This chapter's epigraph comes from a conversation between the Governess and her daughter. The Governess tells her daughter that she is not going to watch the battle because she is afraid that the civilians will think she is supporting the royal family. She says that she has kept her daughter away from the Crown Prince so that he will not be able to gain popular support for the crown. She also says that if the prince finds out that the li family is popular among the civilians, he will be in danger of losing the support of the entire family.