Seven days later, General Peng and Marquis Xiao Jiang Jun with their armies came to take over the duties in the fortress. While Duke Yan have Mongke Khan put in a cart cell. Luo Ming instruct the man who is taking over the duties.
"We came late due to the time to raise provision for the army. It was simply too tight for five days thus we are late. Sorry for the delay."
General Peng explain to Duke Yan in a polite words. Duke Yan understand and nod his head.
They walk back to the capital in silence. Everyone is holding their own weapons and walking along with the cell cart with Mongke Khan in it. The man is complaining on the way that he is a prince and should not be place in a moving jail like an animal. Everyone is ignoring him. While Er Yin is looking at the Duke's back. He is riding on his horse and she is feeling his anger these days after they talk in the bamboo forest. There is no conclusion at what they said. Er Yin have to watch his back as they slowly get back into the capital.
Back in the capital, the soldiers transfer the cell cart to the imperial army who are waiting at the gate. Citizens gather to watch what is going on and soon a riot starts with just one woman throwing her vegetables. The local Yamen quickly dispatch their men to stop the riot from getting worst. While the Duke and Er Yin ride off to the palace. Inside the palace, she is kneeling down with her sword place outside the great hall. The emperor did not talk to her till he finish reading the document on hand. The Duke meanwhile is shown towards the palace of his grandmother. Er Yin is sort of relief to be away from the Duke now. However facing the emperor alone, she find it hard to swallow her saliva. The great hall is big and the echo of winds surrounds her. The eunuch standing beside the emperor is perspiring as he watch the emperor in silence. His small eyes move occasionally to see Er Yin however the female solider did not move bait since she kneel down. Finally the emperor is done. He close the booklet and look up.
"Xie Er Yin..."
"Your majesty!"
"How long have you been away from home?"
"Your majesty ... i lost count ...."
"It must be a long time.... hmm... is everything within the woman's army done up as the last report?"
"Your majesty, everything is done as per report submitted."
"Hmm, then there is nothing else but to carry on. So you can return back to camp..."
"Your majesty.... i have a request."
"Say it."
"Your majesty .... i would like to return home."
The man in the yellow rob stop writing and put down his brush. He look at the woman who is still kneeling in his presence.
"Go home?"
"Yes, your majesty. I ... I have reach the age of fifty and my parents are aging. I wish to spend more time with them before i regret. Please your majesty! Let me do my duty as a child of Xie family!"
The emperor stands up and stroke his long bead as he walks around.
"I cannot hold you back for doing your duty for your parents. It is important for us... If you say that you have done everything as your report said. I will believe you. I believe that the woman in your division have already train up to your standards. Therefore i will grant you your wish. Also i will release three years worth of your salary to take home. You may keep the armour and weapons that you have collected in the army. Who knows, you might return to the army in a few days!"
"Your majesty... in this case ... can i directly go home? After this? I really miss home..."
"Hmm ... go. I grant that permission. Also ... go when my cousin is still with my grandmother. He won't be able to leave for at least the next month... I know what is going on and i don't approve what is happening between two married person. He may not marry his wife out of love but i am sure he knows that he cannot marry you because of many reasons."
She remain quiet and look at the ground. The emperor walk near her.
"The main reason i asked you to come into the palace was to ask you to stop seeing my cousin. However now i know your heart is with your family. Which is good for me. Now go home and do your duty to your parents. Before that, return to the army and transfer all your ongoing work to your successor. Make sure he or she fully understands what needs to be done."
Er Yin bow deeply to the ground. The emperor look at her with satification and ask his person eunuch to arrange for her salary payout. He watch her walk out with his eunuch and walk back to his desk. His mouth turn downwards and starts to write on a new piece of paper.
Er Yin waited for a few hours to collect her salary. After that she ride back to camp. After she announce her departure, her colleagues comes up to talk to her. Even Luo Ming who have grown older looking is dissatisfied to know his partner in the battleground is not going to join him in the next expeditions that they might have.
"Try not to die nor injured too badly if there is one war to be in."
"Well it's hard to say now whether i live to tell the tale! After all my fairy who is suppose to lead me out of hell is going home ... Yeah ... i will try not to die if not i hope it is one slash that ends my life instead of having me lose a body part and return home in that matter ... but i don't have a family to go home to..."
"Luo Ming ge ... if that day comes, i will welcome you to my home. You are my family. My brother. I can take care of you."
Luo Ming who is walking with Er Yin stop walking and Er Yin who is a few steps ahead stop and turn around. They did not say anything but he smile with tears in his eyes.
"Thank you for serving the army, Xie Er Yin! You are always welcome to return here! It's home too!"
Er Yin return home two days later. The Duke is no where to be seen, maybe as per the emperor said. The Duke is trap in the palace with the dowager. This time, she rides home slowly. The scenery of the route to home did not change much but the people did change. Many are walking to their own destination. A lot of them are resting on the road side. A lot of them did not have food to eat and they all look hungry but Er Yin couldn't do much. She knows that giving money is not practical as there is no nearby town for them to spend the money to get food. While she cannot hunt for them as they are on the move, also this will cause chaos for groups of people who have something to eat on hand. Thus she harden her heart and move on. She is now a civilian not an army officer anymore, there is nothing she can do.