As the battle rages on, Cai Ming-liang tries to stop it from happening. He tells his servant that he has come to stop the fighting, and that he will return to the palace once he has killed the traitor. The servant tells him that the empress has issued a decree that the officials should obey, and Cai Ming says that they have no other option but obey. He says that his life means nothing, and he cannot be used to threaten her. He leaves, saying that he does not want to be a part of this nonsense.