Er Yin recover within three months later. While Prince Ann constantly appear in the Duke mansion. The prince becomes a frequent visitor in the mansion. While the Duke only wakes up mid noon time. He hangs out with Luo Ming in learning self defence. Er Yin only wakes up slightly before the Duke and joins them after she brush her teeth. Together three of them practise their sword fighting before the Duke wakes up to have a meal together. Since Er Yin leg is better, she have been walking around without her crutches. However she walks with difficulties and feel the pain occasionally. One of those days. they ride out of the city to a lake. Er Yin watch the boys swim while she sits under a tree. She wants to swim as well but she doesn't want to strip in front of those men. The Duke seeing his man sitting alone by the tree goes up from the water. Er Yin look somewhere else, he is wearing nothing and slowly walk up from the water towards her. She look at the far distance where the sky and the trees are. He sit down beside her and look at where she is staring at. He leans closer to her and look at where she is staring.
"What is so nice over there?"
"Looking far helps on the eye sight, don't you know?"
Two pairs of legs come into her view. She look somewhere else.
"That is true! The best shooter in our camp always say to look far to get perfect eye sight!"
"Ah my eyes does feel actually better!"
"Prince Ann, next dew days let's look far!"
"Lou Ming, nice ideal! haha!"
The men begin to wipe themselves dry and dress up. While Er Yin is looking at the grass and playing with the stick she finds by digging the ground.
The snow arrives late this year and Er Yin ask to return home to celebrate the Lunar Year New. The Duke agree and Er Yin write a simple letter that she will be going home. That year, the snow is gentle and she is working in a safe environment. She haven't taken a proper bath for months now. Er Yin have been cleaning up herself with a wet towel. She told the men that her wounds are not allow to touch water till the physicians check that it is healing good enough. Before she goes home, the Duke arrange more fabric for Yi Jin's family. Since they are poor farmers, they most likely do not have enough to wear for winter. Thick hides are given to Er Yin before she rides off. She is grateful that she is serving a good master. She say her good bye for now. Luo Ming remind her to return to work in April. She nod her head as she gets up on the horse. In a quiet morning, she rides off in the snow.
While ridding, her view of the scenery is now pure white. The cold wind keeps hitting hard on her face. So she put on a mask to block it. It is a long journey home On the way she stop by two inns to rest and feed her horse. She hid her hides and make sure no one see that she have those precious hides. About nearly two weeks, she ride into the village. People are staring at her as she ride past. That is because there is no army in the village and it's winter, there is not a single solider walking around. Er Yin ride down and up the slopes to get to her house. Finally up the last slope upwards, she see the rooftop cover with light snow. She yell for them to open the door. It takes awhile and it is Meng Bao who is at the door. He smile and open wide the door.
That night dinner is inside the house. They have extended the house with San Cai and Meng Bao who occasionally help when he takes breaks from reading his books. Their house is now bigger and better than before. Outside, they have a little stable and a pen area. They are slightly living in a better condition because of Er Yin who send money home every month. Thus they have a little more to spend to buy materials to make the house more comfortable for everyone.
Er Yin did not tell them of the mission she did when first few months in camp. She skip to the part where now she station in the mansion. Working as a guard and escorting the Duke to various places. Her parents are more relax knowing that their daughter is not in any dangerous situation. She work in the fields with her family in the day time and watch the night sky in the dark. Er Yin wonder if she should live a life like this, she keep borrowing her brother's name. In the end, she is afraid she will become the man her brother is. She will never become what Er Yin wants, a family and a man who will love and protect her.
The snow melted. The road are slowly showing. At the same time, Meng Bao and Shi Bao inform the family that they would like to get marry. It is a joyful event but they need money to get the wedding to be done. Er Yin calculate the expense and decided that they can buy a nearby land for the young couple but the cost of the wedding and to build a new house must be put on hold. Meng Bao will soon start to work for the local government. Basic how how much he is able to save, the balance is still quite a lot. Er Yin decided to continue to work for the Duke after the contract ends. Maybe she can ask for a higher raise. The family protest but she insist. She look at the gentle snow falling outside. It is the only way they can save that amount of money for the wedding. Before she leaves, she and her father along with Meng Bao goes to the local land bureau and purchase the land. With the stamp and seal, they return with the contract from the bureau. They stand at the road staring at the empty plot of land that is now belonging to them. Meng Bao bow down to thank you the father and daughter. They smile and ask him to treat Shi Bao nicely when they are officially married. He bow again in the gentle snow by the road.
Er Yin soon start to prepare to return to the capital. Her mother wanted her to bring along a lot of things like preserve vegetables and meat. Er Yin pack the food up but refuse to take the clothes as they are all female clothes. She doesn't need them. Once again she bow to her decrees brother and ask for his blessings. She step out the house in her armour and again she resume the identity of Xie Yi Jin. She smile and wave to her family and slowly ride away. Following the long path back to capital where she must earn more taels for the wedding.