Er Yin starts her night shift with uneasiness, she feels that she is being watch. However after two weeks have pass and nothing have happen. She begin to get used to the routine. She train herself to handle two buckets of water every night with three trips. She help the Duke to remove the amour and hang it up on the clothes stand. After pick up all the clothes on the floor she puts it in the bucket and clean his amour. When he leaves the bath tub, she hurry to empty it out and turn over the tub. Cleaning his bedroom and tidying his desk is her job as well. Sometimes he ask for pastries or fruits. She hurry to the kitchen to find what he needs. Even fetch hot tea for the grumpy man in the tent. After all that fuzz, she stands outside the tent with the soldiers who are standing guard. It is better than standing at the tower when the freezing cold wind keeps blowing on her face. Outside the tent, the fire roar for those who needs it to stay warm. Sometimes, there are even candies pass around to keep awake and be alert. It is sort of a better routine for her. By morning arrives, she hurry to her tent to sleep. While her room mates are getting ready for their day. She is sleeping without a care.
That night she is trying to remove the harness on the armour. Both of them are struggling to get it off. Both are perspiring. The Duke gives up and let Er Yin do with it.
"Hurry up!"
"Sir i am trying my best. The strap just wont move!"
She struggle with all her might to remove it. It takes her another half an hour. The armour is remove and she hangs it on the clothes rack. She walk back to expect to collect the clothes on the floor. However he is standing there struggling to undo his pants. She hesitate to walk in. The Duke seeing that she is standing there. He yell at her to get the string off. She walk over and see that the knot is tied dead. Using her nails, she slowly unloose it. When it is done, his pants fall off. She look away by getting down her knees to collect the clothes on the floor.
"Stop."
"Yes sir."
"Wash my Zhong Ku."
He pass it over by her shoulders. She take it without a word nor she look at him.
"You know i am offended."
She walk out to the bucket to put down all the clothes. She ask timidly.
"Sir, i don't understand."
"Come inside here."
She walk slowly to the bath area. She stand next to the folding screen and look at the floor.
"Am i that terrible to look at?"
"No sir."
"Then why you don't look at me when i talk to you?"
"Sir i am protecting your modesty. "
"Do i need that kind of protection?"
She keep quiet. She hear him getting into the bath tub.
"How long more do you have to apply the medicine on your wound?"
"I am not sure."
"A young man like you should be healing fast. If you need more medicine, go to the physicians in camp, they have the best medicine for it. It's been a year since the last war and you still have a wound. It is not normal."
"I understand sir! I will take care of it."
That night she is standing outside guarding the tent along with a few soldiers. They all did not talk much. Instead they pass along some mandarin oranges. As she chew, she look into the tent. The Duke is staying up reading at his desk. As per instruction, she is told not to step inside unless she is instructed to. In a few hours time, the day is breaking soon, she yawn and stretch herself. The men around her some are falling asleep and struggling to stay awake. She peep inside to see the Duke asleep on his couch. She walk in quietly and pick up the book on the floor. Er Yin blow off the candle lights around the tent. She carry the blanket and put on him. After that she pick up his boots that are laying on the floor. She wipe the mud off the boots and place them next to his armour. Removing the tea set, she walk out with it to the kitchen. Luo Ming who is walking towards her inform her that he is relief her duty. She knowledge and put down the tea set. She look at the remaining pastry on the plate. She put it into her mouth and drink from the tea pot. After putting everything into the sink, she walk back to the tent. Everyone is awake and dressing up for work.
"Hey night patrol, you are back."
"Yes brother."
"See he is so lucky. We are preparing to go work, he can lay down to sleep."
"Are you crazy? Yi Jin is just return from patrol. Awake the whole night."
Er Yin remain quiet and remove her armour.
"Brother Yi, your body is too small. Lucky you are tall other wise there is nothing to see on your physically."
"Yes i am lucky to be tall. My family is on the tall side."
"Brother Yi is not handsome strangely more girly."
"Yes so girly looking! I bet if brother Yi wears a dress, he can fool anyone on the streets!"
The men inside the tent all laugh and talk about Er Yin as a girl. She grows more nervous. She turn around and look at the man who said that she should wear a dress.
"Brothers!"
They all stop laughing and look at her. She is angry and nervous at the same time. She calm herself down and smile.
"You are all going to be late for roll call. "
In less than five seconds they all rush out of the tent. Some are still trying to put on their boots while running. She stand alone in the tent and sit down on her bed. Suddenly she feel so tired. She remove her boots and lay on the bed. She hear the activities outside the tent and she listens to the drum beats. Slowly her tired mind and eyes begin to close.