Er Yin return to camp, as usual. She have her own duties to carry out. She carry out the training for the female soldiers in the cold. Without the armour, they run outside the fields. Sometimes when they are practising with their drills, a light snow will come down on them. The men who are guarding the camps watch the female soldiers everyday. Thus the men are not putting their pride aside, they train equally hard but they suffer with cold easily. Thus in the end, the woman soldiers have to boil cold medicine for their fellow colleagues to deal with the cold they have.
Er Yin continue to work with Luo Ming in training. They come up with new riding styles while combat to deal with various weapons. The Duke approve and they carry out the lessons. The Duke constantly stand by Er Yin's side. He watch her as she concentrate on the lessons. After the snow stops, the soldiers sweep away all the ice and water. Er Yin look up to the sky soon in months time her family will send a letter to inform her the date of the wedding. She will be somebody's wife when the next time she return to camp.
The following late spring, bandits are rampage at the nearby mountains. The soldiers are despatch to deal with them. Er Yin lead the team and goes up the mountain to arrest the bandits. It is not easy but she manage it well. Thus her ranking in the military move up and so is her salary. Luo Ming and Er Yin becomes season soldiers that stands by Duke Yan. Their names are well known in the country. Occasionally, Er Yin is call into the palace to meet the Dowager. Her purpose is to check on Er Yin's attitude. Also to make sure that Er Yin understands that there is no possibility on her marrying the Duke. The Dowager is satisfy when Er Yin still in her same attitude. There is one time when Er Yin goes into the palace to meet the Dowager and the Duchess is at present. The young wife asked Er Yin a favour as she knows that her husband favour the female solider.
"Help me to talk to my husband. Since you did not have any romantic relationship with him, please help me. He haven't come home after the wedding! Please sister Yin!"
Er Yin bow with her head lower as she talk.
"Your highness, i am not in a position to say anything to Duke Yan."
"Ying Ying, you cannot ask Xie Er Yin to do a task like this. I know my grandson well enough. He needs time to accept this. You are young, there is plenty of time."
"I know but ... he ... we ... did not consummate on the wedding night and ..."
Er Yin still in a bowing position listens and she actually understand why. The Duke have mentioned before that the new wife is still a child, too young. He is giving her a chance to grow up and maybe she have a change of mind. However she remain silence and allow the two ladies keep talking. Er Yin's mind is thinking hard how to get out of this situation. She then say out loud and the two ladies stop talking and look at her.
"For real?"
"That is a good piece of news! Why didn't you say earlier!"
"Well... the actual date is not set yet. My parents haven't sent me a letter on it thus..."
"Let me know when is the date. I will sent you a big gift on your wedding!"
"Me too!"
Er Yin is very sure that after that, they will leave her alone. Most likely that will be her last time in the palace. She mount on her horse and take a last look at the majestic building. She turn her horse around and slowly ride out into the busy street.
Two weeks later the Duke who went into the palace return with a blacken face. He goes to bed and wake up at evening. He looks for Er Yin who is washing her clothes in the lake. He walks like a bull with is breath fire from his nostrils. He reach out and grab her wrist. Er Yin who is holding her beater in her hands.
"Tell me! What i hear from my grandmother is not true!"
" Han ge... what are you talking about? I am washing my clothes!"
" She said that you told her that... your family is getting you to marry someone!"
Er Yin and Duke Yan look at each other. She slowly nod her head.
"Why?"
"Why? I am old enough. Besides that i ..."
"Why ... no. I will go to your home and ..."
"NO! what are you talking about!"
"I can ask them not to marry you off just like that! You barely know another man!"
"Hang ger.. this is how we commoner marry. I am ..."
"Then i can be that man who marry you! Isn't it better ..."
"NO IT IS NOT!"
He stare at her with his monolid eyes that are trying to open wide. While his eye brows becomes a Chinese character eight and his face is blacken with anger.
"Even if i cannot get marry ... i cannot marry ... you, Han ge."
His eyes fill with tears and he ask softy.
"Why is it so..."
"Why? You should know clearly. We are born with different social status. Not even close. I am born with mud on my feet. You are born with cotton shoes and silver chopsticks..."
"I don't care for ..."
"You say that but your family care for those social norms. The Dowager have say many times, your wives can only be of noble born. You can only marry woman who are the same social status. While i can only your subordinate! I dare not to go against the imperial power, your highness! Let us just live life as now and nothing more..."
She watch the man as he walk away with a hunch back. Her hand holding the beater is shaking. She look at the clothes on the stone that is wash half way. She wipe the tears in her eyes and squad down to continue washing. As she beat her clothes, tears fall on her wet clothes and she continue to beat furiously.