The sky begin to change. The sun comes up however the wind keeps blowing hard. Er Yin stands with her sisters with their hands in front and bow with their heads down. The emperor watch from where he is and look at the head of Astronomy bureau. He walk near the old man and stare at his face.
"Tell me, my subject Dao Ming Kun. As the head of Astronomy bureau, is it true what she said?"
"Your majesty what she said was what she thinks! I am a man who follows the instructions from the sky, the gods where they live. They ..."
"I have listen to your words and search for all the female energy that is corrupting and bring bad energy for us. If after this purging, we still not able to win back our lands, can i have your head?"
The old man goes down on his knees and his hands still bowing and his head low.
"Your majesty! I cannot be accounted for this! Then it must be other reasons that we are still in this bad state. I will consult ..."
"ENOUGH! I have hear enough of you pushing away and claiming that the heaven is angry. I am angry now, deal with me!"
The old man tremble on the ground. While his fellow colleagues all stand away fearing to receive the scorching fire that the emperor is blowing out. Just that moment on the side, an elegant woman appear. All court officials bow to her.
"Long live the empress!"
"Please raise."
She walk close to the emperor. They look at each other and bow.
"Why are you here, my empress?"
"I have heard that there is a hearing for the female soldiers. I came to know what will be the outcome."
"It seems like you have something to say."
"I do. Will you allow me?"
"Of course, you are my moonlight."
She smile and sit on the throne and he walk up to sit beside her. She gently hold his hand and smile.
"My sunlight, i heard what she said. Ever since from ancient times, woman have been the support that man needs. We give everything to support the man we love. That's why the Yin and Yang is never separated. To balance the scale, we need the men and women in whatever work that is needed to be done. It is true that the strength of men is unmatched but the will of a woman is unmatched too. Those girls standing on the ground now have an iron will. Without that iron will, they cannot come back alive and continue to work along side with the men. Then there is those women who used their brains to solve the problems that your men cannot resolve in court. Yet, because of the ancient law of men, we have to kill so many smart woman who refused to stay in their courtyard. They all want to serve you and to make our nation stronger. Each of them sacrificed themselves to hide behind a screen to show you that they can do things that men can do. In fact, there are some things men cannot do. Like she said it, woman can give birth. If the woman in this nation stop giving birth how many men can you recruit for the military campaign?"
The emperor as he listens he nod his head. His wife always makes sense for him when his mind is in a mess. She always cool him down when his temper rage within him. He look into her gentle eyes and continue to nod his head. After she finish what she wants to say, she look at the Duke and give him a small smile.
"Duke Yan do you have anything to add on?"
"Your majesty, my assistant, she have saved my life and my men's lives. We are on the verge of stepping to the underworld. She came and drag us out. When she fights in the battle field, she is as good as any of us. In camp while training, she did not slack. She train as hard as other men. At night when on duty, the men are falling asleep but she is still awake. Staying up watching in the darkness. She doesn't know many words but she learn them while working. When she is ...uncomfortable she hold it in and not make a fuss about it. Your majesty doesn't person like her, deserve to have a place in the military? However please pardon her and the rest of the women warriors, any death sentences upon them!"
The duke goes down on his knee and bow with his face touching the floor. Some of the court officials too goes down on their knees. While the one who are still standing look at each other especially the head of Astronomy bureau. While outside the palace grounds, the citizens are shouting their griefs to make the emperor hear them too. At that moment an old eunuch come walking to the emperor and empress. He bow and talk to them in a low voice. The emperor looks unhappy but he looks up to the sky which is now sunny. He nod his head and look at the head of Astronomy bureau. The old eunuch walk away slowly and he look at the ground that stands the women soldiers. He sigh and walk away.
"Dao Ming Kun, look at the sky. Does it looks like the gods are still angry?"
The old man look up and lower his eyes. He dare not reply. He continue to stay with that the same position. The emperor pinch his lips and look at the female soldiers who are still standing and bowing deeply. He stands up and walk to the front of the long stairs. He looks down with his hands behind his back.
"Han ge who is your assistant?"
"She is the one who speak up a while ago."
He look at the center front roll where a tall girl is standing. Her long hair is moving with the wind.
"All the women soldiers, Today i will ... not execute the whole lot of you. Since you give me a reasonable answer... While the head of Astronomy bureau ... Dao Ming Kun... it's time to retire and have fresh new blood to step in your place."
The citizens who are kneeling outside hear what the emperor said however still they ask each other to confirm what he said. The eunuch hurry to the gate entrance and inform them of the outcome and ask them all to go home. It is end for today. The citizens rejoice and yell 'long live the emperor and empress' While Er Yin and the girls stand there with a smile without moving their place. They nod their heads to one and another.
"However! You all still deceive me! Thus you are still my prisoners! You will still continue to serve your sentences in jail. For how long, i will let you know. That is all for today... i'm tired."
Everyone bow to the emperor and empress as they leave. While at the ground the imperial guards are told to escort the females soldiers back to the imperial jail cells. However this time, the chains on the wrist is not cuff on them. They walk out in a line with the citizens cheering on both side as they walk out. At that moment, Er Yin can hear her father and Meng Bao calling out loudly her name. She smile and nod her head. She walk pass them with her head up, she make her promise to stay alive and she did. She smile as she walk all the way back to the imperial jail cell. The jailers smile when they see the girls. They hear the good news thus that night, they pass them each a small bowl of Chinese white wine. To congratulate them and wish them for the bright future ahead.
"From today onwards, we have our own names known to the world!"
"Yes! And we will honour our fathers and brothers for the names we used!"
The ladies rejoice in their small cell together with their jailers, they enjoy the night with small talks and laughter. That night Er Yin look up to the moon, for the first time she drink so much. Her cheeks are so rosy. She raise her bowl to the moon.
"Thank you for keeping me sane and safe all these years."
She smile and drink it. The night might be cold and lonely but to Er Yin, her friend is always there to company her.