Er Yin run around in the camp with what rolling down her face. She scold him in her mind that she had just clean herself up. Now she is again in all dirt and sweat. Her clothes are not hang up properly yet. She feels dizzy yet she continue the long jog. Dragging herself to complete the rounds. At the final three last lap, the Duke appear and ask her to stop. He order Luo Ming to serve Yi Jin dinner and allow her to rest for two hours. Luo Ming sit with Er Yin while she is having her dinner. She gobble up her dinner and hang her clothes up outside the tent. She see her colleagues whom she met at the lake. They smile and walk away. She did not want to say anything. She continue to rest outside her tent while seeing her pants that have a hole in it. Luo Ming walk to her.
"The Duke wants to see you."
She look up and put her stuff back into the tent. She follow the tall bulky man towards the biggest tent. She stand outside and wait while Luo Ming walk inside. After a while, she is told to go in. Luo Ming after showing her inside, he bow and excuse himself.
The Duke is sitting at the chair with a neat desk in front of him. He is writing some letter. Er Yin announce herself loudly.
"Greeting Duke Yin! Xie Yi Jin at your presence!"
He continue to write his letter while Er Yin continue to bow. After when he complete, he look up and ask her to take a sit. She sit down without questioning.
"From today onwards, you will be release of from night guard duties. You will be my night assistant."
She turn her head and look at him. They look at each other without word till she place her hands in front of her and bow.
"I understand and receive your command."
"Luo Ming will explain to you want i want for night duty here."
"Sir, is this duty done by the time new recruits arrive?"
"I am not sure...yet. I will let you know when i have see the number of new recruits. Later, go and boil water. Bring it to my bath tub. Luo Ming will show you what you need to do. Do first get my bath water ready."
She stare at him without moving. He wave to her to get out of the tent. She stands up and bow. Walking out, she see Luo Ming standing with his hands behind him. He smile
"Come i show you what to do."
They walk together to a place outside the kitchen area. Big pots of water are keep warm. The wooden buckets are to fill with warm water. Together with Luo Ming they carry two buckets each. She struggle to carry those buckets but she cannot complain and walk behind Luo Ming. They walk to a big fancy tent. Inside at the end, a big wooden tub. Luo Ming pour down all four buckets. They walk out to fetch the next round.
"Tonite, there is two of us. So for the first time am walking in a leisure speed. If not i will be rushing up and down to fetch water."
Er Yin can already imagine how she will be struggling with the bucket of water.
"After the Duke is done, scope out the water and pour them away at the nearby grass. As long as they dont become stagnant water to breed mosquitos, it will be fine. After the tub is fill to about ninety percent, just go look for the Duke. Help him to undress and ... hey!"
Er Yin trip when she hear the word undress. The two buckets are over turn. She hurry to get up and pick up the buckets. Luo Ming is angry and yell at her as she rush back to get more fresh water.
Inside the tent, she stand at the side feeling miserable. Luo Ming help the Duke to remove his amour and clothes. Everything is remove. She cast her sight away and listen for further instructions. Luo Ming call her to pick up all the clothes on the floor. She hurry to pick up whatever she see.
"Take his boots too."
She struggle to pick up everything on hand and walk out with Luo Ming. He inform her to put the clothes in the bucket as in the morning, there will be someone doing the washing. As he talks about things to do, he hangs up the amour.
"At night, you need to hang up the armour, I will put it on for him in the morning, so you need not to worry. Just remember how to remove the harness properly and his boots have to put it beside the amour. If you got time, wipe down the armour with a damp cloth. inside then outside. After that, most likely the Duke is done with his bath and as i said. Pour the water away,"
"That is all?"
"No. You have to replenishes his daily necessities like paper, ink, soap, towels. tea cups and blankets. He needs fresh new blankets every night, Bed sheets will be change every alternate days in the afternoon, so i will do that."
Indeed a man born in with silver spoon in his mouth lives differently. Unlike her who does everything herself is now like a servant to a rich royalty in camp. She give herself a console that she need not bath him like stories the villagers heard.
"After you have done everything, just stand guard outside the tent unless he said so, you are not allow to stand inside the tent."
"What time does he goes to bed?"
"He doesn't."
"What?"
"He stays up at night and sleep before the sun is up.."
She stare at Luo Ming who said that he doesn't sleep much at night. Just then the Duke walk in while he tie the upper garment.
"Is that a surprise?"