The next day, Lingyin tells the story of how he delivered a dossier to Dongchang, and how he discovered that the information about the empress's assassination was false. He also learned that she was killed by assassins in the autumn hunt, and that her eunuch, who escaped death, was also killed. Lingyin also learns that he is a descendant of King jing, which makes him very happy. He tells Lingyin that he has the best wine and meat, and asks if he is feeling well. He says he has not had much appetite lately, but that he will go and buy her berry hawthorn cakes when he gets home. He then tells her that he heard that the beidi were in the city and that several of his men were injured in the fight. He adds that they must have been aided by officials, but he does not know for sure. He learns that the emperor asked Lingyin to investigate his past, and he wonders if he could sneak in and destroy the documents about him.