All enemies are tied up and place in the same tent according to the crown prince instructions. A message was dispatched hours ago back to the palace. Physicians are dispatch to attend to wounded soldiers. Er Yin is check by Physician Meng. He nag at her as he check her health.
"There is nothing wrong with you. Only minor scratches on your arms and legs. Some bruises... Anywhere in pain?"
"No sir."
"Why didn't you listen to me?"
"I ... i need the job. It brings the taels in faster and more than other jobs."
"That is not a good excuse... hmm anyway, I will tell them that your injures on the chest is open again. Asking them to leave you alone. You better quit while you can. Deceiving the emperor is not a small issue..."
Physician Meng mumble under his breath while Er Yin is trying to comb her hair up.
"Stop moving. Give me your arm..."
She stretch out her arm before he can apply the medical cream, the Duke walk in. He request Physician Meng to check on the other soldiers. The Duke and Physician Meng switch places and Duke Yan sit down to start apply the medical creme. They are both not talking and she look away to feel less awkward. The Duke look at Er Yin a few times as he apply the medicine.
"Need help to tie up your hair?"
"No... i will do that later."
"Hmm... later they will serve a meal. Come out when you are ready."
"Yes your highness."
He look at Er Yin who is blowing the creme around her arm. After he walk out, she roll up her pants to rub the bruise on her legs. It hurts like crazy and her palm is bandage with cuts and bruises. She wonder how is she going to tie up her hair with the huge bandage around her hands. That evening she did not come out of the tent that she is hiding in thus the Duke take it to Er Yin.
"Yi Jin... "
He lift up the flap of the tent to see his assistant struggling to tie up the messy hair. He put down the plate and ask her to eat while he stand behind and comb the hair up. As he combs, he feels odd. Yin Jin have such soft and silky hair.
"Your hair is really soft."
"Hmm i put egg whites to make it easy for me to manage my hair."
The Duke never hear of men who actually take care of their hair like woman does. Er Yin quickly mentally added that on day off, she needs to wash her hair properly to remove the blood and sweat in it.
"Egg white? The egg we eat?"
"Yes. Of course you will not know your highness. Next time! Next time i do one for you, if you like. I know you won't go to places that common people goes so i can do that for you!"
"Hmm..."
He continue to comb her hair with his fingers and slowly getting them up on a pony tail. While she busy stuffing herself. Er Yin is thinking that she should eat fast so that the Duke will leave soon. He bend over the table to reach for the cloth strip to secure the pony tail and at that moment, he smell a sweet scent mix with blood. He is puzzle and pull her hair up as he straighten his back. He recall that she stands there with her hair all down with Luo Ming holding on to her. Her big eyes stare at him like a girl who is asking for help. After awhile, he secure the pony tail and sit down. He look at Yi Jin eating in a rush. The more he stare at the young man in front of him, the stranger it gets. He reach out to touch the throat of Yi Jin but she flinch back and Luo Ming walk in. He inform the Duke that there is a meeting for all the generals in the main tent. Duke Yan stands up and ask Luo Ming to assist Yi Jin. He leave the tent to hear the two bickering inside. He walks off with a strange build of emotion in his heart.
"Stop touching my hair! It's all up"
"Well i am getting the rice off your hair! Stay still..."
"How are the men outside?"
"A lot are injured. The ones who are badly injured are send back to the nearest camp. The one who died here... will have a mass burial tonight."
"Is any of the dead... our man?"
"None but there is a few who are new recruits of other camps. They are almost at death's gate. The physicians are trying to save them..."
"Let me visit them after this. What about those noblemen?"
"Ptui! Most of them are useless! They only know how to run and hide. I don't blame the young lads but those older men should know at least how to attack and defend themselves! They should set an example to their sons! Instead they all run and hide in the forest. Lucky we are all brave soldiers. If we depend on those fools, we are all now in hell lining up register as new citizens!"
That night, a mass burial of 80 men are done on the enemy ground. There is no monk nor proper food offering for the dead. Only small cups of wine and dry meat is place in front of the pyre fire. The soldiers and generals including the crown prince. He did not have the knowledge of how to do the ritual without the monks hence Duke Yan stands in front to lead the prayers. Before the mass burial starts, he had instruct his man to record the names and have their hair and name tags remove. Each to be keep in a sachet and deliver back to the nearest camp. This is needed to bring back to their families wherever they live in. The bodies cannot last till they are send home. Thus having their hair and name tag is the only way to safe the honor and dignity of the men who have lived and fight for their nation. Duke Yan firstly walk around and pour wine on the ground for the dead and he walk another round lit up the fire around the huge platform. He walked all four corners and finally stop at the front of the simple table of offerings. He bow deeply with his hands in front of him and kneel down with his head touching the ground. Everyone behind him who are able to kneel, they follow his suit and all chant the same wordings.
"Go in peace, my brothers!"
The words echo in the night as the fire burns bright. Some cry out loud as they personally know the deceased. Some kneel and continue to bow with their heads touching the ground. The fire rages on till the next day and Er Yin watch the fire burnt throughout the night. The warm of the fire in front of her. While the coldness sweep behind her. She stare at the fire and wonder if this should be the final war that she is taking part in. She feels that the danger of letting another person knowing that she is a female is coming closer to her.