Nearly a month, food is running low. They are getting hungry thus the ladies put on their hunting gear and run out of camp to look for food. They harvest vegetables and hunt for wild chickens.
On the fifth day while hunting, they hear the whistle. The hunting party got alert and dash back to camp. When they reach the gates, inside is a group of people and carts of food. Strangely, in Er Yin's eye line, she sees only one person. She smile broadly as their eyes meet. However she hear Luo Ming's voice instead.
"Buddy! i miss you!"
Before he can walk over with his arms open wide, Duke Yan pull his collar back with his eyes looking at Er Yin and his lips stretch.
Later at the day, the women set up the food in the kitchen while Er Yin walk outside with the Duke. They walk in silence without knowing where they are going. Finally they stop in front of a fork road.
"I know your real name is Xie Er Yin but i have known you as Xie Yi Jin for so many years. It's difficult to go calling you your original name. So ..."
"Your highness, i ... lie to you who i am. Aren't you angry with me?"
"No. Not at all... i was suspecting who you are when you started to help me to wash my hair. It was a strange feeling... i cannot help but to know you more, as a person. Even thought i have dispatch my scout to check on your background. They still come back with the same reports that you are said who you are. There is nothing i can dig out but to hear the words from you."
Er Yin continue to walk and the Duke follow.
"I should apologise to you on hiding the truth but ..."
She stop walking and he stare at her back. Er Yin turn around and bow.
"I am truly apologise."
"There is nothing to apologise ... just continue to work as my assistant. However this time around, you will be my left hand and Luo Ming will be my right hand. I have asked the emperor to allow the women in various camps to go under one banner. Thus you will be the leader of the group. "
Her eyes open wide while she still in a bowing position. He smile and pat her shoulder.
"It's a chance to show the emperor what you and those women can do for the country. Do well and the future for women in any official position will be accepted."
He hold up her arms and look straight into her eyes.
"Go and think the design of your flag and it will fly under my family name, Yan."
That evening Er Yin gather the girls and told them of what Duke Yan said. They all smile and contribute in thinking of the design. In the long night, some girls who are good at drawing comes up with a few. After voting, one is left with all agreeing on it. Er Yin present it to the Duke. He stare at it for a long time.
"Why?"
Er Yin raise her hand with a bow.
"It represent women who will endure all hardship in front of us. Hopes and dreams. Besides that, isn't it aesthetic with the word Yan?"
He look at the drawing of Plum Blossom wrapping around the word Yan. He smile and approve it with his own personal stamp. He later despatch it to the palace for record purpose. While the flag maker is notify and starts to sew, draw and attach to the pole. The new pole arrived a month later. The new flag in black background and red flowers with gold word fly high with the wind. The new flag is place on the side with the main flag and another flag with a leopard and Yan wording.
That night there is a feast for everyone. Everyone is having a good time laughing and eating. The women keep reminding everyone not to waste food. The Duke is having a good time till Luo Ming brings up something that he is avoid talking about. He stare at Luo Ming who is raising his cup for a toast.
"A toast to Duke Yan on his upcoming wedding!"
Most men and women have raise their cups and toast to it. Only Er Yin is caught in a surprise but later she toast as well. The Duke drink his wine in silence and look unhappy. Er Yin scoot over to Luo Ming and ask what happen to the Duke.
"He went to the palace while you are in prison. He asked for his grandmother's help. The dowager agree to help if he accepted the conditions that she lay down. To save the soldiers, he accepted everything the dowager said."
"So getting marry is one of it?"
"Yes... "
"Who is the bride?"
"She is the daughter of the left Prime Minister of war, Hong Ying Ying."
"Well isn't it a good match."
"I don't know about it but he doesn't like the ideal of getting marry. Look he had a fiancée at birth. She died when she was ten. Then later he got engaged to another girl. She run away soon after that. Another few more years later before the war, the engagement was put off and the girl marry another man. So he had been a bachelor most of his life. Now he is told to get marry and have children. Isn't that too much?"
"Yes it is too much but his grandmother wants him to start having a family..."
"Yes using the exchange of the soldiers for his happiness is ..."
Suddenly Er Yin feels indebted to her master. She look at him drowning in his unhappiness. She feels sorry for this man who feels he is responsible to the lives of the female soldiers. In exchange, he have to marry someone he don't know.
Months pass and no one talks about his engagement any more but he was summon back into the palace for the engagement. That night Er Yin is on night duty. She watch the night sky and she is holding a flask of wine in her hand. She is not drinking it but toasting in the sky.
"Congratulations ... may the heavens bless you... continuously."
She doesn't understand why her heart feels heavy but she knows that she should be happy for her master who is now a step nearer to get a wife.