help."
She stare at those hair white legs by her side and she nod her head slowly. She turn and continue to brush the boots.